Wishing all my family and friends who are moms a Happy Mother’s Day!
A great post by our friend and fellow blogger, Nicole, at Cauldrons and Cupcakes:
http://cauldronsandcupcakes.com/2013/05/11/thoughts-on-mothers-day/
"I'm a very loyal and unreliable friend." ~ Bono
One of the issues you need to deal with when you or a family member lives with chronic illness is your unreliability factor.
When I speak of chronic illness, I am talking about any condition that lasts for more than a few weeks, that doesn't conform to a normal healing arc, or a condition that cycles into more active or less active phases.
Hi everyone! It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Vernon, British Columbia and the forecast calls for a lovely, warm afternoon – a perfect time to take my notebook outside and get started on some writing for my novel! Today’s post is courtesy of Writer’s Relief, a wonderful blog packed with awesome information for writers. If you aren’t aware of them already, please visit and follow their blog! Thanks so much for being my guest today, Writer’s Relief! ~ Julie 
How To Find Markets For Your Creative Writing
by Writer’s Relief
Doing research on literary magazines, agents, and editors is time-consuming, difficult work. We know—at Writer’s Relief, we’re constantly updating our database with new info, including editors’ and agents’ personal preferences based on their notes to our clients. By signing up for our services, you, too, can take advantage of our hard work!
But if you’re a do-it-yourself type, good news: Writer’s Relief can still help you! Here are a few pointers you can use to research the best editors of literary journals.
If you’re like most writers, you probably want to start by having your work published in a literary journal—sharing the pages where Robert Frost, Edgar Allen Poe, Guy de Maupassant, Sylvia Plath, Billy Collins, D. H. Lawrence, and others have been featured. The tricky part is determining which magazines are the best places to send your work. Editors of different magazines like different styles of work—some prefer strict genre writing like sci-fi, horror, or western, some like slice-of-life style stories, and some hate cats. Ultimately, the subject, style, and genre of your writing will decide your submission strategy. At Writer’s Relief, we use the following techniques to successfully find homes for our clients’ work.
Market Books: These are large, soft-covered books that include thousands of listings of publication outlets, including literary journals and magazines. Popular books like Poet’s Market, Writer’s Market, Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market, and The International Directory of Little Magazines & Small Presses contain a wealth of useful, concrete information that you can use to build a list of your favorite mags. In this format, though, you’re bound to come across some out-of-date listings, so always be sure to check the magazines’ websites to verify things like their address, submission guidelines, and reading dates. (Also, check the copyright date—usually at the bottom of the page—to make sure that information isn’t dated itself.) Plus, in most cases, you’ll be able to submit your writing online through their website via submission manager or email.
Even if a particular journal doesn’t have a website, you still have an option: Get their physical address from a market book and write directly to the magazine in order to request their submission guidelines. When you receive a response, double-check their information against what you have in your records so you’ll be prepared for the next round of submissions.
More Tips For Researching Literary Magazines
-Visit a bookstore and purchase some literary magazines. Choose a few of your favorites and subscribe to them.
-Read and learn what kind of writing is getting published and choose markets that suit your style of writing.
-Keep good records of your research information and update it as it changes. Organization is the key to this part of the process. Once you have the basics, keep submitting your work.
-Subscribe to Submit Write Now! for information about the writing process and links to literary magazines.
-Don’t give up! Remember that persistence is the key to getting published.
It’s been a long time since I posted, and I’m just beginning to resume visits to my friends’ blogs. I’ve missed everyone so much and am glad to be back. To celebrate my return my blog has a new look – I’m using the new 2013 Theme with an updated graphic that is light and fresh and airy; I hope you like it as much as I do!
It will take awhile to get back into the groove and I’ll be keeping a more relaxed schedule from now on, so please bear with me … I’m hoping to blog twice a week, probably on Tuesdays and Thursdays, if I’m able (and have something worthwhile to say) . . . I’ll be working on the Poetry Corner for AWESOME Online Magazine again in May and then every second month following – and I’m looking forward to getting back to work on my novel, “Forgetting Yesterday”!
The move to Vernon, British Columbia, went well but was not without some unique challenges. My best friend, Aleta, arrived in Castlegar on April 1st to help me finish up my packing and run last-minute errands. Moving day was postponed to Thursday, as the Sunday before (on Easter Sunday) there was a fire at the new apartment building … good grief, I’m so glad I’m not superstitious! Luckily the fire was contained to 3 apartments and the hallway on the other side of the building; and while all the tenants were evacuated, they were allowed to move back in on the Thursday. We got the keys late Thursday and began moving my stuff in on Friday. My phone and internet service had to wait almost another full week because I was late moving in and missed the appointment . . . and my spine was misbehaving terribly throughout the entire time.
Oh, and Aleta packed the ENTIRE TRAILER by HERSELF (do you hear that, guys? My girlfriend is 6 feet and very fit and strong – and will be 60 next week!! She’s totally amazing!!) She did a great job and I was really impressed – especially since my disabilities prevented me from helping with much of anything.
Without Aleta’s help – packing, driving, cleaning the new apartment, unloading with the help of my brother and a couple of his friends, replacing furniture that I needed in the new place, buying groceries – and generally taking care of me throughout the entire process; this move would never have happened. She had Annie groomed, drove me to appointments to get BC PhotoID that I need before I can open a new bank account, and countless other details we never think about until we need to do something. I owe her so much, on so many levels . . . in fact, the other day I wrote a poem I’ve dedicated to my “best friend” to honour her and our friendship, called The Power of Friendship, and it’s going to be part of my new Essence of Woman Poetry Collection. You can find it here.
By the time Aleta went home, she’d been with me for just over 3 weeks – we worked so hard trying to get as much unpacked and put into place as possible, so that anything I was left with would be only what I could handle by myself (mostly office/desk/computer stuff). And wouldn’t you know it, a couple of days before she left, Aleta caught a virus (and literally dragged herself through that last stretch) . . . which I promptly came down with the day after she’d gone! Murphy hadn’t finished with us, but I’m sure glad he waited until we were almost done.
So now I’m down to about 4 boxes left to unpack at a more leisurely pace; my new home is lovely – comfortable, safe, clean and cozy, and I love it. I already have a new doctor lined up and my first appointment on Tuesday morning. But except for the new poem, I haven’t really written anything for over a month – I’ve really missed that, and it’s time to get back to writing now. And catching up on your blog posts, too!
Wishing all my friends a wonderful weekend – see you soon!
Love and hugs, Julie ♥
It’s time! We’ll be on the road either this afternoon or tomorrow morning, moving to my new apartment in Vernon, BC! Would have left sooner but I’m having a particularly rough day today … it may be a week or more until I have internet again, but I will be back as soon as I’m able! Love and hugs to all my blogging friends and family! ♥If you haven’t met Kellie yet, I encourage you to check out her wonderful work and join in the Launch Party she’s throwing for all her friends today!
Congratulations, Kellie, and wishing you all the best with your new book! ~ Love, Julie ♥
I’ve been MIA again, but for a good cause – I have a new home! I’m moving in about 3 weeks – ACK! LOL! I had originally planned to move to Quesnel, which is more northerly British Columbia; but for many reasons, I’ve changed my mind.
I’ll be moving to Vernon, British Columbia sometime during the first week of April, and I’m absolutely thrilled. My younger brother also lives in Vernon, so we’ll be able to share holidays and see each other on a regular basis (he loves my cooking, hehehe). My mother lives about 2 hours away, so if I need to be there, it will be ‘doable’. Vernon is a beautiful city in the Okanagan of about 40,000 people; the medical and community services facilities are awesome – and Vernon has 4 complete seasons, all of them beautiful! I can’t wait to move there!
And … tonight I joined the Okanagan Writers’ Group, which has some of their meetings in Vernon; there are a ton of writers there! YAY!
Of course, I’m exhausted and in a lot of pain, but it will all be worth it in the end. My best friend has gone far above and beyond to help me with the entire process; and will be spending a couple of weeks helping to pack last minute things and getting me moved to my new home – and helping to unpack and get me settled before she goes home. I am so, so very grateful to her, and blessed to have the caring, kindness and love of my family and friends!
Until I’m settled in my new home, I won’t be around the blogosphere very much; but will catch up (again!) with everyone after that.
I had a huge scare with my heart and was in the hospital a few weeks ago; luckily it turned out to be just a scare and a warning, and not another major health issue – goodness knows I have more than enough of those! But I do need to try to keep anxiety and stress levels as low as possible, so have decided to scale back a bit and ease some of the pressures.
When I return, I will try to post twice a week; limit my blog visits to an hour each morning; and will scale back my articles for the online magazine to every other month. This will not only ease the stress – it will give me more time to work on my novel! YAY!
Sending gentle hugs and lots of love to all my wonderful, talented and caring blogging friends – see you again soon!
Much love, Julie ♥
J C Edwards has clearly lived and felt what it is to be human, so deep is her poetry that the images of pain, darkness, awakening, love, resonate to a cellular place in this reader. As other reviewers have commented the book is divided into three sections as depicted in the title. There were so many that I loved and admire, and could comment on but none so powerful an impact on me personally as “Grandma”, a poem that starts out with, “Grandma, are you in there?” and ends with a notation to the readers (which moved me to tears), “Dedicated to all who have watched a loved one suffer from the ravages of Alzheimers.” I want to close this review with “the line” that hit me the hardest: “The flicker is there It tears at my heart.” I lost my mother to Alzheimers. This book of poetry is a beautiful read. Magnificent.
Read Paulette’s review on Goodreads here
I encourage you to read Paulette’s critically acclaimed book, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap; a wonderfully and sensitively written book that invites us to question our own core values, to search our deepest, darkest places where intolerance and prejudice may take root and color the way we see and treat others different from ourselves. ~ Julie ♥
Paulette’s Goodreads Author Page: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap
I AM the essence of woman
Daughter of Time; born of
Gods and goddesses,
Child of earth and sea
Mother of every nation
Sister to the evening sky
Wife, lover and friend.
I AM all colours, of all nations
All cultures, multi-generational
And multi-faceted; I AM of
The past, present and future—
Yours, mine and of all creation
Keeper of the living and the dead…
It’s official – my novel has a title, although I reserve the right to modify it if necessary for the final version of my contemporary romance – but for now, I’d like to thank everyone for all your wonderful suggestions and help with choosing . . .
as the working title for my new book!
For those of you who helped but didn’t win, take heart – I still have to come up with some ideas for an awesome cover, so will be holding another contest for that later … more chances to join in the fun, and more opportunities to win a prize! ♥
http://www.thehappyamateur.com/
Ooooh, it’s so hard to choose a title from all the wonderful entries! I’ve narrowed the selection down, but before I announce a final winner, I need your help again please. I need you to choose the one you like the best from these 5 book titles. I’d like to make a choice by the end of the day today. Thank you so much for all your help!
I hope you all were able to stop by August McLaughlin's blog last week to read the many inspiring, funny, and empowering stories women and men posted on The Beauty of a Woman Blogfest. If not, then hop on over there after you read today's post.
A few weeks ago, the immensely talented and beautiful Julie Catherine Vigna posted a poem on her blog that fits with the BOAW blogfest so well, I asked her if I could reprint it here for you to enjoy.
Just look at this lovely couple! As a result of everything I learned at this week’s online writer’s conference, IndieReCon, I’ve decided to work on my contemporary romance book first and follow with my middle-grade book at a later date. I have the story outline completed and several chapters done, and these are what I picture my main characters to look like. British actor Henry Cavill (Superman, The Tudors, The Count of Monte Cristo) would make an awesome Greg Manning; and actress Katie Homes (Dawsons Creek, The Kennedys) is the perfect vision of my main character, Audrey Dixon.
But I’m totally stuck on a title for my book, and need your help— therefore, I’m holding a week-long contest to come up with an awesome title, and have given a short description of the book to help fuel the imagination. Comment as many times as you wish – I’m looking for something spectacular! If I use your title (which becomes part of my copyright of my book and I reserve the right to modify if necessary) the person who came up with it will get to have a character in my book named for them! You can use your own name (first name only), or any pseudonym you choose.
Greg Manning
Audrey’s a beautiful, introverted writer who just wants to get over a bad relationship and concentrate on writing her new novel. Greg is the sexy, extroverted owner of a ranch for underprivileged teens. He’s determined to win Audrey’s heart; and even though she’s sworn off men for at least a year to finish her book, Audrey just can’t resist Greg’s abundant charms. Their love blossoms in spite of the obstacles fate throws in their path — but the secrets they are both keeping could destroy their chance for true love and a lasting relationship.
Audrey Dixon
♥
Contest ends Friday March 1st, and I will announce the winner on Monday March 4th. Good luck to everyone, and thanks for helping me come up with an awesome title for my debut novel! ~ Julie
What the Reformed Grinch Might Have Said
About Valentines Day 
They did it without fanfare, or buckets of roses
Without diamond watches and rings on their noses
They did it without Hallmark, Godiva or Ecards
Whobaubles, Love-Credit, i-Whatsis or Wineses
Why, they even did it with no money at all!
And the Grinch sat and he thought
And he thought and he thought
Until finally he realized what the Whos already knew
And his tiny Grinch heart, why it grew and it grew
It grew just as big as the smile he now wore
Just maybe, he thought (though his thinker was sore)
Perhaps Valentines Day means a little bit more!
It’s not the commercials, the money or cards
Or champagne or flowers or chocolates by yards
Though all those are nice, the Grinch thought, to be true
Valentines Day is simply about loving YOU!
So whether you’re a couple, a group or just single
It’s a day for your heart to get out there and mingle
Show kindness and joy, let your heart be ungloved
Tell yourself and your friends how much you’re all LOVED!
© Julie Catherine / J C Edwards 2013
(With a nod and all respect to Dr. Seuss)
But I’m not mentally impaired! My body is falling apart, but there’s nothing wrong with my brain, it works just fine – better, even than when I was healthy. I’m educated, I’m literate, I’m a writer – I’ve had my IQ tested and it’s way up there (not saying what it is, but I have the certificate to prove it) – how can you say the impact of these health issues has significant negative impact on my brain and my ability to function?
I felt broken all over again. I was in the middle of my appointment with a registered nurse who specializes in patient advocacy and dealing with disability applications. Specifically the final part of the application that deals with the assessment and impact of daily living with multiple severe chronic health issues.
I was devastated; embarrassed that she was focusing on all the negative aspects of things I just can’t do anymore; that take three times the effort and time, that take so much more determined focus and concentration to achieve. I’ve spent the last few years doggedly finding ways to compensate, to find ways to work through and around my disabilities, and to maintain a feeling of worthiness and positivity in my life even while my body has been against me every step of the way. I kept feeling like I needed to redeem myself, that I had failed at something terribly important. I couldn’t help myself; I broke down and cried.
