tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88074945177961716562024-03-13T12:37:18.229-04:00OF IS NOT A VERBWriting advice, book reviews, and more from the author ofLaura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-65394667846460796462022-02-27T13:41:00.001-05:002022-02-27T13:41:18.340-05:00Time has simultaneously slowed down and sped up. Since the beginning of the pandemic I'm not sure which month/day/year it is. Like many of my writer friends, the semi isolation has affected my productivity. For months I couldn't write, and was unable to finish an almost complete novel draft.<div>Yet I began and finished another, and have recently <a href="https://myedmondsnews.com/2022/01/the-writers-desk-lights-camera-epic-fail/">stepped into screenwriting</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Writing scripts is like learning a new language. The format (grammar) is unfamiliar, and the story must be told with a viewer rather than a reader in mind. </div><div><br /></div><div>So this is my excuse for ignoring my blog. Here's a recent photo of Pablo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3KUdfbbm43gAV1NVMNZEYOXDkxwIovjkLjb4H-axn6CxOQQXNmrkinseXJ62fOeHtv_92uu1n5SVd1pjyp9SLFvsMX1UR8_FfCpC9OAJyc6l1Mksa7N1sn5IA9ocrUJzDLVHGmaXW8XzjR8PnWcDEtJl07mG_lRwzGf6jzx28TBNQDTOv1LkNmcb-6w=s3236" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3236" data-original-width="2427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3KUdfbbm43gAV1NVMNZEYOXDkxwIovjkLjb4H-axn6CxOQQXNmrkinseXJ62fOeHtv_92uu1n5SVd1pjyp9SLFvsMX1UR8_FfCpC9OAJyc6l1Mksa7N1sn5IA9ocrUJzDLVHGmaXW8XzjR8PnWcDEtJl07mG_lRwzGf6jzx28TBNQDTOv1LkNmcb-6w=w240-h320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div> <div>Happy Writing.</div></div></div>Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-64803277948344152442021-12-16T14:16:00.000-05:002021-12-16T14:16:07.214-05:00<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmKi_aquTqEbtGEBcjxRTOBZ-n6M3DXCigDRDxtr1uzAKPiaQo_b0T40aN33Fb3duhDqFF6WzCDZfoDD8FbhiRTZOUXqEbIewEAIq1gNsMqI4q52v-VeHMjtKmxtbWUSFmwwLe93T4SjMACqPIXQgofJaiIpF_g9tc_b4qn84NwE04JnAKtWDR3xb-Ig=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmKi_aquTqEbtGEBcjxRTOBZ-n6M3DXCigDRDxtr1uzAKPiaQo_b0T40aN33Fb3duhDqFF6WzCDZfoDD8FbhiRTZOUXqEbIewEAIq1gNsMqI4q52v-VeHMjtKmxtbWUSFmwwLe93T4SjMACqPIXQgofJaiIpF_g9tc_b4qn84NwE04JnAKtWDR3xb-Ig=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Hello to those of you who follow my semi-forgotten blog.<div><br /><div>I've been busy writing a monthly column for My Edmonds News called <a href="https://myedmondsnews.com/2021/11/the-writers-desk-the-power-in-drafting-to-discover-what-your-book-is-about/" target="_blank">The Writer's Des</a>k, in addition to working on a novel, and being president of <a href="https://www.epicgroupwriters.com/" target="_blank">EPIC</a> Group Writers. The latter involves lots of Zoom meetings and booking workshops. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's been a weird two years. Let's hope 2022 proves to be more normal, or at least less stressful than this new normal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Holidays!</div><div>and</div><div>Happy Writing.</div></div>Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-71776569714250919982021-03-03T19:40:00.000-05:002021-03-03T19:40:40.267-05:00Almost Normal<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s been more than a year since I visited Third Place Books
in person. Over the past few months, I’ve ordered online and had books mailed
to me. But after attending a webinar yesterday with Lisa Cron about her new book, <b>Story
or Die</b>, I ordered a copy. Instead of opting to have it snail mailed, I clicked
on ‘pick up at store.'</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElM9DbonTvOLE7lI9NNxVQ8yR5NOuDYwkrR6RGwj-AnbOyycydgQtSrIm8GQkYdaT-v1Yavto6amKIplpQE9a-81drfjsSkAgMTzdI6Tsg-NaVvw4r0BTSWLMbemaRr6ZimBVFSHbfnAU/s2016/IMG_4163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElM9DbonTvOLE7lI9NNxVQ8yR5NOuDYwkrR6RGwj-AnbOyycydgQtSrIm8GQkYdaT-v1Yavto6amKIplpQE9a-81drfjsSkAgMTzdI6Tsg-NaVvw4r0BTSWLMbemaRr6ZimBVFSHbfnAU/s320/IMG_4163.jpg" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the occasion of venturing to the bookstore, I dressed
more carefully than I had in months, choosing my favorite jeans, an olive-green
sweater, a necklace and a bracelet. The morning was bright and sunny, which I
took as a good omen. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Entering the freeway felt like a strange city, partly because
of construction of the light rail which blocked the right lane, and partly because
this is only my second trip on I-5 since the pandemic broke out. I hadn’t forgotten
how to merge with the thick swell of cars and trucks, all moving far below the
60 MPH speed limit. The addition of rail lines and concrete barriers has
changed the landscape, but the heavy Seattle traffic remains the same.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After I exited on Ballenger Way, I passed several office
buildings bearing ‘For Lease. Signs. The Mexican restaurant is still there,
likely surviving on carry-out orders by a loyal clientele. As I drove east, the
familiar canopy of trees cast blinking shadows in and out of the sunlight. It
had been more than a year, yet I still recalled how to get to the store. The
parking lot was nearly vacant, and after I parked, I double glanced at the shop
to ensure I was open. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first change since I was last here were the signs on the
two double door entries. Inside the building the next change I noted was there was no line at the adjoining cafe. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bsvyFwu7Wg52rL_gREsogX8vI7a-bGrKnhB9OceH36wYhh88SCuiuxUY3cVJTIPCt5x_Z2ygZdmxgJ-F7IyugjfsgdkzfB_XUQdcrQqQUV85_xjgh7mOazJf5Cq4Wa0w9LL1-Fb5KqWO/s2016/IMG_4156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bsvyFwu7Wg52rL_gREsogX8vI7a-bGrKnhB9OceH36wYhh88SCuiuxUY3cVJTIPCt5x_Z2ygZdmxgJ-F7IyugjfsgdkzfB_XUQdcrQqQUV85_xjgh7mOazJf5Cq4Wa0w9LL1-Fb5KqWO/s320/IMG_4156.jpg" /></a></div><br />Clearly marked exit and entry only with reminders for
customers they must wear masks and maintain social distances. The entrance side
is blocked off with crime tape and the signs with arrows lead to the information
desk. An individual stood at the entry and asked my business. I could have
taken my prepaid book and left, but since the store was empty, and I’d already fulfilled
a couple of hours early morning writing, I decided to use the allotted 30-minute
time limit to browse.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd-rhB-XktXeAmcpOMMzHPIPeLdn424pJshx_AZXy76wYIUCCFl-O620YmvM5DcAeu9cV9BEYS63EXggRpN5JHfrga-FsIrwKtBgkuaFELr_5BhmEVp2xP2xT9lJnyFwf69h8iavjZokV/s2016/IMG_4161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbd-rhB-XktXeAmcpOMMzHPIPeLdn424pJshx_AZXy76wYIUCCFl-O620YmvM5DcAeu9cV9BEYS63EXggRpN5JHfrga-FsIrwKtBgkuaFELr_5BhmEVp2xP2xT9lJnyFwf69h8iavjZokV/s320/IMG_4161.jpg" /></a></div>Where once there stood leather and wooden chairs throughout the
store where one could sit and skim through a stack of books is now open space. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta2sNrsqGGxjHvIF4r20nai3I8MiJl6rxgkzWUqq1-2BfmtUrS8SGTJqr4O7atB43Btdvx_JdzAnnVmx-PMzMbblrBNShxYVHVGYcVXYq4zZoLYOLe9aED3MW_EbTe7wErKWS95Aa3tRG/s2016/IMG_4160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta2sNrsqGGxjHvIF4r20nai3I8MiJl6rxgkzWUqq1-2BfmtUrS8SGTJqr4O7atB43Btdvx_JdzAnnVmx-PMzMbblrBNShxYVHVGYcVXYq4zZoLYOLe9aED3MW_EbTe7wErKWS95Aa3tRG/s320/IMG_4160.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>The staff is enthusiastic and industrious, filling shelves
and moving displays, and the selection of books, cards, and other goods remains
abundant, but the shopping experience definitely felt altered. One of the
things I’ve missed most since the pandemic outbreak is browsing the shelves at
libraries and bookstores. Where I once may have spent two hours (and much more
money) wandering through the aisles, I’m grateful to have the option for this
in-person visit. The short visit to familiar territory made life feel more like
