Storyline - Misha's Blog

My Word for the Year

2012-01-22T19:57:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that 2011 was a rough year for my family. It had started out pretty well, but after losing my dad at the end of March - well, you could say that the year kind of went downhill from there.

Of course, it wasn't all bad: In Janaury my sister Rebecca moved up from Florida so she could attend George Mason University. The house is now overcrowded (especially with the addition of my father's cat Lucy) and messier than ever. We bump into each other in the kitchen and have to be quick if we want the bathroom first in the morning. But those are happy annoyances, and we all seem to revell in having each other to complain about.

Still, we heaved a collective sigh of relief as Father Time closed the curtain on The Year of Our Loss, and opened 2012 with a flourish: the new year, all bright and shining with possibilities. Now that January is almost over (and unfortunately my Christmas tree is still up - a sad reminder that I've already failed my resolution to become a better housekeeper!), I've been pondering: what do I want this new year to be about?

So I'm stealing an idea from two of my writing friends (who may have gotten it from someone else for all I know!), and I'm choosing a word of the year. I wish I could say that I used some magic formula to divine this word, or that it took a long time for me to come up with it. But the truth is, it came very easily.

Forward. My word for 2012 is "Forward."

It's true that a person can't leave all the bad stuff behind, but neither can one hang back and try to dwell forever in one place and time. We all have to progress. We all have to move forward. And that's what I'm going to do.

And so what about you? What word will define your life in 2012?

Like this post? Please feel free to share it:

These Sad Songs Make Me Happy

2011-10-18T23:08:00.001-04:00

Six weeks ago, I got the best piece of news I'd heard all year: three of my favorite musicians were coming to play in the DC area within a two-week period. This was thrilling news, but still I couldn't help but wonder: what is it about sad songs that make me feel so happy?

Brett Detar - Empty House on a Famous Hill

First my husband and I saw Brett Detar perform at Ottobar in Baltimore. This song has a soaring melody and words grounded in heartbreak. (Plus the title reminds me of my first novel, which of course makes it even more endearing to my not-so-subtle artist's ego.)

Ray Wylie Hubbard - Loose

To see Ray Wylie Hubbard, we took an overnight trip to the Newport News area of Virginia - about a three-hour drive each way, and totally worth it! This song is one of my favorites from his latest album: it's a bittersweet eulogy to a departed friend. The album version is more up-tempo, but this live accoustic rendition is moving and full-spirited.

Grayson Capps - I See You

The night out to see Grayson Capps turned into a real party, with my husband, sister, and two of my best friends coming along for a night of great music. I had forgotten how much I love this song until I heard it performed live that night. "Breeze through the forest just like breath in my lungs: I see you in everything." How beautiful is that?

All three of these songs are rooted in sadness, but bloom with an irresistible beauty. Why do sad songs make me so happy? At the risk of making a bad pun, I guess they just strike the right chord. But in the end, I'm not sure the why really matters: I'm just glad there are artists like these to help me chase the blues away.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy Misha's blog? Share it here:

Things My Father Taught Me

2011-07-10T21:16:00.005-04:00

On the last Saturday in February, my sister Rebecca and I were talking about life lessons we'd learned from our father. It was a joking conversation, because Dad had never really been a lesson-doling-out kind of guy. I think that Rebecca and I distilled it down to two essential truths: Always tip well, and don't waste time watching movies made by Michael Bay. We laughed and shook our heads, rolling our eyes at the silly man we call Dad.

This photo was taken the day Rebecca
got her bachelor's degree.

A month later, that conversation came back to haunt us in a powerful and tragic way. Because at the end of March, Dad passed away. It still feels weird to type those words, as if I were writing a first-person account of someone else's life. His death was completely unexpected: he just went to sleep one night and didn't wake up. He was sixty-three years old, which is much too young to have shuffled off his mortal coil.

Since his passing I have wanted to write about him, but it's been too difficult (just writing the last two paragraphs has taken me about twelve weeks). After all, how can you sum up a person in a few words? You can't, of course. You can't even sum up a person in a million words. And so, recalling that lighthearted February conversation, I've tried to set my mind to really identifying some of the many things I've learned from my father. Here are a few that I'd like to share:

The perfectionist at work.

A job well done is a satisfaction all its own. My father was a projectionist (he ran movies). He started in that field around 1970, and he stayed with it all his life. It was a very cool job: when I was a kid we could almost always get into movies for free, and he often got to run preview screenings so he would know what movies were worth watching before everyone else. Everyone who worked with my dad knew what a perfectionist he was. He wanted every show to be flawless: clear picture, perfectly-balanced sound. He did his job right because in his mind, that was the only way to do it. He took a lot of satisfaction from doing his job well.

Generosity is its own reward. Or I could just as easily have said: a generous man will never know want. I've never met a person who was more free and generous with his possessions than my father. He always had spare change for people on the street. A friend needed a car to drive to Texas after his mother passed away, and Dad loaned it to him. Although he was never even close to wealthy, and he was in his fifties before he bought his first home or his first new car, my father always seemed to have what needed to be comfortable.

Dad and me, circa 1977.

Knowledge is more valuable than rubies. Dad was the first person in his family to go to college. He moved from a small Indiana town to attend the University of Virginia on scholarship. He spoke five languages. He knew everything, and I mean everything. He could answer questions on every subject (well, except opera and sports - he was never really "up" on those!). And he never stopped learning, never stopped studying. Everything fascinated him.

Laughter is life. Dad had the greatest sense of humor. He loved to laugh. Because of him I became an early fan of the Marx Brothers, Monty Python, the Firesign Theatre (I could go on). Regardless of anything, we could always laugh together.

Dad, a.k.a. Clarence Crews.
Loved and missed every day.

Dad was more than just "Dad" to me. He was a friend, a buddy. We would have long conversations about books and movies and philosophy and all sorts of random topics. He laid the artistic groundwork on which I built my novels; he helped lay the moral and humanitiarian groundwork on which I've built my life; he inspired me in ways that I haven't even discovered yet. I grieve the loss of my father, but more than that: I miss my friend.

So what do we do, when a friend departs? We close down shop for them: tie up the loose ends, close the accounts, send out the notices. We cry and remember and try to think about how lucky we were to have had them in our lives, instead of how unfortunate we are to have lost them. This blog is part of that process, as are the subsequent blogs which I'll write. I don't know when I'll write them or what they'll be about, but I will write. Because that's what I do. And to those of you who are reading this: thanks for letting me do it. Thank you for listening.

Characterization: Every Villain a Hero, Part 2

2011-03-30T05:35:00.009-04:00

Last week we talked about how villains can be constructed along the same line as heroes. (See part 1.) Goals and motivations are just as important for bad guys as for good guys - maybe even more important. So, now we know what evil deeds the evil-doers are trying to do...evilly. And we have a grasp on their motivations (evil though they may be!). What else is there?

BACKGROUND

The villain's background often ties in closely with his or her motivation. This doesn't necessarily mean that all bad guys have to have some childhood trauma in their past (which is an interesting but overused theme). But take a man born to privilege, whose riches are cruelly stolen away...might he not turn to crime and bad-guy-ery to regain that which he lost? Just a thought!

Rene Belloq (Indiana Jones's nemesis in Raiders of the Lost Ark) - His motivations are unclear, although we do get the idea that he was brought up in a state of privilege. Remember how he laughingly refered to the spirits he and Marion were drinking as "my family label"? This again supports a motivation of pride, since a man like that could easily feel that the world and its riches were his for the taking.

Darth Vader (who needs no introduction!) - In the original Star Wars trilogy we don't get a good taste for Vader's background, except to know that he was Ben Kenobi's apprentice until he was seduced by the power of the Dark Side. In the prequel trilogy, we find out that as a young man he was intelligent and capable, yet filled with pain and anger at the death of his mother.

Hannibal Lecter (the penultimate villain) - When he was a child, he and his sister Mischa were happy and inseparable...until World War II brought the deaths of their parents, the occupation of their family estate by cruel and starving soldiers, and the brutal death of little Mischa. This is a classic example of background playing into motivation and goals. (Although it bears repeating that authors should play the "childhood trauma" card with extreme caution, as it's been used to near-cliche status in the past few years.)

REDEEMING TRAITS

Just as a well-rounded hero should have a few faults, a well-rounded villain should have some redeeming - if not endearing - traits.

Belloq - Aside from that snazzy linen suit, Rene Belloq also possessed a sense of humor and a love of antiquities. More importantly, he had a soft spot for Marion Ravenwood. And mutual admiration/affection (in other words, our villain likes/admires someone that the audience also likes/admires) can be a truly endearing trait.

Vader - Until Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader seemed to have no redeeming traits whatsoever. But then we saw him kill the Emperor to save Luke, our hero. And afterwards, when he said to Luke, "You were right about me. Tell your sister, you were right," we saw that he did have a redeeming trait, and it was love.

Lecter - First thing that comes to mind is this sentence: "I'm having an old friend for dinner" A sense of humor is Hannibal Lecter's greatest redeeming trait. That and, of course, the fact that some of the people he killed were jerks. "Mutual enemies" can be as endearing a trait as mutual affection. And that brings us to....

GREATER EVIL (THE "BIG BAD")

Introducing a Greater Evil into your story is a tried-and-true method for giving your villain more depth. We think that the villain is the greatest evil in our story-universe, but then we introduce the super-villain, and we see that the villain is just the Little Bad - the super-villain is the Big Bad. Sometimes the hero and villain have to work together to fight the Big Bad, and that always a produces a fascinating dynamic!

Belloq - Although Belloq was a thorn in Indy's side and a real threat to both his life and his mission, there was a bigger bad than Belloq: the Nazis. Whereas Belloq's motives were pride and greed, the Nazis soldiers' motives were pure evil, and they were the true villains of that piece!

Vader - Although Darth Vader was the villain of Star Wars (or for the sticklers: Episode IV, A New Hope), during both Empire and Jedi we saw that he was mostly the evil enforcer for the Big Bad - the Emperor.

Lecter - In Hannibal, the Big Bad was really Mason Verger. After all, Lecter may have been a cannibalistic serial killer, but Verger was a pedophile - and there is really nothing more evil than that.

It's interesting to note that in the latter two examples above, the villain was responsible for the death of the Big Bad. Darth Vader killed the Emperor, of course. And in both the book and movie versions of Hannibal, Lecter convinced someone close to Verger to murder him. In a way, those villains were heroes - at least to the extent that their evil acts benefited the greater good. Even Belloq was partly responsible for the death of the Nazis, since his pride convinced him that he could control the power of the Ark.

SUMMARY

A well-crafted villain is one of the most entertaining aspects of fiction. Remembering that the villain really thinks of himself or herself as a hero, and addressing their actions from the direction of "why is this right?" can help us to create villains who are realistic and memorable. And after all, don't our heroes deserve great adversaries?
------------------------------------------
Do you have a favorite fictional villain? What are his or her most redeeming traits?

Read more about writing:
Characterization: Every Villain a Hero, Part 1
See all of Misha's writing blogs.

Like the blog? Use these buttons to tell a friend!

Movie Monday: 1931 - 4th Academy Awards

2011-03-28T20:36:00.001-04:00

THE 4TH ACADEMY AWARDS

Well, unfortunately this week we have another film that's not available for home viewing in any way, shape or form. The movie, East Lynne, is described below.

And the nominees are....

East Lynne
1931
Starring: Ann Hardy, Clive Brook and Conrad Nagel
Directed by: Frank Lloyd

What's the story? Based on the novel by Ellen Wood, it's the story of Lady Carlisle (Ann Hardy) a society woman who leaves her family. When her son falls ill, she returns home. Despite being nearly blind from a bomb explosion, she is able to see her son one last time before he dies.

What makes it special? There is only one copy of the film that's known to exist. It's at UCLA's Instructional Media Lab, and it can be viewed by appointment. (I'll meet you there!)

The Front Page
1931
Starring: Adolphe Menjou, Pat O'Brien, Mary Brian
Directed by: Lewis Mileston

Where did I find it? I was supremely tickled to find this movie on Netflix Instant Watch! The sound and picture both leave something to be desired, but I'd give this one an extra point for convenience!

What's the story? Hildy Johnson (Pat O'Brien) is a newspaper reporter: fast-talking but good at heart. Hildy is engaged to pretty Peggy Grant (Mary Brian) and planning to move to New York for a higher paying advertising job. While Hildy runs around tying up loose ends, his mirthful but callous colleagues are hanging out in the press pool, waiting to cover the execution of Earl Williams (George E. Stone). Rumors of Williams' innocence abound, and when the incompetent sheriff lets Williams escape, a feeding frenzy erupts. Caught up in the excitement, Hildy gives an informant the $260 savings that he and Peggy have been hoarding.

Hildy is confident that the boss, Mr. Burns (Adolphe Menjou), will reimburse him when he gets the scoop, but he's wrong - Burns gives him the runaround. Things look bleak: Peggy is waiting at the train station and the clock is ticking. Then Hildy's luck turns around: Williams finds him and wants to surrender. Now Hildy is looking at a $10,000 reward. Burns gets wind of it, and convinces Hildy that this is the chance for him to make is big break as a reporter. Together with Molly Malloy (Mae Clark), the woman of ill repute who has been maintaining Williams's innocence all along, they stash the escaped con in a roll-top desk. Hildy and Burns are trying to coordinate his surrender while at the same time writing the front-page article that they're sure will put them on the map.

The story changes quickly, however, when they find out that the governor has granted Williams a last-minute pardon - and that the sheriff and mayor both knew about it, and were going to have him executed anyway! Why? Because there's an election coming up. So Williams is set free, and while there's no reward, there's definitely a story. But Hildy has decided that his newspapering days are over. He and Burns have a sentimental farewell, Burns gives Hildy his pocket watch. When Hildy and Peggy have gone, however, he calls the police in the next town (one up on the train tracks), and ask them to have Hildy arrested. "That son of a bitch stole my watch!" he says.

What makes it special? This movie was based on the popular stage play of the same name, and although it's billed as a comedy, it has some very dark and cynical moments. There's a scene where the press pool boys have decided that Molly Malloy knows where Williams is hiding, and she's their ticket to fame and fortune. They advance on her like jackals, backing her up against the window. Desperate to get away from them, she climbs out onto the ledge and falls to the street below. Although she survives, we're left with the powerful impression of the press as a pack of wild animals, preying on a frightened deer. In this day and age, it's a widely-accepted concept that the media are opportunistic and that some even take a fiendish delight on exploiting the misery of others, but it was interesting to see this put forth in a film from the 1930s.

Skippy
1931
Starring: Jackie Cooper, Robert Coogan, Mitzi Green
Directed by: Norman Taurog

Where did I find it? This one is not yet available on DVD, but it was recently broadcast on the Turner Classic Movie channel.

What's the story? Based on a popular comic strip, Skippy (Jackie Cooper) is a precocious little boy who puts most of his considerable smarts to getting out of the things his parents ask him to do. He befriends Sooky (Robert Coogan), a young boy from Shantytown across the tracks. When Sooky's dog Penny is taken by the the local dogcatcher, the boys work like mad to earn the three dollars they need to get Penny back. But by the time they've earned most of the money, the cruel dogcatcher has already disposed of poor Penny. To make matters worse, Skippy's father is the head of the local Health Department, and he's the one who signed the order for all the strays to be rounded up. Dad redeems himself, however, by saving Shantytown from demolition. And by the end of the film, Sooky has not one, but two new dogs.

What makes it special? At nine years old, Jackie Cooper was the youngest person every nominated for Best Actor. He went on to have a long and prosperous career, including playing Perry White in the four Superman films of the late 1970s/early 1980s. At the 1931 ceremony, Cooper reportedly fell asleep on the shoulder of Best Actress nominee Marie Dressler. When Dressler was announced as the winner, Cooper had to be eased onto his mother’s lap. How adorable is that?

Unfortunately, there's also a much less adorable story about this film: when Cooper was unable to conjure up tears for an emotional scene, the director threatened to have Jackie's dog shot if he couldn't cry. Well, cry he did, and the scene where Skippy's father tries to comfort his son after Penny has been killed will tear your heart out.

In this film you can see seeds of many other kids movies to come, from A Christmas Story to Goonies and beyond.

Trader Horn
1931
Starring: Harry Carrey, Edwina Booth, Duncan Renaldo
Directed by: W.S. Van Dyke

Where did I find it? This one is not yet available on DVD, but I was able to find the VHS tape on eBay. The sound quality was unfortunately quite distorted, but the picture was fine.

What's the story? While on safari in an uncharged realm of Africa, Aloysius "Trader" Horn (Harry Carey) and his protegee Peru (Duncan Renaldo) find the body of a missionary, Edna Trent, who had been killed by natives. Trent was searching for her daughter, who had been lost as a baby and was rumored to have been seen alive, raised by the indigenous peoples.

After much searching, they find the girl, who is living in a small village and has been raised almost as a goddess on account of her fair skin and blond hair. She is shocked and confused by the appearance of these people whose skin is the same color as hers. The tribesmen are set to kill Horn, Peru, and their faithful native guide Ranchero, but the girl, who has become enthralled by Peru's good looks and courage, orders the natives to release the men. They're not happy about it, but they do it. It looks like they're about to walk right out of camp, but then the natives decide they can't let the men take their goddess. Our intrepid heroes barely escape with their lives, and now they're left to make their way across the African plains.

What makes it special? The filmmakers (including cast and crew) spent a year in uncharted Africa filming this movie. It was the first film about that continent that was not a documentary.

and the winner is....

Cimarron
1931
Starring: Richard Dix, Irene Dunn, Edna May Oliver
Directed by: Wesley Ruggles

Where did I find it? I got the DVD from Netflix. The picture and sound are in great shape.

What's the story? This is a tale that spans four decades - from 1889 to 1929. It's the story of a changing country, as well as that of a troubled family. Yancey Cravat is a Renaissance man: attorney, newspaperman, adventurer, outspoken supporter of the rights of Native Americans. In 1889, in wake of the the frenzied Oklahoma land grab, Yancey brings his wife Sabra and their young son Cimarron to the frontier town of Osage, Oklahoma. They brave the perils of the savage land (which comes mostly from the savage white folks who live there!) and help to build the town into a thriving community.

In five years, they have a successful newspaper and a new baby girl. But Yancey is restless, and takes off for more adventure. Left on her own, Sabra runs the newspaper (the Oklahoma Wigwam) and brings up the children. After five years, Yancey returns to his wife and family. He stays for as long as he can, his wanderlust is incurable. He drifts away again, into the wildcatting life of the oil-man, leaving Sabra to carry on alone once more. In his absence, the children marry: Cim to a Native American girl (much to his mother's dismay), and the newspaper grows ever bigger. In 1929, the Wigwam is celebrating forty years in business. Sabra hasn't heard her husband in many years, but she holds out a hope that he is still alive. And she has never taken his name off the header of the newspaper: Yancey Cravat, Owner and Editor.

Sabra is a woman of stature in her own right, having been elected to the Oklahoma State Congress. As she's returning home from her celebratory banquet, she hears that an oil rig has nearly exploded, and that if weren't for the actions of one old man, many people would have been killed. "He's in bad shape, chest crushed," the messenger says. "Don't know his name...some of the fellas call him 'Old Yance.'" Realizing that the man must be her husband, Sabra rushes to her the scene of the accident. She finds Yancey near death, and she gathers him into her arms. "Sleep, my boy," she whispers softly, as he slips away from her for the last time.

What makes it special? From an ethical perspective, the film is a paradox. Yancey is a hardworking man who fights for the rights of Native Americans and welcomes Jews into the town's religious services. And although he remains faithful to his wife (or so we're led to believe), he abandons his family for the wild call of adventure. And Sabra, although she is the true iron backbone of the family, making her way in the world of men with her head held high, is blatantly bigoted against the Native Americans.

If that weren't enough, the stereotypical portrayal of the family's young African American servant, Isaiah (Eugene Jackson), is enough to make the modern viewer cringe. I'll spare you the details, but suffice to say that Isaiah shines shoes, eats watermelon, and his happy antics cause the family much racist merriment. He proves his own nobility, however, when lays down his life to protect two young children.

Cimarron derives its name from the Cimarron Territory, an unsettled area of the West and Midwest. The film was the first western ever to win Best Picture, and it held that record until 1990, when Dances with Wolves won.
--------
NEXT WEEK: Arrowsmith and a Bad Girl! It must've been one heck of an awards ceremony!

See more of Misha's Movie Blogs.

Like the blog? Use the buttons below to share it!

Great Reads Friday: Foxy's Tale by Karen Cantwell & L.B. Gschwandtner

2011-03-25T05:35:00.006-04:00

Authors Karen Cantwell (Take the Monkeys and Run) and L.B. Gschwandtner (The Naked Gardener) decided they would like to collaborate on a project. They wanted it to be a book for and about women, but it had to be fun and they really wanted to throw a vampire into the mix. But their vampire would be . . . different. The result, now available for readers on Amazon’s Kindle, is Foxy’s Tale - this week's Great Read!

Foxy Anders has a list of problems as long as a shopping spree receipt from Neiman Marcus. She’s a retail spender with no money to spare and a former beauty queen with no man in her life. After a nightmare divorce she’s left with one asset, a building off Washington, D.C.’s classy DuPont Circle. By turning the ground floor into an antique shop, Foxy figures she has an excuse to spend money … that she doesn’t have.

Foxy also has a teenaged daughter, Amanda, who likes to blog secretly about her biggest problem – Foxy. At least, she thinks Foxy is her biggest problem. But that’s all about to change when she hooks up with Nick, a cute guy at school who evidently has a gift for attracting older women. Amanda just doesn’t know how much older they really are.

When Foxy rents the garden apartment to stylish, shoe-fettishista Knot, who turns out to have a knack for talking wealthy Washington A-listers into Foxy’s antiques, it looks as if Foxy will make it on her own after all. Except that Knot is also a genius at creating problems … in his love life.

They’re a quirky threesome to be sure, but when mysterious, bumbling, Myron Standlish arrives on the scene with a suitcase full of Yiddish-isms, he brings along his own set of problems, larger and stranger than all of theirs put together. Oy vey. How will Myron’s personal journey affect their lives? Well … that’s Foxy’s Tale.

