Do Over

Hiddey – ho ~ J Monkeys here.  We had a crazy blizzard here in CT about a month ago.  I was supposed to spend the weekend at a scrapbooking retreat, but got stuck indoors at my parents house instead.  This weekend is a do over.  I’m off to live my postponed scrapbooking retreat.

So to celebrate my do over – I’m giving you a do over too.  You know, in case you missed my post due to all the time you spent shoveling 3+ feet of snow a month ago.

I love a good story and to me, no story is more interesting that the story of our lives.  I can’t tell you how much I wish my grandmother had kept a journal during her life.  She was born in 1909, the 7th of 8 children and she died in 2006, just a couple of weeks short of her 95th birthday.  She lived through so much of what I view as “history”.  WWI, The Great Depression, WWII, the really icy bits of the Cold War, the advent of electricity, the phone, the radio, the TV – all of those were things were new at some point in her life time.  She used to tell us how when she was a child, the ice-man would drive his horse and buggy to their house in East Hartford, CT to deliver blocks of ice for the ice-box.  To her dying day, she called the refrigerator an ice-box.

Now, my grandmother and I had issues.  I’ve probably alluded to them in the past; she wasn’t a happy woman and like to be sure that many of the people around her were unhappy, too.  But I bet, if she had kept a diary of some kind, I might be able to figure out why she was so unhappy.  And that would mean a lot to me.  Her siblings weren’t unhappy.  My aunt Grace (my g-mom’s next oldest sibling) was a very upbeat lady, with a ho-ho-ho belly laugh.

When Auntie died (that’s what we all called Aunt Grace, now I’m Auntie to a new generation, which is really cool) I helped clean out her house.  In her basement, I found an old photo-album.  The pictures were likely taken in the 30’s or 40’s or something.  They are glued onto black construction paper-like stuff and the whole thing is tied together with twine.  The worst thing is this: there are no notes or captions for the pictures.  Clearly, the pictures, people and events were important enough to her to go to the expense and effort of making the book, but she’s gone now and those stories can’t carry on.

So one of the things that I do when I scrapbook is to write notes of what the picture is about or why I liked it.  Those in the Scrapbooking trade (and if you don’t know about the scrapbooking trade you are missing out on a billion dollar business!) call that “journaling.”  I do some journaling, but I’m more of a snarky-caption kind of girl.  I think that my boys and even my grandchildren will (hopefully!) realize that those captions say as much about me as they do about the photo.

And one other thing about scrappin’ before I leave you and go do it – I don’t have any photos of my life before college, which is when I started my very first photo-album.  My mom has some albums of my childhood which I’ll likely inherit someday, but I don’t have anything now, when I think my kids might find them interesting.  My mom doesn’t have them handy, they’re packed away from her last house move before the kids were born.  So in addition to making albums for me, I’m making albums for my kids to have when they are older.  Each kid has an album.  When they get old enough to be interested in doing the crafty part of it, I’ll have him or her help me.  Yes it means I’m printing 4 copies of a few hundred pictures each year (this year I’ve printed 4 copies of more than 500 pictures) but I think it’s a small price to pay.  Pictures are cheap these days.  I think I’ve paid something in the neighbor hood of $125 for all the 2012 pictures.  If I hadn’t left it for the last minute, I probably could have gotten them even cheaper online somewhere.

Today’s secret: take the time to print off some of those zillion photos you have on your digital camera and phone.  Stick them in an album and write a few notes so that when you are gone, your descendents will be able to know you a little.

Today’s question: what do you do with your extra photos?  I invariably print more than I use and the extras are sitting in boxes in my office.

Bonus Secret: I almost forgot to tell you what the title of this post (The Mother of all BLTs) has to do with scrapbooking!  YIKES.  My annual scrap-retreat is down in Westbrook CT.  And every year, when I get there a moment or two after the places opens (Papercraft Clubhouse – it’s awesome!) on Friday, I go over to the Westbrook Deli and order a sandwich that is good enough to wait a year for: The Mother of all BLTs.  It’s a grinder with like a pound of bacon on it!  YUM.

Et Tu, Brute. Betrayal and Other Fun Topics.

Ahh, the Ides of March. Casey here, wishing you a happy Friday.

Unless of course, your name is Julius Caesar and the year is 44 BC, then you’re about to have a really bad March 15th. To the Romans, the ides didn’t mean anything sinister. The ides simply marked the middle of each month. That’s it.

But thanks to Brutus and the Roman Senate, it has come to symbolize the date of Caesar’s assasination – beware the Ides of March!

History is loaded with betrayals: Brutus, Benedict Arnold, and whoever ratted out the Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylea. In literature, betrayal is commonly used as a plot twist. I’ve used it once or twice.

Betrayal exists in so many forms: Family backstabbing, corporate greed, an apprentice killing the master, friendships gone sour, betraying your country. Even betraying your own ideals. So many flavors and all of them leave a bitter taste in the mouth.

But, as a writer, you should never be afraid to go down the dark path. Traitors have a place in fiction. In romance, it can drive the hero and heroine apart. It can also bring them back together. Depending on the genre, your protagonist can be ruined by betrayal or uplifted (or both!).

Case in point – Casey’s Top Fictional Betrayers (not in any special order):

1. Fredo Corleone – The Godfather by Mario Puzo. When Michael Corleone realizes that his own brother has betrayed him, it’s heartbreaking and ultimately destroys what little soul Michael has left. In true mafia style, Fredo ends up swimming with the fishes – the execution ordered by his brother Michael.

2. Edmund Pevensie –The Lion, The Witch, and The Wadrobe by C. S. Lewis. If you think only mafia families can backstab each other – wrong! Even children’s stories aren’t immune to betrayers. Edmund is influenced by the White Witch (and her endless supply of Turkish Delight) and he betrays his siblings. But with Aslan’s intervention, not all is lost. Edmund redeems himself and joins Peter, Susan and Lucy to defeat the witch.

3. Anakin Skywalker – The Stars Wars Saga by George Lucas. Anakin doesn’t listen to Yoda and lets his anger consume him. Yes, he betrays the Jedi Order and the Republic, but Anakin majorly betrays himself by turning his back on his master and training. Not to mention, that whole “I am your father” incident and literallay lopping off his own son’s hand!

4. Mr. Wickham – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The most odious of betrayers, Mr. Wickham uses falsehoods under the guise of friendship to lure Elizabeth Bennet into seriously misjudging Mr. Darcy. And then he runs off with Lydia Bennet, the youngest daughter!

5. Thomas Barrow and Sara O’Brien – Downtown Abbey by Julian Fellowes. These two are the dynamic duo of backstabbing. Not only do they cause subtle and sometimes serious mayhem (hello bar of soap!) both upstairs and downstairs, in season three, they embark on backstabbing each other!

6. Saruman the White – The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien. Nothing stings worse than discovering that the leader of your wizard order is a turncoat. Poor Gandalf. Not even he can foresee what’s about to happen. After discovering that the One Ring has resurfaced, Gandalf consults the one person he thinks he can trust. Instead he’s imprisoned by Saruman leaving Frodo and company in dire straits.

Imagine how different each of these stories would have been without these acts of betrayal. In every case, the traitor has served a purpose, providing a lesson to the hero/heroine and the reader (or viewer) as well.

So remember, while it may be uncomfortable to contemplate, betrayal is a writer’s best friend.

What say you? Who are your top choices for fictional betrayers? And have you used betrayal in your stories?

Happy Pi Day!

Hi, peeps. Suze here, continuing last week’s discussion on letting your geek flag fly, and wishing you a very happy Pi day.

Pie? Did someone say pie? Sorry, this is not a bait and switch tactic. March 14, or 3-14, is a happy little holiday celebrating that mathematical wunderkind, Pi. Pi is defined as:

• A mathematical constant: a number approximately equal to 3.14159 that is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter and is represented by the symbol π

Now don’t run away, screaming. I don’t find advanced math very interesting either, beyond (1) being able to balance the checkbook to see how much money I can spend on books; and (2) doubling cookie recipes.

