Storyteller's Journey

In Pursuit of Two Paths

Several weeks ago, while I was at a writers' conference, my husband - Michael, received some great news. His gallery director invited him to have a solo show of his oil paintings at the Art on the Boulevard where Michael is represented. As great as this news is, it requires us to do a bit of traveling in our neck of the woods, since the title of Michael's show is: "Moods of the Pacific Northwest."  (Scheduled - February 2013.)
Every once in a while the two of us must go different directions as we pursue our two separate paths. However, sometimes things come together in a wonderful way. In Michael's attempt to include me on his "artist's journey," he has reserved a cabin for us at a wonderful retreat center next week, where he can paint - and I can read, hike, and write! But, the thing is...there is no T.V. reception, no cell phone reception, and no WiFi! The nearest place to get on the Internet is the town's General Store - I'm not kidding! So, I will continue blogging next week, but I may be slow to get back to you if you leave a comment.

If you're curious about the bucolic setting where we'll be staying,
here is the link to the Mt. Adams Lodge: http://www.mt-adams.com/

Do you ever incorporate your writing into your family's activities?

Whimsical Word of the Week

Chthonic -

dwelling in the underworld; under the earth.

Example: The chthonic creatures made their way to the surface of the planet after living thousands of years underground.

Bibliophile's Corner

School of Fear
Class Is Not Dismissed!
by Gitty Daneshvari

Flap Copy Description:
After discovering that each of her former students has secretly regressed, eccentric headmistress Mrs. Wellington demands requests the presence of Madeleine, Theo, Lulu, and Garrison for a mandatory summer of retraining. Facing their fears was terrifying enough, but when the foursome learns they'll be joined by a fifth student, things start to get even scarier.
To make matters worse, the students quickly find themselves tasked with saving the school. And because failing means spending the rest of their lives with unresolved phobias, this is one test they all plan to ace.

My Thoughts:
Class Is Not Dismissed is the second delightful book in Ms. Daneshvari's series: School of Fear. This middle grade novel contains awesome dialogue, amazing character development, and a huge amount of humor. The author commences each chapter with the definition of a peculiar phobia - a great way for the reader to stay grounded in the book's theme. Don't be afraid to pick up this well-written novel for your child or student! I would recommend Class Is Not Dismissed to readers from the ages of 8 - 12. (The third book in the School of Fear series is entitled: The Final Exam.)
To view Ms. Daneshvari's wonderful website, click here:
http://www.gittydaneshvari.com/

Sentimental Serendipity

For those blogging buddies who enjoy my Sunday posts under the title of "Incredible Inspiration," there has been a change in my format. The make-over of my blog has been an attempt to streamline and update things - and to focus on only literary topics. So, I have started a new blog that will carry my nature photos. I will primarily post on Sundays - merely taking the type of photos from my old format, and posting them on the new site. The title of that blog is -
The Shy Shutterbug. If you would like to visit me at my auxillary blog, I'd love for you to be my guest!
Here is the link : http://theshyshutterbug.blogspot.com/

Storyteller's Journey

         The Road Uncertain

Earlier this week I drove my eldest son up to Seattle to return to university for his Master's degree. As we proceeded up the I -5 corridor David read a book, while my mind wandered to the winding path my own life has taken.

Being a writer is a multi-faceted vocation; to be successful one must be accomplished at navigating a number of skills:
Writing; editing; marketing; organizing; networking; management; being disciplined; able to persevere - and on and on. I have met a few writers who seem to have found a way to balance these tasks, but for most of us, it's a whole different kind of work in progress!

There is no road map for the storyteller's journey. Sure, there are some guidelines - but every one's road is a bit different. A few principles I have discovered pertain not only to my writing journey - but to life in general:

1- Asking for directions is a great way to chart a course; especially from someone more experienced than ourselves. (However, this is no guarantee of making the correct choices for one's career.)
2- Turning around when you realize you've gone down an incorrect road is something nobody wants to do - but it's part of the progress. (Lots of learning can be gained by going down bunny trails!)
3- Being able to find your way when you're truly lost takes perseverance - a lot of it. (I believe writers are some of the most persevering people I've ever met!)

As we neared the Seattle Metro area, I realized that the tough part of the trip was ahead - driving in a major city is not high on my list of favorite things to do! The last leg of any journey is usually the most difficult. I thought about how I wouldn't take my son back to our hometown if I couldn't reach our destination immediately - I would figure it out. The same holds true for my own journey as a writer - turning around and giving up is not an option. It seems that no matter how uncertain our road is, the commitment to reach our goal (no matter what) ultimately is what will bring us success.

(I did deliver my son successfully to his new residence for the next three years, without a problem - and I don't even have a GPS system!)

How do you navigate your writing career when your road is uncertain?

Whimsical Word of the Week

Welter -

confused mass: a confused or jumbled mass of something.

Example: The writer had a welter of crazy characters in her mind.

Bibliophile's Corner

The Search For WondLa
by Tony DiTerlizzi

Flap Copy Description:
"Don't you get it, Muthr?"
Eva said, affronted. "Look at the girl and her parent. Look at their robot. See how happy they are?"

Eva Nine had never seen the actual sun before, or walked outdoors. In fact, she had never seen another living person in all twelve years of her life. That changes when a marauding huntsman destroys her underground home and sends her fleeing for her life. She is desperate to find someone else who is like her, and a single clue gives her hope: a crumbling picture of a girl, a robot, an adult, and the word WondLa.

My Thoughts:
Tony Diterlizzi has written and illustrated a wonderfully imaginative contemporary fairy tale - The Search For WondLa - the first in his science fiction triology. The world (Orbana) and the Orbanian alphabet and language that Mr. DiTerlizzi created bring a believability to this adventure story. Through this unique tale we are invited into the trials and tribulations of the feisty protagonist - Eva Nine. I would highly recommend this 466 page middle grade novel to avid readers from the ages of ten and up.

To learn more about Tony DiTerlizzi, and the second book in his trilogy: Hero For WondLa, click here:
http://diterlizzi.com/home/tonys-biography/