A comic, chick lit, coming-of-age, vampire tale (sort of) where family triumphs over adversity and mother and daughter learn how to face the world as grownups – together.

What people are saying …

"Foxy’s Tale is irresistible fun – full of lively characters with a knack for trouble, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and story twists that will keep you reading deep into the night."– Kim Wright Wiley, Author of Love in Mid Air

From now until April 25th, Foxy’s Tale is available for just 99 cents, so if you’re looking for a light, fun read, give it a try today!

Characterization: Every Villain a Hero, Part 1

2011-03-23T05:35:00.002-04:00

There's an old saying in fiction: every villain is the hero of his own story. I think Willem Dafoe summed it up perfectly when an interviewer asked him whether he preferred to play good guys or bad guys. "Don't make no difference," he answered. "Everybody thinks they're righteous."

And so it seems like we can take the same elements that we would apply to developing a hero and use it with a villain. In fact, that kind of sounds like fun! Why don't we do that with three of my favorite movie villains:

Rene Belloq from Raiders of The Lost Ark (the evil archaeologist). He was unscrupulous, mean-spirited and greedy...but he sure could wear the heck out of a white linen suit!

Darth Vader from Star Wars (and I mean the original trilogy, of course!). He was evil personified, scary-powerful and without mercy...and then we found out he actually had a gooey center of fatherly affection hidden under all those spare parts!

Hannibal Lecter, the penultimate villain, the cannibalistic serial killer that we all love to hate (or hate to love, as the case may be)! In this case, let's look at the Lecter that we saw/read about in Hannibal, the final installment of Thomas Harris's trilogy, since it's in that story that he's really the main villain, not just a fascinating secondary character.

GOALS

Heroes, villains, and supporting characters all want something. Whether it's to save the world (or in this case, try to take over the world) or to pick up the dry cleaning on time (or in this case...er...try to take over the world).

Belloq - In Raiders, Belloq's primary goals seem to be: 1) To discover and sell archaeological treasures. 2) To best Indiana Jones. Who can forget the line: "And so we see once again Indy, there is nothing that you can possess that I cannot take away"? Mmmm! I still get shivers!

Vader - To crush the Rebel Alliance. (He's nothing if not straightforward about that!)

Lecter - When Hannibal opens, Lecter is in Florence and his goal is to make a success of his new position as curator of the Capponi Library (and presumably to pare down the more boorish faction of the board of directors!). As the movie progresses his goal becomes to avoid the people who are trying to capture him and to "reunite" with Clarice Starling.

MOTIVATION

Underneath the goal (the thing that's being pursued and fought for) lies the motivation - the driving force behind both the goal itself and the actions that further it.

Belloq - The first thing that comes to mind as Belloq's motive is pride. He wants to be the one to open the Ark of the Covenant. He wants to conduct the ritual. It's not so much a love of history and relics that drives him, it's the reflected glory that he feels.

Vader - The power of the Dark Side - and his own anger/fear, which is what left him open to seduction by the Dark Side in the first place.

Lecter - The idea of remaking the world into his own twisted vision: a paradoxical vision filled both with horrific acts of violence and works of immense beauty. The cellist in the local symphony lacks talent? Eliminate him so that a more gifted musician can take his place. Pride also comes into play here, because Lecter's intelligence and self-control makes him almost godlike, at least in his own mind.
---------------------------------------------------
NEXT WEEK: Part 2 - What makes your villains more heroic (at least in their own minds)?

In the meantime, who are your favorite fictional villains?

Movie Monday: 1930 (November) - 3rd Academy Awards

2011-03-21T05:45:00.006-04:00

By the end of the 1930s, things seem grim. On the world scene, Nazis become the second-largest party in Germany over communists; Hitler claims he would scrap Versailles treaty if he were in charge. A giant meteorite lands deep in the Amazon rain forest; the explosion is the equivalent of 10 Hiroshima bombs.

Here in the States, the country is consumed with drought, unemployment and the re-legalization of liquor. During July and August, Arkansas receives only 35% the amount of rainfall it had in 1929; the country-wide drought cuts corn bushel output by 690 million bushels; the Federal Government allocates $121.1 million for drought relief. Secretary of Labor Doak begins plans to address the U.S. Labor void by deporting Mexican-Americans. Franklin Roosevelt (who at the time was Governor of New York) takes a stand for dry law repeal as New York Labor Union leaders demand legal beer to help create jobs. At the same time, auto plants in Detroit re-open, creating 150,000 jobs, and construction begins on the Boulder Dam. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that there are 30,000 miniature golf courses in operation, many of which earn a 300 percent return each month. In aviation, the first east-west crossing of the Atlantic is achieved; TWA is formed through a merger of three airlines.

In pop-culture, comic strip Blondie is introduced. The Chrysler Building opens to the public for the first time. On the radio are songs such as Embraceable You by George Gershwin; On the Sunny Side of the Street by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh; and Georgia on my Mind by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell.

THE 3RD ACADEMY AWARDS

The 3rd Academy Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday, November 5, 1930 in the Coconut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Wanting to make the ceremony closer to the period of time the movies were eligible for the awards (August 1, 1929 through July 31, 1930), the 3rd Academy Awards ceremony was held in November, only seven months after the second Academy Awards ceremony.

THE NOMINEES

The movies honored in this ceremony reflect the changing times: infidelity, war and the burgeoning power of women are repeating themes. It's a very interesting and diverse group of films, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

And the nominees are...

The Big House
1930
Starring: Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Robert Montgomery
Directed by: George W. Hill

Where did I find it? I bought the dvd on ebay. The movie has been fully restored; it looks and sounds wonderful.

What's it about? The movie opens with a scared young man named Kent (Robert Montgomery) being routed into prison. His crime: manslaughter. On New Year's Eve, he was drunk and ran over somebody with his car. It was a mistake he's going to pay for. Three thousand men are crammed into this prison built for 1800, and Kent is put in a cell with two of the most hardcore cons: Butch (Wallace Beery), also known as Machine Gun, is a hulking brute who's not afraid to use his fists. Convicted forger Morgan (Chester Morris) is slicker and more refined, as we see him stare down Butch we get the feeling that he could be the toughest con in the joint.

Scared and frustrated, Kent is a primed to become a snitch. A fellow inmate tells him that if he "gets the goods" on somebody they'll knock some time off his sentence. And when Morgan is about to get early release for good behavior, Kent plants a knife in his bunk. Morgan loses his early release and gets some time in solitary confinement. He knows it was Kent who betrayed him, and he promises revenge.

When Morgan gets out of solitary confinement, he manages to escape. He looks up Kent's sister Anne, and although we suspect that he's going to hurt her, instead he falls for her sweetness and beauty. He tries to go straight. Through Anne he meets the rest of Kent's family, and they befriend him as if he were one of his own. The police catch up with Morgan, and he goes back to prison, where he learns that his old friends are planning a big escape. Kent has managed to convince the boys that it was a Russian prisoner who planted the knife on Morgan, and he's been taken in on their plan to escape. Morgan urges Kent not to do anything that will cause his family any more grief. The gang gets the idea that maybe Morgan has gone soft after his time on the outside.

They try to break out, but the guards are ready for them. The cons are convinced that Morgan has turned on them. A standoff occurs. The cons threaten to kill all the guards that they are holding hostage. In the ensuing firefight, Morgan and Butch are both shot. Kent gets caught in the crossfire. As Butch lies dying, he finds out that it was actually Kent who turned them in. He apologizes to Morgan for shooting him, saying "I was only kiddn.' I didn't mean it."

The riot ends. Morgan is rightfully credited as the man who ended the bloodbath, and the rest of his sentence is suspended. He is bandaged and limping, but he is a free man. He walks out of the prison gates, and into Anne's loving arms.

What makes it special? All the conventions we've come to expect from prison-life pictures can be seen here: racing beetles to ward off boredom, messhall riots, solitary confinement (which they refer to as "the dungeon"). Although the plot meanders and is at times very unrealistic (specifically the love story between Morgan and Anne), the strength of the characters makes this a total classic, and one that I will definitely watch again.

Disraeli
1929
Starring: George Arliss, Joan Bennett, Florence Arliss
Directed by: Alfred E. Green

Where did I find it? I bought the VHS tape on ebay. Considering that it's a used VHS, the picture is not bad, but I admit I've been spoiled by the fabulous quality of all the restored dvds I've seen lately!

What's it about? England, 1874. Benjamin Disraeli has just begun his second period serving as Prime Minister, and the object most upward in his mind is securing the Suez Canal for England. With Germany and France both exhausted from war, Russia's influence is beginning to creep over the globe. Disraeli sees the Canal as the only way for England to maintain her power and security.

As a man born of Italian-Jewish descent, Disraeli already has two strikes against him. Moreover, as the movie opens he has powerful enemies arrayed against him: in addition to the Russian interests, the head of the Bank of England is determined to support Disraeli's biggest political rival. Disraeli's own clerk, Mr. Foljambe, is working as a Russian spy, and is secretly married to another spy, Mrs. Travers, who poses as a society woman with a husband abroad.

But Disraeli is not a man without friends. His biggest ally is his wife, Lady Mary (Florence Arliss, George Arliss' real-life wife). And there's the bright young Lady Clarissa (Joan Bennett). Clarissa's beau, Charles Deerfort (Anthony Bushell) is at first in fiery opposition to everything Disraeli stands for. But Disraeli engages the young man as a secretary and the two quickly become great allies.

Disraeli receives word that the time is ripe for England to purchase the Canal. He goes to Lord Michael Probert, head of the Bank of England, and asks for a loan. Probert refuses, so Disraeli turns to an old friend, Sir Hugh Myers, a private banker, who agrees to lend England the money. Foljambe and Mrs. Travers catch wind of the deal, and Foljambe flees to Egypt to disclose the information. Disraeli sends the young Deerfort after him, to overtake him and bargain on England's behalf.

At first it seems as if the plan will be successful: Disraeli receives a coded telegram that the deal had been made and Myers' check has been accepted by Egypt. But then tragedy strikes: Myers arrives and tells Disraeli that the ship which carried the gold bullion intended to secure England's loan has been sunk: deliberately scuttled to prevent England from making good on her financial promise. Not to be outdone, Disraeli calls for Lord Michael Probert and forces him to sign the note guaranteeing the loan. The Bank of England operates under the permissions of Parliament, and Disraeli is not exactly without influence there.

Probert signs the guarantee, and England becomes the owner of the Suez Canal. Lady Mary falls ill, but she harnesses her strength and joins her husband at a ball in his honor. They go to greet the Queen together.

What makes it special? George Arliss won the Best Actor Oscar for this role. He had played Disraeli several times in his acting career: at least twice on stage, and in a 1921 silent version of this film. He portrays the Parlimentarian as a man of great charisma and intelligence, with a self-deprecating sense of humor and a keen insight into human nature. I think that above all else, it's really Arliss' performance that makes this a great film.

The Divorcee
1930
Starring: Norma Shearer, Chester Morris, Robert Montgomery
Directed by: Robert Z. Leonard

Where did I find it? It's on Netflix as a Norma Shearer double-feature, paired with A Free Soul. This disc also includes a wonderful commentary of The Divorcee which is too good to miss!

What's it about? The movie opens in 1925, when Ted (Chester Morris) and Jerry (Norma Shearer) become engaged at a house party. Their joy is marred, first by the brooding unhappiness of Paul (Conrad Nagel), Jerry's former boyfriend, and second by a tragic car crash: Paul, having tried to drown his sorrows, causes an accident which leaves their giddy, pretty friend Dorothy permanently disfigured. Paul marries Dorothy while she's still in the hospital, while Ted and Jerry marry in a lavish church ceremony.

Three years later, Jerry and Ted are still happily married with careers of their own. But in a moment of drunken weakness, Ted is unfaithful. Jerry finds out, and although she tries to be modern and put the whole thing behind her, she has a drunken, weak moment of her own with their friend Don (Robert Montgomery). In a rush of guilt, Jerry confesses to Ted, "I've balanced our accounts." Ted and Jerry find that their relationship can't stand their mutual infidelity. In an emotional scene, Jerry watches Ted pack his bags, and says, "Don't let's talk of men and women. They do all sorts of things. We've got to live our own life, dear, there's so much of it ahead." And later, when she knows that reconciliation is hopeless, she throws clothes into his open suitcase utters a famous line: "So look for me in the future where the primroses grow, and pack your man's pride with the rest. And from now on, you're the only man in the world that my door is closed to."

They get divorced. Jerry is now officially The Divorcee, and she and Ted embark on their own voyages of promiscuity...and pain. For Jerry this comes to a head when she is unexpectedly reunited with Paul on a train. She breaks down and realizes how tired and unhappy she is. She and Paul begin a committed - if adulterous (Paul is still married to Dorothy) - relationship. Paul has been offered a job in the Far East and Jerry's company is willing to transfer her to the overseas office. They decide to marry; Paul has told Jerry that Dorothy is very willing to divorce him.

But this is proved to be false when Dorothy shows up at the apartment that Jerry and Paul have been sharing. Wearing a black veil to hide her disfigurement, Dorothy asks Paul not to leave her; he has been the only happiness that she's known in her life. Jerry realizes that she's been missing her own happiness: Ted. And regardless of whether Paul and Dorothy stay together or not, she will never be happy again unless she reunites with her ex-husband.

She goes to Paris in search of Ted. She finds him at a New Year's Eve party. She tells him she's been miserable without him and wants to him back. Ted says, "Are you sure, Jerry? Because I'd give my right arm for a second chance." And she replies, "I'm awfully fond of that arm. How about putting it around me?"

What makes it special? This film was based on the novel Ex-Wife, which was so scandelous on its release that it was published under the name Anonymous. The author, Ursula Parrot, couldn't reveal her name until the book had achieved best-seller status. That says a lot about the subject matter, and the times in which this film was released. For all that, this is a startlingly modern film, with sophisticated themes and a timeless dilemma. It handles the subject of infidelity with delicacy and grace and gives a peek into 1930s life that we don't usually get to see.

The Love Parade
1929
Starring: Maruice Chevalier, Jeanette McDonald, Lupino Lane
Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch

Where did I find it? I rented the dvd from Netflix.

What's it about? Count Alfred Renard (Maurice Chevalier) is living in Paris on a diplomatic assignment from the mythical country of Sylvania. He has developed a reputation for amorous exploits; but when he romances the wrong Lord's wife, he is sent packing back to his home country. Queen Louise (Jeanette McDonald) is a young and headstrong ruler. Her royal cabinet have been trying to marry her off so she can produce an heir, but Louise is having none of that. When she meets the handsome, charismatic Count Renard, however, everything changes.

They marry. Renard is blissful at first, but he quickly becomes bored with his role as "first husband." While his wife is always off on affairs of state, he is relegated to playing tennis and being fitted for uniforms. Things come to a head when Renard bursts in on a meeting that Louise is having with her cabinet. They are discussing Sylvania's finances, and arranging to borrow money from another country. Renard insists he has worked out a way that Sylvania can increase its industry and therefore not have to go into debt. Louise orders him out of the room but he refuses to go. Finally she tells him that there is an affair of state that evening at the Opera House. It's vital for him to be there with a smile on his face. But after that, he can do as he pleases - he can even return to Paris if he wants.

Renard packs his bags and leaves the palace. Who does Louise think he is, to be ordered around in such a manner? But his love for his wife and his home country win in the end, and he appears at the Opera House as requested. Afterwards, Louise and Renard reconcile. She promises to include him in all parts of her life - including her duties as a ruler.

What makes it special? This is widely considered to be the first muscial in which the songs were integrated with the story. It was also the first big hit for Maurice Chevalier, whose songs Thank Heaven for Little Girls and I Remember it Well from the 1958 movie Gigi cemented his place in our culture as the ultimate Frenchman.

All of this is well and good, but the thing that made this the most special to me was the song-and-dance work of Lupino Lane, who plays Renard's valet Jacques, and Lillian Roth, who plays Lulu, a palace maid. I found a clip from their best number on YouTube. The really great dancing starts around 3 minutes 45 seconds.

And the winner is....

All Quiet on the Western Front
1930
Starring: Louis Wolheim, Lew Ayres, John Wray
Directed by: Lewis Milestone

Where did I find it? I rented the dvd from Netflix.

What's it about? Based on one of the most famous anti-war novels of all time, this movie follows a group of young German students who volunteer to be soldiers during World War One.

As the movie opens, we see a classroom full of young men who are on the receiving end of what amounts to a high-pressure sales pitch, as their teacher extols the virtues of soldiering, and urges them all to join up and fight for their country. When the boys' unofficial leader, Paul Baumer (Lew Ayres) hesitantly agrees to join, the others enthusiastically follow suite.

What follows is a story we've seen many times since this tale was first brought to film: innocent youth, gung-ho and sure they're going to enjoy the glory of war, is gradually exposed to the horrific reality of warfare: hunger, and pain, and death. In one memorable scene, Baumer is trapped in a foxhole with enemy troops swarming in. He watches them jump over his hiding place, and he prays that they don't look down and find him. When he is finally seen and someone comes to kill him, Baumer wounds his would-be assassin, incapacitating him. The two of them are trapped together for hours, and Baumer ends up taking care of the man who tried to kill him. The soldier eventually dies of his wounds, leaving Baumer shaken and stricken with grief, making desperate promises to care for the dead man's family.

The misery doesn't end on the battlefield. When Baumer goes home on leave after being wounded, he finds that he no longer fits at home, in this place that's been relatively untouched by war. His father's friends pull out a map and argue over battle tactics, telling Baumer that he and his fellow soldiers must be strong and stick it out. It's just a game to them; they haven't seen what he's seen. In his old classroom, the teacher who once urged him to join the army and defend his country, now asks him to speak to a new class of young men, and share with them the glory of being a war hero. He tries to explain that there's nothing glorious about being a soldier. All of his friends are dead; where's the glory in that? But he merely ends up confusing the students and infuriating his former teacher.

And so Baumer goes back to the battlefield, back to the only world he understands. In a foxhole, he sees a butterfly land on a clump of dirt. His smiles. His hand reaches out for it...reaches...then a shot rings out, and the hand goes slack.

What makes it special? Germany banned this picture in December of 1930. In retrospect, this is a chilling gesture, hinting at the infamous propaganda and harrowing years of war that would come from that country soon after. In a way it's also complimentary of this movie, in as much as banning the picture validates its power to communicate an anti-war message.

Lew Ayres, the star of this film, was himself hugely influenced by this message. Although in 1929 Ayres starred opposite Greta Garbo in The Kiss, playing Paul Baumer in 1930 was his big break. The actor was deeply affected by content of the film, and when World War Two broke out, he served as a conscientious objector. In 1938 he had starred in The Young Dr. Kildare, and since then he had made over half a dozen more Kildare films. He was well on his way to super-stardom, but his objector status reportedly "outraged" America, and movie theatres refused to run his films. He served as a medic under fire in the South Pacific, and later as a chaplain's assisant in New Guinea and the Phillipines. When he returned home he found that roles for him were scarce, until Olivia de Haviland asked him to co-star in her 1946 film The Dark Mirror. After that, movie roles for him were still hard to find, but he managed to work steadily. He never lost his willingness to go against the status quo, either: an opportunity to play Dr. Kildare on television was lost when Ayres requested that there be no cigarette sponsorship for the show.

Aside from the fascinating story of its star, All Quiet on the Western Front is a movie that stayed with me for quite some time after I watched it. It's a stark, gritty film that doesn't shy away from the brutality of its subject. And in many ways, it's the grandfather of all the great war epics that came after it.

------------------------------

Stages of a Writers Career, Part 3: Published and Promoting

2011-03-16T05:45:00.011-04:00

And so not only have you finished your first novel, you have actually published it - whether on your own, or with a publisher. Wow, those are both huge accomplishments. Now all that's left for you to do is to sell your work to the reading public!

Um, er, and how does one do that, exactly?

Part 3: Promoting Your Book

Challenges - Well for starters, there are the two biggies: time and money. Effective promotion can cost a lot, both in hours and in dollars. And how do you know if what you're investing in will pay off in book sales?

There's also, again, the issue of volume. There are a lot of writers trying to sell a lot of books. If your particular book isn't on the front racks of Barnes & Noble, how are readers going to find you?

Helpful Hints - Most of these ideas I got from talking to other writers, and if you're feeling lost, other writers are always a good place to start. Bounce ideas off each other - chances are, you have tried some things that others haven't, and vice versa! And in the meantime, here are a few other things you can consider:

Find your brand. You may have heard this before. But what does it mean? Well, the simplest definition is this: it's your identity as a writer. Your brand is intimately tied to the genre in which you write. And no gender-bias intended, but this appears to be much more important for female writers than it is for male. Men tend to be "horror novelists," or "science fiction authors." Their name and writing style itself tends to become their brand. Not so for women. We may be "horror novelists" and "sci fi authors," but for some reason we have to code ourselves as "romantic thriller writers," or "paranormal authors." Why is this? Your guess is as good as mine! (And if you think that this is a bogus observation, feel free to discard it.)

You can get a good idea of how writers are branding themselves by checking out their websites. For example, the following brands are evident on the websites of these bestselling authors: Brenda Novak - "Sophisticated, evocative romantic suspense." Debbie Macomber - "Wherever you are, Debbie brings you home." We could probably do a whole blog about this subject in an of itself. But the bottom line is, finding your personal brand will help your readers identify with you, and that will make them more likely to want to buy your books.

Explore the Internet. Ah, the majestic power of the mighty Interweb! Where would we be without it? (Back in 1989, I guess!) Explore the Internet and find where readers are hanging out, and where writers are meeting up with them and getting to know their public. Facebook, Goodreads, Kindleboards, Amazon discussion threads are all good places to start. Remember to be friendly and polite: readers respond better to writers who aren't only trying to hock their wares. Learn the etiquette of whatever website you find, and you could find your public, ravenous for your books!

Figure out what works for you. Promotion can take hours and hours and cost lots of money. Don't try to be everywhere and do everything. Take it slow, see what's out there, and figure out what will work for your time and budget.

If you like, you can start by telling us, here on this blog, a little about your book!

Read more about writing:
Stages of a Writers Career, Part 2: Publishing for the First Time
Stages of a Writers Career, Part 1: Finishing Your First Novel
See all of Misha's writing blogs.

Movie Monday: 1930 (April) - 2nd Academy Awards

2011-03-14T05:45:00.002-04:00

Well, we're only two weeks into this cinematic adventure, and I'm already learning a lot! In 1930, there were actually two - that's right, two - Academy Award ceremonies! The first ceremony (and the one on which this week's blog focuses) honored films released between August 1, 1928 and July 31, 1929.

1930 (January - June): A BRIEF RECAP

Seeing as how there were two Oscar ceremonies in 1930, we'll split our recap into two parts.  After all, it's only fair! Here are a few things that happened in just the first six months of 1930:

Charles Lindbergh arrives in New York, setting the cross country flyig record of 14.75 hours.  Anna Christie, Greta Garbo's first talking picture, opens in the United States. Her first line in the film? "Gif me a visky, ginger ale on the side, and don' be stingy, baby." In March, Mahatma Ghandi and a group of followers begin the Salt March, a trek to the sea where they intend to manufacture salt in defiance of the British government's monopoly on salt production. Ghandi is arrested by the British in May. President Hoover assures the public that the worst effects of the Depression will be over within 90 days: "Prosperity is just around the corner," he says. Scientists report the discovery of a ninth planet (Pluto) at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 (also knowns as the Hays Code) is adopted by the film industry. Movie ticket prices began to decline after the stock market crash of October 1929; in March 1930 they are around 27 cents each.

THE 1930 ACADEMY AWARDS

The 2nd Academy Awards were presented on April 3, 1930. Unlike the 1929 Oscars, the winners were not announced in advance. The ceremony was broadcast live on the radio; it honored films released between August 1, 1928 and July 31, 1929. Since these awards were given out more than eight months after the end of the eligibility period, it was decided that the next ceremony would be held only a few months later, in November. As a result, 1930 became the only year in which two Academy Awards celebrations were held.

Another notable (and mysterious!) thing about the second Oscar celebration is that it's the only year in which there was no official list of nominees! Later research by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences would result in an unofficial list of nominees, based on records of which films were evaluated by the judges. And these are the films that I watched this week.

THE NOMINEES

Included with this list is a movie which I couldn't see: The Patriot (1928). Unfortunately it's one of those films that's never been released on home video, probably because they don't have a film print that's complete enough to restore. The movie is listed below, with a little bit of info.

And the nominees are....

The Patriot
1928
Starring: Emil Jannings, Lewis Stone and Florence Vidor
Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch

What's it about? In 18th-century Russia, Czar Paul I (Emil Jannings) is a brutal yet pathetic dictator, who holds the mighty country tightly in his tyrannical grasp. His friend, Count Pahlen (Lewis Stone), begins to question whether the Czar should be allowed to rule. The Count joins a plot to assasinate his friend - a plot hampered by the beautiful Countess Osterman (Florence Vidor, former wife of the great King Vidor, who directed films from 1913 to 1980).

What makes it special?  It was the last silent film to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar; it won the award for Best Writing Achievement. You can read more about it in this article by Gabriel Ruzin. And although the film itself is lost to history, the trailer remains. I've included it here:

The Hollywood Revue of 1929
1929
Starring: Conrad Nagel, Jack Benny, Joan Crawford, and a whole slew of MGM contract players.
Directed by: Charles Reisner

Where did I find it? I bought the DVD on eBay. The quality of sound and picture was excellent.

What's it about? It's a good, old-fashioned singing and dancing variety show. Co-hosts were Conrad Nagel (the handsome leading man who would go on to star in at least one more Best Picture Nominee, 1930's The Divorcee) and funnyman Jack Benny, whose television show The Jack Benny Program ran for fifteen years. There were over a dozen acts in this one, and it would be a bit difficult to give you a summary of each one. But for me, some of the highlights were these:

A young and incredibly elegant Joan Crawford does a musical number - singing, dancing and showing off her gorgeous legs. Comedienne Marion Davies, who was W.R. Hurst's longtime romantic companion, does a perky tapdance number. And Laurel and Hardy do a bit that ends up with Hardy slipping on a banana peel and falling face-first into a giant cake covered with whipped cream.

One of my favorite segments was a scene where Norma Shearer and John Gilbert do the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. Then someone yells cut, and they walk "off camera" and have a talk with the director, played by Lionel Barrymore, who says that the studio has re-written the script. "The kids don't like this Shakespeare stuff," says Barrymore. "The studio wants the scene to be more modern." So back Norma and John go to the balcony, where the re-do the scene...in 1929-modern teenage slang! I must admit that I laughed out loud. And you know what makes this segment extra-amazing? It was done in color!

What makes it special? I'm actually not a huge fan of musicals, but in spite of that, and regardless of the fact that the jokes were corny (which is natural, considering that they were old even when this one was filmed!), this is a real treasure. To think that all of these great stars were captured together, on the same piece of moviemaking. If you're a fan of musical variety shows, you should definitely look this one up if you get the chance!
....

Alibi
1929
Starring: Chester Morris, Harry Stubbs, Eleanor Griffith
Directed by: Roland West

Where did I find it? This was the first of my Movie Monday films that I was able to find on Netflix! The picture quality was good, but the sound went in and out. However, considering the age of the movie I was very happy with it.

What's it about? Handsome prohibition gangster Chick Williams (Chester Morris) has just gotten out of prison and returned to the loving arms of his mob family. With his new-found freedom and a gorgeous gal on his arm, he seems to have the world at his fingertips. His new girl, Joan Manning (Eleanor Griffith), is the daughter of a police sergeant, but that doesn't prevent her from being a wide-eyed innocent who fully believes Chick when he says he was framed by the "coppers."

During a warehouse robbery, a policeman is killed. Chick is suspected, but Joan gives him an alibi, saying that he was at the theatre with her when the robbery took place. And then, in an act of defiance against her father, she drops one more bombshell: she and Chick have gotten married.

During a taut, terrifying interrogation of a petty crook, police secure testimony that Chick is the shooter. Fearful that Joan's alibi may not be able to hold, Chick and his cronies attempt to secure another "witness" on his behalf, but they make their biggest mistake in soliciting the help of an affable drunk who is actually undercover police officer Danny McGann (Regis Toomey). Joan knows that McGann is a cop. She wants to keep his secret but accidentally gives him away.

McGann is killed. Joan doesn't want to believe in Chick's guilt, but when she threatens to defy him, he shows his true colors. "I killed that cop," he tells her, taking joy in watching Joan's faith disappear. "You're my wife and you'll do what I tell you."

At that moment the cops bust in. They take Chick prisoner, but he escapes, making his way up to the roof. He tries to jump from one building to the next, but he misses, and plunges to his death in the alley below.

What makes it special? This flick was what's known as a "transitional talkie." It was filmed both with sound and as a silent picture. It's also credited as being the first Impressionist gangster film, which means (as near as I can tell!) that it has a kind of avant gard aesthetic quality. The exterior night backgrounds are hand-drawn in what I call the "comic book style."

Lines between good and bad are blurred in this film. The criminals are definitely portrayed as villians, but the police aren't much better. The scene where they force an implication of Chick out of a petty criminal, by threatening to shoot him, is pretty brutal. Of course we've seen that kind of scene a million times in movies since then, but at the time it must have seemed especially shocking and gritty, and it still packs a heavy punch today.

Chester Morris, who plays Chick Williams, is definitely the standout actor in this picture. (We'll see him again in the 3rd Academy awards with the movie The Divorcee.) On screen he goes from urbane young man wrongly accused of criminal activity, to tough-guy mobster as he plots his alibi with his cronies, to smirking villian as he confesses his crimes to his wife, and ends up as just another cowering, pathetic crook as he bargains with the police for his life then tries to make a getaway. In the hands of a lesser actor these transitions would have been impossible, but he pulls it off. He was nominated for Best Actor (he lost to Warner Baxter, star of In Old Arizona).

The seeds of many future gangster flicks, most notably The Departed, can be seen in this movie. On its own merits it drags a bit, but anyone interested in early crime pictures will definitely want to check this one out!
...
In Old Arizona
1928
Starring: Warner Baxter, Edmund Lowe, Dorothy Burgess
Directed by: Irving Cummings

Where did I find it?  I rented the dvd from Netflix. The picture was good - especially the wide shots of the Arizona landscape. The sound had undergone restoration and is in great shape.

What's it about? The Cisco Kid (Warner Baxter) is the "Robin Hood of the Old West." With a $5000 price on his head, he could be the most wanted man in Arizona. But this is no callous badman, no ruthless villian: he's a gallant and gracious thief. While holding up a stagecoach at the beginning of the film, he assures the occupants that he never steals from passengers; all he wants is the Wells Fargo gold. He even goes so far as to buy a brooch from one of the young ladies riding in the stagecoach before riding off with his good manners intact, and the stolen gold tucked into his saddlebags.

Army Sergeant Mickey Dunn (Edmund Lowe) is dispatched to bring the Kid to justice. The two meet in a barber shop, where the Kid is getting himself all cleaned up to go and visit his lady love. Of course, the Cisco Kid is well aware that Dunn is hunting him, but the good Sergeant doesn't realize that this affable Mexican gentleman is actually the bandit he's looking for until after his prey had ridden away.

The Kid goes to visit Tonia Maria, the girl he loves best. Not realizing that she's been unfaithful to him in his absence, he showers her with gifts and affection. As a favor to him, she goes to take a message to Mickey Dunn, and she and Dunn hit it off. They conspire together to capture the Cisco Kid. But he gets wind of the plan, and executes a complex revenge, tricking Dunn into shooting Tonia Maria.

What makes it special? Warner Baxter won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in this picture, and he does seem to hit all the right notes as the charasmatic anti-hero. He's a dead-eye shot, a generous tipper, and he can carry a tune like nobody's business. Baxter manages to balance the Kid's borderline-buffoon quality with the dark underbelly of the man betrayed.

Another interesting thing about this film is that it's apparently the first all-sound Western (although it's really more of a tragic love story than a shoot-'em-up cowboy flick). One sound effect in particular, that of ham and eggs sizzling on a stove, must have caused quite a sensation. It was a real techical achievement.

And I can't leave this film without mentioning again the extraordinary footage of the America Southwest. They are clear and beautiful and altogether remarkable - what a wonderful job of photography and restoration!

And the winner is...

The Broadway Melody
1929
Starring: Charles King, Anita Page, Bessie Love
Directed by: Harry Beaumont

Where did I find it? Netflix

What's it about? Feisty and ambitious Harriet "Hank" Mahoney (Bessie Love) and her shy, beautiful sister Queenie (Anita Page) bring their sister act to New York with dreams of making it big on Broadway. Hank's boyfriend Eddie Kerns (Charles King) has a job in a Broadway revue called the Zanfield Follies. Although Hank and Eddie have been together for awhile, when Eddie and Queenie see each other it's love at first sight. But they don't breathe a word about their feelings.

Eddie manages to bring the girls into the show, but things don't stay rosy very long. Hank's stage time is reduced, while Queenie's is increased. In an effort to keep her feelings for Eddie at bay, Queenie allows a rich investor, Jock Warriner, to court her. Hank watches with horror as Queenie descends from young innocent toward kept woman. She struggles to keep Queenie the same girl she's always been, but Queenie fights her every step of the way.

Jock has gifted Queenie with a luxurious new apartment. On the night that she's supposed to move in, he throws her a party. Hank and Eddie try to keep her from leaving the theatre and going to the soiree. There's a terrible fight, and Hank realizes that Eddie is in love with her sister.

Queenie escapes and runs off to the party. Hank tells Eddie, "If I were in love with someone the way you are with Queenie, I'd go after them and do whatever I had to to get them back." Eddie hugs her and runs out the door to be with the girl he loves. He arrives at the party just as Jock is about to force himself on Queenie. Eddie saves her, getting himself pretty well beaten up in the process, and they leave together.

Months later, Hank is pacing anxiously in her apartment. Eddie and Queenie rush in, freshly back from their honeymoon. The reunion is awkward but happy. And Hank can't stay long - after all, she has a new partner and they're about to leave for a brand new tour. But Hank is sure she'll be back on Broadway before too long. "It's cream in the can, baby," she says pluckily.

What makes it special? This was MGM's first all-talking musical feature. It was also the first musical to spawn sequals: Broadway Melody of 1938 (which will appear on our blog in a few weeks) and Broadway Melody of 1940.

Of all the movies I've seen so far for this blog, Broadway Melody was the most modern, and that made it - for me, at least - the most enjoyable. It's a story about sisterly devotion (Hank and Queenie are both willing to give up the man they love so that the other can be happy), and it's a story about the kind of courage that's needed to follow your dreams and still maintain your integrity. I thought it was great!
----------------
Next week: war, infidelity and the ultimate Frenchman! (How's that for a teaser?)

Great Reads Friday: After by Marita Golden

2011-03-11T05:45:00.006-05:00

Growing up in Washington, D.C. Marita Golden's gifts as a writer were recognized when she was a child and encouraged by her parents. Her mother told her when she was twelve, that one day she was going to write a book. From poems and articles in the high school and college newspapers, Golden moved in her twenties to free-lance writing for publications as diverse as Essence and the New York Times. She is also the author of fourteen books of fiction and nonfiction. The Black Caucus of the American Library Association awarded Marita Golden an Honor for GUMBO an anthology of fiction by African American writers which she edited with the late E. Lynn Harris, and the Literary Award for Fiction for her novel After. And it's this book that I'm so thrilled to share with you as this week's Great Read!

For twelve years Carson Blake inhabited a world of his own creation. Scorned by the father who was incapable of showing him affection and nearly consumed by the mean streets of Prince George’s County, Maryland, Carson did what no one else could: he saved himself.

After joining the police force and building a family with his wife, Bunny, Carson is finally in control of his life in the enclave where African American wealth and privilege shares the same zip code with black American crime and tragedy. Both Carson and his wife have great careers and three beautiful children: Roslyn, Roseanne, and Juwan. Carson is a devoted father, determined not to be the father that Jimmy Blake was to him. But while Juwan’s astounding artistic talent is his father’s pride, the boy’s close relationship with classmate Will conjures up emotions and questions in Carson that threaten to spill over and poison the entire Blake family.

And then, one night in March, nearing the end of a routine shift, Carson stops a young black man for speeding. He orders Paul Houston to exit the car and drop to his knees. But when Houston retrieves something from his waistband and turns to face Carson, three shots are fired, one man loses his life and two families are wrenched from everything that came before and hurled into the haunting future of everything that will come after. When it is revealed that Paul, a son of educators and a teacher in Southeast D.C., was only holding a cell phone, Carson’s carefully woven world begins to unravel.

After is a penetrating work of discovery for a man whose life careens more than once off the edge of disaster. Golden’s astounding prose will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

What do readers say?

"The plight of the black man has never been as magnified as it is in recent times. Albeit, and with much fanfare, there have been a plethora of books detailing the ills but rarely solutions. Now comes a brilliant story told from the imaginative mind of erudite scribe, Marita Golden with a book entitled, AFTER. This, her latest offering delves into the life of Carson Blake fighting demons that threaten to consume him lest a plan of salvation can be part of saving grace. Urban angst, coupled with dysfunctional familial life can wreck havoc and leave scars that are definitive of years of strife. Much should be said about the brilliance of illuminating light when a stand is made for challenge and change. Blake's stupendous effort to do just that makes this novel worth reading for redeeming value and for the mere triumphant nature of another black man pulled up from the depths of despair." - A.C.R

Check out Marita's website to find out more!

Or buy AFTER today from Amazon.com!

Stages of a Writer's Career, Part 2: Publishing for the First Time

2011-03-09T05:45:00.006-05:00

Okay, so you've finished your first novel (or your first big writing project). Before we go any further, let me say: congratulations! Just think about how many years you spent thinking, "If I could just finish that first book...." And now you've done it!

So what's next?

Part 2: Publishing (or Getting Published) for the First Time

Challenges - Few things in life are as challenging as trying getting published. The frustrations are many, and the victories are few and far between. First, there's the sheer volume of competition. Trying to land a major book deal is kind of like shooting an arrow at an apple from a mile away, while 5000 other people are aiming for the same apple!

There's also the "time factor." Some agents and publishers will take six months to a year to respond to your initial query. If they request the manuscript, it could be another six months to a year before you hear back. And if you're offered a contract, it will likely be a year or more before your book goes into print (and before you get the final installment of your advance, if you've been offered one).

Helpful hints - Well, I've painted kind of a dark picture, here, but please don't despair! There are a few tried-and-true things that writers can do to ease the journey along the road to publication:

Name your genre. This can be difficult for many writers. It was for me! After all, your work is unique, and many books don't fit into a neat little genre box. But imagine this: You're selling a car. A prospective customer asks, "What kind of car is it?" If you say, "It's difficult to describe," you've probably lost your sale. If you say, "It's a four-door sedan," you have a much better chance of moving that baby! And it's the same for readers, publishers and agents. They want to know what it is they're buying. So study up on genres, find one that seems to fit your work, and then go with it.

And if you're having trouble figuring out which genre is right for your work, pick a book that is similar to yours and look it up on Amazon to see in which category it's listed. That will at least give you a place to start.

Work out your "blurb." There are two ways that writers use the word "blurb." One is short review that can be used to promote the book. (As in, "I'm so excited! Stephen King gave me a blurb!") And the other way refers to a short, gripping description of your story. It's what which will appear in your query letter. It is usually two or three paragraphs. It describes your story, draws in your readers, gives publishers and agents a sample of your writing skill. Read the backs of DVD cases and books to get an idea of how the pros do it, and work your blurb until it's perfect!

Get your manuscript edited and/or proofread. Unfortunately, yes, this does cost money. A professional editor may charge anywhere from one to three dollars per page (sometimes more). But having a set of experienced, impartial eyes look over our work can prove to be invaluable. Trying to judge which chapters to cut can be like asking yourself which of your fingers you're willing to do without. You want your manuscript to be as tight, as professional and as ready for the presses as possible!

In later blogs we can talk more about genres and about publishing options for writers.
----------------
Do you have any stories (be they mystery, comedy, or horror) about getting published?

Movie Monday: 1929 - 1st Academy Awards

2011-03-07T05:45:00.062-05:00

Wow, my first Movie Monday blog! I'm so excited!

There are two movies we're talking about this week: two of the three movies that were nominated for the first Best Picture Oscar! (The third movie, The Racket, is supposed to be on its way from a rare movies web dealer. I ordered it awhile ago but it's taking it's sweet time getting here. Well, I guess it's traveling all the way from 1928, so we should really give it a break, right? I've listed it below but obviously I couldn't give it the full treatment that the other two films received. When it gets here I will do a special edition of Movie Monday and we'll enjoy it then!)

And so on with the show!

I'm sort of making up the rules for this blog on the fly, and I'm looking forward to evolving it as we go along, so please feel free to leave honest feedback. Is there something more you'd like to see? Something less? Let me know!

At first I wasn't going to talk about the endings of the movies, thinking that maybe folks would prefer to see the films for themselves, and not have the endings spoiled. But to be honest, I sometimes find it annoying when I read articles about movies that don't tell me how the story ends - especially if the film is hard to find, or something I may not ever see for myself. And so, fairly warned be thee, says I: for here be spoilers!

In later blogs, I don't know if I will achieve the level of detail in my descriptions of the stories as I did in this one. I only had two movies to write about this week; next week it will be five, and before long it will be ten per week! (Hmmm, I may have to take a leave of absence from work to really see this thing through. Well, if it's gotta be done, it's gotta be done....)

1929: A BRIEF RECAP

1929 was a a year of tragedy and triumph. Wyatt Earp died and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born. Seven mobsters were gunned down in what became known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, and the first nonstop flight from England to India was completed. In January, Herbert Hoover was inaugurated; in the inagural parade, he and his wife rode through the pouring rain in an open carriage. On with the Show, the first all-color, full-sound movie debuted in New York. The prosperous Jazz Age came to a close and the Great Depression began when the stock market crashed in October. Babe Ruth hit his 500th major league home run against the Cleveland Indians. Movie tickets cost around 35 cents each. And on May 16, 1929, the very first Academy Awards ceremony was held.

THE 1929 ACADEMY AWARDS

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences was established in 1927. By then, of course, the motion picture business was going strong. It had been almost a full century since moving images were first produced on revolving drums and disks in the 1830s, and more than two decades had passed since "The Nickelodeon" - the first successful, permanent theatre showing nothing but films - opened in Pittsburg in 1905. In those days, programs were about thirty minutes long, and consisted of several films which were several minutes each. During World War One, the exhibition of films changed from short programs to the feature-length films we know and love today. Those films were part of the Silent Era, of course, but by the end of 1929, Hollywood would become almost all "talkie."

Louis B. Mayer reportedly claimed that the Academy Awards were more or less a way to manipulate actors and directors. "I found the best way to handle [them] was to hang medals all over them."

Hmmm, well, at least he was trying to catch his flies with honey (although I'm sure he used his fair share of vinegar, too!).

The first Academy Award ceremony honored the best films of 1927 and 1928. Nominees were notified by telegram in February 1928, judging started in August of that year, and winners were announced in February 1929, over two months before the actual awards ceremony.

THE NOMINEES

For some reason I wasn't expecting a lot from these first few films. Although I've seen - and loved - many silent films, somehow I was anticipating three overly-melodramatic stories with cartoonish acting and cardboard sets. I couldn't have been more wrong!

Watching these movies I was reminded again and again of a scene in Hollywood Boulevard (one of my favorite films and a contender for the 1950 Best Picture Oscar). Joe Gillis (William Holden) is trying to add dialgoue to a monsterously overblow script which Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) sees as her sure-fire comback to the bigtime. She scoffs at his attempts, saying scornfully, "Words! We didn't need words! We had faces."

Oh, how true that was! The faces in these films could recite a dozen lines of dialogue with the pressing together of trembling lips, or the starry shine of suppressed tears in the corner of an eye. I am so thankful that these movies have been preserved so that I can watch them now, nearly a century after they were made.

And the nominees are....

The Racket
1928
Starring: Thomas Meighan, Louis Wolheim and Marie Prevost
Directed by: Lewis Milestone

What's it about? An honest police captain vows to bring down a powerful bootlegger who is protected by corrupt politicians and judges.

What makes it special? It was produced by the legendary Howard Hughes. According to my research, only one copy of the film is known to exist, and that one was found in Hughes' private collection after his death. The film was restored, and it was broadcast on Turner Classic Movies in 2004 and 2006 - the first public showing of the film in decades. Oooh, I can't wait to see it!
....

7th Heaven
1927
Starring: Charles Farrell, Janet Gaynor (winner, Best Actress for Sunrise, that same year)
Directed by: Frank Borzage (winner, Best Director)

Where did I find it? I bought the dvd on eBay. Generally speaking the video quality was good, but there was some distracting flicker and darkness in the corners of the screen. It's wonderfully orchestrated, however, with crashing symbols punctuating explosions, and subtle sound effects playing up the striking of the clock.

What's it about? Based on a stage play and set in Paris, this is a "feel-good" wartime romance about having faith and fighting for what you believe. Chico (Charles Farrell) is a strapping young man who works cleaning the sewers. He dreams only of being a street washer, so that he can work above ground in the sunshine and fresh air. "That's where I should be," he tells Rat, his faithful friend. "After all, I'm a very remarkable fellow!"

Diane (Janet Gaynor) lives in abject poverty, at the mercy of her cruel and alcoholic sister Nana (Gladys Brockwell). When we first meet Diane, she is cowering on a filthy floor, being whipped by Nana. "Stop your whining about stolen goods," Nana orders when her arm has grown tired. She hands Diane a bag. "Take these and buy me some absinthe!" A possible end to their destitution arrives in the form of a rich aunt and uncle. But Diane's honesty ruins their chance. "Tell me, have you girls kept yourselves clean and decent?" the uncle asks. "If you haven't I won't have you in my home." Although Nana is twisting Diane's arm painfully behind her back, Diane can't bring herself to lie. She tearfully shakes her head no, admitting in that moment that both girls have debased themselves in their struggle for survival. Nana is so incensed that Diane has thrown away their golden ticket, that she chases her down the street and tries to strangle her.

Witnessing the scene, Chico steps in and saves Diane's life. Gradually, the two of them fall in love. Before they can get married, however, war breaks out, and Chico must leave to fight. An open and defiant atheist, Chico declares "I'm going to give God one more chance. Let this be a successful marriage!" Instead of rings, he and Diane exchange religous medals. As he walks out the door, he turns to look at her and says, "Let me fill my eyes with you one last time!" And he promises that every day, at eleven AM, he will come to her and they will be together in their own Heaven.

No sooner has Chico departed than Nana returns, with the same riding crop she used to use to beat her sister. She pulls the religious medal off Diane's neck and starts to strike her, but Diane is having none of that. She takes the crop away and drives Nana to the door, snatching her medal back and pushing her sad excuse for a sister down the stairs and out of her life. She rushes to the window and watches below as troops are marching out of Paris. She holds the medal triumpantly in the air. "Chico!" she cries, as if he can hear her, "I'm brave! I'm brave!"

Years go by. Chico is a corporal, fighting in the thick of battle. Diane works in the munitions factory. But every day, as the clock strikes eleven, they grasp their medals and look upward, thinking of each other.

Chico is wounded in a terrible battle. He manages to crawl into the foxhole, where he pulls off his medal and give it to an officer. "Tell Madam Chico that I died looking up," he says.

Back in Paris, on the day that the Armistice is declared, Diane gets the news that her beloved husband has died. At first she won't believe it, but when the priest gives her his medal, she breaks down. She denies her belief in God, and declares that she thought Chico had come to her every day at eleven, but that she was fool. "I'm right back at the beginning," she says, slumped over in defeat.

Down in the street, Chico pushes his way through the crowd that is celebrating the end of the war. He drags himself up the stairs, shouting for his wife, but he can't be heard over the crowd. Then, as the clock strikes eleven, he stumbles into the room. He calls for Diane, his arms outstretched, his eyes wide and sightless. At first Diane can't believe it's really him, but then she goes to him, and they collapse on the floor together. She touches his blind eyes. "My eyes are still full of you," he tells her. Then adds, "I won't be blind for long. I tell you, I'm a very remarkable fellow!"

What makes it special? The dialogue is wonderful. Okay, I know that's a weird thing to say about a silent movie, but it happens to be true! In film - in any writing, actually - dialogue should be unique to the character; the words a character speaks should help us understand who he or she is. Chico's constant declaration of how remarkable he is, as well as his habit of referring to God as the Bon Dieu, reveal more about him than his mile-wide shoulders or golden (yet manly) curls.

Janet Gaynor as Diane was a revelation - for me, that is; I'm sure that most old movie buffs have been enamored of her for ages! She was one of those actresses that was in the movie business from the very beginning, and she worked all her life; her final role was on The Love Boat in 1981. In 1929 she won the Best Actress award for F.W. Murnau's Sunrise: A Tale of Two Humans (which is also an extraordinary film, if you ever get the chance to see it!). She will cross this blog at least twice more: in 1933's State Fair, and 1937's A Star is Born. I can't wait!

As 7th Heaven opens, the first card says, "For those who will climb it, there is a ladder leading from the depths to the heights - from the sewer to the stars: the ladder of Courage." That sums up this movie beautifully, and the theme is carried right through the picture. From the long, ladder-like staircase that leads Diane from the street to Chico's apartment above the rooftops of Paris, to Diane's own couragous confrontation with her wicked sister, to the triumphant "love conquers all" ending, this is a truly inspring film.
....
And the winner is...

Wings
1927
Starring: Richard Arlen, Buddy Rogers, Clara Bow
Directed by: William A. Wellman

Where did I find it? I bought the dvd on eBay. The quality of the was remarkably good - very little distortion. It was a pleasure to watch.

What's it about? This is a truly classic war epic in which you can see the seeds of many war movies to come. Jack Powell (Buddy Rogers) is a middle-class boy who dreams of flight. David Armstrong (Richard Arlen) is Jack's rich neighbor, sensitive yet manly. Both boys are in love with beautiful society girl Sylvia Lewis (Jobyna Ralston). Her heart belongs to David, but when war breaks out, she allows Jack to take a photo of her for good luck. Meanwhile, Jack's neighbor Mary Preston (Clara Bow, Hollywood's first "It Girl") is in love with Jack but he - like so many men before and after him - is too blind to see the charms of the girl next door.

When the movie opens, Mary is helping Jack complete modifications on his old jalopy. He wants nothing more than to "make 'er fly." He dubs his speedy new vehicle The Shooting Star. Mary paints a star on the side of it, then bashfully says, "You know what you can do when you see a shooting star, don't you? You can kiss the girl that you love best." Unfortunately Jack doesn't take the hint, and dashes off to find Sylvia.

When World War One begins, Jack and David both enlist in the newly formed Army Air Service. Rivals at home, they face the horrors of war together and become friends for the first time. Things turn especially tragic when David's plane is shot down. He manages to survive the crash and steal a German plane, but Jack, driven mad with anger at what he thinks is the death of his friend, is determined to kill at least "one more Kaiser" in revenge. In a moment that is both horrifying and heartbreaking, Jack mistakenly shoots David and kills him.

The war is over, and Jack returns home to a hero's welcome, but for him the homecoming is not so joyous. Bravely he faces David's parents, who know that he was the cause of their only child's death. They meet him stony-faced, their eyes accusing. But then David's mother breaks down and embraces Jack. "I wanted to hate you," she weeps,"but it wasn't your fault. It was war."

In the end, Jack returns to his own parents' house, and pulls the cover off of The Shooting Star. He sees Mary, peering over the hedge at him, as she has done so often before. Mary has had her own adventures in the years since they've seen each other. She signed up for service and went oversees to be an ambulence driver. She and David have both changed.

They sit together and look up at the night sky. A shooting star - a real one - zooms across the heavens. Jack says, "You know what you can do when you see a shooting star, don't you?" Mary smiles and nods, remembering. As Jack leans forward to kiss her, the screen fades to black.

What makes it special? Several things stood out out for me while watching this movie. First and foremost is the incredible aerial photography. In an age when most people had never been in an airplane, this movie may have been their first chance to see what the tops of clouds looked like! Some amazing shots include aerial dogfights, soldiers parachuting out of blimps, bombs plummeting to earth and heart-stopping plane crashes. This was moviemaking on a huge scale, and must have been a massive undertaking for the film makers. Toward the beginning of the film there's also a beautiful (but not as dramatic) shot of David and Sylvia sitting together on a swing. The camera follows their motion back and forth, making us feel like we're in the swing with them.

The scene that I found most heartbreaking was the one in which David's parents say good-bye to him as he leaves for training. Call me a sap, but there was no way to avoid tearing up as David's mother hands him a tiny stuffed bear that was his favorite toy as a child. And when Jack returns the bear to her later, after David is killed...well, suffice it to say, I was glad to have a box of tissues handy!

Last but not least is the brief appearance of a young Gary Cooper. He plays Cadet White, a seasoned flier who gives Jack and David their first taste of loss in the war. He's only on screen for about five minutes, but he cuts a rakish, impressive figure. In front of the camera he's charismatic, magnetic, and it's easy to see how he became a legend in his own right.

--------------------------

So, how did we do with our first Movie Monday?

Great Reads Friday: Seal Woman by Solveig Eggerz

2011-03-04T05:45:00.004-05:00

Solveig Eggerz was born in Iceland. "My ancestors wrote when they had time," she says. "The older they got, the more they wrote. My great-great grandfather, Friðrik Eggerz, a farmer and a protestant minister, wrote his autobiography when he was in his eighties, a book that documented 19th century Icelandic regional history; my grandfather, Sigurður Eggerz, twice prime minister of Iceland, wrote plays and essays. My father, Pétur Eggerz, a foreign service officer, wrote fiction and non-fiction until the day he died at age 80." Solveig has worked as a journalist and professor of writing and research. She has lived in Germany and now resides in Alexandria, Virginia. As my Great Reads feature returns, I'm so happy to be able to share with you her book, Seal Woman - this week's Great Read!

In the rubble of post-World War II Berlin, artist Charlotte flees her past and everything she's lost by responding to an ad calling for strong women who can cook and do farm work in Iceland. But painful memories and ghosts follow Charlotte as she struggles to make a new life in a raw and rugged landscape. This debut novel celebrates the twin powers of storytelling and art as ways to reassemble the fragments of Charlotte's broken self and move her-and everyone she loves-toward peace. This novel won first prize for fiction from the Maryland Writers' Association.

What do readers say?

"Solveig Eggerz brings to life post-war rural Iceland and wartime Berlin in this character study that weaves the reality of Charlotte's difficult and tragic life with the Icelandic myths and magic of her adopted country. A book that recalls the genius of Isabel Allende, the author tells the story of a German woman fleeing her country and her past to build a new life in Iceland. With vivid descriptions of the beautiful yet bleak Icelandic environment, readers learn of Charlotte's strength even as she battles the memories of her past. This page-turner will appeal to anyone who enjoyed reading the Icelandic sagas, Isabel Allende, or about World War II and Iceland. " - P.B.

Visit Solveig Eggerz' website to find out more!

Or buy today from Amazon.com!

The Stages of a Writer's Career, Part 1: Finishing Your First Novel

2011-03-02T06:00:00.061-05:00

Well, my writing blog has been on hiatus for the past few weeks, and now that it's back I thought it might be fun to take a broad look at the life and career of a novelist. Just like any other career path, writing has certain stages of evolution - rungs on the ladder to fame and fortune (or so I keep telling myself!). The following isn't based on any scholarly work or expert opinion, it's just a few observations of myself and others. I hope you find it helpful!

Stage One: Finishing Your First Novel

Deciding to be a novelist is a little bit like saying, "I want to be a mountain climber," and then running right out to tackle Mount Everest!  There isn't a lot of middle ground. We don't usually say, "I want to be a mountain climber; I think I'll start with that hill over there!" No, typically we say, "I want to be a novelist," and then sit down and attempt to churn out a 300,000 word volume of painfully personal material, trying to make it both entertaining and literary. Or maybe that was just me.

So where does that leave us?

Challenges - One of the biggest challenge that I've found with trying to be a writer is that no one can really teach us how to do it. I mean, we can (and should!) learn grammar and punctuation, story structure and characterization, how to phrase action scenes and how to handle exposition. But the truth is we don't know how to write until we actually sit down and do it - and do it a lot.

Another challenge is that when we first start to write we don't know if we're any good. Writing can be a fairly painful exercise. What if we're terrible at it? What if all this suffering is for nothing?

And last but not least is the subject of motivation. It can be very difficult to stay motivated, to push through the rough parts of your book - the parts you don't want to write - and keep working at it.

Helpful Hints - When it comes to writing, there are no easy answers, no cure-alls, no tube of magic cream that says "apply to forehead and become a genius writer!" (And believe me, I've looked!) But there are a couple things that you may find helpful:

Learn your craft. Okay, it may seem like I'm contradicting myself here! Didn't I just say "no one can teach you how to do it"? Yes, it's true, I did. However, what I have found time and time again is this: knowing your craft will give you something to fall back on when the writing gets hard. Or when your muse has gone off to play someplace else, leaving you bereft and alone at the keyboard, staring at an unmoving cursor.  So buy some books, take some workshops, find some good writing blogs (ahem!), etc. Learn your craft and write, write, write. You'll be happy that you did.

Figure out where and when you write best. Every artist is different. Our work looks, sounds, and reads differently from one another. It makes sense that our production habits will be as unique as we are. Personally, I write best either in a busy public place or sitting in the big chair in my living room. A friend of mine can't write in a coffee shop, but she can write while watching TV, which is something I've never been able to do (and yes in case you're wondering, I am totally jealous of her!). So don't think that you have to chain yourself to your desk; maybe you need to chain yourself to a lawn chair, or lie on the floor of your dining room. What works for you? Wherever you're happiest writing is probably the place where you're going to get the most work done.

Find a writing buddy. When I was trying to finish my first novel, the thing that saved me was having a "writing buddy." Somebody to crack the metaphoric whip and ask me, "Where are your new pages?" on a weekly basis. It's interesting how much can be accomplished when someone's demanding it!  So consider finding a writing buddy, or an accountability partner, or a critique group. This may not work for everybody, but give it a try and see if it helps.

Next week we'll look at Stage Two: Trying to get published for the first time!

What kind of challenges are you facing (or did you face) in finishing your first book?

Introducing Movie Monday...er, on Sunday!

2011-02-27T17:00:00.006-05:00

Happy Oscar Day, everyone! Yes, the Academy Awards are finally here, and we can all gather 'round the merry twinkling of our televisions, basking in the glow of Hollywood's brightest stars. It's hard to believe that the first Academy Award celebration was held almost 82 years ago, on May 16, 1929. It wasn't televised then, because television hadn't been invented yet! And the winners had already been announced (on February 18th), so the nominees weren't on pins and needles, waiting to see if their name would be called at the right moment.

A lot has changed, but the way I hear it, the golden statuette itself is still very much like those handed out over eight decades ago: a knight with a sword, standing on a reel of film. They were sculpted out of solid bronze by George Stanley.

(Pictured left: the statuette given to Edwin J. Burke for his screenplay adaptation of Bad Girl. Oh, that Oscar...he's just as handsome as ever, isn't he?)

Well, we all celebrate the Academy Awards in our own way. Some of us throw parties and circulate hor d'eouvres; some of us pile onto the sofa in our jammies with popcorn at the ready; some of us dress up in Oscar de la Renta and walk the red carpet. (What, you've never done it? But you must, darling, you must!)

Personally, I've decided to celebrate by starting a new feature on my blog: Movie Monday. I'm going to watch every movie that has ever been nominated for Best Picture. Not all at once, of course! My idea is to watch a year's worth of movies every week. Yes, it will take over a year to work through the entire list, but oh, the movies we shall see! That places we shall go through the imagination and talent of 80+ years of film makers.

Now, I have to warn you, there are one or two (or three or four) movies that I haven't been able to find yet on home video. But thanks to the miracle of modern technology, most of these classics are available for viewing, and view them I shall!

Next Monday (March 7), we'll kick this off with the three pictures which were nominated on the very first year that the golden Mr. Oscar was handed out.

So, who are you rooting for this year?

Her Secret Bodyguard sells its 1000th copy!

2011-02-02T19:36:00.003-05:00

Cue the balloons and toss the confetti, because Her Secret Bodyguard has now sold 1000 copies!

In honor of this auspicious occasion, I'm going to move forward with plans to bring the novel out in paperback. Thank you everyone for your help and support!

When a Special Forces veteran is hired to protect a Malibu playgirl, sparks fly faster than bullets. But will they live long enough to realize they're falling in love?

In an exciting twist on her timeless tales of heart and home, author Misha Crews sets her latest story in Los Angeles, playground of former model Blake Sera. Although she's not yet thirty, jaded Blake is sure she's seen it all. Until she discovers that the man she's been been living with is up to his neck in the murky underworld of crime. When Special Forces veteran Caleb McKenna is secretly hired to protect the glamour gal, he's sure that Blake is just another pretty face whose only interests are sunning, funning and shopping til she drops. But soon he realizes that there's more to her than big blue eyes and a killer smile. Can they survive their passion? Can they survive at all?

Her Secret Bodyguard - Chapter One

Blake awoke to the sound of screaming.

She catapulted out of her sound sleep and sat straight up in bed. The cry seemed to be coming from all around her, splitting the air, rising to a breaking pitch before ending as abruptly as it had begun.

Outside the open door to the balcony, the ocean was beating relentlessly against the sand. Blake’s head felt thick and full of cobwebs. It had taken her a long time to get to sleep – it always did, these days – but eventually she had fallen into a deep, heavy slumber.

Now she struggled to push sleep aside. She held her breath and closed her eyes against the moonlight that fell across the wide expanse of her bedroom floor, straining to hear past the roar of the waves.

Nothing. Silence.

Blake pushed the blond hair out of her blue eyes and blew out her breath in a frustrated oath. This wasn't the first time she had heard strange yelling in this house. And she knew she wasn't imagining it, no matter what Rube tried to tell her.

Suddenly there was a thump that she felt more than heard, followed by a muffled cry. Both had come from downstairs. Heart pumping, Blake threw back the duvet and put her bare feet against the cool wood floor. Sinister visions of various kinds of criminal activity were dancing through her head like sugar plums, filling her with dread. Rube was a nice guy, but she couldn't say the same about all his friends. God only knew what was going on downstairs.

She stayed where she was, poised at the edge of the bed, as if trying to sense through the soles of her feet what was happening beneath her. But silence reigned again, and she knew that she had to get up to see what was going on. This might be Rube's house, but she lived here too, damn it. There was something strange going on, and she had a right to know what it was.

She took a deep breath and stood up resolutely. Her dressing gown was hanging silkily over the arm of a nearby chaise lounge. She slipped it on and belted it firmly. It provided more a sense of security than a feeling of warmth, but that was fine with her.

Part of Blake – the part where common sense lived – cautioned her to tiptoe to the door, so that whoever was downstairs wouldn't realize that she was awake. But a larger part shunned the idea of sneaking around her own bedroom in the middle of the night. She had a right to be here, so why should she be the one to creep around?

With her head held high and her shoulders back, she strode upright across the bedroom floor and put her hand boldly on the doorknob. But there her nerve failed, and she turned the knob slowly and quietly. Before pulling the door open, she put her ear to the crack to see if she could hear anything. Again, there was nothing.

There's a whole lot of nothing going on around here, she thought, with a bravado that she absolutely did not feel. She opened the door.

The hall stretched dimly in front of her, towards the second-floor sitting area which overlooked the living room below. She took a deep breath and stepped forward, moving silently down the short hallway, Adrenaline had made her feel almost supernaturally alert, but the fear that was streaming its way through her veins had the opposite effect, making her clumsy and shaky. Suddenly worried that she would trip over her own feet, she stopped, pressed herself against the wall and closed her eyes.

Fear was not a natural emotion for her. Her mother used to joke that, given the choice between fight or flight, Blake would pick fight every time. But this was different. She didn't know what she would find downstairs, but it couldn't be good. The temptation to run was seductively strong. At this moment she wanted nothing more than to turn herself right around, lock herself in the bedroom and pull the covers over her head until the bad men went away. Her legs trembled with the need to carry her away to safety.

But that was when she heard the voices.

They were coming from downstairs, and there were at least three of them. She opened her eyes and realized that she could see light flickering at the end of the hallway. She crept forward again until she reached the end of the corridor.

The beach house was built with typical Malibu-modern architecture. Downstairs was one big open space – living room, dining room, kitchen and a sort of game-room that housed the TV and Rube's beloved antique billiard table. Stairs led to the second floor where there was a lounge area filled with deep furniture and large potted plants. On each side of the lounge was a short hall which led to a bedroom suite. One suite was Blake's, the other was Rube's.

Blake hovered at the end of her hallway, not sure what to do next. Skylights in the lounge filled the upstairs with a cold, dim glow of cloud-covered moonlight, adding to the flickering light which must have been coming from the stone fireplace downstairs. There was practically zero chance that she could get across the lounge to the stairs without being seen, and a minus-zero chance that she could actually make it to the first floor. What was she going to do?

She crouched down and peered around the wall. Her eyes swept the lounge, Rube's hallway across from her, and the narrow slice of living room that she could see. When she was relatively certain that there were no eyes looking back at her, she moved forward, scooting ungracefully along the floor until she reached one of the large, square wooden planters that sat along the edge of the upstairs sitting room.

She raised up slightly, peering over the edge of the planter, through the banister and down to the living room below. She had to stifle a gasp at what she saw.

It could have been a scene straight out of a low-budget gangster movie. A man that she had never seen before was sitting in front of the fireplace in the far corner. He was tied to one of her imported cane-back chairs. Even in this low light Blake could see that his face was bruised and bleeding. In front of him, with their backs to her, stood Rube and his executive assistant, Greg Betch. She could recognize Greg by his hair and Rube by his lack of it.

Blake had known Rube for almost ten years, and until lately she had thought that there were very few secrets between them. Sure, she'd known that some of his business dealings were somewhat shady, but that had never bothered her. For Pete's sake, they lived in Hollywood. With all the backroom deals that went on in this town, you might as well name the place Shady Acres. But recently Blake come to realize that she'd been hopelessly naïve to trust him so completely.

