A new book to be written . . .

Wow- it is really hard to believe 2010 is winding down, and a new year about to begin! It seems like only yesterday I wrote a blog about the open book of this new year!

Well, the chapters for 2010 have been mostly written. Some are what I expected, others had wonderful surprises, and some were disappointing or even sad. There were things to celebrate- such as my son turning 21! There was sadness, with the loss of good friends and medical issues for myself and a loved one. If there are any regrets for the year, it is time to put them aside and start anew in the year that will soon be upon us.

It is a common theory that artistic types are emotional or even temperamental. It is also said that emotions- particularly intense situations whether happy or sad- produce some of the best art whether it be visual, writing or performance. There is probably much truth in that.

Being a published author, blogging, and working on related projects are a work in progress for me. My background is in journalism, and in many ways a more straight forward approach to writing. With newspaper writing, emotions and personal viewpoints were not allowed unless it was a feature article or opinion piece. What a pleasure to have the artistic freedom to grow through various emotions and experiences as an author and collaborator.

I think I have grown artistically over the past year, and especially in writing this blog. The personal expression is a fun release! I usually am one of those people who will write from sun up to sun down, but don't ask me to write about myself- laughs! And, I do think each situation of the past year- good or bad- has helped shape those changes in me.

It won't be long before the book of 2010 will be complete, and the book of 2011 will be open with fresh, new pages. I look forward to great new chapters for us all!

Secrets One - The Series

Passion-driven . . .

Passion for the art drives most artists- the purists- in any genre. When the passion of the artist battles or overcomes major obstacles to bring forth the art, it is so very inspirational.

A friend of mine actually surpasses the word inspirational! The man lives and breaths music- very talented in singing, playing keyboards and writing. A Christian man, music is his area of ministry. He brings so much joy to others with his talents.

Over the last few months, however, this man went through an extremely difficult situation where he was taken completely away from what makes him happiest. The situation was so severe that he actually lost 80 pounds! Now some in these same circumstances would become bitter and depressed. Not my friend. He came through the situation with his emotions and faith in tact and several new songs! He is eager to share his gift, his passion!

Two other people that also brought tears to my eyes, joy to my heart and new purpose to my mind are strangers- I have only read about their individual struggles.

One young lady is much like my friend in living and breathing music. Her struggle is that she is gradually losing her hearing; and at some point in the near future, she will be completely deaf. This young lady is trying to fit as much music into her life as possible at this moment. She is living life at its fullest and enjoying music while she can instead of sitting back and asking why.

Another woman I just read about is a middle-age miracle. At birth, her parents were told she would not live long- and she would be nothing but a vegetable. Far surpassing the doctor's expectations, the woman is married and living a fairly normal life. She does have some physical limitations such as having to use a wheelchair. But her spirit has no limitations, she embraces life.

Over the years, the woman has dabbled in art despite her malformed hands. While there were those who discouraged her efforts, thankfully there were supporters as well. This amazing lady is now taking college art classes and her work has been featured in art displays.

Thinking about these three people the last few days brought about different emotions. I am blessed in this stage of my writing journey with a wonderful co-writer who is very supportive not to mention totally brilliant! That fact and my strong faith are good foundations in following my passion of writing. When obstacles present themselves- and they will in some form or another- I will say a special thank you to my three inspirations for reminding me to never give up on my passion...

Secrets One - The Series

Thinking about mom . . .

My mom is currently facing some health issues that have caused me to step back and really think about her as a person, and her influence on me.

The first word that comes to mind is survivor. Her biological mother tried to hide her pregnancy by wearing double corsets, not allowing the growing baby much room at all. My grandparents adopted her, and took her home from the hospital when she was only a day old.

My grandmother had to massage her arms and legs to help straighten them. That was only the beginning of the life-threatening issues that Mom would encounter at intervals throughout her life, and would overcome. Perhaps that is where her strong will or stubborness came from, or she survived because of it.

Mom was not the luckiest in love either but did not give up trying. She got married the first time at 15, and set off from rural Ohio to live with her new husband in California. When that marriage did not last, she went back to Ohio and eventually married my biological father.

She was strong enough to leave that physically abusive marriage, and I admire her for that. We spent several years with my grandparents before Mom met the love of her life, and the man I called Dad. They were married 30 years before leukemia took his life.

These events all helped to form the person she is, but do not tell the whole story. Mom loves music of all kinds. She herself had a beautiful soprano singing voice as a young lady. She is creative, too- enjoying sewing, crochet and embroidery over the years. She still enjoys arranging silk flowers and other decorations for her living space.

Mom remains a spiritual person, a quiet underlying part of her. This spirituality may be why she loves everyone, despite how she may be treated. What a lesson to be so non-judgmental and loving. She is a social person, and loves to be part of the group.

In myself, I can see her spirituality, love of music, her creativity, her friendliness and enjoyment of being with others, never giving up on the search for true love, and an underlying survivor spirit. She has a ready smile, and I have actually been told that I have the same smile.

One thing I have to laugh about is cooking. I remember Mom cooking some decent meals, but my grandmother was really the cook in the family. I seem to take after Mom there, too! But that is ok.

Mom's health issues now could take away her thoughts and memories, but I will have mine. And thanks to her influences, I can use my creativity to preserve those through my writing.

I love you, Mom!

Secrets One - The Series

Revisiting old school . . .

For those who read my blog, you may recall that I definitely lean toward being old-school when it comes to certain things - in particular the electronic reading devices also known as e-books or digital books.

I will always love the feel of a book in my hands. I joke about being borderline obsessive-compulsive, and when I have a new book to read you would see what I mean! While dust covers are an attractive addition and do help protect the actual book cover, I tend to take it off- at least initially- to examine the cover. I look at the color, the texture and how the wording has been embossed or printed. I continue my examination of how the book is put together, feeling the paper used, and the edging on the pages. Sometimes- I even peek at the ending!

There are different smells on books, too. Could be a new smell, or perhaps a distinctive smell of a paper-type. Old books tend to have a distinct smell, too. It is a total experience, beginning long before the reading. I don't think I can have the same experience with an electronic device. There is no substitute for the real thing....

But - my interest has been piqued recently. There was the news that the devices are outselling actual books at some sources. Not long after reading that, I actually looked at information for one of the models- can you believe it??? Well, what caught my eye was the claim that the device can hold 100 books! That is impressive, even I must say! When I have the chance to read, I tend to go through a book quickly and then want more- so having 100 digital books at hand would be great!

Don't expect a quick convert though. I am not entirely convinced that the experience will be as pleasing reading a book on a "device". But, I will be doing more research, no doubt.

I cannot believe though that hard copy books will ever totally disappear. After all, how would an author sign the latest release?

Secrets One - The Series

The power of words . . .

Have you ever thought about the power of words? Obviously, life would be very different without words. I know my life would be very sad if I did not have the pleasure of reading and writing. As far as life in general, can you imagine going back to drawing on the cave walls?

The mere fact that we have the gift of words is powerful, of course. If you don't think so, ask a stroke victim or someone who has a brain injury and cannot speak or even write the words that the loved ones long to hear. I also think of several families in my area who have recently lost sons and daughters in both tragic accidents and senseless violence. I am sure those parents would love to hear the words "Mom" and "Dad" one more time.

What words we use, and how we use them can also be powerful. This was brought to mind recently on my birthday. I was talking to someone about attitudes toward age, which reminded me of a newspaper column that I had written when I turned 30- at the time, a very traumatic birthday for me. In the column, I explored the difference between getting old and older. See the difference in those words- old and older? We all get older- that begins the very second a child is born. But, we each have a choice in getting old. What a difference in those words- and state of mind. My words seemed to strike a cord with many people, if the comments I received were any indication.

Another "aha moment" came courtesy of my great niece. I had commented to her about some words of wisdom she had shared, and part of her reply was, "Love you". Oh my goodness, you would not believe the smile those two little words put on my face- and even now as I write about it.

How we use words in our lives can make a world of difference to others. Are our words uplifting or hurtful? For me personally, I have decided to make a conscious effort to try to stay positive in thoughts and words, and to tell people that I care about them.

As a writer, my use of words is very important in conveying an idea or storyline. It was a challenge I willingly enjoyed as a journalist, and continue to treasure as an author of fiction. With my use of words, I can lead readers to a new experience- open a door to escape everyday thoughts or worries, even for a short a time.

So enjoy your words, and use them wisely. And remember to say, "I love you," often.

Secrets One - The Series

Loving the art . . .

As I sit here watching the Tony awards, the broad scope of writing is again brought home to me. It happens when I watch the Tonys, the Oscars, the Emmys...It is that feeling of awe that comes over me, realizing the true scope of writing a novel or radio script/screenplay.

As many of you know, my background is in journalism. Writing for newspapers for many years, I know what it feels like to have my work in print and read by many. I have delivered important news and announcements; I have been honored to write feature stories about people, places or events, and to know that those stories have made a difference. In other words, being known as a writer is nothing new.

Of course, now being a published author of Secrets One - The Series is extremely exciting! Holding a hard cover book that I had a part in writing is truly a privilege and a dream come true. The excitement continues as my co-author and I write the radio script for Bloodline Confidential – Part One. The thought of someone taking the words we write to interpret and speak them to a much broader audience just blows me away!!! To hear the words spoken by talented voice actors- and the story come to life- is incredible!

Whether I am writing the news of the day, an opinion piece, a feature story about an interesting person, or a fictional novel, the art of writing is both a joyful satisfaction and a serious undertaking. I sometimes joke about being borderline obsessive-compulsive with my writing. Well- it might be more fact than joking, and maybe more than borderline! Laughs! I love the art, and I want anything I produce to be as perfect as possible, to be true to the art one might say. As a spiritual person, I also strive to do all things as unto the Lord.

With all this considered, it is especially important to me to produce the best work possible for those performers to speak and act. And I know that I am so incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to work in an art that I absolutely love.

Do I believe that one day my co-author and I will be mentioned at one of those award shows? Absolutely! Hope you are watching!

Secrets One - The Series

Comparing the views . . .

Part of the joy of reading for pleasure- for me- is imagining the various characters and everything about them and their storylines. I am talking about each and every detail about the characters- how they look, how they wear their hair, how they talk, their surroundings and even their vehicles. I have a complete movie of sorts running in my mind as I read. This is also true as I write.

My son is more of a music lover than a reader. In fact, he has written more than 100 songs. When he is not writing music he is listening to it. We were discussing music videos the other day- after watching a couple that only could be called bizarre! There are other music videos that are good overall, but depict a different meaning- or visual- of the song than one may visualize or imagine listening to it. We agreed that sometimes it is just better to listen to the music, letting ones imagination provide the visual! Unless, of course, it is Elvis in any of the videos from the '68 Comeback Special! Laughs!

There are also some avid readers who are reluctant to see a movie based on a well-read and well-loved novel. There are always some changes made when it goes from print to film. And, chances are the actors look or sound nothing like those in the mind's view of a reader. Of course, the reverse does occur- the movie versions lead readers to awesome books.

Working on the Secrets project has been interesting in this respect. Living with the characters for so long- in my mind, anyway- they have a certain look, personality, and even sound. My co-author and I have come up with a fantasy cast over time, but even at that I still have my own version tucked away in my mind.

This was really made evident to me as the audition team recently selected voice actors for the radio drama, Bloodline Confidential – Part One. How does one select the voice actors? For me, it was matter of trying to match the voices in my head for the specific characters! Laughs! Sometimes my choices matched the others on the audition team, and sometimes not. (As a side note, I might add that there were some awesome auditions!) In the end, we have an awesome cast of voice actors!

So, what do you think? Do you have the visions and voices in your mind as you read, or write? Do you prefer your music as you imagine it? Or do you enjoy another's interpretation of the art, be it writing or music?

Secrets One - The Series

Cracking the writer's block . . .

One of the occupational hazards - so to speak - for writers is the onset of writer's block! You will not see any Public Service Announcements (PSA) for this affliction- afterall, with writer's block one would not have the words to write the PSA...laughs! (Sorry, I could not resist!)

OK, maybe it is NOT serious enough for celebrities to do a PSA. But, if you- yes, I mean you- suffered from this you would want help! Or, are you already one of the silent sufferers?