normal and less like science fiction.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>How are you emerging back to nearly normal?</div>Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-35698137650026543532021-01-29T10:36:00.000-05:002021-01-29T10:36:23.969-05:00Still Writing After All These Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX4GljMWGO8PetPXRdSG-DvpEYhTFHwz_mvlFj3HnePB6uQjuAFOlVdmPDBUA5fhmE1tF9FrRTKBXywHUK_oCyB8EP3KxPz_TnspkdO9L0Iv42SpAduoHIvTZ5hKcVEBj-9MZb1oWKnwr/s2016/IMG_3887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX4GljMWGO8PetPXRdSG-DvpEYhTFHwz_mvlFj3HnePB6uQjuAFOlVdmPDBUA5fhmE1tF9FrRTKBXywHUK_oCyB8EP3KxPz_TnspkdO9L0Iv42SpAduoHIvTZ5hKcVEBj-9MZb1oWKnwr/s320/IMG_3887.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>It's been nearly a year since the world literally closed its doors. Like most of you, I've learned to adapt, and each day provides a new challenge. One is that I haven't kept up with my blog. But here's a piece I wrote in November for Women Writers, Women's Books: <a href="http://booksbywomen.org/making-it-to-the-finish-line/">Making it to the Finish Line</a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Writing.</div>Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-45849344470179696172020-10-08T13:44:00.002-04:002020-10-08T13:44:51.783-04:00It's Not All Bad<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtYEoBOX2_KHVG6TWJqbAO6pTvtSFCEOjmnb8628jXoqg44yK8DlLF03-fsQAneLMJce1-CjZ9c9OOyJSFnuoyEgtcXPgxDRBSX9kZSEVBq5Wa2ogGZ7pvgSTQhW7_5vjqZEExUaC86Pc/s2560/P_20160630_180423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="2560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtYEoBOX2_KHVG6TWJqbAO6pTvtSFCEOjmnb8628jXoqg44yK8DlLF03-fsQAneLMJce1-CjZ9c9OOyJSFnuoyEgtcXPgxDRBSX9kZSEVBq5Wa2ogGZ7pvgSTQhW7_5vjqZEExUaC86Pc/s320/P_20160630_180423.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Here's a blog post I forgot to post back on April. [It's now October. Things have not changed much except 211,000 have died from COVID. Politics has divided the country. Those of us with liberal leanings are in constant anxiety. Grocery prices are up, unemployment is rising, and businesses are closing daily, and my social life is almost entirely via ZOOM. But it' all good, right?]</div><div><br /></div>If every country and city in the world weren't living this surreal existence, nobody would believe it.<br />
Sequestered in our homes.<br />
<br /><b>
Reading</b><br />
Many people are reading books again.<br />
<br /><b>
Unplugged</b><br />
Because I'm home all day, like many people out there, I watch more daytime TV talk shows.<br />
<br /><b>
Kelly and Ryan</b>, like the rest, now broadcast from their homes, and they're much less obnoxious.<br />
<br />
THE VIEW As a group onstage The ladies of THE TALK. are still fun to watch<br />and talk over each other. But from home, the show is easier to watch. Whoopie and Sunny are still pleasant. Surprisingly, Meghan McCain is far less toxic , but Joy Behar, who I usually enjoy, is annoying.<br />
<br />
Oddly, <b>Ellen</b> isn't as funny without an audience. She falls flat talking to just one guest at a time.<br />
<br />
Live concerts from living rooms shows us who has talent. Without the flashy special effects, costumes, and electronic enhancement. It feels as if Keith Urban is sitting in my living room playing a song just for me<br />
<br />
Zoom once you get past the learning curve of navigating the platform, zoom meetings make life feel connected less lonely.<br />Facebook is marginal<br />
Instragram has always been friendlier<br />
Twitter is still a bitchfest<br />
<br /><br />
I haven't yet resorted to watching soap operas.<br />
<br /><br />
Happy Writing.Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-12935373442789072102020-04-11T23:14:00.000-04:002020-04-11T23:52:36.952-04:00Quarantine CopingIt's been a month since, other than grocery and pharmacy clerks, I have socialized in person with anyone other than my cat. He only talks when he's hungry or he wants me to sit on the couch so he can lie in my lap. Otherwise he ignores me. He's a cat, so he's doing his job.<br />
<br />
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<br />
How am I coping? As best as I can.<br />
In every country and city in the world we're all living this surreal existence, yet there are some things to enjoy about it.<br />
<br />
Luckily I love to read, and I'm catching up on books I forgot I had. I've also downloaded a few audio books to listen to while I take a daily walk. Luckily the weather in Seattle has been unseasonably pleasant and sunny this week.<br />
<br />
Cooking. I'm not a great cook, but I'm trying to make more than omelettes and oatmeal.<br />
<br />
Live TV is truly live. .<br />
Because I'm home all day, like many people out there, I watch more daytime TV talk shows, many newscasters and hosts now broadcast from their homes. I enjoy peeking inside celebrities houses. It makes them more real, more accessible.<br />
<br />
Kelly and Ryan they're much less obnoxious.<br />
<br />
As a group onstage together the hosts of THE VIEW tend to talk over each other. But from home, the show is easier to watch. Whoopie and Sunny are still pleasant. Surprisingly, Meghan McCain is far less toxic, but Joy Behar, who I usually enjoy, is annoying.<br />
<br />
The ladies of THE TALK. are still fun to watch, but oddly, ELLEN isn't as funny without an audience. She falls flat talking to just one guest at a time.<br />
<br />
Live concerts from musicians' living rooms demonstrates who has true talent without the flashy special effects, costumes, and electronic enhancement. The music is unplugged. Recently, watching Keith Urban from his home felt as if he was playing a song just for me.<br />
<br />
Zoom once you get past the learning curve of navigating the platform, zoom meetings make life feel connected less lonely and prevents me from spending all day wearing pajamas.<br />
Last night I attended a Zoom happy hour. On Tuesday I taught a writing workshop via Zoom, and I have several meetings coming up next week.<br />
<br />
I've notice a spike in interaction on Facebook Phone calls and Face Time are also nice. Hearing another's voice is less mechanical than a text.<br />
<br />
My house is clean! (Except for my home office.)<br />
<br />
I turn off the news. I limit myself to one hour a day: half hour of local, and a half hour of national, and press the mute button when the liar in Chief comes on to spew his incoherent nonsense. And now the government wants to de-fund the USPS? How can the world's most powerful nation not have postal service? Don't get me started...I plan to start writing a lot more letters.<br />
<br />
Twitter and Instagram also keep me connected. Tonight I posted a video on how to trim your own bangs. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://twitter.com/LauraMoewriter/status/1249155608575643648?s=20">https://twitter.com/LauraMoewriter/status/1249155608575643648?s=20</a></span><br />
<br />
This week I've finally been able to focus enough to write. It's not good writing, but at least words are flowing.<br />
<br />
<br />
Hope you're having a happy quarantine.<br />
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Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-71437878480932667202020-03-19T16:28:00.001-04:002020-03-19T16:31:17.093-04:00Changing the Mindset<br />
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The other day I went to Trader Joe's. Like many groceries, a sign outside announced limited hours. While flowers abounded, the normally well stocked shelves were pretty much bare. Smartly, Trader Joe’s limited the number of each item type one can buy to two to avoid hoarding. But there wasn’t much left <i>to</i> buy.</div>
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In produce, I was able to find salad, bananas, and one of the last bags of navel oranges. No toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and hand balm remained in the health and beauty aisle, and most of the hand soap was also gone. Of the baking products, where chocolate chips, flour, and sugar should have been the shelves were stripped. The only flour left was almond flour. At 7.98 a bag I figured I didn’t need to bake anything. I had eggs at home, so I didn’t buy one of the half dozen left in the case. I’d hoped to find Havarti cheese, which I did, but it was <i>lite. </i>Lite Havarti is better than no Havarti.</div>
