More Meredith Gould

Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

2012-01-25T16:27:00.000-05:00

These images of St. Paul always cheer me up.

I'm wondering if this makes me a good Jew and a bad Christian . . .

Or a good Christian and a bad Jew. . .

Bad Christian and bad Jew?

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25, 2012)

2012-01-19T01:00:00.019-05:00

My prayer during this week of prayer for Christian unity:

May we who claim to be Christian, stop arguing about man-made doctrines and start living God-inspired lives, for a change.

Stop SOPA. Really.

2012-01-18T12:28:00.001-05:00

Yet Another Attempt at Happy New Year

2012-01-16T12:01:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year...one more time? Under the best of circumstances I triple-dip this salutation -- once on Rosh Hashonah, on the first Sunday of Advent, and then again on January 1st.

We're sixteen days into 2012 and I'm declaring "do over" in the Happy New Year department. Now that another book is launched and recent health crap is resolved, I'm finally able to think ahead.

Like everyone else, I already have some exciting events on the calendar. I'm finishing up one terrific project and have inklings of what might be next. I will participate in Lent Madness with a gaggle of great bloggers. I'll probably write my annual post about how having a parish-based Seder is not evil, demeaning, or wrong. I know I must have a serious conversation with the young lovely who cuts my hair.

But really and truly, I haven't a clue what's next. I've been in this place before and struggled to escape it like a cat wrapped up to be pilled. I'm thinking that hanging out in the Great Cloud of Unknowing would be a very good thing at this juncture.

What on earth will this look like?

I don't know about that either, but suspect getting back to spiritual basics is the way to go. For me this means getting back to discerning if whatever I'm doing enhances or distracts me from my relationship with the Almighty. I might have to start with a silent retreat somewhere. God knows it has been way too long since I've rearranged furniture in a monkish cell on my way to more clarity.

Friday (Final) Stop on the Blog Tour for Getting #Married

2012-01-13T15:19:00.000-05:00

Whew, it's Friday! And this week's virtual book tour has featured interviews all over the blogosphere. Today's interview about Getting #Married: Using Social Media to Celebrate the Sacred is on the New Media Project's blog. You can read it here.

Another set of great and different questions, including one about what benefits I'd hoped to gain by using social media so extensively. But my favorite question from these folks was this: "Did you use social media on your honeymoon, too?"

Read the interview to find out my answer!

Getting tired of the shameless self-promotion of my new book? Hang in there! Back to regular blogging -- whatever the h-e-double hockey stix that is -- next week. Just be grateful I'm not an NPR station bombarding you with pleas for money every 15 minutes!

Thursday's Stop on the Blog Tour for Getting #Married

2012-01-12T11:33:00.000-05:00

Me & Penny & Tiaras

Too bad I can't get some kind of frequent-flyer miles equivalent for word count in these fantastic interviews. Today's interview about Getting #Married: Using Social Media to Celebrate the Sacred is at The Rev. Penny Nash's fine blog, One Cannot Have Too Large a Party. You can read it here.

Penny was a chalicist at our wedding. Much more significantly, she brought me a tiara, something much-discussed on Twitter. (See picture for evidence of tiara and fun before liturgy.)

Today's Stop on the Blog Tour for Getting #Married

2012-01-10T19:15:00.001-05:00

I've been amazed but not surprised by the wise questions I've been asked about my new book, Getting #Married: Using Social Media to Celebrate the Sacred. Check out what Elizabeth Cunningham asked over at her blog, Elizabeth and Maeve by clicking here. I loved that she asked me about why we didn't live stream Communion during the wedding.

Elizabeth Cunningham, wrote The Maeve Chronicles which I think are beyond extraordinary.

My Late Magi

2012-01-08T10:15:00.002-05:00

The Magi are still trying to piece together

this year's puzzling journey.

For a rollicking look at top reasons for why the Magi were so late, check out Father Tim Schenck's illuminating post at Clergy Family Confidential.

My Latest Book and Other News from the Life Front

2012-01-07T14:29:00.000-05:00

Reporting this news as the year begins . . .

Trite truism: be careful for what you wish. Back in September I wrote a post about wishing wedding gifts would include funding for much-needed, long-neglected routine medical tests. That post took on a life of its own that involved coverage on an ABC affiliate in Minnesota. As it turned out, I ended up being well-covered by health insurance after marrying Dan.

I mention this back story because of what has happened after I started getting all those much-needed, long-neglected medical tests. I'll skip to one of the bottom lines: "rare and benign." Still awaiting results of other tests. Woo-hoo 2012!

Meanwhile, my life of faith, creativity, and productivity goes on. Not one to waste time while waiting to hear from the radiologist, I spent last week answering fabulous interview questions about my latest book, Getting #Married: Using Social Media to Celebrate the Sacred. This book that I started writing within days of my wedding, officially launched on January 6, the day the Magi (no pictures this year, alas) arrived on the (Nativity) scene.

I hope you'll read and be entertained by what I've been asked and what I have to say about Getting #Married during this coming week's blog tour. Tickled by how everyone asked different questions and how those questions were perfect!

Still waiting to hear from a couple of folks about when our interview will be posted. What I know for sure right now is that I'll be at Elizabeth Cunningham's blog on Wednesday, January 11 and The Rev. Penny Nash's blog on Thursday, January 12. Links to come.

Already available for your reading entertainment:

An interview with The Rev. Carol Howard Merritt at Christian Century. Read it here.
An interview with the author by the author on the #ChSocM (church social media blog). Read it here.

Getting #Married is available in print or on Kindle. Click on the sidebar to order from here. Priced less than a cup of designer coffee! Would make a great gift for the clergy person who still doesn't "get" the value of social media!

2012 . . . Ready or Not!

2012-01-01T12:45:00.000-05:00

As ever, more will be revealed.

Classy Magi

2011-12-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

In addition to baby gifts,

the Magi decided to bring

a little something for Mary and Joseph.

O Antiphons! O Yay!

2011-12-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

Yet another year when I feel compelled to point out how I love the tradition of chanting or singing or reading and, hopefully, contemplating the O Antiphons.

I think of them as a sacred countdown to Christmas Vigil. Visit The Virtual Abbey blog from December 17th through the 23rd to see some great artwork for each O.

December 17
O Sapientia (Wisdom)
Isaiah 11:2-3, 28:29

December 18
O Adonai (Lord)
Isaiah 11:4-5, 33:22

December 19
O Radix Jesse (Root of Jesse)
Isaiah 11:1, 10

December 20
O Clavis David (Key of David)
Isaiah 9:6, 22:22

December 21
O Oriens (Rising Sun)
Isaiah 9:1

December 22
O Rex Gentium (King of All Nations)
Isaiah 2:4, 9:5, 28:16

December 23
O Emmanuel (God With Us)
Isaiah 7:14, 8:8

Why Did the Magi Cross . . .

2011-12-13T00:01:00.004-05:00

The Magi seek outside counsel

about difficult road crossings.

3rd Sunday in Advent (2011): Gaudete!

2011-12-09T12:00:00.000-05:00

Gaudete!

Couldn't choose, so posting both. Can't have too much gaudete, right? Right!

Welcome to the Blogosphere: Teach What You Believe

2011-12-09T00:01:00.002-05:00

Does the Catholic blogosphere need yet another blog? Since the new blogger is being launched by Deacon Jim Knipper (@jjknipper), I'm going to say yes.

Teach What you Believe, arriving on the scene as we proclaim Gaudete on this third Sunday in Advent, promises "musings, commentary, and other thought fodder from a Roman Catholic Deacon." I don't have to see a lot of content in advance to know that this blog will be informative, inspirational, and amusing.

I've known Jim for over a decade in the world of church as well as the healthcare industry. Not only was I blessed to attend his ordination to the deaconate in 2008, but I had a great seat. Jim gave the rockin' amazing homily at my wedding, so if he does nothing more than post links to his homilies, his blog will be great. Please join me in welcoming him to the blogosphere.

Powerlessness

2011-12-05T16:40:00.002-05:00

The label said, "Gluten Free."

I honestly didn't realize how quickly

I'd become powerless over plantain chips

and my life would become

(more) unmanageable as a consequence.

Schlep of the Magi Begins Again (2011)

2011-12-03T14:00:00.003-05:00

The Magi begin their journey

by lining up votes for gift options.

Already, someone is not Winning.

Quote du Jour (Writing Department)

2011-11-29T10:30:00.001-05:00

I'm in the throes of writing another book ... this would be the book I'm writing now that the book I was working on is in production. I love/hate/love being a writer. I love/hate/love the creative process. Knowing this, a friend recently told me to read Do the Work by Steven Pressfield. I did and, among other gems, found this:

We're poised at the brink of a creative breakthrough and we can't stand it. The prospect of success looms. We freak. Why did we start this project? We must have been insane. Who encouraged us? We want to wring their necks. Where are they now? Why can't they help us?

─ Steve Pressfield

1st Week of Advent 2011

2011-11-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

At long last, it's Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year. For the first week of what I consider the most wonderful time of the year, I plan to treasure all things and ponder in my heart :

Being (more) quiet.

Embracing (more) mystery.

Remaining (more) open to grace.

You're invited to keep me company.

1st Sunday in Advent (2011)

2011-11-26T18:00:00.000-05:00

Psst . . . Miriam . . .

Prepared for Advent?

2011-11-25T03:00:00.001-05:00

Haven't seen my Magi since before my wedding on November 5. I'm verklempt about finding Sarum blue candles for my advent wreath at this late date.

Autumnal decor must be loaded back into their bins and Advent decor brought out. (Of course I have Advent-specific decor and Advent-specific music and Advent-specific books!) I'm coming down the homestretch of writing a book and just agreed to a December 9 deadline for three chapters of the next. These are, by the way, all very high class problems and I'm grateful to have them.

I was making myself crazy(er) by thinking about how totally unprepared I am for Advent until I had this mini-revelation: Advent is all about preparation...watchful waiting...being open to wondrous mystery which cannot be planned in advance.

This is me, smacking the heel of my hand upside my own forehead. Turns out I really am prepared for Advent. Superbly prepared. How about you?

An Author's Life: Support, Accountability & Twitter

2011-11-18T11:49:00.001-05:00

Done with the wedding, enjoying the marriage. Next up: book.

Yes, I'm writing another book. Actually, I'm writing two but thought I'd start by finishing one . . . hopefully getting it into production right after Thanksgiving. I mention this to make a point about the power and glory of community built on and by social media.

Here's what happened this morning before I finally logged off Twitter to focus on writing (right after I create and post this):

Author Interview with Elizabeth Cunningham

2011-11-17T00:01:00.007-05:00

Red-Robed Priestess: A Novel (The Maeve Chronicles)
Elizabeth Cunningham
Monkfish Book Publishing (2011)
Hardcover: 350 pages,

You better believe I jumped (up and down) on the option of interviewing author Elizabeth Cunningham. I love her work so much that I set aside the review copy of Red-Robed Priestess as a special treat and also because I knew it would be the last of the Maeve Chronicles. Whaaaaaaa!

As ever, Elizabeth does a brilliant job of re-imagining history and capturing my attention at the expense of sleep. Tempted as I was to interview Maeve, I decided to ask Elizabeth about her writing process.

Is there such a thing as a “typical writing schedule”? How has this changed over time?
Maeve has a very exciting, harrowing life, but when it comes to writing I am a creature of dull routine, so the answer is yes.

For all of my writing life (35 years now!), I've worked in the morning, which is the only time I have enough mental alertness, doubtless because of coffee. I've always held jobs (from waitressing to counseling) that I could do in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

The biggest change is that I now work on the computer, even when writing my journal. I used to write two hand drafts of a book before typing (on a typewriter!), because typing was so excruciating. I really don’t know how I ever typed a whole manuscript.

For The Passion of Mary Magdalen I went from the first handwritten draft to revising on computer. Then, with much trepidation, I began composing on the computer with Bright Dark Madonna. I still type with two fingers and typos abound, but now I’ve written two books that way.

Do you have any special rituals that help you get started or keep you going?
Despite or maybe because of my dedication to routine, I procrastinate, which is perhaps necessary and even functional, like an animal circling before it lies down. There are many more ways to procrastinate now. I know I am speaking to the Social Media Queen not to mention the SWGOTU, but I do count checking the Twitter feed as one form of procrastination, email another. But the worst is giving in and reading ersatz “news” articles.

The only thing that really helps is the sure knowledge that I will enjoy the rest of the day if I do write; if I don’t, I won’t. What I like even better than writing is living in the story the rest of the time (aka daydreaming). For that to happen, I have to do some work. So eventually I take the plunge—or at least stick a toe in. The deal I have with the Muse is to show up every day; it doesn’t matter how much I get done. But I do have show up, tired, inspired or not.

Various tricks help when I am stuck. Getting up and going to the bathroom is always good. Also lying down for a few minutes helps immensely. Sometimes I create a new file, just as I used to switch to a different notebook. Somehow writing on/in a page or file that is not “the manuscript” is freeing. All the things I’ve mentioned, movement, change of position, are tricks to loosen or dislodge whatever is stuck.

How do you balance book writing with other writing?
When I am writing a novel, I don’t do much other writing, except answering emails to which task there is no end. I started writing blog posts a little over a year ago as a way to keep in touch with readers between books. I find it a challenging form but also rewarding for its immediacy. While I was still working on Red-Robed Priestess, I designated a day a week as blog post day. I am not posting that frequently now. But I reckon designating a day every other week or so is what I will do when I am working on a book again.

At what point, if ever, do you show drafts to family or friends?
Very early I read aloud to my husband. I am not at this point asking for an opinion. Just trying to see if there's any life to what I've written, if it holds his interest and mine. At a somewhat later stage I have friends I read to. I have never been in a writers’ group, and I think too much critiquing at an early stage is not a good idea.

For me the most important thing is to get a draft out. Then you've got something to work with, to revise, to edit, to fine tune. While writing the first draft, I may ask my husband and friends for their opinions on something specific. I think it's helpful to writer and reader if the writer specifies what kinds of responses would be useful.

When I am in the final editorial process before publication, I'm always open to changes that will strengthen the work, but won’t change something because someone else thinks it might be shocking. I also won’t change something if it's integral to the work—like Maeve’s twenty-first century voice as she tells you about her life in the first century.

How has writing the Maeve Chronicles affected your libido?
My libido has always been in pretty good shape or I wouldn't have written The Maeve Chronicles. It's getting better and better as I get older, which may be why Maeve has sex in chapter one of Red-Robed Priestess whereas in Magdalen Rising she had to wait (impatiently!) until chapter thirty-six!

How often did you wear that red bustier while writing The Maeve Chronicles?
Precisely? Never! The red bustier (a 50^th birthday present from me to me—or maybe from Maeve) is for performance only. Flashing cleavage helps me feel a little more Maevesque.

Alas, although it still fits lo these many years hence from said birthday, it now gives me acid reflux, so its appearances will be increasingly rare. It is my costume for a friend’s upcoming play Love and Madness in which I get to sing the heroine’s ditzy thoughts. A singing thought balloon in a red bustier. That will be me. Perhaps there is life after The Maeve Chronicles!

#OccupyAdvent

2011-11-11T10:00:00.003-05:00

Occupy Advent? What the...?

Many wonderful insights and ideas emerge during Tuesday night's church social media (#ChSocM) chat on Twitter. #OccupyAdvent is one of them, created in real time by Lutheran pastor, Rev. David Hansen (@Rev_David) during our hour-long chat on October 25.

Simply put, #OccupyAdvent emerged during a conversation about restoring the sacred to Advent and using social media to help make that happen. You can learn a bit more about that here.

I, of course, am thrilled by this development.

Advent, which begins on November 27, is my favorite liturgical season and #OccupyAdvent efforts have already shifted my energy. This Advent, instead of ranting about how it's not just pre-Christmas, I'm going to focus on what it is: a season of "yes," of joyful anticipation, of watchful waiting, of preparing heart and home.

Here are a visible practical ways you can join with others to make a stand for slowing down and simplifying during this sacred season:

On Facebook: Like Occupy Advent
On Twitter: Follow @OccupyAdvent and add #OccupyAdvent to content and conversation about sacred watching and waiting for the Lord. On Facebook and Twitter: Add the #OccupyAdvent twibbon to your avatar by clicking here.

As for me and my house, we will continue to serve the season by following the Magi on their journey to Bethlehem. I have no idea where they'll wander. Last I saw them, they were checking out the wedding venue.

I'm also considering a brief hiatus from active blogging so I can focus on writing of the book persuasion. Still chatting with the Almighty about that!

Moving the Action Back Here!

2011-11-10T19:57:00.000-05:00

Possibly my favorite picture

from our wedding . . .

The feed is still up at this site, as are some interesting analytics for the hashtag (#3xCharm) and screen shots of Twitter love here. Extraordinary day of holiness and happiness. Thanks be to God and the blessing of friends.

Image: Matt Webster