Book Blurb Friday # 19

      
         Yes, it's Friday again. Time to write a blurb for a no chance for this one potential best-seller. The photo this week is supplied by Becky Povich. The multi-talented Lisa Ricard Claro hosts this meme every week on her blog.

         Your book can be any genre, but it must must be 150 words or less. I was going to blog about something else today, but decided I could double-dip and write a book about the "adventure" I originally planned on writing about.

         After you write a blurb, link it to Lisa's blog, read the other blurbs and allow yourself the luxury of wallowing in everyone else's creativity.

        And without further beating around the bush ado, here is Becky's photo and my shot at stardom!

White-Knuckle Writing

by Cassie "Pro" Crastinator

       It was the last day of June. The evening sun, filtering through the blinds, reminded her that midnight wasn’t a threat, it was a promise.

     
       Two Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies had a call for submissions; their deadlines were June 30. Cassie had planned on submitting a second story for the Christmas collection to follow up her earlier memoir that was already sent off. ‘Increase the submissions means an increased chance of publication,’ she thought, with a touch of hysteria. Not having an idea for the Here Comes the Bride book until the last minute, she now had two story ideas.


      Could Cassie finish the Christmas story that was already half-finished and get it submitted in time? Would she be able to begin and finish two wedding stories before the bell tolled twelve?


     White-Knuckle Writing will make you screech and sweat right along with Cassie. (147 words not including the “reviews”)


……………………………………………………................................................................................

The Reviews of White Knuckle Writing:


“A cautionary tale. These pages paralyzed me.” Dr. Wright A. Head


“Cassie’s philosophy should be everyone’s mantra: More submissions = more publications. After all, I average 13 stories in every Chicken Soup anthology and that only happens because I submit like crazy!” Linda O’Chicken Soup


“Writing is a breeze when you have bottled-up spirits as your lackeys. Have Cassie call me.” Fireblossom


Princess Procrastinator's Note:  No, I did not get three stories submitted last night but by 11:45 I had submitted two to two different anthologies.  



Total Eclipse of the Original

         I read Becky Povich's post, which mentioned her wanting to see a total eclipse of the sun. Immediately, I thought of a youtube bit that's funny and well done. And it takes me back---rushing---to my past.

      If you're 50 or 60-something, you might remember a song entitled Total Eclipse of the Heart. Bonnie Tyler did it, and it engulfed the airwaves for a while...

     For some time there has a been a very humorous version on youtube. The singer is decent, and the new lyrics take a light-hearted look at the cheese-y original lyrics.

     Here's the link if you haven't seen it before and you need a blast from the past and a chuckle this morning (and it's probably my last post for a few days, as I am knee deep in report cards...).

       Becky--This one's for you!

Book Blurb Friday #10---Yahoo!

         Go to Lisa Ricard Claro's blog.  Drink in the photo. Write a book "blurb" that is 150 words long, or less if you can, post it on your blog, and connect yor blurb to everyone else's via Lisa's friend, Mr. Linky.

       Oh, and don't forget to comment on the other blurbs. That's what makes BBF such fun--reading the path others took after they became inspired by the picture.

       Here is my blurb and the photo, provided by Becky Povich:

The Final Word


Bernice was a talker, hardly pausing to take a breath when she talked; she never shut up, she had a horrible case of diarrhea of the mouth---her talking just never stopped running.

Surrounded by constant noise, her husband was losing his mind. He pleaded, he prayed…but nothing would stop the juggernaut that was Bernice’s mouth.

“Let’s go to Babbler Park on Saturday,” he suggested. It was fitting, since Bernice babbled like a brook, that the end of her talking would happen there, surrounded by the noisy water flowing over the rocks…

Harold shivered, delighted with the idea of finally being cocooned in silence…Read this gripping novel to find out how their day at the park played out.

“A great addition to your DIY shelf!” Prisoner #517983, Folsom State Prison


“What Harold did worked better than duct tape!” Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor

(146 words)

One Big Lie Wrapped Up in Four Truths

        Tammy's a liar.  A stretcher-of-the-truth. A teller of tall tales. A fabricator. In other words, she's a writer...