But one thing I do find interesting is the notion of a constant. A thing whose value never changes. A thing you can always count on. Among my constants are my love for my family and friends and my love of the written and spoken word. Will those things change and grow over time? Sure. But the underlying value to me will always be there.

Pucker up, sweetie!

And now, because I feel bad about leading you on about the possibility of dessert, let’s chat over coffee and this virtual lemon meringue pie. What are your constants? What kind of pie do you like best?

Q&A with Agent Christina Hogrebe

Was it our mutual love of books and good writing that compelled Christina Hogrebe and I to start talking? The love of the craft?  What’s going on in the industry today?  Nope.  Folks, today I bring you the coolest literary agent ever.  Why? Well, anyone that loves ZOMBIES as much as I do has to be cool, right?

You know it!! So, I invited Christina Hogrebe here today to dish on everything from books to writing to The Walking Dead.  Join me and please welcome, Miss Christina!

JF: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think it would tell you about the state of the publishing industry five to ten years from now?

CH: I hope in ten years there will be a crystal ball!  But I think it’s safe to say that a handful of things will be true in ten years–or a hundred and ten years: 1) readers will still desire compelling stories and 2) they will seek platforms to discuss those stories.  3) Storytellers will feel compelled to tell stories.  4) Some of those writers will be able to find the readers on their own;  5) other writers will prefer to devote their time to the exercise of writing, necessitating a staff of professionals to connect writer and reader.

JF: If you were not a literary agent, what job would you do? 

CH: I’m a lifelong Girl Scout (I have the badges to prove it), and for years I romanticized the notion of working for the U.S. Forest Service.  But in the end, I was always better at selling cookies.    

JF:  Ah, now I know who to hit up for more Thin Mints!  So, we all know you read a ton.  What is your favorite book and why?

CH: I’m your basic fickle reader, so my favorites are always changing.  But I’ll say that the book obsessions that shaped the way I read today were the entire Anne of Green Gables series and Romeo & Juliet (and the Franco Zefferelli film) when I was younger, and more recently, the Twilight series  and the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.  Do you see a theme?  For me, these books showcase the kind of can’t-live-without-you emotions I look for when I’m considering new projects.  

JF: So, then, what do you look for in a client?

CH: Of course I’m looking for writers whose work leaves me breathless.  But the ideal business partnership is when an author’s goals align with the services I can offer in the commercial fiction marketplace.  In addition, the clients for whom we’ve been able to achieve the most success are engaged in the business of publishing, they are dedicated to adhering to a commercial production schedule (meaning at least a book a year, usually more) and they are interested in being involved in their own promotional efforts. 

JF: What is your advice to new writers?

CH: Become involved in the book world.  With very few exceptions, authors can no longer produce a book and ship it off to the publishing team to shepherd into bestsellerdom.  These days, so much more is required of an author in addition to mastering craft.  Read your peers, digest their reviews, subscribe to deal newsletters and industry blogs, attend conferences, participate in critique groups, review others’ work online, create a dialogue with other authors, and read, read, read. 

JF: Do you see the attitude toward self-publishing changing now that more traditional published authors are taking steps in that direction?

CH: I see the attitude changing, but I would venture to say it’s more because technology has allowed for readers to become connected with the stories that appeal to them with less effort than in past. 

JF: Okay. Now, the real reason I asked you here today.  The Walking Dead.  Who is your favorite character?

CH: Now we’re getting serious.  Michonne.  She has figured out how to navigate the apocalypse but is a fish out of water when it comes to existing within the group.  More than any of the other characters, she’s the one I look forward to deciphering since she’s such a mystery.

JF: If you were stranded alone at the prison, which WD character would you want to have your back?

CH: Daryl Dixon, and only because he’s a slightly better conversationalist than Michonne.  You want someone to chat with after you kill that many walkers. 

JF: Good point.  And, you can’t count on Rick these days….chasing those ghosts and all…What would you enjoy most about being a zombie?

CH: Not having to pick out my clothes…?  Actually, this question of identity is one that Isaac Marion explores beautifully in Warm Bodies.

