Maine Writer and Photographer

Blues and B.B. King --Icon Passes Away Leaving a Treasure Trove of Music and Legendary Quotes

2015-05-16T15:38:00.000-04:00

B.B. King, born with the name Riley B. King, died on May 14, 2015 after succumbing to problems from Type II diabetes. In the last few months, B.B. had a minor heart attack, dehydration and mini-strokes. It is believed that the strokes were the cause of death. B.B. died in his sleep but probably would have quipped he wouldn't mind dying at the hands of a jealous lover.

One of his famous quotes is, "When I eventually drop, I pray to God that it'll happen in one of three ways: Firstly, on stage or leaving the stage, then secondly in my sleep. And the third way? You'll have to figure that out for yourself! "

B.B. had stopped performing after October 2014 because of exhaustion and dehydration. His Type II diabetes had finally put a stop to his long, illustrious career. During his career he had influenced so many musicians, many of whom weren't even considered blues artists. They all came out to pay tribute to B.B. in the last few days, including Eric Clapton, Warren Haynes, Ringo Starr, Gladys Knight, and Lenny Kravitz. President Obama praised B.B. King, stating that "The blues has lost its king, and America has lost a legend."

B.B.'s influence on musicians speaks for itself. He brought back the blues when it was waning in popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. He would play his beloved guitar, which he named Lucille, and you'd know it was B.B. without seeing who was playing because of the unique sound he made. Since his rise to fame, he influenced musicians such as The Allman Brothers and The Rolling Stones, whose rock and roll is blues-based. Mick Jagger called B.B. the best blues guitarist ever. B.B. also influenced Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Bono and so many others. The breadth of his influence is incalculable.

B.B. was nominated for 30 Grammys and won 15 of them. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was consistently in the top ten list of all-time best guitarists and usually in the top five. He had a star on Hollywood Boulevard. He received other honors, including one from the Kennedy Center in 1995.

Some reports indicate that B.B. had fifteen children, while most reports indicate he had eleven children. Regardless, B.B. enjoyed life. He was always joking around on stage. This writer saw him in concert in 2009. He was sitting down and played an occasional lick while his band covered for him. He was still able to play with the same quality he always did, just not with the same energy he had when he was younger. He loved telling jokes on stage and you can bet that almost every one of them was dirty. He loved the audience's reaction to his humor.

B.B. seemed to accept that he had changed from a skinny kid to a hefty adult although the diabetes had a lot to do with that. Still, on stage, while he sat, played and quipped, he showed off his girth by dancing in his seat to the delight of the audience. He had an ear-grinning smile after he did that. It was obvious he loved being on stage even in his eighties.

If you had a chance to see and hear singers in concert who are now in their seventies or eighties, most of them would disappoint you. Usually their voices aren't what they used to be. Take Paul McCartney and Paul Simon, for example. The 40th Anniversary of Saturday Night Live showed that they both had vocal trouble and needed all the microphone help they could get. Paul McCartney had vocal trouble back in 2010 at the London summer Olympics. Not B.B. He was in his eighties and he could still sing and he could still play. There should be no doubt that had he lived into his nineties, he'd still be playing and singing as long as he was physically able.

B.B. is quoted with saying, "The blues was bleeding the same blood as me." He left us videos of his concerts and such legendary songs as "The Thrill is Gone," which was actually a cover but he made it his own. "Paying the Cost to be the Boss," "Lucille," "Everyday I Have the Blues," "When Love Comes to Town" and "Riding With the King" with Eric Clapton are just a few of the great songs he left us.

B.B. will be missed by musicians and music lovers, not just blues lovers. He was an artist who appealed to all kinds of music lovers and his personality was infectious. There have been many blues greats but B.B. appealed to everyone. The King is gone and deserves every accolade he gets. His fans have a treasure trove of his music so he'll never really be gone. I'd like to think he's playing with Stevie Ray Vaughn somewhere. There was a mutual respect between them, not to mention talent that few could match.

Why I Wrote My Children's Book Goodbye Monsters, or Why We Write Books

2015-01-18T23:02:00.000-05:00

Everyone has some story to tell even if they don't know it. I wrote Goodbye Monsters for my two children who were afraid of the monsters in the room. My son was five years old and my daughter was two years old. They were both afraid of the monsters in the bedroom and wanted me to search the room for them to kill any monsters that were hiding there.

My son needed to keep a toy cowboy gun under his bed to soothe his fears, but first he asked me to check the entire room for him. He eventually kept a baseball bat under his bed and one day he got rid of that too, not needing anything under the bed.

My daughter was still scared and needed something soothing. I wrote Goodbye Monsters for her but I also was inspired by what my son went through so the book was dedicated to both kids. I would rock my daughter and read my Goodbye Monsters text to her while I rocked her. I wrote the text in lyrical, rhyming verse which was soothing and also had rhyming sounds that she could hear. This was many years ago. My daughter is now twenty five years old. I had written the text but hadn't decided what I wanted to go along with it.

I wanted to call my text Once Upon a Monster but by the time I was ready to have my book published, Sesame Street had, in the meantime, come out with an video called Once Upon a Monster with an interactive book. While it's acceptable to have books with the same name, even though I may have thought of the name first, I hadn't copyrighted it and I didn't want to compete with Sesame Street even though theirs was a video. I decided it was best to change the title.

Next I needed an illustrator. I found one in my Facebook group called Ronnas Unite! It is a group of women from all over the world with the name Ronna. One of the Ronnas is a graphic artist but can draw and illustrate anything. We decided to work together and the finished book has her artwork in it. I wanted a book written by a Ronna and illustrated by a Ronna, something unique.

The reviews on Amazon are great. My children aren't the only ones who love the book, I'm told. I'm excited about how this book is being received and how the story turned into a book from childhood fears. This book was written not only to help my children but because there was a story that came to me. I saw it as a great opportunity to soothe my children while letting them listen to the words. I also wanted to introduce them to a new concept, to wit, that mom can write and that I seized the day and did it.

www.ronnalambiasideloe.com
https://www.facebook.com/RonnaLambiasiDeloe

Write on,

Ronna

Book Signing at The Flowergoddess at 144 Main Street, Thomaston, Maine, Saturday December 13 at 1:00-3:00 p.m.

2014-12-07T18:02:00.001-05:00

I’m very excited to announce that I will be doing a book signing at The Flowergoddess, 144 Main Street, Thomaston, Maine next Saturday, December 13, 2014, from 1:00-3:00. Mainers and people from New England, please come! Even if you don’t buy a book, please come to show your support. I will be signing my children’s book, Goodbye Monsters, as well as my poetry book, Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues.
Refreshments will be served. There is street parking or parking behind the stores in Thomaston, where there are plenty of spots. If you’re coming, please let me know if possible (https://www.facebook.com/RonnaLambiasiDeloe) and you can also let The Flowergoddess know if you’d like by going to their page. It’s a terrific store which offers everything from flowers to books, crafts, pottery, and more, and it smells so good in there! There are comfortable places to sit. Looking forward to seeing you.
Ronna

Children's book Goodbye Monsters selling on Amazon.com - Makes a great gift

2014-07-23T10:32:00.004-04:00

My children's book, Goodbye Monsters, is being sold on Amazon.com, and I've been getting a lot of orders in the mail. If you need a good book for a young child up to age 8, check out Goodbye Monsters, with its engaging text and beautiful illustrations by Ronna Hampton. You can find the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Monsters-Ronna-Lambiasi-DeLoe/dp/1633810011/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406125842&sr=8-1&keywords=ronna+lambiasi+deloe.

If you can, please go to Facebook and click "LIKE" on my author's page here: https://www.facebook.com/RonnaLambiasiDeloe. Much appreciated.

