THE WORMHOLE

For this week's Celebrate the Small Things Blogfest Kathy says: Two memorial services occupy my time this week, but I'm celebrating two lives and I'm grateful that these two people were a part of my life.

http://bardsandprophets.blogspot.com/

In honor of Albert Einstein's birthday, tell the world in 100 words more or less, what you would do if you had a two-way ticket to traverse a wormhole. 

by Kathy Cannon Wiechman

My husband’s mother died when he was an infant, leaving seven children without their mother. Their father moved them from New Mexico to Cincinnati, where family could help raise them.

Such a tragedy! But if they hadn’t moved, Jim and I would have never met and had our own children. Altering the past changes bad and good.

Through that wormhole, I’d be tempted to eliminate Booth, Hitler, or Bin Laden or save Anne Frank or Princess Diana. But I’d settle for a visit with Helen Wiechman to tell her about her son who became a devoted husband and father.

Helen Wiechman. Taken too young.

Writing is a Team Sport

by Kim Van Sickler

In today's Celebrate the Small Things blogfest post, I'm celebrating every single vote I get on manuscript #63: Muleskinner, for a chance to win a scholarship to the Backspace Writers Conference in NYC in May. If you could add your vote too, I'll celebrate YOU! See below to see how.

Writing is a team sport

I never imagined that sitting at my computer writing stories would turn out to be such a collaborative effort. But it is. Take my current book: Muleskinner. A story set in 1844 on the Ohio Canal, about a 12-year-old mule driver's world turned upside down when a mysterious dog uncovers a box of secrets that lead the orphan to discover his past, escape indentured servitude, and find a sister he never knew he had. So many people are involved in helping me bring this work to life.


There is my local critique group: Tiffany Laufer, Vicki Selvaggio, Jean Daigneau, Judith Leisenring, Mary Ryan, Alison DeBroux and Eric Steinberg, the writing pal who first told me about the Backspace Writers Conference, who have encouraged me with this story, telling me it's my best one yet. There are my fellow writers like Jon Egan, Melissa Kline and Kathy Wiechman who helped me work out kinks in my outline. There is my canal expert Terry K. Woods, and author Marilyn Seguin whose writings about the Ohio and Erie Canal and whose advice and criticisms have strengthened my own story. There are my beta readers: 14-year-old critiquing phenom Nicole Fiorelli, Kathy Wiechman (again!), Marilyn Seguin (again!), Marcia Hoehne, and their incredibly insightful suggestions that I gleefully incorporated into my story, seeing how much stronger my final product became.

But I've only mentioned the people who've helped me write Muleskinner. Next comes the outside-the-comfort-zone part where you put your labor of love out there for people to judge. As I'm sure every published author knows, but I'm just beginning to find out, there's an entire network of people needed to SPREAD THE WORD about your book! 

I'm taking a big chance with this, my third book. My first two books are still tucked safely away on my computer, awaiting life after creation. But Muleskinner, well, this book is special. I've felt from the beginning that this novel IS THE ONE. So I've decided to shake things up a little and travel to my first big NYC writing conference. The conference offers three scholarships for worthy stories. I entered Muleskinner in the contest. Of course it would be nice to win the scholarship, but the real draw is the chance to stand out in the minds of the agents who will select the scholarship winners. Obviously I want this opportunity very badly. So, I've got to get the votes.

I'm cajoling family, friends, acquaintances, begging on social media. Many wonderful people re-posted, voted, and spread the word. I even contacted a couple of canal organizations to see if they could mobilize their members to vote for it. The Ohio and Erie Canalway featured Muleskinner on its FB page, and plans to send out an e-mail blast to its mailing list next week. Metro Parks Serving Summit County tweeted its followers and plans to retweet periodically. I hope all this helps...

It's exhilarating watching the numbers go your way and agonizing watching the other entries pass yours. Every message I get from someone telling me they voted makes my heart swell with gratitude. My resulting roller coaster of emotions leaves me feeling drained. But putting my work out there is the right thing for me to do, now, with this story. There is nothing currently on the market like Muleskinner. So, I humbly ask for you to vote. Here's how you can help.

Go here. Click on the polling feature and vote for #63 Muleskinner through March 15, 2013. And thank you for joining me on this crazy journey.  You are an integral part of the process.

Launching Anything Prose...and Poetry Too!

by Melissa Kline, co-founder Anassa Publications, LLC

For today's Celebrate the Small Things post, I have to confess, I am celebrating something pretty big.

Today Kathy Cannon Wiechman's 9/11 poetry and Kim Van Sickler's ice fishing short story "Adift" are being published in Anything Prose…and Poetry, Too! – a one of a kind collection of works written by 32 talented authors. This project was inspired by a small community of writers and is filled with writings of all genres and styles, giving the overall book a very unique feel.