JF:  Thanks so much for Talking Dead with me today, Christina.  But before I let you go, this is what our audience really wants to know, are you acquiring new clients now?  If so, what genre are you looking for?

CH: I’m always on the lookout for new clients.  My areas of expertise include women’s fiction, young adult fiction, and mystery, but my biggest pleasure is finding a timeless tale set in a surprising setting, as in Courtney Summers This is Not a Test or Beth Revis’ Across the Universe.  Those teen reads might be described as paranormal or science fiction—labels I might typically resist—but the human story at the heart of those novels is precisely what blows my hair back.  

So much fun!  Thank you for being here today.  I’m sure our readership has questions.  So guys, topics include books to the industry to zombies….ask away!

Welcome Author Gerri Brousseau

Please welcome, Gerri Brousseau, a friend and fellow member of the CTRWA, author of A PIRATE’S RANSOM and the newly released ACCORDING TO LEGEND. Take it away, Gerri!

Thank you, Paula, for inviting me to the Scribes today. I’m thrilled to be here and to meet your readers.

PJ: Please tell us about your current release.

Gerri: ACCORDING TO LEGEND is a time-travel story with a prophecy, a quest, a love triangle and a quirky wolf. The premise of the story is according to legend, when the spirit of the tribal princess is born again and she holds the enchanted stone in her hands, the lovers will be reunited … even through time.

PJ: It sounds like a great read! What inspired you to write this book?

Gerri: ACCORDING TO LEGEND came to me one night in a very vivid dream. When I woke up I started to write madly so as not to forget a single detail. The more I wrote, the more the story seemed to pour out of me. Don’t you love it when that happens?

PJ: I do! I had the same experience with HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES. What kind of research did you have to do for LEGEND?

Gerri: ACCORDING TO LEGEND takes place up at Kent Falls. Of course, I changed the name of the area and falls in the book. I researched the local tribe and actually spent a lovely afternoon whittling at the central fire pit at the reservation talking to the real Tribal Princess. It was quite a journey and I’m glad I took the time to make it.

PJ: That sounds awesome. I love the research part of being a writer. How do you combat the doubt monster?

Gerri: I must confess that I have had my fair share of bouts with that evil fellow, but I find the best thing to do is to keep writing. I wonder if he will ever leave me alone. Somehow I doubt it, but much to his credit, all his constant complaining causes me to edit and in the long run he makes me a better writer. Still, he’s not my favorite individual.

PJ: Mine either! What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Gerri: I don’t know if it’s all that interesting or that much of a quirk, but I like to read my work aloud. You would be surprised at how quickly you hear your errors when you do this.

PJ: That is so true! I sometimes forget to do that during the revision stage. Thanks for the reminder. If you had to be something other than a writer, what would you be?

Gerri: A chef. Cooking is my second passion in life and I really enjoy creating a meal that gets rave reviews from my family.

PJ: You sound like my husband. He would definitely be a chef in another life. Is there anything you’d like to share with readers that they might not know about you?

Gerri: Let’s see … they already know I’m a retired skydiver, that I’m a new grandmother, and that I have two pugs. But, I wonder if they know that I have played piano since I was 7 years old. It’s been a while now, but they say it’s like riding a bike … you never forget.

PJ: I had no idea! That is so cool. I bet you’d pick it right back up! Thanks so much for being here and sharing your time with us. If anyone has any questions for Gerri, or comments about her books, her writing tips or her pugs, please feel free to do so.

Here’s a short excerpt from ACCORDING TO LEGEND:
“According to the legend, the enchantment of the stone was originally activated by the depth of their love. It is said that their love created a very powerful magic. According to legend, the power of the stone would be set in motion once more when the spirit of the Indian Princess was born again and she held the stone in her hand. Then, the spirit of the lovers would awaken and they would be reunited, even through time.” She sighed. “It is believed that only the true Tribal Princess would have the ability to seek out and find the other half of this stone and access its full enchantment.”

For more information on Gerri and her writing, please visit her website at www.gerribrousseau.com and if you would like to read ACCORDING TO LEGEND, it’s available at Amazon for Kindle.