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At a nearly empty freezer case I picked up the last bag of frozen corn. All the frozen fruit, broccoli, green beans, and mixed veggies were gone. Further down in the empty freezer case I looked to see if they had my favorite: bean taquitos. “They’re sold out of all my usual favorites,” I said aloud. A young man standing at a social distance from me said, “I guess this a good time to try something new.”</div>
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“That’s one way of looking at it.” I picked up one of the three remaining packages of Cheese enchiladas. I’d never noticed them before amid the normally overflowing freezer case. Other than the enchiladas having a high fat content, they’re tasty, and will make a good temporary substitute until they restock my bean taquitos.</div>
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Right now, with social isolation, we’re all trying something new, seeking ways to maintain connections while also social distancing. It’s a massive reboot of our personal systems. I’m cleaning our junk drawers and cabinets and dusting more often. Today I flipped my mattress, (something I’d been meaning to do for ages,) and reduced the stacks on my nightstand.</div>
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Lucky for us in Seattle, one of the hot spots for the virus, our weather is sunny this week. It’s still chilly, but it may be warm enough later for me to clean out my car. I need to keep moving in order to burn off the 38% fat content of the cheese enchilada I ate for lunch.</div>
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If you can't find what you want, try something new.</div>
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Happy Coping</div>
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Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-71112031904452654582020-03-16T15:36:00.001-04:002020-03-16T15:36:15.475-04:00You Can’t Always Get What You Want<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before I retired from teaching six years ago, I used to joke with my students that when the Apocalypse happens, people from my generation will be the ones they turn to for leadership and guidance. I also used to encourage my kids to leave the country. Go to a Third World country and see how the rest of the world survives. I wanted them to stash a global perspective in their tool boxes. They scoffed, believing that apocalyptic events were the fiction comprised of zombies and aliens. None considered a virus would change all our lives.</div>
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Right now, hordes of people in the US are freaking out from the lack of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Small conveniences that we in First World countries expect access to any time, anywhere. The Rolling Stones wisely sang, <i>you can’t always get what you want</i>…</div>
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For three years my family lived in Bangladesh. At the time, it was a poor country with one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world. Bangladesh, like many Asian countries, has modernized through technological advances, yet large segments of the population still survive in poverty conditions. Living overseas in a poor country has given me an advantage to thrive in this current crisis.</div>
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In order to maintain a Western lifestyle, a couple times a year we ordered bulk shipments from Singapore of items we take for granted such as toilet paper, shampoo, coffee, oatmeal, chocolate chips, canned goods, peanut butter, and for my parents, booze. (My parents quickly learned to order more toilet paper and alcohol than our family needed in order to share with the nuns, priests, and staff at Holy Cross who weren’t privy to Singapore shipments.)</div>
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Until our supplies arrived, we used local products. Local TP was brown, and had the texture of paper towels at a gas station. Fellow Americans sometimes bartered with each other and traded products. Westerners returning to the sates often donated or sold what was left in their cabinets. But for the most part, we relied on what was available.</div>
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With the closure of restaurants and bars, you will crave what you cannot have. Our cook went to market daily and we ate quality food. But we spoiled Americans craved processed foods and brands we couldn’t get on the other side of the world. I once paid three dollars for a can of Campbell’s bean with bacon soup. That was in 1969, which is probably equivalent to twenty bucks.</div>
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We also had limited access to English speaking TV. We read a lot of books. We practically tackled the book <i>wallah</i> when he pulled up to our house with a basket of books to sell. Because the country was in political upheaval, for our own safety, we were often remanded to our homes under Martial Law.</div>
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Life was vastly different overseas than it was back home, but overall, we adapted. And you will too.</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">My generation grew up without instant gratification. We had to wait for things. We communicated by mail rather than IM or text. If we craved fast food, we had to drive out of town. We knew we couldn’t always get what we wanted, but we got what we needed.</span><br />
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Hang in there. .Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-51508898629008820522020-03-07T17:05:00.001-05:002020-03-07T17:11:00.344-05:00Great Reads<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKi2Dx1dvL01Z6sjbfXLuCFB041xq5qny7tvGRfyGPmI9npn8mwKNN61D40VJbfl3Tmu8pXrKs44eeP-OeCIlMVyPnXj4RdDmn5gsMBweTnWHr9UPP45cVo6tD3MPEu7zpZk4B7Z1Pd-w/s1600/gerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKi2Dx1dvL01Z6sjbfXLuCFB041xq5qny7tvGRfyGPmI9npn8mwKNN61D40VJbfl3Tmu8pXrKs44eeP-OeCIlMVyPnXj4RdDmn5gsMBweTnWHr9UPP45cVo6tD3MPEu7zpZk4B7Z1Pd-w/s320/gerald.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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As we remain self-quarantined, one of the best ways to treat
ourselves is to read.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Looking-Through-Screen-Door/dp/1692862936/">MEMORIES LOOKING THROUGH A SCREEN DOOR</a> by Gerald Bigelow
is a collection of poems that are a quiet protest against racism, a tribute to
loved ones, a snapshot of communities, a history of time and place, an
exploration of spirituality, and ultimately, the inevitability of aging.<br />
<br />
Read
them for the beauty of language, and lines that shatter you like ones from <i>Must</i>
where a circus parade goes through town and “lions reach out/paw the air/create a
fearful silence.” <o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt4RUb7r0B2qmKckG4YbtF5pTmvbSHtdqqXnKFpYm1o4sBfssQ2khg5YuOyUhPWx4k_enFfRZ6RdmPt3o22bOQn4mqaPxmiYBy-ShZ3LdtvKFrdsOOZxuK956t2mvQfJ4ALaob5OWjA7o/s1600/IMG_2604.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt4RUb7r0B2qmKckG4YbtF5pTmvbSHtdqqXnKFpYm1o4sBfssQ2khg5YuOyUhPWx4k_enFfRZ6RdmPt3o22bOQn4mqaPxmiYBy-ShZ3LdtvKFrdsOOZxuK956t2mvQfJ4ALaob5OWjA7o/s1600/IMG_2604.JPG" /></a></div>
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The accompanying illustrations make a great companion to each section to the
text. In his early years, he shows the precariousness of the world in which he
lived, where fires erupted often. In poem #6, Bigelow writes, “I guess it was
just the cost of doing business” of the the Plastics Factory fire, and “in
those days people just died early.” “And they didn’t complain because they
didn’t know any better.”<o:p></o:p><br />
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Bigelow points out how “grown folks give you directions… but
“rarely do they give instruction on the safest way to get there.” Each poem in
this collection of 87 has its own power. One that speaks loudest to me are
Time Knows, in which “time knows the river, the same river flows/neither
greeting/nor bidding farewell.”<o:p></o:p><br />
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Read them for their exploration on race, in <i>It no longer
matters</i>, where Bigelow explores how “Your 1950s and my 1950s were not the
same.” And finally, read these poems for the universal truth of growing older.
“[in the mirror] I look and see lines and creases/ must be some kind of flaw in
the glass.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Happy Reading!Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-75896742165679503212020-03-06T18:30:00.000-05:002020-03-06T21:12:13.744-05:00Writing in Captivity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbCotE8gFMtcXkFVEBWDa5V91mlEFhUlzJjt_dv3O0qwDFUN6wJJUpEy1sST39kscDJDmxg2cRyjs3vJ1Fn8URTYIaXvk4BoOj3R9EoTWz3HsdOgL7wpfdSeZbJbRxdpBhrNWoBDsDkLL/s1600/DSCN0927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbCotE8gFMtcXkFVEBWDa5V91mlEFhUlzJjt_dv3O0qwDFUN6wJJUpEy1sST39kscDJDmxg2cRyjs3vJ1Fn8URTYIaXvk4BoOj3R9EoTWz3HsdOgL7wpfdSeZbJbRxdpBhrNWoBDsDkLL/s320/DSCN0927.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I live in the Seattle area, a hot spot for the corona-virus.<br />
<br />
I'm writing a novel about a couple quarantined. (It's being written by my alter ego, a much younger, more attractive redhead who pens steamy romance. I'm not revealing any more.) Ironically, I'm on a self-imposed quarantine as the Seattle area is a hot spot for the corona-virus, aka COVID-19.<br />
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Part of the problem with COVID-19 is not its deadly stats. We still have a better chance of dying from flu or pneumonia that corona-virus. The issues are that we don't know how its spreads, there is no definitive treatment, and there's no vaccine.<br />
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Unlike my characters, I am free to come and go as I please. I just choose to stay at home to minimize exposure unless I need to go out. My kitchen is well stocked with food, cat food, tea, and wine. The cat and I are ready for the zombie or virus Apocalypse.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84x_qcY6Vq2nmVtMDCXepTDLyokful-TuE06Y_0rCtSFQbpEZ5aCXurfVXcVp69wW5RtzPP8rdtQ8YiBFo4mHhkwf1ksDy8GKBAIOmNbgMkesmZBuy_UqfvCZzbzAXUT_7otmtdBfkdse/s1600/cabinet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84x_qcY6Vq2nmVtMDCXepTDLyokful-TuE06Y_0rCtSFQbpEZ5aCXurfVXcVp69wW5RtzPP8rdtQ8YiBFo4mHhkwf1ksDy8GKBAIOmNbgMkesmZBuy_UqfvCZzbzAXUT_7otmtdBfkdse/s320/cabinet.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The word 'Quarantine' makes me envision cages and dining on food slid to me through a narrow window. But for an introvert and a writer, (often one and the same) it's not a bad deal. If I turn off the TV and its endless political, disease filled rhetoric, I may actually get a lot of work done. Several events for which I was supposed to attend next week are canceled. I'm caught up on laundry. If I don't leave the house, all I need to wear are pajamas. (I don't write naked. Yikes. I live in an earthquake zone.)<br />
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If schools close, the ones who will suffer most are parents and extroverts. Around here, where tech is a big employer, parents are already working from home. But their kids are still at school, so they can get work done. If the kids are home and locked inside, it will be like an extended snow day, If parents are wise, they will stock up on games, puzzles, books, and batteries along with food. <a href="https://www.sno-isle.org/locations/closure-status">Libraries</a> and bookstores are still open, and some <a href="https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/">bookstores</a> like Third Place Books, will ship to you with FREE shipping.<br />
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IF you go out to eat, please give your server a big tip. Chances are they aren't serving as many customers as usual, and they can't work from home.<br />
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Once I buy cat litter later today, I'll be good for the next couple of weeks.<br />
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Happy Writing and reading.Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-25808193699405340152020-03-05T16:07:00.000-05:002020-03-06T13:26:27.503-05:00Beginning with the Middle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYLGgvaXq2i7mzpQ5pNKnDewowzp_vm6Y34s0bSXzoHvcrc9SMdE3zNHgmrtjLy3A_Pd8jeOcfem_jAoDeyT3MEFEQLN9roxpa3zSxi789iUTbwmq-9ke9hHwdJjqO-Zz5XuK7xrsskn7/s1600/bell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="216" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYLGgvaXq2i7mzpQ5pNKnDewowzp_vm6Y34s0bSXzoHvcrc9SMdE3zNHgmrtjLy3A_Pd8jeOcfem_jAoDeyT3MEFEQLN9roxpa3zSxi789iUTbwmq-9ke9hHwdJjqO-Zz5XuK7xrsskn7/s320/bell.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">n the</span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">monthly writing workshop I conduct at a local library,
the other night I talked about</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-Novel-Middle-Approach-ebook/dp/B00IMIXI6U/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i><b>Write Your</b><i> </i></a><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-Novel-Middle-Approach-ebook/dp/B00IMIXI6U/">Novel </a>From
the Middle</b><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">by</span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">James Scott Bell. The concept is described as “like popping
open the hood and showing writers how they can be intentional about the story.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">”</span><span style="color: #2a3033; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
this book, Bell claims that for a book to be effective, there must be a “mirror
moment” where the main character can literally or figuratively look in the mirror
and questions his/her beliefs about himself. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">It
helps enormously to know the middle moment/mirror moment, because knowing this
moment “illuminates the entire book<b>”</b> you’re trying to write. It’s the “deep
tissue of the story,” (or the engine that drives it.) which many writers don’t
discover until much later, sometimes after several drafts or even once the book
is published. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When <b>Breakfast with Neruda</b> came out and <a href="https://www.cleavermagazine.com/breakfast-with-neruda-by-laura-moe/">reviewers</a> had
their say, they found things in my novel I hadn’t realized were there. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a3033; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bell also claims that a good novel [or memoir] is
about one of three types of “death stakes”</span><span style="background: white; color: #111111;">: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the real death of the body, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">death of a career or passion, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #111111;">death of the inner self.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once the writer discovers what type of death takes place, the
transformation the protagonist needs to make to accept the death makes the story
fall into place more easily. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 11pt;">For example, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">In the middle of the
classic film <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Casablanca</span>,</b> Ilsa comes to Rick after closing time, to
explain about why she left him. He calls her a whore, making her cry and leave.
As Rick buries his head in his hands, he realizes he’s a selfish man who all
along keeps love at arm’s length. The rest of the film is about what his
transformation, and his ultimate sacrifice in his love for Ilsa by letting her
go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 18.75pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Exactly in the middle of <b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The Hunger Games</span></b>, Katniss accepts that she’s going die,
and she prepares herself for death, but when she doesn’t die, she makes the
realization she has survived in order to fight on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;">Interestingly,
this concept of beginning with the middle works equally well if you’re a
pantser like me or a plotter. Pantsers may write many drafts before
brainstorming the mirror moment. But then, once you<b> </b>know it, your
pantsing will have a focus and guide you to the end. A pantser could also start
with a mirror moment “out of the blue,” and then write a whole novel around it. </span><span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;">Plotters will love knowing the mirror moment because they
usually have a structure to build around it, and p</span><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0in;">lanning scenes</span><span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;"> will be
easier as a result.</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
my workshop, I asked my participants to go into the library and find a book
they had already read and find the mirror moment. In most cases, that moment
was exactly in the center of each book. Books that have multiple main
characters the position of the transformation will vary, but essentially it works
best near the middle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #2a3033; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I looked inside my own book <b>Breakfast With Neruda</b>, and Michael’s transformation takes place at the end
of chapter Eleven, smack in the middle of the book (no spoilers, in case you
haven’t read it.) The upshot is, if you’re having trouble with your manuscript
(In my current work-in-progress, the second half has issues) go to the middle
and see if the main character has had a "transformational" moment, and define
what type of "death stake" it is.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Writing!</span>Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-61720939238253117062019-09-08T18:04:00.000-04:002019-09-08T18:07:23.205-04:00Character Accuses Author of Bad Storytelling<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoHwnZzCHsnhIww2noOPTIvSQG3JLREYwi9KMlsg-bTiLuyuCxNVLry7UlEXL5Af5_3DFLV3xEZoVu8us4QeTAH9W08JCiYSAkXj5yR3sgt72Ddh7nGdyXr9gL9UgELzkgr368VOhGtAH/s1600/LANG+OF+THE+SON+-+FRONT+COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1035" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoHwnZzCHsnhIww2noOPTIvSQG3JLREYwi9KMlsg-bTiLuyuCxNVLry7UlEXL5Af5_3DFLV3xEZoVu8us4QeTAH9W08JCiYSAkXj5yR3sgt72Ddh7nGdyXr9gL9UgELzkgr368VOhGtAH/s320/LANG+OF+THE+SON+-+FRONT+COVER.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My protagonist, Michael “Neruda”
Flynn, is upset with me. He saunters in as I’m working on my next work in
progress and pounds on my desk. “How badly did you tell my story in THE
LANGUAGE OF THE SON?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I look up. “What do you mean?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He throws his hands in the air. “You
sold a bunch of copies, but nobody is reviewing it!”.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Oh. That.” I take a sip of tea. “Maybe
people are afraid of hurting my feelings if they hated it.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He scoffs. “You have no feelings!
Writers are soulless creatures who devise more ways to torture poor, innocent characters
like me.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I squint at him. “Have you been
reading my browsing history?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He crosses his arms and slumps back
in his chair. “No, but I survived all the knives and arrows you flung at me in
a three-book series.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Yeah, sorry about that, but
readers want you to suffer. Otherwise there’s no story.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“But why must I suffer so <i>much</i>?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I shrug. “You don't think I suffered too as I was writing your tale? All those endless revisions and scenes to make the story work!”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He points a finger at me. “Just you
wait. I’ll write my own story and base a character on <i>you</i>. I’ll send her
into a field of dragons and snakes, and believe me, it won’t be pretty.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I guess turnabout is fair play.” I
take another taste of my tea and raise my fingers above my keyboard. “Now can I
get back to my next novel?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He glances at my screen. “That poor
girl. What did she and her family ever do to you where you have to cause her so
much grief?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“They visited my imagination.”</span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you’ve read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Language-Son-Laura-Moe-ebook/dp/B07V4GR7VR/">THE LANGUAGE OF THE SON</a>, Michael and I would appreciate an honest review. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you! </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading!</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-76493472286996177482019-07-28T13:51:00.004-04:002019-07-28T13:57:40.646-04:00My favorite two words are BOOK SALE<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqLVTyRNFzgkes7ivSFVsx4tL42DODgQRRas_GeDbCiZiohaWRJ27s1AgdqvPoEINpska5PnUX0ZxZXWFoKwlNCf9B1mH3y1xe76c4YNd0hbMPeu618b2bkusdJpcoLZdjeaeoB38C-UF/s1600/BLUE+VALENINTES+-+Front+Cover+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1042" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqLVTyRNFzgkes7ivSFVsx4tL42DODgQRRas_GeDbCiZiohaWRJ27s1AgdqvPoEINpska5PnUX0ZxZXWFoKwlNCf9B1mH3y1xe76c4YNd0hbMPeu618b2bkusdJpcoLZdjeaeoB38C-UF/s320/BLUE+VALENINTES+-+Front+Cover+%25281%2529.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who doesn't love a book sale? If you're a fan of my novel BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA, you can now read its sequel, BLUE VALENTINES, on kindle for a limited time at .99. (Or free if you have Prime. So what's it about?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">On the verge of graduating high school, with no solid plans for his future, Michael has two options. He can either remain in Rooster, Ohio and attend a local college, or accept a scholarship to a summer workshop in Seattle, where he has a chance to meet his biological father. Will he make the right choice? While he struggles with his options, Michael discovers the ties that bind him to his girlfriend Shelly may be slowly unraveling...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading!</span>Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-74827455893934310652019-07-14T23:59:00.000-04:002019-07-15T00:00:13.582-04:00The Rest of the Story<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECzMdCceOjfr2GwdyeuRNvGCUUEbG2DswWsQ-4U_-3qv7l-tu-T3nAhxHAIvqL8Gx8QPeUqh-fNO_nQ_0Pwop7c24qpcuohtz1hQwL_bo6ix8_GNjOEI0NQnMHCeIuXsrcCh7yNYzyPzz/s1600/LANG+OF+THE+SON+-+FRONT+COVER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1035" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECzMdCceOjfr2GwdyeuRNvGCUUEbG2DswWsQ-4U_-3qv7l-tu-T3nAhxHAIvqL8Gx8QPeUqh-fNO_nQ_0Pwop7c24qpcuohtz1hQwL_bo6ix8_GNjOEI0NQnMHCeIuXsrcCh7yNYzyPzz/s320/LANG+OF+THE+SON+-+FRONT+COVER.png" width="206" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Earlier today I shared coffee with
a writer friend whose first novel is coming out in October. “I feel like I have
imposter syndrome,” she said. “It’s as if I’m leading someone else’s life.” It’s a familiar feeling many of my
author friends and I share: a belief that we’re all frauds. Maybe it’s the
nature of creating stories that causes writers to feel like imposters. If we write
fiction, we’re writing something that isn’t true. It’s all in our heads.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Except when the book goes out in
the world, the story perpetuates into someone else’s consciousness. In <i>The Shadow
of the Wind</i> by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, protagonist Daniel Sempere is taken to
the Cemetery of Forgotten Books by his bookseller father, who tells his young son,
“Every book has a soul…The soul of the person who wrote it and of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>those who read it and lived and dreamed with
it,” and later, he adds, “Every book you see here has been somebody’ best
friend.”</span></div>
</div>
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perhaps Kristen, my author friend, senses
she no longer owns her story, or that she never owned it in the first place.
Yes, she toiled over multiple drafts and comments from her critique partners.
She bargained with her editor over its content. But the true soul of a book
exists in those who read it.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Writing fiction is a vocation that doesn’t
make sense. We spend months, sometimes years, listening to our imaginary
friends tell their tales. We take their stories and translate them to pages for
others to enjoy. It’s a daunting and impossible task. </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once the story is released, you’re
open to criticism. Even if a book is well received, there’s always that devil
on your shoulder poking his fork into you, whispering, <i>you’re a fraud</i>.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In order to promote the book, an
author needs to talk about the work with strangers. <i>What inspired the story?
How much of this is true? How much of you is in the book? Why should I read it?
What’s it about? </i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes we don’t know the answers
to these questions. No wonder writers feel like imposters.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yet we’re grateful to those of you
who take a chance and read/fall in love with our novels and characters. </span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
reasons we write are ineffable. Most of us don’t do it for the money. Writing is
a compulsion, a romance with words, driven by a similar force that makes one
person develop a passion for cars or math. </span></div>
</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA and BLUE VALENTINES needed an audience.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i> </i>I just can’t tell you <i>why</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The final installment in Michael
and Shelly’s tale, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1077682425?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860">THE LANGUAGE OF THE SON</a>, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is available now in paperback, or pre-sale in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V4GR7VR?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420">eBook</a> August 1.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd like to send a shout out to my awesome cover designer for this book and BLUE VALENTINES, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1854783081235835/">Ashley Nicole Conway</a>. You can find her on Facebook at Covered by Nicole. Because she's also a writer, she limits the number of cover clients she takes on, but she 's worth the wait.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Reading!</span></div>
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Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-27550996986176077662019-07-06T19:18:00.001-04:002019-07-14T23:59:59.630-04:00When Your Imaginary Friends Take Control<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8hkYin9TON5Wy1Sz1lHjXRkGNAR9-c5BdaC1eQ3_0IYeV4QPNwRz-QZS5GXenwSwjqQ3H5sxaSzy5Ueo0Bwf2a-2Rk3G7fPiVFMcDPs9zjmrAkqlvTjSABuQsnsB5VqzfrqA_Z6RmfLP/s1600/BLUE+VALENINTES+-+Front+Cover+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1042" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8hkYin9TON5Wy1Sz1lHjXRkGNAR9-c5BdaC1eQ3_0IYeV4QPNwRz-QZS5GXenwSwjqQ3H5sxaSzy5Ueo0Bwf2a-2Rk3G7fPiVFMcDPs9zjmrAkqlvTjSABuQsnsB5VqzfrqA_Z6RmfLP/s320/BLUE+VALENINTES+-+Front+Cover+%25281%2529.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You may be wondering why I haven't posted in a couple of months. As you can see from the photo I've been busy writing the sequel to BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Since my publisher was not interested in this book, I'm opting to Independently</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> publish it (and <i>its</i> sequel.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This means I'm now a "hybrid author." Two of my critique partners are also hybrids, and they coaxed me to give it a go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After weighing the pros and cons, I reluctantly decided to journey down the self publishing path.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Pros</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I choose my own cover designer and title, and have control over the book's content. I also manage the price points and decide when to put it on sale. Plus, any royalties come directly to me. In addition, I can update the book's content any time and own all the rights. No more sending out query after query to hear "not right for our list, we just published a similar title, we like the writing but didn't relate to the characters..." Yes, I could have continued to query, but I had two strikes against me:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>One</i>, while </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA is </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">highly praised and was shortlisted for a major award, it didn't sell enough copies to set the world on fire. 'Writing is an art, publishing is a business' is a mantra we authors often hear at writer's conferences. You can craft beautiful sentences and well create developed characters in an engaging story, but if your book doesn't produce great sales figures in a short window of time, your next book is a harder sell. </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, the characters aged up a year. YA characters tend to max at age eighteen, but the protagonist Michael is now nineteen. Technically, they are New Adult, which is a dying (Maybe already dead) category.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Perhaps the third strike is Contemporary YA is a super crowded market. My characters aren't diverse enough to compete with filling the much needed gaps in the YA canon. So, the odds were ever <i>not</i> in my favor to go traditional this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Cons</b>: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm responsible for all the costs of cover design, formatting, editing, and advertising. In addition, I pay for all proofs and author copies and other marketing materials. I now have to pay attention to sales rankings, hone my subject categories, and fret over my pending obscurity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part of the reason BWN didn't sell is because I'm a terrible marketer. I want my clone to send out postcards and contact book bloggers to beg for reviews. There's a whole minefield of business practices indy writers must perform. By going rogue, I'm taking a huge risk because I don't have a clone, so it's all on me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Having a big 5 publisher behind you gives you street cred in the trade. You're treated like a rock star at library and book conferences, and you make friends with other stars in the business. While it's waning somewhat, there's still a stigma against being "a self-published writer." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So why am I doing this? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fans of BWN want to know what happens next with Michael and Shelly. I hadn't intended to write a series. My characters coerced me into it. I spent a lot of time with these people, and grew to love them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also, I'm not prone to do the logical, practical thing. But </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I believe in these stories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm also a fan of irony. While indy writers are</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> relegated to a lower position on the pecking order compared to traditionally published writers, the irony is, a large percentage of indys <b>make more money</b> than their counterparts. The ones who make money and get great reviews go through the same careful process of creating a book. The difference is, we own all the stakes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The primary reason I'm indy publishing is I need these stories off my desk and out of my head so I can focus on my current (work in progress (WIP.) I'm 36,000 words into the next book (which will be a stand alone,) yet Michael and Shelly keep barking at me to get their story out there. These books are their fault.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The paperback of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1073346781?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860">BLUE VALENTINES</a> is out now, and the eBook</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is due out July 9, 2019.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The third and final book of the Michael/Shelly saga, THE LANGUAGE OF THE SON, will be coming in August. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Happy Writing.</span>Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-18352380994068649882019-01-11T12:11:00.002-05:002019-07-15T00:00:48.512-04:00Snowflakes In a Blizzard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnvcb8InQy14dDV3jG5wz3S6Pr_rwQ_5yJjRgABepMGTbBFYYu2CESWYR3qrhmK8F4PjGNN_th59IkHL9Ep_E93Ot4Cd9b84cN91qwJ-toseRZOEIE-pl-UVrkUcO0BM30XbiZ9sAqdbk/s1600/Darrell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnvcb8InQy14dDV3jG5wz3S6Pr_rwQ_5yJjRgABepMGTbBFYYu2CESWYR3qrhmK8F4PjGNN_th59IkHL9Ep_E93Ot4Cd9b84cN91qwJ-toseRZOEIE-pl-UVrkUcO0BM30XbiZ9sAqdbk/s1600/Darrell.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unless you're named James Patterson, Stephen King, or Janet
Evanovich, chances are nobody has heard of you or your books. Publishers place the
majority of their eggs in high profile baskets. It's not personal; it's business.
