Chesapeake Bay etc...

As you can see from the above photo, the bay is a debris and mud filled mess due to the torrential rains of hurricanes and tropical storms. We, for one, have a tremendous amount on our beach.  How to remove? Nature will comply, we hope! Blogging is an art for which I have no education. So far, I have one member. One is better than none? The folks I know are confused about 'signing in'.  So am I, for that matter.  Therefore, no one has left a comment as yet, and I am not 'blogging' as should be. I'm not writing my next book as should be, either. It's Fall season and so much needs to be done that favorable activities, such as writing, must be put on hold. In my case, 'hold' means Sanibel, Florida in the winter when all the Fall projects have been accomplished and forgotten until next year and I wake to palm trees and the Gulf of Mexico instead of Chesapeake Bay, Eagles & Osprey.

LISTEN TO YOUR ESP!

Here's food for thought. Today I drove down our country road on the way to town. While passing a familiar house, I noticed that the old woman who lives there was sitting on her front steps holding a broom. I waved, as is the custom here, but something was odd about the picture. I've been trying to pin-point all day long exactly what is was about that picture that made me turn around 1/2 mile later and drive back to her house. I pulled into the driveway, rolled down my window and asked if she was alright. When she replied feebly "I think so," then I knew that I had done the right thing. While trying to sweep off her steps, she had fallen off the porch and onto her shoulder onto the grass!

I'm still not sure what exactly made me turn around, but the feeling was powerful. It was almost like a voice demanding me to do so. This episode only further encourages me to follow my instincts and listen what they are telling me. There are many unexplained mysteries in this life and we don't have a rock solid explanation for most of them!

Chestertown 2011

WITH A BANG, NOT A WHIMPER

As my friend and fellow author D says, we must be shameless in promoting our books. Competition is great in the writing world. Just walk into Barnes & Nobel and feel the force of the written word bombard you as you stand transfixed, a lilliputian in a world of giants. The experience is overwhelming, and makes us wonder why in the world we think we are good enough to compete? Why do we keep at it? Because, my friends, we have a story to tell. As we are Lilliputians in the world of giants, so are there Lilliputians in our heads, little folks waiting to be heard, begging for adventures, begging to materialize on the pages of our books. They are there and can't be ignored.

When we first sit to write, we think it is the hardest part of the process; the gut-wrenching, head-ache provoking process of feeding lines to our Lilliputians, giving them settings, facts, adventures; not to mention the endless research of the minutest detail. Indeed this is difficult, but nothing is as difficult as the promotion of a book. Nothing can twist your insides or turn your stomach to mush as the first moment of presenting a book to the public...to the unknown strangers who want to read stories, and be satisfied. As they walk away with your book in hand, you fight to keep the lilliputian in you standing tall, shameless and proud that the pages you took hours, months or years to complete and perfect, now belong to the world.

The Chestertown Book Fest held in charming Chestertown, MD, yesterday, is an example of writers being shameless. I was thrilled to be a part of the festival, held in the quaint Prince Theater. The quality of books and authors was impressive as all get-out. Sharing the day with my fellow writer friends was priceless. Were we shameless? Yes, because we need to be, we need to be proud of ourselves, and, besides, it is honestly joyful to meet new people, to converse and share ideas, experiences, and especially with those from other countries!