A Conservatory of One: Exploring the Writing Craft & Life

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2024-02-18T03:52:00.001-06:00

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2024-02-16T18:31:00.001-06:00

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2016-09-24T19:24:00.001-05:00

32 Candles
Ernessa T. Carter
338 pages
Amistad an Imprint of HarperColllins Publishers

Some folks sail through adolescence with grace. They may occasionally lose altitude, but eventually, they descend and make a gentle landing. Others come crashing to earth in a tangle and have to work their way up to true flight.

The awkward limbo of adolescence some teens experience comes to mind easily for people who survived it. It’s a period in life when we are not yet fully formed, discovering who we are and who we would like to be. We also find ourselves painfully aware of our appearance as our hormones and genetics drag us through the gates of physical maturity.

Davidia Jones knows this painful awkwardness intimately. Her home life is hell. Her school life is purgatory. In short, her existence is one of vast suffering. It seems that her brief story will end before it has begun. She lives in small town Mississippi with little prospect of getting out. Her mother seems to loathe her existence. When her schoolmates acknowledge her, they torment her with a vicious nickname, Monkey Night.

The situation seems pretty hopeless for Davidia until she discovers the now classic film, Sixteen Candles. She aspires to achieve her own Molly Ringwld ending. If she is patient and coordinates her opportunities, she’ll get the love of her peers and the most popular guy in the school.

Enter James Farrell, an Atlanta transplant, heir to the Farrell Cosmetics fortune, star football player and object of Davidia’s unrequited affections. She adores and obsesses over James who fails to notice her. His sisters on the other hand are fully aware of her and contribute to her suffering.

Shortly after their arrival, a cruel prank that almost destroys Davie, motivates her to shake the dust of Mississippi from her feet. She begins a new life in Los Angeles remaking herself as sultry lounge singer Davie Jones. She has confidence, friends and a laid back lifestyle that suits her.

Everything is just fine, until she runs into James Farrell as fine and fabulous as ever. He doesn’t recognize her from high school and he’s interested in getting to know Davie. As a matter of fact, when Davie tries to leave him and the craziness of her high school experience in the past, he insists. Unable and unwilling to resist, Davie and James embark on a love affair that seems destined for a happy ending, until the sleeping dogs of the past wake up barking.

Ernessa T. Carter tells a story about betrayal, coming of age and true love with edgy humor and intelligence. Davie is a warm, smart and funny character whose unexpected insights make what could easily become tragic in her life a comedic success story. The story parallels the style of cinematic storytelling and is written in first character; Davie pulls you into her experiences in much the same way that Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) and other characters do in our favorite Brat Pack era films of the 80s--“breaking the wall” and engaging us in the unfolding events.

As you read, you hope that 32 candles aren’t too many for a happy ending.

The writer received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book for review.

View all my reviews >>

2011-11-16T12:51:00.000-06:00

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Every manager and aspiring executive needs to read this book. Malcom Gladwell provides real life examples that illustrate how our natural and cultural legacies affect our material and social success. Reading this book will assist you with successfully confronting your past and shaping your future. Outliers also provides insights with the potential to allow change agents to progressively shape their organizations and the people who work for them. The book does not accomplish this by offering a road map to success; Outliers encourages personal and organizational change by allowing us to shift the way we think about the path to success.

View all my reviews

Check Out Tim Ferris's latest blog featuring author, Neil Strauss

2011-03-17T10:35:00.001-05:00

Tim Ferris' latest post begs to be shared. It contains humor, the salty grains of bitter truth and proof that good taste and hypocrisy are not mutually exclusive: So You Want to Be a Writer? Read This First.

Also, take a look at Neil's latest book, Everybody Loves You When You're Dead. The book trailer on Amazon promises a great read.

How to Write When Burn Out Is Trending Toward Combustion

2010-12-02T10:34:00.005-06:00

It's been a while since I've posted. I outlined two potential posts, and they're sitting in my notebook waiting for the polish. If I'm honest, I need to dig a little deeper, to organize myself more effectively and put this blog near the top of my to do list--with my current course work, the kids , the job that pays for my day to day, etc. If I'm honest, I also have to admit that I'm a bit burnt. Like when you're running that last interval in your workout--digging deep to squeeze out a little more speed and get your knees a little higher--all without twisting your ankle on the landing.

As luck would have it, I came across a most excellent post from Freelance Writing Jobs, "Writing is Like Sex." Attention grabbing isn't? Well, it also provided me with a much needed dose of laughter. I think I'll be able to finish up those other two posts now.

Write On....

On My Book Shelf

When Celeste Temple sets out to learn why her fiancee has jilted her, she stumbles upon a bloody mystery.The mystery has a most "unnatural" process at its center. She determines to discover its origin while bringing her erstwhile fiancee to justice for his undeserved mistreatment of her.

Dahlquist weaves a twisting, science-fiction mystery that brings readers to the edge of their expectations then makes them consider new ones. The story is wild, sensual and an intellectual exercise. If you want to explore steampunk fiction, these books are a great place to start.

Dayton Literary Peace Prize Winners Announced

2010-09-29T09:18:00.004-05:00

When reading this post, "Dayton Literary Peace Prize Winners Announced" on the Utne Reader Great Writing Blog, I came across a great quote about the nature of reading. The writer is commenting on one of the prize winners, The Book of Night Women.

This is work of the most supreme literary quality, daring to transform languageinto such an original realm that readers come away haunted, short of breath, and staggered with the sort of visceral impact that reminds us why we read: Not merely to understand other lives or worlds, but to feel them.

Check out the full list of winners and runner-ups at the Dayton Literary Peace Prize website. I know I'll be adding a few of these books to my towering ToBe Read pile.

How do you plan to tell your story?

2010-09-26T18:02:00.003-05:00

Writing Inspiration

As writers, we tell stories. Some of them are true and factual, the most ideal piece of journalism, non-fiction or biography. Some stories are imaginative and wide ranging like one of my favorite tall tales, The Legend of John Henry, or The Lord of the Rings fantasy series. Like all things, the modes of storytelling evolve as human beings make technological advances. We've moved from firesides and wall drawings, to paper and illuminated volumes, to the e-book and electronic readers, and now enhanced e-books.

An enhanced e-book does more than imitate a printed book on a digital screen. An enhanced e-book may contain graphics, pop up windows, audio of author interviews or commentary and more. If you've ever seen the animated film, Treasure Planet, a retelling of the classic novel Treasure Island, you may recall a scene where holographic renderings of the story being "read" by the young protagonist illuminate his face as he enjoys the book under the covers when he should be sleeping. Holographic add-ons mean, no need to sneak a flashlight or reading light into the room to read that last page.

Some people may argue that something like this imagined holographic book and the current generation of e-books, including enhanced e-books, are not truly books. I would respond that reading is a unique experience very different from veiwing a film or in the future a holograph. Reading happens mostly in our heads. I believe this makes it a more intense and personal experience as the reader renders the story in their imagination. No, they are not exactly books, but they are still part of the reading experience as long as some portion of text goes directly from some surface to our brains.

As technology facilitates the evolution of the modes of storytelling, I think that every writer should keep in mind our ultimate goal. Our goal is to tell the best story, fact or fiction, the best way it can be told.

I'm just as attached to the tangible experience of reading a book as the next die hard bibliofile. I also enjoy having digital copies of several books at my finger tips.Which mode of publication is best for the future of publishing--tried and true paper or digital? Think of it this way. We could still be hammering words into clay tablets on the off chance that it would be around for posterity--hoping that the village liked it enough not to shatter the tablet in drunken revelry. Instead, we writers and readers have options.The beauty of the current publishing revolution is that we don't have to choose. We can offer our stories in multiple formats to reach our readers' hearts and minds however they choose to read.

Writing Craft

Read one of 2009's the ten most challenged books in observance of Banned Books Week (Sept. 25--Oct. 2).

Write down the first sentence from five of your favorite books. Now take a good look at the list. What makes these opening sentences great? How did they get you to keep reading?

Writing Resources

Science-fiction and fantasy fans should definitely visit Tor.com. Read short stories, comment, submit your work and download fantastic wall papers for free.

The Women's National Book Association posts a list of the best group reads annually as part of National Reading Group Month (October). Check out this year's list.

On My Bookshelf

Does Your Writing Career Have an Expiration Date?

2010-08-21T20:18:00.009-05:00

Writing Inspiration

We all live in a state of potential. Yes, every moment we make choices that transmute the potential into fact and action--a thing realized. Even with these choices, the potential to be different and do things differently remains constant.

This summer the New Yorker published a list of "20 Under 40," writers showing the promise or potential to give the world literature that endures. Articles, commenting on the writers selected and the usefulness of the age 40 as the metaphorical finish line to this potential or promise, soon followed the revelation of this list.

I recommend reading this essay, "How Old Can a 'Young Writer' Be?" by Sam Tanenhaus. He takes a fairly balanced look at what it means to be a "young writer" or a master writer at the height of their craftsmanship.

I believe that a person's potential is endless not inversely related to one's age. If you haven't written your great work, published it and had it widely recognized by the age of 39, don't fret. There's always tomorrow--until you take your last breath. Art is an endeavor of endurance, so persevere.

Craft

A great plot does not ensure the success of a story. The plot captures a reader's imagination as they review the blurb on the back of the paperback; the characters living the plot keep them reading. As readers, we want to know what happened to the people in the story, how they felt and what they did. Some of us even want to be someone else for a few hours. That only happens when well developed characters populate a story.

Take some time to make a list of your favorite characters. Then analyze what made them work. How did the author introduce them? What bits of information and habits were shared and how were they revealed? Next, take a look at the characters in your writing. Is there enough there to draw the reader in--to pique their interest or emotions--and keep them reading even if your plot should hit a slow spot?

Check out this interview with Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni at Women on Writing. She talks a great deal about how her characters influenced the shape of her novel. Here's a take away tip from the interview: She kept a notebook of the details she wanted to use to develop each of nine characters in her book, One Amazing Thing.

Resources

Obviously, I am a bibliophile. I love books and when I received an email from the Very Short List about Five Books, I was hooked. This site is great to get reading recommendations about an eclectic collection of topics. Think of it as a fun syllabus for the writing life. As writers, we're perpetual learners. You never know which information may prove useful as you pursue different projects.

I also discovered Book Glutton this week. Read, share, publish, make annotations to books you're reading or have read and discuss books all online. There are popular as well as public domain books available on this site.

On My Bookshelf

2010-08-02T15:41:00.000-05:00

32 Candles
Ernessa T. Carter
338 pages
Amistad an Imprint of HarperColllins Publishers

Some folks sail through adolescence with grace. They may occasionally lose altitude, but eventually, they descend and make a gentle landing. Others come crashing to earth in a tangle and have to work their way up to true flight.

The awkward limbo of adolescence some teens experience comes to mind easily for people who survived it. It’s a period in life when we are not yet fully formed, discovering who we are and who we would like to be. We also find ourselves painfully aware of our appearance as our hormones and genetics drag us through the gates of physical maturity.

Davidia Jones knows this painful awkwardness intimately. Her home life is hell. Her school life is purgatory. In short, her existence is one of vast suffering. It seems that her brief story will end before it has begun. She lives in small town Mississippi with little prospect of getting out. Her mother seems to loathe her existence. When her schoolmates acknowledge her, they torment her with a vicious nickname, Monkey Night.

The situation seems pretty hopeless for Davidia until she discovers the now classic film, Sixteen Candles. She aspires to achieve her own Molly Ringwald ending. If she is patient and coordinates her opportunities, she’ll get the love of her peers and the most popular guy in the school.

Enter James Farrell, an Atlanta transplant, heir to the Farrell Cosmetics fortune, star football player and object of Davidia’s unrequited affections. She adores and obsesses over James who fails to notice her. His sisters on the other hand are fully aware of her and contribute to her suffering.

Shortly after their arrival, a cruel prank that almost destroys Davie, motivates her to shake the dust of Mississippi from her feet. She begins a new life in Los Angeles remaking herself as sultry lounge singer Davie Jones. She has confidence, friends and a laid back lifestyle that suits her.

Everything is just fine, until she runs into James Farrell as fine and fabulous as ever. He doesn’t recognize her from high school and he’s interested in getting to know Davie. As a matter of fact, when Davie tries to leave him and the craziness of her high school experience in the past, he insists. Unable and unwilling to resist, Davie and James embark on a love affair that seems destined for a happy ending, until the sleeping dogs of the past wake up barking.

Ernessa T. Carter tells a story about betrayal, coming of age and true love with edgy humor and intelligence. Davie is a warm, smart and funny character whose unexpected insights make what could easily become tragic in her life a comedic success story. The story parallels the style of cinematic storytelling and is written in first character; Davie pulls you into her experiences in much the same way that Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) and other characters do in our favorite Brat Pack era films of the 80s--“breaking the wall” and engaging us in the unfolding events.

As you read, you hope that 32 candles aren’t too many for a happy ending.

The writer received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book for review.

Visit the author's website on HarperCollins.com

View all my reviews >>

2010-07-13T10:37:00.004-05:00

If you're looking for a literary distraction or a change of pace for your writing warm-up, check out Narrative Magazine's Word Scramble Tournament.

Puzzler—Word Scramble Tournament

Week Three

July 12, 2010

Week three of our Word Scramble Tournament has begun, with Literary Puzzler challenging you to create as many words as possible from a set of seven letters.

The Rules

Each week, Puzzler will give you a list of seven letters.

See how many words you can make with three or more letters each.

You'll receive one point for each three-letter word; two points for each four-letter word; three points for each five-letter word; four points for each six-letter word; and five points for each seven-letter word.

Your score will be cumulative across the four weeks, and you can enter your words for any week of the tournament until its final closing date.

The first-place winner will receive twelve Scoreboard points; the second-place winner will receive eight Scoreboard points; the third-place winner will receive four Scoreboard points.

The letters for the current week are listed below, along with the letters of previous weeks for tournament newcomers:

Week Three: S R A N O G E

Week Two: A L M E S N O

Week One: N T A I R E S

Send your words to Puzzler by Sunday noon, Pacific daylight time, each week. The names of the winners will be announced at the end of the tournament. To view the current Puzzler Scoreboard, click here.

We invite you to send us your suggestions for Puzzler questions. If your suggestion is chosen, you will be credited as the author of the question.
A question submitted for consideration must be accompanied by the answer as well as by a citation or source material to verify the accuracy of the question and answer.
We welcome Puzzler ideas and questions pertaining to the art, lore, personalities, events, characters, agents, intermediaries, and publishers of literature, past and present. We especially want questions and ideas that cannot be answered by a quick Internet search and that are multifaceted, amusing, and add to our store of knowledge. Please send your suggestions to Puzzler.

Click here to read more on our site

Wonder Woman's Story and Outfit Get a New Attitude

2010-07-01T15:37:00.003-05:00

I watched the Wonder Woman series religiously as a kid. Lynda Hamilton made being tough and feminine possible and exciting. Hey, it was the 70s; compared to her predecessors, she fit the bill. It was great to have a female superhero--heroine--to admire; who did the rescuing; and who wasn't blond. Well, my favorite woman of wonder has undergone a makeover. I like it. According to reports, the costume change cues other changes in the Wonder Woman mythos as well. It looks promising.

Wonder Woman's change in appearance and storyline exemplifies an ongoing practice in fiction, film and storytelling in general. For example, Justin Cronin's recent publication, The Passage, offers yet another take on vampires. In an interview, the author observes that every generation re-imagines the vampire myth to fit their times. This also occurs with other stories, myths and folk tales containing archetypal characters. Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, gives us the next generation from Mount Olympus. Twilight offers up vampires and werewolves. Do you have a myth or folktale that you think could use a little dusting off and revamping? Do you think that any recent publications or films have done so in a unique or particulary engaging manner?

Are You a Brand in the Making or an Artiste?

2010-06-24T16:01:00.010-05:00


I've struggled with the concept of self-branding, so much so that I've opted to use a pen name for a few of my intended projects. Our current social order focuses intently on categorizing everything. While it serves a function on my favorite playground, the Internet, it also makes it difficult to express myself as a writer; I'm an eclectic melange of ideas, interests and projects. I also recognize that many web surfers have keyword searching down to a science. If I want to be discovered in web searches, I need to offer searchable content. In order to receive maximum benefit (site traffic) from this situation, I must make my content and projects part of a consistent theme and approach, a brand. I'm resistant to this. I have many things to say on many topics. I found myself nodding and pounding my desktop while adding a few cries of "Hear, Hear!" as I read Maureen Johnson's post on BlogHer, regarding the heavy push for self-branding on the Internet. What do you think? Have we (writers--any type) over extended the concept of branding in an effort to keep our coffers full?

I've struggled with the concept of self-branding, so much so that I've opted to use a pen name for a few of my intended projects. Our current social order focuses intently on categorizing everything. While it serves a function on my favorite playground, the Internet, it also makes it difficult to express myself as a writer; I'm an eclectic melange of ideas, interests and projects. I also recognize that many web surfers have keyword searching down to a science. If I want to be discovered in web searches, I need to offer searchable content. In order to receive maximum benefit (site traffic) from this situation, I must make my content and projects part of a consistent theme and approach, a brand. I'm resistant to this. I have many things to say on many topics.

I found myself nodding and pounding my desktop while adding a few cries of "Hear, Hear!" as I read Maureen Johnson's post on BlogHer, regarding the heavy push for self-branding on the Internet. What do you think? Have we (writers--any type) over extended the concept of branding in an effort to keep our coffers full?

Rediscover the Basic Joys of Storytelling

2010-06-20T21:16:00.003-05:00

Writing Inspiration

During a recent family movie night, my son exclaimed,"Now that's a climax!" The movie had reached its apex and begun its descent to the end. For him at least, the story portion of the film accomplished every story's underlying purpose. It used a series of engaging events to create anticipation then guide the viewer to the main event of the story. It seemed like he enjoyed the experience more since he knew the parts, much the same way music gains depth and meaining for educated listeners.

When writing fiction, a writer must effectively provide an exposition, a series of ascending events, a climax and a fitting resolution. All of these elements comprise the "plot" of a story. The simplicity or complexity of the plot must be dictated by the story itself--how the development of each element most effectively relates to the story told.

Writers must exploit these elements to the best advantage of each story they write. My son's observation reaffirmed the importance and significance of knowing the technical parts of a story well. Films, books, operas even video games--the best begin with a really great story. This knowledge enhances a reader's or viewer's appreciation of a story, because they can sense and discern the elements moving in concert.

Craft

Who remembers diagramming sentences? If you ever completed such an assignment, I commisterate with you. It was tedious; it was a pain; and it worked. You may not have mastered dangling participles, but you definitely know the basics, subject, verb, adjective and adverb. You probably could even still identify direct objects, prepositions and prepositional objects in a pinch, because you learned sentence structure.

Here's this month's challenge: create a story diagram. Take one of your previously written pieces preferrably a short piece or one of your favorite short stories. Make copies and then diagram the parts of the story. Mark the exposition, the ascesnding events, the climax, any descending events/resolution and the end. Does the story move clearly and effectively through each phase of the plot? Is it well paced? Does the story move too quickly or too slowly at any point? Is the climax fitting or does it underserve the building events, creating an anti-climax?

Have fun. I'll post my efforts to diagram one of my short stories at the end of the month.

Resources

The Oxford University Press has just launched a new version of its Oxford Dictionaries online. Check out the quotes, games, reading and writing articles and many other offerings that can improve your reading and writing experiences.

Booktrib.com compiles posts and reviews from book blogs across the internet. They also offer a weekly book giveaway.

On my bookshelf

Book Review: 31 Bond Street

2010-06-20T21:00:00.000-05:00

31 Bond Street by Ellen Horan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The humble origins of iconographic places often get lost beneath the layers of time and change. In the late 1800s, the streets of New York City still used cobblestone paving. The Jersey shore still had lots for sale. Shanty towns peppered the city and wooded areas still bordered the city. However the life changing opportunities and unforgiving competition for position and power which personify New York were well on their way to being fully formed. New York society teamed with economic and cultural growth as well as political power. Ellen Horan captures the burgeoning persona of New York in her novel, 31 Bond Street and offers up an enticing drama filled with murder, intrigue, greed and betrayal.

Horan’s novel retells the murder trial of Dr. Harvey Burdell, a dentist, a respected citizen of New York and a man who dabbled in local real estate. She brings the city of the era clearly and engagingly to life. Her vivid descriptions, characterizations and believable imagining of the events preceding and following the murder trial clearly illustrate her skill as a writer and the depth of her research.

The novel opens in the winter of 1857. Burdell has been viciously murdered in his home. Emma Cunningham, the widow who resides there with her two daughters and manages his home is the primary suspect. She finds herself being tried in the court of public opinion as the Coroner Edward Connery conducts a highly questionable inquest in the Burdell home; she may receive a guilty verdict before her case makes it to trial.

Recognizing her precarious position Cunningham sends a note to Henry Clinton a popular New York attorney known for taking on worthy and challenging cases. When he accepts her request, he learns that his professional rival, New York County district attorney, Abraham Oakley Hall seems to intend to use the trial to raise his public profile and further his bid for the mayoral seat of New York.

Using these dynamic historical figures and equally intriguing fictional additions, Horan weaves a solid story of murder, personal betrayal and political ambition. 31 Bond Street is not an edge of your seat page turner to be bolted down in a few sittings. It’s a meal to savor much like the one described in a scene during which Clinton and his junior partner discuss trial strategy. The meal is served in sumptuous and fully articulated courses meant to be weighed and appreciated to the last bite. This novel deserves the same.

View all my reviews >>

E-Book Market Current Events

2010-06-11T12:13:00.004-05:00

Is it worth the price?

E-books are convenient for a person like me who tends to read multiple texts at the same time. I also spend alot of time on the go, so having the option of reading via laptop, e-reader or other mobile device really appeals to me; it allows me to maintain a portable library.

That said, I do not want to get locked into one retailer for my e-book purchases. I have to admit some confusion regarding which option, Sony e-reader, Nook or Kindle, etc., will give me the most bang for my buck. The cross platform options have improved but they are still not optimal.

The big guys, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple, want to corner the e-book market, or at least, control it in some measure. As a consumer and self publisher, I find the prospect of any of them managing to accomplish this goal extremely unpleasant. Check out this story: eBook Market Needs Transparency, and Fast at Digital Book World.

What do you think? Do you read e-books? If so, which e-reader or portable devices do you recommend?

Use the Longer Days of Spring to Try Shorter Types of Writing

2010-05-19T12:59:00.006-05:00

Writing Inspiration

If you're like me, the sunshine and warmer breezes of early spring call you away from your desk more often than they should. Writing is hard work and you want to play. Use the new vigor that spring infuses into its longer brighter days to fuel your writing. Take your writing inspiration from the early festivals, fairs and sporting events emerging on your calendar. Experiment with shorter pieces. If you write poetry revisit the haiku form or write a shorter piece of free verse; challenge your self to say the same thing with fewer lines or words.

May is unofficially short story month. Try to write one or a few. The beauty of short stories rests on two elements, they're an exercise in discipline. They are also a more limited time commitment when compared to writing a novel.

This month is also National Runners Month. Write about your fitness practice or goals. A healthy body allows us to keep a healthy mind; don't neglect exercise in favor of your keyboard or pen. Better still, try taking it with you. Get a digital recorder, so you can keep track of ideas as you walk. If you run, it's still great thinking time. I've done some deep thinking on the treadmill.

Craft

The challenge of the short story is to get it right with less--fewer words, fewer characters and fewer events. The form forces a writer to discipline themselves and still convey an engaging and complete story. The short story is being re-embraced all over the Internet on Twitter and and in newsletters and on websites from publishers and authors. They are an effective and fun way to test drive ideas. On occasion a short story can become the seed of a longer piece, a novella or novel.

Read a few of my short stories here. I'd love to receive comments.
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On My Book Shelf

Click on the cover to learn more about the book or pick up a copy.

I'm reading this book at the moment, and it is a page turner. I'll review it next month. It's about a grisly murder in New York during the 1800s.

This tale about the relationship between an old man and a young woman in late adolescence proved intriguing and disturbing. I recommend it.

Action, adventure, science-fiction/fantasy and a little romance make this well written book a weekend read worth making the time.

Book Review: Husband and Wife

2010-05-19T11:32:00.001-05:00

Husband and Wife: A Novel by Leah Stewart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Husband and Wife opens on a common domestic scene, but it's not tranquil. The baby sitter has arrived to attend to the two young children of Sarah Price and her husband, Nathan, as they prepare to go out for the evening. Sarah is searching for her husband's shoe and resisting the urge to go breastfeed her baby son when Nathan shatters this contained chaos. He confesses that his pending publication titled, Infidelity, holds somebasis in fact. He had an affair the previous year while attending a writers conference. Ironically, they are getting ready to attend the wedding of two of their closest friends.

When Sarah and Nathan met, they gravitated to each other. They shared a passion for the written word, him as a fiction writer and her as a poet. They explored the joys and difficulties of their art together. Then they married and had their first child, and then a second. Nathan continued to write while Sarah drifted away from her poetry into the role of mother and provider. She did not mind so much, or at least she believed that she didn't, until Nathan's tearful revelation as she hands him the missing shoe.

The pages that follow paint a lyrical exploration of the aftermath of infidelity. Stewart renders a believable and empathetic telling of Sarah's journey to reclaim her personal identity which she allowed to be subsumed by responsibility and self-doubt. She rediscovers her poetic voice and the thrill of writing by revisiting the path that she did not choose. This path is personified by Rajiv, a handsome filmmaker and college chum, who expressed deep affection for her several times, over several years. She always declined his advances and returned to Nathan. Did she make the right choice?

Stewart keeps this common story fresh with her well developed and quirky characters. Alternately sad, insightful and comical, the end result is a very real story that could be anyone's experience rather than the hyperbole that often accompanies tales about infidelity. The novel is also full of literary references made by the characters, several writers themselves. As a writer and a reader, I appreciated the additional depth provided by the references. Sometimes our words are not enough to express what we feel, and sometimes, someone else said it better first. Sarah uses the words of other writers to give depth to her own and when language fails her.

Stewart also gives a glimpse into Sarah's writing life. She inserts poems authored by Sarah into the text as she rediscovers her ability to write. Nathan's writing also makes an appearance as a short story. Stewart accomplishes this without breaking the rhythm and flow of the novel. Husband and Wife almost reads as a poem itself; it has a cadence, is told in three parts or stanzas, and loops back beautifully to the opening of the book, just before it ends.

View all my reviews >>

Writing Roundup: Romance Writers, This Is Your Season

2010-02-11T10:54:00.054-06:00

Can you smell the sweet scents of rose petals and chocolate? Do you hear the satisfied sighs of happy lovers? Can you empathize with the anguished feelings of people suffering the pangs of unrequited love? Do you imagine the joy filled weddings that will occur in June following the flurry of romantic Valentine's Day proposals? If these thoughts and sensations fill your day dreams, put pen to paper--or fingers to keyboard--you can write a romance novel.

In recent years, romance fiction has become one of the hottest selling book genres. In 2008, romance fiction dominated books sales generating $1.37 billion despite the general downward trend in booksales. The subgenres of titles found under the romance category have also exploded. Science-fiction, paranormal, mystery thriller, historical, christian, and other romance subgenres allow authors to craft romance novels that capture the imaginations and inspire the hearts of readers.

I enjoy a mixture of themes when I'm reading romance. I get bored with a standard boy meets girl, boy loses girl, girl and boy reconcile romance plot--unless its exceptionally well written. The romance authors that I enjoy most write paranormal and action adverture romance. Diana Gabaldon, Charlaine Harris, L. A. Banks, and Sherrilyn Kenyon all write smart romances with unexpected plot twists. They also fill their books with well imagined and crafted characters. Romance writing may be fun, but it also requires the same hardwork and attention to detail as other genres. My favorite authors' understanding of this show in their ability to craft characters which capture readers' imaginations and consistently maintain several interesting storylines in their very popular series.

Whatever your romance style, enjoy your season and if you're feeling inspired, write one.

Here a few of my most recent romance reads:
The Devil Inside (Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist, Book 1)
An Echo in the Bone: A Novel (Outlander)
Bad Blood (Crimson Moon, Book 1)
Switch

Check out these resources for romance writers:
Romance Writers of America
Writing a Romance Novel for Dummies
WOW! Women on Writing--Issue No. 37: Romance Writing

Writing Inspiration In February

2010-02-01T00:00:00.011-06:00

Romance, adventure and controversy (read conflict) are the key ingredients of great storytelling. They also feature in the events and holidays associated with the month of February. The month offers a treasure trove of inspiration for writers seeking ideas. Holidays and historic events, Presidents' Day, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, the Valentines Day Massacre and the assassination of Malcom X, mark the days of February. Here are a few links to previous February posts to get the ink flowing.

"Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared...." -- President Elect Obama during his Election '08 Acceptance Speech

2008-11-05T15:07:00.008-06:00

I wrote this in response to the email I received from Senator Obama via the Obama for America site . I'm sure many of you received the same message. This is a great day!

Dear President Elect Obama:

Thank you for your thoughtful appreciation. You have made a positive difference in the lives of many with your campaign. I hope that the paradigm shift we've begun to see--in the way our nation's citizens view their role in their government and in the world, continues to grow in a positive an proactive direction.

Your election has touched the hearts and minds of my son (10 years old) and my daughter (9 years old). They watched the polling reports last night with the enthusiasm of an avid sports fan. A few months ago, when I mentioned to my son that he could one day run for President, he responded, "I don't know if I want that job." Which coming from him means, I don't think that job opening is available to me. ( I'm working on helping him see the glass as half full rather than half empty.) Last night, after ABC announced you would be our 44th President, he asked, "Do you have to be married to be president?" It's become a possible reality to him, rather than an impossible dream. My daughter beams with pride whenever we discuss your election. (She plans to be a singer and a cheerleader, so politics aren't on her to do list at the moment.) I thank you for your courage, fortitude and vision, and I wish you the best during your term as President of the United States of America. May there be many more promising firsts in our nation's future.

Sincerely,
Desiré Hendricks

Reaping the Harvest

2008-11-04T09:49:00.006-06:00

A cornucopia of opportunities to reap a fruitful harvest fill November. Today in the U. S. , voters reap the harvest of their candiadates' hardwork and their own attentiveness to our unique election process. If you're still in pursuit of your great novel, why not reap the benefits of joining the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) community? (I'm behind already, but if at first you don't succeed.... This is my third attempt.) Now, that the temptations and outdoor activities of warm days have fully faded into this new season, why not catch up with your reading? Check out my November suggestions if you're not sure where to start. Fall beauty and bounty, it's my favorite season.

Follow election coverage here

Click on the badge to sign up and get one

of your own and maybe finish a novel!

Not sure what to read...get a few

bright ideas and join the conversation

at Collins Publishing's page on

Gather.com.

Summer Reading: A Patriotic Booklist to Add to Your Summer Reading

2008-07-05T09:43:00.005-05:00

The current buzz around the "presumptive" presidential nominees, Senators John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D), holds a major portion of my much divided attention these days. As usual, my reading is driven by the topic I'm most obsessed with at the moment (I tend to topically fixate); I find myself wanting to know more about my function as a citizen in this process and how we came to be at this crossroads.

I'm also reaching for books that offer more information about how I can green my life and shrink my carbon footprint. "Reduce, reuse, recycle," I chant to myself, but I'm a city dweller with an appreciation for the natural world. I want to integrate green practices into my current setting and lifestyle, and do it in a way that makes it most likely that I'll be able to stick to it. I'll recycle, buy in bulk and break it down, I've even started toting around a QT jug for refills, but I'm not trying to mess with composting.

Finally, the Daring Books volumes are great resources filled with fun facts, games, reading suggestions and projects; Get A Hobby also offers up some great ideas. They both provide parents with a wealth of ways to keep the kids (and themselves) busy and learning over the summer break.

Summer Reading Suggestions 2008

America's Hidden History--Kenneth C. Davis
Common Sense--Thomas Paine
Founding Brothers--Joseph J. Ellis
The World is Flat--Thomas L. Friedman
Gorgeously Green--Sophie Uliano
The Dangerous Book for Boys--Conn & Hal Iggulden
The Daring Book for Girls--Andrea Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz
Get A Hobby--Tina Barseghia

What are you reading this summer? Share your recommendations and old favorites in the comments section.

How High the Price of Success?

2008-05-14T15:20:00.002-05:00

Literary writers in search of publication often find themselves stuck between paying the bills and honestly representing their artistic vision and their skill as writers. This proves especially true for writers of color. Preconceived notions, regarding what various ethnic and racial groups should be, cloud the issue as editors determine which books could or would sell successfully.

I'm not a fan of street lit;I think that most of it is trash. Then again, critics said the same of Shakespear and Alexandre Dumas in their day. I don't believe in literacy at any cost, and I'm pretty flexible; I'm more concerned with content than genre or format, sci-fi, graphic novel, fantasy, novella, romance....all acceptable as long as a solid plot and well developed characters are present, and the rules of English grammar are mostly observed (gotta leave room for creative license).

I believe that there is room for vernacular narratives and campy writing, but street lit makes me cringe. It lacks context. Where one may pickup a Zebra paperback and acknowledge that they are about to indulge in some over the top escapist reading--street lit too often receives a stamp of authenticity, that proves problematic when the genre reinforces negative stereotypes of African Americans and women. If we are what we eat--meaning consume--what are the consumers of street lit doing for their mental health?

Colorlines.com
May/June 2008

The Rise of Street Literature

By Almah LaVon Rice

Gia-Bao Tran

IN PERCIVAL EVERETT’S NOVEL Erasure, Thelonious Ellison is a college professor who writes novels that are more praised than read. His work’s engagement with French post-structuralists and ancient Greek literature impresses and baffles reviewers, who wonder what those subjects have to do with the African-American experience. Frustrated by his latest novel’s seventh rejection and angered by the success of the street-lit hit We’s Lives in Da Ghetto, Ellison dashes off a novella parodying the “true, gritty real stories of [B]lack life” that he has been advised to write. This satiric tale, which is included in Erasure in its entirety, is peopled with stock characters like the perennially scowling thug and the vapid baby mama. It is sent to Random House as a protest, but to Ellison’s amazement and chagrin he is offered a $600,000 advance for his “magnificently raw and honest” account. Compromised, disgusted and rich, Ellison creates a reclusive, ex-con writer persona that the literary world celebrates as a “real! live! scary! Black male!” writer in their midst. Read more>>>>

Poetry, Poesie, Verse & Line....

2008-04-01T13:20:00.005-05:00

If Only It Could Be National Poetry Month All of the Time!

If you're looking for a one stop internet resource to help you celebrate National Poetry Month, the Academy of American Poets have you covered. Poems, biographies of well loved verse technicians, poetry writing instruction, essays on the craft and other articles are just some of the poetic offerings available at Poets.org.

More NPM fun:

Farrar, Straus and Giroux's National Poetry Month blog:

Of course, we had to bring you a new ringtone, recorded just for you by one of FSG's most illustrious poets;
More audio of some of greatest poets, including a long-time FSGer who somehow managed to escape recording for us last year, even though he had a new book out;
A whole week devoted exclusively to poetry in translation;
All-new downloadable posters (guaranteed to brighten up even the saddest cubicle), guest bloggers, and giveaways.

April Poem-A-Day Challenge with Robert Lee Brewer

Prompts
Poems
Fun

(You can view my daily poetry posts in honor of National Poetry Month at Chocolate and Other Poems. Wish me luck and fortitude, better yet, post a poem of your own in the comments section.)