Summer Reading: Week Five

I'm still having focus issues, so not reading as much as I would like. I've been slogging my way through Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner (A Rose for Emily is one of the best short stories I've ever read), but I don't think I will have finished it in time for my reading group. I'll still go, because I've read other Faulkner and will want to hear what others say. Faulkner's sentences are so lush (and long!), that I find myself getting lost between the beginning and end and rereading one sentence several times like I might a poem. It's beautiful, but slow reading. It also reminds me of Gertrude Stein, where the same idea is woven in and out again in repetition and reiteration.

For example, here's one sentence: "I don't plead material necessity: the fact that, an orphan a woman and a pauper, I turned naturally not for protection but for actual food to my only kin: my dead sister's family: though I defy anyone to blame me, an orphan of twenty, a young woman without resources, who should desire not only to justify her situation but to vindicate the honor of a family the good name of whose women has never been impugned, by accepting the honorable proffer of marriage from the man whose food she was forced to subsist on."

It's the right tone for the woman telling the story. She digresses mid-digression and does not pause for breath, but it's an exhausting read.

As a break from Faulkner, I began a new book that I recently picked up: Mothers (Book One in the Invisibles Series) by Michelle Read. I'm only three chapters in, but it promises to be a lot of fun.  I picked it up because i met +Michelle Read on a community on Google+ and learned we were both writing female superheroes.  Michelle's book is engaging so far. I like the main character and sympathize with a lot of her mommy problems and am already curious about the explanation for some of the strange things she's been seeing.

Other than that, I've been guilty of binge television watching instead of reading. On the up-side, this is because I've been writing a lot myself (2,000 words a day or more), which means that my brain is tired and ready for some more passive entertainment, like the Tube.  My popcorn show right now is Lost Girl, a series about a succubus private eye. I don't do cable anymore, so all my TV watching is on Netflix or Amazon Prime. I'm in the second season of Lost Girl, and so far have only hit two episodes I thought were awful.

NJ continues to read up a storm. She's still on her graphic novels kick. She adored Lilith Dark by +Charles C. Dowd . The morning after she read it, she described it to me in breathless detail and said, that she was actually Lilith Dark. (She's not as rude to her family as Lilith, but she does bear more than a passing resemblance to the fictional child).

Tiny Titans continue to be popular. We checked out all the library had that we hadn't already read. She Adventures of Super Diaper Baby by George Beard and Harold Hutchins. I may have to buy her copies of those to keep because she wants to take them around to show her friends (especially her male friends).

also found them disgustingly charming

She's also been reading recipes from an old Strawberry Shortcake book that used to my sister's when she was small.  We've made Whizzer Fizzers (floats) and Monster Sandwiches (cleverly cut pieces of normal sandwich stuff).  NJ has a baking thumb the same way some people have a green thumb for gardening.

The elder daughter gets home next weekend (hurray!) and I'll find out what she's been reading. For NJ at least, this continues to be the summer of books.

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I wanted to take a moment to highlight the new release of a writing friend. Chad A. Clark will put out a collection of short stories on July 18. It's called Borrowed Time and I'm pleased to reveal the cover today (see below). I've got my pre-release copy and look forward to reading it soon.

Borrowed Time is a collection of six tales bridging the chilling world of horror and the mind-bending realms of science-fiction. Join a young man searching for answers in the wake of a friend’s suicide, who uncovers an evil that proves some questions are best left unasked. Journey with a young artist along haunted back-country highways, hoping to make it home while re-discovering herself in the process. Travel to the distant future where one man breaks free from the safe isolation of his existence and risks everything so that he might learn what lies beyond the confines of his reality. Read these and more in the debut book from this new author.

Storytelling has always been one of Chad A. Clark’s passions. A Midwestern raised author, he specializes in horror and science fiction. Learn more about him at his website, cclarkfiction.net. You can also enjoy a new original work of fiction every week on his website, bakedscribe.net.

#SaturdayScenes No. 10: Independence Day

Independence Day always makes me think of my grandfather who was a WWII vet. This week for #SaturdayScenes, I bring you a poem I wrote about him and his ambivalence about his service.

