I am lucky to have found four incredible friends who all happen to be writers. We try to get together at least once a month for a day of chatting and fun. But what's even better is that one of them recently purchased a "beach" house and invited us to share the place with her for a girl's writing weekend.
So, last Friday, we packed up her SUV - and I do mean packed - not only was the back full, but the seats and all of us were holding bags on our laps or at our feet. We headed out about 5 p.m. for the three hour drive. We made a stop along the way in Delaware at a diner for a quick bite to eat. I don't remember the name of the diner or where it was, but I do know the food was ample and great and the prices weren't bad. The only thing we found to complain about was the "quick menu" on the table - figures that five writers would pick out misspellings and other errors as we all giggled over the spelling of "accasion" for "occasion" and "Fish from the Seven Sea" (not Seas) and "From the sauteed pan" (they fry the pan and not the food?).
Anyway, we laughed and chatted all the way to the house, arriving around 9 p.m. We unloaded the car and checked out the room. The small home has four bedrooms and two bathroom around a central "Great Room" so we divided up spaces. Two of us, Natalie Damschroder, and I shared a room, which we had decided before hand so as to alleviate any issues. :) We sat around and chatted - I headed to bed earlier than the others, but it was a great end to the day.
Saturday, got up early (around 7) and made hot water for tea. The other straggled out over the next hour or so. Breakfast, coffee, tea, and down to work. Notebooks or computers came out and we started working. And it started snowing. Hard.
About 11, four of us decided to go for a walk in the snow. By that time, we had about two inches down. We got about four blocks with the wind blowing freezing snow in our faces and two of them wimped out and headed back to the house. Nat and I decided to continue on as we really wanted to see the ocean and the walk was only about a mile - 20 minutes on a nice day.
Note, I said nice day. This was most definitely not a nice day. We faced into the wind and struggled onward and made it. The beach was, of course, deserted. Gee, go figure. :) And the waves were angry, but we made it. Nat went down to the water while I stayed on the boardwalk, then we headed back. Fortunately, the wind was at our backs, but the snow was definitely deeper and by the time we got to the house, I know I was definitely beat. But the walk was worth it. Being at the beach during the winter is a significant difference from being there during the summer. And I think, in some ways, better.
The rest of the day was spent in working - editing, writing, brainstorming, etc. We broke for dinner around 5:30 - pasta, salad, garlic bread - and silliness. Check out Megan Hart's website for some of our zaniness. After cleaning up, we did a little work, but mostly sat around and chatted, watched TV, and other relaxation. And still it snowed.
Sunday - the sun is shining brightly this morning, but we have a good eight inches of snow down - and no shovel! Going to be interesting. I got up early and got about 50 pages of editing done before the others came out. Chatting, working, cleaning up from the weekend will take up the rest of the day in time for heading back to home and reality this afternoon.
I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend - five great friends, work, fun, and a little adventure.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Surprises
This has been a weekend of excitement for me. Completely unknown to me and out of the blue, my editor emailed me Friday afternoon and informed me that my first book for Cerridwen Press, Akashan'te, is now out in print.
To say I was excited would be the understatement of the century. I've been waiting for this for three years. Moreover, so have many of my readers, several of whom either don't have connectivity (yes, there are still some people out there who do not), or don't like to read ebooks. But now they'll be able to purchase a real live printed book to hold in their hands.
Yippee!!
But that was only the beginning of the weekend. The very next day, I received notice from a new publisher that they were interested in one of my short, hot, romance stories. So a new book in print and sale of another - all in one weekend!
Stay tuned for more updates on the sale - but in the meantime, if you are so inclined, take a look at Akashan'te - my newly released paperback book: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8127-akashante.aspx
To say I was excited would be the understatement of the century. I've been waiting for this for three years. Moreover, so have many of my readers, several of whom either don't have connectivity (yes, there are still some people out there who do not), or don't like to read ebooks. But now they'll be able to purchase a real live printed book to hold in their hands.
Yippee!!
But that was only the beginning of the weekend. The very next day, I received notice from a new publisher that they were interested in one of my short, hot, romance stories. So a new book in print and sale of another - all in one weekend!
Stay tuned for more updates on the sale - but in the meantime, if you are so inclined, take a look at Akashan'te - my newly released paperback book: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8127-akashante.aspx
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
One Lovely Blog Award
The always crazy, but wonderful writer, Victoria Smith, awarded me with the One Lovely Blog award. Where she came up with this insane idea, I have no clue, but I think her for it and am honored by it. In following with the tradition of One Lovely Blog, I hereby pass it along to Nean - though I don't always "get" her poetry, her creative artistry is definitely lovely, as is the jewelry she designs.
For the second part of the award, I'm supposed to tell you ten things about myself you might not know. Let's see......
1. During my married life, I've moved 21 times, but all within Pennsylvania.
2. I have played, or still play, flute, piccolo, guitar, autoharp, and bells (in a bell choir)
3. My parents took me to a Pony Penning on Chincoteague Island when I was young because I was so enamored of the stories of Misty.
