"Skipping Stone" Memories

The Greatest Love Of All

2012-02-12T14:43:00.006-06:00

By now we’ve all heard about the tragic death of Whitney Houston. Dead at 48. She was 5 years older than me; the first celebrity death in a long time that I really am sad about. Not that I didn’t feel for the other families, but Whitney was the cool of the cool in the 80’s. Her explosive voice and beauty was captivating, yet I can’t recall her flaunting or using her sex appeal in a demeaning or obnoxious way like some celebrities do.

There are younger generations that have no idea who Whitney Houston is, and probably can’t understand what the fuss is all about. Well the fuss is that she was a pop icon. A model with far more beauty than the waifs out there now with their skeleton faces…and a singing voice that drew you in, lightly squeezed your heart and left you releasing the breath you had been holding in.

I remember wanting hair like Whitney; big, thick, curly hair that just exploded on top of my head. And when it came to her singing, it stopped me in my tracks. Many singers tend to scream the high, loud notes, but not Whitney. She had full control of her vocals, and what came out of her mouth, seemed effortless. Of course, I’m speaking about her in the days before her destructive behavior damaged her voice.

It was the summer after high school (1986) that I lived in Virginia for the summer to work at Busch Gardens. Halfway through the summer, I started working at a place in the theme park called “Sing-a-Song”. People would come in, pick a song they wanted to sing, and we recorded them singing their favorite tune(s). Those of us working there wished we had earplugs for many of the so-called “people who thought they could sing”. Do you know what the number one song most people picked to sing? You guessed it! “The Greatest Love of All”. How many people do you know can belt out that song?

It’s the last four lines of the lyrics that I find sad.

“And if by chance, that special place
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love”

I believe Whitney’s decline all stems from her marriage to Bobby Brown. It’s a perfect example that even though you love someone, if they don’t bring out the positive in you or lift you up, let them go and run like hell. Whitney was too good for him, and as I can recall, many people were surprised she picked him as a partner. But she did, and that decision lead her down a dark road. She didn’t find strength in love—only destruction.

Whitney might not have found the strength in love in her marriage, but I hope she found it now. Rest In Peace, Whitney. You will remain a pop icon for those of us who danced to your songs and cried from the beauty of your voice.

Legends and casualties,

Bea

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

2012-02-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

It’s funny how quickly life takes a spin and puts you in another direction. This week I’ve been planning things month-by-month as to where and what I’ll be doing. In a way I’m a displaced person, currently living in my mother’s condominium while cleaning it up, boxing things I want of my mom’s, and getting it ready for sale. Staying at my mother’s place has been tough, so I booked a flight to Germany for next week where I’ll be staying for a month.

I will fly out on Thursday and arrive on Friday in Amsterdam and be in three countries in one day; United States, Holland and Germany. My Love will pick me up and we’ll stay at our flat for the night and then on Saturday head to the United Kingdom. We’ll drive (okay, he’ll drive) from Germany to the French Coast (3 countries; Germany, Belgium and France). From there, we will take a ferry across to Dover, U.K. and then drive to Canterbury where we will stay until Monday. We will be in 4 countries within a matter of 6 hours. I am looking forward to getting away and relaxing.

While I’m out there, we will be looking into other flats because the plan is (for now) that I will be moving out to Germany for a year or two, returning for holidays and summer vacation. The flat we have is all right, but we figured it would be nice to have a little more room or a balcony. If we can’t find anything cheap, then we’ll just make do with the flat we have now. Here are pictures I posted before of our flat.

It’s a learning experience living in another country. We didn’t have much out there—we actually lived like college students—but we had the essentials. This way of life was great because we focused on each other, things to do and cheap travel. When I returned to the States last year, I realized how much STUFF I had that wasn’t really needed. But I appreciate the way of life in the U.S. and in Germany.

When I lived in Germany, I made some videos of the places we went to. Here are a few of those videos.

A Glimpse of Germany

Many Faces of Spain

For The Love of Italy

What are your plans for the next month?

Planning and Wandering,

Bea

Sally Sang Shel's Name!

2012-02-04T21:34:00.003-06:00

My nose is red, my nose is dry

At first I thought, it caught a fly

I sneezed real hard to get it out

Out popped a green, scaly trout

I watched it as it flopped around

Squish and splash, the only sound

Until it found the large fish bowl

Flipped in the air, and into the hole

My nose is fine, my nose doesn’t hurt

I wiped it across my pink flower shirt

And filled the fish bowl, using a glass

Sat waiting for it to turn into a bass

I’ve recently purchased, Every Thing On It by Shel Silverstein. It’s a poetry book for children and these poems have a wonderful rhythmic rhyme combined with silly humor. It’s such a great way to get children to appreciate rhyme and help with words. He also put drawings with his poems. After reading a bit about this poet, I found out that he passed away in 1999 and has published many children’s books. This makes me feel totally out of the loop because I have never heard about him, but I appreciate his works...even if he's no longer around.

Below are a few of his silly, wonderful poems. I was laughing so hard when I read them.

B.L….WHAT?

Dog, how could you do this to me?

Eat the tomato out of my B.L.T.

I’m mad and hungry as I can be.

I just might make a B.L.D.

THE ROMANCE

Said the pelican to the elephant,

“I think we should marry, I do.

‘Cause there’s no name that rhymes with me

And no one else rhymes with you.”

Said the elephant to the pelican

“There’s sense to what you’ve said,

For rhyming’s as good a reason as any

For any two to wed.”

And so the elephant wed the pelican,

And they dined upon lemons and limes,

And now they have a baby pelicant

And everybody rhymes.

Prose, nose and toes,

Bea

Exhumed!

2012-01-31T08:41:00.001-06:00

It’s been a week and we picked a winner for June’s book. Today I’ll be going to my sister’s work for a book signing. I’m looking forward to it since my book signing on Saturday at my aunt’s house went great. It was nice and relaxing, eating, drinking, and spending time together, along with selling books. I had no idea I’d sell so many.

At my aunt’s house, my cousins asked when I was going to write my next book. *smacks forehead* I’ve put so much time into Net Switch that I haven’t really come up with anything new for months—poetry or otherwise. I told them about the novel I wrote back in 2002-2003, which was a Romance. They were really interested in that one even though they thought I was going to write another suspense novel. The wonderful thing is that my cousins’ genre is romance, so they didn’t think they’d like my book…but they did. Then I was at a friend’s house for dinner on Sunday and she brought up my romance novel, which she read years ago as a beta reader. My writing wasn’t the best back then so I put it away. She told me she still thinks about the book and believes I should publish it.

I’ve recently moved and threw away many things—that book being one of them. I figured I might as well get rid of it since I had no intention on publishing it.

Of course, all these questions and requests made me curious, so I checked my backup hard drive to see if I still had an electronic version of the romance novel. I DO! I started reading it and realized that it’s a good story. I’ll have to rewrite it to get rid of the crap and add some meat to the story. Writing a romance is a bit different than suspense because character focus is important. Not that my suspense didn’t focus on character, but the plot and suspense was more important to keep it going until the very end.

Now I need to decide whether I should write the screenplay for Net Switch, which will be a challenge, or rewrite the romance novel for publication. I hadn’t thought about doing a screenplay until I gave my book over to my editor for a line-by-line. She immediately said she could see it going commercial, but at the time I told her I always wanted to publish a novel and that’s what I want. I can do a screenplay later.

What do I do, screenplay or rewrite? What is your current project, writing or anything else?

Excavations and crossroads,

Bea

All the World’s a Givin’

2012-01-24T11:08:00.003-06:00

Thanks to all my loyal followers and welcome to the new ones! This post is all about giving, and it doesn’t even cost anything. No blood test is required. No naming your first child after me—just honest to good givin’. But the giving isn’t all from me…and there are some things you HAVE to do to receive (don’t go there dirty minds).

Melissa's Giveaway

My blogger friend, Melissa, is doing a Blogfest Marathon. Stop on by “Have You Heard” to check out requirements and prizes. Prizes are for bloggers, but anyone can check it out. To whet your appetite, a few prizes she’s giving away is a $50.00 Amazon gift card and a Kindle Fire.

CMash's Giveaway

CMash Loves To Read is doing a Net Switch giveaway from January 27^th to February 10^th. Mark your calendars and stop on over at her blog on January 27^th…you might even find a guest author post about none other than me, Denise Baer. I have put the giveaway on the top-right side of my blog.

*I interrupt this blog to bring you a few very awesome messages*

Look at pictures of Net Switch fans - http://www.authordenisebaer.com/ 

Oh Look! Customer Reviews of Net Switch on Amazon, and if you feel inclined to join in and review, the appreciation is always there.

Again, Oh Look! Check out the Customer Review of Net Switch on Barnes & Noble, and if you feel inclined to join in and review, the appreciation is always there.

If you haven’t done it yet, hop on over to Facebook and “Like” Denise Baer’s Page.

*You may now return to the previously scheduled blog post*

My Giveaway

Now it’s time for my special giveaway. My friend, June Kramin AKA Aunty Bug, has published many books. You can check them out on her website - http://www.junekramin.com/. The book of hers that I’m giving away is Double Mocha – Heavy on Your Phone Number. You like Romance? You’re going to love this one. Here’s a synopsis:

“Unable to make it home in a snowstorm, Ellie seeks shelter at an old farmhouse. When the owner’s grandson shows up and happens to be the man she had given the brush off to twice, it takes all they have not to kill each other during the snowed-in days that follow.

When Ellie’s twin sister shows up and puts all their lives at risk, they must now weather a different kind of storm together.”

You can stop on over at YouTube to check out Double Mocha Heavy on Your Phone Number Book Trailer.