I wanted to share this exciting news and ask for your support.Today is the day of our official launch and we are aiming to receive “best-seller” status. Your purchase can help make that happen!

This book is the perfect rainy day companion and makes a great gift for just about anyone. Here is a sample of what you will find inside Anything Prose…And Poetry, Too!:

 Inspiration - Choose to say "Yes", remember that you are loved and discover how to bring happiness into your life.

 Suspense - Attempt an escape from a crazed maniac in a violent storm. Stagger your way through a haunted house.

 Memoir - Follow a mother's journey through the joys of parenthood. Discover a man's process of love and loss. See how one woman's relationship with her pet changed her life.

 Abstract - Find out what it's like to ride in a paper airplane. Prepare for a journey to the sun.

 Chick Lit - A cynical 20-something finds unexpected love... in a hot tub.

 Humor - Follow a day in the life of an enthusiastic Jack Russell terrier.

 Adventure - Go on a fishing expedition with a teen who saves the day. Trek with a lonely Basque sheepherder.

 Spiritual - The importance of simplicity, creation, universal language, joy, love, freedom, peace and bliss.

This is just a taste of what you will find in Anything Prose…and Poetry, Too! Available on Amazon for $14.95. Click here to order your copy!

You can find out more about this book and authors like February Grace, Stephanie Sprenger, Serenity Ray, Nicole Weaver, Kris Jordan, Laurel Jean Becker and many more here.

Please help us spread the news today by letting all of your friends, family and colleagues know about the release of Anything Prose…And Poetry, Too! 

Thank you for helping us spread the word! In the meantime, if you'd like a chance to win a free copy of the new anthology, leave a comment below telling us so. US and Canadian residents only please. We'll notify the winner by Friday, March 8, 2013.

She Said What? Swagger-style

by Kim Van Sickler

 Panel One
Elsie (running): Argh! The rope twisted out of my hands! Help me!
Megan (in balloon): OMG! You're doomed!




Panel Two
Elsie (hanging): Umf! Head's as fizzy as champagne. How 'bout a hand?
Megan (in balloon): I can't do this alone! Someone stronger, smarter, and preferably super sexy, help us!




Panel Three
Superhero V: Never fear! Velociraptor Man is here!

Panel Four

Superhero V: Note to self. Retract claws when rescuing damsels in distress from hot air balloons.

Panel Five

Megan: Buzz off, Super Dud! Your incompetence makes me want to vomit!

Panel Six

Elsie (red shirt): Your negativity really bums me out.  I only want friends who see the world in a glass-half-full kind of way!

Megan (brown shirt): O...kay. Our savior seems to be a really honorable dude.

Panel Seven

Dino: He looks a little grey, but hey, I'm not a picky eater.

Megan (brown shirt): We tangoed cheek-to-cheek with death and won! Thanks, Velociraptor Man! Better?

Ha! So there you have it! Seven panels dialogued. I upped the challenge by working in the bonus words: twist, cheek, buzz, honor, grey, champagne, tango, and vomit. Happy Blog-o-versary to Michelle Wallace and Elise Fallson and for coming up with this fun, creative exercise!

Dreams

by Kathy Cannon Wiechman

We’re “celebrating the small things” before our posts. My list of small things to celebrate: A warm shower on a cold day; the sun after a rain; a handmade gift from a friend; a good lunchtime companion, which can mean a good book to read while I eat. These are all vitally important to me, so I guess there are no “small” things.

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My friend, Michele Beuerlein, had the longtime dream of being on Jeopardy! She’s super at trivia and wanted to compete with the best and brightest.

We all have our dreams, some more realistic than others, but our dreams can keep us going, keep us trying and working to make them come true.

For more years than I care to admit, my dream has been to have a published novel, a book with my name on the cover, a book I can hold in my hands, a book where the story is my creation and the words are the ones I have chosen to put together in the way I want to convey the story.

But most of all, my dream is to have a young reader hold that book, to turn its pages and be transported to another place (and perhaps another time) and enjoy the experience of characters I created. That’s what authors and books did for me when I was a kid.

While Michele tried out for Jeopardy! more than once, I began dozens of novels and completed eleven of them. I revised, rewrote, eliminated characters, added others, and polished the words to a shine. But the publishing world has been a tough nut for me to crack (not that publishers are nuts—not always anyway). A few of my poems have been published and three of my short stories have won prizes, but that elusive novel contract remains out of my reach.

But, as Michele did, I keep dreaming. And I keep trying. Maybe this eleventh novel will be the one that makes my dream come true. Or maybe Number 9 or 10 still stands a chance. Maybe it will take until Number 12—or Number 27. I try not to think about the possibility that it might never happen. I have to believe in my dream.

Michele's official Jeopardy photo!

It takes more than believing. Dreams rarely come true from mere wishing. It takes work. It takes the determination to keep trying, to keep writing, to keep creating and putting those words on the page. Michele didn’t give up, and on January 4, 2013, she appeared on Jeopardy! She didn’t win, but she competed as one of the best and brightest, and it was every bit as fun and exciting as she had hoped. I am proud of her. Her dream came true. She worked to accomplish it. She’s an inspiration for what can happen when you pursue your dream.

Like Michele, my dream isn’t to win. I don’t need awards or even great reviews. I just need that reader, who is transported to another place and enjoys the experience of reading that book.

Inspired by Love

by Melissa Kline

Card made from watercolor paper, paint and heart sequins.

Have you ever been so inspired or passionate about someone that you'd create little tokens of love just to make them happy? A note, words of warmth, a doodle or drawing... these gestures can mean so much. 

This week, during the Celebrate The Small Things Blogfest, I rediscovered paintings, writing and crafty projects that I had created for my husband when we were dating. These mementos brought a smile to my face because they reminded me of how passionate and inspired I was by our new love. I put so much time and effort into these creations because it was important for me to convey how much I cared about him. What an awesome thing to celebrate! The power of love.

Love collage made from magazine clippings.

"I Love..." cards made with paper, marker and colored pencils.

It occurred to me that these tokens are also abundant in books and movies. There seems to be some kind of object that is used as a sign of affection or love in many romantic story lines. In my book, My Beginning, Aidan gives Ivory a necklace, which has special meaning.

Can you think of a movie or book that included a love token? How was it woven throughout the story?

Prop necklace used as a symbol of love in "My Beginning."

I wanted to share some of my real life love tokens and hopefully inspire you to make something fun for your loved ones. There is nothing like a gift from the heart! An unexpected note in a lunchbox, briefcase or drawer can change someone's day. Small or big, it's the thought that counts. :)

Poems written in permanent marker on watercolor paper, washed with paint.

What's your idea of the perfect love token? 

Why Fantasy?

by Kim Van Sickler

***NO WAY! The link just came through for the winners of the C4WE's HF contest. Swagger writers took first AND second place! Congrats to Kathy Cannon Wiechman!
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***A late breaking item to celebrate! Janie Sullivan contacted me this morning to tell me that I won first place in the Center for Writing Excellence's historical fiction contest!!!!!!! OK, so I enjoy HF a heck of a lot too!
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In this week's Celebrate the Small Things Blogfest, I am eagerly awaiting the lifting of this latest migraine, certain that when it withdraws, I will feel superhuman for awhile (and hopefully gets lots of stuff done!)

My latest bookshelves have arrived! Yay! More storage for the books I keep accumulating!!! I love bookshelves!!!!!

I am so thankful for my local critique group who has been incredibly supportive and encouraging about my latest WIP, while also providing me with insightful feedback on how to improve it.

And I was thrilled when Janie Sullivan from the Center for Writing Excellence contacted me to be a judge for the latest Fiction in Five writing contest. These contests are so fun! It's where I got my start, and built my confidence as a writer. I can't wait to read the entries!

Now for this week's post...

Why Fantasy? 

Do you ever wonder why you are drawn to a particular genre of book? I do. I love fantasy. Looking back, I think my love of the genre was born of Dr. Seuss, Curious George, The Jungle Book, and all of those childhood fairy tales. Then it was fueled by my obsession with Grimm's and Hans Christian Andersen's darker fairy tales.

I've also loved the idea of the world not being a predictable, easily explained phenomenon. Where good is rewarded and evil is punished. Maybe that also explains why I became a prosecuting attorney. But that's another story.

One of my most vivid memories of my childhood was the night I spent in bed crying over the loss of a childhood treasure when I was six years old. It was Christmas Eve and I had told my dad about a kid at school bragging that there was no such thing as Santa Claus. I expected Dad to laugh and tell me she was full of you-know-what. But unbeknownst to me at the time, he had already decided that when I came to him asking questions, he was always going to give me honest answers.

Boy did that knowledge hurt. I felt sooooooo betrayed. Why go to such elaborate lengths to fool me: carrot gnawed by Rudolph, fireplace curtains left a little open, all of the presents with the labels reading "Santa" stuffed in stockings and left under the tree? I wish that magic of Christmas could have lasted longer. I spent that Christmas Eve straining to hear what I knew were my parents lugging the packages from their hiding place to scatter under the tree for the benefit of my younger brother and sister.

I wish the magic of youth, when everything carried a layer of mystery, and the world was full of limitless possibilities, could have lasted longer.

So is my love of fantasy just arrested development? Or a throwback to a wish for a simpler, easier-to-understand time?

I wonder.

What genre do you prefer to read (and/or write)? And why do you think you're attracted to it?