Loss of Faith

He said loss

was certain in war—

we must all sacrifice for the Greater Good.

Friends, family, even faith—

surrendered like offerings,

head bowed, eyes averted.

Still, he wondered . . . wished

he had not recovered

from the scarcity of his youth.

If he had stayed home

with flat feet—

with polio—

would he still trust

in G-d and Country? 

But he had witnessed the children,

served them bread and thin soups,

their wide eyes solemn over spoons

clasped in hands grown so thin

bones float in slack skin.

If these had remained words in the paper,

pictures in Life magazine,

he could have still believed

in something, held on to his faith—

that G-d cared, that good would prevail. 

The army taught him eighty ways to kill,

but never

to forget that his enemies were his brothers.

He learned to apologize in seven languages,

but never

to look the other way.

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If you would like to check out more scenes by some really great writers, you should search under the hashtag #Saturdayscenes. The movement is the brainchild of +John Ward , who suggested that writers should share their work each Saturday.

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My other #SaturdayScenes contributions:

Week One: Elopement Day from WIP, Cold Spring

Week Two: Linda Makes a First Impression from WIP, Her Father's Daughter, sequel to Going Through the Change

Week Three: Claiming Alex, from unpublished novel His Other Mother

Week Four: Things Get Hairy for Linda, from unpublished novel Going Through the Change

Week Five: a poem: A Clear Day in Kodiak, Alaska

Week Six: a snippet from an idea barely begun, Lacrosse Zombies

Week Seven: Mathilde's Visit, from WIP, Cold Spring
Week Eight: Sherry bakes, from His Other Mother
Week Nine: I Said So, Didn't I? (a scene in dialogue)

#ISWG Posting: The Importance of Support at Home

I've been serious about my writing for a little over a year now. I've bumped it up from a sweet, little hobby (something I did piecemeal whenever inspiration hit, something I played at) into a consuming craft (something I do daily with specific goals and progress expectations). And my family has rolled with it.

My husband has been incredibly supportive. A lesser man might have complained about the time I've devoted to imaginary people and worlds, or about the household tasks that he's had to pick up or that were just left undone. But I'm a fortunate woman with a supportive partner who recognizes how important this is to me, at a soul level. 

When I was struggling to develop a daily writing habit, he took on extra solo parenting duty and let me disappear to a coffee shop or a room with a door. To help jumpstart me, he bought me a writing retreat weekend and took on the extra solo parenting duty that my absence entailed. (If you have children, you know how generous a gift that really is). 

It's hit me only recently how very fortunate I've been. How has it gone for you, fellow writers? Have your families been supportive? What have your struggles been as you became serious about your writing?

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This posting is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group blog hop. To check out other posts by writers in a variety of places in their careers, check out the participant list. 

Summer Reading: Week Four

For a week when I wasn't working, I was working a lot this week, so I didn't read as much as I would have preferred.

I did read a couple of graphic novels, including Bone, which is one that a lot of middle schoolers enjoy and I've been meaning to check out for a while. It was light, and a quick read, but clever and enjoyable as well. I can see why it's popular with middle school readers.

Most of my reading time was focused on another beta read for another writing friend. We're going to have to talk about the ending, but otherwise, it was a really amazing book. She's a very talented writer.

NJ, on the other hand, has read up a storm! We picked up an audio book of Cornelia Funke's Ghosthunters series. We'd already listened to The Incredibly Revolting Ghost and The Gruesome Invincible Lightning Ghost sometime this past year. This one is #4: Ghosthunters and the Muddy Monster of Doom! Like all the books in this series, it features Tom and

his ghosthunting partners Hetty Hyssop and Hugo (an Averagely Spooky Ghost). I enjoy listening to these audiobooks, too. They are longer and more in depth stories, and are well performed by John Beach. I like how important knowledge is in the series. Tom and Hetty always figure something out through research and applying past knowledge rather than by luck.

The series is the right kind of spooky for my seven year old, too. She feels like she's hearing a scary story, but she won't have nightmares. There's plenty of comedy in the series as well. It's also nice that the main pair of ghosthunters are an eleven year old boy and a woman old enough to be his grandmother.