4. The first time I was on a plane trip was for my 51st birthday - and our 30th anniversary.
5. I have two left feet (and one of them is full of metal). My sister, the ballerina, got all the grace.
6. I love gadgets.
7. I was the only girl in my high school physics class.
8. I actually enjoy things like cataloging and organizing.
9. I love both the beach and the woods and would love to have a place that had both.
10. I can't be out in the sun long, but don't like the dark.
1. During my married life, I've moved 21 times, but all within Pennsylvania.
2. I have played, or still play, flute, piccolo, guitar, autoharp, and bells (in a bell choir)
3. My parents took me to a Pony Penning on Chincoteague Island when I was young because I was so enamored of the stories of Misty.
4. The first time I was on a plane trip was for my 51st birthday - and our 30th anniversary.
5. I have two left feet (and one of them is full of metal). My sister, the ballerina, got all the grace.
6. I love gadgets.
7. I was the only girl in my high school physics class.
8. I actually enjoy things like cataloging and organizing.
9. I love both the beach and the woods and would love to have a place that had both.
10. I can't be out in the sun long, but don't like the dark.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
The School of Essential Ingredients
I just finished reading "The School of Essential Ingredients" by Erica Bauermeister and have to say it was one of the best books I've ever read.
For a novel, it's relatively short - only 240 pages - so it's a quick read. But what a read. It is sensual without being sexual, evocative, well-written, and well-edited. The imagery is incredible. The characters are brought to life with such skill, that you feel as though you really know them.
At its most basic level, the story is about a woman who owns a restaurant and gives small cooking classes. This story is about the people in one of those classes. Each chapter is about a different person; about their lives, their hopes and dreams, and their foibles. But it is so much more than that. It is about how we relate to each other and to ourselves. It is about spice, not just in the kitchen, but in our lives, and how even the most subtle of flavors can have importance.
While a the book centers around cooking, and all of the imagery is food-based, it is is not a cookbook. As you read, you will taste and smell and feel the ingredients that are brought together to form the whole and how the characters relate to them. The book is not a genre book. There's romance, but it's not a romance novel. There's a little bit of fantasy, but it is definitely not a paranormal story. There's a little bit of intrigue, but no mystery. It's just a really good book that needs to be read.
If you know anything about cooking, do yourself a favor and pick up The School of Essential Ingredients. You won't be sorry.
For a novel, it's relatively short - only 240 pages - so it's a quick read. But what a read. It is sensual without being sexual, evocative, well-written, and well-edited. The imagery is incredible. The characters are brought to life with such skill, that you feel as though you really know them.
At its most basic level, the story is about a woman who owns a restaurant and gives small cooking classes. This story is about the people in one of those classes. Each chapter is about a different person; about their lives, their hopes and dreams, and their foibles. But it is so much more than that. It is about how we relate to each other and to ourselves. It is about spice, not just in the kitchen, but in our lives, and how even the most subtle of flavors can have importance.
While a the book centers around cooking, and all of the imagery is food-based, it is is not a cookbook. As you read, you will taste and smell and feel the ingredients that are brought together to form the whole and how the characters relate to them. The book is not a genre book. There's romance, but it's not a romance novel. There's a little bit of fantasy, but it is definitely not a paranormal story. There's a little bit of intrigue, but no mystery. It's just a really good book that needs to be read.
If you know anything about cooking, do yourself a favor and pick up The School of Essential Ingredients. You won't be sorry.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Word Games
I love word puzzles. Crosswords. Word seek. Crostics. Pretty much any word puzzle there is. Well, most of them. There are a few I don't care for, but I still try them when I run across them in the puzzle books I purchase. I started doing them as a child with my dad. I was a reluctant reader (yeah, me). Dad was hugely into crosswords so he'd sit me beside him and get me to help him. We also did word games when we were waiting - usually he'd pick out a long word on a sign and tell me to pick out as many words as I could from that one word. And we played Scrabble. And I blossomed into a lover of words.
In talking with friends over the last couple of weeks, I find there are people out there who don't share my love of crosswords. Gee. Go figure. But that's okay. Everybody has their own form of enjoyment. I dragged my husband into crosswords. He used to hate them, but now has his own crossword puzzle books. And has discovered something I found out a long time ago. As he's done more of them, he's become more adept and increased his vocabulary and spelling ability.
I take them with me when I'm going somewhere where I know I'll be waiting a while and need something to relax with (like a doctor's waiting room), as I did Tuesday. I did seven crossword puzzles while I was waiting. Okay, so they were easy ones, but still... seven?!
Another thing I do is use pen. Always. Even with the hard ones where I know I'll probably make a mistake. Doing a puzzle with a pencil is just so wrong for me. It has to be a pen. Another legacy from my dad.
Think I'll go find a good challenger puzzle and relax a little.
Today's thought: "The greatest stories touch on the sacred, that moment when the head and heart and soul combine." - Jane Yolen from "Take Joy"
Challenge: write a poem or scene that involves tea and a special teapot.
