Deborah Blake Dempsey

Disenchanted in this Time of Humanity

2016-07-09T16:07:00.000-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself...

Disenchanted, but still holding the Light high.

Musical Moment ~ “Bulgarian Melody” Deep Forest

This video is re-surfacing after the Alton Sterling, Philander Castile, and the mass shootings in Dallas, Tx the last few days. The fact that this video "has to" exist and is not the full conversation of "The Talk" is worst than heartbreaking, but a travesty. And, #10 just reminded me of what has happened - to multiple ethnic groups, actually - when people expect you to always smile and comply. To watch your "tone" and be managed. The next thing you discover is you and your people are enslaved, tortured, and hunted. If we don't break through the issues of what keeps us apart and fearful of each other, we can not evolve into the race of one: Human. Thinking we are separate is breaking us apart and is doing deep harm. Violence is not the answer and yet the conversation has gotten louder, but are we listening. If we can agree on nothing else, let us agree that no matter what race, religion, or affiliations, every single being on earth knows and understands one thing: LOVE. If we could just take the situations - if they are not yours, pretend you and those you love are experiencing them: beatings, murders, rapes, betrayals. Imagine that it IS your experience. Imagine it is happening to the child you would give your life up for or the partner who makes opening your eyes in the morning an extra joy or the parent who is already working three jobs to support you both and the only one who loves you unconditionally. Or it could be...anyone you love. Can you be deeply honest and say how you would feel, think, and react about it? Would it be the same as your unfettered thoughts and daily interactions right at this moment, which mostly has no threat of beatings, murders, rapes, or betrayals?

Then sprinkle on a turbulent history. People's constant suspicions and insults and please do not think that suspicion and insult is always loud and "video" ready. No, these insults are when everyone else is acknowledged but you, you're followed around stores by a person with a phone in their hand ready to call the police for...whatever they're thinking or hoping your do, or when a purse is grabbed when you walk by, or a child pulled closer, or the silent glare of hatred until you pass out of sight no longer "offending".

Vigilance and vigilantism is exhausting. It makes people edgy and poor choices inevitable. If ever there was a time to change, this is it. We can either put anger and fear aside and endeavor to see each other as allies or we can destroy each other.

We are all beautiful.

I said before that I am disappointed in us humans, but I still hold high the light of hope. I will keep looking to the heart and goodness of people and to those who are not, I will not blame your people, I will just say that one person, at that one moment, is not in harmony with me and move on. Not millions of people, but the moment with that one person. Sometimes it just takes the understanding of one to change the world. Jesus did it. Buddha did it. Muhammad did it. Joseph Smith did it. It is a doable doing.

There are no excuses.

Killings, Retaliations, and Heartbreak

2016-07-08T15:23:00.001-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself...

...Heartbroken

Musical Moment ~ “Birdsong" Mother Nature (as heard from my office)

I am disappointed in us humans. Heartbroken at the loss of lives and fearful of what will happen next in a society struggling to understand each other, acknowledge the plethora of similarities, and find a way to accept and understand (maybe even embrace) our differences, and simply get along. I am proud of who and what I am, and the people I am connected to through blood or lineage. I am open to knowing all the peoples of this world, but it is hard to continually look for the positive teachings in life when there is so much hate, distrust, and violence circling like a starved, rabid jackal. It is even harder to know you will have to monitor your surroundings, actions, and tone even more so than you already do...to never feel the Freedom because you’re on high alert.

I don’t want to be afraid to walk this earth in my skin, so I will not be. ~I~ was made in the image of the highest, most Supreme Soul. Call the Supreme Soul by whatever name you use for your spiritual journey on this earth – God, Jehovah, Allah, Great Spirit, Buddha, the Universe, etc. ~You~ were made in the image of the highest, most Supreme Soul. We are all beautiful.

We are ALL beautiful.

So let us please stop the killings. If you must kill, kill with words, with thoughts, with actions that make proactive, positive, life/soul-altering impacts to this world. Stop making judgments – mostly, erroneous – about other people based on the general consensus of what your social/peer group think. Take the time to investigate (and do so with an open mind and heart, you’ll learn even more, including more about yourself) and discover truths on your own. Be curious. Be curious so that we can finally be that seemingly elusive single race we all belong to but try to ignore: Human.

Earth is a pretty big planet. As of today, we can’t live anywhere else in the universe that we know of, so why not make this planet what it really is, a place where inclusivity must exist for there to be balance and love and life, and liberty, and the opportunity to pursue happiness.

The Power of Diversity

2016-05-14T19:22:00.004-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself...

Winter is hard and harsh so that I can deeply appreciate the other seasons and find myself through the snow.

Musical Moment ~ “One Mo' Time" Queen Latifah

As a lifelong lover of the written word, I have enjoyed books - both fiction and non-fiction - about peoples of different cultures, religions, and philosophies African, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Native Cultures (American, Australian, South American), Jewish, and of course, many, many European cultures.. I have been taught so much. I have been entertained, I have fallen in love, I have felt heartbroken and I have been extremely curious. While I may not have a familiarity with certain cultural norms, what I have discovered is that at heart people are people.

We all want to give and receive love.

We all bleed.

We all cry.

Once born, we all die.

I guess my curiosity is because of my Jamaican "Out of Many, One People" philosophy and knowing that I come from a diverse background and have always been surrounded by people who are not quite like me. Beautiful people who are not quite like me. Brave people who in the end...are more like me than I would have ever known had I not been open to meeting and embracing those who are different from myself and diving deep into their stories. But here's the greatest secret of all: In the end and in the deepest most sacred parts of our self - we are truly all of one.

