Karen

Stevie Nicks in Boston

November 17, 2016November 17, 2016 by Karen, posted in no fear, writing

I saw The Pretenders and Stevie Nicks at the TD Boston Garden this week. The Pretenders opening for Stevie Nicks? OMG.

stevie-nicks-and-chrissy-hynde — Stevie Nicks and Chrissy Hynde

A.MAZ.ING.

I saw Stevie Nicks once before, when I was in my extremely early 20’s (or maybe even late teens). It was by accident. I was at a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert, when they started playing Stop Dragging My Heart Around and Tom started singing and then (the way I remember it), suddenly you could hear Stevie Nicks singing her part, and then there she was, walking on stage. Unbelievable! What a gift that was.

This time, Stevie started singing the song, after saying that Tom Petty wasn’t there, and then Chrissy Hynde joined in, walking out on stage singing Tom Petty’s part! Talk about a time warp. (PS: They rocked it!!)

This was more than a concert for Stevie this time around. She had a message to deliver. She said over and over that she is a writer. She never said songwriter. She said writer. She also said that she doesn’t feel old, even though at age sixty-eight, she most certainly was old, by anyone’s definition. She had written a song when she was twenty-one and never got to sing it on stage. It was always a dream of hers, and now, ate age sixty-eight, she was finally realizing it! Her message is this: only you know what your dreams are, and it’s never too late to make them come true.

And then she said Beacon Street was awesome and she was so moving there.

🙂 Right? It’s never to late to have a dream and to make it come true.

[Stevie and Chrissy singing Stop Dragging My Heart Around this week in Boston. Sorry for the crappy picture but it’s the only one I was able to get. P.S. Remember when we all had our lighters lit in the audience at concerts? Now the audience is all lit up with cell phones! HA!]

And here, for your listening and viewing pleasure, is my favorite song by The Pretenders:

Blog Identity Crisis

November 16, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, writing

I’ve been experimenting with different looks for my blog, which some of you will (of course) have noticed. I actually spent a lot of time setting it to look ‘more professional’, with my author presence dominating the show. As my husband is always telling me, “Focus!”

Here’s the thing, though. I have to reinterpret what the word focus means to me. In this case, I interpreted it to mean focus on one thing. In this case, I chose my authorship (word!). I redesigned the blog to highlight that.

It’s changing how I’m writing, though. I used to write about anything and everything but now when I go to write something, I’m thinking, how does this fit in with my blog’s look. Should the way my blog looks be informing what I write about?
I don’t think so. Also, when I look up my blog online, I don’t recognize it anymore.

I took a writing class last weekend and one of the participants mentioned how he had spent a lot of time working on pieces that he never did anything with, and how wasn’t that a waste of time. I told him that I didn’t think so, because all of that work got him to where he is today. It was part of the process. It was therefore all worthwhile. So I am applying my good feedback to myself and my blog. All of the work I did helped me figure out what I don’t want.

So for now, I’m going back to the old look. I may continue to experiment, but I want my blog to be about the writing, not about the theme.

The BRAVE Interview #4 November 2016: Kristen Conley Leighton

November 11, 2016May 11, 2018 by Karen, posted in author, books, Interviews, no fear, The BRAVE Interviews, writing

Hello and welcome to the next in the series of The BRAVE Interviews! It’s the Who, What, When, Where, How, (and sometimes Why) of YOUR ‘one brave thing’!

Welcome to Interview #4 with Kristen Conley Leighton!

WHO are you? Share whatever you want to about yourself personally.

Wow, so we’re starting with the hardest question! Most days, I’m not really sure. That statement can be traced back to the day I was born. See, I was switched at birth. Truly. I was somehow confused with another baby girl born at almost the exact same time. The next morning, a nurse arrived in my mother’s room with the wrong bundle. “That’s not my baby,” my mother said to her. “Go back and try again.”

The socially acceptable answer: My name is Kristen Conley Leighton. I am a yoga teacher and a storyteller/writer.

WHAT is your One Brave Thing (so far!!) for 2016?