In talking with friends over the last couple of weeks, I find there are people out there who don't share my love of crosswords. Gee. Go figure. But that's okay. Everybody has their own form of enjoyment. I dragged my husband into crosswords. He used to hate them, but now has his own crossword puzzle books. And has discovered something I found out a long time ago. As he's done more of them, he's become more adept and increased his vocabulary and spelling ability.
I take them with me when I'm going somewhere where I know I'll be waiting a while and need something to relax with (like a doctor's waiting room), as I did Tuesday. I did seven crossword puzzles while I was waiting. Okay, so they were easy ones, but still... seven?!
Another thing I do is use pen. Always. Even with the hard ones where I know I'll probably make a mistake. Doing a puzzle with a pencil is just so wrong for me. It has to be a pen. Another legacy from my dad.
Think I'll go find a good challenger puzzle and relax a little.
Today's thought: "The greatest stories touch on the sacred, that moment when the head and heart and soul combine." - Jane Yolen from "Take Joy"
Challenge: write a poem or scene that involves tea and a special teapot.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Jane Yolen and Take Joy
I have a book on my shelf (all right - I have tons of books, but I want to talk about this particular one) by Jane Yolen called "Take Joy". Now, for those of you who don't know who Jane is, you must have lived in a vacuum. She has written over 300 books and has won more awards than I can name, including the Nebula (science fiction) and Caldecott (children's). I have loved Jane's books for years and read them every chance I get. In addition to her fiction, she also writes non-fiction and that is what I want to talk about.
In this book, she encourages writer's to take joy in what they do. In the art and act of writing. And gives the writer's quotes, pithy essays, and "interludes" to help them reconnect with the joy of writing.
Too often, we writer's become bogged down in the work of writing. Plot the story. Create the characters. Build the world. Select the correct words. Edit. Rewrite. Submit. Rewrite. Promote. And so on. We lose sight of the reason we write. We lose the joy of writing. Ms. Yolen helps get that back.
One chapter in the book I especially love is the one titled "Out with Outlines". In this chapter, she takes famous books and boils them down - "Crushed Classics". Here are just a few - I hope they make you laugh as much as I did:
The Scarlet Letter - Hester Prynne was a bad girl. Still, she got an A
Jane Eyre - Mr. Rochester had a bad wife. And a good wife. One set fires. One ran for her life. Run, Jane, run.
MacBeth - Mr. Macbeth and Mrs. Macbeth got their hands dirty. Out, spot, out.
Lord of the Rings - Yo! Fro! Give the mountain the finger.
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Jane Yolen's "Take Joy" from Writer's Digest books, 2006 copyright. You'll be glad you did.
Thought for today: Joy increases as you give it, diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greather than you ever believed possible. - Norman Vincent Peale
Today's Challenge: Try writing your own "Crushed Classics" - take any books you know well and boil them down to just a few words. Good luck!
In this book, she encourages writer's to take joy in what they do. In the art and act of writing. And gives the writer's quotes, pithy essays, and "interludes" to help them reconnect with the joy of writing.
Too often, we writer's become bogged down in the work of writing. Plot the story. Create the characters. Build the world. Select the correct words. Edit. Rewrite. Submit. Rewrite. Promote. And so on. We lose sight of the reason we write. We lose the joy of writing. Ms. Yolen helps get that back.
One chapter in the book I especially love is the one titled "Out with Outlines". In this chapter, she takes famous books and boils them down - "Crushed Classics". Here are just a few - I hope they make you laugh as much as I did:
The Scarlet Letter - Hester Prynne was a bad girl. Still, she got an A
Jane Eyre - Mr. Rochester had a bad wife. And a good wife. One set fires. One ran for her life. Run, Jane, run.
MacBeth - Mr. Macbeth and Mrs. Macbeth got their hands dirty. Out, spot, out.
Lord of the Rings - Yo! Fro! Give the mountain the finger.
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Jane Yolen's "Take Joy" from Writer's Digest books, 2006 copyright. You'll be glad you did.
Thought for today: Joy increases as you give it, diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greather than you ever believed possible. - Norman Vincent Peale
Today's Challenge: Try writing your own "Crushed Classics" - take any books you know well and boil them down to just a few words. Good luck!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Teaser 12-28-09
Today's Author Birthdays: Mortimer J. Adler, Rod Serling, Manuel Puig
Thought for the day: Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor. - Paul Hawken
Teaser and challenge: What makes you buy a book? Is it the cover? The blurb? The first page? The writer's name? A friend's recommendation? Or something else?
Your challenge: Pick a book you know well and describe a book jacket you would have designed for it, then write a two sentence blurb that would entice someone to buy it.
Thought for the day: Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous. That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor. - Paul Hawken
Teaser and challenge: What makes you buy a book? Is it the cover? The blurb? The first page? The writer's name? A friend's recommendation? Or something else?
Your challenge: Pick a book you know well and describe a book jacket you would have designed for it, then write a two sentence blurb that would entice someone to buy it.
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