This whole nauseating scenario – waking up in the middle of the night to cries of pain and fear – had played itself out before. Afterwards, Rube would disappear for a week or more. She wouldn't know if he were alive or dead. And when he finally did come back he'd refuse to tell her what had happened.

"Don't ask me about my business," he'd say, doing his best Pacino impression and giving her a weak smile. It was times like those that she was afraid she might be close to hating him.

What exactly was going on in this house? Did she even want to know?

Downstairs, Rube had leaned over and was talking to the man in the chair. Although Blake couldn't see him very well, she heard his words, recognized his posture and she easily guessed what he was doing. He was lecturing. His hands were undoubtedly templed in front of him, and he was waving them up and down in an almost beseeching gesture. She had been on the receiving end of his lectures too often not to recognize it.

"Jake, why are you lying to me?" Rube was asking. Blake shifted so she could hear a bit better. "Greg says he saw you with his own eyes."

The man in the chair – obviously Jake – shook his head wearily. "It wasn't me, Rube, I swear to you. On my mother's life I swear to you…."

"You were talking to the Feds," Greg shouted. He gave Jake a vicious backhand across the mouth to punctuate the last word. Jake's head flew to one side and stayed there as he wept quietly.

Blake flinched as if she had felt the slap stinging her own skin. She'd known Greg almost as long as she had known Rube, and she'd never even heard him raise his voice before tonight.

A chill of fear crept over her as she looked down at the men she thought she knew so well.

"Hey, Greg, keep it down, will you?" Rube said. "My lady's upstairs asleep."

"Sorry, Rube," Greg replied, straightening his coat. "I thought you said she never wakes up."

"Hardly ever." Rube was using his don't-challenge-me voice. "And I don't want her involved in this mess, so you do what I tell you and keep it down."

"Sorry," Greg said again. "This guy just ticks me off." He took a deep breath and ran his hands over his hair, as if to calm himself.

In an unconscious answering gesture, Rube touched the bald spot on the back of his head. "Yeah, well, me too, but let's keep it quiet, okay? Jakey here – " Rube kicked Jake's foot lightly. "Jakey here is going to tell us what he told the Feebs, and that's going to be the end of it."

"And it's going to be the end of him, too," Greg said hotly.

"Not necessarily." Rube's voice was almost soothing. "The important thing is to find out where we are. Then we can figure out where we're going. Jake is going to tell us everything. And you know why? Because he's a good boy." Rube turned to Jake and kicked his foot again. "Isn't that right, Jakey? You're a good boy, right? You're going to tell us everything."

Jake began nodding his head fiercely. "I'll tell you, Rube. I'll tell you everything you want to know."

And he started talking.

---------

Coming soon in paperback! Available now on Kindle for 99 cents!

Great Reads Monday - I Know You By Heart by Linda Morrison Spear

2011-01-24T05:40:00.001-05:00

Linda Spear is an author and a journalist with over 30 years of communications experience. She is a veteran journalist for The New York Times, where she reported primarily on evolving health and human interest issues that affect our culture. I'm so pleased to be able to share with you her debut novel I Know You By Heart - this week's Great Read!

A mother's dying request rips her family apart in Linda Spear's debut novel. "Find David!" the mother of Sarah, narrator of I Know You by Heart. Naturally, Sarah, her dad, her husband, her sister Tessa, and her sister's husband are puzzled. In the time they have spent by Andrea's bedside, caring for her as she dies of cancer, the matriarch has never mentioned this person who is now seemingly so important. But Sarah takes the lead, and in investigating her mother's e-mail correspondence with David, she discovers his true meaning to her mother. For Sarah, the week following her mother's death is a tumultuous one. Everyone's personality has changed in theirgrief, and emotions are running high. While Sarah tries to deal with the death of a beloved parent, she also reels from the truth she discovers about David. At the same time, other family secrets bubble to the surface about her sister and her father that will change everyone's relationships forever.

What do readers say?

"A story for sharing. A family drama of immediacy and honest reporting. A book for all of us who have loved and lost and loved again. Linda Spear has that `kitchen table' touch --- we are having coffee with her and she makes us keep asking, "And then what happened?" Tissues are not optional...." - M.B.

Read more on Linda Morrison Spear's website!

Or buy I Know You by Heart today on Amazon.com!

Great Reads Monday: Once A Brat, Always a Brat by Marilyn Celeste Morris

2011-01-17T05:58:00.001-05:00

Born a Military Brat, Marilyn Morris attended schools overseas, in Seoul Korea, Linz, Austria and various schools stateside. From this background, she has crafted her autobiographical Once a Brat, Always a Brat, relating her travels with her army officer father from her birth in 1938 to his retirement in 1958. When not writing or editing emerging writers’ manuscripts, she enjoys her family and friends worldwide and near her home in Fort Worth TX. True to her Brat heritage, she has a suitcase packed under the bed, ready to travel at a moment’s notice. I know you'll enjoy Once A Brat, Always a Brat - this week's Great Read!

As one of the first dependents to be sent overseas at the end of WWII, eight-year old Marilyn Celeste Morris received her very own orders from The War Department.

From Seoul, Korea to Linz, Austria, she traversed the globe from 1938 to 1958 with her Army Officer father, mother and younger brothers. Between assignments in the primitive world of the Far East, to the sublime luxury of exploring castles in Bavaria, the family shuttled between the various Stateside Forts: Bragg, Bliss, Hood and Sill.

Sometimes hilarious, sometimes gut-wrenchingly sad, her narrative is part travelogue, part therapy session. She still cries at Taps and stands tall when the colors pass; yet she realizes she carries an odd mixture of pride and resentment over her nomadic way of life.

Her conclusion, however, is that she wouldn’t have had it any other way. Once a Brat, Always a Brat.

________

Dennis Campbell of BratCon.com radio has called Once a Brat, Always a Brat, "a field manual for understanding Military Brats."

To read more, visit Marilyn's website and her check out her blogs:
Once a Brat
Marilyn's Musings
The Lady with Lupus
Editing Excellence

Buy Once a Brat, Always a Brat today on Amazon.com!

Great Reads Monday - Defending Glory by Anne K. Albert

2011-01-10T05:42:00.001-05:00

Anne K. Albert writes romantic suspense stories that chill the spine, warm the heart and soothe the soul - all with a delightful touch of humor. She is the author of two series: The Piedmont Island Trilogy, and the Muriel Reeves Mysteries series. Frank, Incense and Muriel, the first book of the MRM series is available now in e-book format, and will be released in print mid-2011. Today I'm pleased to share with you her book Defending Glory - this week's Great Read!

Suffering from survivor’s guilt and unable to resume his career with the FBI, Mac McKeown moves to northern Minnesota to start over as a general contractor and forget that fateful day that changed everything. When he discovers the body of his nemesis on Glory Palmer’s property, along with a warning for her to leave while she still can, Mac realizes his past has come back to haunt him and an innocent woman’s life is in grave danger. He vows to keep her safe... but how will he protect his heart?

Excerpt

“Glory?” Mrs. Cole, the B&B owner, exited the back door.

“I’m here. In the gazebo.”

The older woman sauntered across the lawn, juggling two ceramic mugs.

“Chamomile tea,” she said as she offered one to Glory. “Steeped for five minutes. I thought you could use a cup. Something to settle your nerves.”

“Thank you.” Glory inhaled the delicate aroma before taking a sip. “I take it you heard about the murder at Hanover Point?”

Mrs. Cole sat in the chair opposite the chaise. “I did. It’s shocking. I’m glad the pastor was with you. And that you’re safe and sound.”

“Me too.”

“I hope you were spared from seeing the body.”

“I wasn’t. It was awful.” She relayed a few details, sparing the older woman most of the gruesome facts. Still, Mrs. Cole’s eyes bugged out of her head.

“Please tell me this horrid event hasn’t changed your mind about moving here. Or building the retreat.”

The threatening words printed on the back of Manny Singh’s neck zipped across the front of Glory’s brain. Goosebumps formed on her arms and she had the strangest feeling she was being watched. Her fingers tightened around the mug. She concentrated on its warmth and willed away her fears.

“No,” she said at last. “I’m here to stay.”

A snapping sound, like someone stepping on a twig behind the cedar hedge, made her jump. She turned her head, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Another twig snapped just beyond the B&B’s backyard.

“Are you all right, dear?” Mrs. Cole asked.

Glory did her best to shake off the eerie feeling. Surely, if someone was spying on them, Mrs. Cole would sense it too. She smiled at her hostess, and stood up. “I’m fine. But it’s getting chilly. Do you mind if we go inside?”

Read more at Anne's website!

Or check out her blog!

Buy Defending Glory today in paperback and on Kindle!

Great Reads Monday: Not One of Us by D.A. Spruzen

2011-01-03T05:40:00.002-05:00

D. A. Spruzen grew up near London, England, earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte, and teaches writing when she’s not seeking her own muse. In another life she was Manager of Publications for a defense contractor. Her short stories and poems have appeared in many publications, and she is currently hard at work on the next book in the series, Lily Takes the Field. She and her husband live in Northern Virginia with a Jack Russell terrier who doesn’t know he’s old and doesn’t know he’s small. I just finished reading her first novel so I know you'll love Not One of Us - this week's Great Read!

Rose, a widow and mother of three adult children, is a founding member of the Salton Symphony and one of a group of seven volunteers who call themselves the “Symphony Slaves.” As the story opens, she is in the hospital recovering from a concussion after being found unconscious outside her friend Judy’s house. Rose cannot remember how she got there, although she remembers finding Judy bludgeoned to death. This is only the first of several murders that rock the normally dull Salton, a Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C.

Alternate chapters comprise segments of the killer’s journal in which she recalls her childhood and reveals the warped logic that enables her to eliminate those who threaten her hard-won lifestyle. She overcame her destitution with the single-minded ruthlessness that drives her to kill again and again when things go wrong. The journal converges with the narrative as the story progresses and shows the terrible fallout that can result from child abuse; but it also suggests that it is not inevitable—her sister is not a killer, after all. This woman’s intelligence and drive have worked for her and against her.

This psychological suspense, the first of a trilogy, focuses on the characters’ inner lives and the social constraints that bind them. Each Symphony Slave changes as her complacency is shaken by dark events she never imagined could touch a community like Salton. And the way it all ends . . . pleases no one.

What do readers say?

“Someone is killing the lady volunteers of the Salton Symphony and the reader wants to know who it is. This novel grabbed me from the very first chapter and just wouldn't let go. Author, DA Spruzen does a fantastic job of building mystery and suspense by letting us into the head of the killer as well as letting us into the lives of the Salton Symphony volunteers. Getting to know each of these characters, their personal problems/secrets/desires was my favorite part of Not One of Us. Spruzen knows how to develop a character and let the reader know her and feel her. In that way, it's very much a piece of women's fiction wrapped up in a mystery. I loved every minute of it. And now, having finished, I'm looking forward to reading the next in this trilogy. Recommended especially for readers of psychological mysteries.” - Karen Cantwell, author.

Check out DA Spruzen's website to read more!

Or buy it today on Kindle for $2.99!

Great Reads Monday - Garden of Heaven: An Odyssey by Malcolm R. Campbell

2010-12-27T06:06:00.001-05:00

Malcolm R. Campbell worked many years as a college journalism instructor, corporate communications director, technical writer and grant writer for many years. His articles have appeared in Nostalgia Magazine, Nonprofit World, The Rosicrucian Digest, Quill & Scroll, Training and Development Journal and the former Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday magazine. I know you'll love his third novel, Garden of Heaven: An Odyssey - this week's Great Read!

When nineteen-year-old David Ward climbs the sacred mountain Nináistuko seeking a vision, the golden eagle of earth flings him back onto the prairie and the black horse of dreams shows him the future. Though his eyes are opened, fate hides exactly what he needs to know. The spiritual journey that follows leads him through the mountains of Pakistan, the swamps of North Florida, the beaches of Hawaii, the waters of the South China Sea and the ivy-covered halls of an Illinois college as he attempts to sort out the shattered puzzle of his life.

What do reviewers say?

"Garden of Heaven is a thought provoking novel, recommended, FIVE STARS." - Midwest Book Review

Check out Malcolm's website to read more!

Or visit Malcolm's blog!

Buy Garden of Heaven today on Omni-Lit!

Great Reads Monday: Now What? by Charmaine Gordon

2010-12-20T06:26:00.001-05:00

Years of experience as an actor prepared Charmaine Gordon for the wonders of a writing career. Although she didn't know it at the time, while she was immersed in the written words of others she was like a sponge, soaking up how to construct a scene, write dialogue and paint a setting. The author of three novels, Charmaine writes about women who survive and thrive. I know you'll find this week's Great Read both moving and inspiring - Now What? by Charmaine Gordon.

It was 2:30 a.m. when the phone rang. I fumbled for it, my heart starting a race toward bad news. Our doctor’s voice urged me to hurry. I crammed into clothes as if I expected this call.

It is only a fever that won’t go down, isn't it?

Our doctor shook his head. "...We did everything possible to save him. I held him in my arms when he took his last breath. Carly, I’m so sorry.”

Settling in beside my Bob, I held his cooling hand and asked the two words spoken many times during our years together. “Now what?” This time there was no response. I was on my own for the first time. When my fingers touched his wedding ring, I slipped it off and held it in my fist. The gold band was warm. I clung to him. “Come back to me, dearest.”

Sometimes what you wish for is more than you can live with.

What do readers say?

"Charmaine Gordon's books are a 'must read' for those who have experienced a loss in their lives, whether through death, abandonment or divorce. The reader will so identify with the women in her books, who struggle through their shock and trauma to find the courage and an inner strength they never knew they had, to face the future and to create a meaningful life, as the much stronger person they had never known they were. Her books are written with so much color, so much spiritual and emotional intensity, that you'll never look at life in the same way again. I am eagerly awaiting the publication of her next book." - Kate S.

Check out Charmaine's blog to read more!

Or buy today from Amazon.com (available in paperback and on Kindle)!

Exciting Announcement: My Third Novel is Coming on Kindle!

2010-12-17T06:29:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow, December 18 - my third novel will be available on Kindle. And here's the super-sweet part: it's only 99 cents! But for now, I hope you'll enjoy this sneak peek - including the first chapter!

When a Special Forces veteran is hired to protect a Malibu playgirl, sparks fly faster than bullets. But will they live long enough to realize they're falling in love?

In an exciting twist on her timeless tales of heart and home, author Misha Crews sets her latest story in Los Angeles, playground of former model Blake Sera. Although she's not yet thirty, jaded Blake is sure she's seen it all. Until she discovers that the man she's been been living with is up to his neck in the murky underworld of crime. When Special Forces veteran Caleb McKenna is secretly hired to protect the glamour gal, he's sure that Blake is just another pretty face whose only interests are sunning, funning and shopping til she drops. But soon he realizes that there's more to her than big blue eyes and a killer smile. Can they survive their passion? Can they survive at all?

Her Secret Bodyguard - Chapter One

Blake awoke to the sound of screaming.

She catapulted out of her sound sleep and sat straight up in bed. The cry seemed to be coming from all around her, splitting the air, rising to a breaking pitch before ending as abruptly as it had begun.

Outside the open door to the balcony, the ocean was beating relentlessly against the sand. Blake’s head felt thick and full of cobwebs. It had taken her a long time to get to sleep – it always did, these days – but eventually she had fallen into a deep, heavy slumber.

Now she struggled to push sleep aside. She held her breath and closed her eyes against the moonlight that fell across the wide expanse of her bedroom floor, straining to hear past the roar of the waves.

Nothing. Silence.

Blake pushed the blond hair out of her blue eyes and blew out her breath in a frustrated oath. This wasn't the first time she had heard strange yelling in this house. And she knew she wasn't imagining it, no matter what Rube tried to tell her.

Suddenly there was a thump that she felt more than heard, followed by a muffled cry. Both had come from downstairs. Heart pumping, Blake threw back the duvet and put her bare feet against the cool wood floor. Sinister visions of various kinds of criminal activity were dancing through her head like sugar plums, filling her with dread. Rube was a nice guy, but she couldn't say the same about all his friends. God only knew what was going on downstairs.

She stayed where she was, poised at the edge of the bed, as if trying to sense through the soles of her feet what was happening beneath her. But silence reigned again, and she knew that she had to get up to see what was going on. This might be Rube's house, but she lived here too, damn it. There was something strange going on, and she had a right to know what it was.

She took a deep breath and stood up resolutely. Her dressing gown was hanging silkily over the arm of a nearby chaise lounge. She slipped it on and belted it firmly. It provided more a sense of security than a feeling of warmth, but that was fine with her.

Part of Blake – the part where common sense lived – cautioned her to tiptoe to the door, so that whoever was downstairs wouldn't realize that she was awake. But a larger part shunned the idea of sneaking around her own bedroom in the middle of the night. She had a right to be here, so why should she be the one to creep around?

With her head held high and her shoulders back, she strode upright across the bedroom floor and put her hand boldly on the doorknob. But there her nerve failed, and she turned the knob slowly and quietly. Before pulling the door open, she put her ear to the crack to see if she could hear anything. Again, there was nothing.

There's a whole lot of nothing going on around here, she thought, with a bravado that she absolutely did not feel. She opened the door.

The hall stretched dimly in front of her, towards the second-floor sitting area which overlooked the living room below. She took a deep breath and stepped forward, moving silently down the short hallway, Adrenaline had made her feel almost supernaturally alert, but the fear that was streaming its way through her veins had the opposite effect, making her clumsy and shaky. Suddenly worried that she would trip over her own feet, she stopped, pressed herself against the wall and closed her eyes.

Fear was not a natural emotion for her. Her mother used to joke that, given the choice between fight or flight, Blake would pick fight every time. But this was different. She didn't know what she would find downstairs, but it couldn't be good. The temptation to run was seductively strong. At this moment she wanted nothing more than to turn herself right around, lock herself in the bedroom and pull the covers over her head until the bad men went away. Her legs trembled with the need to carry her away to safety.

But that was when she heard the voices.

They were coming from downstairs, and there were at least three of them. She opened her eyes and realized that she could see light flickering at the end of the hallway. She crept forward again until she reached the end of the corridor.

The beach house was built with typical Malibu-modern architecture. Downstairs was one big open space – living room, dining room, kitchen and a sort of game-room that housed the TV and Rube's beloved antique billiard table. Stairs led to the second floor where there was a lounge area filled with deep furniture and large potted plants. On each side of the lounge was a short hall which led to a bedroom suite. One suite was Blake's, the other was Rube's.

Blake hovered at the end of her hallway, not sure what to do next. Skylights in the lounge filled the upstairs with a cold, dim glow of cloud-covered moonlight, adding to the flickering light which must have been coming from the stone fireplace downstairs. There was practically zero chance that she could get across the lounge to the stairs without being seen, and a minus-zero chance that she could actually make it to the first floor. What was she going to do?

She crouched down and peered around the wall. Her eyes swept the lounge, Rube's hallway across from her, and the narrow slice of living room that she could see. When she was relatively certain that there were no eyes looking back at her, she moved forward, scooting ungracefully along the floor until she reached one of the large, square wooden planters that sat along the edge of the upstairs sitting room.

She raised up slightly, peering over the edge of the planter, through the banister and down to the living room below. She had to stifle a gasp at what she saw.

It could have been a scene straight out of a low-budget gangster movie. A man that she had never seen before was sitting in front of the fireplace in the far corner. He was tied to one of her imported cane-back chairs. Even in this low light Blake could see that his face was bruised and bleeding. In front of him, with their backs to her, stood Rube and his executive assistant, Greg Betch. She could recognize Greg by his hair and Rube by his lack of it.

Blake had known Rube for almost ten years, and until lately she had thought that there were very few secrets between them. Sure, she'd known that some of his business dealings were somewhat shady, but that had never bothered her. For Pete's sake, they lived in Hollywood. With all the backroom deals that went on in this town, you might as well name the place Shady Acres. But recently Blake come to realize that she'd been hopelessly naïve to trust him so completely.

This whole nauseating scenario – waking up in the middle of the night to cries of pain and fear – had played itself out before. Afterwards, Rube would disappear for a week or more. She wouldn't know if he were alive or dead. And when he finally did come back he'd refuse to tell her what had happened.

"Don't ask me about my business," he'd say, doing his best Pacino impression and giving her a weak smile. It was times like those that she was afraid she might be close to hating him.

What exactly was going on in this house? Did she even want to know?

Downstairs, Rube had leaned over and was talking to the man in the chair. Although Blake couldn't see him very well, she heard his words, recognized his posture and she easily guessed what he was doing. He was lecturing. His hands were undoubtedly templed in front of him, and he was waving them up and down in an almost beseeching gesture. She had been on the receiving end of his lectures too often not to recognize it.

"Jake, why are you lying to me?" Rube was asking. Blake shifted so she could hear a bit better. "Greg says he saw you with his own eyes."

The man in the chair – obviously Jake – shook his head wearily. "It wasn't me, Rube, I swear to you. On my mother's life I swear to you…."

"You were talking to the Feds," Greg shouted. He gave Jake a vicious backhand across the mouth to punctuate the last word. Jake's head flew to one side and stayed there as he wept quietly.

Blake flinched as if she had felt the slap stinging her own skin. She'd known Greg almost as long as she had known Rube, and she'd never even heard him raise his voice before tonight.

A chill of fear crept over her as she looked down at the men she thought she knew so well.

"Hey, Greg, keep it down, will you?" Rube said. "My lady's upstairs asleep."

"Sorry, Rube," Greg replied, straightening his coat. "I thought you said she never wakes up."

"Hardly ever." Rube was using his don't-challenge-me voice. "And I don't want her involved in this mess, so you do what I tell you and keep it down."

"Sorry," Greg said again. "This guy just ticks me off." He took a deep breath and ran his hands over his hair, as if to calm himself.

In an unconscious answering gesture, Rube touched the bald spot on the back of his head. "Yeah, well, me too, but let's keep it quiet, okay? Jakey here – " Rube kicked Jake's foot lightly. "Jakey here is going to tell us what he told the Feebs, and that's going to be the end of it."

"And it's going to be the end of him, too," Greg said hotly.

"Not necessarily." Rube's voice was almost soothing. "The important thing is to find out where we are. Then we can figure out where we're going. Jake is going to tell us everything. And you know why? Because he's a good boy." Rube turned to Jake and kicked his foot again. "Isn't that right, Jakey? You're a good boy, right? You're going to tell us everything."

Jake began nodding his head fiercely. "I'll tell you, Rube. I'll tell you everything you want to know."

And he started talking.

---------

Read the rest tomorrow!

Great Reads Monday: Appalachian Justice by Melinda Clayton

2010-12-13T06:16:00.001-05:00

Melinda Clayton has published over twenty articles and short stories in various print and online magazines, and is currently in the dissertation phase of an Ed.D. in special education administration. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading, and being the loudest mom at the soccer field. Melinda was thrilled to have her short story, Immortal Love, chosen for the Vanilla Heart Publishing's Passionate Hearts Anthology. I know you'll love her first novel, Appalachian Justice - this week's Great Read!

Billy May Platte is a half Irish, half Cherokee Appalachian woman who learned the hard way that 1940s West Virginia was no place to be different. As Billy May explains, "We was sheltered in them hills. We didn't know much of nothin' about life outside of them mountains. I did not know the word lesbian; to us, gay meant havin' fun and queer meant somethin' strange." In 1945, when Billy May was fourteen years old and orphaned, three local boys witnessed an incident in which Billy May's sexuality was called into question. Determined to teach her a lesson she would never forget, they orchestrated a brutal attack that changed the dynamics of the tiny coal mining village of Cedar Hollow, West Virginia forever. Everyone, from Gerald Smith, the elderly owner of Smith's General Store, to Sue Ann Leary, the spoiled daughter of the town's only doctor, to Corinne Pruitt, Billy May's childhood friend, was affected by the event in ways they could never have anticipated.

Thirty years after the brutal attack, living in solitude on top of Crutcher Mountain, Billy May discovers the hideout of a young girl - a girl who just happens to be the daughter of one of the boys who attacked Billy May so long ago. No one knows better than Billy May the telltale signs of abuse, and she must quickly make a decision. Will she withdraw into the solitude in which she has lived since the horrific attack, or will she risk everything to save the girl from a similar fate? Billy May's choices will once again change not only her own future, but the future of Cedar Hollow as well, and certainly the future of the young girl.

Billy May tells us her story in her own words, as she lays dying in a hospice in Huntington, West Virginia in the spring of 2010. "From the top of my mountain, I seen that girl runnin'," she remembers, "and I understood even then that my decisions might very well be the death of me."

What do readers have to say?

“A tale of the rural South, alternately horrifying and poignant, and ultimately redemptive. Dead on for the times, given recent events involving bullying of young gays and lesbians; the LGBT community should take notice, as should anyone struggling with child abuse, hate crimes, or sexual orientation issues.” - D.K.B.

“I just finished reading Appalachian Justice. What a powerful, well-written novel this is with characters, motivations and place settings that were absolutely perfect.” - M.C.

Check out Melinda's blog to read more!

Or buy today from Amazon.com (available in paperback and on Kindle)!

How to Help Your Child Discover His or Her "Inner Writer"

2010-12-10T16:58:00.001-05:00

We’ve all heard young people say, "I want to be a writer!" And we’ve all cringed a little when they’ve said it. After all, we know how hard it is to make a living as an artist. So how can we support their ambitions, knowing that disappointment might lurk around every corner? And how can we help nurture their creative instinct without crushing their artistic spirit?

It was probably about fifteen years ago that I first started coaching young writers. I still remember their earnest efforts at storytelling, their frustration when they couldn’t quite paint pictures with their words the way they’d wanted to, their elation when it came out right. I remember it well, because it so perfectly mirrored the ups and downs of my own writing. I drew on my memories of being a young writer and helped the children in my care to cultivate their natural talents. And in helping the children to tell their stories, I learned a lot about how to tell my own.

So when parents come to me and ask me how they can help their children develop their writing gifts, there are a few things that I usually suggest:

Encourage your children to read – a lot! Reading has a multitude of benefits for young writers. It builds vocabulary, first and foremost. It also gives one an eye for plot, story structure, dialogue, all the elements of good fiction. And don’t worry if what your child is reading seems simplistic or “below their reading level.” Help to pinpoint what he or she can read easily and with enjoyment, then stand back and watch the pages fly!

Encourage your children to write – a lot! Did your son just make up a funny joke (or even not so funny)? Suggest he write it down. Did your daughter tell you a story about a unicorn who jumped through her bedroom window and started dancing around the room? By all means, hand her some paper and a pen! Whether they’re writing letters to grandma, creating fan fiction for their favorite movie, or chipping away at their twelve-volume masterwork, writers of all ages do one thing: they write. And here’s some inside info: they don’t have to finish everything they start! Every writer has a sock drawer full of half-finished projects. It’s just part of the process. So encourage your children to write, and don’t stress over whether or not they finish everything.

Which brings me to my next point….

Never criticize. When I write that, I’m not simply saying, “don’t say anything mean,” because of course you wouldn’t intentionally insult your child. What I’m saying is, “Don’t say anything negative. Ever.” This can be a tough one for parents, which is understandable. The nurturing instinct makes you want to hover, bite your nails, and offer helpful corrections and suggestions. And if you’re looking at a school project, of course you must help monitor the quality of your child’s work. But when it comes to creative writing, my advice is this: never ever criticize.

Why? Well for one thing, there are few things on earth more fragile than the creative spirit. You’d be amazed at how easy it is to crush a burgeoning artistic impulse. A well-intentioned but careless comment from you could easily put your children off writing for quite some time. For another thing, if your children decide to pursue a career in writing, there will unfortunately be many people who will take their work and tear it down, deconstruct it and pick it apart. It’s a less-than-lovely aspect of the business that we all have to deal with at one time or another. So from Mom, Dad, teacher, etc., they should get only praise and encouragement.

If you’re worried that giving nonstop praise will make them conceited, or set them up for disappointment down the road, my advice is not to be too concerned about that. Yes, disappointment is inevitable. But the best way to overcome that is just to encourage them to keep writing. The more they write, the better at it they’ll become, and the fewer disappointments they’ll encounter. As for being conceited, well, every great venture requires a certain measure of conceit on the part of the “venturer.” Help them to build pride and even a touch of vanity in their work; chances are, no matter how big their heads get, they’ll still be able to fit through the door!

Well, this is a subject about which I would happily write volumes, and in fact I talk at length about these suggestions and more in my workshop, Helping Your Child Find the “Inner Writer.” There are few things in life more gratifying than helping a child to achieve satisfaction and gain a sense of accomplishment and of his or her own self-worth. Do you have a story you’d like to share or a question you’d like to ask about working with young writers?

This blog was originally published on the Vanilla Heart Publishing Authors' Blog. For helpful and down-to-earth advice on writing, please check out their blog today!

Great Reads Monday: Russian Roulette by Austin S. Camacho

2010-12-06T05:57:00.003-05:00

Austin S. Camacho was born in New York City but grew up in Saratoga Springs, New York. He began writing while he was in the Army: stories of adventure and mystery, set in some of the exotic places he visited during his years of service. Today Austin does public affairs work for the DoD agency charged with guarding the health of service members when they are deployed. He has settled in northern Virginia with his wife Denise. When he's not writing Austin likes to run along the shores of the Potomac, watch action films, and shoot - at paper targets, not live ones. He is a voracious reader of just about any kind of nonfiction, plus mysteries, adventures and thrillers. I know you'll love his novel Russian Roulette - this week's Great Read!

A Russian assassin forces Washington DC private detective Hannibal Jones to investigate Gana, the wealthy Algerian who has stolen Viktoriya, the woman his new client loves. Evidence connects Gana to Russian mob money and the apparent suicide of Viktoriya’s father. Then more deaths follow, closing in on Viktoriya. To save her, Hannibal must unravel a complex tangle of clues and survive a dramatic shootout side-by-side with his murderous client.

Early reviews say Russian Roulette hits the bull’s-eye!

"... Russian Roulette delivers a whipsaw of a plot with more layers than a Vidalia onion.... Solid storytelling and compelling characters Don't miss it!” - Libby Fischer Hellmann, Author of the Ellie Foreman mystery/suspense series

“Hannibal Jones is no John Shaft wannabe. He stands on his own as a welcome addition to the ranks of the fictional private eye.” - Robert J. Randisi, Founder, the Private Eye Writers of America

“Russian Roulette has everything: a terrific story with great characters in vivid settings. Clear time on your calendar for this one." - John Gilstrap, author of Hostage Zero and the Jonathan Grave series

“An atmospheric, entertaining read. Troubleshooter Hannibal Jones is the most engaging character to come upon the mystery scene since Patterson's Alex Cross.” - JoAnn Ross, NY Times Bestselling Author of the High Risk Series

“Russian Roulette starts with a revving engine and picks up speed till racing across the finish line. If I was in trouble I’d want Hannibal Jones on my speed dial.” - Jon Jordan, Editor, Crimespree Magazine

Visit Austin's website to read more!

Or buy Russian Roulette today on Amazon.com!

Setting, Part 1: What Is It, Why Should It Matter, and How Can You Start Using It?

2010-12-03T05:58:00.001-05:00

When I first undertook the subject of Setting, I thought I'd blow through it in one blog. Six hundred words, subject covered. No sweat, right? Um, wrong.

As I began to write about Setting, as I started to think about it and distill my thoughts into semi-intelligible sentences, I started coming to more deep and complete understanding of the subject. The more I wrote, the more I understood. And the more I understood, the more I wanted to write! So then I thought I'd split the subject into two parts: the mechanics of setting, and the subtler side of setting. Twelve hundred words, subject covered, right? Um, again - wrong!

So I now have three parts, and it's still growing! I've stopped counting words and I have no idea when (or if) the subject of setting will ever be exhausted. And if nothing else, I'm learning a lot by writing these blogs! I hope that someone else finds some good in them, too.

Step 1: Where and When

Setting is vital element of writing. But what exactly is setting, and how can you use it to enhance the story you're trying to tell?

In breaking down the subject of setting, we can see that the absolute bottom-line, nitty-gritty of it is WHERE and WHEN. Where and when does your story take place?

Of course it's easy to see how this matters if you're writing a World War 2 epic, or a science fiction novel: the 1940s in London is a heck of a lot different than 3010 on the moons of Jupiter. But it also matters when you're writing any modern day novel, whether it's romance, mystery, thriller, etc., because the where and when will effect many aspects of your story and your characters.

Some examples:

F. Paul Wilson sets his Repairman Jack novels in modern-day New York.
Holly Jacobs sets many of her romance novels in the fictional town of Whedon, Pennsylvania.
James Ellroy set his LA Crime novels in mid-20th Century Los Angeles.

In each of these cases the where and when affects the who and what – the setting affects the characters and the plotline. It doesn’t necessarily dictate plot or create the characters for you, but it definitely does have an effect on both (we'll go in-depth on this subject in a later blog!).

For a quick example, imagine a single woman raising a child on her own. Whether she lives in 1629, 1993 or 3010 will make a difference in her parenting style and the set of obstacles she has to face, not to mention the entire concept of her own identity as a human being, and her concept of the identity of her child.

So, WHERE and WHEN does your story take place?

Step 2: Make it Realistic

Research, research, research. If you are writing about a place and time that is unfamiliar to you, make sure you do your homework! My second novel, Still Waters, is set in the mid-1950s in Arlington, Virginia. I was very familiar with the place, but – aside from many years of watching Hitchcock films - not too familiar with the time period.

To research the period, I spent hours in the library, reading newspapers from the months during which my novel was set. I also found a 1950s map of the area and was able to identify what some of the streets were called at that time. I didn’t use all of this information in the book, of course, but it made it easier for me to set my mind to that place in that time.

And here's a hint: you can often find newspapers going back to the 19th Century. One of my local papers has been around since the early 1800s, and has back issues on microfiche that go way back to the beginning!

Confirm, confirm, confirm. There are always tiny details of life in various eras that can't be found in books. And the danger of writing about any place or time outside of our experience is that our conceptions are shaped very much by movies and books, which may or may not be accurate. Hopefully your rolodex (or Facebook friend list) includes one or more people who have education about or experience with your chosen time and place. Ask them questions while you're writing, and/or have them read your manuscript when it's finished. Tell them to cast their expert eye on the details and confirm that you haven't written anything too embarrassingly wrong!

Relax, relax, relax. There is only so much you can do to make a time period accurate, and the primary jobs of a fiction writer are to create an emotional connection with the reader, and tell a good story. You can kill yourself – and your story, for that matter – by becoming obsessed over the details. Make it as accurate as possible, and then just relax, knowing that you've done the best you can.

Setting should serve your story, not the other way around. (Unless you're James Michener, of course, but that's a whole other blog!)
----
What settings do you enjoy when you're reading a book or watching a movie?

Great Reads Monday - Redeeming Grace by Smoky Trudeau

2010-11-29T06:12:00.001-05:00

Smoky Trudeau is the author of two novels and two nonfiction books especially for writers. Her stories and poetry have been published in literary journals and online e-zines. She was a 2003 Pushcart Prize Nominee. Finally succumbing to her bohemian spirit and need to live near the mountains and the ocean, Smoky moved to Southern California in 2008, where she lives with her husband and daughter in a ramshackle cottage in the woods overlooking the San Gabriel Valley and the San Gabriel Mountains beyond. When she isn’t writing, she spends her time hiking in the mountains, camping in the Sierras, splashing in tidepools, and fighting the urge to speak in haiku. You're going to love her book, Reedeming Grace - this week's Great Read!

The tragic deaths of her mother and two younger siblings have left Grace Harmon responsible for raising her sister Miriam and protecting her from their abusive father, Luther, a zealot preacher with a penchant for speaking in Biblical verse who is on a downward spiral toward insanity. Otto Singer charms Grace with his gentle courtship and devotion to his brother, Henry. But after their marriage, Otto is unable to share with Grace the terrible secret he has kept more than twenty years. Otto believes he is responsible for a tragic accident that claimed the life of a young woman and left Henry severely brain damaged. Luther's insane ravings and increasingly violent behavior force Grace to question and reassess the patriarchal religious beliefs of her childhood. Then tragedy strikes just when Otto's secret is uncovered, unleashing demons that threaten to destroy the entire family. Can Grace find the strength to save them, and in the process find her own redemption? Redeeming Grace is set on Maryland's eastern shore in the late 1920's. The book will appeal to lovers of literary fiction who enjoy theological debate and who understand happy endings, in novels as in life, sometimes come at a heavy price.

One reader says:

"Love, pain, guilt and secrets, guilt are skillfully woven throughout this story which takes place in rural Maryland in the 1920's. Smoky Trudeau manages to walk a very fine line without ever crossing it. Her villains are quite mad but not unbelievable. Redeeming Grace is a story of marital love, understanding and forgiveness. Throughout the moments and days of contentment and joy are memories of tragedy and loss. Partially known secrets and a feeling of impending danger make this book an unforgettable page turner." - M.S.

Visit Smoky's website to read more!

Or buy Redeeming Grace today on Amazon.com!

Great Reads Monday: A Chaunce of Riches by Chelle Cordero

2010-11-22T05:37:00.001-05:00

Chelle Cordero is a freelance journalist and author. Her articles have been published in various Gannett publications, regional and national trade magazines. She is also the author of many novels and short stories. Chelle and her husband live in Rockland County, NY, where they raised their two children. I'm happy to share her book, A Chaunce of Riches, with you - another great read!

The day that Ben Johnson was hired as a bodyguard for some rich widow and her kid, he never expected to be working for the woman who had abandoned him just when he had needed her the most so many years before. Damn it all, he still wanted her. Samantha Chaunce never thought she would see him again. She never thought she would have to explain why she married the rich man over the man she had sworn she once loved. And she certainly never expected to find out that her rich husband had been murdered and fingers were pointing to her former lover.

One reader says:

"Personal conflict kicks off at the very start of Ms. Cordero's A Chaunce of Riches, as widower Samantha Chaunce comes face to face with a man from her past - Ben Johnson. She told him she loved him oh-so-long ago, and then she departed in the arms of another.

"Nothing is simple in the complex tale of love, danger, and this shared, almost-mourned, past.... However, the two main characters are both strong, edgy people, and their history together creates a rather unusual relationship between the two. There is anger, resentment, yet, somehow, there is an enduring trust that becomes more and more important in the face of danger.

"The very focused plot keeps us madly turning the pages, right to the very end. Yet, it's the romantic in us that is waiting, and so hoping, that they are both the people we think they are...that somehow, out of all this emotional clutter, disaster and more, they can find their way to true feeling. The story is simply super on all counts. Mark A Chaunce of Riches a Must-Read." - J. Thomas, The Long and Short of It Reviews

Read more on Chelle Cordero's website.

Or buy today on Amazon.com (available in paperback and on Kindle)!

Great Reads Monday - Forest Song: Letting Go by Vila SpiderHawk

2010-11-15T06:18:00.001-05:00

Vila SpiderHawk is the author of three novels, a book of short stories and a cookbook. She lives with her husband in the woods of Pennsylvania, in a log house of their design. They share their home with five cats and enjoy frequent visits from their many woodland friends. I'm thrilled to be able to share with you her latest work, Forest Song: Letting Go.

She left her birth home to learn the ways of the woods in Forest Song: Finding Home. She grew into her powers as protector of the denizens of the forest in Forest Song: Little Mother. And now, Judy Baumann faces the horrors of World War II: the concentration camps, Jewish ghettos, and the other persecution of the Jews.

Join Judy as she struggles to survive death-defying challenges, overcoming betrayal and loss with courage, cleverness and humor.

One reader says:

"Amazing but true. SpiderHawk has again written an outstanding novel that touches the very core of loss, yearing, learning and beginnings.

"It has been my privilege to own all of Vila SpiderHawk's wonderful books and this one, as I myself am getting on in years, touched a deep vein of recognition in me. It deals with loss, new beginnings and blossoming awareness of ability and truths.

"As with all her work, Vila SpiderHawk's ability to bring the reader deep within, with her color descriptions is an utter joy. This is a truly inspiring novel and I highly recommned it to anyone. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...Vila just gets better! Of all her novels, this one touched me to my very soul. There were times when I smiled, times I associated closely with the characters and times when I cried in sympathy, because always, there is somewhere a place that we too have visited. In this, her most recent book, I was drawn into her web and held utterly spellbound from start to finish." - J.H.G.

Visit Vila Spiderhawks's website to read more!

Or buy today on Amazon.com (available in paperback and on Kindle)!

Characterization and Attitude

2010-11-12T06:46:00.004-05:00

We all know what it means to have attitude. And I'm sure we all know what it means to give attitude, too! But what does attitude have to do with your characters?

Don't look at me in that tone of voice!

Okay, first let's make sure we're all on the same page regarding the definition of "attitude," because it's used it in different ways. Attitude can mean a personal viewpoint or general opinion about something. It can also mean a challenging or arrogant manner. And it can mean a physical posture or bodily position.

So "attitude" is not only the way a person thinks about something, or the arrogant manner in which they're expressing themselves, it's also the way they are physically standing or holding themselves. And how can you use that when you're writing?

Let's workshop it - with attitude to spare!

Try combining all three of those ideas and applying them to your character. Let's say you're writing about a woman who's having an argument with her fourteen-year-old daughter. What's the daughter's attitude? Let's break it down:

Her personal viewpoint is that she wants her curfew extended to one a.m. so she can go to her best friend's birthday party.

Is she displaying a challenging, arrogant manner? You bet your boots she is! But how does your reader know that?

Well, what's the typical physical posture of a girl arguing with her mom?

Joanna's hands welded to her hips as her elbows fanned the kitchen air.

Grace looked up from the bread dough she was kneading. If that child rolled her eyes one more time, she was definitely going to suffer some serious vision damage. Or at the very least she'd be grounded for the rest of her life.

"You're fourteen, my dear daughter," Grace said, with as much patience as she could muster. "There's no way you're staying out until one in the morning!"

Joanna's mouth pulled up on one side as she gave vent to her weakest argument yet. "Oh please, Mother, you wouldn't dare keep me home," she smirked, "everyone's going to this party."

Okay, obviously those two have a lot of issues to work out. And I didn't exactly play to subtlety there, with the arms-akimbo, eye-rolling, smirking teenager. I'm sure you've got a good idea of Joanna's character (at least in relation to curfew and the importance of big parties). But did you also get an idea of Grace's character? The bread-kneading, line-holding mom? Well, that brings up an interesting point, which is this:

You get a good idea of someone's character by their reaction to the attitude of another person. It's not just the actions your characters take, it's their reaction to the actions of others which will give the reader a concept of who these people are.

But what if the character in question doesn't have quite as much of a challenging arrogant manner? What if he or she is, for lack of a better term, a human doormat?

Let's workshop it again - and don't give me any of your attitude!

So let's say your character is Harvey, a storeroom clerk in his late forties. A shipment has come in without the proper paperwork, and technically he's not supposed to accept it.

His personal viewpoint is that he should not sign for the delivery.

Is he displaying a challenging, arrogant manner? In this case, no.

And what about his bodily position? Well, let's see:

Harvey wiped his palm on his khaki shorts and pulled the clipboard closer for another inspection. "I have specific instructions not to accept any shipments from your company that don't have the proper TPS forms." He heard the quiver in his voice and swallowed, trying to steady it. Dealing with these paperwork issues always made him shaky. What if he screwed it up - again?

He forced his rounded shoulders square and handed the clipboard back, using the most decisive motion he could muster. "Sorry." It didn't help that now his hand, as well as his voice, was shaking.

The brownshirted delivery man held up his hands like somebody at gunpoint. But this guy wasn't surrendering. "No can do, bra," he said with a smile. "Can't take it back, gotta leave it here."

The sweat made its way from Harvey's palms to the back of his neck. He could feel it beading on his upper lip. Was this guy serious? What was Harvey going to do if the delivery guy wouldn't take the package back with him? The meatball sub that Harvey had eaten for lunch was starting to come back on him, emitting a foul acid that crept up his throat. He needed to have a glass of milk and lie down.

"I guess I could find a place in back for it, as long as you promise me you'll bring those forms tomorrow."

"Sure thing bra," the delivery guy said. "No problemo."

Poor Harvey. He's sweaty, slump-shouldered and has stomach problems. And do you think that delivery guy is going to bring in those forms tomorrow? No, me neither.

Lack of attitude can tell your readers just as much about your characters as attitude can. When something unpleasant confronts Harvey, does he attack or retreat? He probably lies down with a glass of milk.

But what about Joanna, from the example above? How would she have handled the delivery guy? Well, she probably would have made some cutting comment about his shorts not being kind to his knobby knees, and then gone back to filing her nails.

Summing up the attitude issue

With attitude and characterization, keep these things in mind:

The person's posture and physicality: what does it say about them?
Their reaction to events: when confronted with something pleasant or unpleasant, how do they react?
Getting what they want: how do they go about it?
Remember that attitude is not necessarily a bad thing! If Joanna used those same mannerisms when dealing with a bully at school, we'd be cheering for her.

-------

When was the last time you saw someone "giving attitude"? What did it tell you about them? And what did it say about the person on the receiving end of that attitude?

Featured Novel: 'Take the Monkeys and Run!' by Karen Cantwell

2010-11-08T05:54:00.003-05:00

I'm so tickled to start a new feature here on my blog. Every Monday I'll be featuring a different novel by a friend of mine. And since I have a lot of friends who are great writers, that's a lot of wonderful books to share with you! So let's kick this off with a roller-coaster humorous mystery: Take the Monkeys and Run by Karen Cantwell!

Soccer mom and film lover, Barbara Marr is on the brink of a dream: launching her own movie review website. But on her 45th birthday, this stay-at-home mother of three unwittingly launches herself and her suburban housewife friends into the middle of their own explosive action adventure just like the movies – except these bullets are real.

One reader says:

"This story about frazzled suburban mom Barbara Marr (who's been left flat by her husband with the proverbial three kids, a mortgage and a cat) perfectly combines the funny sensibilities of the Woody Allen movie for which it's (sort of) named with the antics of "The Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight." When Marr discovers strange nocturnal goings-on at the house next door (nicknamed House of Many Bones, for reasons best left to your imagination) and a backyard overrun with monkeys the following morning, she simply must find out what the heck is going on. Naturally, she seeks the help of an old flame from college and a cast of colorful neighborhood characters.

"This awesomely funny book pays homage not only to classic comedies, but also action films. Karen Cantwell's story strikes an excellent balance between warm family scenes and zany, more dangerous ones. (And, as it happens, Marr is a wannabe film blogger. Hmm ... go figure. :)) As I read the book, I enjoyed many laugh out loud (as in actual laughter!) moments.

"If you're a Janet Evanovich fan, this one is a must read. Not only does Cantwell ably mix humor and action, while sending up the latter genre (and seemingly paying homage to one movie in particular -- won't name it for risk of spoilers ;)), but she brings the story to a conclusion that practically screams 'There will be a sequel!' I, for one, can't wait to read it!" - D.M.

Buy today on Amazon.com (available in paperback and on Kindle)!

Laying the Groundwork for Your Novel: The Basics of Plot and Storytelling

2010-11-05T18:22:00.008-04:00

Horror. Science Fiction. Romance. There are many kinds of stories to tell, and although every story is unique, there are, generally speaking, some elements that are universal:

- The Hero
- The Journey
- The Prize
- The Great Obstacle

The Hero

Or, I should say, the Hero(es)-slash-Heroine(s) - what some writers refer to as the "H/H." This is the protagonist, the person your story is about. The H/H is your Frodo Baggins, your Elizabeth Bennett, your Harriet the Spy, or even your Benji!

Of course, the hero doesn't really have to be heroic - at least not in the usual way! He or she could be Ebenezer Scrooge. Or Dexter, for that matter. But your "H/H" does have to be empathetic. Your reader must be able to feel for him, or at least get a laugh out of him. Ebenezer Scrooge won my heart as soon as he said to Jacob Marley, "There's more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!" Despite the fact that Dickens had shown Scrooge to be a despicable human being, when I read that line I thought, "Well, there's something to that guy. If nothing else, he's funny." And because of that I was willing to go on the journey with him, and even to root for him.

The Prize

We all want something. Health, happiness, long life. And a million dollars. Sometimes we want to foil a bank robbery, solve an ancient riddle before time runs out, or marry the man of our dreams.

In Lord of the Rings, the prize was getting the ring to the fires of Mordor. In Pride and Prejudice it was a good marriage with a suitable spouse.

Sometimes the prize starts out to be one thing and turns out to be another. In Lassie Come Home (a personal favorite of mine when I was a child), the prize seems to be for Joe to get his dog back. But it turns out to be much more: it's the reuniting of the hearts of a family, and the rejuvenation of an entire town.

Whatever the prize is for your hero, make sure you know it, even if your hero doesn't yet.

The Journey

All heroes are headed somewhere. They're not just sitting on their hands while events unfold around them. They are going somewhere, whether it's a physical journey or an emotional one. And usually that journey is toward their Prize, whatever that is for them.

In Gone with the Wind, Scarlett O'Hara's prize was Ashley. Her emotional journey took her through the Civil War, three marriages, the death of two husbands, childbirth, the death of her daughter, and a relationship with the unforgettable Rhett Butler. And how did her journey end? With the realization that her actual prize was Rhett himself.

Sometimes a journey is both physical and emotional. In that case, each journey has a prize of its own. For Lassie, the physical journey had only one prize: to be in her usual spot when Joe got out of school. The prize for her emotional journey was the return to her loving family and, as mentioned above, the return of a town to something of its former glory.

The Great Obstacle

If Frodo and company had just been able to hop into a limo and ride to Mordor in air-conditioned comfort, would we really have lasted through three novels? Of course not. And so we have our Great Obstacle, in the power of Sauron, who sent forth many other obstacles to impede the progress of our noble heroes.

In The Grapes of Wrath, the Joad family also faced a multitude of obstacles: lack of money, great distance, the flaws in their own family coalescence, the heartless opportunism of others, and the abject poverty of an entire nation.

But regardless of whether you're writing a literary masterpiece, a tale of adventure and fantasy, or a simple homespun romance, every story must have a great obstacle. Sometimes the greatest obstacles are the hero's own character flaws which are preventing him from reaching his goals.
------
Of all these - the Hero, the Prize, the Journey and the Great Obstacle - is there one that you think is more important than the others?

Let's Meet Your Characters

2010-10-29T19:22:00.003-04:00

In my most un-humble opinion, creating memorable and loveable characters is the most essential part of any writer's job. I know that not all writers feel this way, and that's fine - everyone's entitled to their opinion. But I do think that regardless of how exciting the story, regardless how twisty and turny your plot is, without three-dimensional characters to race along the surprise-laden path you've laid, will anyone really care?

After all, what would Star Wars be if Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan were a kid and an old guy? What would Gone with the Wind be if Rhett and Scarlett were just a guy and some dame? And what will your story be, if you don't create your characters as fully-fleshed, breathing and feeling human beings?

So let's meet your characters, shall we?

Ms. Writer, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Character (no gender-bias intended!). Okay Ms. Writer, take a look at your character. How are you going to go about getting to know him? Well, you can always start with the first thing you notice about anybody you meet: their appearance.

Ooh, a little superficial, isn't it? Well, let's start on the outside and we can work our way in later!

What does he look like?

I've studied a lot about the art of characterization, and many writers seem to fall into two camps: 1) describe the character's appearance in minute detail, or 2) give as little detail as possible. And depending on your writing style, you may find yourself going to either extreme. Both are fine, as long as the "minute detail" doesn't translate into "long boring paragraphs," and as long as "little detail" doesn't translate into "I can't tell these characters apart because apparently everybody looks alike!"

The other thing to remember is that no matter how much painstaking detail you put into describing your characters, no matter how lovingly you draw their features with the finest of brushes, no two readers will ever have the same image when they read your story! We all superimpose our own mental images on the people we read about. We just can't help it - and when you think about it, why would we want to? When we read we are entering the universe created by the writer, but we are also creating a universe all our own. That's the magic of reading and of writing.

So on the question of "a lot of detail, or a little?" I generally try to aim somewhere in the middle (you knew I was going to say that, didn't you?). I've found that there are certain specific details I like to establish for myself, and then I sort of let the rest go. The physical elements that are essential to me are:

Hair color and style
Eye color and shape
Height and overall body shape (weight lifter, swimmer or couch potato)
Any unusal or memorable physical characteristic (manicured fingernails, freckles, a tiny nose like a tulip)

Much more will be communicated about your characters by their attitudes and speech patterns (more on that in future blogs!). But you want to give your reader enough detail to give their imagination something to grab onto. When they read "Maggie," you want them to know that she's the girl with red hair and freckles, not the girl with blond hair and glasses.

That's one reason why it's good to give your characters unusual physical characteristics: someone with long fingernails might have trouble dialing the phone; someone with freckles might spend more time putting on makeup (if she were self-conscious about it, of course!). But all of these things feed into who the characters are on the inside as well as the outside! Physical characteristics play into attitudes and personality, just as attitude and personality affects the way we appear to others.

Another physical aspect that communicates character is how they move. John Travolta once said that when he goes about creating a character as an actor, he starts with the walk. Think about it: Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction, Chili Palmer from Get Shorty, and of course, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray! Three distinct characters, three distinct ways of communicating characterization simply through motion.

Of course, it's easy to convey motion in the movies - in writing it's more of a challenge! A good way to accomplish this is through the use of simile and metaphor:

Simile (saying that something is like something else): "She drove like she was Dale Earnhardt's long-lost daughter and every street was the Talladega Speedway."

Metaphor (saying that something is something else): "Not the marrying kind? That's an understatement! The man was a jackrabbit on Viagra!"

Of course, it can get kind of heavy-handed if you overuse it, but in small doses you will find that your characters begin to leap to life, and right off the page!

Who are some of your favorite fictional characters, and what is it about their physicality that most sticks with you?

Fiction Writing: What's It Made Of?

2010-10-22T17:39:00.000-04:00

It's been said that there are three basic elements to fiction: plot, characters, and setting. Over the next few weeks I'd like to get into each of these individually, but for now let's just take a quick look at these important ingredients in your fiction pie:

Plot - To put it plain and simple, "plot" is your story line. It's the chain of events that takes your characters on a ride, and brings your readers along with them. A good plot doesn't necessarily have to be exciting in an oh-my-god-we-have-to-find-and-diffuse-the-bomb kind of way, but should contain at least minor amounts of mystery and excitement, even if it's just in an oh-my-god-where-are-my-car-keys-so-I-can-go-out-on-my-first-date-in-years kind of way!

Characters - Of the three elements, this one is definitely my favorite. Why? Well, mainly because I'm lazy, I guess. It's always been my belief that if you have good characters, they write their own story, which keeps the need for plotting at a minimum! Okay, that's a little bit of a joke (although it's not entirely untrue, either!) "Characters" are, of course, the people in your book. You could also look at them as the readers' guides: the ones who are leading your readers along the path that is laid by your plot. Relatable characters are essential for telling a good story.

Setting - Well, if the plot is your path, and the characters are your guides, what does that make setting? Your scenery! But of course, it's a bit more than that. Setting is essentially the where-and-when of your story. It's Victorian England, or the recent future on a dying planet, or a modern day suburb. It's the universe in which you are immersing your characters (and readers), and through which your are laying down your plot. It's multi-dimensional; it looks, smells, sounds and tastes the way you decide it will.

These three elements combine in a million different ways. Your setting effects your characters (think of the difference between the Australian outback of the 1930s and the city of Tokyo in modern times): how they look, talk, etc. This in turn effects your plot, because different characters will react to circumstances uniquely, and this in turn will change the course of events in your story!

We can take up each of these elements in several different blogs in the coming weeks. I'm looking forward to re-exploring all of these vital pieces of your story-puzzle, and I hope you are too!

So, any preference as to which one we start with?

Writing: How Good Does It Have to Be?

2010-10-08T18:59:00.002-04:00

As I re-read the title of this blog, it sounds like a joke. But I hear this from people all the time: "I really want to be a writer, but I just don't know if I'm good enough." And that begs the question: just how do we define "good." And how good is good enough?

Ask ten people how they define good writing, and they will probably give you ten different answers. One may be obsessed with grammar and punctuation ("You used approximately 4.5 adverbs per page; that's 2.75 more adverbs than recommended!"), one may talk esoterically about "art" (as in: "It's okay writing, but it's not art."), and one or two may simply say, "Anything that I can't put down is good writing to me!"

So what is Good Writing?

Now, this is a touchy subject, and to be honest I hesitated to tackle it here, because I'm afraid it will seem that I'm either defiling the hallowed rules of grammar or bruising the tender flesh of art. But I've done a lot of reading lately, from both published and unpublished writers, and I've come to realize something important:

"Good writing" is writing that creates an emotional connection with the reader.

And that's it. (Almost.)

Good writing makes you laugh or cry, makes your skin crawl, arouses your passion (for good or evil). It communicates something to you. It brings you into its particular universe. It makes you feel, and that's the primary mission of "good writing."

A long time ago I started to read a book which I found to be constructed of pretty bad writing. I won't go into detail, but I'm sure you've all read enough poorly-written books to know what I'm talking about! But even with its technical flaws, I found myself becoming absorbed by the story. I wanted to know what was going on. When I wasn't reading the book I was thinking about it, and when I finished it, it stayed in my mind for a long time afterward. And you know what I call that? Good writing! You know what I call the technical flaws? Bad editing. :~)

The way I see it, if this writer had had a better editor (or a better grammar teacher), this book could have been a best seller. Because it created an emotional connection. And the fact that it was able to have that affect in spite of poor use of language just highlights how deep that emotional connection was, and makes me realize anew that the author was indeed a very good writer.

Good writing doesn't have to be technically perfect. But it does have to be technically correct enough that it doesn't detract from the emotional connection.

What makes writing technically correct?

Here's what technically correct writing is made up of (in my humble opinion):

• Grammar and punctuation.

• Proper spelling (of course!).

• An understanding of - and comfort with - language. Not just for dialogue purposes, but also because the rhythm of language varies from age to age and from place to place.

• Story structure: the highs and lows, ebbs and flows of your story.

• Characterization: the hardcore techniques of bringing your people to life.

I'm sure I've left out a few things, there but those are the basics. All of these things are important: Grammar, punctuation, language – these are your tools, your instruments. Story structure and characterization – these are the beams and girders of the world you are building. But none of them should ever become more important to you than forging an emotional link with your readers.

So how do you go about creating an emotional connection? And how do you know when you've done it?

Here's what I think: How do you create an emotional connection? Start by feeling it yourself. Fall in love with your characters – even the bad guys (or especially the bad guys, as the case may be!). Make sure every part of your story fascinates you, and if it doesn't, change it! Because if you're not interested in any part of your story, I don't see how or why the reader would be!

And how do you know if you've actually achieved the emotional connection? Have someone read your work. Or several someones. They should be people you trust (especially when you start out!), people who aren't afraid to be honest. Are they "feeling it" when they read your story? No? Ask questions, figure out what's going wrong and change it. Yes? Well then, you've got something good going!

(Oh, this is very important: they should be people who enjoy the genre in which you're writing. I once had someone get very critical about my writing. Eventually I found out that this guy never read "women's books" and in fact hardly ever read fiction at all! So save yourself some time (and heartache) and don't give your romance novel to someone who hates romance novels, LOL!)

So what do you call Good Writing?

If you're still not sure that your writing is good, don't be afraid to indulge in a little self-examination. Just ask what you, yourself, consider to be good writing. Shakespeare? Okay, are you trying write like Shakespeare? No? Oh, you just want to make people feel the way you feel when you read Shakespeare?

Okay then, you have now established what kind of emotional connection you're trying to forge with your readers: the same kind old Will forged with you! And that's a good place to start! Just remember, William Shakespeare didn't start out as an Immortal Poet. He didn't just pick up a quill pen one day and scribble rough winds do shake the darling buds of May on a piece of parchment. He honed his craft. He learned how to make art by making art. He learned by doing.

And I hope that this blog has made you feel like doing! :~) So quit reading, and go write. (You can start by leaving a comment, if you like!)

--------------
So how do YOU define good writing?

Win a Copy of Homesong!

2010-09-15T17:15:00.000-04:00

How cool, how cool! Homesong is being featured on Fiction for Dessert's weekly book giveaway! To enter, all you need to do is visit the website and leave a comment. It's as easy as that! And yes, I will autograph it for you! Good luck!

Fiction For Dessert's Giveaway Wednesday!

The Writing Road: How I Finished My First Novel

2010-09-06T15:09:00.000-04:00

It's always been my true and fervent belief that we all have at least one novel inside of us, waiting to be written. But a few short years ago, I wasn't sure that my own novel would ever get finished. After all, the roadblocks seemed high and wide: I never had time to write, I wasn't sure if what I was writing was any good, I was constantly starting projects and not finishing them. And overshadowing all of these was the nagging fact that if by some miracle I actually did get my first book completed, I had no idea if I could ever get published. And if my work wasn't published, how was I going to live with that disappointment?

Ultimately I realized that my love of writing was larger and more powerful than all the things that were stopping me from writing, and that if I wanted to reach my destination, I had to first be willing to set out on the journey. Although there were many little jaunts in between, and more than a few rest stops, here are the five major steps I took on the road to completing Homesong, my first novel!

1) Decided to just finish it, and worry about publishing later.

I remember the day I had this epiphany: "A book that hasn't been written can't be published!" In retrospect it seems very elementary, but hey, sometimes I'm downright obtuse about stuff like that! Write first, worry about publishing second - ahh, the light dawns!

Simplistic though it may be, getting these priorities straight was extremely liberating for me. So I set my first goal, which was just to get the darn thing done. I decided that I would write the book that I most wanted to write, finish it, and to heck with whether or not anyone wanted to publish it!

2) Joined a writing group and went to my first writing conference.

Having decided that I wanted to finish my first book, my very next thought was that I had no idea how to go about doing that! That was when I realized I needed the support of my fellow writers. Soon afterward I saw a flier in Starbucks for a the Washington Independent Writers convention. I joined the group (which has since become American Independent Writers) and attended the conference a few months later.

That first writing conference was a real eye opener. I attended an agent's breakfast and actually had a chance to talk to a literary agent (a nerve-wracking experience until I realized how nice she was!), who said she was interested in seeing my work when it was finished. I went to several lectures about the publishing industry and got a glimpse of what a kooky, cloistered, exciting field it can be. I also realized that there were thousands of other writers in the DC Area; and far from seeing these folks as competition, I immediately felt more secure, because for artists, there's always safety in numbers! And most of all, that conference was my introduction to Marita Golden. That in and of itself made the whole thing worthwhile!

3) Attended Marita Golden's "I Want to Write" workshop.

A lot of you have probably heard me talk about Marita Golden before. She's the bestselling author of over a dozen books. She's also an extraordinarily gifted teacher. After hearing Marita speak at the AIW conference, I knew that here was a person who could help me get where I wanted to go with my writing. I took her workshop, "I Want to Write," and, well, WOW! It's difficult for me to describe exactly how she did it, but the one thing I can say for sure is that Marita's workshop gave me the tools and emotional fortitude to really BE who I already was: a writer!

4) Found a writing buddy.

One thing that Marita stressed was the importance of having a good support system, especially in the form of a writing buddy(ies) and critique partner(s). I was lucky enough to meet Kathryn Harris, my first writing buddy, at the workshop itself. At her suggestion, we began to meet once a week until our novels were finished. Without that collaboration, and the "enforced accountability" of having to give Kathy new chapters of my work every week, I might never have finished my first book!

5) Wrote, wrote, wrote.

As I said above, having a critique partner really forced me to write steadily. Sometimes I would write over my lunch hour, knowing that I would be in big trouble if I didn't have any pages to show my friend that night! Writing is hard work, and you have to be willing to start out writing garbage, knowing that you can go back and clean it up later. Usually I have to write three drafts before I settle on what I tell people is my "first draft." And then I'll go through three or four revisions before settling on my "final draft," and even that one usually gets picked over quite a bit!

On the subject of writing and re-writing, there are two quotes that have helped me tremendously. One is from Ernest Hemingway (although I've also heard it attributed to Oscar Wilde ): "The first draft of anything is sh*t." And the other is from Nora Roberts: "You can't fix a blank page." What does that tell me? That even the cleverest and most prolific of writers agree that in order to write well, you must first write, period. (And you can quote me on that, LOL!)

People sometimes ask me, "How long did it take to finish your first novel?" I worked on Homesong off and on for about five years, which is not an uncommon lenghth of time. The majority of the writing was done during the last year, when I was really pouring the coals on. My second novel, Still Waters, is slightly shorter and took about two years to write.

*****

Looking back on my journey from "Will I ever be able to finish this?" to "I'm a writer!" the thing that seems so remarkable is how one thing led to another. It started (as does every journey) with the decision to do it. That led to the realization that I needed a dependable route, and hopefully some good traveling companions. One writing conference, one writing workshop, one writing buddy and a lot of plain old writing later, I finally reached my destination.

So what about you? Whether you've completed that first novel or not, what have you found helpful (or not so helpful) on your writing journey?

Two Exciting Announcements!

2010-08-03T21:03:00.000-04:00

Wow, what a great day! I have two exciting announcements to share with you!

********
My short story, Sweet Inspiration, has been published online at ChickLitShorties.com! I hope you'll check it out, give it a "Like," and even leave me a comment if you're so inclined! Here's the link:

Sweet Inspiration on ChickLitShorties.com

*******

Okay, exciting announcment number two: Still Waters is launching early - this Friday, August 6! In honor of this, I will be posting a chapter from my book on Facebook every day for the next three days. I hope you'll enjoy reading them, and then I hope you'll join me for my online launch party, at 5:00 PM est on Friday. So without further ado, here's the link to read Chapter One of Still Waters:

Still Waters - Chapter One on Facebook

Hope you'll join in the celebration!

You Learn Something New Every Day: Am I a Closet Sci-Fi Addict?

2010-07-30T17:42:00.000-04:00

This comes under the heading of "a tongue-in-cheek look at my own psyche." I've always stated (with perhaps too much emphasis) that I'm not "into" science fiction. I mean, Star Wars was great, ET made me laugh and cry, and Avatar was a really fun way to spend 280 minutes. But am I a sci-fi fan? Until recently, the answer would have been no.

But then last week I joined 150,000 other people at the San Diego Comic-Con. Just a few years ago, Comic-Con was a medium-sized convention for fans of comic books, graphic novels, and (to an extent), science fiction. But it's exploded into a legitimate phenomena and mini film-festival, where celebrities of varying stature mingle with their adoring public. It's still largely sci-fi-centric, but the boundries have expanded to include many things that are genre-defying and/or slightly off-kilter: Dexter, Nurse Jackie and Family Guy being three of them.

The con was a really unique and fun experience (and yes, I do have pictures to post on Facebook! This weekend, I promise!). It was for the most part a cheerful crowd (isolated pen stabbings notwithstanding): all of us were bonded by the general atmosphere of festivity and the aching feet we developed while standing in line. As I chatted with my fellow fun-lovers, I found myself repeating my firm stance that I wasn't a sci-fi fan. And then something remarkable happened: I started listening to myself! This is what I heard:

"I'm not really into sci-fi, but I love Battlestar Galactica."

"I'm not really into sci-fi, but I love Firefly."

"I'm not really into sci-fi, but I love Futurama."

Hmmm, am I crazy, or is there a pattern emerging? Suddenly I realized that my professed indifference of the genre was just my way of "playing it cool," much like we used to do as kids when we didn't want someone to know that we "liked" them!

So after much inward-searching and contemplation, I have come to a remarkable conclusion: I am a fan of science fiction! I mean, beam me up, Scotty, because I frackin' love that shiny sci-fi! It's full-on double rainbow. I'm twirling my hair into Princess Leia buns right now!

You know, the older I get, the more I have to learn -- especially about myself. It makes me feel hopeful about the future, and very young at heart!

Have you ever had an experience like this, or am I the only one?

Where do ideas come from? And why haven't I had any good ones lately?

2010-07-09T19:00:00.000-04:00

Yikes! It's been a MONTH since I've blogged!? Oh boy, that ain't good. The truth is, aside from being "busy" (which is never an excuse not to write, as any writer will tell you!) I just haven't had any good ideas lately! It's been a bit of a problem, let me tell ya. But then last week, something funny happened. (Insert dramatic segue music of your choice here.)

I was invited, by someone I'd never met, to submit a short story for a new website. The deadline was fast approaching, and I was stumped. I mean, when someone I don't know contacts me and asks me to write something for them, that's progress, right? So I had to do it, right?

There was an inkling of an idea wriggling around in my brainpan about a woman who takes a "sick day" from work and winds up in a most peculiar situation. It was all I had, so I decided to run with it. I chiseled three hours from my schedule, packed up my laptop, and went to Starbucks to write. Now, three hours isn't a lot, but it's enough to get the bones of a short-short story down on paper. (Short-shorts usually run 500-1500 words.) I was convinced that I could bang out a rough draft, do rewrites over the next couple of days, and voila! Brilliant story, rave reviews, worldwide fame. I had it all planned.

I strode confidently into the coffee shop, head held high, laptop over my shoulder. I ordered my beverage and a chicken-veggie platter with humous (yum), plunked down my stuff at the corner table with the good view, switched on my computer…and sat there. And then sat there some more. Oh, I sat like a champ, let me tell you! Finally, I started typing, grinding out the story as I'd imagined it. It wasn't good, but at least it was something.

Slowly and painfully, words made their way onto the screen. I hacked out the first act of the story, which was all that I'd thought of at that time, and then I stopped again, and sat some more. What should happen next? I asked myself. But I had absolutely no clue; I was stumped, good and proper.

Now, anyone who knows me well can tell you that I've had a lifelong love affair with the works of Agatha Christie. She's written some of my favorite stories of all time, including classics like Jane in Search of a Job, The Golden Ball and The Manhood of Edward Robinson. So at that moment, in my time of trouble, I sent up a quick prayer to the writing gods and asked myself, "What would Agatha do?" Suddenly I had an idea. Just like that, I Saw It All: the whole story, all laid out like a pretty little lollipop path winding its way into an enchanted forest.

But there was a catch, of course (isn't there always?) and it was this: no way was this story going to be only 1500 words. And no way was I going to bang it out in the time I had left which at that particular moment was – well, damn it all, I was out of time!

Okay, almost out of time. See, I was supposed to meet someone approximately one hour from that particular moment, and I was going to need about ten minutes to get to where I was going. So I had fifty minutes to come up with another brilliant but short story and write the rough draft. The impossibility of the situation overwhelmed me, and I knew I had to get out of the store and get some space.

Frustrated, I packed up my laptop, threw away the remains of my yummy snack, sucked down the rest of my coffee and got the heck outta there. I used the short drive to remind myself of all the times that writing has been easy. Okay, so there aren't that many of those times, but there have been a few! A few of those lovely, delightful instances when everything falls into place and the words just flow like fine wine.

There has to be a way to have that again, I told myself. I just need a little sweet inspiration.

I arrived at my destination and parked the car. I looked up at the blue sky and imagined having a hundred brilliant ideas. I pictured them like brightly colored balloons, rising in the air, multiplying and spreading….

Something clicked. Oh, yes it surely did. I looked at the clock on my dashboard. Forty-fiveminutes left. It was better than nothing. My laptop was out of juice by that time, so I grabbed my trusty spiral-bound notebook and my favorite ballpoint and I started scribbling. Spelling and grammar were in no way important, and for once, neatness absolutely did not count.

By the time my friend arrived, I had handwritten almost half the story. She took pity on me: helped me find an electrical outlet so I could plug in my computer, and waited patiently while I banged out the second half. That rough draft came to about 900 words; further tinkering brought it up in the 1300-word range. I emailed it off just under deadline, and now I'm waiting to hear back. If they don't choose to use it – well hey, that's okay, I'll just post it here. :)

You know, one of the most common questions for a writer to be asked is, "Where do you get your ideas?" The truth is, ideas can come from anywhere. My original story concept(about the sick day) came on a morning when my alarm went off and for the briefest of moments I contemplated calling in sick (I confess I wasn't sick, I was just feeling lazy!). Then I imagined where the day might take me if I didn't go to work, and that's how I got my first act. As I really think about it, most of my ideas come from that same place: from simply asking What if?

What if two childhood sweethearts were suddenly thrown together in an intimate but exotic setting, while all the secrets of their hometown life threatened to destroy their last chance at happiness? That was Homesong, my first novel.

What if a woman finds evidence that her husband is having an affair, but he dies in an accident before she can ask him about it? That was Still Waters, my second novel (available now on Kindle, and available in paperback on August 18th, I might add!).

Sometimes the what-ifs don't go very far, but sometimes they go all the way!

So now, what if you tell me about a good idea that you've had (artistic or otherwise!), where it came from and where it led you?

Squirrels: Fluffy Tailed Tree-Kittens or Rats in Fancy Dress? You Decide!

2010-06-04T20:25:00.001-04:00

This week, just for my friend Gail, I'm scurrying over to the sillier side of my nest of blog ideas, and I'm going to talk about squirrels! Okay, confession time: I love the little tree rats. I can't help it - they're cute! If they breathed fire and chewed holes in the tires of my car, I would probably gaze out the window and say, "Awww, look, they're breathing fire and eating the tires off my car! How adorable!"

As it is, we can count ourselves pretty lucky that they don't do much more than hop gracefully across the grass, delicately bury acorns in the ground to perpetuate the tree population, and occasionally try to commit suicide by dashing into the middle of the street and stopping right in front of our automobiles. (Are they really addle-brained, or is it some kind of squirrel gang initiation ritual? Who can say?)

Of course, I grew up in the suburbs, so I have the luxury of regarding squirrels as Nature's fuzzy little tree sprites. I never had to deal with the nuisance side of them: the attic-infesting, electrical-wire-chewing, flower-bulb-stealing aspect of their natures. If I had, I might not have felt so generous of spirit when it comes to the little buggers.

"Generous?" You may ask. "What do you mean by 'generous'? Surely you don't mean that you...."

Yes, I have to admit: I feed the squirrels. See this little guy to the left, clinging tightly to the tree, body taut with awareness, beady little eyes fixed? He's looking at me, through my front window, and waiting for me to toss out a handful of walnuts.

See, every so often, a squirrel moves into our neighborhood who is an absolute mastermind when it comes to getting free food. This one here was one of those. He would climb up into the tree and watch me as I worked at my desk. When I moved or looked like I was about to get up, he could come to attention, staring at me - hypnotizing me, you could even say! - and I would be helpless to resist. Into the kitchen I would go, where I would grab the bag of walnuts and take them outside to obediently place a neat little pile of yummy treats on the front stoop.

Of course, squirrels don't live forever, and both of the bewhiskered tyrants pictured above are gone now, probably burying acorns in Heaven and filching walnuts from Saint Peter. But I'm sure that one day soon I'll look out my window and find a greedy little face staring back at me, mentally telegraphing the message, "feed me!" In the meantime, I'm content to watch the antics of their less-demanding breatheren, including the one below. I took this picture two weeks ago on a particularly hot afternoon. Never having seen a squirrel strike this particular pose, I felt that it had to be preserved for posterity. Hope you like it.

So where do you stand on the great squirrel debate?

Free Chapter of Still Waters

2010-05-30T20:50:00.000-04:00

In honor of the fact that Still Waters is now available on Kindle, here is a free chapter, which has never before published online. Hope you enjoy!

"Well, I don't understand what the problem is, that's all," Stella complained amiably, leaning up against the back porch. Jenna was kneeling on a pad, pulling weeds from her flowerbed. She was very intent on her work. The rich smell of dark brown earth filled the air.

Stella crossed her ankles as she searched her sweater for a cigarette. "He's an eligible bachelor, isn't he? I mean, from what I could tell he can make intelligent conversation and he looks like he bathes on a regular basis, so what's the big deal? Ah, eureka!"

She pulled her last cigarette from deep in her pocket and brushed the lint off it, then she looked over at her friend for some sort of reaction to what she'd said. There was none, which was typical.

Nearby, Rose and Christopher were playing cowboys and Indians. Christopher was the sheriff, of course, and Rose was a very patient squaw, with a feather tucked neatly into her braids. She'd been caught and was now sitting down obligingly so she could be tied to a tree. Fritz, who had been worn out playing the horse, was lying on his side in the dirt, long tongue lolling happily.

Stella put the cigarette between her lips and struck a match. "Max took me to the drive-in last night."

"Oh really?" Jenna smiled. "And how was it?"

"Well, it was fine." Stella could feel herself blushing. "I mean, you know – it was like when we were kids, or something. At least, that's how it was during the cartoons. But then the movie started, and it was all over for me."

Jenna looked up. "Why? What were you watching?"

"Rebel Without a Cause. Have you seen it?"

"Of course."

"Well, I hadn't – until last night, that is. Rose saw it last year with some friends, and she's been mooning over James Dean ever since."

"That's hardly surprising," Jenna said. "But why did it ruin your night out with Max?"

"Are you kidding? It makes all parents look like neurotic head cases. And those crazy teenagers playing chicken, running around till all hours of the night, terrorizing innocent people? It scared the life out of me. You know, Rose is only a few years younger than that Judy character that Natalie Wood plays. I can't imagine what kind of weird ideas my daughter might have in her head after watching that picture."

Jenna looked across the yard, at the twelve-year-old girl who was playing with her son. "I don't think you need to worry about that with Rose."

"No, probably not – or at least, not yet," Stella said. She flicked some ash off the end of her cigarette, contemplating the glowing tip. "Is it too late for me to put her in a convent?"

Jenna smiled gently. "I'm afraid so."

"Ah, well. Where were we? Oh, that's right – the dinner party." They had been discussing an upcoming get-together that Stella was planning. Stella needed an extra man – and who doesn't? she'd joked – to fill out the numbers, and she'd wanted to invite Adam. Jenna had tried to tell her that the notion of having equal numbers was getting antiquated, but Stella was having none of that.

She picked up where she'd left off. "I think I've figured out what you're worried about – Adam chews with his mouth open, is that it?"

Jenna rolled her eyes. "He's only just started his new job. Kitty tells me he's been working until all hours, so why burden the man with social obligations? Let him get settled before you start parading him around."

"Oh come on, where's the burden? I'm a fantastic cook, and we all know it. He'll have a nice meal and a few drinks, meet some interesting people and – oh." Stella stopped short. Her eyes were thoughtful. "That's it, isn't it? You don't want him to meet interesting people. You want to keep him for yourself."

Jenna gave her friend a don't-be-ridiculous look. "Stella, please. Adam is like a brother to me."

"Uh-huh. Well, I've got news for you, sweetie. I have a brother – two, in fact – and neither of them ever looked at me the way I saw Adam looking at you the birthday party other day. He's stuck on you. And you're a little stuck on him, too, unless I miss my guess."

Now Jenna's expression turned nearly vicious. "Adam was my husband's best friend, Stella. What you're saying is not only absurd, it's insulting."

Stella looked back at her, unfazed. She was used to Jenna's moods. Her gaze became sympathetic. "You've really got it bad, don't you?"

Jenna began gathering up her gardening tools. "I'm not having this conversation with you. Now or ever. I'm marrying Frank, in case you hadn't heard."

"Uh-huh," Stella said again. "And when is that blessed event to take place, exactly?"

Ooh. That was a sore subject, and Stella knew it. Jenna got to her feet without a word and pulled off her gardening gloves.

She opened her mouth to call Christopher, but instead she gave a soft little, "Oh."

Stella turned to see what had caught Jenna's attention, but she could see nothing except a fuzzy gray squirrel hopping gracefully across the grass, which wasn't exactly an odd sight around here. Then Stella realized that Christopher was also watching the squirrel. The little boy's eyes lit up and he turned his head, meeting his mother's gaze excitedly.

"That's him," Jenna said softly. "Go ahead."

Christopher raced up the back steps, pushing past the adults. "Excuse me, Aunt Stella," he whispered hurriedly, before he disappeared into the kitchen.

Stella looked at her friend questioningly. Jenna smiled slightly and shook her head. "Just watch," she said.

As soon as Christopher had started across the yard, the squirrel had followed him, its long furry body arching elegantly with each jump. Now he hopped up on the railing and stood on his hind legs, staring expectantly at the back door.

When Christopher came out, the squirrel retreated to a safe distance. The little boy hunkered down, his arm extended in offering, and the squirrel came forward, hesitantly at first, then with more confidence. He paused a few feet from Christopher, tail twitching. His black eyes glittered as he inched forward cautiously. He reached out one paw, with its perfectly-formed fingers covered in fine gray fuzz, and snatched the nut that Christopher was offering him. He hopped back up onto the railing and began to neatly devour his afternoon snack.

Christopher watched, enchanted, then turned and beamed at Jenna. She returned his sunny smile with such love that Stella felt her own heart lurch.

"So, what's with feeding the tree rats?" Stella asked, covering her emotion with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

"That squirrel's been coming around for while, and we've been giving him nuts and crackers and so forth. Last week he actually took one from my hand. Christopher adores him, as you can see, but he's been afraid to feed the squirrel by himself – until today."

"Well, it seems that I'm witnessing a momentous occasion," Stella said. "I'm honored." And she was.

Jenna reached out and squeezed her arm. Her eyes were shining. "I'm thinking of taking Christopher to the Phillips Gallery in DC."

Stella laughed, assuming she was joking. Then she saw Jenna's face. "You're taking a five-year-old boy to an art museum?" She didn't try to hide the derision in her voice. "Why would you do a thing like that?"

"We're going to see Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party," Jenna said defensively. "Lucien took me when I was a child, and I loved it."

"Sweetie, I'm sure that was a very special day between you and your dad. But unless Renoir painted some cowboys into that picture, Christopher's not going to give a squirrel's furry patoot about it. He'll be bored to death."

"I was going to take him to the park afterwards and buy him a hot dog."

"Well, now you're thinking!"

Jenna turned a cold look on her. "You know, I don't really appreciate your constant criticism."

That caught Stella off guard. She hadn't said anything particularly cutting, had she? She slipped an arm around Jenna's waist, feeling her friend stiffen. "What? We've been friends for ten years and I can't give you a hug once in a while? Come on, this is my way of apologizing for my mouth. It has a life of its own, in case you hadn't noticed."

A small smile appeared on Jenna's face. "Not only have I noticed, I usually like it. Usually."

"Point taken." Stella withdrew her arm, glad to have the amity between them restored. Sometimes Jenna reminded her of a wild thing, like that squirrel. You might think it was your friend, but don't try to pick it up and cuddle it, or it was likely to bite. She decided to press her luck. "And what about Adam?"

"Don't worry about it," Jenna said. "Everything will work out."

But the look of forced cheer on her face wouldn't have fooled anyone, least of all Stella.
....

Would you like to read more? To check out the first four chapters, click the BookBuzzr widget in the column on the right.

Helping Children Discover their "Inner Writer"

2010-05-25T17:54:00.000-04:00

It was probably about fifteen years ago that I first started coaching young writers. I still remember their earnest efforts at storytelling, their frustration when they couldn’t quite paint pictures with their words they way they’d wanted to, their elation when it came out right. I remember it well, because it so perfectly mirrored the ups and downs of my own writing. I drew on my memories of being a young writer and helped the children in my care to cultivate their natural talents. And in helping the children to tell their stories, I learned a lot about how to tell my own.

Since my dream of being a published writer has materialized, the time feels right for me to harvest some of the wisdom that the children taught me, and pass it on to the parents and caregivers of the new generation of young writers. With that in mind, last week I had the pleasure of giving a mini-workshop called “Helping Your Child Find the ‘Inner Writer’” at the PTA meeting of my alma mater, Chesapeake Academy.

Now, this was my first writing workshop, and to be honest I wasn’t sure how it would go. But I don’t think I’m overstating to say that a good time was had by all. We talked about five things that parents can do to help children cultivate their talents and pursue their writing dreams. The hour was rife with laughter and the brisk exchange of ideas, stories, and fun. (More of the specific content will be available soon on the Vanilla Heart Publishing’s Author Blog: http://vhpauthorblog.blogspot.com/ .) The evening was a total joy, and all that's left for me to do now is set up more workshops!

A question for my fellow writers and lovers of writing: What advice would you give to a child who said, "When I grow up, I want to be a writer!"?

A question for parents: What would be the best and worst things about your child taking up writing as a career?

Silver Screen Scribe Stories

2010-05-16T15:14:00.001-04:00

There's nothing quite as magical as a movies about writers! Silver screen stories that try (and sometimes succeed!) to capture the magic of what it means to be a writer. Some day I'd love to do this as a countdown of my twenty favorites (although then I would have to pick a single favorite, which would be almost impossible). In the meantime, here are three that I love dearly in no particular order:

1) A Love Song for Bobby Long

Some part of me thinks this movie and I were fated to find each other! I stumbled across it almost by accident, finding it in the used DVD bin at my local video store. Seeing that it revolved around four of my favorite things (the South, decrepit old houses, John Travolta and Scarlett Johanssen) I couldn't not buy it. Looking back, I can see how watching this movie kicked off a sequence of events which eventually led to me to publish my first novel. Although you can't completely see the writing theme from the clip below, trust me, this movie is all about authors -- what they do, what they've done, what they might yet accomplish. Like life itself, this film is also full of poignant humor, wonderful music and unforgettable characters.

2) Sideways

I love this movie on many different levels, and for many different reasons. It captures so well the angst of being a writer (and a human being), the need to translate pain into words and put it down on paper, and the desperate hope that what you've written will touch someone enough to get published. It's also about getting on with life, finding things that make you happy, the importance of friendship and (of course) wine. Virginia Madsen is absolutely luminous, Paul Giamatti is funny, sweet and at times infuriating. This is a story that neither glorifies humain frailty nor villifies it. It simply says here we are, perfect in our imperfections. And that's what being a writer is all about.

3) Isn't She Great

I first saw this one on cable television when I was home sick with the flu. I liked it so much that I watched it twice more that day, and I laughed so much that I was practically well by the time the day was done! This movie speaks to the glamour-hound in all of us, the secret (or not-so-secret) part that craves the spotlight, adulation, and waves of applause. It also shows a great example of an author who's not afraid to self-promote! I have no idea what Jackie Suzanne was like in real life; Bette Midler's Jackie was fiesty, funny and brave. Nathan Lane is sweet and inspiring as Jackie's husband and biggest fan. Stockard Channing is glorious as always, and has the best line in the film: "If a man bought me those pearls, not only would I have sex with him, I would enjoy it!"

Do you have a favorite Silver Screen Scribe Story?

The Blog Has Landed!

2010-05-09T20:34:00.000-04:00

Ever since I "came out" as a writer (and more on that in another post!) friends have been telling me that I should have a blog. Here's how those conversations would normally go:

Friend: "Hey, Mish, you should really have a blog."

Me: "Um, no, I really shouldn't."

Friend: "Why not?"

Me: "Because I have nothing to say."

End of conversation. Now, how unwise is it for someone who wants to be a writer to go around telling people, "I have nothing to say"? Pretty darn unwise, I know! Luckily, no one that I said that to actually took me seriously.

And they were right, as it turns out, because once I started reading the blogs of other people, I began to see the fun in it. So, when the time came for me to update my website, I knew that it was also time for me to try my hand at blogging.

And so here we are, with my First Official Blog. (Notice the caps: that's how you know it's important!) And guess what? I have nothing more to say.

Kidding! Just kidding.

So, this blog is called "The Little Things," and it's about just that: the small but important things which make up life. God is in the details, right? It's the little things that make life worthwhile.

I'll be blogging probably once a week to start with, maybe more depending on how things go. I'll probably be changing the quote at the top of the page from time to time. Anyone who knows me will testify to the fact that I can't resist a good quote, and I have a whole page of them about "the little things," so get ready to be quoted at. ;) And if you want to send me any quotes that you find, whether they are about little things or big things or no-things at all, please feel free!

This is kind of an important day, actually, because not only is it the day of my first blog, not only is it the day when I launched My New Website, www.MishaCrews.com (caps again, see?), it's also Mother's Day. So Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. You've got the most important job of all, and I hope you know it!

To end on a beautiful note, below is a picture of my lovely mother. Thanks for reading, everyone! Please leave a comment and let me know how I did. :) Talk to you soon!