A comfort to me…

My Granddad had always been a comfort to me. There was something we shared between us that I could never quite put my finger on. During one of my visits with him, while he was in the hospital, we had the opportunity to chat. Just him and I.

He expressed exactly what I felt. We discussed many things, over the course of several visits, but mostly we just knew each other and what the other was thinking. It’s something I always enjoyed. Most times we didn’t have to use words. We’d say it with a look.

When Granddad passed away on the 5th of July. It just happened that my husband left earlier that same day to go work in Nebraska. I felt very much alone and prayed for some relief, and boy did I find it.

Though it was hard and it took some time. Writing became an escape, a comfort to me. Like a warm blanket on a cold day.

Over the past few months I’ve thought of Granddad and recollected memories, which I’ve shared with my husband who is back home now. And I realize how much I miss having our Granddad’s around. (Michael lost his the year before). We discussed how we can keep their memories alive by talking about them and telling our kids about them.

Then, last night my mom stopped by with a gift. (Her and dad went by to visit Grandma the night before). Mom hands over one of Granddad’s sweaters. One of my favorites actually. And as I hugged it, the same ‘warm blanket’ feeling came over me.

I will be comforted by him as I go forth to write. Just as writing comforted me through a time when I had to say goodbye to him. Both are blessings.

Where the work gets done…

After posting what it is like to write on the road, it only seems fitting to discuss where a majority of my work actually gets done.

This is ‘my side’ of our home office. (Though my husband rarely comes in, unless to check e-mail or find a part for whatever project he has going.) This is the place my stories and characters develop. The place where I go to work early in the morning, until sometimes very late into the night. It is a haven for the imagination.

To create a ‘mood’ in the room while I write I normally I sit with the small lamp above the computer turned on and the rest of the lights off, and keep my play-list, playing in the background. I tend to listen to anything that draws me closer to my characters personalities and any music that encompasses the general theme of the story.

When I’m in my office I get in my zone and focus much of my attention on where the story is taking me, like a movie playing in my mind wanting to get out. I often try and allow my characters to decide what happens next. On occasion I plot in hopes to provide a path for my characters, but most times they do what they want and I put it down.

It’s good to have a place where I can be me. Once in a while I even have company. 

I have twenty-three cars and counting….

As I contemplate what to write next in my current manuscript, my youngest son walks up every other minute and adds a toy car to my desk.

I’m stumped at what to write so I turn my attention to him.

I say, “Are you having fun?”

He just laughs and heads back upstairs to find one more car to bring down.

I ask myself, “Why he isn’t bringing down the whole bucket.” It would be faster if he thought to bring a bunch at one time. Then, it hits me like a bucket of cars. 

One at a time. One chapter, one scene, one page, one paragraph, one sentence, one word, one letter.

He’s brilliant! I just wrote out the scenes for a whole new chapter because he had the patience to bring me one car at a time. Twenty-three of them…make that twenty four…this last one was a Lightening McQueen.    And he said, “That’s it Mom these are all of my favorite cars.”

Perfect timing too. My scenes written and it’s time for me to make lunch.

What we learn today…

Taking the kids to school  inspires today’s post. As I hold back tears and fight my nerves to reassure them, I am reminded that what they learn today brings them one step closer to who they’ll become in the future.

Today, I step back and consider where I thought I’d be at this point in my life.

In grade school I struggled with both reading and writing. So I can honestly say, an aspiring author was no where near the list.

So how is it that I came to a point to try my hand at being an author?

A love of the story. A story that plays out so clearly in your mind all there is to do is put it to paper. And who did I call on when my confidence to write faltered? My sister (who also writes). She encouraged me to read in grade school when I struggled to get through a sentence in a book. She’s always told me ‘I can’.

After that, by the miracle of kindness I found a true friend. An author, C.D.Yates, extended a helping hand to me after we’d both taken an on-line editing course. She read a few chapters, gave me some pointers, and extended her kindness further. She suggested I apply to her writers critique group, Passionate Critters.

