The Spiral Grove

Preparing To Go

2006-06-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

It is barely the end of June, and though Zooey Rose is not due until the end of August, it looks like I will be traveling out to be with my daughter fairly soon. In the meantime, the other daughter needs to be collected from Chicago so that she can travel along, and won't it be fun to have all my girls in one place? It just occurred to me this morning that all three of my daughters will be there for the birth of my granddaughter. So we will have three generations together to welcome Zooey into the world, then shortly after the birth, the plan is for my mother-in-law to join us, so then we will have four! It would have been five, but great-grandmother Mercado passed away just a couple of weeks ago and she was the last of the great grandparents. We were all saddened by her death and I think it hurt Mali the most because she was so hoping to be able to share the new baby with great-grandma.

Yesterday was an insanely chaotic day for us. Brandon was in a car accident early in the morning which set the tone for the day. Fortunately he wasn't hurt and for that we are grateful. But nothing about the day went as planned and too many tempers flared and there are a lot of hurt feelings smoldering. The cap to the evening was a call from Geri. She was having a rough night and not getting along with her dad. It is always so hard to be so far away when something like that happens, because you can't just go get the kid and tuck them in you know?

As grace would have it though, some good shines through. We were so thrilled that the preliminary tests for Dawnita and Paul's new baby were positive. We are all pulling for little Leanna Dawn! Thank goodness she looks healthy despite the earlier worries!

I am feeling more than a little homesick today. Who ever would have thought I would miss Oklahoma so much? But it isn't really the place so much as the people we miss. I've been thinking a lot about Lissa and missing her very straightforward ways. I sure hope we can work out a get together soon!

The Buzzzzzzzz

2006-05-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

I have been keeping myself very busy of late. This quilt is entitled Beeeee-Cuz of Zooey. It is for my grand-daughter who is due August 27th. This is a photo of the top before quilting, but the quilt is actually finished! The best part about it is this quilt top was made entirely out of scraps! Many of these scraps were donated by members of StashBuilders. Thanks ladies and gents! I strip pieced and hand appliqued the bees and forced myself to do a hand turned binding. It turned out very nicely. I just hope Mali and baby Zooey like it as much as I do.

I have also submitted my annual offering to the New Yorker. Think 2006 will beeeeee my year?

I've written a new and hopefully improved query letter for Legacy of Silence. I have chosen an agency to query after much research. There are a lot of agents out there who say they represent mainstream/contemporary fiction as well as family sagas. There are plenty who are not being dissed on Predators and Editors too (this one is not) so, in the end it came down to having met a man who is represented by this agency and him telling me that they made a difference for him. We met briefly at a writing conference a year ago and I don't feel like I can drop his name, so I am hoping that the letter is compelling enough. Wish me luck!

I find myself red faced with shame at the fact that I am intrigued by the hype over the Da Vinci Code movie. I don't usually care for media frenzy and find it a waste of time. But this one holds my attention. I just don't get the fuss. I read the book a while back. It did nothing to anger me or upset my faith. If anything, it got me thinking about things and in the end strengthened my beliefs. I wish people would get themselves in a check a bit and remember that when push comes to shove it is fiction. Take the advice of Robert Langdon, "what truly matters, is what you believe" (as spoken by Tom Hanks at the end of the movie, not in the book).

In terms of a review though, for anyone who is interested, if you haven't read the book but plan too, see the movie first. I think the movie was better than the critics are giving it credit for. Though it was not Tom Hank's best performance, Ian McKellen was wonderful and I think could easily be up for a best supporting actor nod. He suspended disbelief enough that this avid reader put down her list and didn't care that he was niether red headed nor portly, it didn't matter, he was fantastic. There were a few plot changes/additions that I didn't care for. James really was not happy with the secret group of vatican officials plotting together. he felt it was unecessarry and made the church look worse than the book. That particular change didn't bug me though. Can't wait to hear what others think of it. The whole concept definitely spawns a desire to chit chat about it.

Nemaste'
Ronii

BlogThings

2006-04-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

You Belong in Paris

You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris.
You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.

What European City Do You Belong In?

Oh The Irony!

