About two weeks ago I decided to query a literary agency that I found online. It asked for answers, plugged into an online form, to typical questions like what's the book about, how long have you been writing, what have you published, etc. To me it looked like nothing out of the ordinary except for one question I had never been asked before: would I be willing to publicize my book through a blog tour. Well, I jumped at that one because my blog had just hosted another author on her blog tour. I thought, great. Technology is finally influencing the publishing field. Then, much to my surprise I got a positive response. In view of my answers to their little questionnaire they wanted to see my manuscript and answer three more questions. A couple of the questions were repeats of the previous. The one that was different was: was my book professionally edited, if so by whom, and if not, would I be willing to have an editor look at it. To that question I answered yes, my book had gone … [Read more...]
Remembering Farrah
June 25, 2009 Farrah Fawcett died today. She was 62 just seven years younger than me. She had suffered for several years from anal cancer and was very brave trying to fight it. Her death brought up old memories for me. I met her in the early 70s. We both got manicures from Emma I wonder whatever happened to Emma the manicure miracle lady. I had an every other week date with my friend Carole to meet at Emma's to get manicures and visit, and Farrah would sit right next to us. Carole knew Farrah I think they were neighbors up near Roscomare Road and Mulholland. Farrah was in Carole's cooking class. I remember Farrah as being friendly and sweet even though she was already a huge success. And, while we were getting our manicures, Jodi Foster's mother was waiting for hers and chatting with us. Jodi, a little girl of about 10, was always there too. In those days, I like so many other women had the Farrah Fawcett shag haircut. I remember coming into Beverly Hills from Riverside, … [Read more...]
Wedding poem
Our nephew married a beautiful young lady last Saturday afternoon - in the garden of the Denver City Park. They looked beautiful and so happy under a cloudy sky that didn't really open up until everyone was inside. They asked me to write a poem to be read during the ceremony by Jeremy's sisters. Though they weren't sure they could read it without crying because of the references to their dad, my brother, who died last June 23, they pulled it off without a hitch. I took the content of the poem from Jeremy and Kelly's love story that was posted on their engagement/wedding website. A Romance with Three Signs Kelly and Jeremy are a vision in white, khaki and teal in this garden overflowing with flowers and green lawn. They are surrounded by family and friends and little children wearing rainbow-colored ties and sashes. But their journey was a little less than the idyllic scene you see here today. The handsome bald guy with the great smile, and the fun-loving … [Read more...]
What keeps us going
I haven't written since Ben and Marissa became officially engaged last Sunday. This is indeed an exciting time and finally there's a chance that Bob and I will someday be grandparents. Of course that's not a given. They don't plan to be married until sometime next year or even after, and she's much more interested in being successful in her career than having babies. For some unknown reason, her clock doesn't seem to be ticking. But still there is a chance. And if they want to be married and not have children, that's okay too. What's so is that I'm very happy for them. They seem to love each other very much. And like Ben and I said the other day during one of our all too infrequent alone times together, there's no point in going on like they are without being married. Of course, there's another way of looking at that. One of the trainers at my gym has been living with a man for over 35 years and they've never married. She jokes about it and forgetting to have children while she's … [Read more...]
People watching
Traveling provides a wonderful opportunity for people watching and wondering what their lives are like. I just got home from a weeklong business trip, and I must say I'm glad to be home. In fact, home never looked so good. I usually find an opportunity to write poems when I'm traveling. (Though not this time.) Here's one I wrote during one of my last vacation trips while sitting in a bar in Bilbau, Spain. I did a lot of wondering about the man sitting in the corner. I could barely take my eyes off of him. The Man in the Bar He sits at the corner table He doesn't drink He looks straight ahead Or at his lap as he smokes His hand goes To his mouth Away from his mouth Tick-tock To his mouth Away from his mouth Tick-tock A puff and then away Then back Tick-tock A puff and then away Then back. Tick-tock He gets up, pulls his shoulder bag Across his body He looks down, mutters to himself His eyes rimmed with dark circles Looks down, His hand clutches … [Read more...]
A big drumroll — Here’s Stephanie Riseley
I'm thrilled to welcome Stephanie and all of you WOW followers to my blog today. Here's what she has to say about writing to heal, getting a memoir published, and of course, it's all about "choices." Writing to Heal Choices. Yes, life is all a series of choices, all made one choice at a time. Some of them, however, get made without your conscious consent, don't they? If you go to my website, www.StephanieRiseley.com and click on the picture of my book Love From Both Sides, you can skim through the first four chapters. And that will give you a sense of what writing to heal is all about. You'll understand that I had no choice I had to write this book. Here's the first page: FREE AT LAST! I had my hand on my husband's heart when it stopped beating. To feel his big, strong heart come to a complete and utter stop under my hand was so shocking, I didn't have time to even think or react. Because just as his heart stopped, I felt him whoosh through me like a wind, and then … [Read more...]