I became so nervous I battled within myself. Those school fears rushed back. What if they don’t want me to join their group, what if my writing sucks, what if they laugh?

And I remembered what I tell my kids, “Sometimes you just have to have the courage to try.”

The women in this tight knit group have not only taught me so much, they are my newest friends. Their wins are mine, and someday mine will be theirs.

My writing is growing everyday because the opportunity to learn is never ending. Thank goodness.

Thanks to: Rebekah, Cyn, Debora, Silke, Bethanne, Chelle, Jenn, Jenifer, Kate, Kit, Stephanie, Tatiana, Valerie, Vanessa.

Writing on the road. (And I’m not talking sidewalk chalk.)

One of the perks of writing is taking it with you and I have to say I’m thrilled I did. On a recent trip West I found one more of the  joy’s of writing. On several occasions I took out the trusty pen and paper and jotted ideas, scenes, a chapter. At one point, while I was driving my ten year old wrote for me as I dictated a scene that kept gnawing at my mind.

On the days I wrote I didn’t feel much accomplishment, but then I was vacationing and enjoying my family so I didn’t focus a whole lot of my time on that aspect either.

At the end of our almost two week excursion West, I found that those few minutes here and there totaled much more than I anticipated.

-1 chapter finished

-A few new twists

-3 scenes for future chapters

-And a bunch of great research, since we returned home through the Upper Peninsula. My husband took the time to bring me to the town my book takes place. It was fantastic to be in the very place where my story unwinds, develops. My family had lunch where my character goes to eat with her mom. I saw where she goes to school, talked to a few locals, listened to some locals talking…I’ve seen/heard the town. And though it was actually much as I pictured it from my research, it filled me with inspiration just being there.

So again, one of the perks of writing is you can take it anywhere and in turn Writing Takes You Places Too!

Something Smart to Say.

There are times I hesitate to post. Times I hesitate to write. Even times shocking enough, I hesitate to speak. Because there is nothing I have to say that is witty, exciting, smart. And I think, ‘hmm, someone reading this is quickly going to see how uneducated I am’,  ’someone hearing me speak is going to realize I don’t have a clue’.

And that is how it goes. I prepare to hold myself back for fear I won’t make the cut. My hesitation lasts a second, a minute, an hour, a day, a week, a month, sometimes years.

The times I hesitate only a second is when courage is my friend, and I am clear and confident in my goal. Other times I hesitate for longer, an hour, a week, a month – when I lack the courage I need to face what is in front of me. This is when I seek those that are more courageous then I myself could ever hope to be. Until finally I am able to look deep inside myself and jump. Eyes wide open I soar into the unknown.

Which brings me to the point of hesitating for years.

How, you ask can someone hesitate for so long. The answer is simple. It is fear. It took me years to set aside my fear and write the book that was in my head. It took years to believe that I could write with enough eloquence, that anyone would care to read even a page written by my hand. It took years to realize that sharing the stories inside me was more important then hiding behind self-doubt.

Yes I’m uneducated, often times unorganized, and more often than not afraid to fail.

BUT in the end I am more afraid to never have tried.  Because the hesitation is far more frightening then the fear of rejection. This particular post may not be smart, but I have the courage to write it.

Do you to have the courage to jump into your life?

Music and Me.

The way I write is like musical chairs and the music I choose makes or breaks me, since I am a genera jumper. I write historical, contemporary and just recently am trying my hand at futuristic romance and YA. So music choices can change the feel of my writing.

While Bach, Pachelbel, Mozart, Debussy and of course Beethoven topped my list for easy listening while I wrote my regency historical. Nat King Cole, Dorris Day, and several others are topping the list for my post WWII ms. As far as the contemporary goes, the sound of kids screaming, the dog barking, phone ringing, and cars flying down the road is all the music I need. Don’t know what I’ll listen when I get further into the futuristic romance. Maybe I’ll regress to the 80’s electric sound. A lot of that sounded futuristic. Lol.