2006-03-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

Isn’t it ironic that after 10 years living in Oklahoma, we move to Kentucky and my son lands a key role in the local production of “Oklahoma”? For years, we thought of Oklahoma as the “red dirt prison” and dreamed of escaping. Now we sit talking about how if we were to win the lotto jackpot, the first thing we would do is move back to Oklahoma! Not because we don’t like Kentucky. In fact, we love Kentucky. But we really miss long term friends, people with whom we have a history. Even though we have family here, we don’t really know the family that well. The friends we left behind have been our family and now we really feel the lack of them in our lives. It has been such fun watching the performances of the play. Though it is set a hundred years ago, so many Oklahoman’s, particularly the men, still dress the same, and talk the same. It’s as if time stood still in some ways. It's left us all wistful and nostalgic. Here is a photo. Brandon is playing the Persian Peddler, Ali Hakim!

Grandmother Moon

2006-01-03T13:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I must give my eldest daughter credit for her classiness. A package arrived in the mail bearing a lovely bottle of wine and instructions to call her. I did and she told me her exciting news! How has it come to pass that I am soon to be a grandmother? I certainly don't feel like a grandmother. But I am excited about the baby to be.

My new year is off and moving. I am up to my ears in craft making for the upcoming expo and I am working on my health issues. I have lost another 4 pounds since the holiday and that is very encouraging. I have been thinking a lot about my latest novel and I am inching toward finishing up the fine tuning and sending out queries. So there is plenty to do on any given day, just the same, I spent the past couple of days cleaning house. It is amazing how much dirt and clutter built up while the kids were home from school and all.

This one is just the facts I guess, but there it is. Hope it finds you all well.

Just In Time

2005-12-29T16:42:00.000-08:00

Well, today I recieved an envelope in the mail. It was of course a dreaded, self adressed deal which is always a bearer of bad news. Another rejection, just in time for new years.

This time it was from a publishing house, rejecting, without any comment, my novel Legacy of Silence. On the one hand I know I have not tried hard enough. I have only sent it to 3 agents and this one publisher. But on the other, part of me feels like burning the manuscript, erasing the files and stomping my jump drive to bits, obliterating the humiliating proof that I slaved over this "novel". I haven't come to any firm decisions. But those are the things that come to mind. 2005 has been a ver sad and sorry year for my writing. I sold exactly one piece, a short story and then I lost the check and never got paid for it. A bad year indeed. Here is hoping that 2006 will be much, much better, for all of us.

I don't have one of those "current mood" tickers, but if I did, it would not have a smiley face right now.

Long Nights Moon Wishes

2005-12-22T16:52:00.000-08:00

December always puts me in a misty sort of, nostalgic mood. I get to thinking about my great, great grandmothers and the very real struggle they endured to survive the winter, and see their children alive on the other side of it. We take so very much for granted today. We don't have to walk to the river and break through the ice to get water, or go to an out house to relieve ourselves. And those were the least of the problems in the pre-industrial period.

Last night was the longest night of the year. Today the sun came out and filled our living room with brightness. The candles we lit last night at our annual winter solstice observance were still burning and their cinnamon odor filled the room. Life is good. Despite any problems or dificulties we might have, we are truly blessed and have nothing to complain about, even thoughI am certainly guilty of whining about our problems.

I know that is not true for everyone in the world. I read the stories of real suffering each day. I wish there was more I could do to stop it. Like most idealistic dreamers I want to fix all the problems in the world and put all my brothers and sisters to bed happy and fulfilled. How much can I do to achieve it though? Oh I can donate money, or work for a charity, but I think real peace begins as a tiny seed, then hopefully takes root and spreads like an unruly vine all over the place. So here is my effort at planting a seed.

One thing I have been noticing lately is how quick those around me are to take offense and grow anger toward their family and friends. My kids illustrated this just last night. My 17 year old daughter and 14 year old son were talking. She took something he said offensively and got angry. She shot off some unkind words. He became upset and shot back. She then did the one thing she certainly knew would upset him, she knocked over his bass guitar. It got hairy from there. They are still not talking and all over a root problem that in essence was no more than a misunderstanding. Had she simply not assumed malice, or asked him what he meant by his comment all of this could have been avoided. I've been noticing a lot of this kind of thing in my family and friends lately. I wish it would stop. That everyone will give the benefit of the doubt, communicate and remember that the relationship they have with the other person is worth too much to just let anger grow like a cancer until it consumes everything good that used to be between them.

You gotta give peace a chance, at the grass roots, in your own life, long before you can hope to change the world.

Blessings
Ronii

We Believe In Fairies!

2005-12-18T12:45:00.000-08:00

Seeing is believing after all...

HappyMerryChristmaHannaKwanzicaYule!