Reflection

2016-03-21T14:30:00.000-04:00

To learn about yourself is the most important knowledge you can obtain.

A New Year's Reflection

2015-12-31T11:14:00.001-05:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself...

Feeling amazing in the magic of life.

Musical Moment ~ “Grade 8" Ed Sheeran

Dear Peeps:

I wish for you a sweet moment of reflection on your last 365 days in the year 2015. All of those lovely moments...and the not so lovely ones. May your reflections show you the glory of life even among the crazy days, the horrible news stories, the sadness's of loved ones and strangers, the eye opening moments of seeing those you thought you knew in a different way - whether for good or not so good. May you embrace all this knowledge and move forward better spirits. Say a heartfelt THANK YOU for making it through this year. Not all of us did.

For 2016, I wish you an amazing year filled with your deepest hopes and wishes fulfilled. May you use the knowledge you learned in 2015 - and all the years before that - to your advantage and live in wisdom, kindness, openness, and (the easiest and hardest thing to do) unconditional love. May all the things you've wanted to accomplish and adventures you've wanted to undertake be jumped into with the unencumbered enthusiasm of your younger, freer self, and I truly hope from the deepest part of my soul that you experience the deepest levels of love imaginable.

Best and Happy, Happy, Happy New Year!

I Wish I May I Wish I Might Be A Fighter Of This Crazy Life

2015-10-24T13:55:00.000-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself...

Thinking about the youth of today and...my heart is sad and hopeful

Musical Moment ~ “Modulations" Ani Difranco

Fire Island Magic - Photo Credit - Deborah Blake Dempsey

So many damn shootings going over the last few years and now we are escalating at an alarming rate. I'm not going to talk gun control or politics, but I have to wonder - after going to a gun range and handling a Sig Sauer myself - how the complete and overwhelming feelings and knowledge of respect and responsibility of LIFE does not convince more people that pulling the trigger can be an act with life altering results that can affect so many lives and that of a nation. The first time I pulled the trigger I stopped before I shot again and I sat with that moment because it rocked me to my soul. I felt that responsibility. I took that moment so that when I wrote about it in my stories, I never took the act lightly. I wanted to understand what that moment would truly mean. I don't know all the details at the Tennessee State University, but a dice game is no place for a gun to every be pulled, cocked, and shot. Are we so desensitized about human life that taking another persons life or causing injury that leaves someone in a wheelchair or on life-support is so easy to do nowadays? What the hell is going on with our young men that make this a plausible way to deal with anger, grief, confusion, conflict, insecurity, rage, disillusionment, or for them to find a way to define themselves as men in this world? We need a solution. We need to start having honest discussions. We need to start talking to our young people and allowing them to speak their minds and feelings in their own ways and telling us in their own truths - even and maybe especially when it makes us “adults” uncomfortable. Apparently, our young ones are living above a boiler and many of them are starting to blow. What next people? What next? If we don’t begin to talk “with” them instead of “to” or “about” them then nothing will be resolved. Nothing. If this is not a cry for help, I don’t know what is. Are we listening America? Are we?

2015-10-14T07:57:00.003-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself...

Reflective.

Musical Moment ~ “Dum Diddly" Black Eyed Peas

It's my anniversary! Twenty years ago today, I boarded a plane for NYC leaving my home in Tampa. I grabbed life by the balls and said, "Show me what's next". I had no idea of what I would experience when I left my home, my family, my best friends, and the life I had established--all 24 years of it and a few thousand dollars in my pocket, no job in sight, but a heart full of dreams and a head filled with determination. It's been a wild ride filled with love, laughter, lessons, pain in many of its incarnations, hellos, good-byes, visions, transformations, births, deaths, new friendships, new careers, adventures, and more blessing than I could have imagined. I was not afraid that day I boarded that plane all by myself. I was not afraid when the plane taxied down the run way and I could no longer see my parents worried faces. I was not afraid when I saw the tall, magnificent, and intimidating buildings of NYC, and I was not afraid during my first hurdle of the worst bout of food poisoning two weeks later that still makes me shudder and sweat when I think about it. Twenty years ago today, I took a risk on myself and damn it, it was worth it. I have become someone I am proud of and I am going to keep on walking my path as fierce and as fearlessly as I can. Twenty years ago, I proclaimed myself ready for the world. Today, I proclaim myself Fabulously Fierce at Forty-Four. The door of the world is open. I wonder what is next...

Happy Birthday To Me!

2015-01-07T06:50:00.001-05:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself...

Thinking about my next adventure.

Musical Moment ~ “Wait For You" Nelly Furtado

I love my birthday. I know many people may be indifferent or annoyed by the passing of another year of life, but I celebrate it with full zeal. It is the one day of the year that is all about you: when you arrived upon the earth, the people who brought you here (Happy Birthday to you too Meva and Trevor Blake - yes, I give my parents a shout out on my birthday because without them I would not be), the lessons you've learned, the lessons you've ignored, the low, sad moments, and the moments that were so brilliant, heart-warming, funny, and filled with love that you should take the day of your birth to drink it all in. I usually don't work on my birthday and I do whatever my heart wants from getting a massage, having an adventure or just sitting on the couch and reading a book in the quiet. And I always give myself a gift. It's my way of reminding myself that life is precious. It can be longer or shorter than we realize and I want to be as present in my life as I possibly can and enjoy each and every single day I have breath in my body.

I haven't figured out this year's gift yet. I've been thinking about falconry or taking a lesson on flying a helicopter. We'll see, but I'll definitely let you know which way I go. So my birthday wish is for everyone to have a brilliant joy-filled day and please laugh, laugh, laugh.

