Going through the notes my mother wrote for her novel, I found a list of chapter titles. Reality Testing Wulfen The FBI, CIA, Mafia, and my .38 His mother, my clothes His daughter The Last Christmas Ballad Harper, The FBI, and the CIA The Peeping Tom Ghosts Lybia :the girl in the window :fire from …
Category: novel
Asking for Trouble
When I say to her, "That's a pretty bracelet," she says, "Thanks! I bought it from a Christian jeweler!" When I say, "I like the painting over the fireplace," she says, "Thanks! I got it from a Christian painter!" And I confess, I want to say, "Oh, well, thank heaven it wasn't a Muslim or …
How many words tells a story?
One of my students has decided to write a novel. He's 20 and French. His novel is a thriller with a dash of sci-fi. The premise is great, and the writing can really come together if he gives it the attention it deserves. I've never had a student want to write a novel. Or at …
Here’s a crazy idea…
Just putting this out into the world... over at Words are Art and Lake Belle I've got a deal on stories and art for the holidays. Yes, I know it is a wee bit early to think about holidays, but if you want something handmade, sooner is better. Even if the notion doesn't appeal to …
Sugar Highs and Research
The scientists took two groups of children and told the parents that the children would go to a party. At the party the children would eat candy and cake. This was not true. One group of children did go to a party with cake and cake. The other group of children, however, ate vegetables, crackers, …
Fridge Magnets & Other Gifts
Years ago, I made an afghan for my step-mother. I took care to match the colors of her room and get the right size for the bed. Only, I hadn't mastered crocheting and the cover ended up much too big. It reached the floor from one side of the queen-size bed to the other. But …
the real me?
I'm getting ready for Halloween already. That my son is in love with The Addams Family helps set the mood. Recently I read The Ladies of Grace Adieu, which also adds to the haunted atmosphere. So, I'm working on something for Halloween. And I'm working on the fairy tales. Well, I say working on... I'm …
What have I started?
A couple of weeks ago, my son picked the book Waggit Forever to read. I read it out loud to him, usually three or four chapters at a time. He wanted me to read more, but my throat would wear out by then. One morning he woke me up with the book in his hand. …
Breaking Stories
I've taken one novel I thought I'd finished, Drowning Karma, and cut away 50,000 words. The words leftover I've broken into short stories. Well, I've broken them. Whether they're short stories yet is another matter. The process was painful and liberating. I looked at some comments I'd gotten on the novel (thanks again, readers!) and …
the kiddo’s film
the kiddo's film Originally uploaded by mapelba The kiddo decided on the story line and made the snakes. Mom made the dog. The kiddo snapped the pictures and mom did her best with iMovie, which she knew almost nothing about (never mind about a soundtrack). Anyway, here is the first effort at movie making.