2005-12-18T12:31:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is more than a greeting, it is indeed a statement, or so the recent hullaballoo in the news would make it seem. I just read an article about a protest being staged against Wal-Mart by a church group. What struck me about the whole ordeal, was that the minister, who was very upset that Wal-Marts decision to use "Happy Holidays" might be a blatant attempt to secularize the Christian holiday, chose to stage his protest dressed in a Santa costume.

What may I ask Reverend, does Santa have to do with Jesus? The perversion of the christian holiday began at it's inception. After all, early christians, you know, the guys who actually followed Christ around, didn't celebrate his birth. They celebrated his death. Do your homework. Christmas was brought in centuries later when the Roman empire was trying to get the Christians and the Pagans to fight togeher in wars to further state interests. The pagan holiday simply took on some christian flavor. Most of our traditional Christmas trappings are pagan in nature. Very few have anything to do with the Christ child. But don't take my word for it. By all means do a little reasearch, or maybe read your copy of the Bible. Jesus said to commemorate his death, not his birth, and the date of the birth was never clearly laid out. The reason for the season, varries from person to person and family to family. Get over it.

Now of course, I don't have a personal issue with these things, but one would think that before you stage a protest on the matter, you would consider your costume a bit better and make sure you aren't contributing to the very "Problem" you are there to protest.

All right, I feel better having gotten that out of my system. So happy merrychistmahannakwazikayule to eveybody cool enough not to be offended by the tolerant inclusion of everybody else.

Love,
Ronii

Back On Track-Maybe

2005-10-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been AGES since I wrote here. Moving across country just about stopped me dead in my tracks, but I am beginning to get back into a routine. We are no longer in Oklahoma, we left the red dirt wonderland, traveled east, and crossed the mighty Mississippi into Kentucky on August 2nd.

Let me just say we love the house we are in here, though we would like to pick it up and move it to a slightly more rural location. Our neighbors have been a nuisance and frankly, we had grown accustomed to not having any neighbors, so that's been an adjustment.

I am working as a private nurse here. The paycheck is nice, the being gone so much and not having time to unpack, write, or get out and make some friends here, is kind of a bummer. But you take the good with the bad.

This little novel of mine is nearly finished. I plan to type "The End" before November 1st so that I can go into my new project unencumbered for National Novel Writing Month, though it will not be a novel, but a crafty book for expectant moms who want to build some unique memories of the childbearing year.

I just want to say here, LOUD AND CLEAR to those folks out there who are posting commercials in the reply section that this is not welcome. I am not interested, and will not be following your links to your snake oil sales. As for the self publishing person who posted the "tip" in the replies, ah, no thank you. I was not born yesterday. You don't live and work as a writer without being aware that self publishing is an option. I have respect for those who have done so and made a success of it, but that is not what will be doing.

I submit my shorter works and I write specifically for magazines for an "income". When it comes to fiction the challenge in my mind is to get it traditionally published. I write what I write, for me and there is a joy in that all on it's own. As for finding a publisher, that is a separate goal, one I plan to achieve and one that self publishing will not answer. So please, save the commercials. If you want to reply here, reply to the content of the blog. New friends are welcome, sales folks, go away!

Just want to add a great big hello to all the folks in OK, and also to acknowledge new friends here at the Hoptown Writer's Group which meets WEEKLY! Can you believe it? I am still reeling from finding a group that meets weekly and they do so literally around the corner from my house. Their are some advantages to being in town!

Blessings,
Ronii

Just The Facts~An Update

2005-07-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy time. Though we had decided to stay put in favor of James’ job, opportunities have come up that have made us reconsider. We have wanted to leave the flat lands for so long and now, after ten years here, plans are in place and we are set to move. Our destination is Hopkinsville Kentucky, a much greener place, near family, mountains and water. Everyone in the household is really excited about the upcoming move.

On the creative front, I was the presenter at the recent Writer’s of the Purple Sage meeting. The afternoon was very fun and informative for me. I think those in attendance enjoyed themselves. I certainly enjoyed giving the presentation and answering their questions. They are such a fun and outgoing group and I learned quite a bit at the business portion of the meeting, about, of all things, Bats and local geography. You never know what you will learn when you get a group of writers together!

I have received a rejection from Tor/Forge on my novel. No feedback at all, just a form rejection. The manuscript was folded in several places and had the look of having been well handled with smudges and creases throughout, so I do think they took the time to read it, maybe more than one person even. I am not letting it discourage me. It is still under consideration at another house and I have several other presses listed to try once I get the move behind me.

Our family is currently in a state of grief regarding our beloved cat Shadow. She had a long life and we have many great memories of her. She’s been with us longer than several of our kids. Watching her get sick was very painful for all and though we know she is pain free now, losing her has been a huge loss for all of us.