Cheers!

New Years And A Different Kind of Resolution

2015-01-01T08:40:00.000-05:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Embracing the acknowledgement of my writerly efforts.

Musical Moment ~ The buzz of the heater warming up the house and my husband's phone pinging with reminders.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but this year I thought I should kick off the year with Intentions for my greater good and this is what I came up with:

Each day I will laugh.

Each day I will love.

Each day I will be kind to others.

Each day I will be kind to myself.

Each day when I open my eyes I will hug gratitude close to my heart.

Each day you open your eyes I will embrace the joy of your being.

Here's to saying good-bye to 2014 and a big ole "Whassup?" to 2015.

May 2015 be filled with laughter, joy, happiness, and deep, deep love. May the not so good times be only small hurdles to fly over and my your landing on the other side of it be soft and surrounded by the family and friends you need.

Here's to a New Year.

Cheers!

Review: Nightsong by Ari Berk

2014-11-28T13:24:00.000-05:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Realizing physical pain is a great, great teacher.

Musical Moment ~ SILENCE, just good old-fashioned silence.

I went to the bookstore today and discovered a book called Nightsong written by Ari Berk and illustrated by Loren Long. When I saw the cover of the book with a single flying creature in the night sky with an curious look on its face and the way the used the title to add to the atmosphere of the story I knew nothing about, I picked up with book without looking for the description and when directly to the check out. What a beautiful story about a young bat first venture into the world by itself and its mother’s advise of using its sense. What a wonderful way to prepare yourself and your child for those times they must do things on their own. These words captured me the most:

“Sense is the song you sing out into the world, and the song the world sings back to you.”

Doesn't that sentence just make you curious? This is a book to have in ones collection. It's moody and thoughtful with a sense of suspense and a deep sense of love.

Diversity in Books

2014-11-17T08:32:00.000-05:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Wondering about health and personal responsibility

Musical Moment ~ “Invisible (RED)" U2

Diversity in Books come in many forms: I am a Jamaican American author. My debut novel THE HOPPERNOTS is a middle-grade fantasy novel for readers still young enough to be enchanted by woodland dwellers and for older readers who secretly believe in the magic and madness of the forest. The themes of the novel are about friendship, courage, community, nature, and the human-animal relationship. While I do not focus on the diversity of people, I do so through animals in a different manner of seeing people and animals in all of their glorious differences and how though working together we get to see each other’s positive attributes, the similarities between ourselves, and the power and grace of working together.

I have been a voracious reader since I was a child, but there have been few books where I have seen myself or my friends who have been black, African, Thai, Vietnamese, Puerto Rico, Cuban, Persian, Saudi Arabian, Indian, Caribbean Islanders, Korean, on and on and on. The only way I had the opportunity of learning about different cultures was through my insatiable curiosity and the generosity they and they're families have had with all of my questions. I have devoured thousands of books in my life, but NOW is the time the world is ready to be introduced to the stories of people who look nothing like you. Not as a way to sway you to be like them, but as a way to see the similarities of your lives and appreciate the differences as well.

Let us embrace the beauty of this earth and its people. The only way to gain peace on earth is to see and appreciate each other as the glorious human beings each of us are.

For more information, please check out the official We Need Diverse Books website. Let's keep the movement moving forward.

The Complexities of Life...To Slow You Down and Think

2014-11-17T06:51:00.001-05:00

My back is completely seized up today.No movement except for my hands today...until the meds kick it and I'm useless to the messages the Universe wants me to pay most attention to. My deepest intuitive thought is: Sometimes being the positive personal support system to others allows the door for you to ignore yourself and your own needs so your body (or your mind or your soul) reminds you that you need to come first as well. Many times in my life I've forgotten this and now my body is tired of this abject forgetfulness on my part. It is time to put me on my own to do list of priorities and to find the most natural of ways to heal myself - East must meet West must meet West Indian traditions.

Some of my favorite links to animal tales...

2014-10-10T10:47:00.000-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Staring at the leaves in my backyard, turning for lush greens to sultry reds, vibrant orange, and an "I don't care" yellow.

Musical Moment ~ “Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms) by Percy Sledge

It's time to share some of my favorite animal tale websites. M

My absolute favorite is by photographer Kai Fagerstrom who created the wonderful book The House in the Woods which is a small look at the world I created in my novel The Hoppernots. I discovered this book when YA writer Jo Knowles posted it and I realized this is what life around my fictionalized Lake Fibian would probably look like, but with frogs.

http://www.demilked.com/the-house-in-the-woods-kai-fagerstrom/

It's a squarely life...
http://www.viralnova.com/found-freezing/

A young environmentalist and animal activist in the making. Meet Alex Green and his interesting discoveries...
http://www.ncnaturenews.com

Life in nature is amazing. I hope you take a moment out of your day to get outside and to listen to what the life outside of yours is saying and doing.

Oh, and just in case you need pure mind candy, check this site out, but don't blame me if you loose hours giggling and saying "awwwwww". It's appropriately called Cute Overload.

http://cuteoverload.com

Enjoy!

A Thought...

2014-08-19T09:11:00.001-04:00

What I have come to realize in this life is that we choose how we react and respond to situations. Sometimes we allow ourselves to be sucked up into nonsense, especially nonsense that has nothing to do with us and we should simply walk away from it. Learning to "walk away" is a gift to give one’s self. Instead of getting aggravated, tied up into frustrated knots, or sink into a depressed resentment, we should *try* (and it will be challenging) to honor ourselves and let go of what is not only not our business, but also not healthy to our mind and soul.