Besides Ghosthunters, Norah has begun to enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. She found book one in her sister's discard pile and snatched it up. Just like her mama, NJ enjoys a good graphic novel and Kinney's school situations make her laugh a lot.

She also returned to an old love this week: Mo Willems. NJ loves Mo Willems books, especially Elephant and Piggie books. Currently nearly all our library's collection is in our library book basket. She loves to read them aloud with someone, taking turns playing the part of Pig and Elephant.  There are great fun to read, with wonderful positive messages about friendship without being preachy. And if you read with expression, you'll find plenty to smile about.

M bought something at Barnes and Noble last week, but since she is still with the bio-Dad for her summer visitation, I don't yet know what it was or how she is enjoying it.

So, that's our summer reading this week. I can't believe it's already been a month!

#SaturdayScenes No. 9

#saturdayscenes #samanthascenes

For #SaturdayScenes this week, I bring you a little scene written entirely in dialogue. Hope you enjoy!

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I said so, didn’t I?

So, that’s it then?

            Yep

Really?

            I said so, didn’t I?

I guess I hoped you didn’t mean it.

            Why would I say it, then?

I hate it when you do that.

            What?

Answer everything with a goddamn question.

            Why?

It’s not funny, asshole. Especially not if this is really it.

            Hey, I never promised . . .

Like hell, you didn’t. Everything you did was a promise.

            I didn’t mean—

Don’t give me that shit.  Don’t you try and put this on me.

            I hate when you do that.

What?

Try to make it all about what I did.  You did things, too, you know. You asked me to live here with you. You told me about him.  You told me you needed me.

Yeah, well, I meant what I did.

            Of course you did! You never do anything you didn’t mean to!

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

            Jesus, you really don’t get it, do you?

Maybe I’m just not as smart as you.

            Do I have to spell it out?

Maybe you do. Maybe you should just say it for once. Just tell me what you’re thinking. Stop making me try to guess.

            You say that like it’s easy.

Isn’t it?

I’ve never met anyone as frustrating as you.  You can be right here with me and yet I feel like I don’t have you. You tell me things that break my heart, but they don’t even seem to touch yours. You’re somewhere else, behind your eyes.  I’m leaving because you already left me months ago, if you were ever here in the first place. You just forgot to take your body with you.

Is that what you think?

          I said so, didn’t I?

I don’t want you to leave.

I said I don’t want you to leave.  You can’t just not fucking respond to that. 

Say something!

          Why don’t you want me to leave?

I love you, idiot!

          You love me?

I said so, didn’t I?

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If you would like to check out more scenes by some really great writers, you should search under the hashtag #Saturdayscenes.  The movement is the brainchild of +John Ward , who suggested that writers should share their work with the public each Saturday. 

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My other #SaturdayScenes contributions:

Week One: Elopement Day from WIP, Cold Spring

Week Two: Linda Makes a First Impression from WIP, Her Father's Daughter, sequel to Going Through the Change

Week Three: Claiming Alex, from unpublished novel His Other Mother

Week Four: Things Get Hairy for Linda, from unpublished novel Going Through the Change

Week Five: a poem: A Clear Day in Kodiak, Alaska

Week Six: a snippet from an idea barely begun, Lacrosse Zombies

Week Seven: Mathilde's Visit, from WIP, Cold Spring
Week Eight: Sherry bakes, from His Other Mother

Squeezing the Most Out of Summer

http://indul.ccio.co/ZP/SY/3P/138837600982013097VpQHU6v6c.jpg

Summer is a quiet, calm song wafting on a gentle breeze, promising love and happiness.

Summer is a sparkling jewel on the horizon that helps me pull myself from the quicksand and keep going when it might be easier to give up.

Summer is the softly lit respite I long for when I suffer under fluorescent lighting.

I love summer.

I teach for a living. So, for me, maybe more than for other adults, summer is important. Summer is this shining light at the end of a, sometimes, very dark tunnel. It's the carrot I drag myself behind when the school year gets tough and I'm tired and burning out. I promise myself the sacrifice will all be worth it and I'll be rewarded with summer.

