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.
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