Butterfly Thoughts

Another typical Texas winter day...gray overcast skies and dripping clouds. May need to wear my boots to slosh through standing water when I trudge out to my cabin later this morning.

I titled this posting butterfly thoughts because that seems to be the way my mind is working this morning...flitting from one room of memories to another...alighting on first one thing or another but not delving deep before going on to something else.

Since writing and reading consume such a large portion of my attention, my thoughts touched upon the books I've read in my lifetime. Two came quickly to mind--mainly because their titles captured my imagination and upon reading, the style of their content has stayed with me.

Many, many years ago I stumbled upon The Scent of Water, a novel written by now-deceased Elizabeth Gouge. Reading her prose mesmerized me. She had the ability to take ordinary happenings in a person's life and somehow, draw aside the curtain and provide a peek into the soul of her character. I devoured everything of hers I could put my hands on and was never disappointed.

In more recent years, I discovered the writings of Julia Cameron, someone I would delight to sit down and chat with over a cup of coffee. But, somehow I suspect she would prefer tea. The Sound of Paper, the latest I've consumed although she recently published a new book, ntrigued me from the start. Her perspective on the writing life transformed me and to this day I continue to practice her recommendation to write what she calls Daily Pages. It's become a ritual to set myself at the desk in my bedroom, light a scented candle, and open the spiral notebook that stays accessible. Then, in as constant a motion as possible, I hand-write until I fill three pages. Whar I write is of no consequence; the objective is to keep the pen moving. Having developed this habit, I am continually amazed by the ability to now basically write on command.

That's just one of the considerations that occupied my thoughts upon waking this morning. I'll save my ruminations about the months I lived in Hawaii for another posting.

Day Two of a Thirty-One-Day Challenge

Okay, okay. So I'm a glutton for punishment. Have to admit I just can't ignore a challenge. So, hopefully, you can look forward to getting some kind of gibberish from me every day for the whole month.

A month or so ago I downloaded a fifteen-lesson course that promised to teach me everything I needed to know about successfully using a blog to promote my books. What with the busyness of the holidays and a rash of book-signings, I've managed to peruse only lesson one and two.

The subject of lesson one was the importance of your blog name. Since this blog has been active (off and on) for a couple of years, I saw no need to expend any mental anguish on something different. I like the name I came up with...Comparing Apples & Oranges...it provided an opening for a wide variety of subjects.

If you've been curious enough to read past postings on this site, you will see how eclectic my postings are. In 2013, I did a series on the origins of common sayings and shared about phrases such as "What's Under Your Hat?" and "Mind Ypur P's & Q's."

2012 delved into the origin of a host of Christmas traditions like the history of the Candy Cane and the Kissing Ball. I tapered off in 2014--far fewer postings--mostly dealing with what was happening in my writing career at the moment or somehow related to writing in some way.

Tomorrow I may write about Lesson Two...and then perhaps not. May just wait and see what the Muse brings to mind to share.

Remembering To Blog

Why is it so many projects begin with tons of enthusiasm and before you can pop a balloon, the new adventure turns into an ornerous chore?

I really had good intentions when I began this blog website. I mean, really, how difficult could it be to take five or ten minutes and jot down what was pressing on my mind at the moment. Didn't happen!

So anyway, New Year's Day 2015 has arrived and it calls for new beginnings...I think. A friend just shared information about the Ultimate Blog Challenge so I say to myself...what the heck, might as well give it a try.

This is what you get for day 1. You'll have to keep coming back to see what kind of nonsense I put down in the following days.

Oh by the way...if you'd like to take the challenge, just go to this website  http://ultimateblogchallenge.com/sign-up-confirmation/

Sometimes It Starts Like This

We were on our way to the book fair in Ben Wheeler. Jean driving with Evelyn beside her and I in the back seat. Along the country road, we passed a farmhouse set back among the trees. I caught sight of a family cemetery as we drove past. The image of a tilted stone marker remained for a moment and, in my mind's eye, a young woman stood beside it, Her back was to me as she gazed down toward the ground. Gently-curled brown hair draped below her shoulders over a tan trench-style coat tightly wrapped at the waist. That imaginary image stayed with me for some time before I was able to chase it away.

On our way home, I asked Jean if we could stop long enough for me to take a picture. All three of us kept a look-out for the small group of grave markers. Jean was gracious enough to make two turns to enable me to take pictures; first time of the cemetery itself and after Evelyn pointed it out, a return stop so I could walk closer to capture an image of the historical marker so it could be read.

I have no idea where this is leading. For the moment, these notations and the pictures will be filed away...possibly to never see the light of day again.

But, somehow I have a feeling this woman will be visiting me again. I suspect she wants me to write her story.

How Do We Maintain a Balance?

The holiday season is approaching with the speed  of a flash of lightning. And that signifies a deluge of opportunities to sell books. Everyone agrees books make wonderful Christmas presents, so every author knows you've got to get your books out in the public's eye so they can grab them up to fill their Christmas present-buying lists.

The holiday season also brings an upswing in social activities with personal family gatherings and special church and community events. We authors find ourselves stretched tighter than a guitar string trying to cover all the bases at this time of year.

For instance, as I peruse the opportunities to meet-and-greet the reading public over the next few weeks, I could obligate myself to being as some public function for every weekend. And quite possibly, more than one location in a weekend.

There are so many opportunities available to sell our books at this time of the year, that it gets harder and harder to make choices. And all the while, juggling the added family...and possibly work...responsibilities that occur at this time of year.

For myself, I'm going to be making very judicious choices. After all, I don't want to enter the joyous season totally exhausted and unable to enjoy myself. Do you?

I'd really like to get your thoughts on this dilemma.

Did You Miss Me?

Good Morning!
Life got in the way and it's been some time since I've posted here.

The holiday season is upon us and that means book events popping up all over the map.
This Saturday I'll be in Winnsboro at the Cultural Arts Center as a representative of White Bird Publishing. If you're in the area, stop by and say Hi to a great bunch of authors.

It's also National Novel Writing Month but I'm passing up participating this year. Last year was a first-time experience for me and I was astonished at how much writing I accomplished. Didn't know I could write to deadlines! The story I completed, tentatively titled Mai Lin, is nearing the close of its critiquing stage and is headed for publication some time next year.

Mai Lin was sold as a child in China and comes to San Francisco, California at the turn of the Twentieth century...just in time to experience the earthquake. My story chronicles her adventurous life in those turbulent times and gives the reader a glimpse into Chinese life in that city back then.

Recently I committed to writing book reviews with a group of author friends. They've been posting some complementary reviews for Second Time Around. Hope you'll go here and check them out. http://www.amazon.com/Second-Time-Around-Gay-Ingram-ebook/dp/B00A6DCWJI/ref=la_B008VS6AJI_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415282147&sr=1-4

This year's project, a fictionalized biography of Harriet Tubman, is on its way to the first reader. I await comments and suggestions.

Been reading lots of great books; I came across one I highly recommend: A Walk On The Beach by Joan Anderson.

Until next time, happy reading.

What Happened To George?

A funny thing happened to George Washington, Surveyor, Soldier, Leader on its way to publication.

For some undisclosed reason, I found it necessary to purchase my own proof copy after the book had already been released. Upon reviewing the print issue, I discovered some serious errors. Well, to me they were serious. Correctable errors in formatting like incorrect page numbering and incorrect placement of objects on the cover. Most disturbing was a Publisher's Note inserted at the front of the book. In it, my book was described as fiction and stated all people, places and incidents were the work of the author's imagination. This notice came at quite a shock since I'd spent months in research, even purchased a copy of George Washington's own diary to be certain what I wrote was historically accurate.

I contacted my publisher at Dancing With Bear Publishing, listing the needed corrections and even offering to send directions for making the corrections. Since the services of CreateSpace was used to produce the book and I was familiar with their procedures, I knew all it would take was correcting the manuscript and re-submitting it.

Her response? An offer to allow me to buy out my contract at a substantial sum. I turned down the offer, replying that I wished only to produce a book that reflected professionalism.

That was when I received a second offer of release from the contract stating a list of charges I would be responsible for. I won't go into the ludicrous details.

When I turned that down, her reply was an expansive email canceling of my contract and accusing me of being an "author diva."

So, unfortunately I've requested that Amazon remove the print copy of the book from their shelves. I have a couple copies to sell as long as they last and have already gotten a request for one. But there's just a few and they are going fast.

Meanwhile - to those customers who purchased a copy through Amazon - I'll be happy to sign what may turn out to be collector's items some day. George's story will have to go back on the shelf for a while more.