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Scribe & Quill ~~ JULY 2005
ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø
Vol. 3 Issue 5
ISSN: 1098-6375
Section 1 of 2 Sections
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MASTHEAD
~~**~~**~~**
* Editor & Publisher [ON LEAVE]
Bev Walton-Porter <editor@scribequill.com>
* Guest Editor
Mindy Phillips Lawrence <mplcreative1@aol.com>
* Humor Editor
Jaden Trinsic <humor@scribequill.com>
* Poetry Editor
Donna "Kai" Wilson <poetry@scribequill.com>
* Book Review Editor
Sonali T. Sikchi <sonali_sikchi@hotmail.com>
* Nonfiction Columnists:
~Joyce Faulkner <katieseyes@aol.com>
~Jill Vaile <jill@jilleliz.com>
* Fiction Columnist
Rick Chiantaretto <rick@facadeofshadows.com>
* Humor Columnist
Sharon Wren <swren1@msn.com>
* Video Game Reviewer
Jonathan Porter <jonp@scribequill.com>
* Staff Book Reviewers:
~Barbara Ardinger <bawriting@earthlink.net>
~Judith Woolcock Colombo <judithcolombo@hotmail.com>
~Joyce Faulkner <katieseyes@aol.com>
~Ilona Hegedûs <fairylona@yahoo.co.uk>
~Carolyn Howard-Johnson <hojonews@aol.com>
~Mindy Phillips Lawrence <mplcreative1@aol.com>
~Bobbi Linkemer <bobolink@accessus.net>
~Anna Morvee <amorvee2004@adelphia.net>
~Rita Porter <beepmybeep2@mchsi.com>
~Sonali T. Sikchi <sonali_sikchi@hotmail.com>
~Laura Tripp <thatgrrl@gmail.com>
* Guest Writers:
~ Nana Yaa Larbi (nanayaa@larbi.com)
~ Sonali Sikchi (sonali_sikchi@hotmail.com)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Editor's Note
~Reader Praise!
~Announcements
~Scribe & Quill Patrons
~Featured Article
Become an E-book Writer
By Alyice Edrich (dabblingmum@yahoo.com)
~Featured Article
On Time Perception and Priorities
By Bev Walton-Porter (editor@scribequill.com)
~Featured Article
A Fitting Solution
By Nana Yaa Larbi (nanayaa@larbi.com)
~Scribes of Note ~ Virtual Quills
~Featured Interview
Author: Pat McGrath Avery
By Mindy Phillips Lawrence (mplcreative1@aol.com)
~Featured Fiction
The Dunes of Friendship
Sonali Sikchi (sonali_sikchi@hotmail.com)
~Featured Nonfiction Column
Podcasting for Writers - Part I: What's It Got to Do With Me?
By Joyce Faulkner (katieseyes@aol.com)
~Featured Fiction Column
Is Cliché Cliché?
By Rick Chiantaretto rick@facadeofshadows.com
~Featured Poem
Pleading for Sylvia's Last Poem
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson (hojonews@aol.com)
~Featured Poem
Domestic Training
By Mindy Phillips Lawrence (mplcreative1@aol.com)
~Book Reviews
* "The Pepins and Their Problems" by Polly Horvath
* "The Last Kingdom" by Bernard Cornwell
* "You and Me and the Dead Man" by Carol Papenhausen
~Game Review
Cranium
Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson (hojonews@aol.com)
~Call for Submissions
~Featured Contests
~Professional Writing Courses
~The Last Word: Recommended Links for Writers
~Contact and Submission Information
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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
Dear Gentle Readers,
Our publisher is nearing completion of the first draft of her wonderful book
and should make her deadline handily. Meanwhile, I have been chosen (arm
almost twisted off) to preside over the July 2005 issue of Scribe and Quill.
So what's cooking with us? LOTS! In the August issue, look for our
new romance columnist, Cynthia VanRooy (http://www.cynthiavanrooy.com).
Next month she will provide us with an excellent column on Point of View.
Meanwhile, Joyce Faulkner, Pat McGrath Avery, Bev and I will release our
co-authored book, "The Complete Writer" the end of August. We will be
conducting a book launch party and signing on August 26, 2005 at 6 p.m. at the
Barnes & Noble at the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs, CO, so if you're in
the area please come out and meet us in person! If you cannot make it that day,
we will have an additional signing the following day, August 27 between
In this issue, I am introducing one of the talented people I have the privilege
of working with at Red Engine Press. Pat McGrath Avery has so many skills
that it would take a book to list them. Although I can't do that here,
make sure to scroll down and read Scribe and Quill's interview of Pat to learn
why we think so highly of her.
I am working on research for a new book tentatively titled, "They Came
Home From Iraqi Freedom." If you know of any Iraqi Freedom veterans
interested in being interviewed for the book, please contact me at mplcreative1@aol.com. I'd appreciate it!
Happy Writing!
Mindy
mplcreative1@aol.com
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READER SUPPORT FOR SCRIBE & QUILL
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
We have the BEST readers on the planet! It's because of your encouragement that
we continue to publish our 'zine for writers. We believe in your writing goals
and we are there to support you every step of the way. Thanks, in turn, for
lending us support as well!
Here's what readers are saying about Scribe & Quill:
"The [May 2005 issue] has amazing articles -- the kind one doesn't see
clones of all over the Web. Congratulations. Also, your staff is the greatest.
You do yourself proud!"
--Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of "The Frugal Book Promoter"
(Star Publish), hojonews@aol.com, (http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.com)
"...Scribe & Quill is excellent work..."
--Rowdy Rhodes, Site Manager, Freelance Writing Organization - Int'l (http://www.fwointl.com/index.html)
"I just received my first issue of Scribe & Quill -- very informative
and well put together. Thanks."
--Tsipi Keller (litwrks@yahoo.com)
Author, "Jackpot" (http://www.spuytenduyvil.net/fiction/jackpot.htm)
"I really think Scribe & Quill has a lot to offer. I've been promoting
S&Q's writing courses on my website Femme Erotique [.] with one of your
banners. I started Femme for the same reasons -- I want to help others attain
their goals -- whether it be writing fiction or just improving their
lives."
--Ann Melrose, editor of Femme Erotique
(http://www.femme-erotique.com)
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
SCRIBE & QUILL -- LEFT AND RIGHT!:
Have a question to pose to other writers about the technical aspects of
writing? Want to post your latest success or sale? Need to promote a new
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Post your messages here!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ScribeQuill/
***
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Come express your innermost thoughts/feelings about being a writer in this
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relating to the ups/downs/sideways of the writing life are welcomed! This
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BE A SCRIBE & QUILL PATRON:
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Developing and distributing a regular publication, either online or in print,
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Thank you for reading our magazine, and for your continued support.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
ADVERTISEMENT
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
PENCILST
A Proofreading & Copyediting Company
"Improving the written word one letter at a time."
Let me help you present your work in the best light possible!
E-mail: pencilsproofreading@yahoo.com
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~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
FEATURED ARTICLE:
Become an E-book Writer
By Alyice Edrich <dabblingmum@yahoo.com>
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
When I lived in
Upset? Yes. But I didn't let that stop me from earning a living out of my home.
I had already written a pamphlet when I lived in
To become a profitable electronic book author, you, too, need to learn the
ropes. You can't write a book, place it on your website, and hope the orders
come rolling in. You have to put in some real elbow grease, and work towards
those sales.
Here is broad outline to help you get started.