I destroyed a manuscript that I had been working on for seven years. I’m not sure if that is brave or just plain stupid.

My trusted readers advised me to set the manuscript aside because so much of the story wasn’t working for them. The consensus was that I should begin writing a new novel. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was born to tell THAT story, the one I’d just thrown away. Instead of taking the professional advice, I turned to a blank screen and began rewriting the manuscript I had discarded.

WHEN did you do it?

It was March of this year.

WHERE did it occur?

The magic happened in the space in my home where I read, write, and practice yoga.

HOW did you make it happen?

I had burned the pages, permanently deleted all the drafts from my computer, and smashed the memory stick with a hammer before putting it in the trash. I had no other choice. It was a good thing, really.

WHY did you do it?

That’s a great question, and one my husband keeps asking over and over again. It probably would have been easier to start working on something new. That said, I had a pretty strong feeling that if I couldn’t save the drowning man in my novel, I’d never be able to save myself. I felt like I had to tell the story. And, based on feedback from the original manuscript, I had to find a better way to tell it.

This novel and its main character brought me closer to all of my well-guarded fears and insecurities than I’d ever come before. The subject I was writing about could not be explored from a safe distance. When I tackled the story in a more honest way and allowed myself to dive in and swim around in all of that fear and insecurity, well, I think it resulted in a more empathetic character in the final draft. If you love a drowning man with a fierce heart, he just might figure out how to swim to shore on his own. The first draft lacked heart. Deep down, maybe I always knew that.

So, that’s it. It’s not glamorous…but it is my “one brave thing.”

Thank you so much for telling your story here, Kristen!

Check out Kristen Conley Leighton’s other writings here on her website:

https://kcleighton.com/

NaNoWriMo 2016

November 2, 2016November 2, 2016 by Karen, posted in NaNoWriMo, writing

Well, I began Day 1 of NaNo 2016 quite on the ball. I had my outline done–first time ever, and I’ve been doing this since 2010. I had a Google doc ready to go. I told the fam that after I finished work, I would start writing until suppertime (thank you, thank you, husband who did the cooking) and after eating, I was going right back to writing until I hit 2000 words. I didn’t want a repeat of last year, when I didn’t even start writing until, like, Day 5.

(Last year I was ambivalent)

Anyway, I was at about 2000 words (I had just checked my word count-yay!) when I noticed something odd happening with my mouse, and the document scrolling rapidly upward. I stopped it, but didn’t think much of it, until I went back to the document to continue writing…and it was almost GONE. I only had about 700 words left.
HEART. STOPPING. MOMENT.

And on Day 1!

It’s important to say here that I am working in Google Docs because it supposedly saves your work every 5 seconds, so you don’t have to worry about losing it if your computer dies, or if other acts of God occur…well, I am here to say that there is a ghost in that machine.

Anyway, all was not lost. After frantically trying Control +Z over and over to no avail, I did what all self-respecting computer users do as a last resort: I googled: how to recover lost work in Google Docs.

There was one lonely comment in that thread: File/See revision history

So I tried it.

And it worked. Sort of. I got back about 1500 words. Still lost a lot, but not everything.

Onward. It can only get better from here, right?

PS: Now I am backing up frequently in Word, too.

BOOK REVIEW: The Alchemist’s Daughter by Mary Lawrence

October 28, 2016October 28, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, book reviews, books, local fun, Metaphysical healing

I just finished reading The Alchemist’s Daughter by Mary Lawrence. All I can say is, YAY!

Mary’s book is a work of historical fiction, so if you’re into that, you’ll love it. Not a historical fiction fan? Don’t limit yourself! Read it anyway. You’ll still love it! Right from the beginning, you will feel like you’re in London in the 1500’s. The language itself helps to immerse you in the story.

One thing I love is when I’m reading a book and I have to–no, wait; I get to–go grab a dictionary because I’ve stumbled upon an unfamiliar word. Wherry? Kirtle? Bring it! I know these words now!