Robin Williams and Why We Need To Be More Compassionate Toward Mental Illness

2014-08-13T10:13:00.001-04:00

I have known many, many people throughout my life who have suffered from mental illness, specifically bi-polar (manic depression) disorder. It is a disease that is pure torture to the person who suffers it and to the people who love them. I have watched people I love go from smart, successful, funny, loving people to people who cannot control their behavior, their thoughts or the things they say, and who have lived a life with unspeakable events that they have either wrought onto themselves or events that have happened because of the terrible decisions they have made and who have put themselves into situations that have spiraled out of control. I have been worried. I have been angry. I have been a friend who stood by them staunchly and a friend who sometimes needed to take breaks from them because their destruction was overwhelming and uncontrollable, even while taking their medication. The helplessness I have felt has been…a hell of its own as I watched their descents into the pits of their living hell.

I am sick and tired of mental illness being treated like a dirty little secret. I am sick and tired of people suffering and not seeking treatment. I am sick and tired of people finding a sense of solace in drugs or alcohol instead of admitting they need help to themselves and to their families, and then seeking therapy. It is a sad society when saying someone’s an addict or someone has 20 kids by 20 different men/women or someone’s embezzled millions of dollars from people is more respectful than saying, “I have a mental illness”, “I have a therapist” or “I need to take medication to [mentally] live”. Mental illness has been around for centuries and it is not going away. There is no shame in having this illness, but people have made it shameful to admit, “we are not perfect”. No one on this earth lives a life with “no issues” whatever they may be. We may try to pretend our way through life, but life is a process of discovering ourselves and some people’s path are more challenging when our mind - that part of ourselves most of us trust and take for granted - seemingly works against us. I worked in a mental health hospital for a year and a half. I saw patients who came for office visits and those who were locked down on the psych ward. Guess what? They looked just like you and me. There for the grace…it was not you!

As for suicide, people are always saying it is a selfish act and link that “selfish act” to it being selfish to the living left behind, but I will tell you right now, the act of committing suicide is NEVER decided lightly. Suicide is an act of sheer and final desperation. It is an act of release from a pain-filled existence that none of us who would “never do such a thing” can even remotely comprehend. Yes, you do feel the abject pain of loss and you most likely will never truly understand the why’s of the person you love taking their life, but if you do not suffer the illness, you can never know the toll and the many tries of getting better or the many, many ways of finding other solutions to be freed from the maniacal grip of that beast or – and this is extremely important - the many, many, many, many more times that person you love was on the precipice of ending their life…but chose not to for that day, that time or that moment.

We make judgments, but we don’t walk in their shoes. Let’s get educated and let’s create a society where our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, priests, politician, electrician, bellmen and the homeless person on the street can not only get the help they desperately need, but also the love and understanding that can help them chose to live another day, rather than end their physical existence causing the ripple effect of a different kind of pain to those left behind.

The Official Reveal

2014-08-01T15:13:00.000-04:00

Book Cover Reveal of THE HOPPERNOTS http://t.co/rAB17dZFXi pic.twitter.com/fERQV3bkSJ
— Deborah BlakeDempsey (@DebtheWise) July 1, 2014

Going Indie – A Book in the Hand is Worth…Everything

2014-07-18T10:04:00.000-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Staring change and opportunity in the eyes.

Musical Moment ~ “Blue World” The Moody Blues

I haven’t been perfect with blogging the last few weeks, but that’s because the Indie publishing side of my life was pushed into overdrive. My book, The Hoppernots is coming out on August 5^th and the last few weeks have been filled with work: hiring and working with the awesome book formatter Ali Cross of Novel Ninjitsu, uploading those formatted files to all the places you can find and purchase by book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble’s Nook Press, Smashwords, Apple iBooks, and Kobo and (the hardest and longest process) I signed up with IngramSpark (my paperback book provider) and created the cover jacket of my paperback book. What a steep learning curb I had. I had to use Adobe InDesign to create the book jacket for in the template IngramSpark provided. I’ve never seen InDesign, never used InDesign, but now I (somewhat) know what I’m doing. It’s easy once you get the hang of it. (And yes, it looks like any book you would pick up at a bookstore.)

Anyway, last night I came home from work and found the UPS guy had gently laid a package on my doorstep. Yes folks, the proof copy of The Hoppernots arrived and I am overwhelmed with happiness.

I did it.

I FREAKING DID IT!!!

I set my mind, my heart, and my intention toward becoming a publisher and I not only created Pug Paw Press, but I officially became an author. This dream has been bubbling in me for years and I took the bull by the horns and steered it in the direction of my own choosing. It’s been a fun, sometimes scary, sometimes challenging ride, but a ride well worth it.

That’s it for right now. I’m going to bask in this moment and then it’s back to business:

The business of marketing and publicizing my new book.

The business of working on book two – THE HOPPERNOTS: CAUGHT IN A WEB.

The business of writing my next Going Indie blog post because the process is just as important as the desired result of being an author and you can never have too much information on Going Indie.

The business of enjoying this feeling of accomplishment because…

I FREAKING DID IT!

Good luck and Good Writing,

Deb

A Thought...

2014-06-27T07:37:00.000-04:00

You know what I've learned in my life? When days suck (or weeks or months), they can suck the life out of you and change your perspective, but when your days are glorious, happy, and filled with laughter and love, you need to grab on, hold tight, say "thank you, thank you, thank you" and let those emotions and thoughts grace your every day so that when your day sucks (or weeks or months), you can still remember the good and blessed moments and ride that high through to the other side. Be strong peeps.

Going Indie – Having A Plan

2014-06-23T11:47:00.001-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Basking in the warm winds of summer.

Musical Moment ~ “Space Heater” Geggy Tah

Photo By: therecoveringpolitician.com, googleimages

Going Indie is a lot of work. It’s satisfying work, but it’s a lot because in this self-publishing gig, all or most of the work falls into your lap. You need to have a plan on what you need to do, when you need to do it, and you should identify when there are things you need to outsource to someone else, like book cover art, illustration, formatting, etc.

In my “regular” job I am a Project Manager, so I had an idea of how to tackle and identify what needed to be done to get me to publication. I created a Work Plan, which identified the following categories:

Vision – Mission Statement, Business Plan, 5-Year Plan

Editing - Finding an editor, Copyediting, Developmental editing, etc.)

Marketing and Publicity – Kindle, Magazines, Online Journals, Facebook page, Twitter, Book Trailer, etc.

Book Cover – Illustrator, Book Cover Designers

Formatting – ePub, Mobi, PDF, Formatting for paperback, etc.

Writer’s Organizations – Identify and join organizations to network, learn the craft, critique groups, etc.

Conferences/Workshops – Find places to network, learn the craft, etc.

eBook Retailers – Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, etc.

Merchandise – If you decide to give out swag (i.e. bookmarks, pens) or sell products (t-shirts, cups, etc.) associated with your book(s).

Website Design – Do it your self or find someone to hire (I did it myself).

Financial – You need to think about how you will keep track of your revenue and expenses, taxes, hiring an accountant, purchasing accounting software or creating your own accounting system to report to the IRS.

Legal – LLC, Sole Proprietor, registering your company with your state (if creating a small press), etc.

Miscellaneous – Business Cards, ISBN, Attorney, Metadata, etc.

These are just some of the items I have on my Work Plan. Every Work Plan will be different depending on your needs and goals. But I think it is necessary to have one in place to keep you focused and help you identify everything you need to accomplish your publishing dreams.

It looks daunting, but it is completely doable and, I believe, if you know what you face in choosing to walk the Going Indie path, then you can plan your next steps, manage your expectations, and even decide if Indie Publishing is the right path for you. Going Indie is not for the faint of heart, so know what you are getting into before making the deciding to go indie.

Do you have a working plan? What is your process to getting your books out on the market place?

Good luck and Good Writing,

Deb

A Thought...

2014-06-18T18:25:00.000-04:00

You should be your own best friend. Are you?

Going Indie - Conferences and Workshops- Should You?

2014-06-13T12:34:00.001-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Wistful for my potential to be realized.

Musical Moment ~ “Velvet Show” King of Leon

I’ve been off the blogging train for a couple of weeks basically recovering from May. May was a whirlwind of conferences and my annual girls weekend. While I was at the conferences, I had many conversations with people who had debated whether they would attend the conference this year due to cost, workshop types, travel, etc. I decided to chat about the pros and cons of attending conferences.

Keynote Speaker at NESCBWI: Laurel Snyder (She's amazing, but my pic not so much as I was live tweeting, because she is amazing.)

The early and mid-part of May I attended two conferences: the New England Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (NESCBWI) in Springfield, MA and the Romantic Times (RT) Convention held in New Orleans this year. I love these conferences. There is nothing better than being apart of “your” community of artists who love what they do and want to share their books, art, and knowledge.

I debated whether or not to attend the NESCBWI conference this year, not because of cost or travel, but because I decided to Go Indie with my own publishing company PUG PAW PRESS. Did the conference have what I needed? You bet it did. This year there were a number of workshops with Indie writers/publishers where I learned a ton of info on marketing, writing, book reviews, eBook formatting, ISBNs, craft, etc., and I got to meet other people contemplating Going Indie. The group was small, but it was the first year multiple workshops on this topic were offered and I believe the tide is changing for writers in all genres’ to creatively think how to reach our audiences, even the more challenging Middle Grade category which my upcoming novel THE HOPPERNOTS falls into. I felt validated. I felt that the path I have carefully chosen will be challenging and require flexibility and fearlessness, but is definitely the right choice for me. I also met and hung out with children’s writers faithfully sticking with the traditional route.

On the flip side, the RT Convention had so many Indie published authors (as well as traditionally published authors including E. L. James, Sylvia Day, Eloisa James, and Lisa Kleypas) that it felt as if I were stepping over writer’s especially the Indie-focused ones. Plus, extra benefit, the RT Conference is geared heavily toward readers, so I met and learned from readers what their interest were and how much they LOVED indie authors who now have the opportunity to write what’s in their adventurous heart’s and not what’s “hot now” or requested from their publishers. (Freedom, people!) At RT, there was a ton of Indie workshops with a slew of people – traditionally, indie, and hybrid published, and those contemplating their publishing path. It’s definitely an experience going to two such different conferences, but well worth the time and money.

The is "The Darker Side of Thrillers"workshop at the RT Convention with (L-R) Andrew Peterson, Christopher Rice, M.J. Rose, Leo Maloney, Allison Brennan, and (my awesome friend and writer) Gennita Low.

The basis of the NESCBWI and RT conferences are the same: to network, meet your favorite authors, learn what publishers are looking for and open for submissions, meeting and learning from agents and editors, learning craft (Point of View, are you a Pantser vs. Plotter, the (hated) Query letter and Synopsis writing, Worldbuilding, listen to amazing keynote speakers and their inspiring stories, and…goodness the list of benefits go on and on and on.