Start With What You Know
I truly believe that everyone has a book in him or her. But to find that book
you need to sit down and rediscover what's inside you. What knowledge do you
already possess? Do you constantly share new and interesting facts with your
friends on a particular topic? Is there something you can't wait to learn more
about? Do your friends and family consider you the expert on a certain topic?
That's the first place to start writing your very first book.
Develop an Outline
Now that you have an idea for your book, sit down and develop an outline. If
you were going to teach someone everything you know, what would you start with?
What natural progression would you take to move your student to the next step?
What about the step after that? The idea of an outline is to get your juices
flowing and help you begin to form your book. Don't worry about writing your
book just yet.
Fill in the Gaps
Once you have your outline written, take one segment at a time and begin
jotting down notes. Write whatever comes to mind on that subject matter. Don't
worry about how well it flows together or whether or nor your sentences make
sense. Just get the ideas out of your head and onto paper.
Research Your Subject
After you've exhausted all the information stored in your head-whether through
book learning or hands on experience-start researching your topic. Is there
something you need to know more about? Is there something that will enhance your
book and take from good to great? Is there something you find missing in other
books that your book could discuss?
Interview Experts
Don't underestimate the value of expert quotes. While you could simply write
what you know, you'll increase the value of your book by including information
by experts in your topic. The first place to start is your local Chamber of
Commerce; there are many professionals who would love a little free publicity.
Organize Your Notes
After you have all your notes written out, it's time to organize them.
Organizing your notes will take time and may seem mundane, but organization is
the key to a book that flows and doesn't confuse your readers.
Write Your First Draft
Once you've organized your notes, it's time to write your first draft. Again,
don't worry about getting everything perfect the first time. The idea is to
take your scribbles and put them into some form of comprehensible reading
material.
Edit Your Work
Once you've completed your first draft, let it sit for a few days. If you go
back to your first draft too soon, your eyes will glaze over mistakes and
typos. Your mind will remember what should have been there and your eyes will
assume it's there.
Protect Your Work
Once you've completed the final edit of your book and are happy with the
results, get your material copyrighted with the United States Copyrights
Office. The cost is only $30 and will protect you should someone try to claim
ownership to your work and sell it as his/her own.
Sell Your Book
Selling your book is probably going to be the hardest part of your new career,
as an e- book author. You can't put your book on a website and wait for sales
to come in. You'll need to educate others about your book. And you can do that
educating several ways:
. Get reviews on your book by other publications.
. Get interviewed on the radio, in newspapers and in
magazines.
. Write articles on your book's topic and sell them to
large print publications.
. Writes articles on your book's topic and distribute
them, for free, to several Web sites.
. Start an affiliate program.
. Buy classified advertisements.
. Hire yourself out as a speaker on your book's topic.
===
BIO:
===
Alyice Edrich is the author of several work-from-home e-books, including
"Tid-Bits For Making Money With E-books," where parents earn hundreds
of dollars selling information they already possess. She invites you to
stop by http://thedabblingmumpress.com
to order a copy today!
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
FEATURED ARTICLE:
On Time Perception and Priorities
By Bev Walton-Porter <scribequill@adelphia.net>
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
I'm a Polychron -- and proud of it.
What's a Polychron, you might ask? Well, it has to do with how you use/perceive
time. Various cultures, for instance, perceive time in different ways. People
from the
Polychrons (such as myself):
* Do many things at once
* Are highly distractible and subject to interruptions
* Consider time commitments an objective to be achieved, if possible
* Are high-context and already have information
* Are committed to people and human relationships
* Change plans often and easily
* Are more concerned with those who are closely related (family, friends, close
business associates) than with privacy
* Borrow and lend things often and easily
* Base promptness on the relationship
* Have strong tendency to build lifetime relationships
Monochrons, on the other hand:
* Do one thing at a time
* Concentrate on the job
* Take time commitments (deadlines, schedules) seriously
* Are low-context and need information
* Are committed to the job
* Adhere religiously to plans
* Are concerned about not disturbing others; follow rules of privacy and consideration
* Show great respect for private property; seldom borrow or lend
* Emphasize promptness
* Are accustomed to short-term relationships
In THE POLYCHRONIC ATTITUDE INDEX: REFINEMENT AND PRELIMINARY CONSUMER
MARKETPLACE BEHAVIOR APPLICATIONS (http://www.crab.rutgers.edu/~ckaufman/polyattitude.html),
Carol Kaufman-Scarborough of Rutgers University School of Business and Jay D.
Lindquist of Western Michigan University came up with some interesting
information about Polychrons and Monochrons. Some of their findings
included:
* Monochronic people want to take one thing at a time, while polychronic people
do not think that it is fun at all.
* Polychronic people combine routine tasks in order to create free time for
important tasks.
* Monochronics are creatures of habit. They are not flexible and don't feel
comfortable with indefinite blocks of time and loosely-planned agendas.
Polychronics, on the other hand, thrive on variety, change and
spontaneity. They feel constrained by strict limits placed on their
behaviors.
* When faced with an indefinite wait, Monochronic people are happier watching
television. In such situations, Polychrons prefer to read twice as much as
monochrons.
So what does all this have to do with writing, you may ask? Actually, quite a
lot. No writer is exactly the same (and neither should they be). Each of us
approaches writing in a different way, and if it works for us, then we should
stick with that way. For instance, I know writers who specialize in only
certain types of writing and they NEVER multitask (and, quite frankly, I wonder
how they manage to get anything done that way -- then again, I'm a Polychron
and multitasking is my LIFE.)
Writer, know thyself is an appropriate phrase. I know my best way of working,
and it's NOT the Monochronic way. My approach may be unconventional, but the
bottom line is I get the job done. Having a Polychronic bent has helped me in
freelancing -- at least I believe so. As a freelancer, you must juggle many
aspects of the career, including researching, querying, interviewing, marketing
and promoting. All of these are important pieces of the whole, and you cannot
afford to ignore any of them.
I also don't care to limit myself only to certain genres or areas of writing --
I want to write in a variety of areas and I see no reason why I can't
accomplish that. In fact, I already have. Thus far, I've had poems, articles,
reviews, career profiles, short stories, sidebars, columns and blurbs
published. Next month my first co-authored book will hit the shelves. This time
next year, my first solo book will be released. Had I stuck to merely penning
poems or short stories I would have never been able to expand in this way. But
I don't do well running in the same old rut, and as a writer I believe it's
important for all of us to stretch and improve our abilities as much as
possible -- for our entire lives!
To me, time is like taffy -- it can be stretched to accommodate many tasks. As
a funny side note, I used to work for city government and a friend/coworker of
mine was always amazed how I could manage to go grocery shopping, eat lunch and
be back by the time my lunch hour was up. "How do you DO that?" she
wondered. It was simple. I made a list of what I needed at the store beforehand
(limit your list to X number of items -- and don't put deli items you'll need
to wait for) and had it at the ready. I'd go into the store (five-minute drive)
and make a quick beeline for the items in aisle order with no double-backing
(20 minutes max). Then I ran home, shoved the groceries in their proper places
(10 minutes), grabbed a pre-made sandwich or salad, ate in an average of five
minutes and drove back to the office (ten minutes, max.) Simple and easy! The
key is knowing what you need to get, how long it should take to get it and have
pre-made lists and lunch waiting for you.
But back to the taffy pulling as an analogy for manipulating time in reference
to the writing life. In the past I tried to put too many tasks in the mix. The
past year, I've learned what I call "controlled multitasking." In
other words, I look at all the things I want or have been asked to be involved
in, then I pare that huge list down to the ESSENTIAL things I can handle at
once in order to accomplish all of them. Multitasking doesn't mean you have to
do ALL 100 things on your list. If you do, you lose effectiveness. Instead,
pare that down to 1/3 and you'll succeed in multitasking WITH THE END GOAL OF
GETTING EVERYTHING ON YOUR LIST DONE.
Once you get your list, prioritize it. As an example, right now "Sun Signs
for Writers" is my top priority. Then comes Red Engine Press and "The
Complete Writer" (this includes publisher requests for service AND
marketing/PR duties). Then comes any other writing articles and queries (I have
several circulating at the moment). Now, there were about five to ten other
things that used to be on my list, but for the time being, those are on the
backburner. I'm still working on more than one thing, but I've limited the
number of things I'm doing in order to gain effectiveness. If I find I need to
hone the list a bit more by putting a lower-priority task on the backburner,
then I'll do it. The idea here is to remain flexible and to add/subtract tasks
as circumstances change/arise.
For example, come September once the ms. is off to the publisher, I will move
Scribe & Quill back onto my list and up my priority with Red Engine Press
since I'll be putting more energy into marketing/promotion AND embarking on a
new task -- writing grants.
So yes, while I am a Polychron by nature, I actually do use lists and goal
sheets to track what I should be doing and when my deadlines are. These lists
are a godsend for me, because my mind is hopping all the time and thoughts
become scattered. This is one way I give myself "assignments" and
track progress. Nothing is written in stone, however. For instance, when the
edits for the ms. come back to me, I'll need to shift my task list yet again
and make that a priority (because I have no idea how short a time they'll give
me to complete that task.)
The bottom line is this: if you're a writer, it's helpful to obtain some
Monochronic traits -- such as meeting deadlines (if you plan to KEEP writing
for publications!) -- but Polychronic traits can come in handy when it comes to
remaining flexible and learning to multitask. There ought to be a word for
those who straddle both sides of the spectrum...and perhaps there will be some
fine day. Freelancers and contract writers have to share traits from both
sides. Monochrons need to learn flexibility and Polychrons need to learn how to
engage in controlled multitasking. Either that, or hire an assistant. (Joke,
joke!)
So now I say to my fellow and sister Polychrons, it's all fine and well to have
one's fingers in many pies, but you have to be honest with yourself (and
others) and learn what your maximum limits are for your time and attentions.
Learn to say "no" or "not right now" and stick to it. You
don't have to say "yes" to every idea or invitation that comes down
the pike. Turning down ideas is a hard thing for many of us to do -- especially
me. I'm always fascinated by the sparkly NEW idea begging in my brain. The
truth is, you're not saying "no," you're saying "no" for
right now. As in, "I'll get to you later, but I must deal with THIS first
and finish it." Wisdom is not only knowing when to say "yes" or
"no," but when to say them at the proper times.
As a final aside, remember if you're Monochronic you aren't going to change
others who are Polychronic. If you work with them, you'll need to understand
why they have a different work style and learn how to interact with them -- and
vice versa. For instance, my approach may be unconventional, but in the end I
accomplish what I set out to do in my own way. I chafe at babysitters and
hand-holders -- and I'm not good at doing either myself. Typically I have
a vision or strategy for how I'll accomplish a certain task, and while it may
not match the agenda of others, the point is that I'll reach the goal line just
as they will by taking a sometimes nontraditional path. If I listened to every
*negative* caution I've been given over the years as a writer I would have
missed out on countless opportunities (and publication credits!) I've
never understood why people fixate on WHY something can't be done right away
rather than searching for ways it CAN be done (even if by unconventional
means.) It takes less brain power to immediately dismiss an idea than it
does to WORK a solution or approach to a problem. Polychronics can assist
Monochronics in this way, while Monochronics can teach Polychronics how to
become more effective at concentration and time organization. Together, we can
help one another succeed. And isn't that what it's all about?
*Sources: http://hackvan.com/pub/stig/etext/monochronic-vs-polychronic-time.html
http://www.crab.rutgers.edu/~ckaufman/polyattitude.html
http://www.crab.rutgers.edu/~ckaufman/polychronic.html
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
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FEATURED ARTICLE
A Fitting Solution
By Nana Yaa Larbi (nanayaa@larbi.com)
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
I subscribe to a lot of online writing newsletters and a few of them have
written about the dropping numbers of subscribers to magazines, and the reasons
given for this observation are quite varied. Some of the market researchers
blame the online counterparts of the same magazines for the drop, others blame
this on the increase in the usage of sophisticated mobile phones and other
gadgets that keep would-be readers glued to electronic games and some blame the
ever-decreasing attention span of people in the fast times we live in. I have a
possible solution to the problem if I would be given a chance to air my
suggestions.
I think that these magazines should continue to offer the freebies that they
often do (the flip-flops and bags and sunglasses) but could add to these gifts,
articles and stories written by unknown writers bound into little booklets
stuck onto the covers or in the middle of the magazines.
In today's world, a lot of people are becoming more open to other cultures and
are willing to sample new cuisines and books by other authors apart from their
indigene nationalities. For example, Indian food is now quite dominant in
For example, in my case where my name is definitely not English, it could
either put off English readers or could be a source of novelty to readers
willing to experiment with what other nationalities write about. The writer of
such a freebie would of course understand that he or she would receive no
payment but exposure and publicity in some form and hopefully with more offers
of new work by other new authors, the readers would look forward to expanding
their reading into other forays and genres. This would boost sales and would
make publishers happier and more open to new work. It would have a snowball
effect and since there will always be emerging and hopeful new writers, a
shrewd publisher would only need to be more open to read new work to keep this
snowball rolling.
It does sound far-fetched, but I am convinced that this partnership would work.
It is said that great minds think alike, and I believe a publisher somewhere is
thinking of this same idea somewhere, but lacks the words to put his thoughts
on paper. I will send this out with the belief that I have given substance to
his nebulous thoughts and will even give him the credit for the article with
just one request: please remember to include my e-mail address. I would rather
enjoy some fan mail.
===
BIO:
===
Nana Yaa Larbi is a homemaker living in
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SCRIBES OF NOTE
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
At Scribe & Quill a virtual quill is our way of congratulating scribes of
note who have made an article sale, published a book, snagged an
agent/publisher or have reported to us a number of other notable successes in
writing/publishing.
Our quills are virtual because they exist only in cyberspace. We honor the
recipients here with an old-fashioned pat on the back and publication of your
news so our readers can celebrate with you!
Have a success you'd like to trumpet to the rest of world? Send your triumph to
editor@scribequill.com with VIRTUAL
QUILL in the subject line.
This issue's virtual quills are awarded to:
Krista Barrett (writergazette@yahoo.com)
for her book, "Discovering the Writer Within: The Workbook for
Writers!" by Krista Barrett and Michelle Froese (http://www.writersguide.writergazette.com/).
She has also published "Love Online," a contemporary romance (http://www.lulu.com/content/138747).
Star Ferris (star.ferris@gmail.com)
has sold her first romance fiction book, "Mending Fences," to Whiskey
Creek Press (http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com).
Ilona Hegedus (fairylona@yahoo.co.uk)
has launched the EU Writers group. Writers from both from present and
prospective member states are welcome. The aim of the group is to provide a
place for discussion and getting to know each other. Writers are welcome to
post news about their successes. Editors and publishers are welcome to join
and/or send their guidelines.
Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/euwriters
Subscribe: euwriters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Joy V. Smith (Pagadan@aol.com) has an
interview with Lyn McConchie in the July Expressions: Expressions 61 ;
she also has an article, The Slush Pile, in the July SF & Fantasy Workshop
newsletter.
Susan Trottier's (suzien20032003@yahoo.com)
sci-fi novel, "Dic/kotomy," was published by Treeside/eeb Press. It
is her first novel and can be purchased at http://www.treesidepress.ca/ as a
paperback and at http://ebookad.com./ in
e-book form.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
FEATURED INTERVIEW:
Pat McGrath Avery
By Mindy Phillips Lawrence <mplcreative1@aol.com>
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
Pat McGrath Avery, author of "They Came Home: Korean War POWs Tell Their
Stories," spends a lot of time interviewing soldiers. She uses the
research she gathers to write books telling about their life-changing
experiences. "They Came Home" is the true story of three POWs
-- one a survivor of Camp 3 near the Yalu River, one a survivor of the Sunchon
Tunnel Massacre and one the sole survivor of the Taejon Massacre.
Scribe and Quill recently conducted an interview with her while she was taking
a breather, something rare for Pat.
[SQ] How did you get started writing?
[Pat] I've written since grade school. I majored in English in college
and taught junior and senior high school for several years. After I
started a business and secured an SBA loan, I started writing loan
applications, business plans, etc., for other small business owners.
Then it just spread into other areas of interest such as poetry, children's
books and history.
[SQ] What topics do you normally cover in your books?
[Pat] The basic themes of most of my writing are people and relationships, from
poetry to history through the eyes of the participants.
[SQ] Do you just write books or do you do other kinds of writing?
Explain.
[Pat] I am contracted with a job search firm to write resumes for
executives. I also write business letters and biographies. I have
written a lot of business and marketing plans, but have not had time to pursue
that venue recently.
[SQ] Are all your books for adults or do you also write for children?
[Pat] Both. The history books have been written for both. My poetry
book, "The Aged Tree Stands Proud," was for adults.
"Letters from Korea" was written to teach children about the Korean War.
I have a children's picture book in the publication process.
[SQ] Tell us about the interviewing techniques you use with veterans.
[Pat] Most war history is written about battles and strategies from the top
down. I believe history should also tell the story from the bottom up --
starting with the young kid who was drafted out of high school, or joined the
service to see the world or have a job. Therefore, I focus on the
veterans who were there, many times, on the front lines.
I cover the basic information about their service and their life since. I
try to get a complete picture of the veteran as a person; his dreams, family
life, education, career, etc. Then we talk about how his service, usually
war related, changed his dreams. We talk about the difficulty of
relationships if the war experience was especially bad. I find them very
kind and willing to talk, but almost all of them have memories that are hard to
share. I try to get them to tell me as much as they can, but I do respect
their boundaries.
I have interviewed a number of former POWs. Their stories involve
horrible experiences and they usually can only cover basic facts.
[SQ] What is the most interesting story you have come across while gathering
information for you books?
[Pat] One of the POWs in my book spent two-and-a-half years as a prisoner in
one of the camps near the Yalu River on the border between North Korea and
China. He was in a death march that lasted for several months. His
experiences were horrible and yet he survived. Fifty years later, he
still has nightmares. In the beginning, the North Koreans were chasing
him across the South Korean countryside. Now, in his dreams they are
still chasing him, but the landscape has changed -- he's being chased across
his own farm land. I find that so frightening and I can't imagine the
terror that must evoke.
[SQ] Tell us about your latest books.
[Pat] The latest book is "They Came Home: Korean War POWs Tell Their
Stories." It's the one I wrote for adults. Through it, I've
developed a deep respect for POWs. Most of them were young boys who were
in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were heroic; yet don't see
themselves as heroes.
I also have a children's picture book, "The Skateboard Zoo," in
production. The illustrator is working on it now. It should be out
late 2005.
[SQ] What got you interested in writing about Korean War veterans?
[Pat] I made friends with some people who were Korean War veterans. I
found out that even though I had been a history teacher, I knew very little
about that war. When they told me their stories, I thought it would be
good to write a book for children. Then a number of people suggested I
write one for adults.
[SQ] Tell us about yourself. What makes you tick?
[Pat] I love people and their stories. I like to learn about the
uniqueness of each of us, how and why we react to situations the way we
do. I love the natural beauty of our world and I like to contemplate the
roles we play and how our roles are affected by time and circumstance.
I'm shy by nature, so I've had to make a concerted effort to talk to
people. It's much easier for me to listen to someone's story than to talk
about myself.
[SQ] Who is your favorite author? Why?
[Pat] My interests are eclectic. I love people like Richard North
Patterson for keeping me on the edge until the final pages; David McCullough
for great biographies; James Michener for detailed research.
[SQ] What projects are you working on now?
[Pat] I've written an article on Missouri POWs for Missouri Life
magazine. Also, I'm gathering and writing stories for an anthology about
veterans from various wars.
[SQ] You are a member of a group called "Yarnspinners and
Wordweavers." Tell us about the group and what they do.
[Pat] It is a new group formed by several authors to market ourselves as a
group and individually for presentations, book sales and collaborative writing
efforts. We will target bookstores, veteran groups, community
organizations and writing conferences.
I'm very excited about this opportunity because we all have different areas of
interest and expertise. We cover fiction, nonfiction and poetry. It
is a real boon to collaborate with writers whose work I respect. We each
have different skills to add to the group.
A Web site is in progress (http://www.yarnspinnersandwordweavers.com).
Until then, anyone can contact me directly at patmcgrathavery@excite.com for
further information.
[SQ] Who is the target audience for your books?
[Pat] That covers a lot of territory. For the veteran books; schools,
libraries, veterans and their children are the main audiences. For the
children's books, I find the children or grandparents to be the major buyers.
[SQ] What are some of the ways that you promote your books to your market?
[Pat] I'm doing a number of book fairs. I am also available for
presentations and will sell my books then. I do book signings and am
constantly searching for new organizations and resources for reviews. I
plan to get exposure on some Internet malls and to network with writers and
organizations more effectively. I have great hopes for Yarnspinners and
Wordweavers.
[SQ] Do you have special techniques you use for researching historical facts?
[Pat] Yes, I read a lot of books on the subject, visit research libraries and
do lots of Internet research. I contact organizations to get names of
people to interview. After I have interviewed someone, I double my
research efforts to verify facts and learn more detail.
Pat is a large portion of the business end of Red Engine Press for which she
also writes. She lives near Branson, Missouri in the summer and the Texas
coast in the winter.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
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QUOTABLES
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
"Writing ought either to be the manufacture of stories for which there is
a market demand -- a business as safe and commendable as making soap or
breakfast foods -- or it should be an art, which is always a search for
something for which there is no market demand, something new and untried, where
the values are intrinsic and have nothing to do with standardized values."
--Willa Cather
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
ADVERTISEMENT
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End of Section I
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Scribe & Quill ~~ July 2005
Section II
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ISSN: 1098-6375
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ADVERTISEMENT
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
In July 2005, Jewels of the Quill celebrated its third anniversary. To
celebrate, we're giving away a bevy of books in August! Only Fans of Jewels of
the Quill newsletter members (set to receive mail) will be eligible to
enter. Winners will be chosen and verified to be on the Fans member list
on August 30st. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to FansofJewelsoftheQuill-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FansofJewelsoftheQuill/.
You may also visit the Jewels Web site at http://www.JewelsoftheQuill.com to
sign up for the newsletter. Please feel free to invite your friends!
Also starting in August, our visitors will have more opportunities to win! In
addition to our regular spotlight giveaway, Jewels of the Quill will be giving
away a download and a trade paperback of one our group anthologies EVERY MONTH!