Bianca, the main character, is fascinated by the metaphysical, and so am I, so I fell in love with her right away. She is also brave, which is something I aspire to be in my own life, and this kept me rooting for her in her bleaker moments. Bianca always wants to know the truth in any situation, even it if will make her own life more difficult.

My favorite part of the book (page 123): I love when Bianca is in her rent (another cool word!) by the fire, reviewing and assimilating all her thoughts, feelings, and impressions from recent events, allowing her intuition to fuse them all together and distill them into an explanation for what has happened.

Best quote from the book (page 126): “The only thing that could possess such a man to be out on a night like this was money. Though sometimes love could. But mostly money.”

If you are squeamish like me, and rats are the stuff your nightmares are made of, here’s a helpful hint: read the rat parts quickly.

Fun fact: one of the characters in the book, Meddybemps, is named after a town in Maine! See what you can learn at an author talk?
If you are local: Mary Lawrence will be signing her books at Books-a-Million in South Portland, Maine tomorrow at 2pm. Maybe you should go!

Jodi Picoult at the Music Hall

October 28, 2016October 28, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, friends, Life's too short to read bad books, local fun, writing

My friend Deb and I went to see Jodi Picoult read from her new book, Small Great Things. After she read, she was interviewed by Virginia from New Hampshire Public Radio.

What was good: Jodi’s reading of an excerpt of her book was dramatic and entertaining. It was definitely a performance worth hearing. Being able to ask her questions was also nice.

I liked the venue. The Portsmouth Music Hall is an older theater with loads of character and charm.

I also got the idea of selling tickets to my own author talks from this, and including the cost of the book in the ticket price. Smart, right? So you dont’ have to worry about investing a lot of time and money in an event and not selling books. I might try this someday, you know, when I’m famous.

What wasn’t so good: The price! Not only did you have to buy a ticket to hear the talk, you also had to buy a book. Hardcover fiction is not generally something I spend money on. This made for a pretty pricey evening. Also, the books were pre-signed. Not for nothing, but we had to take it on faith that she actually signed them herself. Just sayin’.

Also, while I did like that she took audience questions, I did not like that she only took some of our questions, and the ones she did take were pre-screened. There was really zero contact with her whatsoever, other than watching and listening. Not interactive.

It was more of an author show than an author talk, more formal than casual. I suppose in the future I should keep the difference in mind. I prefer the latter over the former.

All in all, the book sounds great. The protagonist is a nurse, and (as some of you know) so am I, so if I had to buy a hardcover fiction book by Jodi, I guess this was the one (NOTE: It better not end like My Sister’s Keeper).

Meet the Author: ANN BEATTIE

October 25, 2016October 25, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, local fun, no fear, writing

I had the opportunity to hear writer and novelist Ann Beattie read one of her wonderful short stories at the York County Community College Visiting Artists Series last week.

Ann explained that her husband helped her choose what to read at the event. “Read something funny!” he suggested.

She took his advice and read a short story called The Gypsy, I think, something like that–sorry I didn’t get the title exactly– about women in a coffee shop that gets held up. After that, she opened it up for questions.

Someone in the audience asked her what she thought of blogs and I understood her to say she didn’t really read them.

I decided to be bold! Before I could talk myself out of it!

I raised my hand and commented that I was a blogger and a writer and an author. I told her that I had only recently made the connection between blog posts being like short stories. I was talking to a person at my book sale who said they didn’t read novels but they did like to read short stories and a lightbulb went off for me! I explained how blog posts might fit that bill for them. I told Anne that a lot of people liked reading my blog. then I said…wait for it…maybe YOU (Ann) would like reading my blog, too!

And guess what! She said, “Maybe I would.” 😀

After she finished her talk, I went up to shake her hand, meet her officially, and give her my card. Isn’t it wonderful that she took it? Who knows? Maybe Ann will become a blogger herself!

It could happen.

Meet the (Maine!) Author: Mary Lawrence

October 20, 2016October 20, 2016 by Karen, posted in books, local fun, writing

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting the well-known author of The Alchemist’s Daughter when she gave a talk at the Kennebunk Library. Who knew Mary Lawrence lived in Maine?

I first noticed Mary’s book because of the cover, once again proving the rule: The cover sells the book. This is the first book in a series called The Bianca Goddard Mysteries. Book Two is Death of an Alchemist. The third book in the series is due out right after Christmas, called Death at St Vedast. Note to yourself: If you start reading now, you’ll be ready to read book three by then!

🙂

If you ever get the opportunity to hear Mary speak and read from her books, GO! You’ll have a pleasant break from those pesky chores that–let’s face it–are always going to be still waiting for you until you get home. Why not go have some fun first? Oh, and support a Maine Author!

Mary says her books are meant to be fast, fun reads. I can’t wait to read The Alchemist’s Daughter. I will be reviewing it here on my blog when I finish it.

Mary’s books are available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Books-a- Million.

The BRAVE Interview #3 October 2016: Sheila Brownlow

October 12, 2016November 12, 2017 by Karen, posted in (it's all about the) food, Being BRAVE, Catching women being brave, friends, health, Interviews, The BRAVE Interviews

Here is #3 in The BRAVE Interview series! It’s the Who, What, When, Where, How, (and sometimes Why) of YOUR ‘one brave thing’! November’s interview is with Sheila Brownlow!

WHO AM I? Sheila Brownlow

MY ONE BRAVE THING—when, where, with whom: I have stopped discussing eating, how upset I am at my eating, how much I weigh, whether I am peeved at myself for overeating, how awful I am for not weighing 110 lbs., whined about how I can’t eat like a normal person anymore at age 55, or otherwise wasting time – precious time – talking with my friends, so many good friends….about eating and weight. Not in person, not online. For one month.

WHY DO I THINK THIS IS BRAVE? I’m at this age/stage of my life where I’ve felt compelled to start every interaction with a justification of how I look and why I don’t look like a 30-year old anymore. It’s not ok to essentially apologizing for myself to start every interaction. To me it’s brave because I have completely shifted my lens on the world.

WHY: Because I waste so much time and energy where I could be helping others, learning things, doing things, having meaningful conversations, being supportive, just being in the moment…with all this constant food and weight talk I am taking away from the productive possibilities of my life and my friends’ lives.

So how do I feel about this? Well, I miss commiserating, and I’m still working on not “leading” with that foot in every conversation (“let’s talk about food, eating, how much, when, regrets…again?”). I think I am listening better rather than just winding up to say how upset I am about this that or the other weight thing.

Can I continue? I don’t know. Maybe if we all spent a month on something other than our food and body appearance we could make a lot of changes in the world.

Thank you so much, Sheila!

BOOK REVIEW: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

October 10, 2016October 10, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, book reviews, books, Brave books, family, no fear, relationships, teens

I read this book at the recommendation of a young lady, Angie, who visited my author table at the Kennebunk Community Market one Saturday.
She told me that Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon was her favorite book. This book says it’s recommended for readers aged 12-17, but I object to narrowing the audience for this book. Anyone of any age could enjoy reading this.

The main character, Maddy, is physically isolated in a way few teenagers are. She is a prisoner on so many levels. This book is not predictable, however. There are surprises to keep your interest.

I had a problem with the nurse, Carla, whom I loved, but she compromised her professional ethics, therefore (in my opinion as a nurse) she deserved what she got.

But it still made me sad. I also didn’t like how the author portrays the other nurse in the book. Don’t even get me started. People! Don’t believe most of the characterizations of nurses you read in books!

Maddy is very lovable until she starts lying to everyone (including herself?) which made me like her much less. Is it acceptable to lie when you believe you are running for your life? I’m not sure. Read it and make up your own mind.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

“I am in the world and, too, the world is in me.” -Maddy

“Empty tummy, empty head.” -Carla.

“Be brave. Remember, life is a gift. Live it.” Carla the nurse to Maddy, Disc 3 track 13 on the audio book.

Bottom line: worth reading.