It is time to speak out about this malady. I will admit I have been struggling with a mild case of writer's block the last few weeks. I know I have written before about how an idea forms in my mind and then just grows, like a small seed blossoming into a Spring flower. Well, my seeds the last few weeks were just rolling around, not quite pushing through the dirt to bloom. This is frustrating when I want to write!

It happens to all artists at some point, whatever the medium. And for a variety of reasons. And the antidotes can be just as varied. I know of one person who likes to get in the car, crank up some tunes and just drive to open the mind. A walk in the park might work, or perhaps visiting with family and friends may be another's solution. Both the cause and the reversal can be mysterious....

So, the moral of this blog would be not to panic if your words, or painting, or song just is not there. It happens to all of us at one point or another. And just as quickly, the spark will flash or the seed will bloom, and you will create again. I know that just a few a moments ago I was sitting here wishing I could write a blog that was way overdue...

Secrets One - The Series

Celebrating the people . . .

I am writing this in waning hours of Valentine's Day. While some look at it as strictly a holiday for lovers, I have always celebrated my family and friends, as well.

This got me to thinking about the various friends over the years. With some people that I meet, I just know that something clicks, and we are going to be friends. Opposites really do attract, or at least some on my list of friends would indicate that. Others, there may be something that just doesn't hit right. Those first impressions are just not right for whatever reason. I really have to laugh because there are a couple of those kind of encounters that developed into really close friends, or as I like to say friends for life.

When one thinks about it, our relationships with other people are multi-dimensional. These layers include how we initially met, what are the common interests that connect us, where we live, where we work, experiences we have together, and so on.

As a writer on the current project, I have a whole set of new friends- that live on paper...and in my mind! Laughs! The creation of the character is just like a new friendship, there are a variety of beginnings. It can be unexpected, music can be an inspiration, or the character can be connected to another. As a writer, I have an advantage in that I can write the character with the traits that I want him or her to have. (Don't you wish sometimes that was possible with your friends?)

Some characters are immediately likeable, others will grow on you! They, too, should be multi-dimensional. That is the challenge for any writer- writing characters so that readers can identify and connect with through various emotions and layers of personality. Sometimes the characters are like those friends that take awhile to be friends. A character may even be one that a reader loves to hate! I would have to say that developing characters is one of my favorite parts of writing a novel.

Naming the character is also really interesting and fun to me. I tend to do a lot of research to find meaningful names for the character's personality or purpose in the novel. I thoroughly enjoy it!

May you enjoy your family and friends, real and imaginary! (Of course, I am referring to any writers out there!)

Secrets One - The Series

Loving this new year . . .

I always welcome a new year, and I am happy that our calendars now show 2010!

Like many people, I sometimes feel that time passes much too quickly, so it is not that I am celebrating that aspect of it. I appreciate each and every day, and try to make the most of each and every one because none of us have a guarantee of another.

Someone once asked why I always tell my son that I love him when I talk to him on the phone, or when I am leaving to go someplace. My question was, “why not?” I try to always let my loved ones know what they mean to me as often as possible, and each day is new opportunity to do that.

There is an old wives’ tale that the first three days of the New Year forecast the first three months of the year. I have to laugh at that one! New Year’s Day here was very mild, so one would think the whole month should be, too. Wrong! There have been several days of zero temperatures or below. So, weather forecasting is also not why I am glad to see the New Year.

I am neither into the numerology nor the superstitious beliefs surrounding the New Year, either. And, by the way, I do not believe that the world will end in 2012. I am glad to get that one out of the way, early on! Laughs!

It is really quite simple- I welcome the New Year because of the 12 months of new opportunities that stretch out before me. I am a very visual person, and seeing those new calendar pages remind me that anything is possible on those blank pages.

The squares marking each day are also blank other than the occasional pre-printed holidays. How exciting to anticipate what the New Year will bring to fill those squares! There will be many happy events that occur this year, and most likely the unavoidable sad events, too. The year 2010 will be its own unique story.

Each of us can embrace the New Year – and each day and month in it- to make the most of those new opportunities- live and love life to its fullest.

And, of course- write to the fullest!

Secrets One - The Series