Where's Your Nose?

Currently, I've got my nose stuck in several books and have a few more queued up to follow these. . .

  
 

I'm often asked how I find the time to read, which in my little mind translates into, "How do you find time to breathe?" Reading isn't simply a want, it's a need. Especially if you're a writer. Why? Because it hones your craft, expands your creativity, gives you something to aspire to and/or steal to re-work in your own words. Yes, writers do that. Get over it. 

I mostly read at the gym when I'm on an elliptical or treadmill. I know that doesn't necessarily make for the best workout, but hey, it's better than parking my rear on the couch while nibbling bon bons. I also keep a book bedside to snatch a sentence or two before sleeping and I stow a book in my car for those times when I'll end up in a waiting room.

And I'm in good company. Curious about what other movers and shakers are reading? Click on the photo below and find out.

Take a Zombie to Lunch Day

Dare I admit it? Up until a few days ago, I've been a zombie virgin. But now, for the very first time, I'm reading a book with a few characters that are undead. Before your undies bunch up in quite an unseemly wad, let me add that at least it's a historical. . .

The story includes Mr. Darcy and Lizzie and Jane and all, but you never know when one of the undead is going to show up and change the plot a bit. It's entertaining, in a freakish sort of way, though not for the squeamish because of the blood and guts.

So what's up with me and zombies? Am I caving in to cultural peer pressure? Tilting off my sound theological axis? Turning toward the dark side of the current paranormal craze?

Nope. Mostly just curious how Austen and flesh eaters could coexist in one novel. Don't worry. This satisfies the itch and I will not be delving into more books of the undead, lurid tattoos or tongue piercings.

It did, however, make me stop and think about zombies and why people are drawn to them. My conclusion? An affectionate association. We can all relate to zombies because we have either been one or are currently still in an undead state.

Oh, put down your pitchfork. Sheesh. Gimme a minute to explain.

See, we're all walking dead people until God breathes life into us via repentance and salvation. We spiritually live our lives with unseeing eyes, unbeating hearts, no consciousness whatsoever until God grants mercy to see our utter wretched condition in light of His holiness. Even more, He shows his great love and creates a new life because of what Jesus did on the cross.

But not everyone is saved. The walking dead are still among us. So, take a zombie to lunch today and share the Gospel.

Party With the Bard

I missed the big 450th birthday bash for William Shakespeare this weekend, but I did eat a slab of chocolate cake in his honor. My personal favorite piece of the Bard's writing is The Taming of the Shrew. What's yours? What's that? You haven't actually read any Shakespeare? No worries. You're probably using Shakespearean language more than you know. Here are some everyday phrases we take for granted that good ol' Will penned himself (unless you buy into the black helicopter conspiracy that he was really Sir Francis Bacon). . .

"Knock knock! Who's there?" - Macbeth
"For goodness sake" - Henry VIII
"All of a sudden" - The Taming of the Shrew
"All's well that ends well" - All's Well That Ends Well
"A wild goose chase" - Romeo and Juliet
"What the dickens" - The Merry Wives of Windsor
"Wear your heart on your sleeve" - Othello

And here are a few words coined by Shakespeare

Zany - Love's Labors Lost
Luggage - King Henry IV
Addiction - Henry V
Worthless - King Henry VI
Lonely - Coriolanus
Skim Milk - King Henry IV
Blanket - King Lear

I could go on and on, but you can click on the links I provided. There's another slab of chocolate cake calling my name.

Fun Friday Wedding

Love is in the air...

Tidbit: Butlers

How do you tell a butler from a gentleman? By his black cravat of course. What? You were expecting a joke? Nope. Butlers really did wear black neck ties as opposed the the standard white of a gentleman. How the heck do I know? Because I've been researching butlers this week, and you're about to be educated. . .

Butlers During the Regency Era

If a household was prominent enough to employ a steward, then he'd be the top dog of the servant world (unless, of course, a valet was present, then he ranked). Think Carson of Downton Abbey. Some of his duties included:

• Being in charge of the wine cellar
• Being in charge of the household silver and china
• Dealing with visitors / employing proper etiquette and being aware of social distinctions
• Supervision of footmen and other underling male servants
• Household security

The butler was always called by his surname, hence "Carson" in Downton versus Mr. Carson. Butlers were allowed to and often were married, but that didn't mean he lived in his own home with his wife or that his wife was allowed to live in the household. A good employer might give a butler some days off to go home and spend time with his wife, but while the butler was on duty, his employer wanted his whole attention.

