Category: writing

ODE TO THE HERMIT’S PEAK GAZETTE

Posted in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Poetry, writing7 Comments

We limped along, you and I,
I so wanted you to succeed,
to be entertaining
and fun,
not stodgy
the written word
making smiles,
informing,
telling the tale
of a matchless place,
singular in its identity,
more than the sum of its parts.
It’s that kind of place,
full of people with quirky ideas,
ingenuity,
an earthy connection
to time and place.
You must be here
a long time
to be one of us,
unless,
of course,
you get it right away.
We’re common folk,
whether we have money in the bank,
or an empty tank,
we are who we are,
no frills,
no pompous asses,
well, maybe a few,
but we know who they are,
and we accept them –
just that way.
That’s the story
I wanted you to tell,
and we did, you and I
but –
the very big but –
you never made a dime,
and to continue,
you had to,
so, I gave you up
and regret it still.
You are part of my history
and the history of this town,
though lost to the public,
you linger in my garage,
a picture of our town
as I saw it;
as the people who wrote
articles for you saw it.
As you really are,
plain spoken
with a heart,
beautiful,
hospitable,
welcoming.
That’s the story
you told,
the story we told together.

I wrote this poem September 16, 2020. I post it here in recognition of (and in some cases in memory of), the writers and contributors who made the Hermit’s Peak Gazette a wonderful hometown paper with heart. It only lasted about three years, from 1997 to 2000.

I’m still writing but my focus is on fiction and poetry and short stories. To read more, check out this link to my book FUTURE IMPERFECT.

REBOOTING…

Posted in essay, Inspiration, Lifestyle, writing2 Comments
Fresh Start

It’s Saturday, usually a ‘day off’ for me. Set aside writing. Set aside thinking. Set aside any type of work at all. Truth be told, in the past year or so, I’ve taken more ‘days off’ than I care to admit. That’s just not me. I miss writing. I miss thinking. Yes, that’s what I said and that’s what I mean. For me, writing is thinking and thinking for me is writing. Sometimes what I pen is good and sometimes it’s not so good, but it gives me purpose, and we all benefit from having purpose in our lives, a reason to get up in the morning and engage with life.

If you Google the five top healthy habits as you age, it will look something like this:

• Stay Active

• Eat Well

• Engage with life (read, learn, connect socially)

• Get adequate sleep

• See your doctor regularly

I would add, get the heck out of your PJs before noon!

Staying active will look different for each of us. The activities I engaged in at sixty I’m unlikely to do as the numbers train speeds toward eighty-two, but – as docs and physical therapists chant regularly – motion is lotion. You don’t need to buy an app or set an impossible training schedule for yourself to be active. Stretch. Dance. Walk. Do it alone or with a partner. This is dependent, of course, on your physical condition. I have early on-set Parkinson’s, which slows me down. Me. Slowed down! I don’t allow that to isolate me. Isolation is the invisible insidious virus that takes joy out of life.

Eating well requires a bit of planning and less spicey foods. I know, the last thing anyone wants to deal with. I have found that a largely vegetarian diet is best for me. As with many older folks, my appetite has decreased. Partly because the Parkinson’s has affected my smell and taste buds, and let’s face it, the best part about eating is the aroma and taste.

Engaging with life keeps you going. Laughing with friends. Crying with friends. Reading. Learning something new. Continuing to be part of a community: church, organizations, book clubs, crafting or arts groups, anything that will expand your mind and bring you satisfaction.

Adequate sleep is a tough nut to crack. I have always had restless nights. I imagine you have as well. Mine happen about once every five or six days. For many of us, “Just get some sleep,” is easier said than done. I wish I had the magic formula, but I don’t. I usually get up and do something, anything, to take my mind off the aggravation of not being able to sleep. Sometimes I can go back to bed and fall asleep; sometimes I get no sleep at all. And then, I find myself nodding off in my chair off and on throughout the following day. Some of the things I’ve tried –

• Put your body to sleep one section at a time (I’m not saying it works; I’m saying I’ve tried it!) Maybe it will work for you. 

  • Close your eyes, relax, then – starting with your feet – chant (silently, if you have a partner otherwise neither one of you will get to sleep!), for five to ten seconds, feet sleep, feet sleep, feet sleep… and continue right on up your body until you reach your head. Hopefully, before you get to your head you are already asleep.
  • The 7-4-8 technique. Breathe in for seven seconds, hold for four seconds, breath out for eight seconds. Continue until your body relaxes… and hopefully you fall asleep.
  • Drink a warm liquid that has no caffeine before you go to bed.

See your doctor regularly. This is something to remember no matter your age. I’ve had cancer four times in different parts of my body. I’ve been diagnosed in the early stages every time and had the benefit of excellent treatment and am cancer free. Early detection of Parkinson’s enabled me to start on symptom management medication. Parkinson’s doesn’t go away; it takes its toll over time.

What has kept me busy and out of trouble lately is republishing Future Imperfect, a dystopian futuristic novel ripe with intrigue, political upheaval, and environmental chaos. Yes, I am a self-published author and yes this is the second edition of this book. And yes, please order it at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

This is how I engage with life. 