Summer vacation is short this year. I lost a week to snow days, so today is actually my first day off. I've been home for a few days already though, having used leave days to take off optional teacher workdays. It's not that I lacked things to do at school. It's that I lacked energy and enthusiasm for the tasks.

This week isn't really off either. I took an extra contract for some work on a new district initiative, so I'll work two days this week, too. I'll work four or five others days over summer, here and there. But, mostly, I've got long hours of time to use as I see fit.

So, what to do, what to do?

First and foremost: write. I've got two books to finish, for goodness sake, and another one or two waiting for me to start them.

Secondly: do lots of fun summer things with the kids that don't cost very much. Squirt each other with the hose. Blow bubbles. Take long walks in the shady woods. Eat ice cream. Read.

Thirdly: make myself relax. This is harder than you might think. I'm used to working very hard. On an average school day, I prepare twelve meals (four people, three times a day), teach six classes, facilitate a meeting, prepare six more lessons, run at least one life errand, do a load of laundry and a set of dishes, care for the dog, and write my daily minimum 650 words. I try to exercise, too. Though I fail at that most of the time.

It's both lovely and difficult to go from so much to do to a smaller list. I have to stop myself from taking on every organizational and repair project that has come up since last summer. I have to tell myself that it's okay to spend some hours on the couch reading or watching television.

Time resting is not time wasted. That's my summer mantra. So, on that note, I think I'll take a book outside. It's nice this morning.

Summer Reading: Week Three

Having looked forward to more time to read for the entire school year, I am now having a little trouble focusing my energy and reading time, and balancing it with everything else I want to do, so I've begun several things.  I'm often guilty of beginning too many books rather than finishing any of them. I think it's because I want to read it all!

I began Flying Over Home by Jeanette Stokes because she had a reading this past week and I bought my copy. I'm excited about this one because I was there when she was writing it. Jeanette facilitates weeks of writing and quiet for writers through her organization, The Resource Center for Women and Ministry in the South. I was attending one of those weeks to work on His Other Mother, and this is the book she was working on, a memoir of her journey to find her peace with her father.

I also picked up The Rabbi's Cat by Joann Sfar, a graphic novel that been on my to-read list for quite some time, and Women and the American Experience by Nancy Woloch, a fascinating, but dense history that I've been working through bit by bit for a year or so. It's given me a lot of food for thought for my historical fiction WIP.

I'm still reading Greatshadow by James Maxey. I met James through some writing workshops he taught at our public library and have enjoyed several of his books now. It's because of James that I also began William Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom!  He's holding monthly book talks at my library on classic literature.

The only thing I finished was one of the beta-reads for a friend this week. If you're not familiar with the term, it's when someone reads an unpublished novel for a writer, offering feedback about flow, plot, characters, and even line edits. I really enjoyed the book. I hope to be able to tell you where to get a published copy soon.

NJ (7) has been reading lots of fun and funny books like the Fancy Nancy series by Jane O'Connor (a great series for future word nerds) and Bad Kitty: Drawn to Trouble by Nick Bruel (She admired the picture book, and likes this direct talk from the author).  She loves to read me parts out loud then laugh at the top of her lungs. I love it, too.

She's also hit a stage of being interested in fact books about animals. We have lots of these around from when big sister was younger and had a similar obsession, and NJ recently discovered them. The one she left on the sofa just now is called Reptiles and Amphibians Dictionary: An A to Z of Cold-Blooded Creatures by Clint Twist. It's really fun to listen to her being amazed by some of the truly wild and weird things created in nature.

NJ has an impressive memory and, given an opening, will quote to you for hours from these books. Today, she's focused on the Hellbender, a salamander from Up East. I suspect she's interested in him because she gets away with saying H-E-L-L when she says his name. Since she is asked to stick to a level of profanity appropriate for one of her tender years (as in none), it's quite the little thrill to say that word.

M, the elder daughter, is traveling in Alaska with the bio-Dad this week, so I don't know if she's reading much.  She is, however, having good bonding time with her other dad, and getting to see some of the places he and I used to live in when we were married. I'm jealous as hell that he can manage the trip and wish I were the one taking her.

In the meantime, time to read!