WRITE NOW

First You Tube Video

2012-01-21T16:53:00.001-08:00

Hiya, Friends! I've just posted my first-ever You Tube video. You can see it by heading on over to the blog on my website. It is book related and something I hope to do more of in the future. Happy Viewing! ~Karen

http://www.storymatters2.com/2/post/2012/01/video-of-my-father.html

To Resolute or not to Resolute...

2011-12-31T09:03:00.000-08:00

...that is the question. I know more people who never make resolutions than people who do. Why is that? I think it's because we make resolutions that only end up making us feel like a failure by the end of the year - or maybe even by the end of the month!

I've done it both ways. And 2012 will be a resolution year for me.

Simplify...
...Simplify
Simplify!

That's my resolution. What that means to me is that I intend to simplify my home and subsequently, my life. On a more practical level, it means that I will keep Goodwill, Freecycle, and Ebay busy this year.

So, what about you? Do you have a resolution this year? Or maybe intention is a better word. What do you intend to do this year? ~Karen

photo: Damn the Torpedoes - Full Speed Ahead

Free Books!

2011-12-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

To my dear friends who go waaay back (in my corner of the blogosphere)!

I'd love it if one of you, or many of you...win a free book. My publisher, Sourcebooks, is offering up ten free copies of Breaking the Code, in a drawing. Just go to Goodreads, find my book and click on "Enter to Win." Contest goes through Sunday, December 18th!

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11102086-breaking-the-code

Good Luck!

Winter Wonderland - and Book News Too

2011-12-10T16:40:00.000-08:00

Hi there, Friends. As you can see from the photo, we are experiencing a bit of winter-ness. Somehow the birds forgot to swoop in, en mass and eat the berries on my Dogwood trees. Well, a few mornings ago, I woke up to the whole town (trees included) covered in frost. It's not snow, nor has it been snowing. It's just frost. I love the contrast of the berries with the white. But when you look at it close up, you can see that this frost seems to defy gravity. Just beautiful! http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

And now for some book news. Sales are going incredibly well. I'm just amazed at all the opportunities we've had to share our story. If you haven't bought the book yet, you can purchase it online or at a bookstore near you. If you'd like a signed copy, you can call our local independent bookstore and they will make sure you get one. This has to be done via the phone, not the website. Here's the link to the website; http://www.bookandgame.com/ . Or you can simply call, 509-529-9963.

My father and I were interviewed on NPR's Weekend Edition with host, Audie Cornish. (blogger makes me crazy - often doesn't accept links I put in) You can listen to the interview by going to the NPR website, look for Weekend Edition Sunday, and then the date November 6. You'll see our story there. http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=10&prgDate=11-6-2011

Until next time, thank you so much for your support. Visit me on my website. Happy Holidays and a Blessed New Year! ~Karen

And the journey continues...

2011-10-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

The photo (left) is of me at my very first signing. I'm in the middle of the table in the black and white jacket. I was signing ARC's of, Breaking the Code, at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association trade show. What an amazing experience.

I want to invite all of you over to my Facebook fan page. You will find more photos and current information there. I'm finding it hard to post in several different places, so I'm making the FB page and my website the hubs for what is going on. And those who followed me here on this blog are my oldest (did I say that?) friends, supporting me when I was in the realm of fretting over every move I made. I thank you and I don't want to lose track of you. I will still post here but sporadically, as you have seen. So, if you make it over to my FB fan page, please hit the "like" button so you can leave me a message there. See you soon! ~Karen

http://www.facebook.com/breakingthecode

Free Chapters: one through three

2011-10-04T11:49:00.001-07:00

You can now read the first three chapters of Breaking the Code, on my website at http://www.storymatters2.com .

Sneak Peek at my Book

2011-09-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

I just posted the first chapter of Breaking the Code on my website. I'd love it if you'd read it and let me know what you think! You can read it on here storymatters2

New website

2011-08-28T10:45:00.001-07:00

Hiya, Friends. I just wanted you to know that I am in the process of transferring my writing to my new website. You are the first to know. I won't be sharing this new site until it's where I want it to be - another lesson in live and learn, ya know! I'd love it if you would come over there and leave a comment. I'm hoping that it will offer a more comprehensive site for all that is going on with me and my first book. So, c'mon over~

http://www.storymatters2.com

See ya there!

Karen

Live from PNWA

2011-08-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

What a great conference! I am currently waiting for a new session to start. The title of it is, "How to set up an Author Blog Tour." It happens to be on my list of things to do/learn. I will let you know what I learn! Karen

Photo Friday: Independent Bookstores

2011-08-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

I love independent bookstores. I know that chains also have their place and so does the internet, but there's just something about independents.

Whenever I travel, no matter how short the trip, I am always on the lookout for indie bookstores. Each has its own flavor and attitude. The one in the photo is in Tillimook, Oregon. Rainy Day Books has an eclectic, small town, earthy feel. It's just a few miles from the coast. Their store mascot is a cat who fetches balls. The floor is light wood and so are the shelves. The shelf closest to the door has things like books on nature and hiking trails. I buy something every time I go. Why not just buy it once I get home? Well, because...that's why. That book, no matter the title, will always be the book that brings back the wonderful aroma of Rainy Day Books. What's better than that?

Do you have a favorite independent bookstore? I'd love to hear about it and the memories it evokes for you.

PNWA Conference - Here I come

2011-08-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

I am heading to Bellevue, Washington to the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association conference today. It is about a six hour trip.

This is the third time I've been to this conference. At the 2010 conference I met my now-editor, Peter, from Sourcebooks, Inc. So, I have a good feeling about the conference. This year, however, in looking at all of the course offerings, I realize that I have had a crash course in most of what is being taught. Getting a book published will do that. Still, one can always learn, right? And I will meet lots and lots of writers/authors. Connect, connect, connect...that's the name of the game.

So -- I'm on my way to Bellevue (near Seattle). I hope to blog about it, internet willing. ~Karen

Mini-memoir Monday: Critters

2011-08-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Do you have critters in your yard or neighborhood? Or did you when you were young? I'm not talking about cats and dogs. I'm talking about squirrels, raccoons, badgers, chipmunks, or even deer. What kinds of critters did you have? Did you exist in harmony or was it more like the movie, Groundhog's Day, where you were perpetually trying to get rid of them?

We have squirrels that we co-exist with. My husband calls them rats with tails. But I think they are cute. I like to watch them, but I just want them to visit, not move in. When we started having problems with them tearing shingles off the roof and eating all of the plums off our trees, I looked for a way to discourage them. I learned that the best way to discourage them is to have a dog with a loud bark, which I have. So, whenever I think Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel and their associated friends and family, might be getting a little too comfortable, I let my dog chase them up into the trees for a few days. So far, it's worked. But it doesn't stop them from visiting.

So, for today's mini-memoir entry, write about the critters in your yard. Past or present, these memories may lead to others. Whatever it sparks for you, write it down. And as ever, Write Now - because it's later than you think.

Photo Friday: Just "one more edit"

2011-07-29T06:38:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what my photo has to do with this post, but the look on those cows...faces...seems to mirror how I feel about the prospect of "one more edit."

I can't even tell you how many times I've said these words in the past six months, "I'm working on the final edits." Or worse, "I just sent in the final edits." But truly, it never ends. It just doesn't. I am told that the edits on my manuscript were relatively minor. Turns out that the word "minor" is relative, indeed!

This "last" edit is from the proof-reader. I received it last week. This one does look different. First off, it is laid out just as the book will be. It includes photos and other memorabilia. Everything is there. And this time, I can't just make changes within the document. I have to comment on the comments the proof-reader has left or create my own comments. I cannot actually change the document.

I do think that this is truly the last pass through for Breaking the Code. But then, I've thought that before, haven't I?

Reading my First Ebook

2011-07-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

First off, no, this is not the photo of me reading an ebook; I don't have a photo of that yet. And second of all, I don't recommend this particular position to read a book in...lol. I was on vacation, OK. Anyway - I did have the opportunity to read an ebook recently. Since it just happened to be a picture book, that's all I can speak about right now.

My dad, age 90, just bought an ereader. I was attempting to help him figure something out when my 4-year old niece jumped in my lap. Right at that moment the "library" on his Nook came on the screen and there were a few kid's books on it - the ones that come free with the ereader. So, we figured out how to pull it up. Sonia was far better at figuring it out than I was and no, she had not done this before and is not a techy kid who spends time on the computer all the time. I've read many paper (I'm tempted to say "real"...hmmm...)books to her, so have something to compare the experience to.

If she had reviewed it, I think she would say this... "I liked the story and the pictures. I liked sitting on Auntie's lap and being silly while she read it to me. I didn't really like the one where the ereader reads the book to me - I'd rather hear Auntie, or Mommy or whoever's voice."

And I have to agree with her. I would add that one frustrating aspect of the ereader is that as an adult reading to a child, when the child gets antsy, they can quickly (too quickly), slide their finger a few times and you've lost your place in the book. I'd suggest a button on the bottom of the ereader that the adult can click to keep the book on that page - maybe it's there and I just didn't know. Also, when I wanted to show her that there were four letter "g's" in a row, it kept turning the page. She loved how silly that was, but I imagine that could get old if you're trying to read a bedtime story. Likewise, whenever she wanted to show me something, and touched the screen, it either got bigger or it turned the page, which is counter-intuitive to the way kids read books. I mean, think of the kids books your own children loved, they ended up with bent pages, finger smudges and just a general "well-loved" look. Now imagine that each finger of love does something you don't want it to do, like turn a page etc.

All of that said, I can see the plus side of it too. I mean, there are no little kids in our family who live close by. And we were at her grandma's house where there wouldn't typically be a lot of kids books. But with the ereader, you could quickly bring one up. If we had more time and it was already set up with my account, it would have been fun to find a few more books to download, but I would have been looking for cheap ones like the 99 cents or so. If I lived with a child, I think I'd be looking for anthologies of books, if there is such a thing.

What do I miss? Turning a real page, being able to go back a few pages by using the visual on the page, not the number of "swipes." And...this is going to sound weird, but I miss the cuddle factor. While my niece was plenty cuddle-able, the "book" was not. Another weird thing I miss, that is more specific to picture books - the variance in the size of the books.

So, will I ever buy an ereader for myself? Yes. What are my main reasons? I'm not sure. How's that for a review?

Are you considering an ereader? Have you tried one out? Do tell.

Photo Friday: The Wall

2011-07-15T03:59:00.000-07:00

The photo you're looking at was taken in the lobby of Sourcebooks, Inc. I had no idea what exactly was in each of those frames but the row of them was impressive, so I snapped the pic.

When I got back from Chicago, I emailed my editor to ask about them. What I learned is that each framed item represents something Sourcebooks is particularly proud of. Book covers are in many of the frames. Some are there because they are best-sellers. Others are there because the cover art is particularly stellar. And apparently, there are also framed letters from presidents up there. Wow! I wanna be on that wall. No really. I do. So, if anyone from Sourcebooks is reading this - let it be known. Karen Fisher-Alaniz wants to be framed. (couldn't resist)

You hear people talk about a Wall of Fame. But this wall was different. I love the idea of having a wall, or some other place, in your house where you can highlight what you're proud of. It would be more of a Wall of Pride...or something like that. So, if you created a Wall of Pride, what would be on it? What accomplishments would be recognized there?

I'm going to have to think about this one. ~Karen

Photo Friday: For Whom the Drum Tolls (part two)

2011-07-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

Since it's been a week since you read part one, let me re-set the scene for you (I think I've been hanging out with screenwriters too much). I've just participated in a day's worth of meetings about my book and the Sourcebooks team has been summoned via drum, to hear me read from my book.

I start to read. I'm a robot. I try to use inflection in my voice, but I'm so stinkin' nervous. My legs are shaking. Not my hands, or my head, but my legs. If something has to shake, legs are a good choice, I think. I've only read about three pages when my mouth goes dry. I don't mean, I need a sip of water, dry. I mean my mouth is a 20-year drought. But I make it to the end of the expected reading. Yippee! Done. Now, let's go home.

But Peter then asks, "Does anyone have any questions for Karen?"

Here's my Marsha Brady moment (you know the one where she's nervous about her driver's test, so she pictures the instructor in his underwear) Well, instead of picturing my teacher in his underwear, I stop everything to admit to my human weakness aka the deletion of every bit of saliva in my mouth! I ask for a glass of water - the one I left in the conference room. I take a polite sip. Then I guzzle and even discretely swish. The questions begin; I'm asked about my dad, about writing, and about research. All questions I have answers to. I slowly realize that I'm liking this. This is fun. I mean, not to sound conceited or anything but what's more fun than talking about yourself or something you know a lot about? Just as I get to the point of wanting to say, "Hey, you guys wanna hang out tonight?", it's over.

This was officially the very first book talk I've ever done. It wasn't stellar. It wasn't even good. But I did it and it was great practice. Will I be able to do it again? Absolutely!

But a few questions remain;
1. How is it possible that stress (apparently) makes saliva dry up?
2. What causes the body to shake when we're nervous? And how does it decide which limb to torture?

Photo Friday: For Whom the Drum Tolls (part one)

2011-07-01T04:57:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest, meeting more than a dozen new people, even if they are there to make your book shine, is a little nerve-wracking. Yes, it is! But I loved it. I did really and truly! After a while, I became aware of people coming in and out of the room, taking stacks of chairs. My brain was stuck on my book and I probably wouldn't have noticed if Ronald McDonald was doing jumping jacks in the hallway. But after seeing the stacks of chairs going out, I had one tiny thought, "I wonder what they have going on today?" And then the thought was gone. Back to the book.

Peter had asked if I'd be willing to read the first few chapters of the book to the group at the end of the day. He'd given me a few days notice. "Sure!" says I, enthusiastically. I knew it was coming and I really wasn't that nervous. Until. There always has to be an "until" doesn't there? But I bet you'll never guess what this "until" was!

Setting: inside meeting room after multiple meetings. Late afternoon. Only my editor, Peter and I remain in the room.

Peter: "Well, you ready to do the reading in a bit?"
Me: "Sure."
Peter: "OK. Let me go call everyone."
Me: "OK."

Peter leaves room as I look over papers I'll be reading from.

*BANG-BANG-BANG-BUH-BANG-BANG-BANG*

The deep, earthy sound is completely out of place here.

Me: (thinking) What the heck was that? Man, this place is so darned creative. Obviously, someone is practicing on their conga drum. I bet the artists who created my book cover do not appreciate this (it was veeery quiet in their space).

I peek out the conference room door to see Peter putting the drum down. People are trickling out of their cubicles and offices. They're making their way to...THE chairs. OMG! This is officially my, "I wasn't nervous UNTIL..." moment.

I wasn't nervous UNTIL I heard the drum!

Remember the thought I'd had earlier on the stacks of chairs that kept leaving the conference room? Remember, I was wondering what they had going on? Yeah. Turns out it was ME! Time to be nervous.

And that drum, the one in the lobby of Sourcebooks, surrounded by books and plants, and accompanied by an onlooking bull, was to call all employees to the event.

Peter strolled back into the conference room.

Me: THAT'S how you call people? (ie: ever heard of an intercom?)

Peter: (shrugs) Yeah.

Hmmm... I watch people begin to fill the rows of chairs.Obviously, I am the only one perplexed by the drum. And to tell you the truth, I like it. Who needs technology when you can bang on a drum? I wonder if Sourcebooks employees fight over who gets to do it? OK, maybe not.

Next Time: The Reading

Mini-memoir Monday: Bloomers

2011-06-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about something you wear. But it's the perfect time to think about flowers. Here in the pacific northwest, the tulips and daffodils are long wilted. Iris' are at the end of their blooming. But summer flowers are beginning to take their place.

Assignment: What do flowers mean to you? What memories do they evoke? What if you see a yellow rose, a pink petunia or even a yellow dandelion (hey, kids think they're flowers!)? Is there a flower that never fails to push a memory to the surface?

I have a few of my own. What are yours? While you're at it, ask your loved one about theirs. There's no time like the present to ask about the past! Do it today.

As always, Write Now - because it's later than you think. ~Karen

Photo Friday: The Question That's Easy to Answer

2011-06-24T05:19:00.000-07:00

One of the questions I was asked during my meetings at Sourcebooks was this, "What do you hope will be the result of your book?" It was easy to answer because I've thought of that a lot. My story is about a father-daughter relationship. It's about finding truth. It's loaded with information about WWII and includes the intrigue of naval intelligence and top-secret code breaking. That's the story. But there are lots of stories out there. What do I hope to accomplish with the telling of THIS one?

That's easy.

I want to start a story-telling revolution. Does that sound over-the-top? Too ambitious? I hope so. Our WWII veterans are dying at a rate of more than 1,000 every single day! And when they are gone, so are their stories. Each one has a story worth telling and a story worth listening to. Many are just waiting for someone to take the time to not only ask, but to listen. WWII veterans are just a microcosm of the rest of the population. Veteran or not, elderly or not, we all know someone who has a story.

We're busy. But are we too busy to learn the lessons life has put right in front of us? I don't think so. It's time to stop and listen. I hope my book will inspire people everywhere to hop off the merry-go-round for just one hour to listen to someone's story. And better yet - to write it down. If not now, when? If not you, who?

Photo Friday: The Meeting

2011-06-22T06:02:00.000-07:00

Well, we are finally to the post about my all day meetings at Sourcebooks (my publisher). The photo is of the actual meeting room, where we were most of the day. And yes, I'm the total and complete dork who snapped the pic when I was reasonably sure that no one was looking! My editor, Peter and I stayed put in the room while teams of people came to the room to meet with us. The teams included such areas as marketing, publicity, and sales, and such sub-areas as non-bookstore sales, and museum sales.

I have to say...my mind was sufficiently blown! Each group was well-prepared. Some had power points to help with explanations, others had stacks of notes. It is surreal to hear people talking about your book, your baby, as if it's the most beautiful baby in the world too. I mean, you know it's beautiful. Of course it's beautiful -- it's a reflection of YOU. But to hear people talk about it that way, it's just an amazing experience that I hope all of you get to experience one day!

Unlike horror stories I'd heard, the team at Sourcebooks made a point of making me a part of the team. They asked questions. They were enthusiastic about my book. They offered ideas I hadn't thought of. And when I offered suggestions, they ran with it and made it bigger than I could have thought of. Just amazing!

The hardest question I was asked was, "Who are the first 5,000 people your book will sell to?" And then, "Who will it sell to after that?" Of course, I started with my mom, my sisters, my aunts. But apparently that wasn't the point. Can YOU, my fellow writers, answer those questions? Hard, isn't it?

Mini-memoir Monday: Recess!

2011-06-20T05:19:00.000-07:00

We all have to remember recess, right? Recess is one thing that has survived generations. But I bet what we did during recess has changed some - maybe.

As for me, I remember watching the clock, waiting for the minute hand to be just so. Then the long, low ring of the bell. We played on the monkey bars, flipping round and round or just hanging there. I had constant calluses on my hands. We played kickball and I was actually pretty darned good at it! It was the only sport that I excelled at. Too bad there wasn't a National Kickball League. Sometimes we played hopscotch or marbles.

In later elementary years, my best friend, Kim and I noticed a neglected part of the playground. It was in a back corner, far away from the school. No grass grew there, but there was a cement ledge to sit on. We decided to spend a lot of our time there. We played and pretended and talked childish talk. Eventually, other friends joined us.

Writing memories down is an interesting thing. As I write this, more and more memories come to the surface. That's the power of writing, isn't it?

What are your recess memories? Do tell. And ask an elder about theirs. Do it today. There's no time like the present to ask about the past! ~Karen

Photo Friday: Touring Sourcebooks

2011-06-17T04:57:00.000-07:00

This is the first face I saw upon entering the Sourcebooks Headquarters. OK, well I was walking in with my editor, Peter. Still, the bull was the first animal I encountered. I'm not sure exactly what the bull represents but I kept hearing the phrase, "Take the bull by the horns" in my head all day. Maybe that has something to do with it. This very large bull is surrounded by books - they are even stacked on top of him and under him. And there are quotes all over him. I can't remember exactly which quotes and by whom; that's why I put such a large photo here, so you can see what you can find.

Here's what Mr. Bull meant to me - he embodied all that Sourcebooks is. It's a creative place and that's what we writers want, right? We want creativity in editing, marketing, publicity, and more! What could embody that more than a bull in the office? I've talked to other authors who visited their publishers. Most felt like their visit was an imposition on the business. I didn't feel that way at all. In fact, it seemed that the whole publishing company, stopped everything to be sure I felt welcome and had a terrific visit. So, I'd say, I know how to pick 'em. (and so do they, of course)

Next time: The Meeting

Mini-memoir Monday

2011-06-14T16:45:00.000-07:00

What was your favorite school cafeteria food when you were young? I've talked to a bunch of people about this on Facebook. Amazing how a single food can take you right back to the olden days. For me it was;

Cheese Zombies
Zippy Dogs
Hamburger gravy on mashed potatoes

It was also at the cafeteria table that I learned that I love apple crisp, but only like apple pie. Sorry, Mom.

PS The photo is Edison elementary school where I was in grades 1-6. I'm so glad I took a picture of it before the bulldozed it for a newer version!

Photo Friday:

2011-06-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

I've just turned in another manuscript of edits. So now, what to do...what to do? The answer? To continue writing the story in another form. The plan? To write two or three articles that are based on the subject in my book. For example, Guideposts magazine is a monthly Christian magazine that features first person essays. I've read it off and on for years and in fact was a finalist in their annual youth writing contest years ago. The articles will make you smile or make you cry - or maybe both within one essay. Although my book is not an overtly Christian book, there is most definitely an element of prayer and faith in it. So, I can see my story within it's pages.

Another theme in my book, or as a result of it (I hope) is that of personal history writing. Everyone has a story. My father's story was hidden. Over the years, we were able to bring it to the surface. I believe that many of us have similar stories that are buried. A woman's magazine might be interested in a story like this. So that's another possibility.

So, you can see where I'm going with this. Writing smaller, more condensed versions of my book, for magazine articles will allow me not only to share my story with an audience that may or may not buy the book, but will also serve as a mini advertisement of the book. It's a sort of sneak peak into it, similar to what you'd do if you were standing in a bookstore with my book in your hands.

So, that's my next step on this vast journey. Always a joy! Karen

Photo Friday: My Hollywood Star

2011-06-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

Hooray for Hollywood... lalalalala ...Hollywood! Or something like that anyway. I'm in Hollywood with my friend, who is a screenwriter and here on business. The first day we were here, we went on a little self-guided tour. Very fun! I looked and looked for an inspirational star for one of my favorite authors. But to no avail; apparently there isn't such a thing. Boohoo... What I did find is this poor little cracked star, right next to the gutter. I wonder who decides who gets what star. It seems that no one is lining up for this one.
Then we found where the stars leave their hand and foot prints. I was amazed to find the Abbott and Costello print (see photo). Notice the date! It was made the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Isn't that crazy? How could such a thing have taken place when our country was on the brink of war?

So, that's my Hollywood experience thus far. Exciting, isn't it?

Write What You Know - part 2

2011-06-02T05:38:00.000-07:00

The novelist and short story writer who first said, "write what you know" was Sarah Orne Jewett. She had reumatoid arthritis and part of her therapy was to go on long walks. During these walks, she imagined the stories she would write. It's curious to me that the person who said to write about what you know wasn't a memoirist or a biographer, but a novelist.

I've written many books. All but one sit in the depths of my hard drive waiting to see the light of day. So, are they all about what I "know"? No, they are not. One is about a blind man whose life became so interesting to me, and for whom so much was not know, that I created a life around him, just so I could commit it to my memory. One is a children's chapter book about children who embark on an adventure together, to escape the fate of being split up in foster homes when their mother is gone. I didn't know any of these stories before I began to write them. I know them now. So, I'd say, "Write what you want to know" would be more accurate for me.

I began my memoir, Breaking the Code, without even knowing that is what I was doing. I was writing what my father told me. I was writing questions and queries. I was writing answers too. I knew nothing of what my father had done during the war. But something drove me to WANT to know more. That is what kept me moving forward. After several years, I finally knew what I was writing. If I had sat back and wrote what I knew, my world would have stayed very small, but in allowing myself to wonder and question, I came to know something far more than I could have ever imagined - my father.

What an adventure this has been. What do you want to know?

Write What You Know - part 1

2011-06-01T10:23:00.000-07:00

If you've been writing for more than about three seconds, you have heard it said, "Write what you know." It was said by writer, Sarah Orne Jewett (1849-1909). She was a novelist and short story writer. The quote has been said and quoted so much that it's become cliche'. When I first heard it, I thought it was great. As a memoirist and lover of true stories, it fits perfectly into my beliefs in story telling.

But the problem with cliche's is that they give us permission to turn our brain off. We use the quote without thinking. We write it, we live it, we believe it...without giving it another thought.