This lady was just doing her job, and doing it extremely well – far too well for my comfort. It’s just that the hours we spent together going over every aspect of my current condition, drove home the fact that what I require to just get through each day has taken a huge toll on more than my physical body. She explained (many times over) that the assessment has nothing to do with my IQ or ‘brain power’ – but that yes, my cognitive abilities, my ability to maintain the same level and quality of thought process, short-term memory, and even my speech has been affected by long term multiple chronic health issues. With years of extremely high pain levels, the physical disabilities themselves and the medications, how could they not be affected?
I finally understood what the nurse was telling me and how important it is to discuss and document aspects of my life that I’ve considered to be my own private challenges to learn to cope with and try to overcome— to face my situation head-on so that I can seek out the appropriate organizations to assist me now and in the future. But the whole process was far more stressful, humbling and invasive than I expected it to be. And it was terribly difficult to hold on to my pride; to my belief that I’ve been able to cope exceptionally well this past few years. I suddenly did not feel strong, or capable or productive, or useful to society— feelings that I fought so hard to deal with a couple of years ago when I was forced to give up my job because I just wasn’t able to manage working anymore. My wall of positivity came crumbling down this morning, and I felt lost. I was grieving.
The next step is to go back to the doctor and ask her to clarify and add a few things left out of the medical portion of the application that would tie in with the assessment portion and make the whole application more cohesive; then I’ll make a copy for myself and send it, along with copies of supporting medical documents to the BC government. Hopefully my application for Provincial Disability will be accepted without my having to go through any further trauma.
In the meantime, I have recommendations to look into possible avenues for further home support and daily living aids that would help immensely if I qualify, and if I can obtain financial coverage or partial subsidies to cover the costs. As for my pride and ego— they were severely bruised today, but I’ll work on reviving those … after I take another pain pill, some hot soothing tea, and have a long nap.
Julie Catherine / J C Edwards © 2013
Some of you might be wondering what qualifies me to write such an absurd mish-mash of genres. Limericks...randoms...poetry...fiction. What do I know about editorials anyway? Or bumper stickers for that matter. Of course, some of you prolly couldn't give two licks what my qualifications are, but I'm sick of rethinking the alphabet, so today I'm going to paper this post with my pretend pedigree, to assure all those playing along at home that I am both a highly---and a qualified---professional.
Book Review: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, Paulette Mahurin
by Julie Catherine / J C Edwards © 2013
I loved this book, and as I read, had difficulty believing this is Paulette Mahurin’s debut novel because of the maturity of the writing and the way the story flowed so easily from beginning to end. I was intrigued by the book description and delighted when I won an ebook copy during a blog tour of Paulette’s The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap.
This book is about two women, Mildred and Edra, who are cousins and lovers living in a small Nevada town in 1895 and the impact on their small-minded community of the news of Oscar Wilde, who was tried and convicted for gross indecency under Britain’s recently passed law that made sex between males a criminal offense. It’s also a story of prejudice and intolerance against any form or display of individualism in personality, appearance or lifestyle, and the painful persecution of and fear instilled in those who lived outside the ‘norm’ of acceptable societal values of the time.
Paulette’s writing style emphasizes the hypocrisy of the town’s leading citizens compared to the lives and relationship of Mildred and Edra, who simply want to live a happy, loving life together. I found myself drawn into the characters of the book, into their lives and rooting for Mildred ‑ eventually being won over by Charley and Gus as well. Paulette took me on an emotional roller coaster of feelings: compassion, anger, sorrow, anxiety and indignation; and in the end, the satisfaction of knowing that love and friendship can bring great strength and healing.
The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap invites us to question our own core values, to search our deepest, darkest places where intolerance and prejudice may take root and color the way we see and treat others different from ourselves. It imprints on our minds and souls the wounds inflicted on those of different faiths, cultures, social standing and personal belief systems; and invites us to celebrate our diversities and honor each other as unique individuals.
The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap is a wonderful book that asks us to open our eyes, our minds and our hearts, and is well-deserving of its critical acclaim and a 5-Star Rating.
All profits from Paulette Mahurin’s book are going to Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, the first and only no-kill shelter in Ventura County, CA. For further information please contact the author on Facebook.
Thank you so much, Carolyn Arnold, and Celebrating Authors, for the interview and for featuring my poetry book on your website; your support and encouragement is so very much appreciated! ~ Julie
There's nothing like the feeling you get when you are around your true friends.
This weekend my friend Allie has been visiting with me from out of state and it is funny how much I didn't know I missed her until we were side by side. She is quite a few years younger than me but it feels like we are kindred spirits.
Are you perpetuating the belief that still exists in many publishing circles that self-published books are filled with substandard writing by producing mediocre quality in your own writing? Or are you helping to raise the “Quality Bar” of self-published works by ensuring that your writing presentation is of the very best calibre you can produce?
(Photo credit: Flickr, brody4)
With the comparative ease and speed of self-publishing available to everyone today, it’s tempting to dash off a book in just a few weeks or months and then see your work up for sale on Amazon and other online retailers in a matter of days.
The great thing about self-publishing is that I’ve been able to read a lot of books that are high-quality, beautifully written works from a huge number of authors that now have the chance to have their stories read. I’ve also read many more that are riddled with spelling, grammar and punctuation errors and poor word usage. I realize that producing a book with no errors is highly improbable no matter how it’s published; but that should at least be a goal that the author strives for. A few errors in an entire book might be overlooked— more than that is inexcusable.
One of the most important facts to remember is that self-publishing companies and Vanity presses do not edit your work. They expect that what you send them has already been thoroughly edited, polished and is ready to publish. It is the author’s responsibility to ensure that the work they submit is proofed, edited, polished— and yes, ready to publish as submitted.
When I’m reading, the more mistakes I see the more frustrated I get and the more distracting the errors become. At some point I’m going to throw the book down in disgust, or delete it from my e-reader, and curse the writer for their sloppiness. By that time I’ve lost interest in the story anyway. Even a free or 99-cent book will not make up for poor or non-existent editing. At that point, the author has lost me as a reader of this or any of their future books. I’m certainly not going to be writing a favorable review, and won’t be recommending that author’s books to any of my friends or blog followers either.
A simple run-through of spell-check is essential, but it will not tell you if you’ve used the correct form of “breathe” or “breath”. It won’t tell you that you should have used “bare” instead of “bear”. Nor will it tell you that you should have used the possessive form, or that you shouldn’t have used it; or that you used “your” when it should have been “you’re”. A good writer knows the differences, and a good editor corrects these errors when they’ve been missed on the first edit. Both the writer and the editor need to be absolutely meticulous when proofing and editing— and in editing, once is never enough.
I realize editors cost money; and a good editor is worth every penny the author invests in them. Unfortunately, many authors can’t afford to pay an editor even when they understand how important it is to have their work edited. I get that. So take the time to find one that doesn’t cost very much and try to work out a deal both author and editor can work with. Get another pair of eyes on that manuscript; fresh eyes that can pick out all the things missed in the initial proofing. The editor should not be the author’s mother or friends, who will most likely assure the author that “oh, sweetheart, it’s absolutely perfect just the way it is”. If you know someone with an excellent command of English who will give you honest feedback, ask them if they would be willing to proof and edit for spelling, grammar and punctuation only. Or contact your local college to see if they can recommend an English Major student who will take on a proofing/light editing job for work experience. Join a reputable online critique or writing group and enlist their help.
Equally as important— for heaven’s sake, learn how to improve your own spelling, grammar and punctuation skills! There are any number of courses and other resources available to writers, many of them free or low-cost; make use of them. Learn basic grammar and punctuation rules, improve your spelling, and read other authors’ books. Read lots of books, of all genres. Read articles, short stories, essays and poetry. The more you read, the more variety in reading material you experience, the better equipped you will be to write.
