I took the dive. I stood on the cliff, looked over the side and jumped. Man that sounds melodramatic! It feels that way though. I have entered my first real writing contest and I'm not at all sure how to breathe anymore. :) (Where did I leave my inhaler?)
This post is going to be a little short, but I wanted to let you all know that I took that first step and if you would like to support me, you can click on the following link:
Voting begins on this contest on October 2 and runs to October 11th. You can vote once a day for your favorite until October 11th at which time they will announce who advances to the next level of the competition.
How do writers do this? :) Is it presumptuous to thank my fans in advance for their support? I want to thank anyone who would like to vote for me. Also, if you have any feedback, please let me know. Thanks!!!
On my way to work today, with my daughter chatting happily to me from the backseat, it hit me, like it does often enough, how much I absolutely love my baby girl. She's smiling at me and singing and for those few moments that it takes for us to get from the house to daycare are so bitter sweet because while it is our time together, it is so brief and then it's off to work I go. I ache, when I leave her at daycare and head to the job site, even though I know as soon as I leave the building, she is already playing with her friends and having fun.
She's checking out the water. :)
Now, you have all already met my two dogs, Rowdy and Leah. Funny story, Rowdy definitely belongs to my baby girl and Leah to my husband. After my baby goes to bed at night is when I get some attention from the dogs and I think it's only because I'm the one that goes to bed first and they like that. After I get cozy in bed, updating my blog on my laptop, Rowdy will jump and lay next to me (taking up m husband's side of the bed) and Leah will plop down, very dramatically, on the opposite side of the floor, sticking her head underneath the bed for reasons I have never been able to understand. So, even though they both can frustrate the life out of me when at five in the morning and my alarm is going off and they are both so happy to wake up and start the day (I mean, come on - at least let me get some coffee first), I still love them. I feel that even when Rowdy absconds with one of my shoes, just one; and Leah pouts at me because she wants attention.
There are so many husband stories, I had to narrow down to just one. (He'll appreciate this...I think.) On our recent celebration trip to Austin (birthday and anniversary), we were getting ready for a really fancy dinner and my husband decided that this was the prime time to eat one very large cinnamon roll. Now, it was a celebration, so I figured he could do whatever he wanted and I would curb my "mom voice" which wanted to say, "You're going to spoil your dinner." Not only did he spoil his dinner at our fancy restaurant, he made himself downright sick. I honestly thought at one point he was going to have to duck out of there and make a run for the bathroom. Thankfully, the restaurant was in our hotel, so he wouldn't have had to run far, but how could you not smile at this situation. We gracefully declined dessert since someone already had his, and we departed for our room so he could rest. To my husband, my knight in shining armor who swept me off my feet, I love you. More than you can know or measure.
So, I know that everyone has heard of, "The Voice." That wonderful TV show that gives struggling singers a chance at that brass ring, that thing that all artists strive for, the recognition and acknowledgment that we ARE great at our craft. Every time I watch this show, I always wonder what it would be like it there was a version of this show that showcased struggling authors. All my fellow unpublished and unknown authors - Shout Out! :) You know what I mean, right?
But seriously, what would you do, (fellow author), if you had that chance to come onto a show where you had 90 seconds to show the world what you were about? Would you take that chance? I would like to think that I would, you know it's such a great thought.
Like any other artistic genre, there are so many of us that are unknown. We all have a "voice," we all have something to say. The question then becomes, when and how are you going to get yours heard? What would you suggest? A blog? :)
Okay, so the challenge is now - if you are a struggling author, (like myself), and you had your chance on this TV show, what would you showcase with your 90 seconds? :) Here's your chance!
Just for a minute, I want to break out of my normal routine
here and talk a little bit about dreams and the things that might hold you back
from them. This is something that I have
been considering for the last few months, and given certain things that I have
witnessed I thought that I could dedicate a moment here to just let everyone
know how I felt about this. (Just in
case anyone was curious or felt the same.)
You hear enough during your childhood, to encourage the
development of your “dream,” whatever that might be for you, but at the same
time, when you consider the type of encouragement you get, you might realize
like I did that the “dream” might not have been something that you ever gave
serious consideration to. Not everyone
falls into this category. There are many
friends of mine from school that knew early on who they were and what path they
wanted to follow in life and stopped at nothing to achieve that. Then there were others, like myself, that
never gave much thought to dreams because it was nothing that you ever thought
possible for yourself.
Fast forward to a few years later – here you are, walking
down that middle path in life, doing what needs to be done day in and out,
paying the bills, doing your job. You
find yourself somehow stuck, like you are on a path that is so surrounded by
trees that you don’t realize that there is another way, another path. Those trees can represent all kinds of
obstacles in life, but just thinking about the sheer volume of them in your way
can be overwhelming – leaving you with a feeling of suppression. Some people are so comfortable on this road
that they never even realize that there is more outside the forest, outside
what they can immediately see right in front of them. Some people don’t even want to know and hate
others for their desire.
I think that one of the most interesting stories is what
happens to that person who suddenly discovers that there is another path that they want to travel.
The journey to that discovery, and how they handle the navigation to the
other road, is one of the most beautiful things, if you think about it. There are moments where you might feel so
beat down that you just want to give in – surely it is easier to stay where you
have been for so long with no problems.
Why take the chance? Why put
yourself through that pain? There are
those that will do their best to stand in your way, those that never understand
what you know within you that is larger than their disbelief and disdain.
So, now you are at the crossroads. Which path will you take? It is my hope that anyone who is considering this
that they will break away from the safe and well known and take that chance,
that new path.
I had to do a writing exercise for class that was an "interview" with a historical figure and I decided to add a small twist. I used a well known character from fiction to do the interview and this is what happened in my mind.
