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Re: Question of the Month: Fair

Ric — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:00:11 -0000

Couple of stories - I was in 4-H for ten years and, each year, we would complete our projects and show them at the Sanilac County Fair. I had Jersey cattle, so I would get to stay at the fair for three days - sleeping overnight in a big pole barn with 60 other kids. This would have us inside the gates all the time, and we would wander through the rides as they were setting up and chat with the carnys. Sometimes they would give us really loooong rides - since they were just getting the day going and the lines weren't forming yet. My buddy Alex ticked the guy at the Salt n Pepper Shaker off and the guy stopped the ride, with us hanging upside down thirty feet up in the air and just left us there. Every few minutes, he would hit the button and we would move a little bit, and the car would shake, making the change fall out of our pockets. He would calmly walk under us and pick up our money and then go back and shake it some more. To this day, I won't go on any ride that turns me upside down.

In the summer of 1967, on the day I got my driver's license, I took a sweet little blond on my first real date. We went to the Croswell Fair. My sweet little blond had a few black roots that appeared while we were on the Tilt-a-Whirl and, as we were getting off, the carny said, "I like blonds no matter what color their hair is." It is still one of the best lines I've ever heard. I laughed and she didn't. Was a long ride home.

Re: Question of the Month: Joy

Ric — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:28:37 -0000

Oh, Joy!
Doubtful I can get much more exposure than here, but thank you.

Re: Question of the Month: Joy

Ric — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:13:09 -0000

Joy. You know, there has to be a reason we keep doing this - it must bring something to our souls or we wouldn't keep banging our heads against the wall. Joy is a good way to describe it. The joy of having the character you've been struggling with, the one you just couldn't quite figure out, suddenly take over the keyboard and start saying the most amazing things - all perfectly in tune with what you expected.
The joy, like Lance, of getting letters and notes indicating you touched a nerve, brought a tear, gave hope.
The joy, that comes when you bundle up the last pages you've been working on for months and shyly give it to your beta reader, hoping against hope; and when you see her next, her only comment is "WOW!"
The joy of running into the local newspaper editor and asking if he would read samples. And his response is, "I know you can write - but I also know you're beyond what we can pay you."
The joy of writing itself. The act of pounding the keys, transferring all those voices in your head onto paper where they keep insisting they need to be.
The joy of being able to put into words those unquiet thoughts you can't share with even your closest friends, lest they think you insane, terribly twisted, or too far gone to help.
And the joy of being able to share with kindred spirits, like LitPark, all of whom know the terror of a blank sheet, the endless waiting for "the call", the pain of revision, and, most of all, the doubt, the oppressive doubt hanging over every word and wondering if this is the manuscript to break through - doubts that clouds the joy but not enough to make you stop.

Re: LitPark Question of the Month: 2010

Ric — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:30:05 -0000

Interesting concept, Susan, thanks.

btw, how is the title search coming?

Re: LitPark Question of the Month: 2010

Ric — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:46:40 -0000

Writing goals? Finish cozy mystery which seems to have mesmerized my writing group (when I finish reading a chapter, there is a blank look, no criticism, more like "why isn't this guy published?), finish my little story about the young wife who disappears (been blocked on this one, trying to figure out if making the husband's psychological reactions the focus or not - the fear being whether I can stretch the episodic narrative to 350 pages)

Getting back into the routine of writing a weekly column - waiting on the newspaper to finalize budget (ah, always important, budgets, indicates monetary exchange) This will get me noticed on the street (big picture printed each and every week), which, in turn, feeds my ego and makes me think I am a real writer.

Re: litpark » Question of the Month: Pet

Ric — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:35:24 -0000

I think I was 8 years old or so, looked about 5 (I was very small for my age), and had the voice of an angel - so I was told. I sang all over town, in churches and such, until my voice changed. Then, no one wanted to hear me sing anymore.

The mystery is set in 1960 - one agency intern wrote to tell me I wasn't probably wasn't qualified to write an historical novel. I love it when extremely young people can't do the math to figure out I was actually there.........

Re: litpark » Question of the Month: Pet

Ric — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:45:32 -0000

I grew up on a farm, so there were always animals around. Horses that I was afraid of, cows, calves, Mike - our border collie, and lots and lots of cats. The earliest pet I remember was Caramel - a light orange, long haired kitten I called my own.
I recall my mother's bi-annual hosting of the Woman's Club and being asked to perform. I was very nervous, so I held my kitten and sang Irish Lullaby to her. We were never allowed to have animals in the house so Caramel became a barn cat, who had many litters of kittens and I loved them all.

Working on Blink - about the young wife who disappears repeatedly - which is taking way longer than it should. And a cozy mystery which actually includes the Woman's Club. Negotiating with a local chain of newspapers to carry a column about growing up on the farm and country school and small town living. (After reading some of the comments, I realize my childhood was something special and the columns are a good way to share that magic.)

Re: Michael Jackson Coverage Hits a New Low - mediabistro.com: FishbowlLA

Ric — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:24:51 -0000

celebrity journalism is an oxymoron to begin with...

how exactly does one "cheapen" it?

Re: Question of the Month: Fire

Ric — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:29:12 -0000

When I was about 10, spent a week at my Uncle's house staying with cousins, they had a neighbor kid (one of those everything I do turns out wrong, but I keep on doing them and it was your fault anyway, because you went along with me). This kid decided the way to make charcoal was to pour gasoline on burning wood. So he got a china coffee mug, filled it with gas from his Dad's lawnmower can, and started a fire in the back yard.
When he started pouring the gas out, the flames jumped up, lit the cup on fire and he threw it at me. For some odd reason, in the middle of June, I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and my left sleeve was soaked in burning gasoline. I remember running around and seeing the flames on my arm, singeing the hair on my neck, before my cousin grabbed me and threw me on the ground.
After the shirt was cut off, I had a burn three inches wide and ten inches long, which was variously soaked in baking soda, vinegar, cool water and then wrapped in gauze by the doctor. The worst thing I recall was when the bandages were removed and I went outside into the sunlight - it hurt worse than any time before.
I have only a remnant of scar these days, it kept getting smaller and smaller over the years, even though the doctor said it wouldn't.

Re: litpark » Question of the Month: Lesson

Ric — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:39:48 -0000

Stephen King's admonition in "On Writing" to eschew the use of adverbs. At first, this is completely wrong - believing, as do most folks, that adverbs add color and explanation. But, if you take them out, the prose left is sparse, and clean, letting the reader put the color in.
You don't realize how well it works until you set the search and destroy mode on your Word program and read the new result. Adverbs are not needed in nearly all cases and the end result reads so much better.

But the greatest lesson on writing came in Ninth Grade Study Hall, when I discovered I could write quick stories using my friends and classmates, putting them in sexy stories and everyone, EVERYONE, couldn't wait to read more. Ah, a talent, everyone likes my stuff! And for a four foot tall, skinny kid with a smart mouth, what could be better? Since football was not an option, and fading into the woodwork wasn't either, being the kid who wrote stories about the other kids in compromising positions worked.

Re: Question of the Month: Instrument

Ric — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:47:59 -0000

I actually forgot another musical bit. I played electric organ in a band - local kids. We would play wedding receptions for $50 and all we could drink - which is a really cool deal when you're 16. The $10 was good money and the booze...well.
I generally just chorded along, but could really kick out "96 Tears" with it's organ solo. We would dream of a recording contract, but never got any further than dealing with the dreamers and schemers. Playing high school dances, and receptions made one very cool.

Re: Question of the Month: Instrument

Ric — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:59:55 -0000

My older brother taught me piano at age 4 - I took lessons but could never get past my Mother being able to play ragtime by ear - she couldn't read a note, but could rock the house.
In Eighth Grade, in order to get out of shop class - mandatory and useless to a farm kid, I signed up for band. Mr. Meakin needed a tenor sax player so that's what I got. I didn't practice enough - I was only 3' 11" and the tenor sax case was huge to be schlepping on the school bus.
But Mr. Meakin and I got to be good friends over the next five years. His wife was certifiably insane (and somehow she got a teaching job in our high school). He and I would drive the instrument van behind the school bus going to various competitions, chain smoking Newports as I listened to his long suffering life tales.
When I clashed with his wife senior year, he quietly gave me A's to balance out the E's she was giving me, but neither of us could figure out how to deal with her.
Once, during Christmas break, my Uncle Jack saw my sax and asked if he could try it. He picked it up and such music I have never heard, before or since. It seems during the '30's, he played in big bands all over Michigan, at summer resorts and other venues. Even though I tried, I could never in a million years, get to his level - and he hadn't touched a saxophone is twenty years.
I guess the point is, practice is not one of my strong suits. I didn't do it, even though the results would have been worth it. I never had to study, so I never developed that discipline, which has probably hurt me in the long run.

Re: Book Deal!

Ric — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:10:27 -0000

Congrats! And your reaction to the news is so special - well, actually, very Susanesque. Thanks for allowing us to jump up and down on the bed with you.

Re: Lance Reynald, author of POP SALVATION

Ric — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:36:36 -0000

Yes, that would cause envy of the worst sort.

I figured Caleb was behind the lens.....

Re: Lance Reynald, author of POP SALVATION

Ric — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:08:03 -0000

well put, Kimberly.

Re: Lance Reynald, author of POP SALVATION

Ric — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:06:47 -0000

Working title - which won't be on it when it's done - is BLINK. About a newly married guy whose wife disappears, just vanishes in the blink of an eye, repeatedly, from the house, or the next room but is totally unaware she goes anywhere. And his quest to find out where she goes and how, and if he can live with it.

Re: Lance Reynald, author of POP SALVATION

Ric — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:39:54 -0000

Okay, then. Knowing you two are close friends, I expected a bit more of your irreverent humor. Perhaps the fact you didn't insert it makes this a better interview.
To those of us who follow Lance (yes, you have stalkers - and, now, groupies), the journey is as important as the finished result. So glad you got Lance to let us see how that evolved.
And, worse, I now have to explain to my long suffering wife why there are staple holes in the paneling of my office....
This week at LitPark has jumpstarted my WIP. All my blogging buddies are getting published - it is time. Thank you to Susan and Lance for the wake up call.

Re: Question of the Month: Hero

Ric — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:53:59 -0000

Funny, Lance, very funny.

Re: Question of the Month: Hero

Ric — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:25:00 -0000

Well, that was interesting. Apparently you have to actually buy stuff from Amazon to post a review. Since I have a very cozy relationship with my local bookseller, it isn't something that I do. I did try.....

Re: Question of the Month: Hero

Ric — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:56:29 -0000

Honest, Susan and Terry, I'm not hitting the damned buttons making it do this.

Pop Salvation review up at http://www.publishersmarket...

Re: Question of the Month: Hero

Ric — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:54:49 -0000

I know we get to gush all over Lance on Wednesday, but I couldn't wait.

http://www.publishersmarket...

Re: Question of the Month: Hero

Ric — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:48:14 -0000

Okay, I have a real problem with this one - what happened to the easy questions?
Public heroes? Could be some there, but it seems they invariably screw up somewhere along the line - a mistress here, or discovery of an opportunistic bent that is highly unsavory and not at all comfortable with your own moral code.
Literary heroes - Hemingway, the new edition of The Movable Feast is coming out this week - that book set me on the path of writing, can't wait to get my hands on the new version and be transported back to the streets of Paris.
Stephen King - just keep writing, keep writing, forget that the critics say you are bubblegum lit., just keep writing, through the drugs and the alcohol, and eventually, the world will come around. And even if they don't, it really doesn't matter in the long run. Just keep writing.

Lance, your book is bloody marvelous. I'll have a review up tonight.

Re: Question of the Month: Hero

Ric — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:37:50 -0000

Lance, your book is bloody marvelous. I'll have a review up tonight.

Re: Question of the Month: Voice

Ric — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:14:30 -0000

Like most folks, I can't recognize my voice on tape - it doesn't sound like that in HERE. In HERE, it sounds tenorish and rich - apparently, though, to others, it sounds higher and very distinctive - as in, I don't have to identify myself over the phone if people have heard my voice once before.

For business, for sales, the sound of my voice in the waiting room means you are going to smile soon.

For writing, it carries the tone of easy listening - not a smart ass, know-it-all, but more of the quiet neighbor who speaks to your Dad at church and you listen because you know it will be a good story, just by the sound of his voice. At least, that's what I strive for.

Re: Question of the Month: Heal

Ric — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:32:44 -0000

Gee, guys, reading over these comments inspired me to call my Mother (who is 85) and say "Thank You".

My three brothers and I were raised on a farm, and none of us was shown any favoritism (because her parents did, apparently). We didn't want for anything; we grew healthy and used to hard work; a magical childhood. Anything could be achieved; everything was possible. It was quite a shock to get out into the real world and discover that wasn't so.

Sure, there were some things I wish had been done differently, but, as Mom says, "You kids didn't come with a guide book, we did the best we could."