Ronna Hampton and I thank you for your support of our book.

Keep writing,

Ronna Lambiasi DeLoe

Children's book, Goodbye Monsters, is now available

2014-07-15T17:20:00.001-04:00

My children's book, Goodbye Monsters, is now available. You can see it on Amazon.com at

http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Monsters-Ronna-Lambiasi-DeLoe/dp/1633810011/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405454654&sr=8-2&keywords=ronna+lambiasi+deloe.

You can also contact me through my website at: ronnalambiasideloe.com.

Finally, I can be contacted at ronnadeloe@gmail.com.

This book is a perfect gift for children. Many children go through the stage where they're afraid of the dark or of monsters in their room. This book is a great way to get them to conquer their fears. I used to read this to my own two children when they were young and it worked for them. They would request it over and over. Now it's finally in print with beautiful illustrations by Ronna Hampton.

This book is suitable for children ages newborn to 8. It is suitable for boys as well as girls.

This is a book written by a Ronna and illustrated by a Ronna, which is probably a first.

Thank you all for your support.

Write on, whenever you can,

Ronna Lambiasi DeLoe

What do you do about the monster under the bed? Read Goodbye Monsters

2014-06-11T21:27:00.001-04:00

I have a children's book coming out soon that is entitled Goodbye Monsters. This book, written in verse and beautifully illustrated by Ronna Hampton, is perfect for the child who is afraid of the monster under the bed or in his/her bedroom. You can see the cover on my new author's website, which is a work in progress but will be finished soon:

http://ronnalambiasideloe.com/

The book will be listed on Amazon but can also be purchased by contacting me directly at ronnadeloe@gmail.com. The book should be available by early July, 2014.

Write on!
Ronna Lambiasi DeLoe

Are all mediums fake? The Long Island Medium is under investigation for fraud according to sources

2014-06-06T13:20:00.001-04:00

The Long Island medium a phony? Fake? Fraud? Who knew?

Here is the article:
http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/06/long-island-medium-theresa-caputo-fraud-investigation-audience-complaints/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=The+Daily+Juice&utm_campaign=Newsletter+Jun+5

I would say, Caveat Emptor, buyer beware. I know a medium also. Find out more about her below.

My husband says he's not a medium, he's an extra large. :)

The medium I know has the same issues. She is also coincidentally from Long Island. None of the readings she did with me were valid. She knew everything about my deceased ex-husband and did a reading based on what she knew. There was no new information. Likewise, when she did a reading for me another time, she told me the number 5 meant something special to me. Okay, no it didn't, but I didn't tell her that. I made up some garbage to connect it to the #5 to make her feel better but I knew she was a fraud. I just never told her. My husband observed the reading. He also knew it was fake.

Someone this woman dated only once told her she should not be using any special gift she might have for profit and that it is shameful to do that. She continues to do so to the most vulnerable people --- people who have lost a loved one. (She probably dated him only once because of what he said to her; I'm sure it pissed her off).

People desperately want to believe in these readings, especially when they're in a fragile state. It's not fair, it's fraud and it all should be investigated. It also should require a license, just like everything else.

Any thoughts? Feel free to contribute a comment.

Peace through writing,

Ronna

Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues - poetry collection

2014-06-05T15:55:00.002-04:00

My poetry collection, Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues, can be ordered on the following sites:
http://www.maineauthorspublishing.com
check order form and it's listed alphabetically

or

http://www.amazon.com/Serenity-Lights-Other-Social-Issues/dp/1938883527/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401997958&sr=8-1&keywords=ronna+lambiasi+deloe

The poetry collection includes some of my photography and contains poems on a variety of subjects, including Maine in different seasons, curing cancer, Columbine and Newtown, bullying, and lighter subjects like the science projects you can find in a refrigerator. Okay, so maybe in my refrigerator, not yours, but you get the picture. :)

Ronna

Getting Rid of the Monsters in the Room

2014-05-22T00:59:00.000-04:00

My second book, a children's book entitled Goodbye Monsters, will be published soon. Beautifully illustrated by Ronna Hampton, it tells the story of a little girl who is frightened of the monsters who visit her bedroom at night. In an effort to calm her down, her mother tells her a wonderful story about another little girl and how that girl was able to fight the monsters who came to her own room.
The book will be listed on Amazon and will be available for sale by contacting me here. I'll be starting an author's website in the near future and will advise when that is up and running.
I'm very excited and I know the illustrator is also. I specifically wanted an illustrator with the same unusual name as mine and fortunately, I was able to find one in our Ronnas group on Facebook.
Will keep you posted about new developments.
Ronna Lambiasi DeLoe

UPDATE: The book is available on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Monsters-Ronna-Lambiasi-DeLoe/dp/1633810011/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405454654&sr=8-2&keywords=ronna+lambiasi+deloe

See above post for more information.

Mother's Day presents and poetry books

2014-05-07T22:18:00.000-04:00

Books are supposed to be on the decline, but the buzz is actually not correct. In fact, more books and e-books were published last year than the year before, and books of all genres are in demand. Whether people are reading them on their Kindles or a hardcover or paperback, people are still reading for enjoyment and education.

If you're looking for a present for Mother's Day, why not a book of poetry? My poetry collection contains some of my photography and contains something for everyone, from nature poetry in Maine to poems about recent social issues. Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues can be found on Amazon.com at:

http://www.amazon.com/Serenity-Lights-Other-Social-Issues/dp/1938883527/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1399316509&sr=8-9&keywords=serenity+at+two+lights

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there.

Some helpful writing tips from the blogging world

2014-05-05T18:09:00.001-04:00

Here are a few blog entries with tips for writing the book you've always wanted to write:

http://positivewriter.com/how-to-edit-your-book-until-its-finished/

http://thewritepractice.com/right-book/

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/03/12/john-steinbeck-six-tips-on-writing/

Self-publishing: The future of publishing

2014-05-05T15:42:00.004-04:00

As a recently published author, I have heard hearty congratulations for my new poetry collection, Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues, which is on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Serenity-Lights-Other-Social-Issues/dp/1938883527/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1399316509&sr=8-9&keywords=serenity+at+two+lights. My publisher is Maine Authors Publishing, and they have a Facebook presence at https://www.facebook.com/maineauthorspublishing. They did an outstanding job of editing, graphics, and the finished product is something that would make any author proud.

I heard only a few hushed comments about self-publishing and how it's not "real" publishing. A good article about the positive side of self-publishing can be found on Peter Anastas' blog at http://peteranastas.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-i-chose-to-self-publish-decline-of.html. He's right about the initial premise -- there is a stigma attached to self-publishing. He wrote this article in 2011; in 2014 there's still a stigma but much less of one. However, that didn't prevent a family member from letting me know he was disappointed I was taking the self-publishing route and not supporting the major publishing houses with my work. What he didn't grasp is that many major publishing houses have their own self-publishing divisions. They have to in order to compete in today's marketplace. It's almost satisfying to see the big publishing houses, who threw out manuscript after manuscript, scramble to stay alive. I'm not advocating the death of the publishing house but I am hoping it becomes a less painful process.

Self-publishing is the future of publishing. No more slush piles. No more rude publishers. In fact, while books, whether in e-book format, hardcover, trade paperbacks or paperbacks have increased in volume and in sales, these numbers include books which have been self-published. Some books do not fit any particular genre or are more difficult to get in print than others -- poetry, for example. I didn't hesitate to find a well-respected self-publisher for my poetry collection. Publishers don't make money publishing poetry, so many will pass on it, and even those publishing companies which publish poetry have an extremely limited list of published poets in their catalogues.

Self-publishing my poetry was relatively easy. It involved editing, reviewing the edits, reviewing graphics and layout design, and rewriting where necessary. After all, the self-publishing house wants you to have the best book you can possibly have, and of course, so do you.

I have friends who have been published through traditional publishers. That doesn't mean their prose is any better than my poetry. I've read some of it and a couple of books didn't quite make it because the characters and plot were thin. Nevertheless, they were congratulated on their success in being published, even if the only people who bought the books were their family members and friends. I mentioned that I was self-published and heard, "Oh, that," and they walked away shaking their heads. Do I have leprosy, I wondered? Is the self-publishing image that bad? Or is there an issue of being an elitist when it comes to how your book is published? The answers are no, sometimes, and yes.

I suggest potential authors take a look at Maine Authors Publishing to see how a well-run self-publishing company operates. They turn out beautiful products, and some of their books become best-sellers. Some of their books win awards of all kinds.

Self-publishing is the future of the publishing industry, so if you've self-published your book, be proud of it. Sooner or later you will get the accolades you deserve. Above all, don't give up. Check into the self-publisher you would like to use. I have seen absolute garbage come out of traditional publishing houses and self-publishers, but I've also seen professional looking books published by self-publishers. Do your homework and you'll find a reputable self-publisher for your book. Ask to see copies of some of their published books. If you feel uneasy about the self-publisher, find another one. They're out there and they'll help you get your ideas in print.

Congratulate yourself for being published. After all, you did it! You've avoided the dreaded slush pile and rejection letters. Instead, you received top-notch editing, beautiful graphics, and something you can proud of for years to come.

The Creative Penn

2014-05-05T00:46:00.004-04:00

Here's a great blog for tips about writing, publishing and marketing:
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/blog/

ANIMAL LOVERS/ACTIVISTS, PLEASE SIGN PETITION

2014-04-12T01:23:00.002-04:00

This petition is something most animal lovers or activists would agree with. It involves the remaining diving horse act in the U.S. which is in Lake George, NY. While all other horse diving attractions have been closed down, this one is still going. Please sign this petition and let's get this horse diving attraction stopped. Magic Forest in Lake George, NY has other attractions that will draw in a family crowd. There's no need for a horse that dives into a pool from a diving board. Please sign. Thank you.
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/magic-forest-lake-george.fb66?source=c.fb&r_by=1715362

My book Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues is still available. Makes a good gift!

2013-11-14T14:49:00.003-05:00

My poetry collection, Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues, is still available for purchase. It's on Amazon.com at: http://www.amazon.com/Serenity-Lights-Other-Social-Issues/dp/1938883527/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1384315282&sr=8-13&keywords=serenity+at+two+lights

My author's FB page is: https://www.facebook.com/RonnaLambiasiDeloe

I also have a few autographed copies left, so you can contact me here for more information. There are some photos in the book and on the cover, taken by yours truly. I am one-half of Mainestream Photography. We have a page on Facebook and the website is under construction but is working: www. mainestreamphotography.com. If you are looking for something specific, please ask because we may have it in our huge library of photos.

Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues, my first poetry book, is doing well re: sales. There's something in this collection for everyone. This book is great for people who are socially conscious about major issues such as senseless violence in the schools and at places like the Boston Marathon, climate change, soldiers, and other issues such as having a forever friend and being a woman in a man's profession.

You can also contact me at:
mainewriter4U@gmail.com.

This book makes a great gift for the holidays.

My children's book should be out in a few months. It's entitled Goodbye Monsters and is illustrated.
I'll keep you posted.

Thank you!

Best,

Ronna Lambiasi DeLoe

Mainestream Photography -- Something for Everyone

2013-08-18T15:05:00.004-04:00

We're adding to our Facebook page, Mainestream Photography, every day. We have a website, www.mainestreamphotography.com, which is under construction but is working, so if you don't see what you want, please ask -- we probably have it. We're adding to that every day as well.

We hope you will stop by our Facebook page and "LIKE" the page. There's something for everyone -- photos of lighthouses, wildlife including moose and birds, landscapes including mountains, funny roadside attractions, and summer waves at Two Lights. Please click "LIKE" at the top of the page. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/MainestreamPhotography. THANK YOU!

If you have any requests, you can always ask for your favorite subject here. If we have the photo, we'll be sure to add it, and if we don't, we may be able to get it.

Thanks for your support.

My Poetry Book Has Been Published -- Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues ---Maine nature poems, current events, tough issues plus light, whimsical poetry all in one book with photos

2013-07-10T14:19:00.003-04:00

My poetry book has been published -- the title is Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues. It is a collection of nature poems, poetry about today's political and social issues, and it contains my photography. The blurb for the book is as follows:

Serenity at Two Lights and Other Social Issues portrays Maine in different seasons in a refreshing way. It also includes poems about social issues plaguing the world today. It addresses important subjects such as Columbine and Newtown, the Boston Marathon, and finding a cure for cancer. While there are some light and whimsical poems, there are some serious thought-provoking poems which reveal an unapologetically left-wing point of view. Unlike other poetry collections, these poems aren't obscure---there's no question what the poet is saying in each one. There are also several photos in the book which were taken by the poet and her husband who are both photographers. This poetry collection will take you on a journey to the serenity of the Maine coast, the beauty of Baxter State Park, and the harsh reality of soldiers during wartime.

Maine Nature Poems, Poetry About Current Events, and a Poetry Collection With Some Photos

The book includes nature poems along with poetry on a variety of subjects, including what it's like to live in Maine, being "from away" and food "from away," and topics such as bullying, women in the workplace, discrimination, and "forever friends." There is a table of contents and a table of photos so you can see what the book contains. The book evokes a love of Maine, its lighthouses and treasures, along with the splendor of autumn in Maine. Some of the love of Maine is depicted by the photography while some is depicted by the poetry. Topics other than Maine are included and range from the difficulty of finding the meaning of love to an ode to John Lennon.

If you are interested in getting the book, please contact me at ronnadeloe@gmail.com and I'll give you information about how you can get an autographed copy.

Peace,

Ronna Lambiasi DeLoe

What Are You Doing for National Poetry Month?

2013-04-05T13:32:00.001-04:00

National Poetry Month is celebrated in April. Spring is a time for rebirth, but that doesn't mean your poetry has to be about spring or rebirth. In fact, some of the best poetry is dark, evoking emotions and passionate responses. I truly believe that as writers and poets, we owe it to our audience to keep our nature poems there for them, but in limited quantities, while tackling the more important issues of the day. My first book of poems is going to be published within the next few months, and while there are nature poems, the poetry also tackles tough issues like the aftermath of the Superstorm and the aftermath of Katrina, Cancer -- as in my poem "Find a Cure," and random violence in my poem "Senseless." It tackles issues such as guests gorging themselves at a party, what it's like to be a woman in a man's world in the workplace, abuse of aminals, and other tough issues where we must take a look at ourselves and see if there is something we can do to fix these problems.

I'll be reading my poetry in Thomaston, Maine on April 28, 2013. In the meantime, my custom poetry is available for any occasion at: www.poemsforalloccasions.com. Whether you're writing poetry each day this month, or reading your own works or reading others' poetry, let's celebrate by making poetry accessible to everyone. Poetry is not dead -- it is a vibrant form of expression. Let's do what we can to keep it going.

Custom Poetry for Valentine's Day

2013-01-10T10:52:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for something different for the special person in your life, someone in your family (who could also be that special someone), or even a friend, consider ordering personalized poetry from Poems For All Occasions at www.poemsforalloccasions.com. A poem will be created just for you, with your recipient's interests in mind after you provide some information about your intended recipient. Poems can be short, long, rhyming or free verse, or even a haiku. For something romantic, fun, silly or serious, or even a proposal, contact me at www.poemsforalloccasions.com and you'll get something that will make both you and your recipient proud. I will make sure you are happy with the result! Contact me at poet@poemsforalloccasions.com and I'll help you get started. I've seen ads by other poets at twice the price I offer, so let's get started!

A Moment of Silence for the Victims of Sandy Hook/Newtown, Connecticut

2012-12-20T22:37:00.003-05:00

Please remember to observe a moment of silence tomorrow at 9:30 EST in memory of the victims of Sandy Hook and Newtown, Connecticut. I would like to see Time Magazine's "Person" of the Year be something more important than a president or secretary of state. I would like to see the Time Magazine's "Person" of the year be "Senseless Violence," just as the year before the "Person" of the Year was the "Protestor."
How many more people have to die until we understand we need to do something about gun control AND about mental health?

Shame on this country for allowing this pattern to continue.

WHEN WILL THIS STOP -- THE AFTERMATH OF AURORA, COLORADO: WRITERS' & MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY, GUN CONTROL & MENTAL ILLNESS

2012-07-21T14:20:00.000-04:00

This post is being written in the aftermath of yet another mass murder in Colorado -- the theater shootings in Aurora, Colorado. For all intents and purposes, this could have been in your state, or your country, or your town.

As writers, we have a forum. People can either choose to read what we write or choose to not to, but we have a platform. We need to use that platform responsibly. Instead of writing about how wonderful life is -- not that there's anything wrong with that, but vary the topic occasionally -- write about what is wrong with the world and how we need to fix it.

I wrote a short story recently, which is not my usual form of writing. I usually write poetry or articles about anything and everything. I also write about legal topics and write legal briefs. In any event, the short story criticized the health care industry. It was tough, and it was meant to be. It was part of a contest, which I almost never enter, about America. I noticed that approximately 95% of the entrants wrote about the wonderful country we have, and I agree with that point of view. However, we were also allowed to write about the negative side, and only a handful of us did that. The winning entry was upbeat and painted a surreal portrait of an everyday Joe American helping to build a mosque. Not going to happen, even though it's nice to believe it might. I garnered a lot of compliments about my health care story and I was just happy that people were paying attention. Some of the compliments included words that said "bravo" for using this platform to inform people of a social "ill" -- yes, the health care industry is sick and it needs to be fixed and healed.

If we, as writers, do not seize upon the opportunity to write about social ills and problems, we are missing a huge chance to do something good and useful with our writing. It's great if you make people happy with your writing. It's another thing altogether if you get your readers to think. Let them think; let them be angry and let them sort things out. Let them even have a call to action to do something about your topic.

In that vein, let's use our writing to discuss the problem of violence in this society and instead of writing about violence for the sake of glorification, let's write about how it affects us as a nation or as a global community.

Mass media is also guilty, on a much larger scale, of ignoring real social ills. Instead of make movies about social issues such as health care or violence or poverty, movie makers are making movies that they believe people want to see, which is a problem in and of itself. More Batman movies mean more $$$. It also depicts violence for the sake of violence.

I am not blaming a movie for the tragic and senseless deaths of people in Colorado. What I'm saying is that instead of making Batman 49, why not make a movie that will appeal to the public as a good story, in a realistic setting, about the average American family who is doing everything they can to cope during hard economic times? Let's cater to a higher intelligence, not like what television is doing -- they're catering to C and D students and loving it all the way to the bank. But that has diminished the quality of programs on TV. You can have 500 channels and find nothing to watch because it's all garbage.

All media -- wake up! It's time to be responsible. If you want to have people who are in dire need of psychiatric care copy your villain, be careful! That goes for mystery writers too. Too many times a mystery is made gorier and gorier just for sales and glorification. People are reading your mystery or thriller. A good mystery doesn't have to mean "the gorier the better," nor does a good movie. Many good mystery writers use their mysteries as platforms for other subjects, such as violence, man's inhumanity to man, politics, etc.

Let's be responsible as writers and not waste the opportunities we are afforded to get our message out there. I love my poetry about nature, but my poetry about human suffering or the human condition has a much bigger impact on my audiences. It gets them thinking and maybe it may hit someone with the idea of acting upon what they've heard -- that is, acutally doing something about social issues.

Let's not lose our fifteen or more minutes of fame. Instead, let's send out tough, responsible messages, in an entertaining way --which can, of course, be done -- and let's make sure our writing actually means something. Fluff is nice. So is writing and making movies about nature, teen culture, etc. I'm also a photographer so trust me when I say I have nothing against nature. I'm a nature and landscape photographer. But my photos are one thing. My writing has, I believe, a higher purpose, and I'm going to see to it that I deliver.

I was asked recently to write about the topic of food. I wrote three poems on the subject. While one of them was funny, one was whimsical, the first poem I wrote was about the exorbitant amount of food found at a party or function and how it all goes to waste. I hoped, in the poem, that the excess food, which was a ridiculous amount, went to a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter. I complained about the gluttons who subsisted on such lavish affairs regularly and about those who provided such an abundance of food.

We need to take responsibility as writers, and the "keepers of all media" need to do the same. Enough is enough. Write about gun control. Make movies about gun control. Talk about random acts of violence. Write about it. Make movies about it without glorifying it.

As I told my brother, a psychologist, we need more psychologists, counselors and psychiatrists than we need white collar Wall Street-types. There are too many undiagnosed or unmedicated mentally ill people with whom we have to share this planet. Not a comforting thought. Okay. Now write about it; make a movie about it.

Amen. My prayers go to the fatally injured, the injured, and the families of these people. I will do my part to "keep it Green" as they say in AA -- let us never forget and let's take the next step and let's tell society all about it and what we can do to stop it.

Thanks for reading. Write on,

Ronna

Time to Write and Read Your Poetry or Prose

2012-07-06T22:51:00.000-04:00

I've discovered something new about writing. It's about reading your work, whether it's poetry or prose. There are a lot of poetry readings in the State of Maine, and I'm excited about getting involved in the "poetry circuit." Whatever state you're in, if you write, why not get out there and make a name for yourself? I did a poetry reading last week and I really enjoyed it.

I had excellent advice given to me by a famous author, Gerry Boyle. If you want to read a great mystery, pick up one of his books from Barnes and Noble. Anyway, my family goes to see Gerry talk about and read his books every chance we get. Gerry advised me to take it slow -- read slowly, savor it and enjoy it. That's what I did. I didn't read it at a snail's pace -- someone else did and I won't mention what I thought of it. But I read it slow enough to be understood but not slow enough to make a performance piece of it. There's a big difference, and unless you're really great at doing performance pieces, I would suggest you don't do it! There was one woman who was indeed a perfomance artist and it showed -- she was great. Reading slowly without having the right presence is just not fun for the audience.

Anyway, the bottom line is this: Google literature events in your state, including poetry and prose readings and put your state in the search line. If you're lucky, there will be something within an hour of where you live, or maybe even closer. Take advantage of it. If you're planning on making a name for yourself, there's no better time than now.

Occupy Wall Street -- Reggae (Live Recording)

2011-12-19T13:39:00.000-05:00

We're getting there! While the numbers on YouTube take their time catching up to the "real" amount of hits, we're at 700 for just two weeks and should be close to 800 by tonight anyway, even though it won't show that until tomorrow or the day after.
Here's our video. Please share, place on your FB pages, etc. Thank you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFV7MOAW0wc

OCCUPY REGGAE -- WE'RE THE 99 (OFFICIAL)

2011-12-04T23:48:00.000-05:00

Please check out our video and please put it on your Facebook. Let's get this message out there. Let's get this video around the world and back! Thank you for your assistance in promoting this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFV7MOAW0wc

Writing Tips for Freelancers

2011-11-30T20:14:00.000-05:00

Here is a new article: http://writinghood.com/writing/tips-for-freelance-writers-seeking-work-on-the-internet/