WOW Blog tour reminder
This is another reminder that author, Stephanie Riseley, author of Love from Both Sides, will stop by to chat about memoir writing and specifically, writing to heal (a subject very dear to my heart) and the road to finding representation and a publisher for your memoirs (you guessed it -- I'm intimately involved in this subject as well). This tour is sponsored by Women on Writing (WOW), a site that has writing contests, interviews, classes, critiques -- you name it -- everything to enhance a woman's writing experience. So, please check in. She'll be here on June 12. Oh, and Stephanie is a practicing hypnotist. She's a very interesting lady! … [Read more...]
A couple things
I'm actually getting ready to go on a business trip. I'm going to McLean, VA the location of our sister sector NGIS to take the proposal manager's training. And, because my business American Express card had to be reinstated today, it's clear that I haven't been on a business trip for years. This one is kind of exciting. First, I'm proud to have been asked to attend this class because it could open new work doors for me. And, since I'll be in the area, I'll be able to visit with family while I'm there. My sister-in-law just had back surgery, so hopefully she'll be in the mood to receive guests. I'll also get to see my niece and nephew and great niece and nephew. This visit will be an added bonus since I'll see them the following weekend in Denver when we're all there for my nephew's wedding. However, I must confess that I have a few misgivings about this trip. I haven't travelled on my own like this for a long time that is, getting a rental car and staying alone in a hotel room … [Read more...]
Still querying
So, this is going to be another agent the soul of a gnat rant. From last Sunday to last Wednesday (my birthday) I thought I had a real nibble from a real agent. She is someone my son referred me to whom after hearing what my book is about and said yes she was interested, and whom after she responded to my follow-up query said yes we should talk and that she is extremely impressed with my material, decided to pass after all. And, the excuse she gave was, and I quote: We are concerned about being able to find a publishing home for your memoir. Our past experience has been that very few books of this nature can make it through a publishing committee unless there is someone famous involved. Regretfully and after much consideration, we must take a pass at this time. Okay, I can accept the reason for the rejection. I can understand that in this publishing climate, upbeat subjects and famous people are a better publishing risk. However, what I can't accept is that she didn't tell me … [Read more...]
Sixty-nine years of accomplishments
I just revisited my blog entry from one year ago today. I didn't say much about my birthday except that I thought I looked younger than my years and certainly felt better than my years. Well, the same is mostly true today except that I do look like I've aged quite a bit. I have more lines, bags under my eyes and I've let my hair go quite gray totally my choice. I've also grown a bit around the middle. But, I'm becoming less vain about all that. I'm 69 for Pete's sake; I might as well show that I've lived those years. So, today I'm thinking about what I've accomplished in those 69 years. For one thing I've accomplished good health. I don't have any major or even minor illnesses, and I have no aches and pains. My cousin-in-law says everyone past 60 has pains. Sorry, he's wrong about me. I don't. I'm as fit as I was 20 years ago. I don't jog anymore, but I think nothing of working out most days and taking up to two-hour walks with absolutely no problems afterward. In fact, I think … [Read more...]
Mother’s Day
Mother's Day is always a bittersweet day for me. I love celebrating with Ben - he'll be here in about an hour and he's going to hit some tennis balls with me - and I miss Paul so much more on this day. I don't miss Mother's Day with my mom -- it was always difficult and not enough with her. I wrote ths poem the first Mother's Day after she died. Mother's Day This Mother's Day I don't have to give my mother the perfect not too flowery or gushy card. For no matter what it would say she doubted my love unless I wrote, Dearest Mom across the top. This Mother's Day I don't have to comb the stores for the perfect gift hand lotion, a gold charm, a silk scarf, a sweater. For whatever I bought, she always said she didn't need it and could I change it for something else. When she died so many of those gifts came back to me. And I cherish them because they were hers. … [Read more...]
We need healing thoughts
Two weeks ago my brother-in-law, R, got the results of a final test that showed he indeed had Stage 2 lung cancer, and he was told to come back to see a surgeon this week. Waiting two weeks seemed a little cavalier to me. After all cancer is nothing to take one's time about. But he seemed okay with it until yesterday, when the surgeon told him that another tiny spot was found on his other lung. If this new spot is malignant, it means that his cancer is spreading even before he has surgery to remove it from the first location his left lung and three lymph nodes associated with that lung. Anyway, this all started several months ago. During a routine physical exam prior to knee replacement surgery his doctors discovered that he had a heart blockage that needed fixing before he could undergo the knee surgery. That surgery happened and once he was fully recovered, he went back to his doctor in preparation for knee surgery once more. And, that is when more tests revealed he had … [Read more...]
April poem no. 30
Today's April PAD challenge prompt is to write a farewell poem -- any kind of farewell. Well I feel like saying farewell to poetry month, to the PAD challenge through Facebook, and to my own challenge to post a poem everyday in April here. It's time for it to be over and say farewell. It's time for some other kind of posts. We'll see what comes up next month. May is my birthday and anniversary month so it could be interesting. The Long Farewell Let's have a long farewell like young lovers used to do at the train station. She, in a flowing white dress with gloves, shoes, and hat to match, he, in his new gray suit, shiny wingtips, and perfect bow tie, bends her backward in an embrace that makes people gape as they go by. When they finally come up for air he takes her face in his hands kisses both her cheeks and gives her another big hug. She can't help responding. She entwines her arms around his neck and snuggles her face into his chest. But, she must leave … [Read more...]