Somehow, my brain got switched back on the last time I read this quote. And here's the deal. While it's true that anyone who writes a memoir IS writing what they know, it's also true that as we write, we delve deeper into that which we know. And we learn that we didn't know it at all. Or at least that's the case with me. If we knew it all when we began our memoir, it would read like an encyclopedia, or the more modern, Wikipedia. Boring, right?

So, what do you think, my fine writerly friends? Do you, "write what you know"?

We Remember

2011-05-30T05:55:00.000-07:00

While we enjoy the video, lets remember those who didn't come home. For my father's friend, Mal, now gone 66-years, and all those before and after him, we honor you this Memorial Day. Rest in peace.

Photo Friday: My Book's on Amazon!

2011-05-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

The information below is copy and pasted directly from Amazon. How exciting is THAT!

Breaking the Code: A Daughter's Journey into Her Father's Secret War

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Breaking the Code: A Daughter's Journey into Her Father's Secret War [Paperback]
Karen Fisher-Alaniz (Author)
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Product Description

On his 81st birthday, without explanation, Karen Alaniz's father placed two weathered notebooks on her lap. Inside were more than 400 pages of letters he'd written to his parents during WWII. She began reading them, and the more she read, the more she discovered about the man she never knew and the secret role he played in WWII.

They began to meet for lunch every week, for her to ask him questions, and him to provide the answers. And with painful memories now at the forefront of his thoughts, her father began to suffer, making their meetings as much about healing as discovery. Thus began an unintended journey—one taken by a father and daughter who thought they knew each other—as they became newly bound in ways that transcended age and time.
About the Author

Karen Alaniz is an author and writer, who began the journey of writing this memoir when her father handed her a collection of letters on his 81st birthday. She lives in Walla Walla, WA.
Product Details

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402261128
ISBN-13: 978-1402261121
Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #29,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

My book is where?

2011-05-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

I got a strange message on my Facebook page today. It was a friend congratulating me on my book being on Amazon. Funny thing was...I had no idea. Apparently, my publisher put it there.

My writing friend was sitting next to me at a coffee shop. And she was so excited she ran around with her laptop, showing it to anyone who would listen. BREAKING THE CODE comes out in November so I just wasn't expecting it to be happening this soon. Wow!

When I was in Chicago visiting Sourcbooks, one of the things I was surprised by was all of the pre-publication work that has to be done. There are so many things that an author can and should do prior to a book launch. It's about marketing and publicity! So, next on my agenda is to figure out how to create an author page on Amazon. Wish me luck.

If you want to pre-order my book, you can do so on the Amazon site. Just put in "Karen Fisher-Alaniz" or "Breaking the Code memoir"You even get a reduced rate for pre-ordering.

OK...how do I get down off this Cloud #9 so I can get something done today?

Mini-memoir Monday: Grandma in the Kitchen

2011-05-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

Ready for a new mini-memoir assignment? Well, ready or not, here it comes. My Grandma Hall made the best spaghetti ever. I can just picture her in her kitchen, apron tied around her waist, steam rolling from the stove. Her spaghetti sauce was simple - no exotic veggies or expensive Italian spices. My grandmother looked like she belonged in the kitchen (unlike me) and I don't mean in a women's lib kind of way. She just fit. She was at ease there.

So, here's your assignment; Tell me about your grandma in the kitchen.

Chicago Trip: Sears Tower

2011-05-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Sears Tower (now renamed the Willis Tower) is one of those icons that you've just got to see. It is the tallest building in the world. We decided this was one thing we wanted to see. But the funny thing is that we weren't sure which building it was. Sounds stupid, right? Well, we decided to catch the bus and also walk to it. We got dropped off close...apparently. But we still didn't know just which building it was!
You know that whole, Forest for the Trees, thing? Yeah. Too close to see which one was the tallest. And just to make it trickier, the thing that has helped it to remain the tallest are the tall antenna things on top of the building. Kinda cheating, don't ya think? Anyway- after asking for directions, we finally got to the building. And yes, it was tall. But we also weren't the only ones with the idea. Although it was the off-season, we still had an hour and a half wait just to get the tickets. We wound around and around, while reading interesting facts and playing with interactive computer trivia games too. Finally got to the elevators and it was a 60 second trip up 110 stories! The view from the top is truly stunning. But wanna hear something very strange? It didn't seem that high to me. There is a skydeck where you can stand on a clear glass floor and look straight down. No matter how much logic told me it was no big deal, I still found myself dipping my toe in the water to be sure it was safe. Obviously, I got over my hesitancy -- see photo.

Our time in Chicago winding down, it was time to get back to the hotel and read through the first few chapters of my book. My editor had contacted me to ask if I'd be interested in reading for the employees at Sourcebooks. I said, "Of course!" Yikes! ~Karen

Book Cover

2011-05-18T23:40:00.000-07:00

Chicago Trip: Scrapin' the Sky!

2011-05-18T05:09:00.000-07:00

You know it's tall when...you stand across a wide street and still can't get the whole thing in your camera viewer. So, you walk a city block away and it still won't fit! The skyscrapers in Chicago were just crazy. Amazing! But what was even more amazing was the little (and historic, we later discovered) blues club below those skyscrapers. Around every corner was a little more history. I love that! Next trip, I will make a concerted effort to learn more, do more, experience more. But until then...I've got some great photos...and memories!

Happy Birthday Sis'!

2011-05-17T02:20:00.000-07:00

My (fill in blank; ie:big? older? I give up!) sister turns (fill in blank) today!Since she's beating me to this age by a few years, I'm not sure what's appropriate. Should I lie about her age? Hmmm...maybe I will. Anyway - Both of my sisters have been incredibly supportive as I tried to put the pieces of our childhood together for the book. HIn fact, Kathleen and I celebrated by eating at P.F. Changs (love it!) together when I sent the first big edit to my publishers at Sourcebooks. That's us in the photos. What fun! Looks like another celebration is in order.

The Unintended Break

2011-05-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

Things happen. That's life, right? When you're a writer and things happen there's a good side and a bad side. The good side will take months or even years to come about; the bad side presents itself right away. What in the world am I talking about? This;

Dad got sick - critically so. I went into hyper-over-drive. It's the same thing you would do. You do what needs to be done and fall apart later. The good thing is that all events in your life, have the potential to become something important in your future writing. But for now, that doesn't matter one bit.

The problem, with me anyway - is that anything that takes me away from the physical act of writing also takes me away from the mental act. It's like you're on the writing train; as long as you keep that momentum pushing you down the track, you're fine. You're getting things done. You're writing, editing, blogging, marketing -- and the list goes on. But then something happens. Life happens. And that train jumps the tracks. Sometimes it jumps with such force that for a time the train is stalled. But usually, it jumps the tracks and hops, grinds, and bumps in the gravel beside the smooth track you once knew so well.

The trick is to do whatever it takes to get yourself back on track. With the mental concentration broken, you have to purpose yourself to begin again. One baby-step at a time, it comes back. The momentum once again reaches homeostasis. It's time for me to get back to my writing life. It's time to purpose myself back to the routine of the life of writing.

Does life ever get in the way of YOUR writing? What do you do to get back on track?

And remember; no matter what is going on in your life - Write Now.

Hospital

2011-05-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Hello, Friends. My father, the subject of my memoir, is in the hospital. I'm sure he will be fine. What started as a bladder infection quickly became something much more serious. My mother and I took him to the ER on Friday and he is still in the hospital. He is so much better than he was on Friday. They are taking good care of him.

He is anxious to get home but at the same time feeling like he'll never get over this. He will, of course. He hates going to the doctor so this is a huge upset to him. In fact, he hasn't been in the hospital since 1944 when he got his appendix out.

Things like this happen so fast. It's another reminder of how important it is to write your loved one's stories down today.

Happy Birthday Dad!

2011-04-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY, DAD! A few things you might not know about my father;
He has owned three Segways. He rides it everywhere; in stores, at the park, and anywhere one might want to walk. The doorbell at his house has at least 20 tunes which can be changed for different events and seasons. And lastly, he is a compulsive reader (that's my diagnosis anyway).
When my book, BREAKING THE CODE, comes out, you'll learn even more, including just what kind of code he broke during the war. So, happy, happy birthday to my father. Dad, you're the best!

Chicago Trip: Rock and Roll...McDonalds?

2011-04-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

From the window of our hotel, I gazed out at the skyscrapers. I never really "got" what people think is so great about skyscrapers. They're just really tall buildings, right? Right. But looking out over the city of Chicago, I marveled at the height of them, the design, the thousands of windows behind which lives were being lived. My eyes scanned the horizon-less horizon. They really were majestic. I mean, just look at how they...wait...is that a...golden arch? Yes, yes it is.

Across the street and a few blocks from our hotel was a huuuuge arch. The "M" of McDonald's arch, that is. So, after a night out, we decided to go to McDonalds for breakfast. Inside, it was nothing like any McDonald's I'd ever seen. Not only was it massive, but it had an escalater which lead to the lounge. Leather chairs and sofas, with live palms behind them and a floor to ceiling window, made a great place to...well...eat a sausage and egg bisquit. Hmmm...why not? This McDonalds was called the Rock-and-Roll McDonalds. And we would soon learn that it was iconic. We gave up asking transit drivers and travelers where our hotel was, and instead said, "It's right by the Rock-and-Roll McDonalds." That got us home every time.

Fueled with a true American meal, we set out to see the city.

Chicago: Precious Cargo

2011-04-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I hate to be redundant, but did I mention that the Chicago style pizza is fabulous? I'm not really a food afficianado, but I do prefer quality over quantity (opposite of my significant other). Anyway - loved the pizza. Did I say that already?

For this trip to meet with the publishing team working on my book, I brought along some precious cargo; a scrapbook and photo album. I'd been sending scans of photos, both old and new(er) over the last few months. The book will include some photos, but after talking to my editor, we thought it was a good idea to bring my father's original WWII photo album and the scrapbook that included all kinds of memorabilia. I packed them carefully in a rolling backpack for the trip. Then I hand-carried it from Walla Walla, Washington to Chicago, Illinois. I felt like I should have one of those handcuff things that locks to the handle and to my wrist. Such treasures, I was carrying.

It was a relief to land with the memories intact. I was tired but after getting situated and resting for a bit, we decided to head out. Did I mention we had Gino's pizza the first night?

Chicago Trip: Busy...busy...busy

2011-04-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, Fine Readers. First of all, an apology. Second of all, a way to make it up to you.
1. I sincerely apologize for not delivering on my promise to post regularly from Chicago. (well, I did say internet-willing) Between days and nights filled with activities and my computer that decided to be tempermental, I only squeeked out one measly post. Pretty pathetic. I'm sorry.
2. So, here's how I'll make it up to you. After I get this post up, I'm going to begin posting everything I did and learned in Chicago, in a series of posts. Everything from beginning to end, you'll learn about it here.

My last day in Chicago was spent at my publisher's, Sourcebooks. So, look for my experiences there toward the end of the series. Thanks for understanding! ~Karen

Chicago Trip: First stop...pizza!

2011-04-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

As promised, this week I am blogging about my trip to Chicago. I meet with the publishing company on Friday. But my husband and I arrived a few days early so we could do a little sight-seeing. We wasted no time getting into the Chicago scene. First stop; food...what else? We went to Gino's for Chicago style pizza. A few hours after arriving at our hotel, I used my new android phone to help us find a good place to eat. And boy, did it ever. We were both starving so when the waiter let us know it would take 45 minutes to get our pizza, we practically glared at him.

But then we got the pizza. Honestly, it looked a bit of a mess. It wasn't carefully crafted to be eaten by hand. The cheese was real mozzarella - not the packaged, pre-shredded kind. The sauce was more of a spaghetti sauce; chunks of tomatoes. The pepperoni wasn't greasy and the crust...oh, the crust. Made right there while we waited, it was just amazing. We ordered our pizza and were both full within one or two pieces. And we were STARVING! Neither of us could believe how filling it was. Absolutely amazing. I highly recommend coming here just for the pizza.

So, that's the story so far. Oh, and notice the wall decor. I'll let you guess what it is! Guess away!

Mini-Memoir Monday: Chilly

2011-04-11T02:34:00.000-07:00

"I haven't thought about that in years?"

"I'd completely forgotten about that?"

Those are phrases that often escape our lips when a something stirs a memory. It happens all the time, but often, we don't give it another thought. We don't let it blossom. And it can start with a single word or a single item that you see in the grocery store or on the television.