One of my all time favorite songs is, What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. This song has touched my heart in so many ways at different times in my life. There are a lot of bad things that happen and sometimes it is hard to remember how fortunate we are. I’ve added it here on my side bar under music, for you to listen to on YouTube.

What do you listen to?

Send me a link if you want, I’d love to hear it.

Home again…here are some pics of the travel though.

I’m back…with the kids and the dog. We made it. And my muse is

packed away somewhere. I plan on unpacking soon. I was so glad

Muse went with me. I wrote another full chapter (ch 3) and started

the 4th. Now I just have to type it out.

Nebraska was hot, hot, hot. I’m glad to be back in Michigan

although I do miss my husband already. Especially after coming

home to a garden consumed by weeds and a yard that needs

mowing.

The State Park he was in was beautiful, with four or five lakes,

a pavilion, fishing dock, a bridge. The kids and I walked a ton. It was

nice. Like a vacation. But like all vacations it was time to come home.

We are considering a second trip in late August before schools are

back in session.

Anyone else taking trips this summer? And do you leave your muse

at home?

Hitting the Road.

Packing for a road trip is hell…clothes, check. Tent, check. Kids, check. Dog, check. Writing utensils, check. Muse…muse. MUSE! Check.

Off to Nebraska to see hubby I go. About 11-12 hours on the road and we’re there.

Unfortunately, no Wednesday Writing Review this week. Be back hopefully in time next week to post a new one. Until then.

Congratulations to my first Wedn. writer, Rebekah ‘R.L.’ Purdy for getting several requests from agents this past week for her posted story. She’s working hard, editing well and on her way. I wish her the best of luck.

Writing Review: Mark Alan Shaffer

Mark Alan Shaffer is the author of  TRANSFERENCE. Published by PublishAmerica.com and Marks second book, Crimson Enigma is now available at www.Lulu.com

Both books can also be found on Amazon.com
If you would like to contact Mark you may do so at:
Markus041@hotmail.com

TRANSFERENCE

Chapter 1 Equinox

An urgent call for help pierced the stillness of the early morning at the Academy of Space and Science, like sharp shards against the grain of their thoughts.  It was the Atlantis II, there had been a huge sea quake near the dome that is designated as living quarters.   The pressure seal had been compromised and the experimental undersea complex was taking on water.  If any rescue effort was going to be made, it had better get there fast!  Jason Melas the Commander of the UCAP Academy immediately righted himself in his chair almost spilling his morning tea when the call came in.  Shifting his attention to the emergency communication system the Commander was not at all surprised to see the face of Lou Santos second in command of Atlantis II on his monitor screen.

“What in blazes is going on down there Lou?  Is everyone all right?”  Melas asked the man on the monitor.

“Well Sir, near as we can figure we had a major quake down here, no warning or anything!  I just happened.  Don’t know the extent of damage to the pods  yet,  the domes are ok we think.  We have sent out a team but if it gets worse we will need an emergency evacuation down here, some of the technicians are still in there!”

“It is the housing complex for the scientist and workers, isn’t it?”   Lou nodded his head that it was.  Commander Melas shook his head at the screen.

“ We will do what we can on our end,  Atlantis II out.”  Lou finished and the screen went blank.

Lt. Ericson then strode into the Academy control center with determination in his gait.

“Commander.  He said as he gave a nod to Jason, I saw the whole thing on the monitor in my quarters, what can we do to help them?”

“First we are going to send two rescue teams down there to join up with the teams from Atlantis II.  You are in charge of team- A, I am also sending team- B, a repair team that will meet up with the workers from Atlantis II to help fix the damage.  Do you have any questions Matt?”

He thought and then said.  “No questions, I just wish I was a better swimmer that’s all.”  He saluted his Commander and left the way he came to get his teams ready for the task at hand.