Brutal Truth

2005-06-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

First off, did I call Jackson a wide eyed boy in that last post? In some cultures he would be a man! He's certainly got some years on the boy in the Old Man and the Sea (Hemmingway).

Anywhoo, today I am going to be brutally honest about two things. Being insane and being, well, fat. Which is hard to talk about even if it is true and getting better.

First off insanity. People generally consider me a bit off when they see me on the street. A throwback from the Victorian era who only has the hat part right, and is otherwise securely in the 21st century for better or worse. But this morning, after singing a near aria (in the shower) about soap in my butt crack and the pure joy of knowing that soap kills fleas, (which we currently are suffering an infestation of, read I AM LUNCH for these uncrushable bloodsuckers) I sat down at my beloved (and I mean that in the truest sense of the word)PC and realized I am utterly mad.

Last year at the Arkansas Writer's Conference Bruce Holland Rogers, keynote speaker, said "If you read only one Literary Magazine, make it The Sun".

I had never heard of the Sun, but being enamored with Bruce Holland Rogers (who has a beard, and let's face it, I am a sucker for facial hair on a man) and all, I ran right out and bought the Sun. I meant to subscribe, but keep forgetting, which doesn't really matter because the manager at the closest hastings to my house stocks it regularly, and I have bought it faithfully, which is better for the Sun, they make more money this way right? I mean it costs me twice as much, plus gas! Am I good American or what?

Anyhow, true to Mr. Holland-Rogers (had to use both names to distinguish him from that other Mister Rogers with whom I am enamored so much that if I could ressurrect the dead, I would promptly seek a divorce and remarry him {Mr. Fred Rogers}. Only he wouldn't marry me, cuz he was a good man, and would never marry a floozy who would do such a thing).

But I digress, I LOVE THE SUN. And as a result of his regular collumn in The Sun, I love Sy Safransky, whom I have never seen but feel like I truly know him. After all I have cried with him in the hospital room when his daughter was in the car crash, and riden many a Tsunami Wave with him as he struggles to make sense of our world. I show this love by buying his magazine and also by periodically sending him some or other thing I have written that I believe to be my best, in hopes that one day I can share some copy space with this humble man.

Since the submission/rejection cycle takes so long, and since I provide on every submission my uber professional e-mail address, and since that is NOT the address I use every day, I discovered this morning that I have developed a new habit. Well, I've probably been doing about a year now, but it has taken me until the morning to realize it.

Every time I sign on to read my many e-mails, I habitually, religiously, click the "switch screen name" button on my toolbar thinking "Today is the Day! Sy Safransky has arisen early (or stayed up late depending on the hour) and he has written me to tell me of my genius and how he loved my story (or essay or whatever he hasn't rejected yet).

I click, I see that big fat ZERO in the number of e-mail's collumn and then I think, "Well, he probably hasn't finished his cofee yet, or he's still in bed with his wife, or maybe he has gone to Sumatra to help sunami victims and my story is sitting on his desk unopened".

This happens every day, several times a day. Sometimes I even say it out loud.

And now I am admitting it to the world, or at least to everybody who is subscribed to my blog. Of course in writing this I panic and think, "Oh God, did I include a link to my blog on my submission? Will Sy (we are on a first name basis in my world) read it and think I am trying to guilt him? What if he Googles his own name and my silly blog shows up?"

Once the panic attack passes I think to myself, "OK Hat Woman, he is raw on the page. He admitted he was an asshole who cheated on his wife once right? So, he is an intelligent man, he will understand that I am simply being honest, naked on the page...and he will surely surmise that as much as I want that.."You are brilliant, of course we want your story (or essay) e-mail, he knows I only want it if he means it. Doesn't he?

And speaking of naked on the page, before I close I MUST tell you ladies (and good gentlemen)who read this faithfully, I have lost a few more pounds. I am at my lowest weight in almost ten years and get this...you know those fanny firming panties famous with grannies the world over? The ones rendered infamouse by the movie Bridget Jones Diary?

Well, I was wearing the smallest pair of white pants I have been able to squeeze into the other Wednesday (thanks for asking about the hat Ernie!) and of course I put on those fanny firming granny panties. Who wouldn't in white pants? Well I put em on, THEY FELL BACK OFF AGAIN!!!!

I went running out of the bedroom in my robe and hugged by almost 16 year old son and said "You won't believe this! But my fanny firming granny panties ARE TOO BIG! They fall right off."

His reply, "Gee mom, that's good I guess, can you please let me go now." all with a quizzical expression.

OK, thats me this fine Thursday. Off to buy a new tire and rim, even two flat tires in one day (more on this later) cannot darken my mood (no dear, I definitely NOT depressive today). James is tapping his foot at me. Time to go. Ta ta and love to EVERYBODY okay?

A Mom Moment with My Muse

2005-06-30T03:19:00.000-07:00

Despite great efforts at procrastination I finally got the fire going in my mind and got busy with Mabel's Grave. My son Jackson has really been an inspiration to me, or at least a fabulous cheerleader. He is the first person I shared my inspiration with on this novel and he was so excited about he made me promise to let him read it as it was written. Well, I didn't exactly promise, because I don't really like to show my work to family and friends. Every writer knows that family members are the worst possible critique partners, they either love everything you do because they are family, or they are overly critical. There is just no objectivity.

So he has accepted my position of hermited recluse and has been patiently awaiting the completion and eventual publication of my little tale of horrors. I have been struggling with the manuscript though, and so I sat down with him tonight and had a chat about the kinds of things he likes in books, what traits he likes to see in heros and heroines, how fast he likes the pace and how he likes to be fed the back story. This was all very interesting research for me and it helped me solidify some key points in my mind.

So Jackson is my muse. With his insights he is midwifing this particular tale and when it is done it will by all means be dedicated to the wide eyed boy with much love and appreciation.

Non-Linear Life

2005-06-29T15:07:00.000-07:00

Deadlines shmeadlines. So what June is over tomorrow! Yes, I had promised to finish a certain project by tomorrow, and it is almost finished, but the past week or so another project has been nagging at me. Keeping me awake, forcing me out of bed, forcing me to grab a pen and sit under the ancient cedars and plot it out.

Tonight I will plug away and try my level best to get this project a bit closer to done, hopefully I won't get distracted by the other too much and in the end, by the middle of July I may have two new novels instead of only one.

At least we have these pretty wildflowers growing in the driveway!!!

Destiny Thwarts Disaster!

2005-06-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

Well, its well past time for an update. On the creative front I have been taking a bit of a break from words and dabbling in paint instead. Having gessoed over a couple of previous efforts I am currently working on a night waterscape. It is coming along. Still much to do, but I am fairly happy with it so far, though I really wish I lived someplace where I could take some art classes and even just hang out with other people who have similar interests.

It has been a really wild couple of weeks on the daily life front. Our 14 year old son built a tree house and in the process managed a good fall and pierced his foot with a rusty nail. It happened on a Wednesday evening and we spent the night in the Emergency Room. He was pretty gimpy for a few days but he will be fine. His injury played a real role the next night when our place was visited by the fury of nature in the form of a Tornado. Living in tornado Alley as we do, I have seen my share of them, but this is the closest I have ever been to one physically. We got a call from a friend saying there was a report of a tornado on the ground in our vicinity and saying the news folks were urging people in the SlapOut area to take cover. So the boys ran to the storm shelter, I had to help Jackson along since he was limping. It was so windy I had to fight to get the door open and to wade through the air to the shelter. By the time I got there 3 boys were already down the steps. When I reached the top of the steps with Jack, Robby yelled "STOP!"

There was a four foot long rattlesnake on the second step of the shelter. The other boys had run right past it. I guess it startled the snake as much as them and it had coiled itself up in the corner of the step. That is when I looked over and saw the funnel. It was indeed on the ground and headed straight for our house. My oldest son used a 2x4 and bashed our reptile friend to death. I shoved Jackson and the baby down the steps and ran back into the house to get my 16 year old daughter who was holed up in her room "disbelieving" that a tornado was coming our way. In the ten years we have lived in Oklahoma we have spend many hours needlessly in storm shelters. Not because there was no tornado, but because it simply didn't hit our particular house. So she was being stubborn and I had to go get her. When we got back outside the Tornado was not touching the ground anymore, it was maybe 20 feet off the ground and quite a bit closer to our house. There was debri flying everywhere, I couldn't hear much for the roar of the storm. By the time I got the cellar door open the Tornado was doing a strange dance and I saw it shift direction, it began moving westward. We spent the next 2 hours in the shelter listening to the hail pounding on the metal door above.

The next morning there were trees down in the road and fields West and South of our house. There was debri all over the fields from the storage buildings and several windows including a window on one of our vehicles were smashed. In addition, the already damaged roof of our house is much worse and the resulting water damage caused part of the kitchen ceiling to fall in.

All in all, it was quite an experience. The power of the storm was very terrifying but it was beautiful too. There was also something almost spiritual that happened to me personally. When I put 5 of my kids in the cellar and saw the storm moving our way I knew there was a good chance it would reach the house before I could get in there and get Geri, but there was no question in my mind that I had to try. When I closed the door I saw my baby's eyes. The thought crossed my mind that I might never see her again and that if I didn't she probably wouldn't even remember me. But it didn't slow me down. I think I was in the house and out again in under a minute. By the grace of God the tornado turned and didn't actually hit the house and the only debri that hit us in transit were some tumbleweeds which, while they stung a bit, didn't do any serious damage.

An experience like this really makes me think about things. It was especially telling for me because about a week before I had had a dream in which my grandmother Louella (who always represents spirituality to me God fearing woman that she is) was warning me of a tornado. I saw it in the dream and the baby was in it's path and the other kids were too far away for me to warn them. In the dream I ran to the baby and put her in the shelter and it ended as I was trying to decide whether to join her in safety, or run for the other kids and risk my life trying to save them in vain. The dream plagued me for a week or so before the real life experience. Now that it is all over there is much to ponder and much to be thankful for. We are certainly very blessed both for our survival and also for the lessons to be learned from such an awe inspiring experience.

SUCCESS and setback

2005-05-26T22:47:00.000-07:00

What a day today has been. Finally heard back from the agent I met at the conference. She was very polite, but passed on representing Legacy of Silence. Though I did not feel any report with her in person, it still smarts a bit to be rejected. So in my post rejection frenzy, I have prepared three queries and two submission packages on LOS, and also a query on Mabel's Grave.

I also looked about for electronic markets, anything that doesn't require a stamp. Read, my postage bills have become unjustifiable. I sent off several electronic submissions. One of which, Phaedra Magazine, responded in less than four hours with an offer to purchase In Fear of Addy for their July issue. I am sure to become a devoted fan, as I have to every magazine that has published my work. I am blog code illiterate (read don't know how to add links) but here is the url, www.phaedramag.com .

Packets go out tomorrow, several other agents are being queried and publishing houses too. Sooner or later someone will recognize potential right?

Pleasures and Pateaus~Another Ramble

2005-05-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

I have been so very in limbo this past year and the whole winter all I have thought about is when and if we are moving someplace else. Last night as we sat under a full moon with only the gentle sounds of owls to keep us company James and I talked. Turns out he is really enjoying his new job and this place and I am getting the feeling that we will be here for a while. In many ways this comes as a relief. While I have not enjoyed the isolation, at least I know what I am dealing with. I won't feel foolish for painting the windows or laying new tile.

If the "prolific" comment slowed me down, it isn't showing. I have completed eight chapters in Mabel's Grave, I have the package for Medallion Press ready on Legacy of Silence and, after a long chat with God about my creativity, A Wino's Tale is speaking to me again. I am feeling ready to polish it and have some solid ideas on how to flesh it out. It will likely still be the smallest of my novels, but I think it will be completed this summer.

There is nothing quite like singing in the wind to jumpstart one's creativity. Tonight has been a windy one. I spent a good hour outside in the dark singing in the wind. Everything from Elvis Presley, to old Hymns, to Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Now I am ready to work.

All Mixed Up Inside

2005-05-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

What a mixed bag I am today. On the one hand I have been all a twitter with excitement. Why? Well Mabel's Grave is finally clicking right along. I discovered the gravestone and began notes and ideas on the tale last September, but no real writing has taken place. Instead I wrote The Wino's Tale (which ruminated almost a year prior to the first written words) over the winter, and then focused on getting Legacy of Silence polished. So here I am in springtime finally putting the story down on paper and feeling pretty happy that it all finally gelling. Almost too excited to sleep for it.

Then last night someone's comments about how "prolific writers" often produce garbage that nobody really wants to read put me in a very low spot. Though I don't believe this to be true and know quite a few prolific writers who are paying their bills with their words, it still pokes at that insecure place deep inside that has to wonder if anyone cares about these tales.

So here I am today, a very mixed up girl. Hope you all are having a great day.

Conquests, Failures and Purple People Wars

2005-05-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I am back from the conference, actually it has been a full week since the conference. So why have I taken so long to update? In a word EXHAUSTION! Vicky and company did a wonderful job lining up knowledgeable, and fabulous people to fill our minds at the conference. Truly, it was overwhelming. I can't say enough what a fine job they did. Though there were no poetry offerings I do believe that every other genre and type of writing had representation. That is a huge accomplishment, kuddos to them.