To participate in this giveaway, you must head on over to June’s Facebook Page and leave a message mentioning me on her page and send an email to denise@authordenisebaer.com. Winner’s will be picked randomly using http://www.random.org/. I’ll contact the winner to find out what version they need, Kindle, Nook or pdf, and it will be sent to them.

So get in there and start clicking to win some of these giveaways. I mean...who doesn’t LOVE free things.

Giveaways and support,

Bea

P.S. This is just a reminder. Writers appreciate reviews of their books. When you read a book, let others know what you think of the book on whatever venue you can find.

What a Difference a Year Makes

2012-01-21T10:08:00.002-06:00

Mother Nature decided to give us a taste of a wintery wonderland, although there are plenty of people out there saying there’s nothing wonderful about it. The Chicago area received anywhere between 5 to 8 inches. I keep looking out the window, my car piled high with snow, hoping the sun will come out and it will all melt away before I have to go out there and clean it up.

The way it snowed yesterday reminded me of how it snowed in November 2010 when we were stranded in Edinburgh, Scotland. Here’s the link to that post, http://bit.ly/ysBOhP (the beauty of blogging—collected memories), and here’s the link about what we DID get to enjoy while in Scotland-http://bit.ly/gOuoCz.

It’s amazing how much can happen and change in one year. I spent the winter of 2010-2011 in Germany, traveling to wonderful places, and seeing the bigger picture of life. My favorite was sampling the German Christmas markets in different towns. Here’s a glimpse at a few of the Christmas market booths-http://bit.ly/baJBsK. I also got the opportunity to record a German tradition in the town of Hattingen-http://bit.ly/eVvVp8.

In my 2010 Christmas post, http://bit.ly/vYWRaj, I talked about the changes in my life including my mother and I having the best relationship we ever had. Fast forward a year, and my mother is no longer in my life. If only I could have one more conversation with her, I’d tell her all the things I feel in my heart right now.

A little over a year ago, I finished my first revision of my 2008 National Novel Writing Month novel http://bit.ly/bP4ONG. This revision had transformed into many more revisions until it was published in 2011-http://bit.ly/vAZuqw.

I’ve always been one for change—except for this past year. But with bad things in life, good things do come out of it. I’ve learned who is important in my life—who cares for me—who was there for me in my time of need. I ended some friendships and rekindled some great friendships. I've also connected with my cousins, and can’t thank them enough for their support (life is full of surprises). I’m hoping for a happier future—a ‘life uninterrupted’.

How about you? What good and bad changes happened to you this last year?

Changes and hope,

Bea

The Lover in Hell

2012-01-19T09:18:00.001-06:00

I was looking for a little humor today and this poem popped up. Hope you enjoy it like I do.

http://www.poemhunter.com/stephen-vincent-benet/

The Lover in Hell by Stephen Vincent Benet

Eternally the choking steam goes up
From the black pools of seething oil. . . .
How merry
Those little devils are! They've stolen the pitchfork
From Bel, there, as he slept . . . Look! -- oh look, look!
They've got at Nero! Oh it isn't fair!
Lord, how he squeals! Stop it . . . it's, well -- indecent!
But funny! . . . See, Bel's waked. They'll catch it now!

. . . Eternally that stifling reek arises,
Blotting the dome with smoky, terrible towers,
Black, strangling trees, whispering obscene things
Amongst their branches, clutching with maimed hands,
Or oozing slowly, like blind tentacles
Up to the gates; higher than that heaped brick
Man piled to smite the sun. And all around
Are devils. One can laugh . . . but that hunched shape
The face one stone, like those Assyrian kings!
One sees in carvings, watching men flayed red
Horribly laughable in leaps and writhes;
That face -- utterly evil, clouded round
With evil like a smoke -- it turns smiles sour!
. . . And Nero there, the flabby cheeks astrain
And sweating agony . . . long agony . . .
Imperishable, unappeasable
For ever . . . well . . . it droops the mouth. Till I
Look up.
There's one blue patch no smoke dares touch.
Sky, clear, ineffable, alive with light,
Always the same . . .
Before, I never knew
Rest and green peace.
She stands there in the sun.
. . . It seems so quaint she should have long gold wings.
I never have got used -- folded across
Her breast, or fluttering with fierce, pure light,
Like shaken steel. Her crown too. Well, it's queer!
And then she never cared much for the harp
On earth. Here, though . . .
She is all peace, all quiet,
All passionate desires, the eloquent thunder
Of new, glad suns, shouting aloud for joy,
Over fresh worlds and clean, trampling the air
Like stooping hawks, to the long wind of horns,
Flung from the bastions of Eternity . . .
And she is the low lake, drowsy and gentle,
And good words spoken from the tongues of friends,
And calmness in the evening, and deep thoughts,
Falling like dreams from the stars' solemn mouths.
All these.
They said she was unfaithful once.
Or I remembered it -- and so, for that,
I lie here, I suppose. Yes, so they said.
You see she is so troubled, looking down,
Sorrowing deeply for my torments. I
Of course, feel nothing while I see her -- save
That sometimes when I think the matter out,
And what earth-people said of us, of her,
It seems as if I must be, here, in heaven,
And she --
. . . Then I grow proud; and suddenly
There comes a splatter of oil against my skin,
Hurting this time. And I forget my pride:
And my face writhes.
Some day the little ladder
Of white words that I build up, up, to her
May fetch me out. Meanwhile it isn't bad. . . .

But what a sense of humor God must have!

Kickbacks and humor,
Bea

Message in a Bottle

2012-01-15T00:03:00.001-06:00

Who would you write it to? What would it be about? I watched the movie, Message in a Bottle, and I thought, “Who would I send a message in a bottle to?” Of course, the answer came before finishing the thought. My Mother. I would send a message to my mother telling her things I never got around to saying. It’s actually a wonderful idea, and I think it would be therapeutic for me.

Sending a message in a bottle dates back to 310 B.C., when the Ancient Greek Philosopher Theophrastus used it to show that the Atlantic Ocean’s inflow formed the Mediterranean Sea. When Christopher Columbus needed to get information to the Queen of Spain, he sent a note in a cask hoping she’d get it in case he died (messages were sent in any container that could float and remain waterproof).

This method of sending messages was used by military to inform where the enemy was located, for people to convey their love to another, and as an S.O.S. message. To this day, we all use different methods to communicate reminders or convey feelings. Some people use voice messages on phones to express themselves. It’s a way for people to use their creativity. And then you have people (like me), who write in journals, putting pieces of their happiness and pain on pages. These messages give us life even when we’re gone from this world.

If we were standing in your house, what would you send your message in? Who would you write it to? Someone you know or a stranger? Would it be about something you did, how you feel, or use it as a time capsule?

For those of you who don’t know what to send your message in, I found a Message in a Bottle website while working on this post. All you’d have to do is find a body of water to throw it in…or you could give it to the person you wrote it to and have them open it sometime in the future.

Letters and memories,

Bea

Flips the Switch On

2012-01-11T20:02:00.003-06:00

It’s a New Year and I can finally say I’m a published author. Net Switch is available in paperback on Createspace (subsidiary of Amazon) and Amazon, and on Kindle and Nook.

Blogs, Amazon, Goodreads and Barnes & Noble have already received reviews and I’m excited and nervous because I know my novel will get good and bad reviews (hopefully more good). Criticism was my biggest fear of publishing, however, I knew I’d always wonder and regret it if I didn’t do it. This experience has also opened my eyes to all the liberal arts. How actors and actresses, musicians, painters, and writers must feel when they receive unflattering criticism. It hurts, plain and simple, and sometimes even makes us cry. Criticism of an author’s book is very personal. Our book is our baby, and any bad publicity is like saying our baby is ugly, stupid, and should never have been born. Yes, I know it sounds dramatic…and the feelings are just as dramatic. None of us like criticism; a boss putting negative comments on an evaluation, and family and friends letting us know what they don’t like about us. We cringe, get defensive, and usually no one walks away a winner.

But since I published, it means I accept the good with the bad. It’s part of the deal. It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t read about how to deal with it, so I actually researched how other authors go about handling negative reviews. Should you bother reading the reviews? Do you accept them like a grain of salt or do you learn from each one? Do you post a comment on a blog who has reviewed your book thanking them for reading it? There are so many questions and different ways authors handle negative reviews. A few have even gone a bit nuts online—berating the reviewer (You gotta read the comments). And there are even some authors out there that don’t read any reviews of their books. They feel it doesn’t matter at this point.

Literature is subjective. Some people will like my book and some won’t—there’s nothing I can do about it. What I can do is handle my reviews professionally. Everyone has a right, including me, to express how something makes them feel and that is something I need to remember about reviews. I don’t have to agree with every review, but it's how the reader felt and what they took away from the book (right or wrong). It isn’t debatable.

*raises beer*

A toast! To all the reviews I receive regarding my book, good and bad, and a heartfelt thank you to all who bought it (or will buy it) and took (or will take) the time to write a review.

*chugs beer, puts it on the counter and smiles*

Reading and reviews,

Bea

Friends!

2012-01-08T23:21:00.001-06:00

I know my blog has resembled a leaky faucet but I am working on getting back into blogging.

Years…maturity…change…these play a big role in the wonderful world of friendship.

Such words you

speak, paint my heart—

colorful, sublime.

Our friendship stew,

never sharp like a dart,

grateful for its kind.

Variety sits at the table

to draw out humor

I waited so long for.

Several talks of a fable

always knew as rumor,

a late night but wish for more.

My friends, I hold on tight

to such memories of delight,

until we soar high into the white.

The last month has been trying, and I witnessed the preciousness of friendship. My friends were there for me—still here—and I can’t thank them enough for being them.

Today I start blogging on a regular basis, and tribute this day and onward to the wonderful friends I’d never want to say good-bye to. You are the epitome of what a friend is all about. So I thank you for our past, present and a wonderful future. I’m here for you.