But are conferences and workshops “have to do’s” to become published? No. It is not necessary, but it is valuable. If you can afford it (Cost can be from $50 - $500) and the time it takes (these particular conferences went from 3-6 days away from family and home) then I say do it. However, there are many resources online that are free or for a nominal fee where you can obtain great information (IndieRecon.Org, for instance). The biggest benefit of conferences and workshops is the connections to others you can make. You can meet your next best friend, your critique partner or group, or even make a connection with an agent or editor if you pitch your book idea just right.

Attending conferences/workshops provides valuable opportunities to network, learn tips and tricks on craft, give you ideas on making your own work bigger, better, and more powerful, as well as infusing your energy and intention as an artist. Seriously. I couldn’t sleep for a week after attending NESCBWI as my mind and muse would not shut down for all the ideas I received and implemented.

If you can’t attend either, read, read, read…or watch videos. You all know I am a huge fan of Harold Underdown. Check out his website, become friends with him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter or anywhere else he’s online and socially active. He attends conferences and holds workshops in person and online and is a whiz on answering all kinds of industry questions and he is generous with his knowledge. He also has links to others in the industry who graciously share information. Or simply, let Google and Youtube be your best friend.

In the end, the answer is: No, it is not necessary to attend conferences or workshops, but give it a try at least once so that you can see what is offered and determine if they can benefit you.

Do you attend conferences/workshops? What benefits have your received? Or not?

Good luck and Good Writing,

Deb

Going Indie: Ripcord – A Netflix Game

2014-05-23T11:10:00.001-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Welcoming Spring with open arms and anticipation.

Musical Moment ~ “Why You Treat Me So Bad” Club Nouveau

Yup, that's me skydiving - Right after the ripcord was pulled.

I missed last week’s blog because I was in New Orleans attending the RT Convention with over 3,000 book lovers and writers and the weekend before that I was at the New England’s Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators conference. My brain and body are too pooped to do anything other than think of rest and relaxation, so I thought I’d give you all a fun new game to play at home.

About a year ago, my husband and I were watching Netflix scrolling through all the movies we have in queue and all the new ones we wanted to add to it. We looked through hundreds of titles. Some we weren’t in the mood to watch, others meh...the pictures looked interesting, but the blurbs about them were not so enticing. While scrolling through the new releases, I accidentally played a movie. I had no idea which one – no name, no blurb – until the movie came on. I think it was an independent film and there was a lingering male crotch shot as the first shot. No problem, but the storyline was not interesting enough and my husband said in a very confused voice, “No”. Without hesitation or discussion, I stopped the movie, no questions asked.

Thus the Ripcord Game was born.

The next time you are watching Netflix. Look at the movie cover picture and just hit play. Don’t read the blurb. Just watch the screen. If there are multiple people, you get one “can we watch it for a few more minutes...just in case it gets good”; otherwise, you pull the ripcord and go to the next movie. The single “just a little bit more” works well with just the two of us, but if there are more people watching TV, set your own rules. (One small caveat, if someone likes the movie makes sure you add it to the queue so they can return to it at a later date when they can watch it solo.)

You will get through your queues as well as a ton of other movies. Don’t be afraid to mix it up. Watch genres you usually pass up. You never know what gold movie nuggets you will find out there.

By now you’re asking yourself, “What does this have to do with Going Indie?” Quite a bit, actually. Going indie is a lot of work. A lot of work– research, website design/upgrades, manuscript revisions/edits, deciding on your book cover -finding an illustrator, graphic designer or, if you’ve chosen to create your own book cover, a lot of time looking through stock photos or drawing/painting. We mustn’t forget about blogging, networking, attending conferences, creating a marketing plan, etc. Frankly, it’s exhausting, but that’s what you must do if you want to launch or continue a career as an indie author.

Treat yourself kindly throughout this process. Give yourself breaks. Go on walks. Don’t ignore your family and friends as you focus on your Going Indie. The Ripcord Game will provide you with moments filled with laughter, wonder, confusion, and maybe even anger (some of those documentaries are amazing and thought-provoking). You may also be inspired to write a new novel, short story or even poetry. The Ripcord Game can be a part of your creative process as mind candy is some of the best candy out there. Plus, you more than receive what you pay for using Netflix service and since this is Memorial Weekend, what better time to play. Enjoy!

Next week, we’ll chat about the benefits (and craziness) of attending conferences.

Do you have any games you play to relax and have fun? Please share and don’t hesitate to share this post. We all need more fun in our lives and movies are just one avenue to a new adventure.

Going Indie: How to Find a Professional Editor (And How I Found Mine)

2014-05-09T13:58:00.000-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Looking forward to Cajun food, jazz music, and dancing in the streets of New Orleans with my friends.

Musical Moment ~ “Starstruck” Lady Gaga (Featuring Space Cowboy & Flo Rida)

Anyone can put a website together and slap a PayPal button on it. I did it - minus the PayPal button. If you are going to hire a professional editor to work on your manuscript (and yes, you definitely should hire one), there are things you need to know and consider. Not all editors are created equal. Here are a few types to be on the look out for:

Scammers

You may find there are a lot of people out there who see the uptick in indie publishing and are creating websites promising to turn your manuscript into the next great novel. You may get back poorly edited work or, worse case, nothing but a “This website can no longer be found” page and an inactive email address after you have paid your hard earned money.

The Well-Intentioned

You may come across the well-intentioned “editor” who received a glowing review from their friend’s son’s girlfriend because they edited their thesis paper or those who are the “go to” editor at the workplace or among their friends. These folks usually love to read and may honestly believe they have what it takes to help writers edit their work. They are enthusiastic and they may be great at selling themselves, but the proof comes back in a poorly edited manuscript, incorrect advice, and no targeted sense of identifying issues the writer needs to be aware of, such as changing POV, head hopping, passive voice, serious misspellings, etc.

Professional Editors 1 –

You will find Professional Editors with degrees in English (Composition, not Literature) who have been editing for years (fiction or non-fiction). Editing is their bread and butter, and they have a solid track record, and can provide you with references, if you ask for them.

Professional Editors 2–

You may also stumble across Professional Editors who are current or former publishing house editors who have decided to do freelance. If you find these editors and have the budget for it, go for it (but this is not necessary) However, you should find the books they have edited, look at their website, and read their blogs. Just because they are/were with one of the big houses, does not mean they are for you. Ask questions before your contract services and make sure you are comfortable with them and their approach.

In all of the above scenarios, you need to do your Due Diligence (capitalized and bold because it is important and you will see this throughout the Going Indie blog posts). Google these people and read everything you can before you give them your money. Go to message boards or if you are friends with other writers, ask if anyone knows anything good or bad about these editors. Doing this will save you time and heartache.

How I found my editor -

When it was time for me to find my Professional Editor, I saw all types of editor’s websites and because I have a cautious (my husband would call it suspicious) nature, I took my time and did my due diligence before I opened my wallet. In the midst of this frustrating research, I received an email from Writer’s Digest (WD) mentioning their editing service. I can’t tell you how excited I was to receive that email because Writer’s Digest has been around for years and has a solid reputation. I knew that if they put their stamp on it, I would be receiving strong, quality editing that I could trust.

Writer’s Digest editing service is called 2^nd Draft. They offer a variety of editing services like Proofreading, Line Edits, Development Edits as well as Critiques. (For a description of each type of edit, please go to my blog post from last week.) WD also provided the names and profile of each editor and allows you to choose your top 3 picks. My first choice was Jordan Rosenfeld and, luckily, I got my first choice.

I chose Jordan because she is a writer herself, has a quirky website, she blogs, and she had great reviews. She also had a list of her editing services on her own website. Jordan walks the walk and editing is a part of her artistic, writerly life. I knew I couldn’t find a better fit for me and I was right. She not only told me I have a possessive issue (-s or ‘s or s’), but that even though I thought I got rid of passive voice sentences, she found the ones I could no longer see. She noted areas where the story slumped and offered things for me to think about (if it made sense to the storyline). Jordan also kindly suggested I read The Plot Whisperer (which luckily I had – unread – in my bookcase). She gave me the type of editing and insights that I needed and she was worth every penny.

But now, back to you. Here are some things to consider:

What to do to avoid getting scammed or poorly edited work:

Google is your best friend. Use it well and wisely.
Get samples edits of your work – a paragraph or a page – so that you can see how the editor edits before you agree to work with them.
Ask for references. If they are really good they will have no trouble pointing you in the direction of their glowing reviews or have someone they’ve previously worked with reach out to you to support how great they are.
Go to Preditors and Editors website. It's enlightening.
Go to Writer Beware. You'll find a wealth of information.
Go to Absolute Write write because its a great resource.
Talk to your critique group.
If you have membership with Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), Romance Writers of America (RWA), or Mystery Writers of America (MWA), etc., go to their message boards and put out feelers.
If you don’t belong to a writer’s organizations, then find message boards like Verla Kay’s Blueboards (now associated with SCBWI, but not necessary to access the boards).
If you have writer friends on social media, post a request for referrals.
Above all, trust your instincts. If your gut tells you to “keep it moving” do just that. The right editor is waiting for you. Be patient.

One more thing: For those seeking indie or traditional publishing, the above applies to literary agents, illustrators/graphic artists, and small press or vanity publishers, as well.

Do you have an editor? Where did you find your editor? What was the experience like?

Going Indie: Do You Need to Hire A Professional Editor?

2014-05-02T08:17:00.000-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Proud that I have decided and even happier that I am doing.

Musical Moment ~ "Until You Are Free" Utah Phillips

Now that you have written the book, revised it until you are sick of it, see the words of your manuscript float across your closed eyes, and you’ve exhausted all your resources of critique partners, it’s time to get real if you plan on Going Indie.

Every person who decides to indie/self-publish must ask himself or herself this question: Do I need to hire a professional editor? In a word:

Heck yeah, you do! (See what I did there?)

No matter how clean you write or how grammatically correct you think your manuscript is, after a while (i.e. the many, many edits and revisions you have done on your book), you can no longer see the problems. Trust me on this. You know your story inside and out, so when you read or edit it, your mind automatically fills in the next word and without realizing it you have say when you mean saw, you’ve seen the affect of the effect, you’ve gone crazy with the 2’s: to, too, two, and sometime you may even have a tow or two. If you have multiple characters in a screen are they there, they’re, their, or even thier? See what I mean? It’s easy to no longer see the errors in your novel.

There are many different kinds of editing available:

Proofreading

If you are confident in your sentence structure or the content of your book, but need fresh eyes to go over the text of your novel for grammatical and spelling errors, then hiring an editor for proofreading is for you. The best part of having your book proofread is that you have a neutral party who knows nothing about your manuscript and can easily review your work.

Line Editing

Line editing delves a little deeper than proofreading. In line editing, the editor looks for inconsistencies and holes in your manuscript, as well as tone and style. They also check for punctuation, grammar, spelling, word usage, and consistency. This will be more expensive than proofreading, but trust me, you want eagle eyes to spot the errors you can no longer see. (Trust me, you can’t see it, but your readers will and if you are lucky enough to have reviewers, they will happily let you know about it. You’ve seen those reviews on Amazon.)

Developmental Editing

Depending on where you are with your book, a developmental edit can provide a “ten thousand foot” view of your story. The editor will scrutinize everything in your manuscript from your story structure, dialogue, pacing, plot mechanics, character, and level of suspense.

Basically, hiring an editor is something an indie/self-published person needs to sit down and consider (as well as your budget).

Without further ado, I am going to share with you the edits my own lovely editor, Jordan Rosenfeld provided to me. (In an upcoming article, we’ll chat about how to find a professional editor.) I decided to select Line Editing and this is a small sample of what Jordan returned to me:

That’s just the first couple of pages. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be, but it was definitely eye opening to what I could no longer see as “things that could be better”.

The other great thing about the Line Editing is that it also came with a Commentary Letter that really helped me see things more clearly like:

As much as I tried to remove passive voice, there were still areas that needed review. Jordan wrote: “You tend to use the passive voice a lot—this is where there the verb acts on the noun, instead of the other way around. For instance, “sounds were heard” is passive voice; instead of “Max heard sounds…” You want to try and use active voice whenever possible.

And

“You have some apostrophe errors to watch out for, particularly when a word has an “s” at the end, you often fail to use the apostrophe.” I had no idea, but know I know what to look out for.

There was much more information she provided, but what I learned from her was how to “see” my issues and correct them in a more powerful way. That’s what a professional editor can do for you.

Have you thought about hiring an editor? If not, why? Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas on the editing process.

Going Indie: When Life Says “Wake Up!”

2014-04-25T10:49:00.000-04:00

In the shadow of a calling I found myself . . .

Staring change and opportunity in the eyes.

Musical Moment ~ “Still Writing In My Diary – 2^nd Entry ” Petey Pablo

I fell off the blogging wagon for a while but it was for a good reason or for good, yet not so good reasons. This last year was extremely challenging. My dog died last Spring, I broke my leg last Summer, in the Fall my best friend (the second one) died within three weeks of her cancer’s reappearance after a three year reprieve, the Fall/Winter I got really ill with a respiratory virus for a couple of months, and then as a New Year treat, I herniated the disc in my lower back and for the first time truly understood what people meant when they said the words “sciatica pain”. Outside of dealing with these challenges and sadness’s, the last few months have been filled with deep reflection and a new thirst for living my dreams. This is what I have learned:

~ Losing one best friend will shake you up; losing three in a year and a half is a wake up call.

~ As we know, life is short. It may not seem so as you go through your days and the weeks and months slip by, but when you take the time to look back on your history, you can see where you have started things/projects and continued or where you just stopped…or have forgotten. You can see all you have experienced to get to this moment in your life: the amazing places you visited, the things you refer to in your repeated stories as “the best thing ever” and promised to do again (and now realize it was over ten years ago), the dear friendships and family members you have lost touch with. The question is always, “How did that happen?” Yes, time has wings and will fly by as we focus on things that do not move us toward our passionate and purposeful lifetime dreams. Being as present as we can be in an ever-changing and challenging world can be hard with everything else we juggle, but happiness is possible by allowing ourselves the time and dedication to focus on our own dreams. As I said, this life is short.

Social media is a wonderful tool to be seen, heard, and to stay in touch with people especially those not in your daily life, but it is a time suck and if you want to fulfill your heart’s deepest desires and achieve your goals/dreams, you need time and unplugging from the “who’s doing what” curiosity is a great way to begin focusing on living your passions and doing “your thing” - be it travel, art, music, poetry, philanthropy, volunteering or, as in my case, becoming an author. Taking breaks from social media (even a day) will refresh you.

~ Deciding is a powerful thing to do.

~ Doing the thing you have decided to do is even more powerful.

~ Find hero’s in your life and let them be a source of comfort and inspiration.

My parents are mine as they taught me to love, have a strong work ethic and to be fierce, loyal, and as honest as humanly possible.

I also admire musician Ani Difranco who is the same age as I. Ani has owned her own record label since the age of eighteen. She has successfully navigated the world of music on her own terms, making music she loves and not compromising on her vision. She is a folk/punk/rocker with strong lyrics and an even stronger mind. I have been a fan of hers since 1994 and she has been a beacon of understanding my own needs to not completely conform.

There are so many writers I could name, but that would be too long a list. Here’s a few though: JK Rowling (Harry Potter), Kate DiCamillo (Tales of Despereaux), Kathryn Lasky (The Guardians of Ga’Hoole series”, Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House series), Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables), Erin Hunter (Warrior series), Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way), Gennita Low, Jude Deveraux, Christina Dodd, Elizabeth Bevarly, Teresa Medeiros, Connie Brockway, Lisa Kleypas, Sandra Brow, Linda Howard, Denise Linn, Sonia Choquette, and Lynn Andrews (everything they have ever written).

~ Seek adventures, as they will expand your mind, your heart, and provide inspiration to learn, to excel, and to feel alive.

~ Travel as far as you can go and meet people similar and different from you to learn about the beautiful and diverse humans we live among.

~ Read poetry! As my husband’s wonderful Aunt Natalie tells us, “Poetry will transform you life”. (Thanks for teaching me this, Matt Forrest!)

~ In the best of times and the worst of times, laughter is the truly the best of the best medicine.

Do you take the time to look back on your life? What life lessons have you learned? Have they helped you walk or run toward your heart’s desire or have you realized you are living it and commit more firmly to making it even better?