Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Curses - Haunted By Them - Or Thrilled?

Labor Day is over, school is back in session, and another autumn is upon us.  The cooler fall evenings get me in the mood to cuddle up with a good horror book, or watch one of the old detective or monster films.

That's right - I am that person.  I love the autumn, love Halloween, and love a good scary story.


That's the reason my first novel BREAKING CURSED BONDS was released for this fall.  Usually it is better to wait until January and avoid being plunged in with the fall glutton of new books on the market, but I really think my story belongs in the darker days of autumn.

The main story begins with an ancient book that tells the tale of how an ancient curse befell the De Gourgues family - back in 1565!  A spiritual ceremony went wrong when an evil element was added to the mix.   A curse was created - causing a history of deadly consequences.

If you like the subject of curses and the spiritual realm, then you may like an interesting website  The Mystica   I discovered.  There is a post explaining curses which listed some of the history about how possession, voodoo mystical spells and the paranormal magic and how
they were used in different cultures.  Of course there is a lot more out there for those who dare dabble with the supernatural.

Soon Halloween will be upon us, and we will watch our thrillers and read about witches and spells - but be warned, there are many out there who believe in supernatural with all the revelry.  So be careful and always keep an open mind.


Keep reading - Keep writing!


TOP TEN HORROR FILM TRAILERS FOR 2013 - Which is your favorite?



Some Classic Reads -


  
                                                                Calamity-Town-Ellery Queen eBook

 
And here is my new book -



Friday, August 23, 2013

Bravo Writing Community - Thank you! For your Enthusiasm & Guidance

Yes the end of the road is near...

Soon the eBook version of BREAKING CURSED BONDS will be released, and...

I would love to take a breather, but where one road ends - another begins!

Once the eBook is available September 1st, then promotion will be needed, as well as finishing up on the paperback formatting which will be released in November 2013.  I am a new author and self-publisher, and all this work to get the story finished has been a new experience with a wide learning curve.  Anyone who has a story to share can do it, and if your tool belt is rusty just ask for help.
 
My previous lines of work did not involve the same tools needed to write and publish.  I had a lot to learn.

I turned to fellow authors in the writing community, many who were happy to share their experiences and knowledge.

While every journey is unique, I was thankful for all the marvelous people who call themselves writers and authors.
 
In many business formats, competition rules, often cut throat competition.  One thing I have noticed in the modern world of independent publishing is that while there is still competition - it is more of a community of sharing, and collaborating.  We sponsor each other with blog hops, we promote each other's books, platforms, blogs, websites, and anything else we create.  It is a wonderful thing to be involved in a community so sharing and open.
 
There are now groups that help self-publishers like AiA (Assoc. of Independent Authors) and ALLi (the Alliance of Independent Authors).  Of course not everything is always rosy, there have been a few who chose to write bad reviews to stack the deck, but it is at a minimum.  They get called out by the community protests with their Facebook posts, tweets and blog posts.  As a writing community they will not let abuse go on without the outcry for moral and civilized actions.  The individual is still respected as an individual with a unique right to freedom of speech, we are all encouraged to act responsibly and with care.

This profession of writing is evolving to face the new challenges in the free world.

Since the wide world web has given access to so much, we are experiencing new trends.  So if anyone can give real sound advice to a newbie like me it has to be something like this -
 "Keep your eyes open, watch and learn, because it changes fast, and we need to swim with the tide." 
The bottom line is to keep writing, tell your story, share with the community and be true to yourself.

Keep reading! - Keep writing!

Friday, August 2, 2013

Connectivity - A Relative Concept - Is Speed the Most Important Aspect? or Freedom

 

Are We Really All Connected?

Another Friday - another week gone by, and still we are all probably working on our same projects.  Sometimes it feels like we are not moving fast enough, especially in this culture of quick impulses and fast connections.  I was astounded when I read a report that the US has very slow internet connectivity speeds. Check it out here at govtech.com .   Hong Kong was the leader for speed.  It's so funny, because not matter how fast the speed gets I still want it faster - how about you?
There are of course other factors to consider.  We may not have the fasted connectivity but we are the biggest users.  Find out more if your interested - Global Internet Users has been changing.
 
