Karen

Anita Shreve in Kennebunk

August 19, 2016August 19, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, Brave books, local fun, writing

I had the great good luck to find out about Anita Shreve‘s talk at RiverTree Center for the Arts last evening in time to actually go. What a good thing that my husband, unlike me, actually reads the newspaper we buy every Thursday.

I have had the opportunity to hear her talk once before, years ago, but this is the first time since I published my own book, so I was especially interested in hearing about her process.
I wasn’t disappointed. She talked about how inspiration for her novels comes together from different areas of her life and then explodes into an idea in her mind. It was fascinating to hear exactly how she turned this into The Weight of Water, perhaps her favorite of her own books. Many of you may know that this book also became a movie, and she told us about how exciting that was for her (even if they did change the ending!).

The experience of The Pilot’s Wife being an Oprah pick (and which also was made into a movie) was also discussed. Anita is very honest in giving her thoughts and feelings about her books and her writing and I’m certain this is just one thing that makes her such a wonderful writer.

But my favorite thing she talked about was how, at various times throughout her writing career, she has worried, “What would my kids think if they read this?” How validating for me to hear that I am in such good writer-ly company! My own book would have been published years ago if I hadn’t had that self-sabotaging thought.

No more worrying about what other people, family included, might think about my writing. I am taking Anita’s advice. I am writing for myself.
Thanks, Anita.

NOTE: Anita Shreve has written (I believe) at least 18 books. Her new book, The Stars are Fire, will be available in April, 2017. I can’t wait!

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The BRAVE Interview #2 September 2016: Jody O’Farrell Breton

August 17, 2016December 31, 2016 by Karen, posted in friends, no fear, The BRAVE Interviews, writing

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

Welcome to Interview #2! Here we go!

**UPDATE: Jody’s new business website is right here: http://www.essenceofspiritceremonies.com/

Who: My name is Jody O’Farrell Breton. I am a (newly) retired (by choice) Respiratory Therapist. I am also an Ordained Interfaith Minister, Ceremonialist and Energy Healing Practitioner. And a tree hugger and a lover of all things earthy 🙂

What: I retired! After participating in a spiritual event in May I made my decision to resign from my career of 35 years and forge ahead on my own as a professional chaplain.

When: August 5, 2016

Where: My last full-time employer in South Portland, Maine

How: I contemplated, dreamed, obsessed, cried, prayed and journeyed on the decision. Oh and discussed it ad nauseam with my husband. Then one day when my stress level reached critical mass at work I came to the decision not impulsively but calmly and with great conviction!

Why: I realized that I am more than a Respiratory Therapist; I have skills and a calling that will not quiet itself. I know that the Universe continually presented me with obstacles to remaining in the status quo and opportunities to spread my wings and fly! Re-invent myself….yes!

Jody’s business is Essence of Spirit Ceremonies. You can reach Jody by email: essenceofspiritweddings@gmail.com

NOTE: Missed Interview #1 with Kathy Eliscu? Just click on her name to read it now!

BOOK REVIEW: Capturing the Last Welsh Witch by J.M. Davies

August 16, 2016August 16, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, book reviews, books

Capturing the Last Welsh Witch is the story of Ella and Marcus, a story that spans time and space. Ella is not who she seems to be. Ella is from the clan of Ariana, and is a being that has lived before. She has always had flashbacks from her prior lives. She is well aware of her incarnations prior to this one.

The book opens with Ella in the thick of it with a very bad man. She comes to battered and bruised, aware of having had an altercation, much of which she can’t recall right away. Vampires and Soul-Shifters and Witches, oh my!

Her memory comes back to her in bits and frightening pieces, as she tries to figure out how she got to where she was and hey, what the hell happened, anyway?

She is soon joined by Marcus, the FBI agent assigned to bring her in. There are multiple layers to his being as well, of which, unlike Ella, he is only just becoming aware.

Their lives intertwine and are underwritten by a tumultuous love story, as they both try to figure out who they are to each other, and what to do with that knowledge once they have it. At the same time that Ella is running from The Elusti, Marcus in running toward them, adding to the tension in the story.

Ella’s sad story is that all of the men in her prior lives have betrayed her, leading to disastrous outcomes. Now she has to decide if past history will predict the present situation, or if she can risk trusting a man.

Marcus is faced with a moral dilemma that many of us have also faced on the job. Should he follow the orders from his supervisor that make no sense, or follow his gut? And just like in real life, when he follows his gut, his true path emerges.

Full disclosure: there is a little more violence in this book than I usually let into my comfort zone, but the nice love story made it worthwhile.

The best quote in the book is this one, said to Marcus by his mother Josephine (p. 84):

“Listen with your heart, not your mind.”

Side note: The references to Wells (my town!), Maine definitely made me happy. YAY! WELLS! The friendliest town in Maine!

You can buy Capturing the Last Welsh Witch by J.M. Davies on Amazon.com. Check out her Facebook page!

Message from hawk

August 13, 2016August 13, 2016 by Karen, posted in Animals and pets, He and me

I was coming home from an author talk and my husband (who was driving) noticed something by the side of the road.

He: “Hey, did you see that?”

No, I didn’t see it. I never see anything.

Me: “No, what is it?”

He: “A hawk.”

Me: “No way!”

Feeling bad that I missed it, he banged a U-y and we went back to the spot where he saw it. And there it was! A hawk, standing in a puddle on the side of a busy road in Lexington (I think-did I mention that I have no sense of direction?). Like she was waiting for me to come back. To let me see her.

He waited for a long time.

And then I did see him! He posed for pictures! He turned to let me get a shot from every angle!

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Me: “What kind of hawk is it?”

He: “A red tailed hawk.”

Me: (I knew he’d know. He always knows that kind of stuff. Makes me proud. 🙂 )

So now I know enough now to know that there was a message for me here.

I went to my go-to website for such things (lilysongbird.com) to find out what the message was.

Here’s what it says:

HAWK signifies being caught up in too many details, so step back so you can get a greater perspective on the situation. Stay alert and focused on the task before you, eliminating as many distractions as possible. Spend some time observing and studying the situation and when it’s time for action, make it quick and decisive. Pay close attention to your surroundings, as you’re about to receive an important message. Be aware of any personal or psychic attacks and be prepared to defend yourself. Stop trying to change others or the situation and work instead on accepting things as they are.

Boom.

Public speaking

August 12, 2016August 12, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, friends, no fear

Public speaking has never (ever, ever) been my forte. I remember the first time I had to speak in front of a group of people, in a debate class. I almost fainted from hyperventilation and sheer terror.

Neville author talk, photo by Joanne Nolan

As an adult, I don’t fare much better (on the inside, at least). I think I’m okay, or okay-ish, but when the time comes, it turns out, I am not, or not-ish.

Have you ever seen the movie, Broadcast News? The scene where Aaron (played by actor Albert Brooks) experiences flop sweats when he does his first live newscast? Well, that was me. Did I mention it was 99 degrees that day? The air conditioner was no match for the room full of people, the heat of the day, and my angst.

Turns out, it didn’t matter. I felt the fear (oh, man, did I!) but I did it anyway.

Everyone who came to listen was very kind and gracious. They all made me feel welcome. They didn’t mind that I had stop to blot my face a couple of times during my talk. Some even gave me some (valuable) feedback about what they thought I did especially well.

For which I am forever grateful.

The BRAVE Interview #1 August 2016: Kathy Eliscu

August 7, 2016December 31, 2016 by Karen, posted in books, Interviews, no fear, The BRAVE Interviews, writing

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

We are kicking off the series with Kathy Eliscu, author of the wonderful book, Not Even Dark Chocolate Can Fix This Mess.

So, let’s get started-

Me and Kathy at Falmouth Library — Me and Kathy at the Falmouth Library, 2016.

WHO are you? A: I’m Kathy Eliscu. I’m a retired RN (from an injury) and have been writing freelance columns for decades. I have a 7-year-long running humor column in Maine called “Lightly Roasted” and am the author of the humor novel “Not Even Dark Chocolate Can Fix This Mess.”

WHAT is your One Brave Thing (so far!!) for 2016? A: I had been scheduled for a brief reading from my book but asked if I could share some of my “serious” unpublished material and was given the go-ahead.

WHEN did you do it? A: This was in May of this year.

WHERE did it occur? A: At the Local Buzz in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

HOW did you make it happen? A: Well…I opened my big mouth and asked.

WHY did you do it? A: I’ve been working on some serious material for a couple of years but felt very insecure about it. I wanted to push myself to try it out. It just seemed like the right time to take a chance. And I got very good feedback on it, so now I feel I have the impetus to continue to do this kind of work as well as humor writing.

Thank you so much, Kathy!

Kathy’s wonderful book (which I read and loved!) is available on her website: kathyeliscu.com and at Amazon.com.

*P.S. Sorry! I am not sure who took the above picture!

Tech support

August 7, 2016August 7, 2016 by Karen, posted in family, teens

I had a heart stopping moment (I know– it’s embarrassing) this morning when I tried to turn my iPhone on and it (gasp) would not turn on. I tried and tried and tried (“I said not to panic!”) to no avail.

I allowed myself to briefly fast forward to how difficult my life would be until i was able to get it fixed. Or replaced. Would my contacts be able to be retrieved? That cloud thing has been full for weeks! I know this, because I have been ignoring my iPhone’s pleas to upgrade for only $5 a month (or whatever) because (gosh darn it!), I just don’t want to start paying for one more monthly thing that I was getting for free.

My teenage daughter: Mom! What’s the matter?

Me: My phone won’t turn on! To myself: How did she know something was wrong?

Teenage daughter: Give it to me. I can fix it.

I started to argue with her, but honestly , I didn’t have time, so I gave it to her. Knowing she wouldn’t be able to fix it.
She fixed it.

Me: How did you fix it?
Teenage daughter: When it happened to my phone, I googled how to turn it on and it told me what to do.

It bears mentioning here that she took advice that I give her whenever she says she doesn’t know how to do something. Happy dance!

The quote above comes from the movie, Couples Retreat. Here’s the ‘I said not to panic’ scene:

BOOK REVIEW: Come Running When I Call by Kimberly Sue McGlaughlin

August 5, 2016August 5, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, book reviews, books, writing

I met the author, Kim, when I first started going to the Community Market of the Kennebunks on Saturdays.

I just finished reading her book, Come Running When I Call, a memoir about a girl and her horse.

You know, the horse.

But don’t think you have to be a girl who loves horses to enjoy this book–although if you are, you certainly will!

Anyone who loves reading memoir will enjoy this story of how Kim learns about herself and her own strength and limits as she learns to love and care for her horse, Trixie.

One fascinating part for me was when Kim describes her tenth birthday, from what she wore to what she ate to what was said that day. So impressive! I have a photo of myself on my tenth birthday, but only because I had a party with friends invited, a very unusual occurrence in my family. Even though I have the photo somewhere, I still can’t remember what the heck I was wearing that day…

The author also describes the difficult years growing up with a father who possessed a big, unpredictable temper. Many of us can relate to living in a home where you feel like you are walking on eggshells much of the time.

What is great about this story is that it shows how even a little girl with no money can set an intention for what she wants, and then the universe starts conspiring to deliver it to her. Like the little boy who wants a bike in the movie, The Secret, what she needs starts showing up. She finds people to teach her how to take care of her horse. She finds ways to earn the money that she needs to buy her horse.

Amazing.

Enjoy the story!

If you are local, you can come to The Community Market of the Kennebunks most Saturdays to buy your copy and get it signed by the author! Or click on the name of the book (above) to find it on Amazon.com.

If you come to the market and want another great book to read, stop by my table to take a look at One Brave Thing!