Friends, compassion and giggles,

Bea

New Year—New Hope

2012-01-01T10:16:00.000-06:00

The New Year is a sign of hope. It's a hope to live better, hope to be healthier, hope for more money and a hope to not lose anyone close to us. A New Year is a clean slate to start on a different path. Whatever wrongs we did in the last year, we want to make amends, reach our goals and share our dreams. Dreams are not limited—know no bounds—but they’re what keep our souls fluttering each day.

Last year I published a few books, but it will always be the year I lost my mother forever. All I can do is continue on with my dreams and know my mother is watching over me.

I hope you all have a successful year with your dreams, finance, love and support. When you succeed in your dreams, sprinkle them like glitter dust to share with the world. Hug a little longer, appreciate loyalties and those closest to you, love deeply and never let the glow of hope dim within.

Happy New Years to All of You!

Dreams and successes,

Bea

Net Switch!

2011-12-21T13:05:00.001-06:00

The time has finally come. My debut novel, Net Switch, a dark, psychological suspense is now available on Amazon in paperback and Createspace (subsidiary of Amazon). Please check out my Author Page on Amazon. Here’s the synopsis:

“In the dead of winter, Sydney Hayes finds herself in an internet chat room in hopes of expelling her loneliness. Enchanted by a stranger, she soon finds herself caught up in an affair that spills over into her everyday life. Within a short period of time, the stranger captures her mind, her body and eventually her heart, but excitement turns to terror and Sydney must abandon the life she built in Chicago and assume a new identity.

A fragile woman in a new city, Sydney tries to put it all behind her as she makes a fresh start in Seattle, but her troubles follow her and she is running out of time. Feeling as though she has no other choice, Sydney is determined to destroy him before he destroys her—unaware that her journal holds the key.

Will she discover the secret before it’s too late?”

Stop by YouTube to check out the Net Switch Book Trailer, and if you have a moment, like it or add a comment.

Thank you all for your support.

A Love that Lasts Forever

2011-12-12T16:22:00.008-06:00

It’s true—no one will ever love you like your mother. On December 7, my mother left us to be with God, but she was not alone. Her three children and sister kept her company. My mother watched her children take their first breaths and we saw her take her last. Today, we put her to rest.

Life wasn’t easy for my mom. Divorced at age thirty with three children, like all single mothers with an absent ex-husband, she sacrificed a lot for her children and never once stopped us from following our dreams. I admire the strength it must have taken to divorce when divorce was frowned upon, along with her and my grandmother’s hard work in giving us a good life. I remember her telling me that she kept her married name because she didn’t want her children to have to go to school with a different last name. Her decisions were always for the good of her children. She believed my brother, sister and I were her biggest accomplishments in life.

When my brother lived in New York, she would collect what monies she could to send him care packages, and when I lived in Germany, every day she would stay up to the early morning hours just to make sure she got a chance to talk to me on Skype. When her other daughter fell upon hard times, she would send text messages to let her daughter know that she loved her. As many reprimands as she dished out, she more than made up for with love.

I remember when we were young, my brother, sister and I would kneel around the manger at Christmas time to say our prayers before bed. On Christmas morning, my mom would have one of us put baby Jesus in the crib. It was a big deal to us and a memory I will treasure forever.

My mother was…creative when it came to pulling baby teeth. She would tie a string around our tooth and the other end around the refrigerator door and then slam it. But it was our job to find the tooth.

Then we grew up and had our own lives, and my mother bought a Maltese she named Buttons, to keep her company. He became her little baby.

She was a great cook, and come Thanksgiving, the entire family couldn’t wait to eat her turkey dressing. It was the best in the world. Then on Easter, she made her lamb cakes for friends and family. And in August, she made cold beet soup for the three Leos in her life.

There was one thing about my mother that many can agree with and that was her laugh. It was a hearty one. Not a wimpy, fake laugh, but one that made you feel like you could possibly be a comedian one day.

She loved football—most of all—her beloved Chicago Bears. We would either get together to watch the games, or call each other throughout the game with our comments. Even though she was very sick, she asked to have the Bear’s game on the Sunday before she passed.

It was this time of year, Christmas and snow, that my mother loved the most. If she could sit with a cup of Starbucks while watching a snowstorm, she’d be happy.

Merry Christmas from Heaven

I still hear the songs

I still see the lights

I still feel your love on cold wintery nights

I still share your hopes and all of your cares

I’ll even remind you to please say your prayers

I just want to tell you, you still make me proud

You stand head and shoulders above all the crowd

Keep trying each moment, to stay in His grace

I came here before you to help set your place

You don’t have to be perfect all of the time

He forgives you the slip, if you continue to climb

To my family and friends,

Please be thankful today

I’m still close beside you,

In a new special way

I Love you all dearly,

Now don’t shed a tear

Cause I’m spending my

Christmas with Jesus this year.

by John Wm. Mooney, Jr.

My mother was religious, felt strongly about family and tradition, and made sure those around her were happy. Because of her devotion to friends and family, I don’t think she realized how many people truly loved her.

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets [their] wings.” I believe my mom already earned hers.

Merry Christmas and Sweet Happiness, Mother…until we meet again.

Love your ‘precious baby’, Denise

The 25 Days of Christmas!

2011-12-01T10:21:00.003-06:00

the First

day of Christmas

we had plenty of snow,

I would have much rather had

hangings of mistletoe. On the Second

day of Christmas I drank some eggnog brandy.

A wonderful substitute for peppermint candy. On the

Third day of Christmas I sent out Christmas cards—just me

and a wine bottle sending my best regards. On the Fourth day

of Christmas I decorated my tree, after a few days, it became

home to a flea.

On the Fifth

day of Christmas I

wrote my wish list, hoping

more than ever, to finally be kissed.

On the Sixth day of Christmas I received

a secret gift, an IOU and a request to work

the night shift. On the Seventh day of Christmas

the grocery store ran out of brie, which I had

planned to eat while playing my Wii. On the

Eighth day of Christmas I got my hair

done, she apologized for making

me look like a nun. On the Ninth

day of Christmas I had a colonoscopy.

The procedure wasn't fun, but the drugs made me

feel free. On the Tenth day of Christmas the carolers did

sing, it wasn’t as good as getting a ring. On the Eleventh day

of Christmas I ate a chocolate chip cookie, then later that night,

my lover wanted some nookie. On the Twelfth day of Christmas I

went to plow. The snow was much higher than the Dow. On the

Thirteenth day of Christmas I went to a holiday festivity, and got

stuck talking to someone about radioactivity. On the Fourteenth

day of Christmas I cooked a Cornish Hen. I couldn't finish

eating it because of too much cayenne. On the Fifteenth

day of Christmas my ceiling started to leak.

The repairman who came, had a

very nice physique.

On the Sixteenth day of Christmas I went sledding with the little ones. By the time we got home, we all had frozen buns. On the Seventeenth day of Christmas my work had a food fest. I ate too much and now I'm unable to digest. On the Eighteenth day of Christmas arose several family dramas. I ignored the calls, and drank in my pajamas. On the Nineteenth day of Christmas my Christmas lights went out. I couldn’t fix them because of my gout. On the Twentieth day of Christmas I watched a holiday flick, about a man, who falls in love with some chick. On the Twenty-First day of Christmas I ate ten candy canes. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, to enjoy some Mary Jane’s. On the Twenty-Second day of Christmas I put the logs on the fire, and thought about the day when I can retire. On the Twenty-Third day of Christmas I thought I heard reindeer, but it was only coming from the computer engineer. On the Twenty-Fourth day of Christmas I made my love dinner. He looked at it and said, “This definitely won’t make you look thinner.” On the Twenty-Ffth day of Christmas we all went to mass, to pray for our shortcomings, and wish for some class.

Mistletoe and Ho! Ho! Ho!
Bea

Liebster Blog Award!

2011-11-27T09:07:00.002-06:00

A few of my blogger followers bestowed upon me this awesome blog award. Please take the time and stop on by Let go of the Past, live Today and create Tomorrow where you will find wonderful inspiration. You won’t be able to stop smiling after reading his blog. Also, please head on over to Mainely Mugups for soothing music and diverse blog posts that leave you feeling good.

What’s awesome about this blog award is that Liebster is a German word that means dearest/love. And since I refer to the love of my life as Mein Liebster, and lived and plan to go back to Germany, I can’t help but have a greater appreciation for this award.

But there are responsibilities that go along with such an honor.

1) I need to link back to the person(s) that gave me the award and thank them. WilyBCool and Belva’s blogs share positive insights, so please click on the above links and start following them.

2) List 5 of my favorite blogs with under 200 followers, and let them know you awarded them with the Liebster award. It’s not a popularity contest, it’s just a great opportunity for me to reach out to others and maybe receive a few more followers.

3) Post the award on my blog. I’m all about bragging.

4) Be thankful for your blogger friends.

Here are my picks:

1) Stop on by June Kramin’s aka Aunty Bug’s blog. She is a writer friend of mine with several books coming out. Find out when and what June is publishing and read some funny snippets of her life.

2) My next blog is attorney/writer, Melissa Sugar-Gold’s. Every time I stop on by, I laugh out loud reading about her writing escapades. Make it part of your daily reads.

3) I want to refer you to my writer friend, Barb, and her blog, Written Not With Ink. Barb’s posts are interesting and thought provoking. She provides a new and refreshing outlook on things.

4) I’ve recently had the privilege to connect with Ramblings of a Peacock. Head on over there and see what she’s rambling on about.

5) Another blog I’ve recently started to follow is The 20^th Century Man. I always love hearing about life from a man’s POV.

For wonderful reads, head on over to the above blogs and fill your days with laughter and inspiration.

Sharing and following,

Bea

The Beginning of the Season!

2011-11-24T22:25:00.002-06:00

This is my favorite time of year; holiday cheer, winter gear and the anticipation of a new year. Not to mention, Santa’s reindeer, Leinenkugel “Fireside Nut Brown” beer, and for some of us, a bigger rear.

So to kick off the holiday season, I decided to post some Christmas trivia questions and add more every week. You can post your answers in the comments or shoot me an email.

1. In Frosty the Snowman, who brought Frosty back to life? Santa Claus

2. Who lost $8,000 in It's a Wonderful Life? Uncle Billy

3. In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, what biological shortcoming made the Grinch so mean? His heart was two sizes too small

4. Who tells you she's in town by tap, tap, tappin' at your windowpane? Suzy Snowflake

5. What is the biggest selling Christmas single of all time? White Christmas

6. What was Scrooge's first name? Ebenezer

7. Where was I when I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus? On the Stairs

8. What was the name of Rudolph's dogsled driving friend? Yukon Cornelius

9. Who said "God Bless Us, Every One!"? Tiny Tim

10. What carol contains the line "O tidings of comfort and joy"? God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

11. In The Night Before Christmas I sprang from my bed to see what? What was the matter

12. Name the three reindeer whose names begin with a "D"? Dasher, Donder, Dancer

13. In the song "Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer" what did Grandma go to get? Her medication

14. What was the first gift my true love sent on the sixth day of Christmas? Six geese a-laying

15. In what city did Miracle on 34th Street take place? New York

16. In It's a Wonderful Life, how did Clarence cleverly save George's life? He jumped in the river first

17. Who kept time with the Little Drummer Boy? The ox and the lamb

18. In The Night Before Christmas, where were the stockings hung? By the chimney

19. What is the name of the little girl in most versions of The Nutcracker? Clara

20. What is the last ghost called in A Christmas Carol? The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Prayers and Miracles,

Bea

It’s all about Appearance

2011-11-18T22:43:00.001-06:00

Since I’ll be doing some book promoting, I’ve recently looked back at past marketing and promotions that did and didn’t do so well. It’s interesting how marketing/promoting a product can increase sales or cause its collapse.

We’ve recently heard some debates regarding the marketing of Dr. Pepper Ten. “It’s only ten manly calories.” “It’s what guy’s want.” “Dr. Pepper Ten. It’s not for women.”

I’ll be honest, this didn't upset me that they wiped out a very, very large demographics, but I did watch the video wondering, “Do guys really care about calories? Is there such a thing as ten womanly calories? Are they trying to use reverse psychology to get more women to buy the product?” Most household shoppers are women, and if these women are out shopping for pop (yes, I’m from Chicago) for husbands and kidlets, do they really think the women will head straight for Dr. Pepper?

Then there’s the Abercrombie & Fitch, Summer 1999

Does A&F own an island? Did you see all their cool clothes? Because I didn’t. There’s nothing about that video that screams clothes to me.

Ayds Diet Candy

Unfortunately, the ad came out when AIDS was becoming the scariest thing in the world. And a double whammy was that AIDS was known to eat away at the body, and AYDS Diet Candy was a weight loss product.

Now for a few of my favorite marketing/promotions.

Joe Boxer

Every time I saw this commercial I couldn’t help but smile. I wanted to go out and buy Joe Boxers for someone. I wonder what happened to this guy. I miss him.

I don’t drink J&B, but because I thought the advertisement was cool, I thought about getting a bottle.

Do you know of any good or bad marketing/promotion campaign ads?

Audience and sell,

Bea

Boom, Boom Weekend!

2011-11-14T19:45:00.008-06:00

Have you ever had one of those weekends where you think you haven’t achieved a thing, but you actually did? Where you’re up early and turning in late and at the end of the weekend nothing looks disturbed…other than you maybe? I had one of those weekends—one filled with surprises to say the least.

BUT...I did get my book cover completed. I’ve been preparing for this publication for a long time, yet it didn’t seem real until now. My dark, psychological suspense, Net Switch, is coming alive. I am very pleased with the cover, and I’m even more excited to be able to say my cousin, Brian Baer, did the cover art. If you want to see more of Brian’s artwork, head on over to his website: http://brianwbaer.daportfolio.com/. Danke schön, Brian.

Since I created my poetry book trailer, Sipping a Mix of Verse, and enjoyed doing it, I wanted to tackle this book trailer. Of course, I had to make this one different to keep with the theme of my novel. Like movie trailers, book trailers promote books to intrigue enough of people into buying it.

Net Switch

Net Switch Book Trailer (YouTube)

Tempt and catch,

Bea

http://www.authordenisebaer.com/

Veteran’s Day!

2011-11-11T09:11:00.001-06:00

For the first time in a long time, I’m glad to see the media focusing on our veterans and doing stories about their sacrificed. I want to take this time to thank all the veterans and their families for their sacrifices, along with those in active service From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the service you’ve given to your country in keeping the United States free. God Bless every one of you.