Future Imperfect is one of five books I’ve written and published. Learn more here.

I love you…

Posted in Enrichment, essay, Life, writing8 Comments
Bob and me

I am a writer. For years I have embraced the discipline and joy of putting pen to page – or fingers to computer – and creating simply because it makes me feel good. On May 30, 2024 – the day my husband passed away – the wind in my sails stopped blowing and the swirling laughing waters of inspiration went still. Oh, I didn’t stop writing immediately, but it tapered off until the only writing I did was in my daily devotional and prayer journals. Everything else – poetry, short stories, blogs, novels, it all dried up. Writing group – five or six friends who meet monthly to read each other’s work and write spontaneously from prompts – has kept me going, helping me across that great divide when grief numbs spontaneity and vision.

I wish I could say I’ve come to a turning point and will get back to a regular schedule of storytelling, but if I’ve learned one thing about myself it is that as I get older, I have crap follow through.

Writing advice, no matter its source, urges the writer to know her/his audience. Who are you trying to reach?Yes, that is the question. Not ‘to be or not to be’, but who the hell is your audience? Shakespear knew and it turns out, all these years later, it’s us, or at least the us who love literature. 

So, not having a clue who may read this, I send it to the Heavens with good intentions and say with heartfelt enthusiasm, whatever it is you feel passionate about, do it now and do it with delight. Wrap your arms around the people you love and say the magic words – yes, you know them – I love you! Say them through your actions and with your voice and with your touch.

Blessings in the year ahead.

IS SELF-PUBLISHING RIGHT FOR YOU?

Posted in creativity, writing

To be published, first you must write. As E.B. White said: “A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.” The same can be said of publishing. It is work and you must work at it, whether you are going the indie (self-publishing) or traditional route. Your creative muse may not like to hear this, but taking your book to market is a business, and as with any business, you are in charge of its success.

Indie Publishing means you take on the multifaceted role of getting your book before the eyes of readers. If you’re ready to do that, then self-publishing may be right for you. In self-publishing, you, the writer, control every stage of the process.

indie-publishingDownload

Traditional publishing is the Gold Standard for most – but not all – writers. The focus of this article is on self-publishing but it also looks at traditional publishing. Click the download button for a PDF of my recent Las Vegas Lit presentation, Is indie publishing right for you?

Sources for parts of this content include Kindle Direct Publishing, selfpublishing.com, nybookeditors.com, and xlibris.com.

Traditional Publishers Reality Check – First you write the book and then…

The work of traditional publishing includes knowing your target audience, getting an agent, writing a query letter.

On the plus side – the author gets help with editing, marketing and distribution. Note the emphasis on help. Traditional publishers don’t do everything especially when it comes to marketing and distribution.

Indie Publishing Reality Check – First you write the book and then…

The work of indie publishing includes knowing your target audience, hiring a qualified editor, hiring a cover designer, hiring an interior format designer, deciding which publishing platform to use, managing your book’s marketing and distribution, getting readers to review your book and post to appropriate sites, vie for the attention of readers in a saturated market, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. With Kindle Direct Publishing, if you have the background and skill sets, you may want to do most of this yourself. KDP has many free tools for you to use. The one service you want to consider paying for is a reputable editor. Even the most self-critical writer will inadvertently turn a blind eyes to his/her/their mistakes.

On the plus side, you control how your book will be managed and in most cases, you get 100% of royalties

In the attached presentation I show a sample self-publishing package from a company called Xlibris, with which I have had some experience. The bad news is that in the basic package, $1,999, the printing cost per book can be pricey, $11 to $13 per 280 page book, not including shipping cost. That would mean selling your book at a markup of 100 percent ($22 to $26) in hopes of making back your initial investment. That doesn’t take into consideration paying an editor, cover creator and interior book designer, marketing, and distribution costs. The good news, if you can pay the price, is that self-publishing companies have packages that cover a lot of these services. In the case of Xlibris packages range from $1,999 with limited services to $14,999. The goal of these companies is not to sell your book, but to sell you services. Not all companies are alike, so do your research before choosing one.

KDP, Kindle Direct Publishing, is a more affordable option with printing costs for a 250-page book at about $3.65 per copy, not including shipping costs. Some KDP advantages include Amazon Kindle exclusive, your book is available quickly, you have absolute control of the final product, the price for resale is more in line with the market, interior design is more flexible, and updating the file is easy. So, yes, printing costs are less, but you will still need to invest in paying an editor, cover creator and interior book designer, plus marketing and distribution costs.

The really good news is that as a self-published author you are in good company. Notable indie authors include Mark Twain, John Grisham, L. Ron Hubbard, Walt Whitman, Richard Paul Evans, Beatrix Potter, T.S. Elliot, Upton Sinclair, Margaret Atwood… just to name a few. Some of these writers elected to self-publish after becoming established. A few were self-published right out of the gate.

Potential red flags when selecting a self-publisher

1. No contact details.​ You should be able to pick up the phone and call, or at least send an email and get a personalized response within 24-48 hours.

2. No testimonials.​ There should be plenty of social proof of other authors who’ve worked with the service.

3. A hard sell. ​If the sales team is pushing you to upgrade your package, it’s a warning sign that they only care about getting your money and not about getting results.

4. Cryptic or unclear pricing. ​Reputable services explain exactly how much they charge. They don’t require that you email them first for pricing.

5. Required purchases.​ Avoid companies that force you to buy a specific number of copies as part of your contract.

6. Asks you to sign over your rights.​ The service is an assistant, not a publisher. You should retain all material rights.

7. Guarantees that you will become a bestseller.​ No one, not even a traditional publisher, can fulfill such a promise.

Helpful Links

Kindle Direct Publishing https://kdp.amazon.com

selfpublishing.com https://selfpublishing.com

Lulu https://www.lulu.com/

IngramSpark https://www.ingramspark.com

Good luck on your self (indie) publishing journey. It is not for the faint of heart. Determination, knowing your technical limitations, understanding your target market, having persistence and discipline, these are among the skills you need or will want to acquire. Anyone can write a book. Anyone can self-publish a book. Finding people to buy and read your book, that’s a whole new ballgame. That’s what makes it challenging, engaging and fun!

For more information about Las Vegas Lit go to www.lvlitnm.org

PHOTO CREDIT: BOB HENSSLER

SEASONAL SILLY

Posted in creativity, Halloween, Holidays, Photography, poetry, writing8 Comments

GHOST
(An acrostic poem)

Goulies grumble,
howlers mumble,
other worldly sounds a jumble,
sighing, crying, wailing, all around
talking, talking their eerie sound!

BOO TO YOU
Hootie tunes and shrieking screams
scary thingies in your dreams.
On this haunted, hunted night
what next on tap will give you fright?
Creeping, leaping, jumping, sneaking
is that a ghost at whom you’re peeking?

Tiptoe back, slither down the hall
when spooky phantoms on you call.
Get into a warm and comfy bed,
pull the covers o’er your head.

Sweet visions conjure into being,
ignore the specter on the ceiling.
Come out and play, he moans,
Halloween lasts but a day, he groans.

Laugh, laugh away your silly fear,
the pumpkin grin will bring you cheer.
Gliding ghouls are hosts to you
waiting, waiting, and then – BOO!

WALKING IN OCTOBER
There, clouds riding high
in a brilliant blue, blue sky.
Further along blackbirds cluster,
feathers flap with wicked bluster.
A shedding tree bares its limbs,
dropping leaves like floating gems.

A pumpkin here, scarecrow there,
a ghostly presence to give a scare!
The air is fresh with a little bite,
woodsmoke smell of fireplace alight.
Oh, the joy of an October walk,
listening to Mother Nature squawk and talk.

HAUNTED HOUSE
The sorry sounds of ghostly howls
run down the walls like blood
from cuts deep into the weary hearts
of any who tread the halls
of the empty house left to dead dreams.

Once filled with flash and fun,
now memories cluster in corners
left to rot like abandoned meat
nibbled at by rats and brindled cats
prowling the creaking floors where human feet tread no more.

CROW DOWN
The crow cawed its eerie cry,
people shuddered as they hurried by
until the second settled in
bringing luck with its wings tucked in.
A third arrived, a sign of health,
and brought one more, the fourth for wealth.
No, no! here comes number five, does illness loom?
Yes, yes the sixth arrives bringing death and doom.

WHISTLING WIND
The sound abounds and sighs around,
growing soft then shrill as a broken wheel
crawling up my back in a fright attack.
From where does that sound whirl
making hearts cringe and toes curl?
Why it’s nothing more than a piece of tin,
whistling, whistling in the wind.

Halloween 2023. The photo is the resilient flower box by our front door. Seemed fitting for my Halloween-themed poetry. Enjoy!

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH

Posted in Poetry, writing4 Comments

How did you get your name,
what lies beyond your flame
of colors bright and true
that tells the story of you?
Splash of green and vibrant red
sunset colors dance across earth’s grassy bed,
lit from within you glow,
and brighten wherever you grow.

Photo by: Rob Vander Meer

THE QUILT

Posted in Inspiration, Poetry, writing3 Comments

Life is a quilt,
one created over time,
one square, one stitch
placed just so
over weeks,
months, decades.
Sometimes the stitches
knot up, tangled
in unexpected
life events:
death of a love one,
divorce,
too much of this
too little of that.
And then
it smooths out
when new bonds
are made,
babies are born,
life goes on.
The quilt spreads,
covering the span of life,
bringing comfort
and protection.
The quilt of life,
the connectedness
that bridges divides.

Check the BOOKS tab to find out more about my work. Follow me at www.vandermeerbooks.com, https://www.facebook.com/vandermeerbooks, Amazon Author Central. I’m also a member of the Las Vegas Literary Salon, a group committed to sharing the work of local writers. Follow LVLS at lvnmlitsalon.org. Thanks for reading, commenting on, and sharing this post.