Saying Goodbye...

As a member of Romance Writers of America and Kentucky Romance Writers, I’m privileged to know some really wonderful, talented people. Today’s blog is a tribute to one of them.

It was almost seven years ago that I walked into my very first Kentucky Romance Writers meeting. I was not yet a member, but at that meeting I met six ladies who were. One of them was Ruth Wells.

Today, Ruth’s family and friends will say goodbye to her. Ruth passed away on January 30, after a battle with cancer. She was 49 years old. And though I can’t be there myself, I wanted use this venue to honor her life.

What I remember most about Ruth is that she was always smiling. Soft-spoken and kind, Ruth had a beautiful, sweet spirit that was obvious when you looked at her. Encouragement and compliments flowed easily from her, and it was difficult not to feel uplifted in her presence.

Members of Kentucky Romance Writers are spread out all over the state (and even other states), and you’d be hard pressed to find even one of us who didn’t have a deep affection for Ruth Wells. Most of the communication between members of our group takes place over email, or in our bi-monthly “in person” meetings. But even with that limited communication and interaction, Ruth’s personality and sweet nature came shining through.

Her family and friends have suffered a great loss, but I know they are proud of the woman Ruth was. Her influence reached far beyond the town where she lived, and the memory of her will inspire those of us who knew her for years to come.

Rest in peace, Ruth Wells. You will be greatly missed.

The Highest Recommendation

My oldest son is in the 6th grade... first year of middle school. YIKES! Seeing as I'm a middle school teacher myself, I spend a good deal of my time in the world that is "perpetual adolescent strife", and the thought of having a child in the middle of that is kind of scary!

However, one comforting thing happened this year. My son made "friends" with the school librarian. She's taken a bit of an interest in him and has helped him find books to read to meet his Accelerated Reader requirements. The fact that she's a super nice lady and my son really likes and respects her is a bonus!

My son enjoys nonfiction... books about cars, dinosaurs, The Beatles, music, hunting, etc. Unfortunately, the school library isn't exactly stocked with a ton of reading material that falls into those categories. So several months ago, the librarian recommended a fiction book for him. She told him she knew he liked nonfiction, but she thought he might really like this book. Sure enough, he loved it. We discovered it was the first book of a series, and the school library didn't have the rest of the books.

So, of course, avid-reader that I am, I ordered the entire series for him.

Over Christmas break, he read all four of the remaining books, and raved about them all. He asked us about the Greek mythology that was woven through the books and if he'd have to learn about it in school. When we told him "yes", he said, "This is so cool! I'm learning while I'm reading these great books!" It was such an inspiring thing, to see him reading and loving it! It was like he got a little something from me after all!

The book the librarian recommended... The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan, book 1 of the "Percy Jackson and The Olympians" series. If you've been watching your TV at all, you've probably seen the previews for the movie "The Lightning Thief". My son is so excited to see the movie! And what am I doing? I'm reading the book, before the movie!

As I opened the book today to spend a little time reading, it occurred to me that I was reading a book recommended to me by my 11 year-old son. My how things change. And it feels good to know that he read something and loved it so much that he thinks I should read it. My hope is that the love of reading his librarian helped him discover will continue throughout his life, and he'll always know the joy of picking up a book and escaping, enjoying, and learning all at once!

And now I'm off... to spend a bit of time with Percy!

Gizmos and Gadgets

If you know me at all, you know I’m an Apple product “junkie”. I have an iMac, Macbook, and an iPod Touch. I use iWork Software (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) instead of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. I love Apple products. I love the service I get when I visit an Apple store or when I call their toll free customer service number. I get personal attention without feeling pressured by a salesperson who wants the commission on my purchase! So naturally, I was excited to see the unveiling of their latest creation – the iPad. After giving the iPad some thought, I decided I’d share my thoughts, from the perspective of someone who writes a lot… and also reads a lot.

Is it way cool? YES! Would I like one? OF COURSE! Am I going to invest in one? Probably not. And here’s why.

First, I can’t imagine using the device for writing. In order to use it for any sort of word processing, the device would have to lay flat and the user would have to look down at it, rather than looking straight ahead the way you do with a conventional computer screen. And even with a conventional computer, many people (me included) still experience occasional (or even frequent) neck and shoulder pain. Now, I can certainly see why someone who doesn’t do a lot of writing or word processing would love an iPad. For those who use their computers mainly for internet, digital pictures, etc., the iPad is really cool, really convenient, and pretty cost efficient. Would I consider an iPad if I could hook it up to an external keyboard for writing? Maybe. But factor in the added expense of purchasing a keyboard and the need to plug it in and “set it up” every time I wanted to write, and I might as well buy a MacBook. Which I already have… and love.