One word is all you often need to evoke a memory. This week, let's focus on all things frozen. Choose a word below and write about the memory that first comes to your mind;

* Popsicle
* Ice Cube
* T.V. Dinner or frozen dinner
* Snowstorm
* Icicle
* Snow Day
* Frozen
* Stuck in the Snow
* Frigid
* Below Zero
* Snowplow
* Shoveling Snow
* Antarctica
* Alaska

We could go on and on, couldn't we. But you get the idea. Did one of those pull a memory out of the cobwebs for you? Several did for me. Do share? I always love hearing your stories. But if you don't share it with me, share it with SOMEONE. Your story matters!

And Write Now - Because it IS Later than you Think! ~Karen

Special Announcement: Book Cover!

2011-04-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

I have just received the preliminary cover for my book, BREAKING THE CODE. It is not what I imagined at all. It is far more than I could have ever dreamed of! It's beautiful, stunning, intriguing (I hope), and just amazing. Not enough adjectives to share how exciting this all is! But it gets even better.

If you sign up for my email newsletter (on right), you will be the FIRST to see it! My editor has given me permission to share it with everyone on my monthly e-newsletter list! The next newsletter comes out on Monday, April 11, 2011! So, act now! (now I sound like an informercial) But seriously, act now! ~Karen

Photo Friday: Remembering Mal

2011-04-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

April 1st is an anniversary long forgotten by most. This year marked the 66th anniversary of the initial landing (invasion) of Okinawa by the United States. This time of year is always difficult for my father. During WWII, it was close to this date that he lost his best friend. Mal died aboard a ship, off of a little known island. But he wasn't alone. My father held him as he died. Although we don't know the exact date of his death, April 1st marks it none-the-less.

The night before the anniversary, my father had a terrible, war-related nightmare. So, to remember Mal, I took him some flowers. He said it is the first time anybody's ever given HIM flowers. I chose white carnations because they are a symbol of remembrance. Before leaving, I took one from the bunch and stood it in the grass at the base of the flagpole in my parent's front yard. The next time I saw it, my father had made a makeshift vase for the flowers and duct-taped it to the pole. A fitting tribute, I think. Nothing is perfect in war and neither is it for those who return from war with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A duct-taped plastic cup was exactly right.

Even all these years later, Mal is not forgotten.

Mini-Memoir Monday: Spring Sprung

2011-04-04T04:50:00.000-07:00

What memories does this time of year bring to mind? My mom loves flowers. She can't pass a flower without stopping to admire it and sometimes even talk to it as if it understands her. Do you react to flowers that way? Does someone you love?

What about specific flowers? What comes to mind when you hear the word; rose, daffodil, or tulip? What color do you see when you hear those words? What shape forms? What smells? Where does it take you? Is a recent memory or one far in the past? Reverse this - if you immediately were taken to your childhood, instead think of a more recent memory. If you immediately thought of the vase of flowers on your kitchen table, stretch your memory a bit and think of the flowers of your past.

Now write that memory down. Open your laptop or your notebook. At the very least, open your mouth. Somebody needs to hear that story. Tell it. Share it here or with your family.

Above all, Write Now - Because it's Later than you Think! ~Karen

Mini-Memoir Monday: Music in Your Head

2011-03-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

photo: bandstand at Pioneer Park, Walla Walla.

Music is amazing at bringing memories back. Whether it's a tune from your teen years or from a few weeks ago at church, music has a way of forming pictures in your head. I think we've all had the experience of hearing a song that we'd completely forgotten about, and having it jog a memory. We remember the lyrics, or most of them anyway, to a song that we haven't sung in 30-years. But what's more amazing is that songs will often take us to a place we'd forgotten about or a memory long-forgotten. Mental pictures are formed around songs.

For example, perhaps it's a song from the movie Grease. When you let the song penetrate, you can see your friends at the drive-in, watching the movie, goofing around and trying to get the attention of the popular kid from math class - the one who didn't know you existed. You remember belting it out with your best friend, at her birthday party. You remember pretending to be Olivia Newton John in front of your full length mirror and singing into your curling iron. And the memories, like notes of a song, continue.

Today your mini-memoir challenge is to write about music.

Challenge:
Turn on a radio station with the oldies or even one of the T.V. channels that have stations solely devoted to the 60's, 70's, 80's and beyond. Go about your business; cleaning, cooking, whatever. I guarantee a song will come on that will surprise you. You'll find yourself singing along. Now that you have that song stuck in your head (you're welcome, by the way), dig a little deeper.

* What feeling do you have when you hear it? Not all songs bring happy memories; that's OK. Feel whatever it is. Sometimes our most painful memories are our strongest.
* Are there people tied to that song?
*Did someone special sing that song? When did you first hear it? Where were you?
* What does the song make you want to do? Lie in a meadow of wildflowers? Jump off a tall building? Scream? Cry? Laugh?

Write your memories down. Just let them flow. This exercise will likely lead to a memory about a specific person or group of people. Write about that. Let your writing wander. There's nothing wrong with that!

Write Now - It's Later than you Think.

Photo Friday: My Mentor, Shirley

2011-03-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

photo: Shirley and I went to listen to Jack Canfield speak a few years ago.

I was invited to visit with my friend and mentor, Shirley Waite this afternoon. She is such an inspiration! I know it sounds cliche' but I just can't think of another way to put it, but let me try.

Shirley is a longtime writer with hundreds of articles to her name and even a book. She is also longtime friend of my mothers. When I was a teenager, she helped me to polish a piece that I entered in the Guideposts Youth Writing Contest. She was the first person to recognize that I had a teeny bit-o-talent for writing. I won a $2000 scholarship for my entry, A Special Smile.

Much later in my life, she invited me to a local Christian writer's group. There, I brought my book, titled BREAKING THE CODE. It was a biography about my father and his wartime experiences. But something transformative happened; it was just a simple comment but it changed the life of my book. She said, 'Karen, have you considered that this isn't just your father's story...that it's your story too?' Umm...no. I hadn't. I talked about how chasing the story was affecting me, but then I wrote it about HIM. I hadn't considered it at all. But with those words, I knew something important had happened.

I went home and started to add all of my feelings, my emotions, my experiences. I'd say at first, it was more of my experiences. Later, I would realize that my feelings and emotions needed to be shared too. That was the scary part! But I did it.

When I wanted to enter my book in a writing contest, she volunteered to edit it. Then she sat down with me and went through each word, each line, each paragraph. She told me what she thought needed to be done and where the text was confusing. Honestly, I'd thought she'd just pat me on the back and say, "Oh my! What a fabulous writer you are! I wouldn't change a thing!" But true to the writer-blood that flows through her veins, she shared every minute detail that her editors eyes saw.

I didn't mention in this piece that Shirley has Parkinson's Disease. I didn't mention the tremors and shakes that wrack her small frame, and the pain that accompanies it. Why? Because it is irrelavent, except to show the strength of her character.

So, thank you Shirley, for the cherry dessert you served this afternoon. But thanks most of all for seeing something in me that no one else had seen; that I really could write. You are one amazing lady!

Have you had a mentor in your life? Have you written about him/her? Don't you think it's time?

Write Now - Because it's Later than you Think! ~Karen

Mini Memoir Monday: The Photo That Got Away

2011-03-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

photo: Sri Lankan house spider. Birthdays, Christmas, the first day of school, vacations at the beach; most of us have photos of these special events. For times like these, we pack our camera in the diaper bag, purse, suitcase or act like a tourist and hang it around our neck. But what about those times that we didn't have a camera. We are creatures of habit and sometimes that is not a good thing. It's the ordinary times that we tend not to take photos of. Here are a few examples from my own life;

*Watching Lawrence Welk with my grandparents
*Baton twirling lessons
*The times my grandma tried to teach me to paint
*Walking my kids to school
*Trips to see my sister in Seattle
*The kids riding their bikes in front of our house
*Great adventures in our neighborhood with my best friend

The wonderful thing about memories is that they just sit there, waiting to be tickled so they can share their story. So even if you didn't take photographs of every single moment in your life (and who does?), you can create a picture with your words. In fact, I would venture to say that the picture you paint with words will be even more vivid than a photo taken in the best light.

Assignment: Over the next day or so, jot down things you wish you had photos of. Think of your childhood all the way up to present day. When you've got a list of ten or so, pick one to write about. Give your mini-memoir a beginning, middle, and end. Who was there? What were they doing? How did it feel? Describe the setting as you would to someone who hasn't been there. Use all of your senses to create the feel of the photo in your imagination, then write it on the page.

Care to share? I'd love to hear about it!

Until next time... Write Now - Because it's Later than you Think

Photo Friday: Breakfast with Elvis

2011-03-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

Dad and I started having breakfast together almost ten years ago. Hard to believe it's been that long. Once a week, every Wednesday, we meet at Mr. Ed's. It's a local diner with delicious diner-type food. It's a popular hang-out for locals. The wine crowd that come to Walla Walla for the 100+ wineries in our area don't seem to find Mr. Ed's (they don't serve wine - maybe that's why).

At some point, we had the waitress take our photo with Elvis. He was a permanent fixture there. I say "was" because there was a fire there a few years ago, and Elvis did not survive. He was severely smoke-damaged. And we are told, he is now black-Elvis. Sad, but true.

My advice: Carry your camera with you every now and then and have someone snap a picture of what seems routine to you. You never know when Elvis will be gone! And while you're at it, flip that photo over and write a little about it.

Write Now - Because it's Later than you Think!

Getting Your Parents to Talk

2011-03-16T05:07:00.000-07:00

The following is part of a letter I received recently. I thought perhaps it might be helpful to others.

Karen,
I am curious how you...got the old folks talking. It seems like when
I was young and not really interested, my mom had all kinds of stories
to tell. Now that she knows I AM interested, she seems reluctant to talk.
Of course, it doesn't help that we are several thousand miles away from
each other, but even when I visit, it's like pulling teeth to get her to tell
me anything. -Sherrie

Dear Sherrie,
I know what you mean. When I was interviewing my father for what eventually turned into a book, he wasn't real big on talking. Like you, I'd heard his stories many, many times as a child. That said, here are a few ideas;

1. Spend time with your mom on a regular basis and without an agenda. A consistent time, even if it is on the phone is likely to bring you closer to your mom. I think we all want to know that we are important enough for a regular call or visit. Eventually, that time may provide opportunities for stories to be shared. It may seem time-consuming but in the end it's really not that much time at all. And there's something about knowing that someone set aside Wednesdays at 9am every single week, that opens doors to memories.
2. Photos are a great memory-starter. So are memorabilia or even just walking around someone's house and talking about the items contained in it. People keep things for a reason.
3. Talk about your own memories. Share them with no expectation.
4. Ask about memories that are common, yet individual. Ask the "where were you
when...?" questions. For example, "Where were you when JFK was shot?"

Above all, don't give up. It takes time for people to share, but it's worth your
effort and patience.

Thanks for asking! Good luck and let me know what you learn. ~Karen

Mini-Memoir Monday:Everything AND the Kitchen Sink

2011-03-14T04:24:00.000-07:00

As we get further and further from our childhood, we tend to think that we can't really remember much about it. That is so, not true! I think we've all had the experience of smelling something or seeing something at a yard sale or antique store and suddenly a memory floods us.

Assignment #1: Think about a kitchen sink in your childhood - then look around you at the kitchen around it. It could be in the first house you remember as a child, or the one you kissed your first boyfriend in as a teenager. It may be from the home you grew up in or it may be a relatives house, or a best friend's house. What is the first kitchen that entered your mind? Was it your grandmothers; the one with the garden right outside the back door? Was it your cousins - where they always a pitcher of grape Koolaid in the avocado-colored green fridge.

Begin at the kitchen sink; what color is it? Is it smooth or cracked in places? What do the faucets look like? What's in the sink? Now, expand your vision. What does the rest of the kitchen look like? What did it feel like? Where did you sit? Who is standing at the stove? Who is standing in the doorway? Are there windows? What do you see outside? Is there a centerpiece on the table? What does the floor feel like. Are the counters clean and smooth? What sits on the counter? Who cleans this kitchen? Who never cleans it? What smells congregate in this kitchen? Besides cooking and eating, what else is done in this kitchen? Now add yourself to that kitchen. What do you feel there? Does it evoke a memory?

Now, just start writing. Begin with the strongest memory you have. It may be a physical aspect of the kitchen, or it may be something that happened in that kitchen. It may be something that took place on a regular basis or it may be something very specific. There is no wrong way to write your memories. Just write them down.

Congratulations! You've just written your first mini-memoir. I'd be thrilled to have you post it here! Whatever you do with it, don't keep it to yourself. Read it to somebody. Reminisce with someone. Put a date on it and promise me you'll never throw it away, no matter how silly you may think it sounds later. And remember - all assignments can be done in interview fashion with your loved ones. Adapt and make it your own.