The Golden Girls (Sue, Gwen, Raymona and Jesse) and I traveled together and banded together even in rough times. We had a bit of confusion with another group of purple people. The Writer's of the Purple Sage have been around for decades, but just recently someone has taken up a very similar group name that caused some huge confusion. It worked out in the end, but got fairly intense at points leading me to develop a terrible crush on Gwen. She is so cool. I want to grow up and be just like her.

Writer's of the Purple Sage took home so many awards I lost count entirely. One of our members even won the Creme De La Creme Award. Now how cool is that? I won one for a piece of flash fiction In Fear of Addy. It is a short story based on my experiences raising a very high maintainance child. The award I am most proud of though, went to my newly adopted big brother Scott McMurphy for his Sci-Fi Fantasy Novel The Accidental Hero. I couldn't have been happier if it were me. I believe he left the conference fired up to polish and complete the manuscript and will be shopping it soon. Look for it in a bookstore near you!

I did talk to several agents about my Legacy of Silence. I gotta tell you, there is something about telling an utter stranger about your work. It is very akin to the feeling one gets when called to the principal's office. It must be bacause rejection is so rampant in this business and I have read too many tales of an agent and author discussing a manuscript over happy hour and after the author finishes his spiel the agent barks "So what?"

Well none of those I talked to were nearly so rude. Even so they were intimidating because of how young and gorgeous they were. I mean really, I never expected to be pitching my book to someone my kids age. I guess that's what I get for waiting so long to write a book.

One of the agents I spoke with did ask to take my manuscript home with her, and my Golden Girls were all a twitter about it. I am glad she is going to read it and am hopeful that she will be interested in representing the book, but I am also maintaining some realism. I am prepping a package to send out now to Medallion Books and compiling a list of other small presses open to un-agented submissions. I figure it can't hurt to sell the manuscript before the agent makes up her mind right? It might even give her more incentive to get on board.

In the meantime I am working up the outline for Mabel's Grave and have written two full chapters.

One thing that struck me at the conference was how human the business is. The fabulous, glitzy people from New York, are in fact just people. Many of them are terribly shy and introverted and have just as rough a time coming up with something interesting to say as I do. I sat with one woman who obviously wanted to chat, but the first thing that came out of her mouth was "Did you know I have to walk my cat on a leash?" Another woman, kept stating the obvious every time I ran into her. "You have a lot of hats" or "Wow, you're wearing purple shoes."

Uh huh, I do have a lot of hats and my shoes were indeed purple. They had to be. After all, Robyn and I have the purply pact that requires the wearing of purple pumps whenever we promote our work. Though I have learned a lesson, I need more comfortable purple pumps. Especially when I will be standing in line with 480 people waiting for the banquet doors to open.

I am home now and almost rested up from the ordeal. James missed me terribly and the baby hasn't let me out of her sight. The teens let all their chores drop and so I will be cleaning for weeks to catch up, but I think all in all they are glad to have me back. Pictures soon, and ta ta for now.

Error 707- Failure To Load

2005-04-26T09:59:00.000-07:00

Ever click on a URL in an e-mail and get redirected? Did you ultimately find out the link had some fatal error in it or that the page had moved? That is sort of how I feel today.

There are many things I could be doing. In all actuality there are many things I should be doing today. I keep taking the initial steps to getting things done, but I keep ending up someplace else. It has been a tough couple of days out here in no man's land. The entire family, myself included, has had a nasty virus. Between fevers and tumultuous tummies there has been little room for fun. I did pull out some older work and polish it up (read formatted) for the Arkansas Contests. The Oklahoma Writer's Federation Conference is just three days away now. All manner of difficulties have cropped up surrounding that whole thing. Sudden shifts in band practice and work schedules have put my needs and the family's needs at odds. In the end it will all work out, but it keeps everything interesting in the mean time.

I've been winding down work on the "Misty Moon Drive" manuscript. I have sent off letters seeking permissions for the various concepts I want to use in the book, mostly for things related to areas outside my personal expertise. I am hopeful that those queried will be happy to contribute to the work and so earn themselves a copy for their libraries when the book is done.

I have been debating the publication options for the manuscript. I had originally thought to do a limited run of self published copies and then, quite likely a downloadable e-book. After all it is a work of poetry and not something I have dreams of making money on. It is an artistic endeavor marrying poetry, painting and the desire to help others to help themselves. Friends have been very encouraging though and suggest trying for something more than self publishing. I am not sure yet how I feel about it. Comments are welcomed.

Well there now, I have accomplished a little something today haven't I? And it is only noon, so who knows what the day will hold. Hope you all are having a wonderful day.

Counting Down

2005-04-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

In just seven days I will be attending the Oklahoma Writer's Federation Conference where I am hoping to make some contacts that will lead to representation for "Legacy of Silence". I wonder how many others feel the kind of pressure I am feeling about the whole thing? I have friends who talk about relaxing and having fun, but this is business to me. I have carefully chosen every outfit down to the last accessory, practiced my tag lines and polished my manuscripts. I've even found the motivation to lose 15 pounds. Maybe I am making too much of it, but if I don't take my work seriously who will?

On another front I guess I better get off my rear and get some submissions ready for the Arkansas contests. I challenged dear friend Robyn to enter (and win) and since she is following through, that outs me on the hot seat doesn't it? So I think I am going to enter the essay contest. The topic is "A Family Member Who Impacted Your Life". Last year I entered an essay on Fatherhood and won second place with "The Velveteen Daddy". The win surprised me because I think they were looking for essays about "Leave it to Beaver" type dads and my essay had none of that. This made the win feel that much better. It had to be the writing. Of course last year I had the advantage of the wise eyes of friend Hambil who could edit every bit as well as the pros. He has fallen ill and is not up to that task this time around, so we'll see how I do all on my lonesome. I'll keep you all updated when the word comes in on the winners.

2005-04-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

This gravestone located in a rural cemetary in the Oklahoma Panhandle is the point of inspiration for my latest novel length project which has a working title "Mabel's Grave"

Hat's Off. A Ramble

2005-04-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

The news is, as usual, full of vile things. Three high profile cases of child murders and one very high profile celebrity trial involving molestation have me absolutely convinced of two things. First off, that the people who say that fiction involving child abuse is outdated are insane. Art after all, should mimic life and hopefully shed some light on the deeper meanings therein. Second, that anyone who puts out work that has the potential to benefit from such tragedy owes it to society to give something back.

To that end I have made the decision to seek publication for my novel Legacy of Silence, which tells the tale of Hannah Finn who is slowly loosing her grip on reality. Her husband is too ashamed of her to seek any assistance even though it leaves his children in danger. Her father suspects an old trauma holds the key to saving her, but revealing it will incriminate his wife and cost him the love of the only people he truly cares for. Time is running out as Hannah's sanity fades and her father's health declines. Who will break the Legacy of Silence? And will they be too late?

Expect to see it in bookstores in 2006 if the Hat Lady has her way.

In addition I have decided to give a portion of any proceeds, including any advance against royalties of this book to charities aimed at helping survivors of childhood abuse not only at the time of incident, but also in adulthood when old scars tend to wrap themselves around your limbs and paralyze life itself.

Catching Up!

2004-08-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Hey There,

It has been a while hasn't it? Well I do have some success to report. In June I attended the 60th Annual Arkansas Writer's Conference. I went along with a dear friend Melissa and over all we had a great time, though we both got really homesick for our babies. We both had great fun the last day though since we both managed to win door prizes! I got a hat from the Coleman Dairy Farm and she got a hardcover romance novel. I want to offer a word of thanks to Margaret who also won a cow print journal and sweetly gave it to me since it matched my hat so well. Thanks Margaret! In addition my essay The Velveteen Daddy won Second Place in their essay contest. My unpublished novel Legacy of Silence also won fourth place in the Editors Delight Novel Length Contest. I am thrilled with this result, and it meant even more when they announced that their were over 11oo entries this year! I hope this bodes well for my work in the future.

Inspired by the conference I did mail out a bunch of submissions. Of course like any writer I have recieved some rejections back, but last week the post man brought me a letter that contained a contract from By-Line magazine. They have accepted my essay Writing from Memory for their December 2004 endpiece! I am very jazzed. Yesterday I mailed off another 10 manuscripts so in a month or two hopefully I will have another something to brag about!

2004-05-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

No I do not mind your stares

Welcome To The Grove

2004-05-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

Imagine the lush trees and green fields of the Spiral Grove. The natural path on which you walk is lined on either side with clumps of colorful flowers. Off in the distance you see a woman perched at the base of an ancient oak. She wears a gauzy full length dress completed by a white hat with wide brim and a trail of rose colored ribbons. She sits writing in a tapestry covered journal as a painting dries nearby on a wooden easle.

The grove is my happy place from which creativity flows. I hope you will find it as inspiring as I do.

Blessings,
Ronii