Second, speculation has been touted about the iPad giving Amazon’s Kindle a run for its money. The iPad will feature an e-reader application, as well as iBooks, an e-book store. Here’s my take – as both an Apple product “junkie” and a Kindle owner. First of all, until I bought my Kindle, I had read exactly ONE e-book. I downloaded it to my MacBook in .pdf format and read it from my computer screen. While I liked the book, I did not enjoy reading it from my computer screen. Additionally, I’ve read a number of books or book-excerpts from my fellow-writers (for purposes of critiquing) on my computer screen. I find it difficult to read from the screen, and many times just print the pages so I can read them on paper. Eventually the lighting starts to irritate my eyes, sometimes even giving me a headache and reminding me of my days in college and grad school when I spent long periods of time working on research papers! I’ve owned my Kindle for almost a year now, and I’ve lost count of the number of e-books I’ve purchased and read. The Kindle screen is not a computer screen. It is not back-lit. It does not irritate my eyes. It is very much like looking at an actual page in an actual book. While the e-reader application might be useful for those who use an iPad as their “computer”, I can’t imagine myself spending the money to purchase an iPad specifically for that purpose. And with a price ranging from $499 to $829 (compared to Kindle’s $250), purchasing the iPad for the sole purpose of an e-reader doesn’t add up. I own an iPod Touch, and I have downloaded Amazon’s free Kindle application. I can move books from my Kindle to my iPod and back again. However, I’ve yet to read a book from my iPod. Granted, it’s a much smaller screen than the iPad, but even with a larger screen, I imagine I’d still chose to read from my Kindle.

So, my conclusion is this… If the iPad meets your computer needs, it’s an awesome product, and a good deal. If you don’t spend a lot of time writing/typing or working on word-processing, spreadsheets, etc., the portability, cost, and uniqueness make it a great choice. And if it meets your computer needs, the e-reader application is a bonus. If it can be your computer AND your preferred e-reader… YAY!

However, if you’re like me, and you spend time writing/typing, the iPad might not meet your computer needs. My money is better spent on (and my needs better met by) a MacBook, which is both portable and ergonomically better for purposes of writing. And since the MacBook better suits my computer needs, and reading from my computer screen is not desirable, Amazon’s Kindle is a better fit for my e-reading.

Sure purchasing even the most expensive iPad would be less expensive than purchasing a MacBook AND a Kindle, but if the iPad isn’t going to meet my needs, I’d rather spend the extra dollars and have products that are an exact fit.

What are your thoughts on the iPad, particularly those of you who write? Do any of you own other e-readers (Sony, Nook, etc.)? How do you think your e-reader will compare to the iPad’s e-reading application? Those of you who, like me, really love Apple products… would you buy the iPad and write from it? Would you buy the iPad in addition to a laptop or desktop computer?

I’m interested in your opinions… so share!

Helloooooo!

So, my blog’s been rather inactive for a while, hasn’t it? Life, as it sometimes does, creeps up and demands attention, and, well, sometimes I just get downright lazy. But enough with the excuses... let’s get on with the blogging!

The characters in my head never shut up. Even during those stretches when I just can’t get to my manuscript, when the writing muscles are not flexing. They’re always there, playing out scenes in my head. To some people, that might sound really annoying. Some might even think I’m a little off my rocker... what with listening to people inside my head! But I suppose all of your writer-folk “get it”. In fact, I know you do. I’ve heard you talk about it many times.

They aren’t annoying at all. On the contrary, I find my characters really lovely company. I love the way they show me things about themselves that maybe I hadn’t figured out yet. I love the way a scene I’ve already written can play over and over in my head, and finally show me just what’s missing so that I can revise the scene and make it better. I love that when I lay down to sleep, when it’s FINALLY quiet, I can set aside the stress and worry of my real life and let my characters entertain me.

Simply put, I live “inside my head” a good portion of the time, and I like it that way. I like that at any given time I have no less than 10 stories running around in my brain, clamoring to get out.

So, as I return to the blog-world, I resolve to let those characters out more often!

"It Whispers, So Listen"

(I originally posted this on September 2, however the formatting was faulty and cut off words from the right side. After correcting the issue, I am re-posting.)

“It whispers, so listen.” A teal band around my wrist bears this quote.

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and though we may hear little about this disease in the national media, the truth is that ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecological cancer deaths in women. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often times vague, mimic symptoms of menopause, or present long after the cancer has spread beyond the ovary and into other parts of the body. In these cases, the cancer is much more difficult to treat successfully. However, for those lucky enough to “catch” the cancer before it spreads, the chance for recovery is 85% - 90%. Because it is difficult to diagnose in its early stages (only 24% are diagnosed when the cancer is confined within the ovary) it is imperative that women take a proactive approach to their own gynecological health.

All women are at risk, but few know what to look for. Contrary to what many women believe, an annual pap smear does not screen for ovarian cancer. In fact, the number of ovarian cancer cases discovered during an annual exam is extremely low. Symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal pressure or bloating, urinary urgency, pelvic discomfort, changes in menstruation (for pre-menopausal women), pain during intercourse, low back pain, fatigue, trouble eating or feeling full quickly, and persistent indigestion. These symptoms may seem trivial, and it may be very easy to attribute them to aging, however failing to talk to a doctor about them could be a mistake with grave consequences.

So what can you do?

First, know your risk factors. Although youth doesn’t make a woman immune, ovarian cancer isn’t as common in women younger than 40. Most cases of ovarian cancer occur after menopause, and most of those cases are diagnosed after the age of 63. Some studies also suggest a possible relationship between obesity and the development of ovarian cancer. One study from the American Cancer Society found a higher death rate from ovarian cancer in obese women. Long periods of uninterrupted ovulation also increase a woman’s risk of developing the disease. In other words, for every pregnancy, a woman’s risk is lowered. Use of oral contraceptives (that suppress ovulation) can also decrease a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer. Hormones taken to treat such issues as infertility, endometriosis, and menopausal symptoms may also increase a woman’s risk. In addition, a woman’s family medical history may also play a role in her risk of developing ovarian cancer. A family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, or colorectal cancer may suggest an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Second, talk to your doctor. No symptom is unimportant. My mother-in-law once spoke to her general physician about a pain she’d been having in her side. This led to a chest x-ray and other tests that diagnosed a malignant tumor on her kidney. She was able to have the cancer removed surgically, before it spread, and required no treatment afterward. Although she did not have ovarian cancer, her experience with early diagnosis illustrates the need to talk with your doctor about whatever symptoms you are experiencing. So speak with your doctor about your potential risk factors for ovarian cancer, and about any symptoms you experience that cause you concern. Ask your doctor about what you can do to decrease your risk of ovarian cancer. Ask your doctor if a blood test or ultrasound might help you discover what is causing your symptoms. Be persistent. Be vigilant.

As I write this letter, my grandmother, Mildred Pierson, is battling a recurrence of ovarian cancer. Her sister also battled the disease successfully several years ago. The women in my family knew relatively nothing about this disease until it affected us so profoundly. So for all the women out there who are unaware of ovarian cancer and its dangers, please take this opportunity to learn more. There are a many websites that can give you a wealth of information (www.ovarian.org, www.ovariancancer.org, www.ovariancancerawareness.org, and www.wcn.org just to name a few). Observe National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month by educating yourself and making the decision to be actively engaged and proactive in your gynecological health.

Ovarian cancer has been called the “silent killer”. The symptoms are so vague that it is difficult to diagnose early. The disease “whispers” its presence in the body, so women must listen carefully.

“It whispers, so listen.” So reads the teal band around my wrist, and so says a small voice that is always in my mind.

Fingernails and Make-Up... What's the real story?

I’ve recently begun to feel the need to clarify something about myself… about women in general.  Let me begin by saying that though I believe all women are wonderfully unique, in many ways we are very similar.  And while it is true that clothes, make-up, hair-dos, fingernails and the like can sometimes (for some women) cross the line into vanity, I believe that most women are anything but vain.

 

In this regard, I feel like a fairly typical woman, and I hope that by speaking for myself I can speak for the majority of women.

 

I own a few kind of hair products… shampoo, conditioner, anti-frizz serum, a flat iron, a hair dryer, and hair spray.  I use cosmetics… foundation, blush, eye shadow, etc.  I use them all on a fairly regular basis.  I have several pairs of jeans (I’ll admit, jeans are my weakness), along with various shirts and slacks that I wear to work.  I love flip-flops.  They are comfortable and I like they way they make my feet look. 

 

Every couple of months (or longer if I’m really busy… which is often) I get a hair cut at the beauty salon.  And twice a year, I get my hair colored.  I love my stylist. She’s a really cool chick and we have fun visiting while she does my hair.  And she’s great at her job.  I always walk out of her place feeling like a million bucks.

 

I also get my nails done.  A few pedicures during the summer, when I’m regularly wearing my beloved flip-flops.  And I go through spells where I keep acrylic nails on my fingers.  Sometimes the hassle of going in to have them maintained every other week gets to be too much, so I quit for a while.  Then, a couple months later, I get tired of my hands looking like they’ve been through a meat grinder, and I go back to the nail salon to get them done again.

 

All this makes me sound pretty high maintenance, huh?  Makes me sound like a vain, superficial woman who’s self-worth is wrapped up in her appearance.  Well, guess what?  I’m not vain.  I’m not superficial.  And my self-worth is absolutely not wrapped up in what I look like.  I am, however, a woman, and just because I don’t need all the trappings of beauty to know I’m valuable, I do sometimes need to feel attractive.

 

Herein lies the issue for me, and I’d wager to guess, for most women.

 

Most of the time, I don’t feel pretty.  I feel like a fat cow with a perpetual bad hair day.  I feel dull and plain… like that unattractive woman who never has time to really worry about her appearance because she’s too busy getting the kids ready to leave the house.  That woman who’s run ragged by her job, her school work, her family situations and just can’t spare the time to make herself look nice.  The woman who doesn’t have time to do much else besides make sure her clothes are ironed and she remembered to put deodorant on before she heads to work or school.  We take care of our families; we take care of our job and school responsibilities, and we forget to take care of ourselves.

 

Yes, in my head I know that I never look as bad as I imagine I do, but that means nothing to my heart.  To the heart of a little girl that still beats inside me, wanting affirmation and approval from the outside world.  This is not an easy admission for me, but it’s the truth.  Inside of every woman, is the heart of a little girl who wants to be beautiful.

 

We’ve all seen those little girls.  They come to church all dressed up in their frilly dresses… hair all done up with a bow.  Sometimes mommy might even put a bit of lip gloss on her and paint her fingernails.  And she feels beautiful.  And when she prances around in front of you, clearly wanting your approval, you give it, right?  You tell her how beautiful she looks.  You’d never dream of ignoring her, or giving her a benign compliment like… “You look fine”.  No way.  We affirm that little girl.  We give her the huge approval she’s looking for.

 

Well, the heart of that little girl never goes away, and women never really outgrow that feeling.  Maybe it becomes a little less important over time, but as we grow and mature and take on responsibilities like jobs and families we lose a little bit of ourselves along the way.  And perhaps the flat irons, the make-up, and the pretty fingernails are our way of reclaiming a little of that innocence and joy.

 

And maybe, just maybe, we’re looking for a tiny bit of affirmation from the people around us.  Maybe, just maybe, we want to feel beautiful again.

 

So nowadays, I go to the nail salon every other week.  And for about an hour, someone else takes care of a small part of my appearance.  And a small part of me looks beautiful and perfect.  And I feel a little bit pretty.

 

Because most of the rest of the time I don’t.

 

And trust me when I say, it has nothing to do with vanity or being worldly, and everything to do with being human and female.

Resources... What would we do without them?

This past weekend I attended the KYRW Spring Into Writing workshop, sponsored by my local RWA chapter, Kentucky Romance Writers.  It was a fantastic event, full of camaraderie and information that helped fire my creativity and inspire me to get back into the “swing” of writing.  Our morning session, with the fabulous Alicia Rasley, dealt with characterization, and how knowing our characters inside and out can help us define our story.  In the afternoon, my good friend and fantastic author, Teresa Reasor, treated us to a session on “StoryBoarding”, a system of visual organization that can help keep your story on track and balanced.  Maddie James, another talented Kentucky author discussed the art of writing dialogue that both “fits” and also “sparkles”.  The differences between e-publishing and print publishing were outlined by our very own Anya Bast, who has been successful in both forms of publishing.  Leigh Collett, CEO of Resplendence Publishing discussed market trends and also gave us some “dos and don’ts” to consider when submitting for publication.

 

Yesterday, my mailman was very good to me.  I received my May/June issue of “Writer’s Digest” and my April issue of “Romance Writer’s Report”.  As it happens, it seems I hit the mother lode of “good stuff” in these magazines.  I found articles that detailed the qualities of successful writers, crafting a sexy hero without relying strictly on looks, a list of great websites for writers, sources from which to draw strong characters, a guide to social networking for an author, how to form a good online marketing plan, as well as an interview with two wildly successful authors from two very different genres of fiction.  WOW!

 

After the first read-through of the two magazines and a reflection on the workshops I enjoyed over the weekend, I tried to remember what it was like BEFORE I knew all of this.  Before I made connections both online and in person with fellow writers who had advice and knowledge to share with me.  Before I knew there were professional organizations full of people who wanted to help me “learn the ropes” and become a better writer.

 

And you know what?  I can’t really remember much.

 

The “community” I’ve become a part of because of my love of writing and my desire to write and write well have so influenced who I am as a writer.  The amount of “stuff” I’ve learned is staggering and invaluable.  The friendships I have made are some of the strongest I’ve ever had. 

 

The resources available to writers are legion.  If you are a writer, or even just an avid reader, I would encourage you to find an organization, or maybe several organizations, of like-minded people who can help you and receive help from you.  The relationships you create will change you and enhance your life in immeasurable ways.

 

I’m so grateful for the way I’ve been changed, as a writer and as a person, by the people and groups I’ve met along this journey.