A Gallery of What Feels Like Day 392 of Our Captivity

I woke up to find it had snowed again overnight. Lots of people I'm friends with on FB have been complaining and longing for spring and signs of greenery. Despite my post title we have been able to get out and about some since the first snowfall hit. But today marks the 7th day in a row the kids have been out of school and already it's been announced they won't have school tomorrow. Since I'm woefully behind on getting any work done I've decided to just post a gallery of pics on what we've been doing to entertain ourselves while the deep freeze lasts...

My thirteen-year-old practicing the smoky eyed look with make-up on her favorite guinea pig--me.

Lots of baking...of scones...

...and elven flatbread. This was my daughter's first solo baking venture and the flatbread tastes great even if it isn't really flat. The recipe came out of my husband's DragonLance source book.

You can't have scones without a nice pot of tea. =)










Legos of course are a perennial
favorite...playing with them...reading
about them...coming up with new
creations.

And one of my perennial faves--reading. I got this in the mail last week. It's an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of C. Hope Clark's newest release. A new mystery series that takes place on Edisto Beach in South Carolina. I actually have to read it to do some reviews for the author. I love it when work and play can mix like this...














Next week I'll be posting about how to write reviews. The week following I'll be posting my latest one on the book pictured here. For now my daily writing duties and lunch are calling. Take care until next time.

10 Essentials When You're Snowed In

We got a little bit of snow in Kentucky this week. In many areas of the country 6 to 7 inches wouldn't seem like much. But in small communities where there are mountains and narrow roads to contend with that can be a lot of snow. Especially when there isn't a lot of equipment available to clear roadways and the snow comes all at once. So across the state there are quite a few people who are home bound with children out of school. That might be okay for a few days, but it can get stressful for adults and children alike when a day or two begins to look like an entire week and you hear more snow might be on the way. So I've put together a list of things you might want to stock up on or dig out when faced with the prospect of being snowed in.

10. A soft bed with lots of pillows and blankets. When you can't go anywhere take advantage of getting some extra sleep if possible--even if it is a midday nap.

9. Lots of warm clothing such as flannel shirts or pajamas, fleecy pants or sweats, or just sweats in general are comfortable and warm and still make it look like you made an effort to get dressed even if you can't go anywhere.

8. If you have one of these or a couple of these you might need a pair of these...

                                                                                                                                                                       

    

For those of you who have dogs or children you might be aware of the fact that they still need outside time. The dogs to relieve themselves and the children because snow=sledding=snow ball fights=snowmen. A warm coat and gloves are also highly recommended under these types of conditions. Also, if you get a little stir crazy boots are useful for walking down the road to see how other people in the neighborhood are handling the snow or just to see how the roadways are looking and how many people are still driving on them.

7. A sled, trash can lid, dining hall tray, or even in some instances a laundry basket can make for some great memories in the snow. You can rediscover your childhood by careening down the hill in the snow with your children or dog or spouse or partner. Remember what it was like find entertainment out of the simple things in life.

6. Movies are a great way to pass the time. Suddenly all those DVDs you've acquired over the years and only watched once after you got them are old friends again. You can use them to educate your children about your childhood too. That way they might be able to understand you when you make movie references to things that somehow only you or your partner or spouse find funny. It also might help alleviate the dreaded question, "So what are we going to do now?"

5. Books. One good thing about being snowed in is having a valid excuse for catching up on your reading. Only one of my children seems to enjoy this, but I'm still hoping to help the other one find a genre he loves. 

4. If you have internet access Netflix can seem like the greatest thing ever. Cartoons that you don't have to buy are in seemingly endless supply on instant streaming sites like this. Also, if you have internet access Buzz Feed links like these are also fun for amusing yourself and all your friends who also might be snowed in. You can share quiz results and important trivia via the internet or over the phone and feel like you are bonding even though you can't see said friends.

http://www.playbuzz.com/foxgirl10/whats-your-knight-name

16 Incredibly Terrible Synopses of Classic Books

3. Hot chocolate. Even if you don't go out in the snow and cold this is still an essential item to have. It is warm and comforting and it tastes good. A mug of hot cocoa, a warm blanket, comfy clothes and a good movie or book. What could be better?

2. Board games. Unbelievably enough my kids to eventually grow tired of staring at a screen. When they roll their eyes at me for suggesting reading a book or I've run out of chores for them to do their eyes light up when I suggest a board game or card game. You can kill an hour or more without even realizing it playing monopoly.

1. Patience. The number one most essential item to have when you are snowed in is patience. It takes time for road crews to get caught up on clearing the roadways. People you love and get to have forced quality time with can wear on your nerves and you can do the same for them. It is important to remember that being snowed in is only temporary and keeping a sense of humor about it can help you keep your patience. And if all else fails you can always shovel some snow to help you keep your cool. Or better yet offer to shovel snow for a neighbor who maybe isn't spry enough to do it for themselves.

The Greatest Inventor Ever

This week many people are gearing up for the Valentine's Day holiday to celebrate those they love. Some are buying presents, others are stocking up on favorite comfort foods to celebrate the holiday in their PJs with their favorite shows or movies. I fit into both categories. This weekend I don't have anyplace I need to be so I will be giving and receiving small tokens of affection from my family while eating (hopefully some chocolate) while watching TV or reading in my flannel pajamas.

But if you're a ten year old, aside from the idea of maybe getting some candy and a small gift from your parents, thoughts of love and Valentine's Day are not at the forefront of your mind. Instead, important questions crowd your thoughts. Questions that you ask your mom shortly after waking up to get ready for school. Things like, who is the greatest inventor of all time?

Now if my son had asked me this question in the afternoon when I picked him up from school, or later while I was cooking supper, or even while I was trying to get him ready to go to bed, I might not have given it much thought. But he picked the right time of day to ask it. First thing in the morning. Not that mornings aren't busy, they are. But the fact that he wasn't growling at me like a bear because I was making him get up to go to school was a novelty. I was happy that he was happy and awake enough to ask me a question.

I took the time to answer it the best way I could. "I don't know," I said. "I think that is a matter of perspective. For instance, the greatest inventor of all time for you would be the person who designed the first home gaming console, or the person who thought of the device that would become the precursor for the tablet."

My son considered this for a few moments. So I continued, "For me the greatest inventor would be Thomas Edison because he helped develop the first moving pictures. Or even better the first person to invent the printing press or movable type, because that's what helped us create books."

Fun Fact: While Johannes Gutenberg is the one many give credit to inventing the printing press, the first movable type to be developed is now believed to be credited to a Chinese peasant named Bi Sheng in 1041. http://www.livescience.com/43639-who-invented-the-printing-press.html

I continued to list other inventions that some people might think the greatest ever, like musical theatre (for his sister) or home computers, cell phones, indoor plumbing, antibiotics, etc. It is an endless list and it all depends on what you appreciate most. My son corrected me at the end of our discussion.

"You were wrong Mom," he told me. "I don't think the person who helped develop video games or tablets was the greatest inventor ever."

"You don't," I said.

"Nope, the greatest inventor for me is the person who invented Legos."

I laughed. "You're right, for you that would be the best inventor ever."

Who are some of the greatest inventors of all time for you? Maybe this Valentine's Day offer them up a tiny thanks as you celebrate love this year. =)

Fun Facts About...

February

February is one of the most unique months of the calendar year. Here are just a few of the reasons to celebrate this month despite the vagaries of winter.

1. Since 2001, February has been the month we get to enjoy the Superbowl. Even if you don't like football you can enjoy the great commercials between plays.

 2. February is the only month of the whole year that actually celebrates groundhogs! We have set aside an entire day just for them to predict the weather for the next six weeks after Feb. 2. While we can appreciate this special and quirky holiday I don't think the groundhogs neccessarily do. Check out this link about Jimmy the Groundhog: http://www.weather.com/news/news/jimmy-groundhog-day-sun-prairie-mayor-wisconsin-punxsutawney-phil

3. This is the shortest month of the year and is the only one that gets an extra day added every four years for Leap Year.