Later Lt. Commander Ericson gathered up his courage and equipment and met his team down at the pressure hatch with the rescue gear.  He hoped they had everything they needed as well, because you never know what might go wrong.

Just inside of the special pressure dome was a modified tube car which would take the six of them down to the Atlantis II facility.  His team assembled around him to hear what he had to say.

“Ok folks, lets help those  people down there.  We need to get in and get out as quickly as possible.  No sight seeing.  Ok?   There will be plenty of time for that later.  Any questions?  They shook their heads then Matt motioned them into the car.

“ Secure your gear.  It’s going to get wet in here in about ten seconds.”

Ericson said grinning through his goggles as he punched in the instructions for the tube car on the key pad on the inside wall of the car.  The transport door then closed and started its descent on its way to aqua-pod D.  On the way down the submerceable elevator started to fill with ocean water in order to counteract the effects of the outside pressure.  Matt Ericson looked up at the design on the ceiling of the tube car, sometimes it helped.  He didn’t know about anyone else but this part of it bothered him, even though he had done it lots of times he would rather be going down in a much larger craft.

They had only gone part way down to the Atlantis II complex when their special tube car abruptly came to a dead stop.  The car lurched up forcing them down farther into the water and onto the floor of  the small box they were incased in.  The emergency lights flickered dimly as they all tried to right themselves again in the flooded compartment.

“Everyone all right?”  The Lt. Commander asked through his underwater communication device or aqua-com as it was called.  They helped each other back to their feet, and Matt suggested that it would be a good idea to check the equipment also, just to be sure.

The techs nodded and started to look over their gear while Matt tried to think of a way out of this problem.

“The quake must have caused some damaged the tube car.”  A tech said that was standing next to him, he looked up from his equipment for a moment as he spoke.  Matt Ericson was about to reply when their attention was drawn to a tapping noise that came from outside the tube car.

Through the small portal they could see their rescuers, it was part of the rescue team from Atlantis II.  The occupants of the disabled tube car were very happy to see them because now they needed help.  Right away the divers set to work cutting a hole in the side of the car so they could get out.

“I’m going to put in a request for some sort of escape hatch to be built into these things, ah . . .    You know . . .  just in case.  Matt said as he slipped into the water from the small container they were trapped in.   Thanks guys, now we can get back to work.  We were starting to feel like sardines in that can.”  Matt smiled to the workers and everyone thanked them.

“No problem folks.   That’s our job.”  Came the answer back over their built in headsets, and they were all very relieved to be out of there.  It would have been a long swim down to the site D , so they were glad to see that the Atlantis II team brought a couple of extra aqua-sleds which they hitched a ride on over to the damaged area.

Down at the crippled aqua-pod the team of divers found the hatch had buckled from the force of the quake.

“It’s jammed!   We’re going to have to cut it off.”  Said a repair tech to Matt.

“Wait!  Before it can be cut off, we are going to have to make the air pressure level again so the dome will not collapse from the change of water pressure against it.”  Matt explained to the member of the team with the cutting equipment.

“Also the more water that is going in means the less breathable air they have.”   Explained the chief repair tech, who was known to everyone down there as Ed.

“Ok Ed, so what do we do about it?  Asked Matt, he did not have to wait very long for the answer.  The chief tech pointed over to the other side of the damaged pod toward his men who were already repairing the air seal and getting ready to pump the new air in.

Now he was talking to everyone else.  “The rest of you stay back!  If the inner door is damaged and lets loose someone could get hurt.”  He said as he motioned to them with each hand to get to the sides of the structure.  We all did as we were told, because we knew Ed and his team had the problem well in hand.

They were able to rescue all the trapped people and helped to move them to the main complex.  After everything that happened it was understandable that many of the people from the Atlantis II project wanted to come topside with us.  Later when everyone was settled and our problems were put behind us I returned to my duties and hoped the rest of the night  would be uneventful.  Happily it was.