Big names means big book sales. Meanwhile, the rest of us struggle for an
audience.</div>
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Bloggers such as <a href="https://snowflakesarise.wordpress.com/about/">Darrell Laurant</a> understand the need to
inform readers of great books that deserve more attention. "Each week we
feature three books -- novels, non-fiction, poetry, short-story collections --
in individual posts that go out to over 3,000 blog followers, many of whom then
share those posts on their own social media. Some of the authors we embrace are
obviously in need of more exposure. In other cases, the inclusion of a book is
simply an effort to get unique writing out to our blog followers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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"I'm doing this because I enjoy doing it, and because
my own experience as a published author ("<st1:street w:st="on">Inspiration Street</st1:street>," "The Kudzu
Kid") has opened my eyes to the challenges facing today's writers. Beyond
that, I am trying to expose potential readers to original work they might not
learn about otherwise."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2d3yYQmUHMCrA457GcdpDpM7Qdc3Q7GRDGNU3JJ8rP6M9oLRy14lo_EVnmnyG1nCiG8X0Dz9Cb8rB7PI0NfHKJZPNSFMaz9KUBgSw6dEXbyfuoebgoxmMTn8Wr7VRaNEXp-WXgSWymX8/s1600/BWN+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2d3yYQmUHMCrA457GcdpDpM7Qdc3Q7GRDGNU3JJ8rP6M9oLRy14lo_EVnmnyG1nCiG8X0Dz9Cb8rB7PI0NfHKJZPNSFMaz9KUBgSw6dEXbyfuoebgoxmMTn8Wr7VRaNEXp-WXgSWymX8/s320/BWN+cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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This week my novel, <a href="https://snowflakesarise.wordpress.com/2019/01/08/breakfast-with-neruda/">BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA</a>, is featured on his site.
I hope you enjoy reading his blog and find a few buried treasures there.</div>
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Learn more about <a href="http://streetlightmag.com/2016/10/03/resources-for-writers-snowflakes-in-a-blizzard/">Darrell</a>, his books, and his page here.</div>
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Happy Reading and Writing.Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-49042880965548514482018-12-08T15:05:00.006-05:002018-12-09T19:51:19.022-05:00A community of SoloistsA few months ago I shared a book event with a writer I've "known" online for more than a year, but had never met in person. We met at a book event at <a href="http://motherfoucaultsbookshop.com/">Mother Foucault's Books</a> in Portland, Oregon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDu8um7aJuh3QjLBZbAB-MOU8AyXOI2PHnqcI1A4n8mGGAWVwNyrQeJ72ao5r3rmTjfikQF6WRGPZHFmgL5nRiKo1cRwTeFpOI9PFF10P2-C9Eg010xFyOw9GGaWFBJWob02MOJKswHsL/s1600/39568109_10157842336333289_477026091827986432_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDu8um7aJuh3QjLBZbAB-MOU8AyXOI2PHnqcI1A4n8mGGAWVwNyrQeJ72ao5r3rmTjfikQF6WRGPZHFmgL5nRiKo1cRwTeFpOI9PFF10P2-C9Eg010xFyOw9GGaWFBJWob02MOJKswHsL/s320/39568109_10157842336333289_477026091827986432_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It turned out <a href="http://www.sherylscarborough.com/books/">Sheryl Scarborough</a> and I had more in common than just being YA writers with a ton of mutual writer friends. While my book is contemporary YA and Sheryl's </span><span style="font-size: small;">is a YA mystery, t</span>he protagonists in both our recent books were searching for their missing fathers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love the odd confluence of bringing our similarly themed books books together. We writers tend to work alone, yet occasionally we convene and share our work. Within my critique group (there are four of us) we occasionally have a "mind melds" where a couple of us will use the same locations in our books. In a funny coincidence, two of my peers had characters nicknamed "Boo."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So while we are soloists, we writers are also part of a larger choir. We share similar dreams of getting our books published, making appearances, and perfecting our craft. Yet ultimately our goals are to engage readers and build an audience. So even though Sheryl and I had not met in person, we eased into a conversation as if we'd been friends for years. It reminded me of times I've heard musicians walk on stage and "jam, "producing extraordinary music without ever having met before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In another odd coincidence Sheryl and I both had surgery on our right knees, so we're both learning how to walk again without pain..</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Happy holidays.</span>Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-69545354530483897042018-05-15T23:00:00.001-04:002018-05-15T23:02:29.553-04:00Characters vs. Author: The Battle Ensues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9G8db0g1AiFfRPamdNj59N0EXiry4-vfMgCU2vvWd0qPa_qi7B-BxlhcOfpoSBSdfNoA_3QHOzSNv9EPA8G2efJ5GrUUij2gN9I1kwu-kn0DTsYMl-wbEAmJcBBJQASnh-MDZME6tG3m/s1600/DSCN0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9G8db0g1AiFfRPamdNj59N0EXiry4-vfMgCU2vvWd0qPa_qi7B-BxlhcOfpoSBSdfNoA_3QHOzSNv9EPA8G2efJ5GrUUij2gN9I1kwu-kn0DTsYMl-wbEAmJcBBJQASnh-MDZME6tG3m/s320/DSCN0870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
When BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA came out in 2016, I thought I was finished with the book..But my imaginary friends had other plans. Shelly and Michael appeared in my dreams with more scenes, locations and plot ideas. They have tortured my imagination, so now it's my turn to torture them back with more conflict, obstacles, and antagonists.<br />
<br />
Yet with each arrow I sling at them, they exact revenge by taking the plot wayyyyy off course, causing me to write thousands of unnecessary scenes. Why did I like these people in the first place?<br />
<br />
Each day I face the computer I think, I have no idea what I'm doing. Yet I pound the keys anyway. I tried taking the advice of planning things out, but I'm a 'pantser,' through and through. However, I do have a log line, which acts as a beacon. So I'm not paddling a canoe in the ocean. More like a tub boat low on fuel.<br />
<br />
Friends don't let friends write novels.<br />
<br />
Enter to win a FREE autographed copy of Breakfast With Neruda.<a href="http://janetleecarey.com/dream-walks/plotter-or-pantser-with-laura-moe/">http://janetleecarey.com/dream-walks/plotter-or-pantser-with-laura-moe/</a><br />
<br />
Happy Writing.Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-31797957353726338632018-03-22T13:08:00.000-04:002018-03-22T13:10:55.017-04:00Stop and Smell the Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiRHslIU_7FzFY9dumpKr2wGO_N0ev7EWiw9Bj9gP4X3ayjXSY3oRsnfVfRzEJaSXtWr2DDiy_Dnld1cXNa_5WEMJrGPot0aqtDGWt-HQIHggCk0S3VPv6ZZuXJd-cOEz42eAlnalsopc/s1600/lavendaer.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiRHslIU_7FzFY9dumpKr2wGO_N0ev7EWiw9Bj9gP4X3ayjXSY3oRsnfVfRzEJaSXtWr2DDiy_Dnld1cXNa_5WEMJrGPot0aqtDGWt-HQIHggCk0S3VPv6ZZuXJd-cOEz42eAlnalsopc/s320/lavendaer.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finding a decent parking spot in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Edmonds</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Washington, </st1:state></st1:place>is about as likely as winning the lottery, so finding one so sinfully close to
downtown felt like a win. Instead of the usual half mile or more trek to my
destination, I was a little over two blocks from the Louvre Cafe for a meeting.