The lure of getting that book published and out there for people to read as quickly as possible is incredibly strong, especially when we’re bombarded every time we turn around with media articles urging us to “publish your book today!” We’re a society driven by instant gratification, easy access and two-minute attention spans. That’s no excuse for sloppiness and poor quality. You spent countless hours dreaming about and writing your book; don’t rush the process and short-change quality in your quest for bright lights and instant fame. Take the time to proof and edit properly; let your work ‘rest’ for a few weeks and then read it again with fresh eyes and from a reader’s perspective. Have it proofed by someone else while you take time away from it. Begin working on a new writing project so you’re being productive while you wait. The extra time you spend proofing, editing and polishing your writing will be worthwhile in the long run.
You might say this is only my opinion and that it doesn’t matter; that there are plenty of readers out there who will love your books and will forgive the errors. You may be right. Or, there may be many more of us out there than you realize— readers who are also writers and editors, who are just as discerning of the quality of the writing on the inside of the book as they are that great looking cover. Are you willing to take a chance on disappointing your readers with a book that wasn’t the best quality you were able to publish because you rushed the process? Are you prepared to stand by your writing reputation with pride by raising the “Quality Bar” on your own writing?
© Julie Catherine / J C Edwards, 2013
Poems of Living, Loving & Lore, by J C Edwards, is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibris.
If you haven’t already checked it out, I have a new tab called Poems: WIP – it’s the new collection of poems I’m working on this year, Essence of Woman. The following link is for my newest poem, “Essence of Woman”; this will be the signature (first) poem of the book, which I’m hoping to publish by the end of the year. Happy reading and writing! ~ Love, Julie ♥
http://juliecatherinevigna.wordpress.com/poems-wip/essence-of-woman/
With the start of an exciting new year, I’ve done some maintenance work on my blog today – I’m not sure if I’ll keep this background, but I do like the cleaner look and feel of the style of this; and especially the drop-down menus.
Media lists my author interviews, book features and what’s coming up in my efforts to promote my books. The Poems: WIP tab contains a drop-down menu with my latest collection of poems: Essence of Woman. I’ll be working on the collection throughout the year and hope to publish by the end of the year. The poetry and published works tabs have drop-down menus so that you can select from a sub-menu. I really like this cleaner style!
I’ve been working on my writer’s ‘platform’ this year, and that includes seeking memberships in organizations where I can interact with other writers and promote my writing more effectively. I’ll be adding to this over the year as well – keeping in mind that I have absolutely no budget for this, I’m trying to find places where I don’t need to pay membership dues, at least for now.
My bio page also includes blog awards; and while I’m extremely grateful for all the awards I received in my first year of blogging, I was not able to keep up with the criteria of posting and passing these awards on. I am sorry for dropping the ball there. And as I said, I do appreciate receiving these, but will have to bow out this year as well, simply because I don’t have enough energy to keep up with them. As far as I’m concerned, we ALL should have these awards, because we’re an AWESOME blogging community!
I am so grateful to everyone who visits my blog and leaves likes and comments; you are all so much appreciated, and I’m honoured to share the blogosphere with you! I’m slowly getting back to posting and visiting and commenting on your blogs too, so please don’t give up on me!
~ Much love from Julie, and all the best for 2013!
Live Poetry Readings, and What I Learned from Children – Guest Post from Julie Catherine Vigna – Saturday January 12, 2013, Vagabondage Press
Vagabondage Press, who selected my poem, “First Kiss” for their romantic poetry anthology, Love Notes, last January, asked me before Christmas to write a guest post for their blog on an aspect of writing. I chose to write about my first experience reading to children at two schools in Provost, Alberta, where I was living at the time. Please pop over to the link and read my guest post, and feel free to leave a comment! It was posted on Saturday, January 12th, and you can read it here:
http://vagabondagepress.blogspot.ca/2013/01/live-poetry-readings-and-what-i-learned.html
Hi all, quick little reminder here about what we have coming up that you may be interested in submitting to, and a little something about a couple of collections we have in edit.
First up, our Burns Night competition is closing on the 20th (that's exactly a weeks time, folks). We want your best poem inspired by Robert Burns. Seeing as it's Burns night soon, we thought this would be a great idea, and a homage to one of the greats.
Today we're getting to know J.C. Edwards, author of Poems of Living, Loving and Lore. Even if poetry isn't your thing, give this one a chance. Like a finely aged wine, J.C.'s work is rich, full-bodied and mature. Her thoughtful, evocative collection includes reflections on relationships, gratitude, seasons, holidays, love, loss, and much more!
Sensitively written with a commanding grasp of the language, …
Thank you all for blessing me and my blog with your visits
and wonderful comments throughout 2012
You’ve made this first year of blogging very special for me!
Wishing you all the best, and see you in 2013!
Love and hugs from Julie Catherine ♥
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Thank you, WordPress – and many thanks to all my wonderful friends who follow my blog and read and comment on my posts. You’ve made my first year of blogging a great year! ~ Much love from Julie Catherine ♥
Here’s an excerpt:
4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 17,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 4 Film Festivals
Ah, 2012 is coming to a close and the world did not end. The Mayans were wrong *shocked face* which kinda sucks because I was looking forward to not having to clean out the garage after all. But, in keeping with tradition, I am going to make my predictions for the coming year. Using a magic eight-ball and alcohol a highly scientific method, I will postulate what I believe will happen in the publishing world in the next 12 months.
White Jade by Alex Lukeman
Alex Lukeman is a former Marine and professional musician. He likes riding old, fast motorcycles, sipping Barbados rum, and playing guitar, usually not at the same time. He writes Action/Adventure Thrillers featuring the PROJECT, a covert Presidential intelligence unit. Alex lives in the Sierra foothills of Northern California. You can contact him through his website at…
I am thrilled and honoured to have my poetry included with so many wonderful poets in Dagda Publishing’s latest collection of poetry from new and contemporary poets. Herein lie comments upon the metaphysical, love, life and human experience. Essential reading for any lover of poetry. A collection of 38 poems by 23 new writers that makes a great collection to any study, reading room or anywhere else you want your fix of the poetic experience.
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Amazon (eBook: US)
Amazon (eBook: UK)
Lulu (Paperback)
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Dagda Publishing Website
Today is the 1-Year Anniversary of my Blog – but in light of the day’s events in Newtown, Connecticut, I am dedicating this post to those who lost their lives, their families, and all children of the world. ~ Julie ♥
Today The Angels Wept
♥
Today the Angels wept
As so many times before
To gather children’s souls
Into their hearts once moreThey cried the tears we shared
As halls were stained with blood
And hearts throughout the land
Were united against the floodToday the Angels wept
As so many times before
To gather children’s souls
Into their hearts once moreTheir souls fell in despair
At what we had become
To see the Creator’s work
With hate and fear undoneToday the Angels wept
As so many times before
To gather children’s souls
Into their hearts once moreThey sank onto their knees
And raising tear-stained faces
Sent mournful prayers above
For children of all earth’s racesToday the Angels wept
As so many times before
To gather children’s souls
Into their hearts once moreThey cried out to the Heavens
To the One they call the Dove
Lord, when will they ever learn
The only path is that of LoveToday the Angels wept
As so many times before
To gather children’s souls
Into their hearts once moreThey shed their tears for us
Of mankind, they left out none
Because Angels know the truth
Without exception, we are OneToday the Angels wept
As so many times before
To gather children’s souls
Into their hearts once more♥
© Julie Catherine Vigna, 2012
To be released on the 17th of December
“The Road Less Travelled”
A new anthology by Dagda Publishing, a collection of 38 contemporary works of poetry by 23 new writers based around the theme of the metaphysical. A homage to the metaphysical poets and their vision, and indeed to poetry itself.