See you next Monday with another Mini-Memoir Monday. But in the meantime, I can't wait to hear about the kitchen of your childhood!

Photo Friday: Podcasts

2011-03-11T04:44:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm totally addicted to podcasts! I admit it! And it all started with the podcast that Togo is listening to in the photo - yes she really does that (but you can also transfer them to your Ipod or Zune for portability. Joanna Penn ("and that's pen with a double n")posts a new podcast every week. I practically OD'd on them when I first found her, which is very sad since now I have to actually wait for a new one to be posted. Joanna is a writer, speaker, blogger and business consultant. Her book, Pentecost just came out in February. But each week, she somehow finds the time to interview writers and those involved in the publishing industry. The interviews are lively and informative. Joanne is open to suggestions and responds in a timely manner to queries. I know, I had to ask for help transferring the podcasts to my Zune. She responded very nicely right away.

So, as I waited in the black hole for my editor to get back to me with his edits, this is what I did. It was time well-spent too. The great thing about podcasts is that you'll get things you wouldn't have in a regular interview. You can hear the person's personality and when they are slightly off center, their rabbit trails, which would no doubt be cut in a printed interview, are often the very thing I needed to hear.

I'll be sharing more along the way about my ventures into learning about marketing and publicity. And I'll happily share links to what I find. Happy Writing! ~Karen

Memory Monday

2011-03-07T04:22:00.000-08:00

photo: Togo is always happy when I have a new blog feature!

This is the first day of a brand-spankin' new feature. For every Memory Monday, my post will feature some sort of advice on how to go about recording your memories. As the name of my blog, WRITE NOW - BECAUSE IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK, indicates, I truly believe in getting those stories written down before it's too late. I've searched the internet, books, and forums to help me understand personal history writing. I hope to share some of those finds with you, my current and eventual readers.

My dream is to create a community of people who are actively taking the steps to get their stories and the stories of their loved ones written down. I'd love nothing better than to have some tiny influence. But it is for me too. While I've concentrated my effort on my father's extraordinary story, there is still a lot to be done for the rest of my family. So, as I learn, I'll share that learning with you. And together, we can change our little corner of the world - one story at a time. Ready? Tune in next Monday for your first mini-memoir exercise.

Photo Friday: Sickness in the Black Hole

2011-03-04T04:57:00.000-08:00

photo: writing in healthier days.

I called my editor a few weeks ago. I just wanted to do something, anything. Although I was keeping myself busy writing a new book and doing lots of marketing and publicity research, I was anxious to work on the book itself. My wonderful editor recognized something familiar. Apparently, I'm not the only or first-ever author to feel like I'd been sucked into a dark, silent, black hole. He encouraged me by saying that unfortunately, this is the time that there just isn't much for an author to do. But he assured me that soon, I would have edits to work on.

Last Tuesday, I got the first set of edits he wanted me to do. It was the day before I was leaving on a trip to Seattle. But no worries, I could work in Seattle just as easily as Walla Walla. But then it happened!

On the flight to Seattle, my ear plugged and wouldn't "pop." At the same time, I was suddenly very, very tired. In fact, as I sat in the back seat of my sister's car en route to her house, I lay my head on the suitcase and tried very hard to stay awake. I was sick!

Within a few hours, my nose was ridiculously stuffed up, my throat was raw and sore, and I had a terrible headache. And I felt like I'd been hit by a truck...several times. Every morning I assessed my health and repeated the chorus from the day before, "I can't believe I'm still sick! I never get sick like this." I'm sure my sister and mom got sick of hearing it (haha).

So, long story short, I was sick the entire time I was in Seattle. I returned a week later still sick and remain so now. Whatever this bug is, it apparently likes me a lot.

My mom and sister knew just how sick I was when I couldn't work on the book. I barely opened my computer - just enough to check my email for any new communication from my editor. I've lived and breathed writing and my book since signing the contract in September. But it all came to a stand-still.

I'm still not at 100% but I plan to open those edits and get to work tomorrow. We'll see how that goes. I figure that a few focused hours is a good goal for tomorrow. Hopefully by this time next week, I'll be able to report how great the editing is going. In the meantime, Good Earth tea is my best friend!

No Post Today...

2011-02-25T19:29:00.001-08:00

due to illness.

Memoir Writer Qualifications?

2011-02-23T03:31:00.000-08:00

In a recent article for the New York Times, Neil Genzlinger questioned just who should be worthy of writing a memoir. While I don't agree with what he said, in general, I can see his point.

If you've ever been in a critique group, hopefully someone has said, "So what?" to you. For example, there are lots of books written about people who overcome a terrible accident or a terrible illness. If it is your experience, it seems unique. It seems as if nobody has ever had an experience like that -- unlikely. I am a firm believer in reading books in the genre you want to be published in. If you do this, you may be able to take your common experience of overcoming illness and write it into an experience that is unique and untold. Without reading widely, you won't know what just that is.

Genslinger's article ends on this note, "If you didn’t feel you were discovering something as you wrote your memoir, don’t publish it."

When I was writing BREAKING THE CODE, I had a sense of being in a movie at times. When I was discovering clues in letters my father wrote, it felt like a scene in a movie. But the next memoir I'm writing doesn't have that same feel. I'm not sure we have the feeling while we are going through it. Afterall, we're just trying to well...get through it. What do you think?

2011-02-21T17:56:00.000-08:00

The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true. -John Steinbeck
This quote is timely for me. I am finding that with the marketing of a book, you have to unlearn (at least for a time) everything your mother taught you. Women especially, are raised to not brag or boast. We're happy to sing someone elses praises but far less happy singing our own.

I am terribly uncomfortable doing things or saying things that amount to self-promotion. But in the world of book publishing, it's a necessity. Luckily, we soon-to-be authors have time to get accustomed to it.

During the time between book acceptance and book launch, we have a year or maybe two to gradually begin the task of promoting our work and thus, ourselves. I'm not even halfway through that time, so I can't say I'm completely comfortable with it. But I can say that it is becoming easier. Online promotion is easier and I'm working at getting comfortable with in-person promoting.

The amazing thing with in-person encounters is that somehow the subject of my book comes up all the time. It may be a quick comment by someone about a veteran or someone who says they want to be a writer. Whatever it is, life just keeps giving me opportunities to talk about my book. Sometimes I jump on the opportunity and sometimes I don't. There's a fine line between fitting it into conversation and forcing it into conversation. But it seems to be pretty natural for me. And I never go into a situation with a plan to talk about it.

A few years ago I was at a writing conference and listened to a speaker and agent. He said something that stuck with me. He said, "If your next door neighbor doesn't know about your book, I can't help you." In other words, as with Steinbeck's quote, you have to be so excited about your book that it oozes from your pores. I think that's starting to happen for me. How about you?

Photo Friday: The Professional Photo

2011-02-18T05:27:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are just a few of the "after" photos. A wonderful local photographer by the name of Kimberly Miner spent just 30 minutes taking pictures of yours truly. I have a whole new appreciation for the art of photography. Until now, when I thought of having a professional photo taken, I thought of someone who was talented and skilled with a camera. But the truth is, there's much more to it.

Kimberly had a way about her; a relaxed confidence. It was easy to reflect that relaxed attitude and I believe that made for some great photos. She also gave me simple advice like to forget perfect posture and slouch a little. Throw a hip out here - relax your shoulders there.

She listened. She wanted to know about the book and she put the information to use. We met at the Walla Walla Public Library. There she found the memoir section (in biography), the military section and the stacks of newspapers to use as back drops. The books, the sign showing where the military books were and so forth, would be blurred in the background but the feeling is still there. It seeped into the photos and into me. Next, Kimberly wanted me to walk a few blocks to the downtown area where our town has erected a large flag in the equivalent of our town square. She also got my favorite coffee shop where I write in the background, then a church. And finally, she suggested we finish up back at the library, but not the new library. She took my photo in front of the old library - that beautiful old building.

When I first looked at the photos I couldn't believe how great they were. Just amazing! Somehow, Kimberly had made me look, well - great.
What do you think?

Video: His Story - History

2011-02-15T20:26:00.000-08:00

This is a little video I made with my dad. Hope you enjoy it.

Photo Friday: Photo Op

2011-02-11T06:03:00.000-08:00

OK, so one of the more difficult parts of having a book published is knowing that whatever photo is used, just may be out there for 50-years. Seriously! Have you ever gone to a book signing and looked at the photo on the back of the person's 25th book and looked up at them and thought, "Is this her evil twin sister?" I won't mention any names but I had this happen not so long ago. I swear she must have gone to one of those glamour shot places for her photo. But in person, she didn't look anything like that. Or maybe she just had it taken like 25-years ago. I don't know. But whatever the case, the photo used for publicity has me worried.

I had a few people try taking a photo of me; friends and family. And I either looked stiff, or distorted, or any number of other adjectives. It seemed that when someone says, "smile" I lose all ability to be myself. Geesh! So, I decided to bite the bullet and hire a photographer.

So, here's the before picture:
Obviously, I took this one myself. I thought that if friends and family couldn't get a good shot of me, there was obviously something wrong with them! Ha! Turns out it's ME who is the problem.

Hopefully, by next Friday, I'll be able to show you and "after" shot. And I'll share more about the experience too. One thing I can say is that during the shoot, I felt totally relaxed - hopefully it will show in the photo.

Time for a Change?

2011-02-10T09:24:00.000-08:00

I went to my monthly writer's group last night. Maureen McQuerry did a presentation on websites. It was a great discussion, complete with a power point thingy(see how techy I am) where we were able to look at websites live on the web and analyze them. We also discussed blogs a bit. I've decided mine needs some work. Does it represent what I want it to represent? I thought it did. I mean, the book background and all. But as we talked, I realized that reading isn't what my goal is.

My goal (this is off the top of my head right now) is to get people motivated to write down their own personal history, or that of their family. Of course, my book is important to me. And hopefully, by fall, it will be important to a lot of people. But what I hope to accomplish with the book (and the blog) is to get people writing. We don't get advance notice when one of our loved ones is going to leave us. And once they're gone, their stories can no longer be told...unless they are written down. So, my goal for the book and for the blog is to encourage people to start writing...now.

I'm just thinkin' aloud here. I see big changes in the future for my little blog. Look out!

Photo Friday: You need glasses

2011-02-04T01:51:00.000-08:00

Who wants to see a photo of me? Not me. But as you can see, there's something different about the photo and no, it's not the crazy grin! It's the glasses! I finally joined my family of glasses-wearers. (boy, was that bad grammar!)

Was I sad that my eyes were "aging" as my eye doctor so eloquently put it? Absolutely not. Especially when I saw the selection of frames I had to choose from.I just wish I could afford to buy about 10 pairs! I only need them for reading...bummer. But what fun! And the best part? I can read a book without stretching my arm out so far that I nearly dislocate my shoulder.

Yay for reading!
Yay for writing!
Yay for eye doctors!
Yay for seeing!

And so, my dear amigos, if you see me signing books at a bookstore near you, sometime in the future, rest assured that I will indeed be able to actually see my name as I sign it. You might even see the crazy smile...OK...maybe not.

Happy reading, and don't forget to WRITE NOW-it's later than you think!

Elevator Speech

2011-01-31T13:39:00.000-08:00

photo: I don't have a photo of an elevator - stairs will have to do.

I was reading a blog post here This Itch of Writing by Emma Darwin. Great information on her page and always makes your brain hurt. That can be a good thing, OK? Anyway- it got me to thinking - dangerous, I know.

Can you summarize your book in one sentence? I had to learn this the hard way. I was getting ready for the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association Conference. My goal was to pitch my book to anybody who would listen, including but not limited to, agents and editors. That meant I needed to figure out just what my pitch would be. I started with a summary of my book.

I pretended that I had a half hour to talk to someone and wrote what I'd say if they asked the coveted question, "What's your book about?" My summary was five pages. Yikes! Said agent would have walked off the elevator and had breakfast at the hotel coffee shop by the time I'd finished. So, back to the drawing board. I edited until my eyeballs bled - getting it down to 2 pages. Still too long.

I was trying to hit on all the major points in the book. That's not what an elevator speech is supposed to do. So, I pretended that I was not only on an elevator, but that the agent had already hit the button for the next floor. What would I say then?

Cut...cut...cut...

You know those movie posters in the theater or the ads for the movie on television? Quick and to the point. Intriguing. Right? I set out to do that with my pitch. I came up with something like;

"Breaking the Code, is a memoir about a daughter's quest to figure out why her father, a WWII veteran, suddenly started having flashbacks and nightmares more than 50-years after the war."

I'd like to say that I came up with that before the conference, but truth is, it was during the conference that I perfected it. It turns out that writers like to ask other writers, "So what's your book about?" Random strangers (if writers can be such a thing) gave me advice. And my pitch got shorter and shorter. It got more concise and more intriguing. I pitched it over and over and over before ever getting to an agent or editor. So, is is my advice; DO do this at home!

Pitch your book to your neighbor, your friend, and as many strangers as you can find. Tell your coffee girl about it, your mailman (you might have to walk fast), your dad's mom's friend's bosses cousin. Believe me, you will learn when eyes glaze over. You will also learn when tears come and when people laugh. All of these reactions will benefit your pitch. Go home and start writing.

What's your pitch? I wanna hear it. Really!

Photo Friday: Where it all began

2011-01-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

When my dad and I had that first Wednesday meal together almost 10-years ago, I would never have dreamed where it would lead. Dad was experiencing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), more than 50 years after WWII. I wanted to help him, if I could. Soon, having breakfast at Mr. Eds was a regular part of our weekly routine. Over time, he would begin telling me his story, sporadically giving me pieces of his past; photos, letters he'd written to his folks, and other memorabelia. But the whole story, took years to unfold.

Green Edit: little bit o' this - little bit o' that

2011-01-24T05:57:00.000-08:00

I've procrastinated posting about this edit because it was not a clean edit. I ended up using this edit to do many things, such as;

Grammar and spelling - identifying all the errors the MS Word grammar/spelling checks didn't catch or caught incorrectly.
Dad read it for the first time - from beginning to end.
Mom read it for the first time - she used to be a secretary, so she's really good at catching those little errors. She also has knowledge of the family and friends included in the book and was able to let me know if something wasn't quire right.
Chapter title edit - making sure that each title encompassed an important point in the book.
Cut, cut, cut - My word count was way over, so I cut about 4,000 words.
Final fact check - Checked with all involved; mom, dad, sisters, aunts, internet, books, and other references.

I still say that the red edit was the toughest. It was the first printed edit. But this one was tough too, for an entirely different reason. I had to let good-enough be good-enough. I was just a few weeks from the day the manuscript was due to the publisher. So, no matter what, I had to be done. In the end, I still had butterflies in my stomach when I sent it off. I think those butterflies just wait there for moments like this.

Photo Walk

2011-01-22T14:58:00.000-08:00

Walking for health has been an important part of my life since I had back surgery six years ago. Going through that difficult time pre and post-surgery was made easier when we purchased a puppy, who we named Togo. She continues to be my buddy on walks. And during the rewrite/editing process, walks have become a part of my writing.

A few years ago, I saw something on the internet about photo-walks. The site was a hub for the people in the photo-walking group. They met with their sneakers and cameras at a public place, then walked together, stopping to take photos. I liked the idea and did it a few times. I think it's a great way to get exercise and if you're creative at all, or maybe just like to take pictures, it's a great way to motivate yourself to get out of the house.

Today, I went on a photo-walk around a neighborhood in Walla Walla, Washington.

Photo Friday: Just Hit Send!

2011-01-21T13:54:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, when I first started freelance writing, a few fellow-writers and I started a group on the Absolute Write website. We didn't mean to, really. We just didn't dream that it would be so popular (and continues to this day). It was on the Freelance forum and here's how it came about;

I was commiserating with my writer pals about how annoyed I would get with myself over one aspect of submitting material to a magazine or website. After all the writing, editing and researching, when it came time to hit the "send" button, I hesitated. Sometimes, I'd put the piece aside for months instead of hitting that button. Other times, I would have to make myself hit the button. What was I afraid of? I'm not sure. But then we started a thread and invited people who had the same hesitations to join the "Just Hit Send" group.

What we learned was amazing. We learned we were not alone at all. So, each month, there is a new thread for freelancers to post that they have indeed hit send. It is also a place to post monthly goals. When I quit freelancing to write books, I really missed the camaraderie of the people there. We had come to know each other and our works quite well.

So, after months (years actually) of editing my book, I didn't have my freelance group behind me. I didn't have a place to admit how difficult this was or to celebrate in the joy of having "just hit send." Still, I did it. I hit the send button and you know what? The butterflies were still there! I even took a photo of the screen as I finally sent my completed (?) manuscript to my editor.

And now it's time for me to go back to my freelance friends to see if anyone wants to cyber-celebrate with me. Here I go and here's where I'll be; . ~KFA

Brain Break

2011-01-19T20:23:00.000-08:00

I sent the manuscript for my book to my editor at Sourcebooks, Inc. on January 10th. Woohoo! After the crazy sprint to the finish line, I was so looking forward to taking a break. And I did. I went to Richland and had a celebration with my sister at P.F. Changs - Yum! I cleaned my house, caught up on laundry (if that's even possible), got my Christmas stuff put away, organized my cupboards, and many other tasks that are all a blur now. Then, I baked a lemon cake, made mint cupcakes, Chex Mix, pot roast, loaves of bread, quiche...need I go on?

But then something disturbing happened. As I was putting away groceries from the long-overdue trip to the store, I found myself making a pyramid out of the things that needed to go to the pantry. Obviously, I've got too much time on my hands. It's time to get back to writing.

So, here I go again, trying to find my way on a path that is unfamiliar. Two things come to mind; I need to create a marketing plan for this book and I need to start writing the next (well, I am three pages into it).

So, here's to new-starts and mid-starts and whatever else lies ahead of me. Unfamiliar territory is becoming...familiar territory. Hmmm...

Photo Friday: Like a Steal Trap

2011-01-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

I have news for you. It's a revelation, really - one that was revealed to me and soon will be to you too. Your mind is not like a steal trap. I know you think it is. And I did too. But surprise! It's not. It's more like a sieve, a pasta strainer. Hopefully, the important stuff will stay in, but every now and then, it just slips through and down the drain, never to be seen again.

So, what in the world does this have to do with writing a book and the picture above? Well, a lot! If you're like me, you have a box, a folder, a drawer, a trunk load of photos somewhere. You looke at them every now and then and think, "I should really do somethng with these." Maybe you swear you'll scrapbook them someday. Maybe you don't know what the heck you want to do with them, but you know something should be done. But if you look closely at those photos, you may find something disturbing. I did!

Those people from your past, especially the ones that are no longer in your present life, have faded. Their names are slipping away. Even some relatives confuse you. Is that Uncle Bob or Aunt Mabel? Maybe you can't even tell your own kids apart. They do look alike even years apart when they reach the same ages.

Recently, my father and I went on a photo hung. We were looking for photos of his buddies during boot camp and WWII. Now, I have to tell you that my father is the exception to the rule. But I think that's because he has one of those one-in-a-million brains. He can look at a photo and tell you the person's name, and every single detail surrounding them. That's just the way he is. But I suspect that most people don't work that way. He named off all those people from a photo from almost 70-years ago and then told me every detail. When we flipped the photo over, there were the names; written on the back along with the date.

So, here's my challenge to you. Even though your mind is a steal trap and you too are the exception to the rules of brainy-ness, purpose yourself to do something. This year, whenever you see a photo lying around, just take a second and jot down the place date and names on the back. Even if you don't do that to every single photo you own, you or your great, great, great grandchildren, will be able to use it to compare others to years from now. Do it. I will too!

The Dreaded Question

2011-01-12T17:56:00.000-08:00

I'm dreading the day when someone says, "Have you wanted to be a writer all your life?" The truthful answer is, "No." And in fact, it's even sadder than that. It never even occured to me that there was such a thing as a writer. How in the world is that possible? Maybe it's because I knew what I wanted to be from the time I was six-years old. True story.

In first grade, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. So, maybe that closed my little mind to the possibility of anything else. I don't know. I liked reading as a little girl. I have many memories of reading. I remember being frustrated if my mom filled in an unknown word for me right before I was about to get it myself. I remember loving to do reading worksheets. OK...that one had something to do with the candy my teacher taped on each paper. But still.

Becoming a writer was never on my radar. Until years later.

2011-01-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

Are you the photographer in your family? That is NOT a good thing! Well, it's good for everyone else, but not for you, even if you like not being in front of the camera. Recently, I was looking for a photo of my father and me. I wanted one taken when I was a little girl. Do you know what I discovered? Apparently, my father never let anyone else touch the camera! Or at least not after I was born. I couldn't find a single picture of us. Lots of my sisters and I or my mom and I. But Dad and I? Nope. Bummer. We went through all of my parents old photo albums. I even asked my sister, who is 12-years older than me, as well as other relatives, just in case. Nothing. Maybe I was an unusually ugly child.

The funny thing is that in my own nuclear family, I am the photographer too. I've had piles of pictures processed only to find that it appeared I never went on vacation with my kids. (I was behind the camera, of course) So, my suggestion to you, if you're the family photographer, is to get an easy to use camera and tell your spouse, or even your kids to take a photo of you every now and then. ~K

Yellow Edit: The cards

2011-01-05T04:36:00.000-08:00

The yellow edit for this book is an interesting one. I found that I'd edited and re-edited so much that everything was all mushed together. Yes, mushed is a technical word. LOL So, in an attempt to step away a bit but not stop editing altogether, I printed off each chapter individually. I then used large notecards for each chapter. For each chapter, on the top half of the card, I wrote the main ideas contained in the chapter. The bottom half was used to write the main ideas in my father's letters.

In addition to this, I used a screenwriting technique, breaking my story into three acts. I'll talk more about that later. Each act was given a specific colored card. I also used something I learned in my screenwriting class, and that is to be sure that every act, or in this case, chapter has a whole mini-story to tell. It has a beginning, middle and end. And I noted if the chapter had a teaser at the end (more on this later too), which would make the reader want to read on.

I am nearly finished with this edit and I think it was successful. I read each chapter out of order. That way, I was able to concentrate just on the chapter and nothing else. It did raise a few questions about continuity and I noted those and will feed those in when I type them into my word processor. But each edit is a little, or sometimes a lot easier than the last.

Resolve to Write - 11 Ways to Find the Time

2011-01-03T04:57:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and the perfect time to resolve to start a few good habits or get rid of some bad ones. But since this blog is all about getting your stories written down, I thought I'd tackle the most common thing that stops most people; time.

11 Ways to Find the Time to Write

1. Get up a little earlier.
2. Stay up a little later.
3. Carry a small notebook with you and write down any ideas that pop into your head. 4. Write while waiting (doctors office, dentist, picking kids up etc)
5. Write during your lunch hour (or half-hour).
6. Take your kids or elderly parent to their care provider a half-hour early a few days a week and use that time to write - in the parking lot of your employer or at your desk at work.
7. Take yourself to coffee and bring along your laptop.
8. Give up a favorite television show and write during it instead.
9. Let your significant other do the bedtime routine with the kids a day or two a week.
10. Take your friends up on their offer to exchange play dates.
11. Pay a responsible teen or adult to watch the kids, make dinner, do the laundry or attend to any other task that will free you up to write.

If you resolve to do it, you will. Remember that.

Photo Friday: A Fan? Maybe not.

2010-12-31T21:49:00.000-08:00

I don't know why my animals keep getting into the picture these days. It's kinda funny. Maybe it's just because all my work folders and laptop and all that jazz are always out now. Or maybe they are huge fans of my writing. I have to try very hard to not be angry with Buttercup (named by my son when he was little).

She has a habit of catching birds from the neighbor's birdfeeder, sometimes on a daily basis. My husband calls it a cat feeder. And my favorite part is when she brings it to the front porch and guts it on my welcome mat! Appetizing! But when I caught her staring at my computer, I just had to snap a pic. I'm not sure that she's that impressed with the writing on the screen though...since there isn't any. She's staring at a reflection of herself. Typical cat!

Photo Friday - Stress Mix

2010-12-24T04:30:00.000-08:00

Some call it trail mix. Some call it Chex mix. In my family, we call it Stress Mix. When I was working on my master's thesis, my sister's friend, a caterer, made a batch of Stress Mix and gave it to me in two big Ziplock bags. And I was hooked. I nibbled on it as I worked, and I give sole credit to the Stress Mix for getting me through my master's work despite having a full-time teaching job, a husband, two children, and one on the way, and of course-many domestic responsibilities.

So, with my book now under contract and editing in full-swing, why would I abandon my beloved Stress Mix now? I have tweaked the recipe over the years and now have it down to a six-minute process (minus baking time). So, if you see me looking like I am far too relaxed to be working very hard -- you'll know. I've just eaten a bowl of Stress Mix.

Do you have a vise? Do share!

Rainbow Edits

2010-12-20T17:05:00.001-08:00

So, what's up with color-coding my edits? Well, here's the deal. I wanted a way to separate each edit but didn't like just numbering them. That makes one edit seem better than another, which is never the case. Each edit has it's own merit. So, I decided on colors. I need separate edits in order to feel like I'm getting somewhere despite sometimes feeling like a gal in a boat with only one oar. I'm not just spinning in circles, I'm actually figuring things out each time around. How did I decide on the colors to use? I used to teach kindergarten and I taught the little tykes a rainbow song. It goes like this...

Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Purple

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple

Rainbow colors in the sky
I can say them
Watch me try

Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Purple

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple

So there you have it. I knew I'd be able to use my kindergarten information sometime. Back to editing...

The Hardest Book is Your Second

2010-12-12T08:05:00.000-08:00

Huh? Really? I was reading about this and then of course, I wanted to prove it wrong so I looked it up on the internet. Oh my! It looks like the concensus is that the hardest book to write is your second book - the one after your first published book. How is that possible?

Well, here's what "they" say - your second book is the most difficult because;
1. While you could have taken 20-years to write your first book, you're under contract now and have a deadline.
2. The one-hit-wonder is always hanging over you like a fog of pea soup (pretty messy).
3. You now know how much work is ahead of you.
4. You don't have time to simply not write on the days you aren't inspired.
5. And the list goes on...

Obviously, I am the exception...aren't I always? (Ha!)

So, what do you think? Does it make sense to you that the second book would be the hardest? Do tell!

Photo Friday: A Veiw From Where I Write

2010-12-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

I write in a few different places. I have a writing room at home, thanks to college-age children who moved out. But I have found that often, it just doesn't work for me to write there. Being at home, I am always tempted to clean or cook or just plain waste time. 4:00pm will roll around and I'll wonder where in the heck the day went. But if I go somewhere, just like everyone else out there - employed outside the home, I get far more done. So, I write at coffee shops, libraries, and diners. And for me, it works.

Most recently, I wrote at a fun delicatesen. See photos.

No matter where you write or what lengths you must go to to do it, please don't put it off another day. Instead of thinking of all the reasons you can't do it, come up with a plan to make it work. And remember - Write Now, because it's later than you think!

Take Your Brain for a Walk (your dog can come too)

2010-12-06T08:31:00.000-08:00

I'm a walker. I walk one to three miles a day. My dog, Togo is the perfect walking-buddy. She never calls in sick, never wants to stop and sit on the park bench for a while and she generally doesn't talk so much that my brain can't keep up. (and if she does start talking - you can bet I'll write a book about it) As you can see from the photo, she is always ready, willing, and able.

There are times that my feet just don't want to walk out the door, and I have to trick myself into getting out there. I'll tell you about those later, but I now have a new trick, which is more of a reason. I heard it on my Zune (like an Ipod).

On my Zune today: Podcast from The Creative Penn - an interview with cognitive neuroscientist, Livia Blackburn She is an MIT graduate and a writer. She has studied writing, reading and the brain. It's a fascinating interview. In this podcast, I learned about brain pathways. One is the deliberate pathway and the other is the spontaneous pathway.

The deliberate pathway is the one you use when you know what you want to write. You are driven by a purpose, sitting at your computer. You are so focused that you can't possibly see outside the box. This is not the time that you will come up with brilliant and creative ideas.

The spontaneous pathway is the one used when you aren't focusing on anything at all. You might be on a walk, sitting in a boring meeting, or in the shower.

Can you see where this is going? I can. How many times have I been on a walk with my dog when suddenly I come up with the most brilliant idea for a novel. Or it might even be a solution to the one I've been struggling with day and night. Of course, if you're like me, you'll have forgotten that brilliant idea by the time you get home. I now make a quick note of my thoughts on my cell phone "notes" section.

So, get out there and take your brain for a walk. I'll see you there!

Photo Friday: Signing Contract with my Dog

2010-12-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

I love my dog, Togo. Seriously, I love her. She's been with me in good times and bad, in sickness and in health. She's sat at my feet as I typed away, pursuing my dream of writing a book. So, why should I be surprised that she wanted her photo taken with me and OUR book contract?

Red Edit: Done!

2010-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am done with the red edit! Woohoo. I promised myself that I would take a week off after I finished this edit. But now, that seems hasty. I know it's a good thing though, so I'm going to make myself. I need time away from it, so that I can come back and see it more clearly. But I don't want to stop writing. My dilema now is what to write. As I see it, I have three choices;

1. Work on my novel.
2. Work on memoir related things.
3. Work on a freelance article for a regional magazine.

Any wisdom for me?

Book Advance Boohoo (or not)

2010-11-30T09:19:00.000-08:00

Did you know that most authors don't make back their advances? According this article, ">href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/books/review/Meyer-t.html"> in the New York Times, 7 out of ten of us never make a cent. Maybe I'm an optimist...OK, I admit it, I am...but that means 3 out of ten do make money, right? That's 3 of every ten people. I had 15 people over for Thanksgiving dinner. If they were all authors, 4 1/2 of them would be making money on their newly released book. (I get to choose which one only counts as half a person) Not bad stats, I'd say.

And by the way, if you want to see a rundown of what an author really makes, read the article referenced above. But beware - if you aren't an optimist, it could be a bit of a downer. Just remember you ARE the exception! ~Karen

photo: ice surrounds a branch on my Rose of Sharon tree

PS Sorry I couldn't get the link to appear. I fiddled with it for way too long and couldn't get it to post right. Ah, technology! You'll have to do it the hard way; copy and paste. ~K

Red Edit : Roadblocks

2010-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

photo: When all else fails, watch the snow fall.

Oh boy. Is anybody getting some editing done? I host Thanksgiving and Christmas at my house. It's no big deal. Really. All I do is the main dish - turkey, and of course, clean the house. But my family is really great and brings everything else! I was able to work right up until Tuesday. I intended to writ on Wednesday and even sat there at the computer, but nothing came. Then the day after TG, it was even worse. I sat there for hours; I got marketing stuff done but barely any editing at all.

I'm slowly getting back into it now and I've realized something. Distractions and other events stop the flow of ideas. It's not just a matter of going back to work at a retail store after the break. It's so much more. The holidays just happen to fall during the time that I must be working on my manuscript since it is due in January. So I don't have the choice to just kinda work here and there. I must learn how to do this better. I'm not sure what the solution is. I'm completely open to suggestions...Please!

Photo Friday: The Signing

2010-11-26T14:39:00.000-08:00

OK...The Signing sounds like a sci-fi flick. When I received my first ever literary contract recently, it seemed sort of anti-climactic to just sign it at my kitchen table and be done with it. So, I took it to my parents house. I signed it with my dad there to watch. The book is such a dual effort.

Dad wrote the letters all those years ago and I have been transcribing and writing it into a book for almost ten years now. Since signing with Sourcebooks, I have been working like crazy on it and I probably send 3 to 8 questions to my dad every day via email. Getting every single detail, small and large, correct is mandatory with this kind of book.

And on top of that, there are about three of his original letters written to his folks during the war, in each chapter. So, signing with my dad meant a lot to me.

Because the Editor said so

2010-11-24T14:37:00.000-08:00

photo: winter comes to washington state

Hello, friends - The editor at the publishing company I am working with is really great. I'm not a new writer, but I am new to publishing. This will be my first book to be published - hopefully among many to come. I am a researcher by nature and a lifelong learner. I've always said that if I could figure out a way to be a professional college student, I would spend the rest of my life in classes. But even with all the research I've done over the last few years, I still have a lot of questions.

Blogging is one of those things that you hear all kinds of advice on. It runs the gammut from, it's just a waste of time, to, every writer should have a blog. I like blogging. Even if nobody is reading this - but I know you are, I like writing. But with this new publisihng contract, I didn't want to do something that might have unintended consequences that I hadn't considered.

Since I don't have the publishing, marketing, and publicity knowledge that my editor does, I decided to run it by him. I asked Peter if there is any problem with me blogging about my experiences on this journey toward publication.

And here's what he said, "Blogging is great, no problem at all."

I guess that means he'd better be nice to me, or I'll blog about it. I wonder if all editors and agents feel the same way?

Story Matters

2010-11-16T10:12:00.000-08:00

As my long-term readers know, I am passionate about getting people's stories written down. Quite honestly, I am going to start a movement. Seriously! Everywhere I go nowadays, I end up giving a brief synopsis of my story. That story includes discovering that my father worked for Naval Intelligence during WWII as a codebreaker. And to be quite honest and graphic, if he'd died ten years ago, nobody would have ever known this story. Have you ever really considered that? Writing down the stories of our loved ones is so important! Nobody is promised tomorrow. The time is now! I'm not completely sure how to get that message across, but I WILL do it.

Whenever I share my story, invariably, someone else will have a similar one. Or they will have had the opportunity to have heard someone's story, but missed it when the person suddenly died or was stricken with Alzheimers or whatever.

Write Now - because it's later than you think.

The Color Red

2010-11-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

I admit it. I have a problem with red. I don't like it. And it's not just that it looks terrible on me either! Seriously, it's not. It's the red on white. Wait, I do love the flag and my country. So that red and white is OK. Here's the real reason;

RED INK ON WHITE PAPER MEANS YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING BAD! I know it sounds juvenile but that's my perception. What was it with red pens in the 1960's and 1970's anyway? Were there no other colors invented? Maybe I'm a bit neurotic, but whenever I got a school assignment back, I looked for those red streaks of blood to tell me what I was bad at. Occasionally, the teacher would use the same pen to write a compliment on the paper, but I quickly skipped over that and looked for the check marks, the "-2" and the "see me!"'s (how'd you like that grammar?)

I taught school for almost 15-years and I am proud to say I never, ever used a red pen to correct. Never! I used purple or green or whatever but not red. Heaven knows I did not want to create a phobia in on of my dear students! I loved them. Those who love, don't use red.

So, enough babbling. Back to the "red edit." It just so happens that they don't make red highlighters. I haven't found one anyway. And with my aversion to red, why would I look very hard. So, while my folder is red, my pen and highlighter for the red edit, are...pink. What does pink say?

Pink says pretty, happy, and soft. In editing, it says, "Whoopsie daisy, let's look at this tiny little thing again." It says, "You know, this was so good I'm embarassed to even bring this up, but let's look at this again."

Am I neurotic? Don't answer that. Anyone else have a red pen phobia? Don't answer that. No wait. Answer. No, don't...

Dog Hero: Gander

2010-11-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

During my research on WWII, I came across this and thought it was worth passing on. Just amazing what a loyal dog will do. ~Karen

Gander the War Hero

Gander, formerly named Pal, was acquired as mascot, by the Royal Rifles of Canada, who were stationed in Gander, Newfoundland during WW2. ('Pal' had accidentally scratched a child and his owners, upset by the incident, offered him to the Royal Rifles.)

In 1941, during the Second World War, The Royal Rifles of Canada were sent, along with Gander, to Hong Kong Island to defend the island against Japanese attacks.

On one occasion, Gander charged Japanese soldiers as they were approaching some wounded Canadian soldiers; most likely saving the soldiers' lives.

Gander's final act of bravery cost him his own life, but saved the lives of the men he was with. It occurred on Dec 19, 1941, during the Battle of Lye Mun on Hong Kong Island. During a Japanese attack, Gander picked up a grenade that had landed next to a group of soldiers and carried it away. The grenade exploded, instantly killing Gander.

The Dickin Award, instituted in 1943 by Maria Dicken founder of People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, is an award for any animal 'displaying conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with British Commonwealth armed forces or civil emergency services.' It is recognized as the animal's Victoria Cross.

Gander was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal on October 27, 2000.

The citation on the medal reads as follows:

For saving the lives of Canadian Infantrymen during the Battle of Lye Mun on Hong Kong Island in December 1941. On three documented occasions “Gander” the Newfoundland mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada engaged the enemy as his regiment joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers, members of Battalion Headquarters “C” Force and other Commonwealth troops in their courageous defence of the Island. Twice “Gander’s” attacks halted the enemy’s advance and protected groups of wounded soldiers. In a final act of bravery the war dog was killed in action gathering a grenade. Without “Gander’s” intervention many more lives would have been lost in the assault.

Gander's medal is on permanent display in the Hong Kong section of the Canadian War Museum.

source: http://www.newfoundlanddog.ca/gander-canadian-war-hero.htm

What's up with the Rainbow?

2010-11-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

I've tried lots of things when it comes to the editing process. I've read books and articles on the subject, talked to fellow writers, and gone to workshops. I can't say I've tried them all because many just didn't fit with my writing personality. But I did try some, only to figure out that they too, didn't fit me quite right.

Trial and error can be a frustrating experience. And I had my share of frustration as I wrote and rewrote, edited and revised. And then ended up where I started and no real idea how I got there or where to go from there. I got confused on what I had decided to change and what I hadn't, so I edited things I had decided not to edit. Does that make any sense at all? Yeah, well when you confuse yourself, that's not a good sign!

Finally, I came up with different colored edits and it has evolved to the colors of the rainbow. Why? Because I know them. I taught them to my kindergarten class when I was teaching. The order is; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. If you've been reading here, you've already read that my very, very first edit takes place on my word processor. The red edit is my first paper and pen edit.

As I move along with this series, you will learn what each edit entails. I have this delusion that maybe it will actually help somebody out there. But remember, no two writers have the exact same editing style. So take what you can use and trash the rest. Happy editing! ~Karen

Edit 2b: First Edit (red)

2010-11-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

The first thing I ever wrote was on a typewriter like this one. I am very thankful for laptops!

Of all the lovely supplies I now have in hand, I am ready to begin. The red edit is the first printed out on paper edit. After printing the whole document, the fun begins. I use only my red (pink actually) highlighter, clips, and folder. In this edit I am looking at rather specific things. They are;

1. Does the story flow?
2. Did I put up roadblocks unintentionally?
3. Does the end of the chapter lead smoothly to the beginning of the next?
4. Does the end of each chapter make me WANT to read on?
5. Do the characters make sense? Are there too many? Too few?
6. Are there chunks of chapters or even entire chapters that just don't belong?
7. Did I research deep enough? Is there more I need to know?

So, I suppose you could call this edit an overview, a big picture edit. That's what it is, for sure. This edit looks at story, story, story! After the first edit on the computer, this one starts to be fun. But it's also full of perils; like whole chapters that I spent my blood, sweat and tears on that just don't fit. But if I'm scared to cut something, I do a copy/paste to another document...and THEN cut it out. Back to work. Whether you are on a first draft or a final edit, remember one thing...there will never be a perfect time to do this. So, write now...because it's later than you think. ~Karen

Step Two: Preparing for Edits

2010-11-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

"Just gather the colors of the rainbow." photo: my sons in Hawaii.

I've talked to a few writers who were very impressed with my editing/re-vision process. I don't know that it's all that impressive. I think everyone has a similar system. I just employ a few juvenile elements to it and that makes it work for me. So, the first step is to go down to my local office supply store.

Here's my list:

7 Folders - the kind with a pocket on each side and three bendy things for hole-punched papers in the middle. See below for colors*
14 to 21 Paper Clips - the large colored kind that will hold 50 or so pages comfortably, and the small kind that will hold say, 20 pages. See below for colors*
7 Highlighters - smallish, so they can easily highlight just a few letters or sentences, without overlap. See below for colors*
7 Pens - ball point. See below for colors*

OK--so by now, you're probably thinking, what the heck is it with the colors. So here you go; you will need all items in the colors of the rainbow.

RED** ORANGE YELLOW GREEN BLUE PURPLE

There is one tiny glitch though. Even though red is a color of the rainbow, I get pink instead and call it red. I don't know. Well, I do. I just don't like to see red on the white page.

So, now that we have all our supplies, it's time to print out your first version of your book. C'mon...you can do it. I will too. More next time.

This is it!

2010-11-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

I signed the contract. Not only did I sign it, but I also sent it the same way it came, via FedEx. So it's done. No turning back now and why would I want to turn back? I've been there. I've lived in limbo-land. No need to take another trip there!

I've been working on editing for several weeks now, so that won't change. But now, it's not just me and a handful of relatives waiting for the book, there's an actual publishing company and editor that are waiting for it. And of course, you--my adoring public!

I live in a very exciting place now. But reality is--it's a place I can't sit back and enjoy just yet. There is work to be done!

Step One: First Draft

2010-10-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

"...let it marinate...like a roast on an autumn day..."

When I first write something, it is into my word processor. I admit that I do edit as I go. It's not from some deep philosophical writing process that I do this. It's mostly because I can't stand to leave something unclear or gramamatically incorrect. That said, I do not stop to analyze or even reread everything I write. I simply fix what I notice during this first draft and move on. Each day, I add to the manuscript. I don't reread what I wrote the day before unless I can't remember where I am. Even then, I just read the preceding paragraph or two.

When I reach the end, I have found that the piece needs to marinate. Seriously. It needs to sit there in it's juices like a roast on an autumn day. But in this case, the days may turn into weeks, months or occasionally years. But if I've waited years, I just figure it wasn't the manuscripts "time." More often it is 10 to 14 days. I force (yes I mean force) myself NOT to look at it. Not even a peek. In fact, I start on something else. I start something that is the polar opposite in some way. I might switch from adult novel to children's picture book. I might change from book to article. Whatever the case, I do something that will take my attention away entirely from the piece.

Upon returning to it, one of two things happens. I'll tell you which one is more often the case, at the end of this post. So, say two-weeks has passed. I now open the manuscript begin reading it from the title page. When I reach the page that has the proverbial "the end" typed at the bottom, I either think;

1. "Wow! This is great! Did I really write this? This is far better than I was thinking it was. I am a good writer afterall. I was born to write. Why wasn't I discovered years ago? Why am I not famous and popular and a guest on Oprah every other week?"

-or-

2. I read it and think, "Why in the world did I write this? Did I really spend that much time on this. This stinks to high heaven. No, I stink to high heaven. I've wasted my time and I can never get it back. I could have been learning to sky-dive or running for president of the United States. Where's the nearest bonfire?

So, did you guess which one happens more often than not? Oh, I want to hold you in suspense...but I won't. More often than not, it's #1 that happens. Really! Well, except for the famous and Oprah guest thing. Really, having time away from the project helps me to see it with new eyes. And my overall impression is usually (not always) that I'm a darned good writer. I know that we women aren't supposed to say wonderful things like that about ourselves, but what if it's true? So there, I said it.

Of course, the "new eyes" part of it also means that I now see mistakes glaring at me. I see where things don't make sense. I see grammar mistakes that jump out and accost me. And I see that lots and lots of work is in my future. Lots of work.

So, that has been the process for my current book, BREAKING THE CODE, too. There are four or five edits to go. More on those next time. So, what's your first-draft process? Do share!

Editing the Book

2010-10-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

photo: my dog, Togo. "Could you just hurry up with the editing already?"

My book is written and has been for some time. But, like most writers, I worked and reworked; edited and re-edited; wrote and revised--the first 50-pages until they were sparkly and new. Why? Because most editors and agents ask for the first 20 to 50 pages. So, that's where my focus has been. And those first 50-pages got me a book deal. Exciting, right? Yeah, that and the realization that I have a lot more work to do.

I've never had a book deal before so I don't know how most people do this. But for me, I've come up with a system. I am a pretty driven and motivated person. I like lists. I like checking things off of lists. As I worked on the first 50-pages, I came up with a system that worked. So I am applying that to the rest of the book. I am over half way finished with this first edit (more on what that entails next time). The first few days were brutal. I let self-doubt move in with me. Well, I've kicked it to the curb now, so no more issues with that!

I'm in a rhythm now and moving forward every day. I won't simplify the process and insult every writer's intelligence. It's hard work. Some days are better than others. But every day that something gets written, or cut, or rewritten, or edited in or out--is a good day.

Contract Reaction

2010-10-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

I have a busy life, OK - well, that's my excuse for now anyway. I got my first ever book contract yesterday and it took until evening before I opened it. I'm not sure why. I mean, I knew it was there for a few hours before I opened it. I was waiting for the perfect moment, I suppose. I don't think there's a perfect moment for things like this. I'd reveiwed the emailed version previous to this, so I wasn't expecting anything to surprise me really. Still, I should have ripped into that baby, right?

"This is it," I said to my husband and teenage son. "I'm opening my contract."

They glanced at me. I wasn't disappointed at their reaction though. Heck, I didn't know how to react so how in the heck could I judge their reaction?

I finally, very carefully and slowly tore off the FedEx strip from the top of the envelope. I took it out.

I had already reviewed the emailed version but this contract was shiny and new and pretty and symetrical. And STAPLED! Okay...random thoughts, I know. I have given up trying to figure out my reaction to this dream-come-true. My reactions make no sense; "I" make no sense. I read the cover letter, and then glanced at the first page. I looked up to see that my guys' eyes were glued to the T.V. again; the Boise State football game was on.

And the next thing I did, baffled even me!

I put the pretty contract back in the cardboard envelope and put it away. The end.

I do not understand my reactions to this whole thing. My friend, Chris says that I am in denial. Maybe so.

Anybody else want to analyze me? I think I need a therapist!

Signing Fear

2010-10-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting time for me. Any day now, I will sign a contract for my book. I'm just waiting for it to arrive in my mailbox. It's what every writer wants, right? Right! Of course! So why then, am I suddenly scared about the whole thing? I've worked hard for this. I deserve this. I know that! But I seem to have contracted a bit of "performance anxiety." I won't even give voice (written down) to my fears, my "what if's" and "but...'s." It's not that I'm superstitious or anything; I just simply don't want to give it a place to reside in my brain.

So, here's the deal. I've used this blog for lots of things; a sounding board, a journal or diary, a place to share feelings, and a place to look for answers. But what has always remained is that it is a blog about writing. It will continue to be just that. As always, Write Now-because it's later than you think, Karen

Blog Viewing Habits

2010-10-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

Photo: taken by Karen Alaniz on Safari in Sri Lanka, 9/2010. Caption: make your point before the whole herd decides to move on.

I'm just curious. I wonder if anyone has these little subconscious rules about viewing a new blog. I've noticed recently that there is a criteria I have for blogs, especially when viewing one for the first time. They are as follows;

1. Name That Post: Like a good book, I like a good title and a good first two or three lines. Grab my attention--quick!
2. Photo-op: I like to see a photo on the page, preferably one taken by the blog author. And I want a little caption too. Relate it to what you wrote. Don't worry--you can strrrreeeetch if you need to. I just want the photo, OK? It makes the page interesting to me and gives my eyes a place to rest to ponder what you've written.
3. Personality: I like to see your blog personality. Are you funny? Serious? Introspective? Fun-loving? Theological? Illogical?
4. Leeeength: Unless you are incredibly funny and I really, really like you, keep it short. I don't want to scroll down more than once or twice. Really! I'm just there to visit, not move in with you.

I have lots more to say, but I'll save that for another time. I mean, you will be back, right? Right? Do you have any until now unspoken blog rules swirling around in your head? Do tell.

Offer on my Book!

2010-09-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

Photo: Lavinia, my namesake at Mt. Lavinia Hotel, Sri Lanka

I have an exciting announcement to make to my little blogity blog here. I have had an offer on my book, BREAKING THE CODE - A DAUGHTER'S JOURNEY INTO HER FATHER'S SECRET WAR! I spoke with the editor on the phone and believe it is a really good offer. More to come!

Analysis Paralysis

2010-08-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

I can't take credit for the term-Analysis Paralysis - Thank you Randy - but never-the-less, it is so true. It's nothing new for me, actually, it's something that I clearly know well.

When I was freelancing, I would work on an article, edit like crazy, and then edit some more. And when I was done editing and it looked the best it could possibly look, I edited some more. I often found that once I had edited and, admittedly, over-edited, that I ended where I began. Yes, it's true. I ended up with very close to the exact words I had written after just one or two edits. And there was another problem. The editor's email typed into the space on the "to" box, my finger poised over the "send" button on my email, I was paralyzed. Yes, it's true. I could not hit that send button. I voiced my weakness on the website, Absolute Write and soon had many fellow writers to commiserate with. And the "Just Hit Send" thread was born. Over the next years, we encouraged each other to just do it; just get our work out there. And we were successful too. Many of us, me included, were published in regional and national magazines. Lesson learned. Right?

Not so fast. Fast-forward a few years. Add in an 8-year book project -- one that is the very heart and soul of who I am as a person. It is a project that only works when I add myself to it. I am brutally honest. It hurt to write it and it makes me cringe to read it; especially to my father. So much is riding on this book. I don't want to miss an opportunity to get it published just because I suck at writing the proposal, the synopsis, or the query letter. So again, that analysis paralysis has found a home. Currently, my manuscript has been requested by one agent and one editor. And I'm stuck. I've done the "edit until I end up back where I started" thing. I've done my research on proposal writing and synopsis writing and query writing. But it never feels right. And I guess, in writing this, I am realizing it will never feel right. And it's time to go back to that mantra, "Just hit send." So here I go. Wish me ... fingers that hit the send button faster than my brain can think. ~Karen