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Tasman Excerpt #2 Newgate

adventure novel / book excerpt / musings / Tasman

Tasman Excerpt #2 Newgate

The following is a glimpse inside the book, Tasman: An Innocent Convict’s Struggle for Freedom. Back story: The local constable has hauled Ean into London with no comment as to why. From the novel: As we entered the edge of city the workers extinguished the gas lights, street sweeps and gawkers laughed at me and spit at my feet. Lavender ladies whispered behind their hands as they strolled to their rooms to rest up for tonight’s return to their corners where they stood to entice men to their beds. The jumble shops stood open; their bric-a-brac crowding onto the sidewalks...

Tasman: A View through Pinterest Images

adventure novel / musings / Tasman

Tasman: A View through Pinterest Images

Pinterest is a wealth of information collection by millions of people with a million different interests. Fortunately some pinners have an interest in topics related to elements I address in Tasman-An Innocent Convict’s Struggle for Freedom.  Here are a few images I found related to London in the 1850s. I hope you will keep a copy of these and future Pinterest images I post to enhance your reading of Tasman. Newgate Prison housed the worst of the worst criminals sent there for murder, theft and such. It was “a labyrinth of dark cells, subterranean corridors and iron bars as thick...

Ways to Support Authors

musings / reader suggestions

Ways to Support Authors

As I became an author, I realized several ways people supported me beyond reading my books. I also realized that I needed to step-up my interactions and involvement with fellow authors. Here’s a few ideas I’ve come to believe are important way all of us can support authors. Give the books to friends as gifts. Ask the author for a signature card to add to the book if you cannot purchase a signed copy. Most authors will gladly personalize a stick-on and send it to you. Thank the author by writing a review that describes what you enjoyed in the...

Books I Wish Existed

musings / recreational reading

Books I Wish Existed

Ever made a list of books you wish existed or don’t know if they exist? I have a short list. Books about the local native culture from the eyes of young native children. Books about current day teachers and how they inspire others to be better role models. Books about mosquitoes, flies, and gnats. (they must have a redeeming use in the world!) Books for adults to answer strange questions like why do bananas have 3 sections. This is unusual for me because I usually read fiction. What’s on your wish list for unfound or non-existent books?? How might a...

Facts in Fiction

details in writing / musings / writer reminders / writing process

Facts in Fiction

Grounding fiction with pertinent facts makes the story more beievable. To that end a writer needs to select facts that feel like they belong in the story. There must be a reason for their inclusion, a purpose that moves the story along. Examples: In the ballet trilogy (84 Ribbons, When the Music Stops: Dance On, and Letters to Follow: A Dancer’s Adventure) I used facts: real streets in real towns, real layouts of homes, real ballet music, and real scenery you’d see if you visited the places I had Marta and Lynne visited. I especially enjoyed my visits to The...

adventure novel / Book Specials / Tasman

Tasman Excerpt #1

This is the beginning of page one of Tasman: An Innocent Convict’s Struggle for Freedom. Wham! Strong arms yanked me from my cot and dragged me to standing. My eyes popped open. I shook my head to get my wits about me and tried to twist myself free. The Langsgtone constable pulled my arms behind my back, tied them with a rope, and shoved me roughly out the door of the print shop Fear clutched like a raven claw. “What’s happening? Where are you taking me? I’ve done nothing wrong!” “Silence!” The constable whacked my head as he forced me...

Tools for (Personal) and other Writing

84 Ribbons / writing / writing process

Tools for (Personal) and other Writing

Whether you’re writing letters to friends, creating a remembrance book, or writing a longer work, you need certain tools nearby to enable your process. Consider these ideas: 1.Start with a notebook and pen or pencil. Handwritten ideas come from a different place in the brain than ideas composed on a computer. Consider writing your thoughts long-hand first. Then transpose them onto the card, journal. or computer for your finished piece. I think you’ll find the exercise enlightening. 2. Gather your resources: a thesaurus, dictionary and one of my favorites, The Synonym Dictionary by J.I Rodale (Rodale Press). That way you...

Ballet Trilogy / musings / new works / Tasman / writing

Saying Good-bye to Ballet (for now)

As I say my blog good-bye to ballet-influenced stories are articles, I want to leave you with one last reflection on dance: Ballet is an intense pursuit. Ballet dancers are truly athletes. They:  * train daily from morning until afternoon from age 12 until they retire. * perform before audiences three to four times a week during their 9-10 month season. * seldom have more than two weeks off at a time during the year. * maintain their bodies through eating protein-filled snacks and meals. * learn precise body placement movements as well as choreography. Professionals dedicate their lives to...

prompts / writing / writing process

Writing Warm-up Ideas

Like sports, it’s a good idea to warm-up before you begin writing. Here are a few 5-minute suggestions to use to wake up your writing brain. 1. Scribble. Write nonsense ‘words’ to free your mind of thoughts. 2. Write all the words you can think of that begin with “a”. Another time try other letters of the alphabet as well. 3. Think of a favorite character to describe without using color words. 4. Describe: your work space                      the weather outside a favorite food                         your best friend a childhood pet                       the best meal you ever ate a tearful experience               a stranger...

reading / writing with kids

Literature in a Bag

Looking for a fun activity to share with kids, maybe an entire classroom? Look no further. Here’s a great way to support reading which will, in the long run, support student writing since books develop vocabulary and expand student interests. Make literature bags for school with prekindergarten or Kindergarten through grad 3 classrooms. Please make a class set of 30 so all students in an individual classroom will receive a bag. (30 will be ample and provide replacement bags as needed during the year.) PLASTIC BAGS Purchase gallon-sized plastic freezer bags with sturdy zip-lock slides. Leave plain or send to...