The next morning came early again to the UCAP Academy of Space and Science, but this time there was no emergency.  It was a day that all the graduates had been anticipating for a long time.  Today they would get their assignments, and it would now be their choice to stay at the Academy as technicians or teachers adjutants.  They could choose to go to Space Station 44, or  if they preferred there could be a chance to work on the Atlantis II Project.  It would be a choice that would also be governed by their individual talents and the lessons they had learned.  Today was also  the day when the new arrivals came to the Academy, the Academy of Space and Science is and has been governed and maintained by The United Commission of Allied Planets and The Planetary Alliance. The Academy has produced many fine men and women, leaders and scientists since its inception.

The tube car finally came to a halt and the hatch slid open slowly to revel to its occupants a large mall type complex.  The new Academy personnel had arrived.  The entrance to the UCAP Academy of Space and Science was an awesome sight for those seeing it for the first time.  It was not generally known nor was it apparent that the complex was several hundred kilometers underground.   This particular section of the UCAP Academy entrance was known to everyone already there as the “link” because it is the actual gateway between the Academy and the rest of the worlds.

The UCAP Academy was established as a place where members of The United Commission of Allied Planets, and the Planetary Alliance could meet with each other, exchange ideas and discover what they need to know in order to survive out in the emptiness of space, or on a newly discovered planet.

As the Academy members, Tech crews and scientists filed out of the tube car and went on their way they did not notice the small boy that kept moving to the back of the car.  The doors closed then opened again, but this time a warning alarm went off.

“Ok, ok I’m going already you don’t have to make so much noise about it! ”  The young man said as he got out and looked back to the door.  But the car door had closed and the tube was gone.

At the entrance to the Academy across from the Mall transport system there was an archway with a plaque that held an important message for past and future students.

THIS INSTITUTION OF KNOWLEDGE IS DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EARTH”S GREATEST RESOURCE,  MANKIND.  AND TO THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE AND TRANQUILITY ON ALL WORLDS.

IT IS OUR HOPES THAT MAN WILL USE THIS GIFT WITH

KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM OF THE PAST AND FUTURE.

The Elders of the Planetary Alliance

After reading the shiny marker, he slowly made his way down the long entrance hall to the crowded mall area, which he found to be a wondrous place.  He could hardly believe his eyes.

“Wow,  what a fantastic facility!   It’s even bigger and better then the others said it would be!”  The young man said loud enough for everyone within ear shot to hear.

“You should see Atlantis II and the space station if you think this place is something to talk about!”  a busy technician said as he passed by.

“Really, well where do I go for orientation?  But the busy Academy‑ tech had already hurried away.  My name is Ty, does anyone know where they are holding the meeting?”  He asked looking around to the others hoping someone would tell him.

But they all walked by as if he was not even there, the fact that there were so  many different kinds of beings in the mall did not matter.  No one would stop and help him.

Some were from far away places, you could tell by looking at them.  This new group that walked past him now with their heads bowed murmuring to themselves.

They did not speak in any language that Ty could understand or that he had ever heard.  So when they walked by, he just shrugged his shoulders and smiled at them.

All at once his smile faded, across the room he saw an old “friend” of his that he had almost forgotten about.

“Oh no, Jerhun Kosma! I was hoping never to see him again.”   Ty said gritting his teeth.  Even the mention of his name gave the young man a bad feeling in his stomach.  Because of all the past encounters he had with him, it brought back memories of their pre‑Academy days.  He was normally quite shy but this guy got on his nerves.  He hoped he would have a chance later to rattle Jerk‑huns chain a little.  It would serve him right!  Ty thought.

**Remember you can post a comment here and let Mark know what you think. Keep it clean and nice please. Not looking for crits, just an overall feeling on the writing style, etc.

Know anyone else in the writing community, who you think may have what it takes? Send them this way and see if others agree. Or, leave a link for yourself and I’ll be in touch so you can post your own work. 2000 word max) and a short Bio. Thanks for participating and happy writing!