While butlers were paid more than lower staff, the highest paid servant was the "French man-cook" who made 60% more than a butler. Ooh-la-la! Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

I haven't decided yet how big a role the butler in my current story will serve. I'm only on chapter 6 and he's shown up once so far. But after all this research, at least I know where to find him if I need him...in the cellar or counting forks.

What's Your Excuse?

I hear it all the time.
"I'm gonna write a book someday." Really? To that I say, "Shut your pie hole and do it."

And that's exactly what 93 year old Wendell Ware did. He seriously wrote a novel and published it at ninety-freaking-three! If that isn't inspiration, I don't know what is. Here's his life in a nutshell. . .

Wendell R. Ware was born in 1918 in West Virginia. He graduated from St. Petersburg College in Florida and the University of North Carolina, then went on to serve in the air force as a pilot, seeing lots of action in the Southwest Pacific during World War II from 1943-1946. He was the Commanding Officer of the 35th Fighter Control Squadron during the atom bomb missions that led to the end of the war. As if that weren't enough, he served an additional 27 months in the Korean War. After his military stint, he became President of Micro Publication Systems, with international offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, London and Paris.

All that to say, the man clearly was NOT a slacker.

So when he turned 93, he figured he'd "slow" down and write a novel. Here's the back cover copy from his book, Arise My Love and Come Away With Me

Wynn always dreamed of becoming a pilot, flying from the age of ten, and making his first solo flight as a teenager. While studying at the University of North Carolina he meets Doey Brooks, a beautiful young woman studying law at Duke University. Their shared passion for flying becomes an inspiring love story that begins as a college romance and grows in depth and meaning as World War II becomes an ever-looming menace. As their relationship blossoms, the war stalls their plans to marry.

Wynn and Doey's story harkens back to a kinder, gentler time when loyalty, good manners, and personal integrity were the rule rather than the exception.

Okay, so whether a WWII love story is your genre or not, are you going to let a senior citizen kick your butt at writing? Don't wait until you're in your nineties. If there's a book inside of you screaming to get out, open the door and let it fly.

Writer's Day

Once a month I pull out my tweed blazer with the leather patches on the elbows and go to a writer's get together. There I shmooz with other authors, sip cognac from a fluted glass, and perfect an arched brow while saying "Oh how droll" in a British accent.

Just kidding. I don't even know what cognac is but it sounds highfalutin. Not to mention I don't own a suit jacket, with or without patches. I do, however, have some author buddies that I meet with once a month, and today was the day.

What do we really do? Here's a peek, though I've shortened their names to a single letter to protect the innocent.

"S" drapes herself over the arm of the couch. One look at her and you'd think she was either:
A. Sleeping off a binge drinking weekend
B. Coming down with ebola
C. A slackard with a permanent slouch

The answer is D, none of the above. She's mentally in another world, intent on hammering down the next exciting plot point in her story.

"J" sits at the dining room table, staring at his screen, fingers frozen on the keyboard. To all appearances he is:
A. Socially inept with real humans and instead is ogling a cyber babe
B. Clearly having a bad case of writer's block
C. Stroked out and unable to move

Again, it's D. He's editing. Mulling over each phrase, every word, deciding on just the right ones.

"H" is in the bedroom, propped up in a nest of pillows, pounding away at a keyboard all alone because:
A. Remaining in the same room with other people triggers an anxiety attack
B. Pillows are her muse
C. Just in case an EMP bomb goes off, she wants to make sure she's in a safe place

Yep. D. None of the above. She's completely engrossed in a romantic suspense, that's all.

How does a writer's day work? We meet at 10:00 a.m. and spend 10 minutes catching up on any writing news. Then we pray and split up to work until noon. We bring bag lunches, and afterwards, it's time to share critiques of each other's work. That wraps up around 2:00, when we break out and write again until 4:00.

A Writer's Day is a great way to be productive, and you don't even have to wear a stupid blazer.