4. Black History is celebrated in February. Though I think it would be nice if we celebrated black history and diversity equally all year long.


5. Two of our most famous presidents were born in February. George Washington's birthday is on February 22nd and Abraham Lincoln's is on February 12th. We used to celebrate their birthday's individually, but now we've combined them into one federal holiday, President's Day.

6. February is the month that celebrates love (most often with chocolate and roses). The roses are beautiful and I like them. But really for me the chocolate is the best part of Valentine's Day. Even if you don't have a special someone you can still eat chocolate which helps release endorphins in your brain and helps you feel happier. I'm not against love, but could we have a holiday that just celebrates chocolate? Just a thought, here are some links to support my idea. :)

http://authoritynutrition.com/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate/

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/indepth.food/sweets/chocolate.cravings/

7. And finally, the best part about February for me, is the fact that the days are starting to grow longer and you know that in just a couple more months the weather will be milder and we will be celebrating spring!

Why????

?     ?     ?    ?

I'm currently reading a book that I can't put down. It is a fantasy and to be honest it isn't something I set myself to read as part of my research for my writing. But I'm glad I picked it up. Because, as it turns out, it is a wonderfully written book full of strong and fascinating characters. I was pondering it this morning as I considered what to write about in my blog. This in turn made me think about what I would say about this book and its story if I did write about it. In the end, I decided I wouldn't write about the book itself at all. Instead, I'd write about an exercise I've decided to do for myself out of curiosity to see where it leads and what may happen as a result.

I'll explain. The book I'm reading is the third in a series. In both of the books I've read so far, the underlying theme of each story and each character is the idea of choices. This might seem like a simple theme to consider for a story. But the writer in this case has made it wonderfully complex and has even stirred up quite a bit of controversy over the choices some of her characters have made. But to have choices don't we first have to have questions? How else would we know we have a choice to make in the first place if we didn't wonder why or what or when or how?

As I considered this I began to consider what would happen if I kept a journal of questions. People journal about lots of different things. Why not keep a journal of questions? When we are little we ask all sorts of questions, most of which start with, "Why?" At some point we stop doing this. Possibly because we're eventually told by the exhausted people we keep questioning to stop. Gaining a better understanding of the world around us could also cause our curiosity about everything to narrow down to only specific things that really interest us. Or a combination of both is likely too. You see how many questions can come up just by thinking about questions.

Keeping a journal of a few random questions everyday might prove very interesting. Who knows what things might result? 

In my day-to-day life I tend to shy away from questions that I can't easily answer. I don't think this is unusual. In my writing world not having all the answers to questions about my stories can lead to the story stalling completely and be dangerous to the believability of the world I've created. Its a fine line to follow knowing how many of the questions you have to create for a reader to answer, as a story unfolds. You can't answer too many questions but you also can't go around making them wonder about stuff without giving them a few hints or clues along the way to wet their appetite for more.

I don't know how recording a question about why my refrigerator makes noises when its running sometimes that sound exactly like the birds that bathe themselves in the outside gutter of my house is going to help me. Perhaps writing down random questions will give me ideas of things to include in a novel to build the setting and make the scenes more real for the reader. Maybe my daily questions I record will help me better understand myself. Or it might prove to be a completely worthless endeavor. But it is a choice and I'm going to try and pursue it to see where it takes me.

What about you? Have any seemingly random musings about things, whether it was a show you watched, or a book you've read, led to inspiration of some sort? Have these musings ever helped you choose to do something? If so leave me a comment about it.

Entering the Scene of The Crime

Beautiful isn't it? This image of cascading water tumbling down a huge waterfall. Beautiful, loud  and potentially deadly. Especially if you are walking above it on a narrow trail where there is no fence or protection from it, if you were to fall over the ledge. It is scenes like this one that inhabit the worlds created by the very best of Alfred Hitchcock's films. They are breathtaking in their cinemascopic views and compelling, drawing the viewer into the scene and into the scene of the crime.

This is what I saw as I walked this same trail for a second time with my family. This breathtaking view. I was able to relax and enjoy it more the second time around because I knew it was there. I'd walked the trail before only a few weeks back. But the first time I saw it from this close range with nothing but air between me and falls, I'll admit it made me a teeny bit nervous.

Though not as big as Niagra Falls, the Cumberland Falls lives up to its title of the Niagra of the South. It is a large body of water both lovely and raw in its scope and force. A force of nature in every sense of the word. It is one of my favorite sights to visit. It is also an area in the Daniel Boone National Forest where I placed the final scene of a crime in my middle grade mystery. I wondered as I navigated the trails around it if my character would contemplate for just a moment pushing the villain, whose power he was under, off the trail and into the roiling water just below. Would it be better to never know what had become of his loved ones? Could he sacrifice them to keep a powerful object out the hands of a psychopath? These are important questions that I hadn't contemplated for my character until I walked the trails in the park and looked at the surroundings through his eyes. A very important thing to be able to do as a writer.

It gave me new insight into my character as I pondered the places I saw, people I passed on the trail, and the likelihood of the villain being able to carry out what I'd written. The scene of the crime was full of beauty, danger, and the occasional, other, hiker. It an area that is dotted with caves, streams, waterfalls, and wildlife, some of which include black bears.

I realized in order for my villain's scheme to be successful I would have to look up when bears actually begin their hibernation period. The location of the crime would have to be far enough away from a trail for it to be unnoticed by other hikers in the area, but close enough for my villain to find it again without difficulty. It would also have to be someplace unlikely to be blocked by fallen trees, or ice formations that would prohibit them from getting back to the victims in question.

By answering these questions for myself as the writer I can go back to my final climactic scene and hopefully rewrite it to be as hair-raising and compelling as anything Hitchcock could create on film. If I can accomplish that I will have written something I would love to read and hopefully something others won't want to put down, as well. It was fun visiting the scene of my crime. I'm very blessed to be so close to so much natural beauty even if, in my fictional world, it may prove to be a very dangerous location for my character...

Incorporating Magic into Your Writing

Image courtesy of jannoon028 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I've been having a lot of fun this week working on something I've always kind of dreaded having to do in the past, RESEARCH. For me this word brings to mind searching dusty archives in libraries, poring over informational books, talking to strangers, all the while hoping I'm gathering the right information for whatever paper, article, etc. I've been tasked with writing. The talking to strangers part was always my biggest fear. It still kinda is.

But this week I hit a stumbling block in revision work I'm doing on one of my stories. The only way to fix the problem was to do some research. It occurred to me that this time the research I'd be doing didn't involve doing any of the things I normally dread. This research would involve searching the internet, and delving into the best middle grade and adult fiction I could find that involved my two favorite genres, mysteries and fantasy.

Why you may ask was I having to read about and search for these two things? And why the need to look for both adult and middle grade fiction? Well I'll tell you. Because I'm revising a novel for middle grade readers that has magical fantasy elements of a nature I haven't successfully found examples of in this readership. Thus the need to read both adult and middle grade fiction that are both mysteries and fantasies.

The other thing I've been searching for are articles on ways to improve on the magic I've added  into my plot to make the overall mystery stronger and more complex. Two things that I've been told I need to work on with this particular manuscript. But something that is hard to do when your story is a little different in the way the magic is used. I've included links to some of my favorite articles on how to work in magic into a story or to build a magical system.

Writing Fantasy:A Short Guide To The Genre

How to Create a Unique Magic System for Your Book

So You Want To: Write an Urban Fantasy

Creating A Magic System

On reading these articles I've decided I need to write a magical guide for my novel and then use that to revise my story and make it stronger. All the while I get to do a lot of one of my favorite things, read and read some more, all in the name of improving my craft. What could be more magical than that? This is the kind of research I can really get into.

Do you enjoy stories that have magical elements? What are some favorite novels you've read (besides Harry Potter) that have been magical and mysterious? Share them in the comments section below.