Support and Celebration, Along With Back-of-the-Book Blurb Friday # 52

A few days ago, Lynn wrote a post about pie. She asked what her followers favorite pie was, and mentioned we'd be having pie (at our critique meeting this past Wednesday) to celebrate me making it into the Listen to Your Mother show.

I didn't reply. I knew that even if I said, "My favorite pie is Norma Rae's raisin and French fig," (a made-up pie) she'd surf the internet and then failing to find it, would improvise. Lynn is like that. She'll find out what our favorite pie/cake/candy/entree is, file it away, and then--voila--she prepares it when it's our birthday or some other special occasion.

Lynn's also a master baker. She makes her melt-in-your-mouth pie crusts from scratch.

On Wednesday, I was hoping for coconut pie. I hate coconut, which meant I could easily resist eating a piece. 

What I found (instead of coconut creme pie) was irresistible. Lynn made my grandmother's chocolate chiffon pie. It was sponge-y. It was decadent and it was spectacular. She had gotten the recipe from me years ago and--of course--had not misplaced it.

(Perhaps you can't see them in this photo, but the sign of a great chocolate chiffon pie are the tiny air pockets, which come from the whipped egg whites that are folded into the chocolate mixture. It makes a light and frothy filling. I was at least glad to hear that Lynn doubts her "folding" ability when it comes to baking because I do, too. I always wonder if I am indeed folding, or if I'm merely stirring in a screwy way, resulting in a heavier pie.)

What my critique partners know is that my story would not have been accepted as a Listen to Your Mother piece in its original form. It's a story about my son, and I worded some details that made the reader think that, well... well, the way I wrote it, it seemed like my son and I had an unnatural (and illegal) relationship. If I hadn't gotten a great deal of much-needed constructive criticism, after I auditioned, the show's producers would have called the DFS child abuse hotline on me.

Thankfully, I got the support and help I needed before the audition happened. And when we met this past Wednesday, we found we had a more important reason to celebrate: Kim has a new grandson. (Kim's daughter has been trying to start a family, she and her husband waded through piles of paperwork and created a video and two-and-a-half weeks after their story went "live" on the site, she got a call... and a baby boy.) Congratulations, Kim!

And now--onto that book blurb stuff... 

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. An informational book on car mini Mariachi bands? A crime story about little boys who form a gang of robbers? You decide.

Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.

Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this writing challenge. However, she's been busy for the last few years. A three-book publishing deal. Another novel (or two) in the works. Building up her editing business...

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

Here's the book cover, along with my blurb:

photo by pixabay

Getting Rich to Get Candy

Juan and Carlos loved candy, and they loved Sour Patch Kids candy the best. When they’d do their chores or make good grades in school, they’d beg for the makes-your-mouth-pucker stuff, but their parents believed in only nature’s candy: fruit. In the Gonzalez house, it was all healthy, nutritious food, all the time.

The boys dreamed of the sugary stuff… so they came up with a plan to make some money so they could buy their own candy.

Picking a spot on the street near their home, Juan and Carlos set up their own miniature musical venue. They borrowed some accordions their uncle had up in his attic, and started playing.

Will they be able to teach themselves how to play the buttonbox? Will they learn to squeeze some pleasant tunes out of the squeezebox? Or will they start making the most money from people who beg them to stop? (150 words)

And for Val, who likes to work ahead, here is the photo for next week.

photo by pixabay

Another Bake-Off, Some Big News and Back-of-the-Book Blurb Friday # 51

Yesterday my middle-schoolers had another bake-off. In case you missed the earlier fascinating post on this activity, here's the low-down:

The students chose a cupcake challenge this time. (Earlier, it was microwave brownies.) Each student chose an added ingredient and wrote it down on a slip of paper. The slips were put in a bowl, and then were drawn, one at a time. The next week (this club meets once a week during our homeroom time) the groups worked on their strategies. How would they cool down the heat of ghost pepper powder in their cupcake? How would they mask the salmon (again, in a cupcake). On the third meeting, they chopped and squeezed and whisked... and then were judged.

Some of the combos (yes, that means that all of them were featured in the same cupcake) included:

• tuna, bacon and Spam
• lime juice, Ranch dressing and fresh spinach
• ghost pepper powder, canned salmon and A-1 sauce

Several teachers and cafeteria workers asked the same question: What's the point?

On the day of the bake-off the kids give up their PE class, their lunch (they eat while they work), their recess and their homeroom time. During this time, there were 15 students blending (frosting) and mincing (chives) and crushing (Toxic Waste candy. They learned time management skills, because at 1:00, the judging took place. They had to work as a team, or their cupcakes wouldn't get ready in time. They had to utilized some research skills (what will neutralize the heat of ghost pepper powder?) and had to decide on some strategies, such as

• frizzling up the Spam in bacon grease (making it more palatable to people
• bringing sugar-free, ready-to-eat jello for their opponent (the girl who contributed the jello figured the group that got it would assume they'd get a box of Jello powder. She figured--and rightly so--the team that drew Jello would not be happy with small cartons of the jiggly stuff
• blending chocolate frosting with the A-1 sauce for a cupcake dipping sauce

There were some surprising results. The Spam/bacon/tuna cupcake took 2nd place.(Due to the Spam, it was the one I dreaded the most.) The ghost pepper/salmon/A-1 sauce one was the #1 pick. One team served theirs with half a straw inserted into the cupcake. The unfortunate guest judges (seminary students) looked at the straws, puzzled looks on their faces, and I had to whisper, "It's not a joke. You'll need the straws." (The lime juice and the fresh spinach made their cakes a runny mess. They had plenty of baking time but never... really... set.)

As far as the big news, I got word this week that I snagged a spot in the Listen to Your Mother St. Louis show. On Tuesday I'll give you more details about the show and tickets, but needless to say, I'm excited. 

And now, what you're frothing at the mouth about: book blurb stuff.

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. An informational book on car repair? A thriller about a business owner who's fed up with the hoopty parked in front of his shop? You decide.

Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.

Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this writing challenge. However, she's been busy for the last few years. A three-book publishing deal. Another novel (or two) in the works. Battling with Cathy C. Hall over the Korean children's book market. You get the picture. She ain't got time for this stuff.

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

Here's the book cover, along with my blurb:

photo by pixabay.com

Larry’s Love

Larry has a zoo… a zoo on wheels.

You want a petting zoo at your kid’s birthday party? Larry’s your guy. He’ll deliver a goat, a mini-donkey and a pig or two—in his car.

Oh, don’t go thinking that Larry’s critters will get tethered up in your yard for the party. Nope. With Vagabond Zoo, children get to experience a mosh pit of fun. The farm animals roam and climb around in Larry’s car. During birthday celebrations, kids—one at a time—clamber into the car so they can get stepped and nibbled on to their heart’s content.

However, Larry’s business is putting a damper on his social life. Women aren’t impressed by his car. The paint job. The interior that’s been destroyed by Billy the Goat. The smell of the “garden gold” the animals leave on the seats.

Will love be the victor? Or will Larry’s love for his critters win? (150 words)

Author's note: When I chose this photo a week ago, I had no idea what I'd write about. However, the internet address (which I didn't see until I worked on this on Thursday night) painted on the side of the car instantly inspired me.

And for those who'd like a sneak peek at next week's photo, here it is:

photo by pixabay.com

Every Dog Has His Day

      Okay, this isn't the dog I meant to write about, but Karmer (from Istanbul, Turkey) has a wonderful day every day. Well, he will have better days once he finds a forever home, but even now, while he's still waiting for a permanent source of love, he's enjoying life. (Love a Golden Rescue thinks he's a Lab/Lab mix.)

     He walks like a dream... way better than our dog.

      No, this is the dog I planned on writing about today. Radar, who's almost 3, passed his obedience class last night. My husband and I both consider it a March Miracle. Radar followed all of the commands he was given in a satisfactory manner. Either that, or the instructors were tired of seeing his happy-butt, and they gave him the certificate so he'd leave.

      When our pup first started this six-week class, the instructors said, "He's such a happy boy." We didn't have to read between the lines. We knew what they really meant. They meant, 'Your dog is one wild and crazy dog.'

      So, if you start something and assume you're going to fail, you just might end being pleasantly surprised.

B-Ball, Fried Fish and Back-of-the-Book Blurb # 50

This week was a busy one. Late nights all five days this work week. Two of those nights were spent on the sidelines of a basketball tournament. Our 7th and 8th graders took part in the Shamrock Tournament, a basketball tournament that's been going on for 52 years. 

Both games (on Tuesday and Thursday) were nail-biters. I told a couple of the boys on the team, "You owe me a new box of hair dye, 'cause this game made my hair even grayer." It was back and forth, full of hopeful hearts and some disappointments. The boys won on Tuesday, but lost on Thursday, which made me think of writing (or life, really).

You can't let your disappointment impact your future. There were times that the boys got frustrated over a ref's call, or when they missed a shot. Their coach would have to get them back on the right track. Our writer friends do that. When we get despondent over a lack of a publishing contract or when our work gets rejected, other writers are there to encourage us, so we keep submitting. (You never know when that next "yes" from an editor will come along.)

Last night was my school's first fish fry of the season. I worked for a couple of hours serving up green beans, french fries and shrimp. It started out slow, but then grew to a crazy-long line. It ended up being like the childhood game "Telephone." The first person serving would get the order, serve the fish, tell the pasta person what to serve (red or white pasta) and give the tray to the pasta person. They would serve up the pasta and tell me what to put on the tray. I'd serve up the sides I was responsible for, and give it to the final person, letting them know if they were getting cole slaw or clam chowder. Last night, like most experiences, I connected again with my writing life.

You have to listen carefully. There are times when our writer friends give us some feedback. Some advice. We have to listen carefully, even if the advice might involve lots of work, and even when it's not something we want to hear. However, taking the time to digest the critique or the suggestion might result in a change that results in a piece getting published.

And now, onto book blurb stuff that I'm a day late with:

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. An informational book on farm animals? A romance between a cow and a handsome bull who's full of bull? You decide.

Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.

Lisa Ricard Claro was the original creator of this writing challenge. However, she's been busy for the last few years. A three-book publishing deal. Another novel (or two) in

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

Here's the book cover, along with my blurb:

The Milk of Human Kindness:  A Mother’s Plea

Bess E. was the top cow in the field. The chief moooover and shaker.

She’d been in the pasture long enough to know something was up. Their calves would hang, not leaving since the milk was free, then they’d disappear. The babies would start getting a bit chubby, big trucks would rumble in, the crying cowlets would get shoved into the truck--never to be seen again.

Bess E. was determined to find out where all those calves were going. She put on her earring, twitched her tail around to get the dust off her flanks, and after trampling down part of the fence, headed on a journey.

What she finds out shocks her… and drives her to go back so she can warn the rest of her cow colleagues.

As she trots home, she keeps thinking, We need to go on strike. No more breeding until things change. (149 words)  

And for the writer (and I'm talkin' bout you, Val) who likes to work ahead, here is the photo for next week:

Four Reasons to Slow Down... and Stop

         This was what the sky looked one early morning. I got out of my car and instead of heading into my school building, I looked in a different direction... and saw this sunrise. (I know my photography skills are laughable but it was a gorgeous sky.) The beautiful colors reminded me of one reason to stop occasionally:

You might miss something if you insist on always charging forward. The middle school boys had a big-deal basketball game on Saturday, part of a 52nd annual tournament my school hosts. Our team was behind by 20 points. They were younger and smaller than the other team and our basket had a lid on it.

I stepped out of the gym and into the hall to talk to a few parents. While I was gone, the game ended, and the boys had closed the gap to the point they were only 6 points behind. I'd missed it! (They have their second game tonight, and you can be sure I won't leave the gym for a single minute--not until the final buzzer sounds.)

You won't get to hear a story--it'll be gone forever. Yesterday I was in a bit of a rush to get to a meeting by 4. A student wanted to talk after school. That was cool--I still had plenty of time. But when I walked out, I saw a family that lives close to the school. They were out on their porch. I walked up their steps, meaning to just chat for a minute, and ended up talking for almost thirty minutes. In that short time, they asked, "What's the story behind your name?" (and I told them), they shared how mental illness has touched their family, I shared how it's touched mine... and if I hadn't stopped by, I would have missed out on feeling that sense of kinship.

You won't laugh as much. Savoring a joke, or responding with humor instead of frustration--that usually takes a bit more time. Definitely, however, the extra time is worth it.

Your belly won't get rubbed as much. Whoops. This one, I learned from Lizzie. Lizzie is a tripod who lives in my school's neighborhood. Usually she's on a walk when I'm getting out of my car, and I get to pet her. Lizzie knows what's important. As her mom is trying to coax her into continuing the walk, Lizzie knows it's more important to flop down into the grass and roll over so I can rub her tummy. Sometimes she decides to just lie down on the ground for a while and feel the breeze. Wouldn't life be more pleasant if we all lived life more like Lizzie?

And if you want to hear about the writing things I've learned from a television show I love, go here. 

And how about you? What have you seen or enjoyed lately, that you would have missed out on if you'd rushed by it?

A Phone Call, an Audition and Back-of-the-Book Blurb Friday #49

This week I had an incredible encounter on the phone.

For months (literally) I have been emailing and calling a man who works at the National Museum of African American History in D.C. His grandfather typed up a 10-page first person document of a bit of our history that we've swept under the rug for almost a century. I've seen the cover page on the internet:  its yellowed pages and faded ink taunt me.

This man's voicemail box quickly filled up; I could no longer leave a message. My emails remained unanswered.

Yesterday I called during my prep period, figuring it would be another bit of momentary frustration. Miracle of miracles, he answered.

We spoke. Since he has donated his grandfather's document to the museum, there are several of his colleagues who would love access to it. He said he would check with the curator, he suggested some books, and I was left encouraged... and hopeful.

And the audition? I got an email this week--I am one of the 30 writers chosen to audition for the Listen to Your Mother St. Louis Show. Three of my writing critique partners--Linda O'Connell, Lynn Obermoeller and Kim Lehnhoff--also made the cut. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all four of us make it.

And now, onto book blurb fun...

Look at the photo below. That is the cover of your book. You choose the genre. A time travel tale, where a fun-loving group of hooligans try to reenact Thelma and Louise's trip? A how-to book explaining how to refold travel maps?  You decide.

Write an enticing blurb--150 words or less. (The title doesn't count in the word count.) Blurbs are those enticing bits that prod you into buying the book. Sometimes they're on the back cover of the book. Sometimes they're on the inside front cover. What they always try to do is lure you into purchasing the book.

Lisa Ricard Claro was the original brain behind this project. She's got her own editing business. She's gotten a multi-novel publishing deal... and now that those three books are out, she's working on more. Check out her site. You'll enjoy her posts and you'll learn something.

Include your blurb in a blog post. Include a link to this post. Also, link your post to Mr. Linky. Mr. Linky is easy. If you've never done it, you'll be impressed with how simple he is. And then, check out the other blurb(s). It's interesting to see the different directions writers take, given the same photo.

Here's the book cover and the blurb:

photo by pixabay

Back in Time… Into the Darkness

Because of technology, amazing things now happened.

The iphone 27 has time-traveling capabilities. With a swift swipe, the camera captures what the person--or the scene--looked like decades ago.

A couple wants to remember what they looked like on their wedding day fifty years ago? Just aim the phone their way, and there the bride and groom would be, their unwrinkled faces smiling in the screen.

A family wants to recall what their family neighborhood looked like when they moved in ten years ago? An easy feat with the new phone.

The police are even using them to recreate--with 100% accuracy--a crime scene. There’s no need for security cameras now. Just make the correct time setting, point and shoot… and they can see who did the shooting.

But now the phone’s being used for sinister purposes… it’s being used to do heinous things. And there seems to be no stopping it... (150 words)

And for those writers who like to work ahead and toil on their reviews (like you, Val), here is the photo (from Pixabay) for next week: