Jots Beyond the Margin

Interview with audiobook narrator Maria Marquis

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 18:07:00 +0000

Maria Marquis is a theatre and voice actor working in San Francisco. She earned her BA in Theatre Performance and Anthropology at Lawrence University and has worked with various companies including: Dragon Productions, City Lights Theatre Company, The Pear Avenue Theatre, and Impact Theatre. Excelling in her craft, she earned a 2011 nomination for the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Award - Best Principal Actress for her role in The Chalk Boy. This high honor was only to be outdone when she won the 2013 San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Award - Best Principal Actress for her performance in As You Like It!

This award-winning actress does not set boundaries for herself. Outside of acting, she works as a corporate software trainer and instructional designer “committed to making work less boring.” It's hard to imagine that work could get dull with Maria on the job, with her background in comedy, drama, and classical theatre.

It is a pleasure to welcome Maria Marquis to Jots Beyond The Margin. Before we dive into the Q & A, I would like to thank Maria for her wonderful work narrating and producing The Taking. This is the first novel in the Tales of Malstria series, and after having poured my heart into this story over a period of several years, it's exciting to hear it come alive with a voice that was made for storytelling.

Q&A with Maria Marquis

When did the acting bug first bite you? And, is there any cure?

I was always that kid that wanted to play pretend all day. And, I think the bug really hit me when I was in 2nd grade at Busch Gardens, and I got pulled up to be the pea in "The Princess and the Pea" - people started laughing at something silly I did and I was hooked. As for a cure, I think I'm probably beyond hope!

How does it feel to step out on stage or to get lost in a character?

There's really nothing like it. The best analogy I have is that it's similar to doing something you love and realizing that 4 hours have gone by. Or magic :)

Sometimes things just click. What's the most fun you've had with a role?

This is a tough one…I always like when I get to play multiple characters in the same piece. Something about the snapping back and forth is super gratifying and gets my brain excited. I’ve gotten to do this a few times on stage (and every time with an audiobook!). A favorite time was when I got to play an overbearing mom, an uppity teen, a creepy truck driver, and a ghost all in the same night.

Kind of like squeezing into a pair of skinny jeans, sometimes being pushed to our limits can have wonderful or unexpected outcomes. What is the most challenging role you've had?

My most challenging role was Rosalind in As You Like It. Not only does she talk A LOT (hence lots of lines to memorize), but she is also in drag throughout the play. There’s also a lot of lovely moments where her heart is on her sleeve, and being so vulnerable took a lot of time to master. It was totally worth it though!

Your work ethic as a narrator really impressed me. You asked great questions and tenaciously worked toward the finished product. You are so well-organized and committed to your work. Do you ever sleep, or do you have a method of organizing your time the President would envy?

What is sleep? I am a super busy person so my time management came out of not having much of it. I wanted to make sure that the time I do have is well spent so I try and get as much information up front as possible. After my first audiobook, I sat down and thought about all the things I wish I knew up front and built my process around that. I also schedule everything in my calendar – it’s a simple thing – but just having a “meeting with myself” and a goal keeps me on track. It’s also easy to make time for something you love!

My husband and I have become two of your “biggest fans” (promise we won't go all Annie Wilkes on you!). You’ve done such an excellent job narrating not only the text of The Taking, but you really do capture the emotion behind each character. Speaking of fans, have you had any memorable fan reactions to any of your performances you'd like to share?

My favorite one was “Narration - Maria Marquis - Kick A$$!” – they went on to say lots of other lovely things, but that immediate reaction made me laugh. The best part of narrating though is seeing people respond to the story and the author’s words. In many ways, a good narrator should be invisible because the story is so alive.

I live a simple life, but I must say I love to write about complicated characters. Did you have any favorite scenes or characters you'd like to share from your time narrating The Taking?

I absolutely love Aldrid. His voice was so much fun to do, but he’s an all-around stand-up guy. That being said, LeMerle was ridiculously fun, too, and he’s a “not-so-all-around-stand-up-guy.” The baddies are always fun to step into.

Would you talk a little about what you do as an ACX audiobook producer? There’s much more to the process than reading the text, isn’t there? What part of the process do you enjoy the most?

Definitely! For me, I follow this process:

Read the book and note the important characters
Work with the rights holder to determine the right voices
Start telling that story!
Edit chapters
Make corrections to any mispronounced words, etc.
Celebrate!

I have two favorite parts – the discovery of characters and the storytelling itself. That being said, there’s something very zen about the editing process, too.

Athletes might not wash their socks for an entire season as a good luck charm. Do you have any, preferably less disgusting, rituals or methods of preparing for a role?

I wish I had something more interesting on this, but all I do is grab a big bottle of water, shoo my cat out of my studio, and imagine the world I’m stepping into. Maybe I should start the sock thing!

How do you create voices for all the characters in a book? Where do you draw your inspiration, and how do you keep in character in the midst of dialogue?

When it comes to character voices, I start with the text in the book. For example, you describe LeMerle’s voice as “oozing” – what a great clue and jumping off point! I also take note of class and background – this was a huge part of the work we did together on The Taking. Quin, the stable-hand, will have a very different way of speaking than Mallory and his courtly cronies. Keeping the characters in dialogue is still challenging – sometimes I’ll realize I’ve got the wrong person. Luckily, there’s editing and always an opportunity for a “take 2”.

As a producer, how do you choose which books you’re interested in working on?

I choose books based on my moods, and my rule of thumb is to ask myself “Is this a book I would buy for myself or a friend?” If the answer is yes, I’ll audition. After all, I’m going to spend a lot of time with the book!

What tips can you offer authors who are working with narrators?

The best advice I have is to be clear with direction. A good narrator will give you everything they’ve got, and the clearer you can be with what you want, the better. It’s also super important to communicate a lot and turn around items quickly to stay on schedule. You were, of course, awesome at both of these things!

If you're anything like me, there's always a something cooking on the back burner. What projects have been keeping you busy of late?

I have been performing on stage a lot lately, and I’m trying to learn basic computer programming too.

You have such a dynamic life! What else you'd like readers to know about you, your career, or your experience working on The Taking?

I think the biggest thing for me to say is thank you! The readers and listeners are the most important part of what I do, and without them the magic doesn’t happen.

The Taking unabridged audio version, narrated by Maria Marquis, will be released in late December 2015. Until then, visit tracirobison.com for book descriptions, excerpts, and to join in on Q & A for the series and the author Traci Robison. And, you can find the latest information on Maria Marquis’ projects at mariagmarquis.com.

Autumn update . . . audiobooks, author interviews, editing and more

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 17:12:00 +0000

Wow! It's November. Already? That's just not possible. I remember last January, but spring and summer are a blur. Folks say time flies when you're having fun, so I might take this as a good sign. Or, maybe I need a new saying like, "Time flies when you're working hard for what you love."

I am, by turns, exhausted and invigorated. Life itself has thrown unexpected challenges my way this past year. That's what life does. But, the obstacles we face are opportunities, too. Experiencing hardship, we distill life down to those things that matter most. We reach out and find strength in those who love us, and they're empowered by seeing the good that their love brings. I'm learning to find something beautiful in every day--no matter how small. What we focus on becomes what we see. And, I choose to see the light behind every shadow.

It's easy to see the good side when you're surrounded by good people. At the Nebraska Writers Guild fall conference in early October, I met so many writers excited about the work of writing and eager to share what they know. I'm already looking forward to the spring conference. I've also had the honor of being featured in the author spotlight at Write Good Books, Jason Bougger's blog for new and aspiring authors. If you're a writer, you can find some great tips and resources on the blog. And, if you're a reader, it's a good place to learn about up-and-coming authors.

On the writing front, I've been working on the last round of revisions for Gates the Hours Keep, the third book in the Tales of Malstria series. I'm a bit behind my original schedule but am closing in on the last chunk of editing. I'll be releasing the ebook and paperback in early 2016.

I've saved the most exciting news for last. This week, I've received the first set of recordings from The Taking audiobook narrator, Maria Marquis. She's amazing! Listening to her interpretation, I'm experiencing the characters and story in an entirely new light. The secrets seem deeper; the shadows, darker; the goodness, brighter. I feel fortunate to be working with a talented and hard-working producer and can't wait to hear the whole thing.

That's fall so far. We'll see what winter brings.

The Scariest Book You've Ever Read

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 19:03:00 +0000

At last, it's October--my favorite time of year. Crisp colorful leaves, golden light, sweater weather, and the scent of warm cider. What's not to love?

One of my favorite ways to enjoy an October afternoon is reading a creepy book. I'm always looking for a new one, so if you have any suggestions, please share. What's the scariest book you've ever read? What made it frightening?

Listen to a free short story

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 16:21:00 +0000

Let me read you a story. A story of summer as I remember it. A story about possibilities, compromises, and growing up.

To hear the whole broadcast and more from Nebraska writers, visit the Platte River Sampler on KZUM.

Nebraska Book Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 19:46:00 +0000

Join me and fellow Nebraska authors on April 25 for the Nebraska Book Festival at the University of Nebraska Omaha Weitz Community Engagement Center. Free and open to everyone, the festival provides workshops and readings and the chance to talk with a few of Nebraska's recently published authors. I'll be leading a morning workshop to help new authors prepare for the opportunities and challenges of self-publishing, and I'm excited to share what I've learned.

Here's the festival's preliminary schedule. Hope to see you there!

Tangled now available with bonus content

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 21:50:00 +0000

Whew! It's been a busy couple weeks. In the process of working 12+ hour days--drawn in so deep I sometimes forget to eat--I've rediscovered my passion. The harder I work, the happier I am.

One immediate result of that work: Tangled is now available on Smashwords. The Smashwords edition will also be available soon at Apple ibooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and more (check your favorite online seller or libary, and I will post links when I have them, as well). This edition includes book group discussion questions and a sneak peek excerpt from Gates the Hours Keep.

Update, you can now find Tangled at:

Kobo
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Oyster
Scribd

Have you been sleeping well?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 21:03:00 +0000

You have? Well, I can fix that.

If you've been waiting to buy The Taking or Tangled, your patience has paid off. Right now both Tales of Malstria books are on sale for only 99 cents in the US and 0.99 at Amazon UK.

Not sure whether to give them a try? Here's what readers are saying:

What's Sambocade, anyway?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 23:33:00 +0000

Since readers have asked me about food, clothing, and places mentioned in my books, I thought it would be fun to share sources of inspiration and research from time to time. Today, I'm starting with food.

I come from a family of big-eaters. If we had a family crest, it would show a double-dip ice cream cone with the motto, "There's Always Room For Ice Cream," emblazoned just beneath it. Food wasn't simply nourishment, it was a central part of our family culture. So, ever since childhood, I've been interested in cooking and recipes.

Interested does not equal skilled.

As a girl, I began collecting cookbooks. Authentic Mexican food, Christmas cookies from around the world--anything involving food that represented other cultures or eras. I would read through the recipes, alchemical formulas promising culinary gold. If a cookbook had pictures, I'd thumb through them again and again, dreaming.

I cooked nothing. Nada. Nichts.

Well, I grew up. I left home. I cooked. Culinary gold, it was not (nor is it now, after years of practice). But, my fascination for the alchemy remains. One of my favorite experiments is trying the foods my characters are eating.

While writing Tangled I went through a baking phase. In the months between finishing grad school and finding a full time job, I baked (and ate) a different cheesecake every week. I was baking so much, I even wrote my baking self a cameo appearance in the book. I got pretty good at baking cheesecakes. Trying my hand at sambocade (an elderflower cheesecake) seemed only natural.

from British Library, Lansdowne 451, f. 6

I used the modern sambocade recipe from A Boke of Gode Cookery. I bought rosewater and elderflowers just to make it. Having no food processor, I blended the ingredients manually. (That's more medieval anyway, right?) I popped it in the oven, baked it, checked it, baked it some more. What I eventually pulled out of the oven was black around the edges and still jiggly in the middle. I'm no fan of jiggly food, but for the sake of research, I persevered.

I ate it. All of it. I eat my mistakes with true commitment. I eat my mistakes alone--you can only ask so much of your friends.

It's been a decade almost. I remember mouthfuls of char and bland bites of crusty not-quite-cheese over cottage cheese curdles. By week's end, I faced the sambocade with dread.

Alas, I took no photos. Just as well, I suppose. If you'd seen my version, you'd never have wanted to try sambocade. If you're curious what delicious sambocade would look like, check out this one from Fromage Homage. Almost makes me want to try again.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:10:00 +0000

It's the last day of 2014, and tomorrow I'm kicking off the new year with something I never imagined doing--a radio broadcast. My short story "The Screenhouse" is one of the works featured on the New Year's Day episode of The Platte River Sampler. Listen live on http://www.kzum.org at 6pm central if you want to catch my reading and interview.

If you've missed the previous episodes, you really are missing out. I just got caught up this morning, listening to the podcast from Christmas. Poetry, plays, fiction, and essays in styles as diverse as their creators showcase Nebraska's talent. I'm thrilled to be included among them.

Last summer the fortune cookie in my Chinese take-out promised, "Your fondest dream will come true within this year." I suppose it has. What dreams will the new year bring?

Happy New Year to you. And may we all find something worth seeking in the months to come.

UPDATE. Here's the podcast in case you missed the live episode:

Platte River Sampler #5: The Screenhouse by Traci Robison; Poetry of Steve Gains; Poems of L. Adkins; Story of a Depression era shooting; Poems of Jules Rolf

Listen to the end to hear my friend Jules' nature-inspired poems. Her "Following the Ground Ivy" is one of my favorites.

December flurry

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 23:23:00 +0000

Ah, December--the busiest time of my year coincides with onset of hibernation urges. All I want is a nap and a cookie (double chocolate, please), but there is, indeed, no rest for the wicked. Here's a quick rundown on what's new.

Last week KZUM broadcast the debut episode of "The Platte River Sampler," featuring creative works penned and performed by Nebraskans. Listen live online Thursdays from 6-7 pm central. If you miss an episode and want to catch up, here's the podcast listing.

Round 23 of SPARK collaborations is going up. Contributors have through Friday to post their work, so be sure to check back for new additions.

As for myself, I have been eating too much, exercising too little, and chipping away at two works in progress. (Full disclosure: I've also been watching a few episodes of American Horror Story: Coven on Netflix. Gotta have some guilty pleasures, don't I?)

All in all, I've been feeling a little like this cat:

"Kittens and cats: a book of tales" (1911)

How many people and bandages do you suppose were involved in getting that cat in a fur coat? My guess is half a dozen of each.

SPARK inspires

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 16:44:00 +0000

dulce et decorum est
from SPARK collaboration with Caroline Davies

What is SPARK?

A participatory, inclusive creativity event….
that’s SPARK, and we want you to join us!

Open to writers, musicians, and visual artists of all kinds, SPARK takes place four times each year.

During each 10-day project round, participants create a new piece of work using someone else’s art, writing, or music as inspiration. All resulting work is then displayed online, alongside the piece that inspired it.

I've joined two rounds of SPARK--once, as a writer and the second time, as an artist. Next week I'm jumping in for a third round (again as an artist). Each time I've taken part, I experience the same excitement--hoping I can rise to the inspiration piece's challenge and knowing I have no other choice.

The day-to-day work of writing is, more often than not, a solitary act. Collaborating in SPARK, I become part of a creative conversation, inspired by another's ideas.

The effect of inspiration lasts long after the project is complete. And, each time I have come away with new knowledge. Last November's pairing with poet Caroline Davies introduced me to the poetry of Wilfred Owen and to Caroline's own vivid poems. I'm forever chipping away at my irrational fear of poetry (let's call it poemaphobia). Finding poets whose work I connect with helps me grow as a reader and a writer. I have SPARK to thank for that.

If you're a writer or artist, come join me in the next round. Registration is open until November 22. There's still time!

And, whether you choose to participate or not, pop on over and take a look at the creative collaborations from previous SPARK rounds.

Enjoy!

Into the fray

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 02:41:00 +0000

It's snowing in Nebraska, but I'm off visiting Etruscan places--in my imagination, anyway. A perk of fiction writing: daydreaming is part of the job.

Right now I'm writing Tales of Malstria, Book 4. It's set in tumultuous 3rd and 4th century BCE, when many Etruscan cities were facing off against Rome's expanding power. Here's a sneak peak excerpt from the work in progress:

My troops followed the river south and east along the base of the hills. Bog reeds, willows, and birch clogged the marshland on the riverbank, but farther out the valley opened in broken oak groves and pastureland. An hour's march in bough-strained moonlight brought us within sight of our enemy's camp.

We formed up. The light infantry--men with swords and throwing spears--took the far right flank near the river and amongst the dense-growing trees. My own guard, Aplu's chosen, lined up four rows deep, and on our left the remaining hoplites filled the valley to the hill's base, forming a wall of spear-wielding men. Silent, we waited only moments before our archers rained fire on their tents.

The enemy scrambled, men half-dressed grabbing swords and shields; trumpets blaring and signaling formations. A ragged band, they might have been twice our number but had less than half our skill. Men charged uphill in imperfect lines as their cavalry mounted.

"Forward!" I shouted, and our trumpeter blew the call.

We ran into Vetluna's half-formed lines, and as my spear hit the shield opposite me, I lost sight of the larger battle. Tents burned, making one dark silhouette of the phalanx facing us. Somewhere beyond them, horses screamed and men bellowed like beasts.

I'm using NaNoWriMo as encouragement to keep the rough draft rolling. So excited to see this story unfolding. (I always encounter surprises as I write. Comes from using a broad outline, I suppose.) Now back to work for me!

Tapestry tales

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 02:43:00 +0000

The Unicorn is Killed and Brought to the Castle (from the Unicorn Tapestries, Met Museum)

Tapestries tell stories. Beyond the primary image, small details add layers of meaning. Violets might symbolize saints. Wild strawberries indicate desire. A rabbit, fertility.

While writing The Taking, I was studying medieval iconography. I became so caught up in the symbols I was learning about that I created an entire series of tapestries for Amarys' walls--each one filled with plants, animals, and figures that revealed hidden aspects of the novel. In the course of edits, most of the tapestries were cut out, but symbols inspired by medieval art appear throughout the text.

To explore these inspiring images, take a look at The Lady and the Unicorn and The Unicorn Tapestries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met's site is one of my favorites. It includes clickable detail views, providing information on the symbolic meaning and practical function of each item.

A steal on The Taking

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 14:17:00 +0000

It's been a busy couple of weeks. I've been preparing an upcoming guest post for Tony Riches' blog The Writing Desk, and the proofs have just arrived for paperback editions of The Taking and Tangled. I'll update you in the coming weeks on both projects. In the meantime, take a look at Tony's blog, where you can discover a great collection of new books and authors.

My big news today is the launch of a Kindle countdown deal for The Taking. The promotion lasts October 23-27, with an opening price of only $0.99. That's over 80% off the regular price (and for less than a the price of a cup of coffee you can experience a book created by more than a decade's worth of research, writing, and refining). Give it a try! It's a good gothic read--perfect for Halloween.

The Taking Amazon UK Kindle countdown runs October 30-November 6.

Tales of Malstria

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 04 Oct 2014 17:32:00 +0000

The first two novels in my Tales of Malstria Series are now available. The novels take place in thoroughly researched historic settings, including England in the decades following the Norman Conquest and the Mediterranean in the time of Alexander the Great. Combining elements of fantasy, horror, and literary fiction, the series explores the adventures, loves, heroism, and misdeeds of complex characters changed by supernatural acts. Tales of Malstria's supernatural roots draw from the myths and folklore of various cultures.

Lose yourself awhile in another time and place. Cringe and laugh, love and hope for characters you like and hate in equal measure. Although part of a series, each book is written as a stand-alone novel.

If you're a fan of subtle psychological horror or fantasy with a gothic feel, check out The Taking. Three generations have passed since LeMerle carved out his realm during the Norman Conquest, and his atrocities have grown to legends. When the castle he built becomes her home, Amarys of Rensweald feels LeMerle's dark presence. The darkness haunting her tempts her, as well. Amarys struggles to make the right choices, but when love gnashes her, she craves revenge. How will she face the monster she is unleashing?

Like horror touched with edge-of-your-seat adventure and psychological tension? Then, Tangled is for you. A runaway in twelfth-century York, Quin builds a life from stolen trinkets and constant hope. His knack for survival keeps him alive after he's nabbed by Leoric of Rensweald, a nobleman with dangerous needs. When Quin falls in love with Leoric's ward Amarys, his precariously balanced life comes undone. Pulled into a quest for revenge, he must choose between saving himself or the one he loves.

For a synopsis and excerpts and to preview Gates the Hours Keep, the next book in the Tales of Malstria Series, visit TraciRobison.com.

Picture this

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:02:00 +0000

What do you notice first when you look at this photo? Setting? Character? Action?

Look at the image for a few minutes and let your mind wander. Then, look away and start writing whatever comes out on the page.

What grows from your first thought? A poem? A story? Did the result surprise you?

Light and artistry

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:51:00 +0000

San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, 2010

At Challenging Perfection, Lila recently wrote about the use of light in both visual and literary art. As a beta reader, Lila notices details of light in a scene and has often brought up inconsistencies I missed when writing. Having a group of readers with unique skills and points of view has helped me become a better writer. For that, I thank them all.

We've spent the last month at writersvibe highlighting visual arts. If you visit our blog, you'll see my fellow writers are multi-talented to say the least.

My art of choice is photography. I love the process of capturing a moment and framing it. Choosing a focus. Changing an angle. Looking to the light.

I took the photo on the right at San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. I visited the church to see paintings by Caravaggio, who has been my favorite painter since freshmen art history. His dramatic chiaroscuro is how I see the world, darkness making beauty of light.

Snowday vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 22:20:00 +0000

"Snowmageddon" folks were calling the storm expected to hit the plains last Wednesday through Thursday night. For a week, grocery stores were jammed with people stocking up on supplies. I bought a big bag of dog food and two bottles of wine. The check-out guy considered my purchases, and smiled, saying, "You'll be good for a week."

Turns out, snowmageddon fell as flat as the Mayan apocalypse, but expecting tough driving conditions, schools and businesses had shut down Thursday morning. I ended up with a free day. Oh, I could have been productive, but that's against the basic nature of a snowday.

I spent the day reading for fun.

I finished an entire book, The Bedlam Detective by Stephen Gallagher. It was the most enjoyable read I've had in a long time. I'm not going to analyze it today--only recommend it. If you enjoy mysteries, rich in character and setting, you will like this one.

Are we there yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 23:46:00 +0000

If "there" means a published novel, then, no, we're not there yet. It's a long drive, rife with twists and intersections, but I'm moving forward. A full year has passed without an entry here. I suppose the emptiness of this blog is a testament to the fullness of my days.

I've moved to an old house in a neighborhood with big, glorious trees. In truth, I love the shady street more than the house itself. When I was a kid, our house had huge picture windows, all looking out to a big yard filled with trees and shrubs. That's home. That's a haven. Nothing like the stripped-out subdivision where I lived for the last 12 years. I'm middle-aged and too impatient to wait a quarter century for a good shade tree. And so, the old house.

Old houses--I'm one of those suckers who has always fallen for them. Sure, sure, the floors squeak and the windows rattle and the basement looks like a perfect setting for a slasher film. Ah, that's just character. Right?

Now, when brushing your teeth before bed, you hear a faint "drip, drip, drip" coming from somewhere on the first floor and wander down to check the kitchen sink--only to find the kitchen ceiling sagging in a giant bubble . . . well, that's a lot less charming. In the past few months I've learned about electrical wiring, patching drywall, doing a decent skim coat on a lumpy wall, and more about home fixes than I supposed I would. And, I've enjoyed it.

But, dividing my time between tool time and write time, I've slowed my progress and stalled out more than once. I hit a wall. I felt I'd never write another word and never have the ability to "fix" the stories I was revising. I didn't know if I even wanted to try anymore. I checked out books about writers' block and editing and creativity and read them in a panic in those free moments when I should simply have been putting words on paper. Any words. Anything at all. But, in every part of my life, I'd crashed into crazy fix-it mode. Everything needed tending. Everything at once.

Now I'm sitting in an office stripped of wallpaper with white plaster patches on the still-sticky walls. I hardly notice the mess around me. That's how it is when I'm writing. So, the paint cans wait. The balance that looks so much like chaos has returned.

I'm working on what will be the last revision of my first novel. Some more research on the occult in medieval Europe. A little rearranging in the middle of the novel--returning, in part, to the rough draft's storyline. It's almost there.

A Cultural Collection to Inspire You

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:22:00 +0000

Last week I came upon a resource I'd like to share. If you're interested in anthropology, folklore, or music history, you'll want to take a look at this.

Folklorist and ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax began making field recordings of southern folklore and music in the 1930s. From the 1960s onward, he focused on comparative research in world music and dance. As a result of his work, Lomax compiled an extensive collection of audio and video recordings and photographs that capture decades of folk culture in the U.S., England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Spain and the Caribbean. The Association for Cultural Equity, founded by Lomax in 1983, is custodian of Lomax's archive. On the ACE website you'll find a research center containing digitized items from Lomax's archive as well as teaching resources, which can be a source of inspiration for any lifelong learner. And, the great news is, the digital resources are growing. By the end of February about 17,000 tracks will be available online for free streaming. I know I'll be stopping back.

Right now

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:53:00 +0000

Where have I been? Mostly, right where I am now--sitting at my desk having a staring match with the computer screen. Well, to be honest, there's been more reading and typing than simple staring. I'm swallowed up in revising Gates the Hours Keep.

The dogs are snoozing in my office. Sadie's stretched out by the closet, and Tali's curled up under my desk. I've opened the curtains to have a glimpse of bright blue sky, and except for the dormant brown lawns, January looks like April. Sometime this afternoon, I'll slip outside and steal some sunshine for myself.

A warm winter should be welcome, but the first winter without my dad shouldn't be so extraordinary. I want dull skies and bitter, biting winds. I want a world of grays and browns, not sprouting columbines and cloudless blue. When I walk the dogs today, the sun will warm my face and I'll think what a rare gift such a winter day is. On days like today I feel more alive. And, then I think of Dad. He would be out tinkering on broken-down machinery or sitting in the tavern praising the warmth but commenting on the dryness.

Days such as today are a gift I can't share with him. No happiness comes without my remembering he's not here. Yet, happiness comes. In friends' smiles and sunshine and smelly dog fur, it comes.

The one good snowfall we've had this winter was Tali's first. Watching her and Sadie play in the snow, I laughed and laughed. Here's a glimpse of that day. I hope it makes you smile.

Exploring character through valued possessions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:58:00 +0000

Photo by Timitrius

Imagine you have to pack up your home and can only take with you those things that fit in the trunk of your car. Bringing family members along? Then you have to share the trunk space with them. What do you take? What do you do with those things you leave behind? Who decides?

For a while now I've been considering those questions, and I have about a year to come up with the answers. The flowers transplanted from my grandparents' house, the china hutch Grandpa built, the desk I bought during grad school, shelves and shelves of books--those things simply won't fit. The spices in the kitchen cupboard? Those, I ought to bring. Everything I have must prove its worth. Necessity is winning out over sentiment. And, I'm surprised. I've always had trouble letting go of items to which memories are attached--even gifts I don't especially like, I cherish because I love the giver.

This has me thinking about the impact of objects in my fiction. Most often my characters' prize possessions are valued, not for their usefulness, but for their emotional weight. Nothing wrong with that. But utilitarian objects--a hammer, for instance, or a bow--could be even more important to a character.

With that in mind, consider a character from your work and make a list of the five objects most important to him or her. Now, delve into each object. Describe it in depth. How would the character describe it? How would the character explain the object's worth? Is there a story attached to the object? Does it have a history? Where and how is it kept and cared for? What sort of condition is it in? And so on.

At the exercise's end, you will likely have greater insight about the character. You might also have some fresh ideas for the plot or even for an additional story. Let me know how the exercise works out for you!

Historic newspapers online--Chronicling America

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:54:00 +0000

Photo from Library of Congress

As an archivist, I understand that the majority of archival materials are not digitized or readily available on the web. But, as a writer without the money and time to travel to various archives, I've searched the web for useful, valid sources for historical research. More and more are becoming available, often as a result of institutional collaboration.

A website I've been using the past few weeks, Chronicling America, is produced by a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress. The partnership, known as the National Digital Newspaper Program, is an ongoing project to develop a searchable database of U.S. newspapers and to digitize selected historic pages. Currently more than a million digitized newspaper pages are found in Chronicling America. Digitized newspapers date from 1836-1922 and represent newspapers from all U.S. states and territories. A directory of newspapers from 1690-present is also part of the website, and a list of topics widely-covered topics is included to help guide researchers. (Although most of the listed topics don't relate to my current research, glancing through the topics sparks my imagination. A short story involving the roller-skating craze, maybe? A character who practices yoga in 1905? So many possibilities to explore.)

In a related project, the Rural West Initiative, Bill Lane Center for the American West, Stanford University has produced a database visualization based on Chronicling America. A timeline and US map are combined, enabling users to see the geographic distribution of American newspapers over time. Added filters limit results to newspapers in a particular language. For me, the visualization is interesting, but less useful than the newspaper project itself.

Weekly Newspapers, 1690-2011 from Geoff McGhee on Vimeo.

If you know of some good sources you'd like to share, please feel free to comment or share a link. I'm always looking for more.

Found poetry

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Play is an important part of creativity. Play frees up the mind, leading to innovation and keeping state of mind from growing stale. Word-play is a fun way to improve, or at least flex, your writing skills.

I've recently been playing with poetry--in particular, found poems. Found poems are created by taking words or phrases from other sources (usually written, but things overheard can also be used) and recombining them as poems. I came across the idea in Getting the Knack, 20 Poetry Writing Exercises. It's the first exercise. I have yet to try the remaining 19. Cutting, re-arranging words, adding or changing punctuation are all allowed by the exercise, but you're not allowed to add your own words to the mix.

Most of what I come up with is utterly abysmal. All of it makes me laugh. Here's one I just wrote, pulling from Henry Taylor's autobiography, From Lead Mines to Gold Fields, Memories of An Incredibly Long Life.

GRASSHOPPERS FOR FOOD

Dig a hole

three feet deep

three, in diameter

All women

and children

circle around the hole

wave willows,

advance slow.

Drive hoppers to the hole

Go to hole

with basket

of coarse grass, woven close

Fill basket

with hoppers

Boil water,

heating rocks

Pour over grasshoppers

Cook to taste.

Remove rocks

Dry hoppers

on grass mat

When dried,

pulverize.

Add water,

stir to mush

Eat as though most luscious food in the world

Photo by amphioxus

Give the exercise a try--come play with me, and share your creation in the comments.

Plowing ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:48:00 +0000

Photo by h. koppdelaney

Activities I've long enjoyed have taken on the luster of chores. Writing, working out, gardening, cooking--the small moments I found joy in have become an endless list of things to be done. The past year has wrung me dry. But, I'm not giving up.

The novel I'm working on now is set primarily in Nebraska, around the time of the civil war. It's the first thing I've written that my dad showed any interest in, and when I began working on it this spring, he would talk to me about native prairie plants, the hedgerows settlers planted, the grasses they brought with them. We had long discussions on local history and the plains. The last day I saw Dad, I told him about the scene I'd just written--the novel's end, which had come to me though my draft was nowhere near the end. I felt he should know how things turned out, since the details he gave me built so much of the framework. Did he like the ending? He didn't say, and I didn't ask. We went on to talk about other things--the drought in Texas, Dad's cows, the birdfeeder outside his window.

It's tougher now, working on this novel, when the places and experiences and tone of the story are so closely woven with my memories of Dad. I've had to change my approach to keep myself going. I'm handwriting pages--writing and writing without reviewing or critiquing or shaping what comes. I'm trusting there will be a worthwhile harvest when all the words are on the page.

I'm working like my homesteading ancestors did--head down, trudging forward. You can't stop breaking sod because you don't feel like plowing.