As an aside, if you are not familiar with the movie, The Secret, here’s a link to watch it for free:

BOOK REVIEW: The Rare Pearl by Jennifer W. Smith

August 3, 2016August 3, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, writing

Get ready for a wild ride through the ocean to another realm. In this exciting book, The Rare Pearl, by Jennifer W. Smith, Harmony Parker gets pulled out of her everyday life and plunked down in the middle of another world. The opening scene sparks a dozen questions right away , as well as a little fear. A little, but not too much, which is important to me as a reader. I like a little tension and mystery, but I don’t want to be terrorized. Harmony hits the ground running, experiencing a birth and a death almost as soon as she arrives. She also has a recurring dream that expands a bit more every time she has it, giving her (and us) some clues to a tragic event in her past.

Random (fun!) notes from the book:

The “Wicked cool!” (p20) resonated with the New Englander in me.
When the author talks about the meaning of Harmony’s name (p34), it made me want to look up the meaning of my own name. So I did: it means ‘pure’.
There is a character named Lynn (p34). I had to stop to take a picture of that passage and email it to my friend Lynn. 🙂
This quote about the ocean air (p56): “One deep breath was all she needed before a sense of calm washed over her.” Me. That sums up the essence of me, right there in that quote. Isn’t it amazing when someone else writes a sentence that is all about you?

Here is a preview of The Rare Pearl on YouTube:

You know that feeling you get when a great book ends and you feel a little lost? A pang of regret? Well, relax! This book is Book 1 of a series! Book 2 is The Forsaken Pearl , which will be out in September 2016. I can’t wait!

Check out my friend Jennifer’s website here: http://www.jenniferwsmith.com/

Also, if you want to read another good book, consider checking out my book, One Brave Thing!

Top 10 reasons to attend The New England Authors Expo

July 29, 2016July 29, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, Brave books, friends, Life's too short to read bad books

I went to The New England Authors Expo this week at The Danversport Yacht Club in (you guessed it) Danvers, MA. It was a hot summer day, and I was hopeful that the masses would like to get out of the hot sun and into the cool a/c, but not a whole lot did. The good news is that the readers who did make the effort to attend were amazing! We all appreciate it so much (thank you Robin, Sheila, Chrissy and Scott!) when our friends come out to support our writing!

I also am so blessed to have the support of my family. My husband, Bill, and my daughter, Izzy, spent the entire day with me, helping me get set up, keeping me fed and watered, and helping me connect with readers (yep; still shy). My son, Anthony, encourage me from afar via technology. Thank you so much!

Plus I made several new friends and met many terrific writers. I love how my book, One Brave Thing, has connected me to so many other people (and books!) that I might never have known otherwise.

I am loving every minute of this!

Maybe you should come to the next Expo.

Top 10 Reasons to Attend the Next New England Authors Expo:

You will learn a lot.
Your isolated writer-ly life will be broken open.
Colleagues! You have them! They are at The Expo! (Jennifer Davies, Jennifer W. Smith)
Attend panel discussions! You will always learn at least new thing. I took pages of notes that I am looking forward to reviewing (Hello, free time? It’s Karen. I miss you…).
See what your fellow authors are doing to market their writing.
Show other authors what YOU are doing to market YOUR writing.
Get cool author swag (Check out the photo above)!
Learn some new social media strategies–and what to avoid doing.
You can offer to trade books (and reviews!) with other authors and then you have some excellent reads for the near future!

And the top 10 reason is:

10. You will have so much fun!!! 🙂

I came away from this event so inspired with ideas on how to market my book and to help my readers. I received an invitation to a free online webinar (note to self: register for free online webinar!), so the learning continues even once you get home. I met Gayle C. Heney, who talked to me about her program Write Now. I received an invitation to be on Be My Guest!, a program for writers hosted by Jan Lewis (stay tuned for details as the become available).

Inspiration? It’s a wonderful thing!

Here is a video from an Authors Expo from years past, to give you a flavor of what it’s like: