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Reading, Writing, Pondering: Big Life Themes, Literature, Contemporary/Historical Issues |
 Welcome to the 14th century, in a farflung outpost of the Holy Roman Empire, and a new Convent outpost of the terrrifically powerful Roman Catholic Church. Sound historically dull? Hopefully not so--for this is NOT an ordinary 14th Century Convent. Back after a six-year hiatus.... From NaNoWriMo historical Supernatural novels in Scotland, Michigan, South Alabama and historical horror in Standwood Station, GA-to the Phantom Northern Woods-to singlehandedly refighting the American Civil War-to exploring Social Justice and standing for First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution-we deal out horror, Supernatural, Historical, fantasy, mystery, and more. We do not fear outspokeness. And always, always, always, We Do History. Find it here. We write it. We read it. We hold strong opinions. We orate. Meanwhile, whether we're writing or just reading, we love to rave about books and authors right here!  |
| After the end of April Mad Dash #2 on Saturday, I took off the remaining six days of April to read for research and to read for pleasure. I've also spent many hours in quiet contemplation of the newest novel, which I plan as the first in a series on the American Civil War. I had thought to make this first one cover the years 1859-1863, but now I am just about decided that is too long a time period, since I want to cover several characters and a multitude of situations and themes. I think I shall back it up to an earlier period by several years (probably 1855 or so) and then end it near the end of 1859. Then the second book can begin with the early months of 1860. Although-at this point-I expect all the books to be set in the Southland, by no means shall I be glorifying the Confederacy. I plan to write about character-themes-and character evolution-and yes, to explore the dark side of the Confederacy: slavery. So I'm reversing myself in time in order to examine pre-War abolition, which will of necessity include the North-well, then I guess it won't be all Southland after all LOL, more fool me {e:laugh). In the meantime, I am also trying to decide what to do about Book Three of The Testament Logging Corporation Chronicles. Book One was written Dec. 9-March 11, and Book Two was written March 1-22. So those are complete except for editing. Book Three I began March 23-31, but stopped to write a Stage Play for Script Frenzy, which I wrote April 1-15. Then I began to outline the new (Civil War Series Book One) novel. That series has so enflamed my imagination that Book Three has gone on hold. I reached 23K and 20 chapters on it in 9 days; now I am undecided whether to wrap it up as a novella, or to hold off, rework it according to Chapter Eight in Karen Wiesner's book First Draft in 30 Days, which covers outlining a project already in hand, or to simply finish wriiting it by my former usual "seat of the pants" method. There are some themes in it that need further exploring, so I don't know yet what I'm going to do. It nags me not to finish it, as I already have one unfinished novel, Book Three in the Mediumistic Mary Series, which I began in December but had to set aside for the advent of the first book in the Testament Series (which then bcame two novels and 20 chapters in a third {e:smile} ). In the last few days, in addition to online research, I've read: Walking to Cold Mountain by Carl Zebrowski, a photographic essay on the Civil War referencing some of the themes and events in Charles Frasier's Cold Mountain (a book I own and also plan to read as research) http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Cold-Mountain-Journey-Through/dp/0765110571/ref=sr... and Connie Willis' superb novel Lincoln's Dreams, which makes the reader come away feeling she has lived through the War! http://www.amazon.com/Lincolns-Dreams-Connie-Willis/dp/0553270257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=... Another great aspect of Lincoln's Dreams is the author's references to classic history book of the Civil War, so I kept jumping up and scurrying to my PC to reserve yet more from the Library system! |
| Corporate ownership of the mine now stands accused before Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee of deliberately fixing the appeal system to avoid mine closure despite multiple repeated safety violations and fines. Yet another example of corporate greed winning out over safety, human lives, and the environment?? http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mine-safety-20100428,0,6583... |
| in several, but not all of the Southern States, today is Confederate Memorial Day. Today also would have been my 36th wedding anniversary. In Macon, Georgia, Daughters of the Confederacy and others will gather to honor the fallen Confederate dead at Rose Hill Cemetery, where singer Duane Allman, who died in the 1970's in a motorcycle accident on a rainy Georgia road, is also interred. Perhaps fittingly, the remaining members of the Allman Brothers Band have returned to Macon this past weekend to commemmorate the Grand Opening of their museum, at the house they used to inhabit, in the city where they learned their musical craft and where they lost two founding members, Duane, and Berry Oakley, in motorcycle accidents. http://hnn.us/articles/754.html http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local_story.aspx?storyid=78062 |
| Gentle Readers, I hope you will all join with me in prayer for the lives lost in yesterday's tornadoes in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. May they rest in peace and may there be peace at some point for the loved ones and friends who survived. Also, may State and Federal Goverments act with speed and efficiency to help preserve the people and property who survive, and to provide for those who are now without shelter or food or clothing. These states suffered terribly during the War Between the States, with tragic loss of life on both sides, and yesterday another tragedy occurred, one that was unavoidable because it was an act of nature. |
| I am sad to report that the Coast Guard search for the missing 11 oil rig workers in Louisiana has been ended. At least the families of the miners lost in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster were able to bury their men, but these families will likely never know the exact fates of their lovd ones. What a sad and tragic report. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-0424-oil-rig-wire,0,7695582.s... In history: today is the 94th Anniversary of the Easter Rising in Dublin, the 147th Anniversary of General Order 100 in 1863, in which the Union provided for treatment of captured Confederate soldiers based on the tenets of the Geneva Convention (a Convention that is supposed to be followed even in the present time, but as we all know from reports of torture of prisoners almost everywhere, is definitely not followed). The Library of Congress was established on this date in 1800. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-easter-rising-begins-in-dublin?HP... http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/general-orders-no-100-issued?HPF_rid=... http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/library-of-congress-established?HPF_r... April 26-Monday-is Confederate Memorial Day in many states (but not all) in the American South. So yes, Gentle Readers, on Monday you will be treated to a full and complete rendition of my personal take on the topic. However, I wish to mention that today-although nowhere is this actually “Confederate Memorial Day,” the State of Mississippi is unveiling a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis-the one and only Confederate President-at his home, Beauvoir, which survived Hurricane Katrina with only the antebellum residence intact. The statue shows President Davis, his son Joe, and his “foster” son, the black child Jim Limber, a freed black child whom Mrs. Davis (Varina Howells Davis) rescued in Richmond, Virginia. The statue was sculpted by Pennsylvania historical sculptor Gary Casteel, and commissioned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans in 2008. Like everything else about the War, the statue has been the subject of much controversy. Part of it is probably due to the facts that the child Jim Limber was of mixed race, a freedman, and born into slavery, rescued from a beating in the city of Richmond by the second wife of the President of the Confederacy. So here is a statue seeming to verify that Jefferson Davis was compassionate toward freed blacks, an odd fact considering his role as President of the Secession Government, over states which seceded from the Union in order to maintain their right to enslavement. Jefferson Davis' birth bicentennial occurred in 2008; one year from this month (April 2011) marks the sesquicentennial of the beginning of the War Between the States. http://www.sunherald.com/2010/04/19/2112656/davis-statue-to-be-dedicated.html |
| Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the one day a year when (almost) everybody remembers this is the only planet we have as our habitat. Let's get out there and do what we can, folks: contribute to activism email our governmental bodies recycle, reuse plant trees hug trees teach our children better environmental habits support environmentalism Come on, do your part. We only have this one planet to live on! http://www.care2.com/greenliving/earth-day.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/04/090421-earth-day-facts.html This is also National Parks Week, appropriately: April 17-25.. Come on, Gentle Readers, be green! |
| Our thoughts and prayes remain with the missing, and the injured, crew from the oil rig off Venice, Louisiana, which last night exploded and burned, and with the Coast Guard searchers and rescuers striving valiantly to locate the missing men. Just a couple weeks ago was the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster; now this, with 11, possibly 15, crew missing. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-naw-oil-rig-explosion-20100422... Our thoughts and prayers are also with the ongoing situation in Hemet, California, in which the police department seems to have been targeted for assualt and possibly killing, with booby trap weapons. Reports say the police suspect white supremacists, because that department had arrested multiple members of a vicious motorcycle gang. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-hemet-20100421,0,2674052.story http://www.latimes.com/news/local/crime/la-me-0422-hemet-hate-20100422,0,6860438... On the Writing Front: As I finished Script Frenzy April 1-15, the current month's workshop at
 As I've mentioned here before, Gentle Readers, I based the Stage Play on a character idea inspired in Spring 2008 by WDC's own excellent author Asherman  and I changed the time period from 1750 to 1863-1870 for the Play context. First I thought I would write a novel series using that character (Obax) and her grandmother Yitube (1720-1722) and would call it The Yoruba Series. Book One would be Yoruba to Aruba, 1720-1722, with Yitube the “star,” Book Two would be Aruba to Georgia, 1750 on, with Obax the “star.” Well, by April 15, I had turned myself upside down and inside out, and decided to write a series that's been maybe 40 years in the making (on the percolator) for me-a Civil War Series. So, since I am fortunate enough to have the book on which this month's workshop is based: Karen Wiesner's First Draft in 30 Days beginning April 15 I am working through the book on my own, as well as via the workshop, and making real progress. On Day 6, yesterday, I came up with the title (this is the longest I think it's ever took me for a title). For the first time ever, this “seat of the pants” writer is outlining, and I've become a convert. Outlining by Ms. Wiesner's method is wonderful, and astonishingly productive! In May I will be writing this novel, and using the techniques in Ms. Wiesner's Chapter Eight to outline a book in progress, which is the twenty chapters of Child Puppets of the Testament Logging Corporation, Book Three of a series, which were written March 23-31, and then postponed for Script Frenzy. Later I will (perhaps June) use the “re-outline” to work on the third book in my Mediumistic Mary series, begun in December but postponed to write Book One of a different series (Dec. 9-March 11) and Book Two of that different series (March 1-22) of which Child Puppets is the third. But never fear, Gentle Readers: the Civil War Series continues. I project AT LEAST three books-whom am I kidding? There's the War; Reconstruction; the Great Depression; WWII; the Cold War. Yes, it'll be a while before I say goodbye to this series!  |
April 19 This date always marks for me a Day of Memoriam. Not only did I reach a personal “milestone” event on this date in 1974, which led directly to another event a week later which I have always regretted, but this date in history saw many tragic events. On April 19, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln, assassinated, was buried. On April 19, 1993, 74 people died-most of them unarmed and defenseless women and children-in the flaming inferno of the Branch Davidian Compound near Waco, Texas. This was the consequence of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' intent to “smoke out” (pun unfortunately intentional) Compound cult leader David Koresh. Irrelevant is the intention to the consequences: innocent lives were tragically destroyed. On April 19, 1995, The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed, leading to a horrendous loss of life, again including 19 children, at the Building's Day care center. 168 died, and hundreds were injured. The alleged motive for the bombing was revenge against the Federal government for-wait for this-the Waco tragedy on April 19, 1993; and for the Ruby Ridge tragedies of August 21-22, 1992, which took the lives of a young boy, his mother, and the family's unarmed dog, at the hands of FBI Hostage Rescue Team snipers. Other April 19 events: Baltimore Riots 1861 Lord Byron's death, in Greece, 1824 American Revolution began, 1775 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-alfred-p-murrah-federal-building-... http://www.answers.com/topic/ruby-ridge  |
| April 19 This date always marks for me a Day of Memoriam. Not only did I reach a personal “milestone” event on this date in 1974, which led directly to another event a week later which I have always regretted, but this date in history saw many tragic events. On April 19, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln, assassinated, was buried. On April 19, 1993, 74 people died-most of them unarmed and defenseless women and children-in the flaming inferno of the Branch Davidian Compound near Waco, Texas. This was the consequence of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' intent to “smoke out” (pun unfortunately intentional) Compound cult leader David Koresh. Irrelevant is the intention to the consequences: innocent lives were tragically destroyed. On April 19, 1995, The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed, leading to a horrendous loss of life, again including 19 children, at the Building's Day care center. 168 died, and hundreds were injured. The alleged motive for the bombing was revenge against the Federal government for-wait for this-the Waco tragedy on April 19, 1993; and for the Ruby Ridge tragedies of August 21-22, 1992, which took the lives of a young boy, his mother, and the family's unarmed dog, at the hands of FBI Hostage Rescue Team snipers. Other April 19 events: Baltimore Riots 1861 Lord Byron's death, in Greece, 1824 American Revolution began, 1775 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-alfred-p-murrah-federal-building-... http://www.answers.com/topic/ruby-ridge |
| Well, Gentle Readers, I reached 100 pages on the 14th on the Stage Play for Script Frenzy, and 108 pages (completion)on the 15th; thankfully that's over with for another 11.5 months! That's the most difficult task I've ever set myself in Creative Writing. So I reached my April BIW goal (www.book-in-a-week.com) on the 3rd day of the 7, Wed. April 14-at 25 pages, will double it b/c BIW doesn't end till tomorrow, Sunday April 18. The second April Mad Dash runs from 12:01 AM tonight till Sat. 11:59 PM. I'm going for 14K on the new novel: 2000 a day word count, equalling 56 pages.
Meanwhile since Thursday I've been rereading First Draft in 30 Days by prolific author Karen Wiesner, which is the subject of the current Workshop for Novel Workshop, and a book I actually own (having won it through a Reader's Loop in 2006 or 2007). So I'm making character list and sketches, setting lists and sketches, plot threads, subplots, etc. Much of what's going in the novel in terms of themes, plot threads, subplots, characters, settings, actual locations from the era, is highlighted and /or outlined and/or hinted at in the play I just finished, so a lot of the background work is done, and of course the research continues. But as of yet, for the first time ever in writing a novel (four completed, two others in progress, one on the back burner for years) I have no title. |
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