I personally hope as we think about our connectivity to others, our access and speed, that we also think about our freedoms and responsibilities.  We cannot take things for granted anymore.  Everyday we are reminded about the shadow of 'Big Brother' watching (and listening & gathering data)  I don't want to live my life monitoring every word out of my mouth afraid of censorship or worse - but at the same time I do realize I need to be responsible and send out inoffensive content because I don't want to be a negative influencer, but a positive part of the society as a hole.  So we all need to KEEP our FREEDOM in mind, and make sure we never lose our most precise asset of the internet connectivity.
 
 
I will be going on a short vacation next week, to see some of my family, and I will not be as active online.  My travels will lead me into the rolling Berkshire Hills where there is often a spot without any connectivity to be had :(  but the scenery is worth it!  Some may not check FB or tweet at all when on vacation, but I am not so sure I can manage that for ten days.  Still there will be days my hand is forced because there will be no internet access, so it will be an experiment as I walk along and say 'Can YOU hear me now' - here is a short clip about someone's plan to leave - although he intends to never come back!  I will return :)
 
Keep reading - Keep writing!
 
 
See you in the Shire :)

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Tips To Help Shape Up Your Manuscript

This is some of the hardest work any writer confronts - Rewriting and Editing, but there are some methods you can use to help you stay focused and work through with a continuous hand.  First off, I am not a teacher or a paid professional coach, I just know what works best for me, and used advise I was given from various sources.

Most of us do free writing on the first draft.  This is when we let our imagination go wild, and we let our 'muse' do its best.  Many writers use NaNoWriMo for this first draft, and it helps to keep focused on result.  You can do this yourself anytime, by setting up word count objectives each day.

After we finish the first draft we have a mess of jumbled up ideas.  You can at this point go to an editor to make sure your story thread rings true, but you still have to do the rework yourself.

Now pull up your sleeves and work through your draft.  If you went to an editor consider all their points as you rewrite.  Don't be afraid to delete where appropriate, and add where more information is needed.
Here are some steps I try to follow:
  • Read your entire manuscript through once without stopping, and then set aside for it to incubate a day or so.
  • Go back and make a complete outline of each character - know who they are and how they react, what they like, dislike, do and say.  If you did this already with the draft's outline, revisit to make sure you caught everything.  Some things may have developed as you wrote the draft, and need to be added.
  • Go back to manuscript and read it out loud, one chapter at a time, to make sure it sounds correct, especially when it comes to dialog, and fix wherever needed so your true character rings through.  Make notes where you need to change things.
  • Go back again, and make sure each chapter has the correct tension, using a set goal with actions that lead to a disaster or some form of hook to keep the reader wanting more.
  • If you do not use Scrivener or some form of software with outline capabilities, use the board approach for this part.  If not, then consider creating an excel sheet to track each scene, and list the main idea for each scene - by doing this you can see how the entire piece works and flows.
  • When you have the scenes outlined by goal - reactions - disaster/hook, look it over and see where you might need to add tension or details to keep the flow smooth, and the tension correct.
Go back to manuscript again, this time looking for offenses some of us (including me) most often have scattered throughout:
  • Watch out for head hopping (jumping from one person's thoughts to another) and make sure the POV for each scene is only one person.
  • Correct verb tenses, make sure everything is consistent.  This gets tricky if you are using flashbacks etc.
  • If you have used a spell checker in your document, go through again manually.  Sometimes a word is spelled correct but its the wrong word, (like of instead of off).  Some say this works best if you go backwards and start at end - I think you just need to proceed slowly and don't read, just look.
This so far has gotten you to a pretty good place, and you hopefully have read through your manuscript at least half a dozen times by now.  - This is the point where your may want to go to an editor again.  Put it aside for awhile - and then after a week or so.

YOU GUESSED IT - go back and read your manuscript again, this time with a highlighter and pencil, if you have it printed.  I like to do a quick conversion to an eBook format, and then I read in my reader and use the highlight feature of my kindle or Ipad.  (anyone can do this with Calibre or similar software)  Highlight anything that sounds out of sorts, make notes (you won't remember).  Then go back to your manuscript and make the changes.  For this part I like to do it chapter by chapter...

By the time you have finished editing you should have gone through the story at least half a dozen times, but most likely closer to over a dozen.  The last part, I actually repeat many times over.  Maybe some can get this all done in one sweep, but I know for myself, I read my manuscript at least fifty times (I lost count).

The thing is, as you set your work aside and incubate, you may come up with some new ideas to add.  If you do - go for it.  This is how we get the extra twists and turns, the symbolism, the ideas that are threaded throughout.  These writing techniques don't just happen with our original idea, they take time to turn over.

One more suggestion I very strongly believe you should use - Beta readers.  Get feedback from others, even if you use an editor.  The feedback will be enlightening.  When someone else who is objective reads your work, they will see things you missed.  Listen with an open ear, and consider their points.  This will make for a better story overall.

So you say "This is a lot of work!"  Yes it is.  This is the meat that makes up writing.  These steps are crucial to any manuscript.  Bottom line, it takes a lot of time, patience, and reworking, to have a manuscript turn into a novel.  Don't get overwhelmed - but instead take it step by step, one section at a time.  Your work will reveal a well written story for others to enjoy, and that is the goal.

Keep reading - Keep writing!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Our Basic Need To Be Heard - Writing Is Therapeutic


The past few weeks I shared Part One of a story I was developing.  That is back on my desk to edit and rewrite.  In the meantime, I wanted to touch upon a few other thoughts concerning writing.

There are many people who consider themselves writers, and many who don't and probably should.
We have been trained to think that writers are authors who get published in books -
Well I never liked being told what to think or do!
So if you please, JUMP out of that box with me for a moment.

Yes authors are writers, but there are more.  Being a writer is more than that...you are a writer if you write to express yourself or an idea, and if you
  • you write everyday in a journal
  • you are part of a team at work that summarizes projects
  • you blog 
  • or any other type of consistent writing platform
Then you are a writer - YOU write to express yourself or an idea.
In our society writers tend to be the people who seek out:
  • organization
  • making sense of the world around them
  • need for balance 
  • seek the finish line -
  • they can envision the end goal in their mind

Anyone can pick up the pen, pencil, keyboard - and start writing.  If you are disabled there are other software out there to assist, so no excuses.
Everyone can benefit from writing, and here are a few benefits already recognized.

WRITING is therapeutic. 
  • proven helpful for patients with PTS (Post Traumatic Stress)
  • therapy for children who suffered from abuse or traumatic events
  • growing pains in general 
  • writing love letters have saved marriages
  • writing diaries have helped individuals discover themselves

Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing.
Guidelines for writing therapy

The physical act of writing out our thoughts, our fears, anxieties, and situations we are struggling with, helps to heal us inside.

One of the most human of all needs is the NEED TO BE HEARD.  We seek out self expression in many ways, but writing is one of the most expressive and healing of all.

The act of writing connects the two parts of the brain at the same time.  While we are immersed in the physical, it connects with our conceptual side, bringing them together to make one final harmonious thought.  What could be more beautiful than that? 

 http://www.amazon.com/Diary of Anne Frank

This July there are many people out there who are participating in the NaNoWriMo July event.  Check it out for the next round, and challenge yourself to some robust writing.
http://nanowrimo.org/   

It just may help you discover something new about yourself, or the world around you.

Keep reading - keep writing!  and have a great weekend.

 

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

What I Live For - Freedom


Friday May 10th  I'm taking part in 'What I Live For', an online event organised by author Satya Robyn

People like me all over the world will be sharing what gives their lives meaning

In Satya Robyn's novel 'Thaw', Ruth gives herself three months to decide whether she can find a reason to carry on living. There's 75% off the kindle version today (99p / $1.49) - read more here: http://www.satyarobyn.com/?page_id=56

Please join in with your own art describing 'What I Live For' - visit the event  and post a thought, a picture, or a blog post  https://www.facebook.com/events/530335293684273/


Here are my thoughts....
What I Live For
 
For years I have been living for my family, my four children and husband.  The day began with making meals, breakfasts and bagged lunches, preparing dinners, washing clothes, cleaning the house, yard work, gardening, fixing scratched knees and broken hearts, and then hours of guilt when I was away, working at an hourly job.

So many hours were spent with thoughts of them in my head - their faces always in my vision, even when they were off living their lives and growing, they were close to me in my heart.  I cherished every flower painting given as a gift, each story bound into a homemade book, every award and contest, the fun filled Halloween costumes, and I enjoyed the soccer games and the chorus concerts.

Now my children are all grown - wonderful young men and woman.  I am proud of them all.  My children have become wonderful stewards of the world, keeping in their heart love of the land, simplicity in life and cherishing friendships.  I am proud of each, for their own persona and soul.  They will always be what I live for, even though I know the best for them now, is for us, my husband and myself, to let them go - so they can be free to find their own path and become who they were meant to be.

Now I turn a page and begin another career with writing.  I use  the love of my family as my muse.  I try to breath life into my words, with the underlying message - everyone deserves to be free.  We all struggle, and that journey is the only way to happiness.

Through the years I have had many blessings, and happy moments I will forever cherish.  I have known troubles too, and have made mistakes.  Lessons in humility, and understanding of others, have replaced the once boldness of my youth.  Now I hope to pass along a message, to everyone that I connect with, that they too can become who they want to be - grow into themselves, and be free.  This is what I still live for - freedom.





Monday, March 25, 2013

A Thought for a story... BY THE SEA



She was standing at the water’s edge, her feet rubbing against the rocky shoreline, cutting small nooks into her callouses, but the pain never registered.  She looked out at the raging waves that rolled in with a thunderous rhythm.  She wondered where he was right now.  Was he even still alive?  He left weeks ago with his crew.  They went out into the sea wanting to hook the catch of the season.  Her life hardened expression does not suite her finer structure, but this was the kind of life that aged a soul early.  She was destined to wait in pain, knowing her loved one may never return again to her arms.  The waves kicked up spray that left a gentle mist over her face; they blended with her tears, making them vanish to the eye.  If only she had the strength to stay away from him…. But alas, she was here, waiting for her man to return home.  She prayed that her heart would not be broken.  God speed, my love.


 

Saturday, March 16, 2013

A vignette about a trolley ride by Elisabeth Zguta

Watching Black Birds From An Old Trolley
 
A short story by Elisabeth Zguta


A breeze whipped across the empty street causing the noise and clatter of paper and debris, as it hit the sidewalk’s edge, following its wake.  I felt the briskness of the wind hit my cheeks, and I knew from the stinging that my face was red from the weather.  I was standing at the curb, under the roof of the trolley stop platform.  I reached up and pulled my hat tighter trying to stay warm and crushed my long curled strands in the process.  I needed to catch the trolley to cross town and had been standing here waiting for the next train.  Minutes went by as I leveraged my weight from one foot to another, and kicked my tall leather boots together as I tried to keep the chill out of my bones.  Then I heard the ting ting of the trolley.  The wheels rubbed against the iron rails and the rolling rumble sounded soothing to my ears.  A deep vibration was felt by my cold feet as the old vintage trolley stopped in front of me.

The trolley screeched to a halt and I stepped up, holding onto the brass railing for balance.  The dollar I had been tightly holding in my hand was fed into the meter and I watched as it crunched the money into the slot.  The wooden slatted seats were mostly empty, so I maneuvered up to the front and sat behind the driver.  He was dressed in a dark blue uniform and matching jacket, and he spilled over the confines of his seat.  He wore a hat like security men wear, and then I noticed his eyes and his face which was lit up like stars, reflecting light on his sweating brow. There was one other man already seated up front.  He was young, his dark hair slicked back away from his face, and then curled at the ends.  The style exposed his sculpted facial features.  He was handsome, with a darker skin tone and a pleasant shade of hazel eyes.  His face was cordial and smiling.  He wore casual clothes, not expensive but trendy.  A camera hung around his neck by a thick leather strap, and he bobbed his head from side to side, watching the street as if looking for something.

The trolley moved forward and we both jerked a little as the tugging of the motor hedged forward.  Ting ting, again the bell was heard as the trolley passed through perpendicular streets and warned the pedestrians.  The windows were shut and the inside of the car had welcomed warmth.  The young man started to talk with the driver and they chatted about the downtown area.  Their conversation was friendly, peppered with distinct drawls and accents of the local area.  The driver was a big man, with a very friendly voice, and a content smile rose all the way up to his eyes.  He seemed to enjoy talking about the buildings we passed, and I too found myself listening to his guided tour.


In the first part of our journey we passed trendy cafes and sushi bars.  This was a newly remodeled area of Main Street, which attracted the younger crowd.  There were some art galleries and custom furniture stores too.  Then after Union Street we passed tall skyscrapers filled with office spaces.  The exterior walls were mostly art deco with prominent embellished details around the doorways and window jams.  There was one older building from the 1800's with a federal style, sporting long windows and scrolled edging.  Then we passed a few newer constructions, one a hotel that replaced an old torn down forgotten edifice.  This building had a newer modern twist to the design, with a chain store kind of appearance.  It could have been in any city's downtown, the same as in any other place, with nothing original to give it character.

Again some more clatter, ting ting, as we crossed another major intersection.  Then we changed direction and began to run down tracks leading us towards the city's river front.  The driver pointed out rubble of an archaic building, and he told us about how that was the place where slaves used to be sold.  A shiver ran down my spine as I thought of all the misery that had inhabited that space.  It was like looking at hallows of an old prison, with visions of death and injustice.  Now it was just cracked stone, and fallen crumbling walls, a reminder of an evil that once prevailed here.  Ting ting, we kept rolling along.

 
Finally the young man sat up and began tugging at the window.  This trolley was old, with wooden framed windows that had swelled through the years of humidity.  He tugged at the swollen frame until he gained purchase and pulled the window down to free his view.  Out came the camera and he snapped away at the scenes around the river front.  There were old steam boats in a distance, and some small islands off the shore, filling the middle of the wide river with a diversion, and breaking the view of the shores from the other side.  The bridge leading out of the city was high above us, it spanned across the wide river with rounded arches that looked like wings, and the young man snapped a few shots of that too.

 
The driver stopped at a light and we waited until it turned green.  I noticed a flock of blackbirds squawking away as they lay covering the lawn of the riverside park.  Their sound was heard through the open window, they were eerily loud.  Chirps and squawks filled the air; there must have been thousands of the birds all gathering together making a ruckus.  A few louder caws of larger birds overshot the others’ sounds and then suddenly, as if given a cue, the flock started to ascend in synchronized waves into the perches of nearby trees.  The branches were barren of leaves and stood stark against the blue sky in its backdrop.  The birds flapped their wings and in a smooth rhythm, moved from the ground to the branches, and then in one final swoop, from the tree to the sky they soared.  They took off, fleeting by each other and rising in a large cloud of fluttering black wings and squawks of ear piercing high pitched noise.

 
The light changed and the trolley tugged and jerked as it moved forward.  The birds flew swiftly and were gone, out of sight.  The camera man was snapping at the river front, and then sat back down on the bench seat after he quenched his curiosity.  He smiled, revealing deep dimples.  He was pleased with his shots and progress, and I was happy he found what he desired.  The driver smiled too, as he pressed on towards the bluffs.

I sat there wondering when the spring would be here.  I wanted the empty tree branches to be filled with greenery, enough so the birds were hidden in the bright colored camouflage.  I wanted to hear the birds sing songs to each other instead of flocking as a mad group that was migrating.  I wanted a southern wind to be warm against my face, and kiss my cheeks with sunshine and color, instead of a stinging frozen bite.  I longed for spring, the rebirth of warmth.

The trolley stopped, tinging its bell again.  This was my stop.  I got up, bent my head towards the men in recognition and left the trolley.  Hanging onto the handrail, I stepped down into the bitterness still hanging in the air.  Elusive spring, where are you?
 
 

Thursday, February 28, 2013

A Short Story About Forgiveness


Forgiven But Can't Forget

By Elisabeth Zguta
 
I was sitting at the kitchen table pretending to read the newspaper.  I turned the pages and made crinkling paper sounds that implied I was involved in my task.  The kids were running in and out of the room as they got themselves ready for school.  Their feet made clattering and pounding noise like drums out of synch, no rhythm just racket to be heard.

My wife was gathering the lunch bags and handing them out as the last of them passed by her.  She gave them each a kiss on the head as they departed, and her face glowed with loving thoughts.  They were off as they raced for the bus, but I had no clue which one was in the lead this time.  For some reason I didn’t feel like watching them today.

Finally it was quiet.  You would think that the silence was just what I wanted, but somehow the house was too still.  In a few moments she would walk over and ask me ‘what's wrong dear’ in her nurturing voice.  Or she would at least try to start a conversation, both of which I was in no mood.  Hoping to beat the punch, I folded the paper, laid it on the table, stood up and tied my robe.  I shuffled in my slippers quickly towards the door, making my exit, hoping to leave the room without an inquisition.

"Are you alright dear?" she asked.

Darn it it’s too late.  The question was in the air before I was safely out of ear shot.  I slowly turned; hoping something intelligible would come out of my mouth.

“I'm fine dear.  I'm heading for a shower and then off to my desk."

I nippily left the room, ignoring her stare that was burning into the back of my housecoat.  She knew something was wrong, she always knew.  Either it’s woman’s instinct, or just her keen observation, but my wife always had the knack to know when something was amiss.  How do I tell such a sweet woman, the one with a kind smile and bending ear to all in need, how do I tell her I want to be alone?

I did as I said I would, and showered and dressed.  Now at least I felt human, but there was that nagging thought in the back of my head, Why me?  Why was I the one who ended up on the receiving end of this sentence?  Not literally of course, no one actually passed me the ball.  It was just genetics, from my mother's side.

Yesterday I had been diagnosed with a progressive disease, one that would ultimately lead to my demise.  I had some time left before the end of my days, not sure exactly how much, but some is better than none.  Unfortunately it will be a long journey filled with prescription bottles, blood tests, x-rays, sonograms and whatever else they dream up in the very near future.

So how do I tell my family?  I don't want to spoil their lives, as well as mine, do I?  ‘They have a right to know’ my doctor emphatically said to me.  ‘The brave person would find a way’.  Was this to imply I was not brave?  I wasn't sure if I was.  Maybe I am faint in heart, but at the moment I didn't care much.  It was my disease, it was my problem.

Okay, all right - I knew I had to tell her, she did deserve to know.  My wife would hate to be left out of such a life changing event.  She would be sad if I didn’t trust her and shared my problem, I knew that much.  She was a lovely person, and strong.  I would find a way to tell her soon.

Eureka -I needed to make a plan to make sure they were all taken care of when I was gone.  I gulped at that thought, the finality of it all suddenly felt real.  I was going to die.  I needed to deal and prepare, and find a way to survive the time I still had on this earth.  I certainly didn't want to waste my time, becoming a person looking for pity.  A bucket list was the last thing I wanted to do.  I went to my desk to think.

I pulled out a binder and grabbed a ballpoint pen and started writing.  First I drew up a list of things I wanted in my will, easy enough since I had no pot - not even piss for the pot.  Shaking my head, I decided to focus on what I did have, and what was most precious to me.  My thoughts were flooded with everyone I wanted to get in touch with while I still had all my facilities left, and the capability of movement.  One last chance to see the people I cared for, and tell them so.  Tears rimmed the edges of my lids, and I wiped them as quickly as they appeared.  No pity here.  I cleared my throat and thought more intently.  What was most important to me?

Of course I wanted to spend more time with my family, and give them the quality time the kids deserved.  I needed to tell my wife how wonderful she was, and that I would be waiting for her on the other side - so stay happy.  Maybe a few more unforgettable nights together could be shared.  I needed to touch base with my siblings too.  Maybe we could do a few reminiscent visits together, that would help keep my spirits up.

As I sat there writing this all down in my wire bound notebook, I began to get a nagging jag in the back of my mind.  Nothing painful, just that nuisance feeling when there was something you were forgetting even though it's right in front of you.  I hated that feeling, but it was not to be denied.  It followed me through the rest of the day.  It lingered in the back of my mind as I went to bed that night.  I was forgetting something - something important.

That night when I finally fell asleep, I had a dream.  Maybe it was more like a vision.  I could see it plainly in my sleep's vision.  It was a reenactment of something that happened to me long ago.  It was an accident.  It happened before I was married – No, that's not right, I was engaged.  Yes and there was my wife, then my future wife.  She was holding my hand and crying.  I had been hit by a car and badly hurt.  My body was mangled and twisted.  There was blood everywhere, no wonder she was so afraid.  I remember that day well, and now the entire emotional trauma that swished back and forth in my mind was being relived in this dream, this vision from the past.