Another poem for day 29
A poem from the 1999 volume Black Wings & Blind Angels, by Sapphire, who is also a novelist. (Her novel Push has recently been made as a movie entitled "Precious," a winner at Sundance which will be released in November.) Some Different Kinda Books I She asks why we always read books about black people. (I spare her the news she is black.) She wants something different. Her own book is written in pencil. She painstakingly goes back & corrects the misspelled words. We write each day. Each day the words look like a retarded hand from Mars wrote them. Each day she asks me how do you spell: didn't, tomorrow, done husband, son, learning, went, gone . . . I can't think of all the words she can't spell. It's easier to think of what she can spell: MY NAME IS CARMEN LOPEZ. I am sorry I was out teacher. My husband was sick. You know I never miss school. In that other20program I wasn't learning nothing. Here, I'm learning so I come. What's wrong with my … [Read more...]
April poem no. 29
Only one more day to go, and April poetry month will be over. I hope I haven't burned you out on my poems. Today's April PAD challenge prompt is to title the poem "Never (blank)" and then fill in the blank with a word or phrase. Then, write a poem based off the title. After yesterday's sestina I decided to do a very simple list poem today. Note that all the items on the list have to do with being up high or going fast. The title says it all. Never Have, Never Will Sky dive Bungee jump Hang glide Parachute jump Mountain climb Ride in a hot air balloon Base jump Cliff jump Free run Motor cross Ice climb Skate board Race a car Jet ski Rock climb Try to teach a pig to sing I know the last line has nothing to do with fastness or highness. I just couldn't resist a little change of tone. After all, I'm a poet. I have a license. … [Read more...]
April poem no. 26
We just returned from a weekend away. The desert was beautiful, the weather was perfect -- not too hot and not too cool -- the flowers were in full bloom, seeing old friends was a real treat, yet as always, we're glad to be home. I wrote this next poem after a 3-week trip to France in 2001. And, then too we were glad to go home -- in fact, we arranged to go home a day early. The End of the Trip We're both tired We're both cranky We're both snappish Too much driving Too much packing Too much unpacking Too much money spent on food and drinks that we could easily do without. Besides All of Paris will be closed On Tuesday our last day. No Musee D/Orsay No Giverney No Versailles No shopping So, forget about them. Let them rest in peace They'll have to do without us We're leaving early We've already arranged it And, I can't wait. … [Read more...]
April poem no. 25
I put together a chap book of short poems in 2002. I'll post a few of those old poems today. Birthday Thoughts I'll be 62 next week. How did I get to be this old? Just yesterday I was 40, the day before only 25 Yet, I know I've lived all those years, one second One minute, one hour at a time. No, I don't yearn To have any of those years back. I only want To live however many I have left In the now. I don't want to miss out anymore I want to see all the pink blossoms Silhouetted against the sky's blue canvas As they sway in the breeze And the smile of the baby in the wide brim hat As I pass by. Girl in the Food Court Just as I was going to wrap it up In slinks this tall blonde on ankle strap stilettos With a baby's smile. And I have to sit up And take notice. She's poured into a mid-calf jean skirt With slits to her thighs and a nail-head studded leather belt Slung on her hips. Her black long sleeve fish net shirt Reveals her shoulders, a lot of midriff And … [Read more...]
Ah — the actor’s life
I had lunch with Ben today. He picked me up at my office parking lot, and he drove us to one of our favorite restaurants, Havana Mania. The food is Cuban, and it's delicious. I always get the same thing the chicken salad. Though today it was different tomatoes and less onions the taste was wonderful. Ben looks good. He was proud of the haircut he got yesterday at Super Cuts for only $17. He's confident about the prospect of a couple of acting projects coming to fruition. So he is all smiles. We don't talk about anything too personal mostly about family and work and movies and the superficiality of Facebook (after all, not everything is poetry), and our mutual Facebook friends, but it's all good. He's a grownup now, and he needs his privacy. I respect that. If I pried too much I'm sure it would drive him away. I just want success for him so badly it almost hurts. Like the poem I wrote a few years ago after looking at his new headshots on my computer one shot better than the … [Read more...]
A bucket list item failure
Nurturing my friends was definitely on my bucket list when I started this blog. And I haven't been successful at fulfilling this goal. I seem to be a failure both on the give and take sides. I don't call and make dates with people enough, and when I do I give up after the first sign that connecting could be difficult. My Thursday's horoscope reminded me how important it is to nurture friendships, and how I've been a failure at it. I let work get in the way most of the time. Geography is also an issue. Some of my friends live on the other side of the city, and with my work schedule, I don't want to or am too tired to take the time to fight the traffic for a lunch date. I also get bent out of shape if they won't make the trip to where I live once in a while. Right now I find myself at an impasse with a couple of people because they refuse to meet in my territory. As much as I want to see them and talk to them, I haven't seen them in way too long. Well, this piece has changed my … [Read more...]