Not only was the parking fortuitous, I discovered a store I hadn't seen before:
<i>Pelindbaba Lavendar</i>.</div>
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The store is dedicated to a variety of products made from
lavender. Known for its calming properties, several products use lavender, such
as lotion, soaps, and room spray. As soon as I walked in, I bathed in the aroma
of the flower. Lavender possesses one of the most luscious scents in nature. </div>
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On a trip to <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>,
I had come across lavender chocolate, and this store sells bars of it in milk
and dark chocolate. I'm surprised by the number of other items made from lavender,
such as tea. I was immediately offered a sample of lavender tea. Expecting it
to be flowery and scented, the tea had a slightly spicy flavor and a mellow aroma.</div>
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Walking through the store I recalled the lavender shrubs I
planted between my roses when I still owned a home. My goal was to deflect the
deer. Deer still ate my rose blossoms, but they left the purple flowers alone,
so my yard always smelled nice in the summer. I periodically snipped sprigs
from the bushes and placed them in vases throughout the house. </div>
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Aromatherapy specialists agree that spraying one's bedroom
and sheets with lavender aids in reducing stress. Note: use real lavender, not
something concocted in a lab. You can smell the difference. Lavender is one of
those scents that pairs well with others, such as mint or rosemary, which can
boost its medicinal properties.</div>
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One of my favorite recent discoveries is goat's milk soap
made with lavender. The goat's milk makes the skin soft as a baby's butt, and
the aroma lasts until the bar is gone. This shop offers several varieties of
bar and liquid soaps scented in lavender. The store also carries cosmetics,
honey, jams and jellies, diffusers, candles, jewelry, and home and pet
products, all made from locally grown lavender in the San Juans.</div>
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As I stroll through the shop, the subtle aroma feels like a
calming hand on a sunny day. If you're feeling a little stressed, stop and
smell the lavenderat this locally owned establishment. </div>
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Happy Spring!.Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-48059613226328527202018-03-05T12:49:00.000-05:002018-03-05T12:49:08.433-05:00My Frankennovel Tale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZnsQtRv0v89bsDvw4qHlXdSsm5QO93qSBvKlOtTxTKT0BL9KjNahA8oJpTJtgjKMMZLinaYv5yquxIgiDhORJLx-DjOpgw8GZHORepm1Fz0V0jevGZm6O6JalnpEnsRq-6gQTwe4RU5r/s1600/cron2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZnsQtRv0v89bsDvw4qHlXdSsm5QO93qSBvKlOtTxTKT0BL9KjNahA8oJpTJtgjKMMZLinaYv5yquxIgiDhORJLx-DjOpgw8GZHORepm1Fz0V0jevGZm6O6JalnpEnsRq-6gQTwe4RU5r/s320/cron2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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You may have noticed my absence these past four months. I've
been steadily working on what I believed was the final draft of my follow up
novel to BREAKFAST WITH NERUDA. For nearly three years I've been accumulating
words, adding scenes and chapters, moving things around, and rewriting the
beginning. An earlier draft was rejected by my editor at Merit, with the
comment the stakes weren't high enough. So I examined the book again, chapter
by chapter, and reordered scenes and re drafted from the beginning.</div>
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At 72,000 words I thought the book was finished. Yet I
accumulated more rejections. While most of the agents I sent this to
complimented the writing and the well developed characters, they couldn't
relate to the story. </div>
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And that was the problem. When people asked me what my book
was about, the best answer I could come up with is "about 300 pages" because I had no story.</div>
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Had I wasted three years on writing a book going nowhere?
Yes and no.</div>
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Yes, because I spent 3-4 hours every day, including
holidays, on this set of characters and their journey. I worried about Michael,
Shelly and the others. In addition, I spent many hours researching environment
and oceanography to provide authenticity to one of my characters. (The result
of that is I now know how precarious our future is. Dystopian novels are within
inches of being reality.) </div>
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Yet no, the time was not
wasted because I know everything about my characters-- much more than the reader
will know. Most of the 72,000 words are unusable. At least in this story. I may
be able to use some scenes in a subsequent story.</div>
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So I set aside what I called my Frankennovel, and with the
help of a few writer friends' suggestions, started over. The last chapter of my
72,000 piece became the first chapter of the novel that seemed to write itself
in three months. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwD3TEwmlR7G8EXzyW4ViTeP6kSR5GidggJ9cXMZ3uqHQlK73CltRz8eoBTYpwYMifvyM0TVnADdjpiYrF12yRMhcOz9ZPt14RQNS7TXUDFW26RQdS14PJEsz5JI-hbHFBL4hyphenhyphenZtoLdbbZ/s1600/cron1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwD3TEwmlR7G8EXzyW4ViTeP6kSR5GidggJ9cXMZ3uqHQlK73CltRz8eoBTYpwYMifvyM0TVnADdjpiYrF12yRMhcOz9ZPt14RQNS7TXUDFW26RQdS14PJEsz5JI-hbHFBL4hyphenhyphenZtoLdbbZ/s1600/cron1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW18lu6ZmReLLSO4ayPqjAf29LFYYe2zgFH0vrrLkziAcnLQU-rE3MzFwz6qkzdSqoapwfb64jtYGwV_zChzDqxoBA-ghwEnzT-s7U7Ah5xV1julpFijgIcuzo-9TIRfsUxqJfN6Annxi4/s1600/truby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="119" data-original-width="74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW18lu6ZmReLLSO4ayPqjAf29LFYYe2zgFH0vrrLkziAcnLQU-rE3MzFwz6qkzdSqoapwfb64jtYGwV_zChzDqxoBA-ghwEnzT-s7U7Ah5xV1julpFijgIcuzo-9TIRfsUxqJfN6Annxi4/s1600/truby.jpg" /></a>How was this possible? First, I stopped working on the
Frankenovel for a couple of weeks. Instead, I read. STORY GENIUS, WIRED FOR
STORY, THE ANATOMY OF STORY, and TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS. While reading the first
three books listed I learned I had no sense of story, and my book had a theme,
but no concept All of these guides include exercises to question what is at the
core of my story. The fourth book helped me see how being a panster vs. a
plotter is an inefficient ay to write. all these books taught me if you can't
define the truth behind your tale in a sentence, there's a problem. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzmXV1Py7B09qDX5USkYHNBFQt3BL4JsEWdK0czaijDRJ2Cw5K7nYAL4JsAkWz9POc2a76SEJ_TfO3Lv-yYjKJ62O8qiddXGV-YxqZIgHK6_TM7edkeGAErtlswVFZe4McL3KzNHGoSww/s1600/toyp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzmXV1Py7B09qDX5USkYHNBFQt3BL4JsEWdK0czaijDRJ2Cw5K7nYAL4JsAkWz9POc2a76SEJ_TfO3Lv-yYjKJ62O8qiddXGV-YxqZIgHK6_TM7edkeGAErtlswVFZe4McL3KzNHGoSww/s1600/toyp.jpg" /></a></div>
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It took me 72,000 words to find the inciting incident. Once
I isolated that final chapter from the Frankennovel, I was able to move the <i>real</i> story forward. Same characters and
location, but only about 15,000 words of the Frankennovel survived, written in as
flashbacks. Other than what is now Chapter One, the rest of the tale is
new.</div>
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The new manuscript weighs in at 76,000 words. My critique
group is helping point out where the book sags and where it sings. The best
part is I can now sum it up in one sentence. (which I won't tell you
yet...sorry.) Having that logline is a beacon to keep me on track so I don't
invent great scenes (like the funny one in Costco) that have nothing to do with
the plot. Like Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars film, my mantra has
become "stay on target."</div>
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Stay tuned. Once this baby is ready to submit, I'll let you
know more details. Meanwhile, back to revision.<br />
<br />
Happy Writing.Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-59596185843425906802017-11-08T16:59:00.000-05:002017-11-08T16:59:04.393-05:00Anonymous Is My Biggest Fan<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9qkkYMbZV4oz9eLqZSfCLTbr1mX3R4lbFafX_TksEHZ8HFdwNMeqOyGb5CWi9P6003hJE3B6huPopqMi9_gleiEa7OOXeB0AuwqH9nIWzWTtRiU5UVRBO3VOzSHziBcO9HalGchlyD0n/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9qkkYMbZV4oz9eLqZSfCLTbr1mX3R4lbFafX_TksEHZ8HFdwNMeqOyGb5CWi9P6003hJE3B6huPopqMi9_gleiEa7OOXeB0AuwqH9nIWzWTtRiU5UVRBO3VOzSHziBcO9HalGchlyD0n/s320/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I welcome comments on my blog. Anonymous is my most faithful commentator. He regularly chimes in with gems like "More and more actresses
and singers are going thick like Sofia Vergara" and "it will have two
of you smiling, which will have everyone wandering reason for so happy in the
end of this time." It was in response to a guest post by Judith Works
about finding an old reader's journal. On a piece about finding articles on the
back pages of Google, Anonymous said, "just desire to say your article is as
amazing." </div>
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Sometimes Anonymous responds in Spanish, such as this response to
writing about my white cat. "Se alguem desejos pora ser altualiz mais
recentes technologias." Granted, I had called the blog post El Gato Blanco
vs. Los Humanos.</div>
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Anonymous is also concerned that I find the cheapest car
insurance possible.</div>
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Sometimes my heart bleeds for her. "The other day my
sister stole my iphone wile I was at work and tested it to see if it can
survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a Youtube sensation. My ipad is now destroyed
and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it
with someone!</div>
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So I tip my hat to you, Anonymous. Thanks for all the
accolades, advice and anecdotes.</div>
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Meanwhile, enjoy the photo of my book's fraternal twin. </div>
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Happy Writing all you nanowrimos out there.Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-68957730348948738882017-11-05T16:33:00.001-05:002017-11-05T19:45:47.719-05:00Little Do We Know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp7XF-KE3iyjazFqDovCOPI3U7VtnllqbHg8JZcdqA72CYXUUY4RUdl0hgwPr6ggF5HqelTeoEgvPpmQ2sxWFDx2ZUIYz-BBlbz9ONYMuZo02DPOnHamoHslin8Ucb0EPH4Z4yPWJC0gJ/s1600/IMG_1544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp7XF-KE3iyjazFqDovCOPI3U7VtnllqbHg8JZcdqA72CYXUUY4RUdl0hgwPr6ggF5HqelTeoEgvPpmQ2sxWFDx2ZUIYz-BBlbz9ONYMuZo02DPOnHamoHslin8Ucb0EPH4Z4yPWJC0gJ/s320/IMG_1544.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Yesterday I attended a memorial celebration for someone I
knew when he and I were kids. We weren't exactly friends. Floyd was a year
ahead of me in my brother Paul's class, but we all attended a small American
school, so even if we traveled in different circles, everyone knew each other's
names. Floyd was quiet and bookish and not prone to mischief like the rest of
us in 7th and 8th grade. I don't recall him being bullied; he just flew under the radar.</div>
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Fast forward more than forty years. His younger sister Susanne
and I have been Facebook friends for awhile and even though our families moved
to various spots on the globe, we all ended up in the Pacific Northwest. It
turns out Floyd has been living in Seattle for the past 30 years but he and I
never got together, but now that I have met his friends and heard stories about
him, I wish we had. </div>
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His two sisters hosted the memorial in Floyd's apartment,
which is tastefully decorated with Asian art he collected over the years. Rather
than it being a somber occasion where everyone wore black, the party was a
festive dedication to Floyd's life. On a corner table Susanne had set up a continuous
slide show with photos from Floyd's baby years up to his recent demise. Each
guest saw moments from his life where they recalled him best.</div>
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At one point in the party Susanne and their other Kate
invited friends to tell tales about Floyd. Most of these were funny, such as
the man who said he met Floyd thirty years ago at a local watering hole.
"This guy bumped into to me, wearing a pink shirt, and announced himself
as "Pink Floyd." We've been friends ever since."</div>
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The quiet kid I barely noticed in school had developed into
a well read person with a litany of interests. His walls contained framed art,
carefully placed on the walls, that he bought from his many journeys. His
furniture was worn, but complemented the space. The friends I met recounted
having many great conversations in Floyd's living room, and it was a place,
with its balcony view of woods and several glowing the lamps, that welcomed
visitors. </div>
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As the party was ending Susanne asked guests to feel free to
take a small remembrance of Floyd. She had set some items on the credenza to
choose from. Later, in the kitchen, she
and I talked about my writing, and my being active with local writing groups.
She asked if I knew children's book author and illustrator Kevan Atteberry. I
said I did. She reached above the sink and pulled a small painting off the wall.
"I want you to have his, then." It was an Atteberry she had bought
for Floyd as a gift.</div>
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Even though I didn't know Floyd well, it's nice to see he had an
interesting life, and now something he enjoyed looking at is now hanging above
my own kitchen sink.</div>
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Happy Writing.Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-57604861939173479332017-10-22T00:37:00.000-04:002017-10-22T00:37:10.466-04:00Where have I Been?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_Xmga2Pneg1eogXuL8CiZcVEZMpgpD24Dy0JSqtHFRhEu5fHqx7HYHHG26MBTRkl_uhtuNz8HuGQwsIRS1DemHfPXftEPFeNKiVwjNlJ6kmjgJT7ywsMNHKu3vL1YtFGtxbwCeovc1HL/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_Xmga2Pneg1eogXuL8CiZcVEZMpgpD24Dy0JSqtHFRhEu5fHqx7HYHHG26MBTRkl_uhtuNz8HuGQwsIRS1DemHfPXftEPFeNKiVwjNlJ6kmjgJT7ywsMNHKu3vL1YtFGtxbwCeovc1HL/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" /></a></div>
I have not vanished from the face of the earth. Figuratively perhaps, but not technically. I've been engaged in major revisions on my latest novel, writing query letters and synopses and querying to literary agents. Plus I'm still doing a weekly <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/authorsontheairradio2">podcast </a>.<br />
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But I have not forgotten about my blog. My writing partner-in-crime <a href="http://www.christinekohlerbooks.com/">Christine Kohler</a> and I are planning to guest blog on one another's blogs, so stay tuned.<br />
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If you're looking for a great book recommendation on building your novel or short story, read Lisa Cron's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74uv0mJS0uM">WIRED FOR STORY</a> . She's also the author of STORY GENIUS.<br />
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Meanwhile, enjoy Pablo the cat as he tries to figure out how to get out of the laundry basket.<br />
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Happy Writing.Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-34378235881838657492017-07-14T17:59:00.000-04:002017-07-14T17:59:21.207-04:00A Guest Post from Judith Works<br />
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Everyone loves a good story, even when parts of that story are missing. That's when writers step in and fill in the blanks with nonfiction, or create the <i>what if?</i> in fiction.<br />
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This piece, by my author friend Judith Works, tells of her discovery of an old reading log (from the 1880s and beyond) in a used bookstore. It was in a pile of books to be discarded, yet this leather bound ledger, barely held together by a cracked spine, drew Judith's interest.<br />
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We can surmise a lot about a person from their reading list, and in Ellen B Churchill's case, we can only imagine the reasons for a 20 year gap. Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://readingandwritingintherain.wordpress.com/2017/07/06/the-elusive-miss-ellen-churchill/">https://readingandwritingintherain.wordpress.com/2017/07/06/the-elusive-miss-ellen-churchill/</a><br />
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<br />Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8807494517796171656.post-22081309103001691042017-04-07T17:29:00.001-04:002017-04-07T17:29:33.562-04:00Found in the Back Pages of GoogleI Know, I know, I shouldn't Google myself, but occasionally I am trapped under a cat and I'll grab my smart phone and see what's happening in Laura Moe World.<br />
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Last night I made a couple of wonderful discoveries.<br />
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<a href="http://beabetterbooktalker.com/">http://beabetterbooktalker.com/</a><br />
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This blog is maintained by a public librarian who specializes in Young Adult literature. In her podcasts she gives insightful analysis of the books she reads, and mine just happened to appear on her list of favorites for 2016.<br />
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The other gem I discovered is sort of a mean tweet about my cover.<br />
<a href="http://readeroffictions.com/">http://readeroffictions.com/</a><br />
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This site is monitored by a twenty-something librarian named Christina Megan who reviews fiction and also posts snarky comments about book covers. Here's what she says about mine: "And to think this could have been a picture of bacon."<br />
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I'm lucky she hasn't reviewed my books.<br />
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Okay back to working on my rejection...I mean query letters<br />
Happy Reading!<br />
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<br />Laura Moehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04827474421798014522noreply@blogger.com0