Prizes will be sent when the anthology becomes available. In August,
we're giving away a download and a trade paperback of "Tales from the
Treasure Trove, Volume I"! Visit our Web site at http://www.JewelsoftheQuill.com.
Jewels of the Quill wants your feedback! Please fill out our feedback form
here: http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/JOTQfeedbackform.html,
and you'll automatically be entered into our quarterly drawing for a Jewels of
the Quill anthology.
Jewels of the Quill have sold not one but two anthologies -- each story will
include our dame jewels! "Tales from the Treasure Trove, Volume I"
will be released September 2005 (Whiskey Creek Press). Excerpts from each
of the stories are now available on our Web site! "Tales from the Treasure
Trove, Volume II" will be released September 2006!
Jewels of the Quill will also be doing yearly holiday anthologies with Whiskey
Creek Press. The first will be a Christmas anthology, "Small
Gifts," to be released October 2005. Excerpts from each of the
stories are now available on our site! "Treasures of the Heart," our
first Valentine's Day anthology, will be released February 2006.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
FEATURED FICTION
The Dunes of Friendship
By Sonali Sikchi (sonali_sikchi@hotmail.com)
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
Sarah Ford felt uncomfortable sitting correctly in the backseat of the car
while the chauffeur sat in the front. As an independent American woman, she was
uneasy about class distinctions; they made relationships stiff and
formal.
"Bonjour, Madame," said Mohammed Mechka, pulling the car away from
the curb.
"Please don't call me Madame," implored Sarah, leaning forward from
the backseat of the dusty, white Fiat. "My name is Sarah. What's
yours?"
Muhammad's head swiveled around, an aghast look on his face, "But Madame,
I am your driver, and here, in
Sarah was in the Maghreb -- 'al maghrib, the land where the sun sets -- hoping
for some adventure and some time away from her Seattle home, to sort out her
thoughts for her future. Only 5'4" tall with close-cropped, deep brown
hair, Sarah was the dwarf in a family of giants from the East Coast. She compensated
for her lack of height, by wearing long earrings and dark-colored clothes. With
a professor of African cultures as a father, Sarah had lived in
Sarah stayed with friends for a week in
Half an hour out of
"Sure." Sarah loved music. He put on Natalie Cole. "Okay,"
thought Sarah, "guess this is what he likes."
After the tape wound down, there were a few minutes of silence. Then,
diffidently, Muhammad asked if he could put in another tape. This time he put
in Cheb Mami's tape of rai music, a blend of Arabic, African and European
music. With the windows rolled down, the warm, dry air blowing in, the sun high
up in the sky, and the Moroccan countryside flying past as they drove south to
Casablanca, the rai music just brought all the sights, smells and sounds of
Morocco together for Sarah.
"Now I like that music," she piped up enthusiastically from the
back.
Muhammad smiled slightly, the frost between them thawing a little.
Muhammad was a 26-year old Moroccan Arab from the main medina, market, of
Upon reaching
Since Muhammad hadn't been inside the mosque either, Sarah paid both their
entrance fees, treating them to the finest Moroccan craftsmanship that 800
million dollars could buy. With filigreed stone carvings and delicate inlays of
marble all over the exterior and interior, it was easy to believe that it took
2,500 men 13 years to complete it. Commissioned in 1980 by King Hassan II of
On the way to Marrakech that afternoon, Sarah stopped at a roadside food stall
and bought herself a falafel sandwich.
"That's not just a sandwich...but a Moroccan sandwich," commented
Muhammad on the enormous sandwich and diminutive Sarah.
She tried to buy him lunch, too, but he would have none of it. "I am
not hungry" was his standard refrain to prevent her from spending money on
him. Coffee and cigarettes seemed to sustain him during the day. Sarah hoped
that he would have a large dinner in the night.
Although French is one of the official languages of
They spent the evening wandering through Jemaa l-Fna, the main market of
Marrakech. They watched the jugglers, acrobats and monkeys perform their
tricks. They drank water from the water boy wearing the traditional jellabah
and fez cap, and draped with soorais, brass pots with spouts. They bargained with
the vendors in the souks, market alleyways, for Moroccan music, baskets and
dates, and tasted orange juice from one of the five-dozen fruit sellers lining
one wall of the market square. As the orange moon slowly rose over the mosque
of Qutoubia, food vendors moved in, edging the fruit sellers out. Soon the
smell of grilled meats and vegetables filled the air. Muhammad explained the
different dishes to her and pointed out what she could try and what she should
avoid.
The next morning, they were off to Ouarzazate, with Cheb Mami blaring from the
tinny car speakers. Midway to Ouarzazate, they stopped at a casbah that had
been continuously inhabited for five hundred years. The casbah was a fortified
straw and mud castle on the edges of an oasis with moats, strong outer walls,
guard towers and gates. Muhammad was able to locate the local chief, whose
ancestors had built the casbah, and convince him to conduct a tour of his
fortress town. Luckily, the chief spoke French and he entertained them with
stories and historical lore as he showed them around.
The third day morning, an hour out of Ouarzazate, they heard the familiar
police siren behind them. Clutching his head in his hands, Muhammad
expostulated, "Ooh là là, les gendarmes...they are everywhere."
Having faced random police checks six times already in two days, Sarah and
Muhammad were acquainted with the drill and performed as a team. As the
policeman came up, Muhammad handed his driver's license over, Sarah handed her
passport and car contract over, and they explained their relationship --
Muhammad was the driver, Sarah was the tourist -- and then explained their
itinerary.
Again and again, Sarah was asked, "Are you married?"
"Yes."
Shocked, "Where is your husband?"
"He is in
Even more shocked, "You are traveling alone without your husband?"
"Yes."
Sternly, "Hmm. Do you have children?"
"No."
Astonished, "No children?"
"No."
They would then give her an uncomprehending stare and wave them on.
"Children are very important to Moroccans," explained Muhammad,
"and we are very respectful of them."
Crossing the
Something about walking barefoot in the sand, with the sky before them and the
sand beneath them turning all shades of red, orange, pink and yellow, broke
down the reserve between Sarah and Muhammad. They started talking about their
lives and what it felt like to grow up in their respective countries. By the
time the sun sank low in the horizon, and the sky turned shades of violet and
blue, tenuous bonds of friendship had sprung up between the two.
That night, sitting on the dune under the stars, as the guide from Erfoud and
the camp cook played drums and sang folk songs, Sarah marveled on the magic of
friendship.
Back in Marrakech the evening of the fifth day, they headed to the little café
overlooking the market
"Did you go to the university?" Sarah asked.
"What?"
"What age were you when you left school?"
He lowered his eyes. In a low, shamed voice he said, "Twelve."
"Wow, that's really young!"
He sighed, "Yes, that it is, that it is. Comme ça la vie; c'est dûr."
That's life; it is hard.
And then there was a tense silence.
Sarah got a pit in her stomach. She was horrified that she had said such awful
things. In her curiosity to get to know him, she had embarrassed him. "It
is so unfair," she thought. "He is the sole earner for his family and
what he makes in a month, I have been spending in a day." For a while they
continued sipping their tea and watching the market scene below, the friendship
of the past five days sharply missing.
Sarah finally broke the silence, "I am really sorry. I feel I asked
too many questions."
"No, no, that's alright." He smiled slightly.
Sarah smiled back, relieved that her flat-footedness hadn't irrevocably damaged
their friendship.
She thought back over her entire trip. In hiring Muhammad, she had gained not
only a driver, but also a protector, helper and friend. He helped her find the
finest and cheapest, rugs at a small store in
"You truly are an ambassador for
Watching Muhammad straighten out his shoulders and lift his head up tall, she
realized how much pride he felt in his country, and how much her words had
pleased him.
They sat in companionable silence watching the setting sun dip behind the
distant, blue
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
FEATURED NONFICTION COLUMN
Podcasting for Writers - Part I: What's It Got to Do With Me?
By Joyce Faulkner <katieseyes@aol.com>
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
It's always something -- just when you are getting used to one set of tools,
technology changes. I know, I know. I hear you groaning with frustration at the
very thought of having to learn something new, but this one's worth your time.
It will offer you fresh ways to publish your work and attract new audiences.
It'll allow you to collaborate with fellow writers in creative ways you might
not have considered up until now. At the moment, there are no experts.
Everyone is experimenting. Everyone is learning. It's like that fertile period
a few years back when writers first discovered the internet.
It all began with the introduction of tiny hard drives capable of holding huge
data files. Known generically as mp3 players, people use them to download and
listen to music. Apple's ipod is the most popular of these nifty little
machines. "Podcasting" was born almost as a lark when a few owners
began experimenting with new ways to use their ipods.
By definition, podcasting consists of short radio-style programs that can be
stored on the internet in a digital file. People browse through lists of
commentary, columns, newscasts and other less clearly defined performances,
select something interesting and download it to their 'pods.' Then they listen
at their leisure while jogging or biking or being young. Of course, with
streaming audio, more sedentary audiences don't even have to download files.
They can simply click on a link and listen to the program on their computers.
Over the last year, free and subscription Web sites proliferated as those
wanting to entertain and inform reached out to this new audience.
Sure it was nerdy kids playing around at first, but before long enterprising
writers began jumping at the chance to produce their work for this new medium.
Using tiny digital voice recorders (dvr), they are posting audio files on the
internet. Programming is narrow now and audience tastes are still being
defined, but the potential for creative expansion is limitless.
Here are a few ways to exploit podcasting for your own purposes:
. Read excerpts of your book into a downloadable file and post it on your Web
site so people can get a taste of your work and be tempted to buy. Remember to
include that link in your e-mail signature file.
. Create 2-4 minute programs that you can post to large podcast sites, your own
Web site and on cds that advertise your work and others.
. Create short podcasts of you reading your own poetry and distribute to
friends.
. Interview other writers and review their work. Ask them to send friends,
colleagues, journalists and other reviewers to your site to hear the
podcast.
. Include links to podcasts in newsletters and e-zines.
. Include podcasts in your media kits -- either as links back to your Web site
or on cds.
. Include music in your podcasts.
. Create podcast versions of your columns or blogs as an alternative to the written
word.
. Create programming of interest to people with visual problems or dyslexia or
who are disabled.
. Don't forget to create programming for children as well.
If you've never listened to a podcast, check out http://www.thecompletewriter.com .
These are the first in a series of programs to accompany the release of a new
book on writing co-authored by Bev Walton-Porter, Pat McGrath Avery, Mindy
Phillips Lawrence and myself called "The Complete Writer: A Guide to
Tapping your Full Potential." The shows will include book reviews, writing
tips, excerpts and interviews. If you are interested in appearing on one of
"The Complete Writer" podcasts, e-mail Bev or me.
You can also listen to a different type of programming by going to my Web site http://www.joycefaulkner.com and
listening to excerpts of my book "Losing Patience" on the Freelance
page. Beginning in mid-June, "The Weekly Shriek," my
column for TheCelebrityCafe.com, appears as both a written article and an audio
file.
In fact, if you want to listen to this very article being read by yours truly,
check it out at http://www.thecompletewriter.com
. These programs run 2-5 minutes so they don't take a lot of time to create,
download or enjoy. If you find this new medium as exciting as I do and decide
you'd like to jump into the game, all you will need is a good microphone. Your
computer will record your voice just fine if you don't want to buy a dvr.
However, if you are a gadget lover like me, you can get a good dvr for about
80-150 dollars. Good luck and happy Podcasting!
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
FEATURED FICTION COLUMN
Is Cliché Cliché?
By Rick Chiantaretto rick@facadeofshadows.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
I vigorously defend a glaring opinion about clichés, and have already caused
quite a stir among writers in my area; so I hope that as I write about this
rather controversial subject, you will be inspired to some sort of emotional
response. After all, this is a rather touchy subject.
First and foremost, I need to remind you, there are no rules in writing that
cannot be broken in the name of style. As such, I'm going to go against popular
belief that clichés are to be avoided, and attempt to show circumstances when
the use of a cliché isn't...well...cliché.
I cringe when writers try to expand a cliché, or give it new meaning, or purposely
avoid using one simply because they shouldn't. The result is often an
over-exaggerated, immensely long and tiring description that feels forced. As
writers we are trying to breathe life into our writing in order to inspire an
emotional response from of our readers. By definition a cliché is an expression
so often used that its original power has been drained away (www.educationplanner.com/education_planner/essay_article.asp),
but what if that dry, vapid, emotional fault is exactly what you need? A cliché
is perfect at doing that.
Let me give you an example. I had a friend recently who asked me to critique
her poem. She had a line in the poem that stated "I'm just another lost in
the crowd." The line stuck out from the rest of the poem. I felt something
different when I read it. The entire poem was detached, but this line felt
frenzied. When I think of someone lost in a crowd, I see a bunch of people with
someone frantically swimming upstream; someone who is scared and confused. When
I asked her if she really felt lost she told me no. I suggested changing the
line to "I'm just another face in the crowd." This line, though
overused, provides the perfect detached emotion the author was looking for.
Because of its overuse, the cliché placement in this poem created a uniform
image, just another someone wandering aimlessly with everyone else who was
wandering aimlessly. The emotion was perfect.
But you must be careful. The very fact that you are using a cliché should be
just as important as the cliché itself. I would not suggest using a cliché in
any place where something else could be used more effectively. Did the child
really grow like a weed? Do you want the reader to care about the growth of the
child? Then you'd better explain the emotional, physical and mental growth of
in careful, concise detail without the comparison to a common garden nuisance.
If the child is a common garden nuisance, it is much more powerful to say so,
instead of using a cliché.
Clichés in dialog are perfectly acceptable, particularly if the character would
be the type to speak using them (like a teenager). Some clichés are culture
specific, and may be used to remind the reader of ethnic backgrounds. A college
English professor, however, had better have a good reason to speak in clichés.
I was talking to a member of one of my writing groups about this subject, and
we decided it would be entertaining to have a character that talked in nothing
but clichés. When we ran out of clichés for the character to use, he would go
silent. Wouldn't that be fun?
Beware of the clichéd personality!
We've all done it. We've been writing this great story, and half way through we
discover we need another character. The easy (and incredibly lazy) thing to do
is to grab someone off the character conveyer belt pre-packaged from the
Character Creator Factory. Examples of this type of character would be: The
gun-wielding western cowboy, the bad guy with a white mask and a black cloak or
the undetermined princess who seems to have no desire but to wait in a big tall
tower for her big tall prince (who is also cliché) to come save her life. By
using these one of these packages you can completely avoid characterization,
won't have to go back an rewrite in order to bring the character in, and the
reader will immediately feel a connection...but it won't last. You might as
well kill the character off because no one will care anyway. Adding a character
that the reader won't remember doesn't sound like a good idea, does it? And you
really don't want your reader accidentally confusing your story with someone
else's who also used the 'character-in-a-Spam-can' approach.
