Perception

Perception is such a varied thing. Add to that a writer's imagination, especially one who writes thriller/suspense novels, and a scene from a movie can come across completely different than how it was intended.

For instance, we were watching a flick this evening, a comedy --- absolutely nothing scary about it. A little tension was thrown in, but that was mainly conflict between characters and a little car chase here and there, but no gloom or doom. THE SCENE: The two main characters are walking down a country road, kind of deserted, but its daylight and the sun is shining, birds are chirping -- no threats to be found. (I don't remember if birds were actually chirping, but you get the picture.) This tree appears before them, backlit by a beautiful almost cloudless golden sky. The tree is wonderfully symmetrical and its many branches are peppered with...shoes?? Yes, all sorts of different shoes have been tied together by the laces and thrown over the branches.

My first thought? OMG, what happened to all those people? Were they killed? Is that the killer's trophy tree or his warning? Do they need to run? My teenagers and the main characters response was that it was a beautiful tree and that it was a fun and "voluntary" act to throw one's shoes over the branches. Hmmm...my writer's imagination took me in a completely different direction. Like I said, the movie was a teenage comedy, no dark elements. Absolutely nothing to make me think all the owners of those many shoes had been murdered.

Now, I first thought, oops is there something wrong with me? But then as I pondered my reaction, I realized that's the part of me that allows my brain to take a single idea and turn it into a book. To be creative isn't easy and if I thought exactly the same as everyone else, I don't think I would be able to do that. And to be realistic, each of us thinks and reacts a little differently to each situation, just maybe not AS differently as I did.

So I am thankful for my unique perception, as dark and scary as it may be sometimes. I am thinking this is a good thing since suspense and thrillers need to be chilling, keep you on the edge of your seat, and make you want to turn that page!

And here I go back to those pages. :)

Mary Lou

Man, March is not shaping up to be the hopeful Springtime rejuvenation month it's supposed to be. Our local chapter of RWA, Yosemite Romance Writers, lost one of our members, Mary Lou McCaffrey last week. Such a shame and so quick. It was a big shock to us all. You could always count on Mary Lou to something thought provoking at the meetings and I recall laughing on more than one occasion at her sense of humor. She was a generous and gracious hostess, but most of all, she believed in and pursued her writing. May wwe all learn something from her devotion to her craft and kindness to her fellow writers. Slainte Mary Lou

Tough Weekend

3/8/2010:

I love weekends. They are vital to my sanity. This last one...not so much. Definitely, not one of my lighter memories. First, I've been fighting the flu, and succeeding pretty well, until Friday. Hello 101 temp. and super migraine headache to go right along with it. Nice fun day w/covers over my head. (Not really.)

But that was a picnic compared to Saturday. It was the six month anniversary of my death of niece, Brittany -- she was only 18. It was also the date that had been set for her annual fund-raising dinner, the fifth one since she began having them. She suffered from Mitochondrial Disease, a cellular disease that was severely debilitating for her. (See www.brittanywilkinson.org or www.umdf.org for more info.)

So my family and I attended her dinner, held in her honor and memory this year, and continued her legacy. It was extremely difficult and sad. It was also very inspirational to be reminded of all that she had accomplished in such a short lifetime: being part of a movement to get a bill introduced into congress for the awareness and research for Mitochondrial Disease, a myriad of proclamations, raised thousands and thousands of dollars for research and awareness, organized dozens of fundraisers, recorded a song, and filled an event center to capacity with friends, loved ones, family, and strangers.

She was so much more than that as well, though that was her main goal. She was a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a niece, a grandaughter, a friend, with a special smile and soft touch. She was here too briefly, but she had a story to tell and she told it everyday. She still does...in the heart of everyone who knew her.

Dick Francis

I saw something that saddened me today. I usually stay away from the news for that very reason...too much ugly out in the world. But there's the drawback that by avoiding the news, I miss out on knowing things right away. Such as the fact that one of my favorite authors passed away on Sunday.

Dick Francis was a great author, always building his fiction around the world of horse racing. I always learned something when reading one of his novels. Not only did he provide an escape from reality, a true journey of fantasy, great entertainment, but he gifted me with knowledge that I did not have before reading his book.

I am very sad that we have lost such a great man and novelist but very grateful that we still have so much of him left in all of his works. Many good thoughts and peace to all who loved him.

Wow - Long time no Blog...Seriously LONG time.

Okay...so I knew enough that I needed a blog when I first started, but...it's been quite a while since I've been back here. I actually had another blog that I posted at more often. A whole three or four times!! I know...contain your amazement. :)



Well, a lot has changed...the title of the first manuscript (yes, first manuscript -- as in, I've written more than one! Yeah me!), how long I've been writing, how many requests I've received, that I know enough now to change my template background AND that I need to blog more. BUT I'm still not published. However, I believe I am getting closer everyday because I am writing. The good thing about NOT blogging all this time has been that I have been writing consistently.



I finished the first manuscript which was formerly titled Carrick's Deception and is now dubbed Deceived by Duty (yes, I like it better - and it goes with the titles of the other two books in the series). I also started and am two-thirds of the way finished with the second book in that series, Stalked by Darkness. I know...great title right?...even better book!



But the writing muse recently grabbed me by the shirt, well I guess hand/arm would be more appropriate, literally dragged me to my computer, and MADE me start writing a third book. Not in this series (although I do have that one outlined).



I am very excited about it. It's based on a story I heard in the news. Just a blurb that caught my attention and I went, "No way...that's horrible!" Then I thought...hmm...that's a freaking book. But if I twist it this way...that's a best seller! Right??



Positive thinking!



So I will try to blog here much more often. I am visiting my friends' blogs and posting there. Not as often as I'd like, but I try. My main focus is still to write, but I think it's important to be part of this community as well.



I've got a few other projects that I had to start and write a few notes so I didn't lose the idea and I am looking forward to getting into those characters and plot lines as well. But for now, I am listening to my muse. May she bless me for it.



If you want to comment on what your up to, on what your blogging about this week, or just to say hi, feel free! Catch ya later.



P.S. Be sure to check out the website when you have a chance. There are still a few bugs. I did most of it myself and with a trial version of some software that I won't name. I am having some issues getting the links to work. You'd think that would be one of the easiest things right? I've tried everything, including calling in reinforcements. But the reinforcements are busy and I am waiting for them to have a break in their schedule so they can assist me with this technical difficulty. Until then, you will have to visit the sites the old fashioned way - type in the URL - gasp! Or come back here and click on the links! :)