In my dream, I remembered my fear.  I thought I was going to die that day too.  The pain seared through my legs and my head was pounding, it felt like it was going to explode.  My forehead was ready to burst out and splatter over the pavement.  Then there was some noise, sirens coming and going.  The sounds were loud one moment and fading the next.  I tasted the blood in my mouth, like I drank rusty water.  I wanted to spit it out, but was afraid to because I would get my lovely girl dirty.  I had thought she shouldn't have been there, to see me like that, all covered in dirt and unsightly.  She sat beside me holding my hand.  I was frightened, but glad she was there giving me support.

I woke from the dream with a start.  Sweat was pouring off my forehead as if I had a fever, soaking my pajamas.  I was breathing heavy, like I had been crying.  I hoped my sobs didn’t wake the wife.  I gently pushed the sheets away from me, and quietly slid out of bed.  Pushing my feet into my slippers I watched my dear wife, who was lying there so sweetly beside me, like an angel dreaming.  I hoped - deep in my heart - I hoped that I would come out of this situation too.

I decided to go back to my desk and write.  It was better to quietly pen away in my office than to clunk around the house, possibly waking the gang, and disrupting the schedule.  A brood like ours desperately needed that schedule to keep the sanity for us all.

I pulled out a fresh piece of paper and started to write.  The dream had opened my eyes, and now I knew what I wanted to do - what I needed to do.  All these years had gone by since that day of the accident.  The day I almost died.  First I had been in pain, and then I healed my body.  Then I was angry, and then I just tried to forget it ever happened so I could get on with my life.  That was what I needed to do.  Deep down inside I knew I had forgotten a step.

It wasn't all that important to me, at least I didn't think it was until after that dream.  But now I realized it needed to be finished, I needed to do this one last thing to close the door on that day, that accident, that first time I faced death.

I started to write the letter to the man who was driving the car that hit me that day.  He had been reckless, yes.  He was charged and went to court, and fined, all of those - yes.  But never in all these years had I ever forgiven him.  Now I realized I needed to do that, as much for myself as for him.  So I wrote...

     Dear John Smith,
 
     I forgive you for your reckless act.  I hope you have forgiven yourself too, and moved on to become a better person.
 
     Sincerely,
 
     Your Victim from the car accident

After I signed the letter and addressed the envelope, I thought to myself that I truly hoped he had become a better person.  I think I was improved and had become stronger, and now I have the strength to face this new challenge.  I felt positive all of a sudden and knew I would talk with my wife the next day.  Together we would get through it, with love never failing to keep us together.

I turned off the light and went back to bed.  Now I was able to sleep soundly, with a positive thought and a hope in my heart.

 

 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to Daron Henson for nominating me for Very Inspiring Blogger Award.  Please find his blog post at http://newkidintown1995.blogspot.com/
 
Daron was the first person to read and send me a response to my first blog post.  He has been very supportive and he is an active member in the Aspiring Writer's Blogs group on LinkedIn, among other groups.  Daron also writes great short stories, breathing depth into characters, with feelings instead of names.  My favorite so far is  "Not A Tear To Shed" http://newkidintown1995.blogspot.com/2012/05/not-tear-to-shed.html
 

Here are the Rules of the Award Blog:

Display the award logo on your blog post. 
  1. Link back to the person who nominated you.
  2. State 7 things about yourself.
  3. Nominate 15 bloggers to the award.
  4. Notify those bloggers of the nomination by linking to one of their specific posts so that they get notified by ping back.

Seven things about me:

  1. Favorite classical composer is Tchaikovsky.http://www.tchaikovsky-research.net/en/index.html
  2. Favorite world music composer is Yanni, went to two of his concerts.http://www.yanni.com/
  3. Favorite Finnish goth artist is H.I.M. .http://www.youtube.com/user/him
  4. I love all types of Mediterranean foods, and I make a great lental soup.  http://www.mediterranean-food.net/
  5. When I was younger I rode a motorcycle.
  6. My favorite coffee is hazelnut, no sugar.
  7. I love architecture.  http://archrecord.construction.com/
  8.  
     

Fifteen bloggers I nominated  and you should check out:

  1. Neil D. Ostroff  http://neilostroff.blogspot.com/2013/02/so-you-married-writer.html#comment-form
  2. Khanh Ha   http://authorkhanhha.blogspot.com/2013/01/oh-mr-perkins.html
  3. Beth Camp http://bethandwriting.blogspot.com/2013/02/row80-check-in-and-shades-of-gray.html
  4. Kathleen Kaska http://kathleenkaskawrites.blogspot.com/2013/01/mystery-trivia-tuesday-who-is-this-gal_29.html
  5. Jodie Renner http://crimefictioncollective.blogspot.com/2013/02/research-and-realism.html
  6. Sarah La Polia http://glasscasesblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-year-of-self-publishing.html
  7. L K Watts http://lkwattsconfessions.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-become-more-efficient-writer.html
  8. Leighton Gage  http://murderiseverywhere.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-triple-frontier.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FWoas+%28Murder+is+Everywhere%29
  9. Tara Tyler http://taratylertalks.blogspot.com/2013/02/winter-is-on-outs.html
  10. Samantha Stacia http://samantha-stacia.blogspot.com/2012/09/helping-ghosts.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheBloomingLateJournal+%28The+Blooming+Late+Journal%29
  11. Christine Henderson http://thewritechris.blogspot.com/2013/02/longing-for-romancewriting-that-is.html
  12. John Austin  http://johnaustinblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/covers-for-books-and-magazines.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FGfBgDK+%28Writers+Welcome+Blog%21...A+John+Austin+blog%29
  13. Maureen  http://writingwithoutpaper.blogspot.com/2013/02/wednesday-wonder-music-from-garbage.html
  14. Dana Sitar http://danasitar.com/2013/02/04/video-book-trailer/

 I truly enjoyed these posts listed above and hope to keep reading more of these fantastic people's wonderful insights and information.  They are all truly inspiring and helpful to the community of writers. 

Best Regards All  - Elisabeth

 

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

What Will You Cross Off Your Bucket List in 2013?


BUCKET LIST CHALLENGE BLOG HOP
With Dana Sitar to celebrate the launch of "A Writer's Bucket List"
http://writersbucketlist.com/challenge

   

HELLO FRIENDS - We all have our BUCKET LISTS

As writers, our lists usually involve publishing a piece of work, our ART. This is the year I plan to release my first novel,

“BREAKING CURSED BONDS”

 
It is a manuscript that has been on my writer's bucket list for a while now!
A work in progress for three years, finally I see the end of the tunnel. 
 

Now only two more items to check off my list in 2013!


#1 Sending free copies to a few choice friends and readers asking for some final feedback, and hopefully a review or two.  I have it formatted, so anyone interested, please send me an email.
 
#2 finalizing my cover design – currently there is a working option, but the final cover is not chosen, hoping for a few more choices.  I plan to use a designer to check the final file and formatting.
 

With all the steps below already checked off, and the last two soon to be done, I am confident I will be releasing the novel this year.  How do I feel about it? - SCARED!  It is difficult to let go.

My first work has been a labor of love, and I have enjoyed the process.  I have two more manuscripts in the works and hope to follow shortly with another release after “BREAKING CURSED BONDS”.  I hope you will enjoy my work in the near future.

 
THE PROCESS:

Working on my manuscript part time while working a full-time job for two years, I am now writing full time. I decided I needed to finish what I began, and give it my best effort.

I have a lot I can check off as accomplished, and that makes me feel good.

ü First Draft Finished

ü Requested Feedback & Comments from First Readers

ü Revised and Added Material

ü Printed and Made Corrections

ü Sent Copy to an Editor

ü Reviewed Editor’s Report and Revised Manuscript

ü Rewrite & Self Edit (this actually was done in a few cycles!)

ü Then it was converted to epub and mobi format to view and edit again, checking how the new material added looked.

ü Then I read it aloud and made more changes to dialogue

ü Again edited and checked for straggling mistakes not caught with built in spell and grammar checks

 
Best of luck to you and YOUR ART! Keep Writing.
 
 

Support our Blog Tour Host:

 

A message from Dana Sitar-

Thank you for your support of “A Writer’s Bucket List” throughout this journey. I’m so excited today to announce the book’s OFFICIAL RELEASE!

You can buy it here: http://e-junkie.com/danasitar

Today through February 12, the book is 30% off the list price. Get “A Writer’s Bucket List” plus a free copy of the DIY Writing “Brainstorming Workbook”, the “Bucket List Workbook”, and “Bucket List Exercises” for $6.95 -- so be sure to share the book today, so no one misses out on the discount!