       While reading her blog, I discovered Tammy had passed the liars' torch to me, along with this award:

         According to requirements of the award, in order to receive the huge cash prize and the semi full of Rice a Roni that accompanies the cute colorful certificate, I must tell you four truths and a lie. See if you can discern which one is the lie:

• I've been skydiving before. In fact, I've done it three times and look forward to doing it again.
• I have a half-sister who is in prison for life, without parole, for killing her step-grandson. 
• I once worked in the Chrysler plant for a short period of time; unfortunately, my ineptitude got me fired.
• Both of my children were born at home, by choice, without any drugs.
• I once spent the summer working in a national forest. It was an all-women work camp, and involved stringing barbed wire, digging post holes (by hand) and clearing trails.

(I think I am also supposed to post a photo of me writing.  That will have to wait until next week...)

          Now I am going to pass on this award to some of my blogging friends. (And I must admit, a few of these bloggers I've picked because I am dying to see what kind of lie they brew up.) And the few, the chosen, the awarded, are:

         Lisa Ricard Claro and her wonderful blog and meme. She writes marvelous stuff, shares writing opportunities, and has even launched a new meme recently.  Check out her Book Blurb Friday if you haven't already...

       Janel and her "Jumble." She writes. She creates bracelets and necklaces that are works of art.  She's way too talented for her own good. Let's see if she can spin a tall tale as well as she can weave wire and beads.

       Katie and her writing from the west coast.  Sometimes the stories she tells (true ones) are so hilarious and "out there," I'm suspicious.  I think she's a well-honed liar, but I could be wrong.

       Liza Bean, in care of her two-legged friend Pearl.  Of course, Pearl is welcome to tell four truths and a lie, too, but I am far more interested in Liza Bean's hair-raising "tails."

       Linda and her blog.  Linda shares her writing expertise--generously--and she makes me laugh (as do the vast majority of my blogging buddies).

        OJ Gonzalez-Cazares and her blog.  She's done quite a bit of traveling, and has a unique spin on life.  I think even her truths would sound like lies.

       Barb and her purple pen.  I am looking forward to her four truths and a lie, written with a rhyme scheme...

        Becky Povich and her blog.  Ooops, sorry. She's supposed to be working on her memoir and not spending endless hours on blogspot.  (You can write four fast truths and an even quicker lie...And then get back to your book!)

       And finally, last but certainly not least, is Donna and her book publishing blog.  Everyone's heard the phrase, "Still waters run deep."  That's Donna.  Who knows what kind of crazy, far-fetched true tales she's keeping hidden, under the surface? It'll be fascinating to find out.

         

Pay It Forward

          This is an idea that Becky Povich is passing along. Someone before her passed the baton to Becky, and someone before them put out the offer and so on...  I think Kevin Spacey originated it.  (His "gift" was a home-recorded CD of Benecio Del Torro and himself doing duets during the time when they were filming The Usual Suspects.  I wish I was one of those lucky five!)
 
          Becky proposed posting about the gifts we all have, and hopefully, participants will join in.  We are writers. But that is not our only talent. This is our chance to pass on to others--directly---our gifts.

           So, if you are interested, post a comment here to let me know.  The first five who say, "I do," (I do want to participate) will receive a handmade gift from me.  (I'm getting one from Becky. How about that!)  And if you agree to play along and pay it forward, you'll post the proposal on your blog and make a gift for five people, who will post it on their blog and send handmade gifts to five other people, and so will it spread and expand, like the ripples in a lake.

photo by Alane * Maria Julia Biscuit

          It is up to you what you consider a "homemade gift."  It could be a photo you've taken. It might be a framed poem written by you.  You could unwrap store-bought rice krispie treats and press M and Ms into them.  You could take your eyebrow hairs that have been plucked out, and you could weave them in a bracelet.  The sky is the limit!

            Let the fun begin...  

photo by bluelightson

            After all, we should have some joy in our lives as we catch our reflection in the mirror and weep at the sight of our "pudding-bag-tied-in-the-middle bodies." (Pauline's great phrase---see below) 

            And before I end this, I'd like to thank my newest four followers. Thanks, Not the Rockefellers and lightverse.  If you have a blog, please let me know and I will include a link.

             Nana Jo has a blog.  She has a lovely post about the reality of romance called "Late Roses."  Romance ain't just for the young and foolish...

              Pauline has not one, but two blogs. Her jaw-dropping line above came from her more humorous blog.  It seems she has not actively posted on it for a while, but read through the posts that are there. She treats aging with humorous stories (even though it makes our bellies jiggle and our laughlines get more pronounced as we read them).  Pauline, could you merge the two blogs?  You have an amazing gift for deft levity!

             Her other blog is more serious and introspective. If you'd like to go snow-shoeing (from the comfort of your familyroom chair) check out her January 17 post entitled "Come for a Walk With Me."  Pauline dug deep into her belief system as she dug up snow in her January 21 post called "You Never Know."

         I will end with a quote that Pauline included in her most recent post: 


"In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary."--Aaron Rose


         

Thanks, Followers

        Since I am not good at welcoming new followers, I thought I would thank all my followers, a small group each day, for the next few days.

      If you just happened by my blog, and have lost interest, sorry.   If you don't have a blog but would like to leave a few tidbits about yourself in the form of a comment, I'd love it.

      These followers I don't know too much about:

Joe May
eyeluvsg1
Jingle

photo by {2H Design}

Hosee is a friend of mine; she is the best editor and butt-kicker around.  When I have any sort of "style" or grammar question, she has the answer.  When I need a spark, she's there to light it.  When I need some encouragement with my writing or some constructive criticism, she is ready.  If she had a blog it would be sharp looking and entertaining and inspiring, because she is a graphic artist as well as a writer.

Manda at http://readwritereal.blogspot.com/  Manda has a very thoughtful blog.  She makes me think deeply. 

Becky at http://beckypovich.blogspot.com Becky has a wonderful blog...Music plays, it's chock-full of tidbits and links, and she just gave her blog a cool new look.  Becky is working on a book, and is the president of Saturday Writers, so she's serious about her craft.

Susan Artkras is the kind of teacher I despise.  I go to conferences with her, and she has an amazing amount of knowledge in her head.  If it's a theory or a book or a strategy, she knows of it or how to do it.  Technologically, she also knows how to do it all, which makes me want to puncture not one--but two--of her tires. (Of course, this is tongue-in-cheek.  I am in awe of Susan as a teacher.  She is so sharp and so intuitive...)

         Hopefully you all had fun ushering in 2011 last night, and may this year be full of fulfilling dreams...

Potential: Buried and Wasted

           I was reminded of Karen Carpenter when reading Becky Povich's blog. (She has music that accompanies her blog, and there was the Carpenters, a blast from the past.) When I was 11 or so, I loved the cool, smooth harmonizing of the Carpenters.  What a voice!

          Then when she died, I was a bit angry.  Having that talent, how could she be so tortured?  Me, who when I sing, cause people to wonder if a cat is caught in the car engine...What would I have done with a voice like that?

         I also bemoan the absence of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Croce and Harry Chapin.  What would our musical world be like if they were still around?

Harry Chapin
photo by RSB Image Works

Janis Joplin
photo by frangeek

        Some of the talent I shake my head about belong to people who are still around, but have been hit with the whacky stick (numerous times).  Robert Downey, Jr. is one.  There was a time when he wandered around, got into a stranger's house and was found, asleep, by the homeowners.  In and out of rehab.  He is such a talented actor---what did he need drugs for?  (However, it looks like he might be on a straighter and more narrow path these days.)

       Whitney Houston is another.  If you ever saw the "reality" show that trailed after Houston and her husband, you know she was far off the whack-a-doo scale. If I had just a small fraction of her singing talent, or her looks...Where would I be now? 

        What writer or performer or artist do you miss the most that is "gone," whether that absence is due to death or drugs or mental illness?  (It could even be someone from a hundred years ago.) 

      

While You're Holding Your Breath...

photo by frankieleon

          Still waiting for the prize patrol to arrive from the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes?

       In the meantime, check out Becky Povich's contest.  It's easy.  And if you have not ever stopped by Becky's blog, you'll find she's like a golden retriever-greyhound-chihuahua.  She's a great friend, she has endless energy, and she's tiny but mighty.

Ee-i ee-i oh! NaNoWriMo--Oh!

                                                                                  

        I committed myself to trying out NaNoWriMo this year...I've heard differing accounts from people.  It will be interesting to see if I can keep up with the daily word count requirements, and who knows where my story will go?  (Or even where it will begin, since I did not have a novel idea for a novel until this evening, after poring over 1000 plot ideas from the internet.)

        Because it might get me into some daily writing habits, I'm embarking on this month-long journey.

          My blogging got mired up in muck for a couple of weeks...I could whine, but since there is no decent cheese around, what's the point?  It has been parent-teacher conferences (with a couple of doozies), and then two workshops to prepare for--one last week and one that just took place today.  Prepping for a sub is tough, because you can't just call in when you're sick or when you want to take a personal day--you have to write sub plans, and they have to be detailed...You have to include things like, "Carl will get a nosebleed and want to go to the nurse.  Do not let him.  Just tell him to stop digging in his nose."

         So, if you occasionally check in, I'm sorry I have not been too active lately.  Part of me loves blogging and would post several times a day if I had the time, and another part of me wonders if I am blogging instead of putting forth some serious effort on writing.

         Before I begin NaNoWriMo tonight, I want to toot my own horn and Louella Turner and Donna Volkenannt's, along with many other Saturday Writers like Becky Povich, Teddy Norris, Cindy Allen, and Lonnie Whitaker.  The new issue of Cuivre River Volume V is out, and I have a story in it...It's called "Swizzle Stick" and had an interesting beginning.  A writing friend of mine---Julie---gave me the phrase "swizzle stick" as a prompt.  I wrote a story, polished it up, and it's been sitting around, waiting for the right opportunity to shine.

        

      Now I'm off to begin my book...

Being Broken

photo by Danielle_T

       
"...monetary poverty is nothing---nothing---compared to the starvation of the creative spirit."
                                      ---T'Mara Goodsell


        

        I have been intrigued with the title of T'Mara Goodsell's blog since I found her (through Becky Povich, I believe).  The Art of Being Broken. It made me wonder what deep meaning was under the surface of that title.

        Tonight I was reading some of her past posts (trying to avoid grading papers), and happened up on her post on June 9, 2009.  It's entitled "Write On, Dude."

         As I was reading it, I thought about the art of mosaic. People deliberately break plates and pottery into small pieces, so they can fit them into a completely different new piece of art.   

         That post not only explains what she means by the "art" of being broken, but it vividly paints a picture of what it's like to be emotionally battered.

           Sometimes you have to break things---to take something that was "whole" but maybe not good---to create something gorgeous...

       

Check Out the Contest

         Writers write.  When writers "stretch" their muscles, they dabble in genres and styles that they are unfamiliar with, or contend with constraints that help them hone their skills.

          Speaking of constraints, I could not restrain myself.  I had to enter Becky's writing contest last night.  She provides the photographic inspiration, you have to provide a 100-word story (or less than 100 words). It ends on the 18th, so if you have not written something, get busy.

         In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I am going to offer a contest.  I have narrowed it down to several photos.  I have not decided if it will be---like Becky's---a story that limits the word count, or whether it will be something different altogether.

photo by Kuya D

        If we don't develop some writerly habits, if we only "talk the talk" and don't walk the path of a writer, we'll never improve.  We'll never get published.  We'll be stuck in a rut forever.

         Look for the contest to begin after Becky's ends.  After all, I'm stealing her idea.  I don't want to steal her thunder as well...

What Happened With That Crowbar?

         Someone that I met at the Saturday Writers group is Becky Povich.  She is writing a series of slice-of-life stories; it will be out sometime this fall, published by High Hill Press.

        The title intrigues me:  That Crowbar Changed Everything.  I've asked Becky about the title, and mum's the word.  She's like a vault. Sealed shut and won't open, no matter how much cajoling ot threatening takes place. I have stalked her.  I have hired a team of private detectives.  I have tortured her with bamboo shoots under her fingernails. Nothing has worked...

      I'd like to invite writers to write a short synopsis for the title story.  What kind of story revolves around a crowbar?  (And no fair if you have read the collection and know what the crowbar story is really about.  You have to make something up that is different from the actual story.)

photo by Davescunningplan's photostream