Muse-Sings December 2012 Special Double-Feature
Jenny Keller Ford & Jennifer Eaton
Make Believe Anthology
On Dece
mber 3, 2012, J. Taylor Publishing will release Make Believe, an anthology of six short stories, ranging from contemporary romance to fantasy, written based on a photo prompt with a wintery setting and a woman in red.
Two lovely ladies whose blogs I follow, and who follow my blog – and perhaps yours – each have a short story included in the anthology: Jenny Keller Ford, and Jennifer Eaton. They both graciously agreed to be interviewed before the actual blog tour for the book kicks off on December 3rd.
Congratulations, Jenny and Jennifer – I’m delighted to have you as special guests of my blog today!
SPECIAL GIVEAWAY!!!
Random commenters during the tour will receive ebook copies of either “For the Love of Christmas” or “Make Believe” so make sure you leave a comment and show Jenny and Jennifer some love!
Don’t forget to fill out the Rafflecopter at the end of the interview as well
for extra chances to win!
Jenny Keller Ford & Jennifer Eaton
About the Authors
Jennifer Eaton lives on the East Coast USA with her husband, three boys, and a pepped up poodle. She hosts an interactive website www.jennifermeaton.com aimed at making all writers the best they can be.
Her Dystopian novelette “Last Winter Red” is available as part of the “Make Believe” Anthology from J.Taylor Publishing. Her Christmas Romance “Connect the Dots” is available as part of Still Moments publishing’s “For the Love of Christmas” Anthology. Both are available in ebook format from Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and Smashwords.
Last Winter Red: In search of a husband, Emily leaves the safety of the city and risks her life stepping into the outside world. What she finds there will question the foundations of everything she believes in.
Connect the Dots: Jill has no idea what she wants for Christmas, but when it looks like her best friend Jack is going to get exactly what he asks for, Jill makes a Christmas wish that will change both of their lives forever.
Jenny (J. Keller Ford) She’s Jenny Michaud to her friends and family, but to the writing world, she’s Jenny (“J.”) Keller Ford. It’s her maiden name and the name she’s always dreamed of using when she became a published author.
Jenny loves to write Young Adult fiction, primarily fantasy, but tends to write whatever when the mood moves her. It could be poetry, something horrible, something paranormal, it doesn’t matter, as long as she writes. She has written non-fiction short stories that have won online awards and they are posted on her blog. Jenny is currently writing a trilogy: The Chronicles of Fallhollow. Her first novel in the series, In the Dragon King, is undergoing a re-write for a publisher. She has also started on the second and third books in the series. Jenny is always writing short stories and submitting them for publication.
Jenny has been married for 21 years, has four children ranging in age from 17 to 27, and one grand-daughter. She has two silly cats, one solid white, the other a precocious orange tabby, an Australian shepherd, an Aussie mix and a spotted heinz 57 ‘gypsy’ dog.
Jenny’s life before she became a full-time writer was as an administrative / executive / legal assistant and paralegal for 20 years. Before then, she worked as a retail and data entry clerk. Her hobbies include: reading, writing, collecting seashells, walks on the beach, riding roller coasters, traveling, hanging with friends, being outside on a beautiful day doing anything other than staying inside.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves and how long you’ve been writing?
Jennifer: Well, if you were able to ask my Mom, she’d probably giggle like a goose and tell you a story about a box of crayons and a freshly painted white wall. But I think it seriously began for me when my father made a HUGE investment and purchased one of those new-fangled home computers when I was in high school. “You mean, I can type without white out?” A writer was born.
Jenny: Hmm, let me see. I was born in Neü Ulm, Germany. I twirled a baton in high school. I’m an army brat, a mom, a wife and a hopeless romantic with an insatiable appetite for fairytales. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t weaving tales. My teachers always encouraged me to write, but life sort of got in the way until recently when a door opened and was able to devote my time to writing full-time.
Where do you get your inspiration for writing?
Jennifer: God slaps me on the head and says, “write this you idiot! I gave you talent. Use it!” Sometimes I am surprised by the ideas that pop into my head and try to ignore them. If the Big Guy is really in-to a particular idea, he taunts me with it until it drives me NUTS and I have to write it down just to save the old sanity.
Jenny: OMGosh, where do I NOT get inspiration! It’s everywhere. It could be in an overheard conversation, the tinkling of silverware and glasses at a party, the forlorn horn of a tugboat, a baby’s laugh. A toddler crying. All we have to do is stop, look and listen.
Was it always your goal to be a writer, or did you have other career ideas when you were growing up?
Jennifer: Didn’t every kid want to be a vet when they grew up? I know I did. Somewhere along the line though, I probably figured out that I’d have to do surgery too, and there’s no way I’m cutting anyone up. Nope, sorry, not gonna do it!
Jenny: I always wanted to be a writer when I was growing up. Of course, I always wanted to be a veterinarian, too. College chemistry sort of shot that dream down (I always seemed to want to burn down the lab) I then changed my major to journalism but I didn’t like the regimented style of factual writing. My mind always wanted to stray to the land of make-believe. I eventually married, raised a family, got a degree in Paralegal Studies, and joined the corporate world, but the desire to write remained as important as breathing.
Who are your favourite fiction writers?
Jennifer: My all time favorite was Robert Jordan. Especially in the earlier years of the Wheel of Time novels. I love big and Epic pieces. Right now I have my eye on a few newcomers, Julie Reece, and Claire Gillian. I’ve really enjoyed their novels, and have high hopes for any new stuff they come out with.
Jenny: C.S. Lewis, Edgar Allen Poe, Charles Dickens, Cassandra Clare, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemmingway, Robert Ludlum, Raymond Feist, John Green, Ayn Rand, Sara Gruen, J. K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, Anne McCaffrey, and the list goes on.
Can you please tell us about your current work(s) in process?
Jennifer: Oh! Which one? How much time do ya have? Ha! I have two babies that I’m nurturing at the moment. The first is called Fire in the Woods, and it’s a YA Urban fantasy high-explosive chase book. **sigh** I’m having so much fun with it. The other is one of those weird things that niggled in to my brain and won’t stop. It’s called Une Variante, and it’s an Adult Paranormal Romance/Mystery/Something or other. I’m not sure where the Big Cheese is going with this one, but He sure has turned up the fire on it. Not sure why, but it’s there, and I gotta go with it.
Jenny: I have multiple works in progress. My baby is a YA fantasy Trilogy, THE CHRONICLES OF FALLHOLLOW. It follows the adventures of seventeen-year old David Heiland as he attempts to save two worlds from complete annihilation while dodging a sorcerer and a dragon determined to kill him. He might have had a better chance at succeeding had he not started the war he was supposed to prevent.
What kind of research is involved in your WIP?
Jennifer: I’ve actually done a lot of research for Fire in the Woods. It takes place in New Jersey (in the USA) so I visited all of the stops that the characters hide in along the way. I actually got permission from the farm to use their name in the book, which is exciting. I spent an afternoon with my son scoping out and taking pictures of the location where the climax happens. It was pretty informative. I also visited an Air Force base, and interviewed people who live there. I had to make some changes in my story after speaking to someone who works with military dogs. I was bumbed that I had gotten some things wrong initially, but I was able to work around the problems.
Jenny: As the stories take place both in our world and in a parallel medieval-esque world, I had to do a lot of research on castles, as well as fabrics, apparel, materials and job titles. I also researched dragon and fae myth, magic and sailing terminology. Oh yeah! I also got to work with a ‘knight’ from our local Renaissance Festival to learn how to wield a sword. Let me say that was most stellar! I still need to do some research on F-18’s and F-22’s so if anyone out there reading this has any information on how to fly these things, how to bank, fire weapons, etc., I would love to hear from you.
Make Believe Anthology
Of the short stories included in the anthology, Jenny and Jennifer, each of you had contributions accepted. Huge congratulations to you both – that’s totally awesome and must be a real morale-booster!
I’m really curious – how did this come about, and did you two know each other before finding out that your stories had been accepted for the book?
Jenny: Yeah, we met a couple of years ago through Nathan Bradford’s forum while looking for critique partners. We hit it off and now we communicate on a daily basis.
Jennifer: Yeah, we give each other oxygen when due dates approach, and we kick each other when we procrastinate. It’s a symbiotic relationship.
Jenny: As for the Make Believe anthology…while researching publishers, I came across their open call for anthology submissions. The stories had to be written based on a picture prompt, which happens to be the cover for the Make Believe anthology. I sent an e-mail to Jen and asked her if she would like to take a swing at it. The rest is history.
Jennifer: Not so much history for me. I couldn’t figure out what the heck to write about, but J.K. kept my mind whirling. In a nutshell, I guess you could say this was all her fault.
Jenny: I’ll gladly accept the blame.
Jenny, your story is The Amulet of Ormisez. Can you tell us a little about your story?
There is only one way to save Elton Fletcher’s brother from an insanity-ridden death.
After years away from home, fighting for his people, Elton returns to discover his only sibling, Cayden, possessed by greed and malice, and responsible for malicious, unthinkable deeds. Cayden, though, isn’t the only one afflicted by the Amulet of Ormisez, and Elton finds himself in yet another battle, where the price of failure could be his own life.
Last Winter Red is your story, Jennifer – what’s that about?
It is based in a Dystopian setting, which means it is in the future after some sort of disaster has re-set the world and mankind has to start over. Emily lives in a city built to protect the people from the diseases in “the outside” … but she risks leaving in hopes coercing a renegade doctor to come back and be her husband. When she leaves the city, she discovers that everything she believes she knows is a lie.
What has the publishing process been like for each of you?
Jenny: Exciting and scary. The waiting and wondering if my story would be accepted was torture. When I got my congratulations letter, I squealed. Afterwards, the editing process was fairly straight-forward, and overall, I’m pleased with the end result.
Jennifer: What a crazy whacky world this is! Really, there is just so much to do. Your job isn’t over just because you’ve finished writing a story, let me tell you!
Have either of you had contact with any of the other four writers from the anthology?
Jenny: Yes. We’ve all become great champions for each other and I am inspired by their abilities as authors, as well as their warmth, sincerity and camaraderie.
Jennifer: Well, I don’t know about being a champion, but we do keep in touch. Terri Rochenski has actually become a pretty good friend, and JA Belfield has been such a help in guiding us “newbies” through the publishing/marketing process. Kelly Said and Lynda R. Young are really nice too. I personally couldn’t have asked to work with a nicer group of people.
How important do you think self-promotion is offline and online? What kind of promotion do you have planned for “Make Believe”?
Jennifer: Self promotion is incredibly important from all angles. You need to get your name out there so it can be recognized.
Jenny: The publishing world is shifting and authors, whether picked up by one of the big houses or self-published, need to do much of the ground work and marketing themselves. That’s why social media and blogs are so vital to an author’s future. What is the secret to a loyal following? Ask not what others can do for you; ask what you can do for others.
Jennifer: Can I wash your car for you J.K.?
Jenny: That’s not really what I meant.
Jennifer: Oh, Sorry.
Jenny: As to promotions, there is the official J. Taylor blog tour taking place from Dec. 3 2012 – January 3, 2013. All 6 authors have scheduled their own appearances on individual blogs featuring giveaways, interviews, blog takeovers, book reviews. It’s a lot of work but tons of fun.
Jennifer: Yeppers! This blog tour is probably the biggest promotion we will do. Offline promotions will be a little hard since Make Believe will only be in digital format, but I plan to let people know it is “out there” when I make my public appearances to promote different works in early 2013.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Jenny: I know it sounds cliché, but don’t ever give up. It’s easy to fall into and believe the “my writing is garbage” sound bite, but you have to somehow believe in yourself and push that aside and take the chance. If you don’t, you’ll never get published. Sure it’s scary. Sure you may get rejected, but every rejection brings you one step closer to getting published. Sometimes you just have to gulp and hit that ‘submit’ button. The result could surprise you.
Jennifer: I totally agree. Never give up, never surrender. Don’t overlook anything that might be an opportunity. You have just as good a chance as everyone else. Once you know you have honed your craft WORK WORK WORK to get your name and your writings out there.
Any words of wisdom for those of us who would like to be published?
Jennifer: See above. Make sure that you really work at being the best you can be… and if your work has not been critiqued by someone who does not know you, then it is not the best it can be. You need an unbiased opinion to make yourself better.
Jenny: Write your heart out and don’t stop. Write anything and everything that moves you. Don’t worry if your friends or family like or don’t like it. If it comes from your heart, you’re on the right track. Then, when the time is right, take the leap of faith, send it out, and start work on your next project. Always move forward, never look back. And when the rejections come, which they will, take a moment to wallow (because we have to do that), then find your strength, toughen your skin, and go at it again. There are a lot of fish out there in the ocean of agents and publishers. If you cast the bait enough times, one of those fish will bite, and you may end up with the catch of your dreams.
Where can people read your work online? Do you have a blog and/or website?
Connect with Jenny / J Keller Ford:
Jenny’s blog can be found here. Her Facebook page is here and her Author Page here. You can also follow Jenny on twitter.
Connect with Jennifer:
Twitter: @jennifermeaton
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5832197.Jennifer_M_Eaton
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.m.eaton.3
Blog: http://www.jennifermeaton.com/
Read about the authors who contributed their stories at: http://www.jtaylorpublishing.com/books/17
Is there anything else either of you would like to add?
Jenny: Only to say Thank You, Julie Catherine, for having us on your blog today. It means more to me than I can say. I also want to take a moment to congratulate Jennifer. She said at the beginning of the year she would be a published author by the end of 2012. She not only reached her goal, but exceeded it by having another short story appearing simultaneously in another anthology. *throws confetti*. I bow to your greatness, Jen. *smile*
Jennifer: Awe you’re so sweet!
Jenny: Nah, you’re the sweet one.
Jennifer: No you are.
Jenny: No you are!
Jennifer: No. No. No. You are — infinity times ten. Ha! I win!
Jennifer and Jenny: Thanks Julie!
Jenny and Jennifer, thank you both so much for sharing yourselves here on my blog today – it’s been fascinating, and I know many of my readers also follow you both, so this has been a real treat for us all. Best of luck to both of you, and congratulations on the launch of your book!
Jennifer: Yay! Thanks for having us. It’s been a hoot!
Don’t forget that random commenters during the tour will receive ebook copies of either
“For the Love of Christmas” or “Make Believe“Click on the Rafflecopter link below for extra chances to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Well, as you can see, I’m still not back to posting (or visiting) regularly – but I’m slowly getting there. I’m still having problems with my recovery, and will be glad to see my new doctor Thursday afternoon. As much as my body is struggling right now, my heart is rejoicing at my new surroundings – I absolutely love it here in Castlegar! It rained for most of October (lol), but today was so beautiful and sunny that I just had to get out and take some photos of my temporary home here at my friend’s place. I haven’t found a way down to the river yet but I’m determined; and I so want to run my hands through the water … lol. It’s a little colder today, but compared to Alberta it’s still mild – and no snow yet! Please enjoy the slide show …..
When I’m able to be productive (i.e., not sleeping or doped up on my meds, lol), I’m working on several projects. My former boss at the Adult Learning Center in Alberta needs my help with adding to their website and that involves revising the navigation – a project that will likely take most of the week. In addition I have a new poetry collection, “Essence of Woman” that I’m slowly adding to. I’ve been doing a little work on the second draft of my novel; also the Poetry Corner for AWESOME online magazine – and a special guest feature for my December blog.
I’m also working on a little surprise- a gift for my friends and family, and as a small thank you for those who have purchased my poetry book and who follow my blog. More on that later – hopefully in a couple of weeks.
Lastly, I am continuing to send thoughts and prayers to all who have been affected by loss and devastation from Hurricane Sandy. My heart aches for those who are still without basic necessities: food and shelter, heat, hot water and power. So many are in such great need, and not only of physical necessities – people also need comforting and compassion as they deal with personal tragedies and the loss of loved ones, pets and personal items that cannot be replaced. I’m sending healing thoughts, prayers and love to all who have suffered in the face of this tragedy.
~Wishing you a blessed day, with love from Julie ♥
Location of Castlegar in British Columbia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’m back, with telephone and internet service, finally! Greetings from beautiful Castlegar, BC – I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed everyone (and, oh my goodness, how much I have to catch up on, lol)!
The move was long and painful, which I knew it would be. I have the best friends and family in the world – my writer friend Darcy, who flew into Edmonton, picked up the moving truck and drove 3 hours to Provost to get me; and who drove 13 hours straight to bring me here to his home to stay for the next 9 months. My niece Kat and her hubby Ray, who helped pack the moving truck – we couldn’t have done this without them, and I’m so grateful for their help. And my best friend, Aleta and her husband Mike; who made a special detour from their own schedule to come to Castlegar and help unpack the truck and make sure the basic furniture was in place and not a total disaster before they left to drive 13 hours to their own home. It’s difficult (and humbling) to have to sit by and watch everyone else do it all and not be able to help when it’s your stuff they’re moving. Words cannot express how much I love these friends who are always so supportive and caring to me. They are as much my family as my brothers and sisters are.
Of course, my pain levels are very high right now, as I also expected, and there is so much to do and not enough energy yet to get it all done. And I really want to get over to all my friends’ blogs to see what I’ve been missing the past week or so. I also need to get back to my writing, but know I need to pace myself until I feel more fully recovered. It’s going to take some time to visit everyone and catch up, so your continued patience with me is much appreciated.
It feels good to be back! Much love and hugs to all my friends! ~ Love, Julie ♥
ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD, a middle-grade book by author C. Lee McKenzie
Book Review by Julie Catherine Vigna
“It’s about a kid named Pete Riley who’s stuck in the backwater town of Hadleyville and hates it so much he calls it HARDLYville. Then one day a legendary mansion that vanished a hundred years ago reappears, and what was a boring, swampy place is transformed into something bizarre and dangerous. The rest of the story is all about Pete and his sidekick, Weasel, as they get into and out of trouble saving the swamp and stopping a war between a tribe of alligators and developers. There’s a bit of magick involved, but instead of that magick working to the boys’ benefit, it gets them into even more trouble.” ~ C. Lee McKenzie
C. Lee McKenzie’s mid-grade book, Alligators Overhead is a delightful, fast-paced adventure story of Pete, a 12-year old kid with a good heart but who gets into trouble without even trying (and he delights in the getting into trouble part, even if not so much the consequences of his pranks) and his grumpy but brainy sidekick, Weasel. The book has a spooky old house, witches, magick and, of course, alligators, which should please young readers age 8-14.
I really liked the storyline of this well-written book. It was also refreshing to see a professionally laid out ebook without spelling, punctuation or grammar errors to detract from the story; very well edited and nice presentation, with a cover that will be sure to entice a mid-grade reader to pick up the book. I really enjoyed this, and look forward to reading other books by this author. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
ALLIGATORS OVERHEAD is available at:
AMAZON (Kindle)
http://www.amazon.com/Alligators-Overhead-ebook/dp/B008K4N5D2/
AMAZON (Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/Alligators-Overhead-C-Lee-McKenzie/dp/1432784730/
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alligators-overhead-c-lee-mckenzie/1111949174?ean=9781432784737
Sometimes the hardest part about writing is not, actually, the writing. Sometimes isn't not even the revising or editing, either. Nor is it the query letters or the pitches to agents, or the submissions of manuscripts for publication.
Sometimes the hardest part about writing is remembering why you love writing so much when it's beaten you down. It's remembering the…
Here’s the Youtube clip of my interview with Kahla Buchanan from Newcap TV’s “Around the Region” from Tuesday September 18th. Thanks so much, Kahla, for having me as a guest on your show; for a wonderful interview, and for making me feel so comfortable chatting with you – it was awesome!
What a wonderful experience! I thought I would be much more nervous than I was – but Kahla from Newcap Television was wonderful and made me feel really comfortable for my interview. After my initial stage-fright passed (she asked me my name; my mouth opened and nothing came out, LOL!) and we had a few laughs, it was just like chatting with an old friend. She said I had a nice reading voice, which made me feel really good. The interview went very well, and Kahla promised it would be awesome when it was edited … lol.
The reading itself was incredible. About 12 lovely ladies from the community were there, and I knew most of them. They were attentive and engaged, and asked lots of questions about my writing process, how long I’d been writing, and wanted to know all about self-publishing. We talked about classical poetry formats and I explained the technique of writing a Villanelle (they loved Tears Raining on the Waves, and one lady was teary-eyed when I read, The Old Weathered Shack). Oh, and they must have enjoyed my poetry because they actually clapped after each poem I read – that was thrilling to me! I read 8 poems altogether, and then we had coffee and discussion afterwards. I really enjoyed the evening! I sold 4 books, and presented one as a gift to the Library.
As unphotogenic as I am, I’m posting a few pictures that the librarian took with my camera … I even had my hair colored and cut for the occasion; the hairdresser cut off almost 9 inches, and my hair still brushes my shoulders, lol. (It looked a lot nicer before the wind blew out the awesome styling!) 
Next Tuesday after lunch I have a reading at the Public School, and then again at the Separate School on the Thursday. I think I’m more nervous about reading to the kids! LOL!
This was my first time reading my own poetry in front of people – and I really, really enjoyed it!
What is Write a Story with Me?
This story began July 17, 2012 with the first installment by Jennifer M. Eaton in celebration of her Bloggaversary. Different authors from all genres joined in, and have added, or are getting ready to add, their wonderful talent and ideas to keep this story moving.
The great thing about being a part of “Write a Story with Me!” is that no one author knows where we are going, and we have no idea what the person ahead of us is going to write that we will have to build on.
It is the ultimate challenge to your creative imagination.
I hope you enjoy our story. If you’d like to hop on-board, NO PROBLEM! The more the merrier! Just click here to add your name to the list, and you will be tagged when your turn pops up.
Please read and abide by the rules before signing up.
Thank you, and enjoy!
If you’d like to sign up, come on over. There’s always room for more!
Previous installments:
Part One – Jennifer M. Eaton
Part Two – J. Keller Ford
Part Three – Susan Roebuck
Part Four – Elin Gregory
Part Five – Eileen Snyder
Part Six – Mikaela Wire
Part Seven — Vanessa Chapman
Part Eight — Ravena Guron
Part Nine – Vikki Thompson
Part Ten — Susan Rocan mywithershins
Part Eleven — Kate Johnston
And here’s my part … I went kind of overboard with the word count (I was so ‘into’ it I forgot to check; sorry about that, Jennifer, lol) … I hope you enjoy it – and don’t forget to go back and read everyone’s entries from the beginning! Happy Reading!
Julie Catherine – Part 12
She laid the leaf gently on the outside sill of the window for the breeze to carry away, and flew to open the door. Her father, still garbed in his stately Planetary Raiders Captain uniform, scooped his daughter into his arms and whirled her around, hugging her tightly enough that she protested laughingly that she couldn’t breathe. Marci’s mother hovered behind, rubbing the gentle swell of her belly as she looked on, her face a mix of tolerance and motherly pride. Marci felt a pang of remorse at how quickly that pride would turn to anger if her parents ever learned of her friendship with the fairy, Janelle.
She shrugged off the worrisome thought— for now— slid from her father’s embrace to the floor, grabbed the Needletea pot and skipped down the stairs. “Come, Father”, she called, “tea-time!”
As her mother poured the tea and passed freshly baked scones still warm from the oven, Marci eagerly answered her father’s questions about school and her grades, pleased to be able to give him a glowing report. She was a good student and excelled in her studies. She slathered butter on her scone and nibbled on it thoughtfully; her mind straying as her parents’ conversation turned to her father’s latest mission.
“… the Commander is convinced the portal can be found; and when it is, the troops will move in, and Argot will finally be rid of the parasitic scourge that threatens to affect the whole of the county!”
Marci’s hand froze, the scone inches away from her mouth, forgotten. Careful not to show any expression that would betray her thoughts, she replaced it gingerly on her plate and wrung her hands in the napkin on her lap, head bowed as she concentrated on wiping her sticky fingers in its folds. She gulped through the sudden bile in her throat, her appetite replaced with fingers of dread that clawed the inside of her stomach.
She had to find a way to get word to Janelle! Now! If she didn’t, the fairies would be totally unprepared when disaster hit— they would be wiped out, all of them. As much as she adored her father and it grieved her deeply to displease him, Marci could not allow that to happen to her friend; to her friend’s people. She could not condone Janelle’s murder— and that is exactly what would happen if she, Marci, didn’t find a way to warn her friend as soon as possible.
“Poppet, are you all right? You’re white as a sheet!” Marci’s father’s voice sounded far away and her eyes were having trouble focusing on his face. The room was spinning, and she thought she was going to be sick.
Her father’s hand on her brow felt cool, and it shook slightly. Suddenly he scooped his daughter into his arms and carried her slight form up the stairs, where he laid her gently on her bed and tucked a warm blanket around her. Marci was shivering. Why then had her father called to her mother to get the doctor right away— that their daughter was dangerously feverish? Marci couldn’t make sense of it; was too tired to think, so she closed her eyes and drifted ….
Down the hall, Bethany crouched, unmoving, in the shadows. A slow smile played on her lips as she slipped into her room and closed the door softly.
~ Julie Catherine ♥
I know it’s a bit early, but …….. lol!
http://juliecatherinevigna.wordpress.com/pixys-poetry/on-hallows-eve/
Enjoy the read … mwaaaaahaha!!!
Sorry. I cannot resist anything having to do with Chocolate. Yes, this is a chocolate blog hop. What's a chocolate blog hop? Well, it's about chocolate, silly!
Chocolate is just the most wonderful thing in the world. And I am one of the lucky few who gets chocolate prescribed by my doctor! Yay! Feeling sick? Bring on the Godiva!
Yeah, unfortunately, a good old cheap Hershey bar just doesn't cut it.
Book Review: Drowning Silence Poetry, by Michael Jones
In a world of pragmatists, Michael Jones is one of the consummate romantic men. His love poems in Drowning Silence Poetry are often yearning, wistful and poignant as they explore love lost, unrequited love, and the unending quest for that one true love. Michael’s poem, “Teaching Dreams” is filled with tenderness and longing; “The Morning Promise” a gentle, comforting look at love’s companionship; and the stark yearning for love in “Finding Them” actually brought tears to my eyes.
Through Michael’s writing we are transported to worlds of pain and agony when love turns bad; scathing remorse at love lost in “Karma”, and poems that provoke us to think beyond our experience, such as “Adam & Eve”, which entertains with a slight touch of whimsy. “Her Fading Light” and its surprise twist really grabbed my attention.
Whether writing deeply sensual, tender and even ethereal verses such as his, “Touching Silence” and “My Guinevere”, where love transcends even time; or poems with nostalgic charm like “Grandma’s Porch”, the underlying theme in Michael’s work is the never-ending journey of love.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Drowning Silence Poetry, although I did find spelling errors and incorrect word choices in some cases to be somewhat distracting and would have suggested a more thorough edit before publishing. Nonetheless, Michael Jones has put together a wonderful collection of romantic poetry that contains a wealth and depth of emotion, combined with a mix of stark reality and passionate dreams that I would definitely recommend to all lovers of romance poetry. My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
~ Julie Catherine Vigna
Drowning Silence Poetry available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615545637/?ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_HLirqb0SY10T4
Michael Jones on Facebook:
Tuesday, September 18th at 6 pm at the Provost Public Library, Kahla Buchanan, the Host/Producer of “Around The Region” with Newcap Television (our Community Television station), will be interviewing me about my debut poetry book, Poems of Living, Loving & Lore.
She will stay for at least part of the Poetry Reading, which begins at 7 pm, also at the Library, and will also take some pictures for footage for the interview.
The interview will be aired on Wednesday, September 19th (I’m not sure of the time), on Newcap Television’s “Around The Region” segment.
On Thursday, September 20th, Newcap Television will post about the interview and provide links on their Facebook page and Twitter accounts, and show the interview on their Youtube channel (I’ll provide a link when I have it).
Oh my goodness, this is so exciting! I’m so honored to be asked – this is great to add to my publishing credits, for promoting poetry in general and for our Libraries! Woot, Woot!
I haven’t been blogging much this past couple of weeks; I took a break from packing and writing to enjoy a “Sister Week”, and it was fabulous! 4 sisters (the 5th couldn’t make it, and we really missed her!) + dinners out + time in the hot tub at the hotel = TOTAL GABFEST! Woot Woot! We had such a wonderful time – memories that we will all treasure forever.
Please make sure you read my interview with Muse-Sings September 2012 Guest – this month I’m featuring my own nephew, Dan Scruton! He’s a fabulous singer/song-writer, and I’m so proud of his accomplishments! Here’s the link: http://juliecatherinevigna.wordpress.com/muse-sings/muse-sings-september-2012-guest-dan-scruton-singersong-writer/
Things are progressing well and on time for my debut Poetry Corner article in October’s issue of the AWESOME online magazine. My deadline is September 20th – so I will be very busy finishing up that and getting the rest of my packing done by the end of September.
Muse-Sings feature guests will be on hiatus for October and November, as I deal with the move and give myself time to recover and catch up with everything – but I have a special surprise in store for December, that you won’t want to miss! Also, if you would like to be featured (or know of someone) in an upcoming Muse-Sings feature in 2013, please let me know.
I’m so grateful that my friends are so loving and patient with me right now, as I’ve been coping with a lot lately – thank you, I really appreciate you, and promise to try to catch up with your blogs – and awards that I’m really, really behind with – very soon!
~ Love, Julie ♥
Hi, Everyone! I am here, today, with Christy Birmingham, a Canadian freelance writer, poet and fellow blogger from Poetic Parfait.
Welcome, Christy! Would you please begin by telling us a little about yourself?
Absolutely! I am a freelance writer and blogger from British Columbia, Canada. I have recently started writing full-time and am loving it! I write for various websites and private publishers as well.