To sum up: It is never a good idea to use a cliché character. Put some
though into the people who are driving your story onward -- you won't regret
it. Feel free to use a cliché if you want your reader to feel a detached,
sarcastic or disgusted emotion. Defend your belief that a cliché is appropriate
in appropriate circumstances. And write a character that speaks in cliché just
because you can. It'll make me happy.
~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
FEATURED POEM
Pleading for Sylvia's Last Poem
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson <hojonews@aol.com>
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
(Upon seeing the film Sylvia)
Poet friends warn me against pointing a pen at Sylvia,
her magic too great, this shaman, this woman who uses words
like a wand. But a muse, not one that breathes the same ether
as Sylvia's, not even a muse but a brute, insistent, a chronic
nightmare, forces me to revisit that moment after lovemaking,
between the time Ted and Sylvia, Sylvia and Ted, entwine
like a marble sculpture of Laocőon, coiled serpent limbs,
that pause before this dawn when Sylvia folds a bleached
towel to cushion her head, the oven ready. This expectant space.
This moment. I pack our wagon, pile shabby baggage
where children squealed and bickered only that morning,
hum by the time I get to
never allowed herself such drivel. Detached, no cry for sympathy
the critics said. That time between decision and duty, that last confusion,
her head upon her laureate's chest, believing in his love for her,
perhaps understanding how her own conjured images of faithlessness
compelled his infidelity, her defenses melted now, April slush.
Then her first unsummoned pain, she abhors this irony;
he is true to his lover's unborn child with two of his and her own
in the room beyond, their cheeks flushed in sleep, she and they flotsam,
rising, falling on the surface of his needs with no watery vein to guide her.
Elsewhere. If she had poured self pity onto a page, in those minutes
before she places an offering on an alter to her children, closes and tapes
their door, if in that last manic moment she had whined, defenses down,
unafraid the critics might say sentimental, if she had shown
for once she didn't care, those words would not be gestures, sodden grass
accepting whomever's footprints. Knowing her heart in that instant
the rest of us might careen our aging Oldsmobiles down mountain curves,
never turning back.
===
BIO:
===
Carolyn Howard-Johnson was recently awarded Woman of the Year in Arts and
Entertainment by the California Legislature. Her nitty gritty how-to book,
"The Frugal Book Promoter," won USA Book News' "Best
Professional Book 2004." Her chapbook of poetry, "Tracings,"
(from which this poem comes), will be released by Finishing Line Press this
fall. She loves to travel and has studied writing at Cambridge University in
the United Kingdom, United Kingdom; Herzen University in St. Petersburg,
Russia; and Charles University in Prague. Her Web site is: http://carolynhowardjohnson.com.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
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Web site. Winners will be contacted before tip is posted. First contest begins
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FEATURED POEM
Domestic Training
By Mindy Phillips Lawrence <mplcreative1@aol.com>
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Hold up in some hell-hole flat,
She waits alone, knowing the storm will return.
She sees the lights from his truck
And wonders if the night will be quiet
Or snap with the electricity of violence.
When she was younger, she saw herself as
Beautiful, poised, self assured.
She met him at a party.
He seemed to adore her in the beginning.
Three years later, she can't hold her head straight.
Her shoulders slump with the weight of her own guilt.
He has convinced her it's her fault the faucet leaks,
The flowers die, the market tumbles.
She stays with him, afraid of the next moment,
Convinced she can't make it alone.
He has been an excellent teacher.
===
BIO:
===
Mindy Phillips Lawrence is the author of "One Blue Star" (http://www.onebluestar.com) and co-author
of "The Complete Writer" (http://www.thecompletewriter.com).
She resides in
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BOOK REVIEWS
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
RATING LEGEND:
**** Quills = Excellent
*** Quills = Good
** Quills = Fair
* Quills = Poor
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
"The Pepins and their Problems" by Polly Horvath
Reviewer: Ilona Hegedûs (ilonahegedus@gmail.com)
Publisher: Thorndike Press, Thorndike, Maine
Format: Children, Hardcover, 174 Pages, 2004, $22.95
ISBN: 0786270632
Rating: * * quills
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0786270632/scriquil
Award-winning American writer Polly Horvath has written many successful
children's books, and her books have been translated into many languages,
including German, French, Thai, Japanese, Danish and Italian.
In "The Pepins and their Problems" we get to know the life of the
Pepin family -- Mr. and Mrs. Pepin, their children and their pets -- and also
that of their neighbors. The daughter is called Petunia, and the son
The story is a series of adventures and funny situations, which all start with
an unexpected event. With new problems constantly arising until they manage to
find a solution with the help of the reader, it's always a long way to go.
Such inexplicable events include the appearance of frogs in all the shoes, the
cow switching to drink lemonade only, or the sudden appearance of a stranger,
who later turns out to be the long lost relative Bartholomew William Culbert
Pepin, and his wife Junebug. The family has talking animals, who also have
their share in working out the solutions. These include a dog named Roy,
Miranda the cat and a cow named Nelly. Valuable contributions are also made by
their neighbor, the inventor Mr. Bradshaw.
The book is written for the very young, and requires active contribution from
the reader, whose task it is to help the Pepins, by adding a special sort
of interactivity. If the reader concentrates hard enough, the writer will
hear the proposed solutions and will forward them to the main characters.
On the other hand, the repeated use of such interactive parts makes the stories
much less exciting, and I am not convinced about their credibility, even for
the target audience. If readers, however, believe the author to be the only one
in the world with whom they can get into a telepathic contact, thus acquiring a
sort of invisible friend, we can also think of this interactivity in terms of
marketing, and this raises certain questions with regards to ethics.
Nevertheless, as the Pepins learn to solve their problems in the end, the
writer has the opportunity to teach something about self-reliance, and the
utterly unexpected events
described have the potential to entertain.
====
BIO:
====
Ilona Hegedûs (ilonahegedus@gmail.com)
is a writer and a translator. She writes science fiction, fantasy, horror and
genre poetry. Visit her on the Web at http://ilonahegedus.topcities.com.
~*~*~*~
"The Last Kingdom"
Author: Bernard Cornwell
Reviewer: Sonali T. Sikchi (sonali_sikchi@hotmail.com)
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers, New York
Book: Adult, Fiction, Hardcover, 352 Pages, 2005, $25.95
ISBN: 0060530510
Rating: * * * * Quills
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0060530510/scriquil
Bernard Cornwell is a masterful storyteller, combining history, war strategies,
romance, political intrigue, bloody battles and unforgettable people with such
verve, intricacy and attention to the smallest telling details that the reader
remains mesmerized throughout the tale and cannot forget it long after the book
is finished.
The story is set in Northumberland in northern
Bebbanburg (present day, Bamburg, located on the shores of the North Sea, not
far from Lindisfarne island), and his transition from childhood to adulthood.
This is also a story of deeply rooted paganism versus early Christianity.
Uhtred is ten when he is captured by the Danes, who kill his father and his older
brother. He spends his adolescence with the Vikings, learning how to become a
skillful and ruthless warrior. He fights in battles against the English and
would prefer to be considered a Dane. However, destiny has other
things in store for him: It puts him under the command of King Alfred. His
loyalty to
Uhtred is born Pagan, but his early childhood is marked by continuous attempts
by the Christian priests to stamp out all traces of his beliefs. His later
childhood, after his capture by the Danes, is spent renewing and reinforcing his
pagan beliefs, for the pagan Angle god Woden was none other than the pagan
Norse god Odin. His marriage to Mildrith and his acknowledgment of King Alfred
as his overlord in his early adulthood, cause him to come once again under
Christian influence. But however much he outwardly proclaims to believe in the
one true God, his core belief remains with Odin, Thor and
Cornwell's battle scenes are powerful, with no two alike in strategy, mayhem or
emotions. His wizardry with words takes the reader there -- right on the
battlefield -- to personally witness the carnage, smell the fear and triumph,
hear the swords and shields clashing, listen to the cries of dying men and the
whinnying of terrified horses, and to behold the sheer bravery, glory and devilry.
Few English writers have ever painted the Vikings as anything but godless
people, intent only on raiding, warring and savaging. With Uhtred relating this
story, we see the Danes as human beings, having a deep love of family, loyalty
to friends, and a code of honor and integrity far stronger than any beheld
before in the lands of the Angles, Saxons and Celts. "Men die," they
said, "but reputation does not die." The Vikings believed that
"strength, generosity, hardness and success" are the true mark of a
man.
"Destiny is everything." And so ends this story. Having visited
Bamburg and the surrounding areas and having a special interest in King Alfred
made this story especially memorable for me. I look forward to following Uhtred
as he faces the challenges life chooses to throw at him in the upcoming sequel.
====
BIO:
====
Sonali T. Sikchi is a Seattle-based freelance writer with feature articles and
book reviews published in national and regional magazines, such as History
Magazine, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Horizon Air Magazine, American Women in
Science magazine, Scribe & Quill, uncapped, Citysearch, WritersCrossing,
and others. As a freelance editor and proofreader, Sonali works with authors,
magazines, book publishers and nonprofit organizations. She also manages
projects that involve research and copywriting. Sonali has
earned certificates in writing and editing from the
~*~*~*~*~
"You and Me and the Dead Man"
Author: Carol Papenhausen
Reviewer: Rita Porter (rita@scribequill.com)
Publisher: Write Words, Cambridge, MD 21613
Format: Adult, Fiction, E-book
ISBN: 1594311404
Rating: * * Quills
http://www.ebooksonthe.net/framesets/pappenhausen_youandmeandthedeadman_frameset.html
Suzanne heads back to the home ground for a visit with Wynn, the stepbrother
with whom she grew up. They have almost nothing in common. Suzanne likes to
tell him about all the things he has that remain the same, how he needs to
change his life, among other things. However, besides criticism, this time she
brings with her a mystery.
Suzanne tells Wynn about the man she had living with her, Casey Rollins, and
the thoughts he had on their parents and the inheritance. She fills his head with
ideas such as not receiving all that was his due. Wynn takes exception to this
and begins questioning Suzanne on their figuring all this out. Wynn would love
to talk to this Casey fellow, until he learns that the man is supposedly
deceased (and owes money to Suzanne).
Unusual happenings begin to make Wynn question things that normally, he
wouldn't have thought much about. Setting out to investigate all the mysteries,
Wynn finds that things are not as they have always appeared to be; what he took
as fact is something altogether different when looked into.
A combination of mystery and family dysfunctional issues make this story sort
of dry. The mystery is solid and gives the reader something to grasp onto and
delve into. But there is not enough drama or detail to fulfill the
dysfunctional aspect, leaving the reader to wonder just what it is the family
members even bother getting together for.
The main characters seem to irritate each other without the
reader ever really finding out why. The secondary characters go well with Wynn
and Suzanne. But at times, their parts hold more importance than the main ones;
instead they should all mix well together.
The overall story line worked alright; however, it would have been nice to have
more detail and exaggerated examples for some of the lingering questions.
Overall the book was a smooth read. The whodunit aspect of this book might be
enough to entrance the mystery lover.
====
BIO:
====
Rita Porter is a Missouri-based poet and writer who is a regular book reviewer
for Scribe & Quill.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
ADVERTISEMENT
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An Alien to Existence by Jonathan Ark
Publisher: Icena Books
ISBN number: 1587364158
Newell is a genius too advanced for his time, strung out between fantasy and
reality. He creates artistic projects that are superb but unappreciated; his
autobiography is a piece of the finest writing ever put to paper. But he can't
find a medium to get it out into the world. Severely depressed, suffering from
headaches most of his life, Newell has a nervous breakdown. Under its spell,
and with the help of guides on a higher plane, he learns the secret of
existence. Unfortunately, it might be too late for mankind to learn from the
knowledge he has gained.
http://www.wheatmark.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BS&Product_Code=1587364158&Category_Code=LIT
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
Game Review
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
RATINGS LEGEND:
* * * * = Cream of the Crop
* * * = Not groundbreaking, but worth your time
* * = Neither horrible or noteworthy
* = Not worth your time
Game title: Cranium
Rating: * * * * stars
Rank: Family Fun
Reviewed by: Carolyn Howard-Johnson <hojonews@aol.com>
Cranium may be this season's smartest gift-toy-book-game and the most colorful,
most useful, most fun little 10 x 10 near-cube a parent will ever run across.
"The Cranium Big Book of Outrageous Fun" may also be the best 20
bucks they ever spent in terms of entertainment. In terms of education, if I
still had elementary kids living at home, I'd buy a half dozen or so of them
and keep them on a closet shelf as a year's supply of birthday and Christmas
gifts!
As a former teacher, I have always had a thing about education being fun. I
also believe that children should think so, too. Ideally, they should be having
so much fun at learning they won't know that they are being educated. This is
the item that will do it. Billed as "The Write-it, Draw-it, Sculpt-it,
Act-it Game-in-a-Book-in-a-Game," it includes a great guidebook full of
fun stuff like maps and fascinating tidbits all beautifully put together with
color tabs and great illustrations by Baseman. It also includes "Cranium
Clay" for sculpting, a miniature hourglass timer, game cards, a spinner
(that you can see through a cutout on the front of the box), an erasable marker,
game pieces and game board and a marker in this toy/book's fave color, purple.
How the publisher, LB Kids, stuffed all this into one box is part of the fun.
Cranium is suggested for kids seven and up. I'd say way up. It's been awhile
since I did homework with kids. Some of this information was very good review
for me, too. There is no age limit on creativity.
===
BIO:
===
Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the award-winning author of "This is the
Place" and "Harkening: A Collection of Stories
Remembered." "This is the Place" has won eight awards and
"Harkening," a collection of stories, has won three. She is also the
author of "The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher
Won't" and a chapbook of poetry entitled "Tracings." She is the
mother of two grown children and the grandmother of two granddaughters who are
still enthusiastically testing this great little book in a toy. Learn more at http://carolynhowardjohnson.com
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
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THE LAST WORD --
RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR WRITERS:
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**
Fiction Factor, http://www.fictionfactor.com
Food Writing, http://www.food-writing.com
Gila Queen, http://free-path.org/gilaqueen/
OrganizedWriter.com, http://www.organizedwriter.com
Paying Writer Jobs PayingWriterJobs@yahoogroups.com
Sell Writing Online, http://www.sellwritingonline.com
SF Romance, http://www.sfronline.com
SpecFicMe Market Newsletter, http://www.specficworld.com/sfme.html
Vision: A Resource for Writers, http://www.lazette.net/Vision/
Worldwide Freelance Writer, http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
WritingAustralia.com eZine, http://www.writingaustralia.com
WriteCraftWeb, http://www.writecraftweb.com
WritersCrossing.com Newsletter, http://www.WritersCrossing.com
Writer Gazette, http://www.writergazette.com
The Writer's Hood, http://www.writershood.com
The Writer's Life, http://www.thewriterslife.net
Writing for Success, http://www.writing4success.com/newsletter.htm
Write Success, http://writesuccess.com
The Write Way, http://www.write101.com
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