I think that everyone has their list of who they would like to invite to their "celebrity luncheon," and while I don't think I would invite either of these gentlemen, I thought it was a cool "encounter" and was laughing when I wrote it.
Tom rushed down the street in the bitter cold of the
evening, headed towards the pub that was just around the corner.The light from the front window could be seen
spilling over the snow-covered road with the word, “Sammy’s,” reflected in a
gloomy grey.When Tom arrived, he pulled
the door open and while dusting off his boots, muttered to his companion,
“Hurry up Nagini, it’s freezing.”
Music
drifted from an old jukebox in the back corner and all the tables were
filled.There was one seat at the bar,
and Tom headed purposefully towards it, ignoring the curious glances that came
his way.He supposed he was going to
have to get used to being looked at oddly, his appearance wasn’t exactly customary
for this town with his black pants, shirt, and cape that hung loosely around
his narrow shoulders.Not to mention his
companion, the only one who really knew him and never left his side, wasn’t the
most handsome in the world.
Grabbing
the remaining stool, Tom signaled the bartender and sat gingerly down.He was a little sore from his hike this
morning and a little upset that he hadn’t found what he was looking for yet.
“Guinness,”
he told the bartender.“As dark as you
can make it.”
“Where do
you come from, friend?” asked a greasy man to his left.Greasy was the first thought that came to
Tom’s mind, after he got over his surprise that this stranger would dare talk
to him.Perhaps it was his surprise that
prompted him to answer.
“Obviously
not from here.” Tom replied snidely.
“I guess I
figured that out for myself.” The man returned, smiling as he turned his pint
in his hand.
Tom glanced
down at his friend, as if asking for his help.Nagini couldn’t be bothered.After this morning’s excursions he was close to falling asleep on the
pub’s floor.
“I’m not
from around here either.Name’s Greg.”
The stranger reached out a hand to Tom.
Reaching
for his Guinness that had just been placed in front of him, Tom eyed the man’s
dirty hands disdainfully.Since it
didn’t appear he was going to get away from basic conversation he turned
slightly towards the stranger and said, “Tom,” keeping his hands wrapped around
his own glass.
“Had a bad
day, Tom?”
“You could
say that.”
“Had a bad
one myself,” Greg said.“Had to leave my
home because someone was spreading horrible rumors about me.”
Curious
despite himself, Tom couldn’t help but ask, “Really?”
“Oh
yeah.I was a close friend with this
important lady in our town because I am considered something of a magic healer
and I was able to help her son who was ill. People thought because we spent so much time
together that I was sleeping with her and influencing her in my favor.”
“Influence?”
“See she
made all the important decisions while her husband was away, so it was
speculated that because we were so close, that I persuaded her for my own
power.”
“Was it
true?”
With a
slight smile, Greg turned and said, “Depends on who you ask.”
Taking a
drink from his Guinness, Tom considered the stranger.His shoulder-length brown hair had turned
wiry looking, probably from his obvious lack of personal hygiene.Normally this would have put Tom off, but for
some reason he felt empathy for the stranger.
“I know a
little something of power and influence.” Tom murmured.
“You look
like someone who might.”
“Do I?”
“Sure.You don’t dress the way you do and travel
with your companion to blend in.”
Instead of
angering Tom, he was surprised by how much he wanted to laugh.He returned, “Appearances can be deceiving,
my friend.Hopefully yours is.”
Obviously
confused, Greg glanced down at himself.“I
had to rush out of town.I suppose I
could try to clean up a little.”
Leaving
this alone, Tom finished off his Guinness and stood.“How far away is your town?”
“Pretty
far.”
“Lucky for
you, I have quick ways to travel.Come
with me.I will see you home and we
shall discuss more your methods of influence.”
After a moment’s
hesitation, Greg turned and placed money on the bar and stood up to follow Tom
outside.
“Do you
believe in magic, Tom?” Greg asked.
Tom just smiled
as he gestured Greg ahead of him out the door, while Nagini slithered along the
floor after them.
I have always admired art, all kinds of art. Of course my favorite medium is literature, but my affection for art doesn't stop there. I grew up overseas and spent a lot of time surrounded by beautiful castles, wonderful museums, and delicious food!
Recently, I friend of mine named Claire, entered the below piece, into a contest in which she is now a finalist. (Congratulations by the way, Claire!)
"Acrylic + sumi ink on Jacquard" by Claire
Wentzel, California
And this got me thinking about various works of art that I have loved
throughout my life and I thought I would share a few with you. This first one is from the Louvre and I couldn't begin to explain why, but caught my attention at the age of 16 and I have been inspired by it ever since. It is the Coronation of Empress Josephine by her husband Napoleon.
I remember standing in the room, just staring at this piece for what felt like seconds, but I guess had been minutes because my family had to pull me out of there to continue our tour. I think that this was the first piece of art that ever captured my attention and got me thinking and wondering. You know?
Next I wanted to show you my favorite castle. I went exploring in this castle for the first time when I was in the eight grade and I would dare you not to let your imagination run wild when you see it. Inside, they actually had some original pieces of furniture and armor which I found fascinating because I had never seen anything like it before.
http://www.burg-eltz.de/e_index.html
So, we've seen a castle and picture, so now I want to share my favorite statue. This famous statue is set in Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican and I can't honestly think of anything more moving. I can't begin to describe what I felt when I saw this - if someone could help me out here... My next thought here was - wow Michelangelo - wow!
http://www.miraclerosarymission.org/pieta.html
Okay, so that is my short list of favorite pieces of art. Please don't ask me my favorite book, :), that's just not something I could even begin to speculate on. The only reason I could come up with these three is because they are different mediums. What I would love is if you would share with me what your favorite work of art is and why! I look forward to your comments and Happy Fourth!