Crush

The camera’s angle

twists and swings to the voice

of the broadcaster.

Bloody boots resembling

yours appear on enemy streets;

gunfire lights up the sky.

I can smell the smoke drift

in the night air even thousands

of miles away.

Trepidation moves me closer

to the screen looking for a sign,

such as crow color hair,

with a spray of warfare sweat.

Or a calloused hand, tattoo

on thumb, symbolizing courage.

Nothing revealed you were among

the dust, broken buildings or

bodies. I shift away

then walk to the window.

Looking up, a bright sun warms

my worried face; wonder if

you’re safe, tucked in

a hole away from harm’s way.

But this feeling belongs

to me alone.

I don’t know where you

rest your body, hoping it’s

still breathing—

just like you didn’t know my crush

on you—since childhood cavorting.

Sacrifice and Freedom,

Bea

In Memory of my uncle, John Maluska.

Express Yourself!

2011-11-10T07:37:00.002-06:00

I wanted to be a rock star when I was young. I sang in plays, around the house, and in high school, I sang with a band, but my dream slowly faded. Smoking didn’t help my voice and I had too many lost years, so now my singing is limited to the shower and in the car. But I do have “recording a song in a recording studio” on my Bucket List.

Even though I don’t have a voice to be a rock star, I love music and appreciate great talent, which is why I’m a fan of “The Voice” and “X-Factor USA”. All of the contestants on X-Factor are great—really great. I’m not a big fan of rap or hip-hop, but that Astro is a talented little man. Both of the groups, Lakoda Rayne and The Stereo Hogzz bring their own style to the songs, and although very different, I enjoy their performances. Rachel Crow is adorable and can knock out a song like older contestants.

However, my two favorites have such control of their voices, and literally make my stomach flip and my eyes tear up when I hear them sing. One is beyond her years, and the other makes every existing song his very own.

Drew Ryniewicz, a 14-year old from Arizona, has control, honesty, creativity and a folksy, raspy voice that I love. She makes singing look so effortless. When I first heard her sing, I heard a mix of Alanis Morisette and Jewel.

Josh Krajcik, a 30-year old from Ohio, is a fusion between Andrew Strong and Bruce Springsteen. I love his strong voice, yet he can sing loud and high with smooth transitions.

What about you? Do you watch X-Factor? Who is your favorite and why?

Singing and dancing,

Bea

Interview with David Delaney!

2011-11-08T11:37:00.003-06:00

I want to introduce you to today’s guest blogger, David Delaney. Instead of me telling you who David is, I’ll just let him do it.

I am a former Brisbane boy but now currently live and work in Cairns with my very patient, and darling wife. I sometimes wonder where I get the time to write but always seem to manage to pen something. Also I am a member Tropical writers group Cairns, Arts nexus Cairns & Australian Bush Poets Association

Having had no formal education in writing and now into my 50's, I wanted to show that someone like myself without higher schooling could write and enjoy it. For me school, Rocklea State School (when I was there) was a place to 'hang out' with my mates and I actually only completed 3 months of high school (Salisbury) before leaving at the age of 15.

After numerous jobs throughout my youth, I eventually moved into Furniture Removals where I stayed for approximately 25 years. For 17 of these, my wife and I operated our own removal business, and was able to travel extensively throughout N.S.W and Queensland.

Since leaving the removal industry several years ago and having some 'thinking' time, my experiences, memories of driving the highways and tracks, the vast and beautiful outback, my wife, daughters, grand children and family, stories from mates, work colleagues and close war veterans have given me the inspiration for my writings.

Hello David,

Thank you for taking the time to do this guest interview. I first would like to congratulate you on your poetry book, Out of Australia, and your poetry award.

Thank you Bea and it's my pleasure to do this interview with you.

Could you please tell us about your latest book, Out of Australia?

My new release "Out of Australia" is a compilation of 100 of my poems consisting of, Australian bush poetry, free verse, traditional rhyme and sonnets, my book is also a journey the reader takes with me as I progress with my writing through the years of 2007 up to and including 2009.

You recently won the 2011 Open Poetry Award organized by the Reef Writers & Port Douglas Gazette. It’s a wonderful experience to win an award by prominent writers. Has this changed anyone’s perception and interest in your writing?

It is a wonderful but humbling experience to win any competition especially when competing against some very talented writers and if this win has changed anyone's perception of my writing I can only hope it is a positive one, but, we as writers never know this until told by someone.

This wasn’t the first award you’ve won—you have many to your name. We all know that awards are special, but is there one in particular that made things right? One that validated your hard work?

Agreed, this was not and any other award I have been recognised with is a wonderful experience be it a commended place or a 1st or 2nd place but if I had to pick one I would have to go with my Commended place in the Eastwood/Hills region of the Fellowship of Australian Writers 2011 literary competition, traditional section for my sonnet ‘Why’ as the calibre of writers including academics was a great challenge for me.

You started writing poetry later in life with no prior formal education. Have you ever come across bias in your works because of your education?

I suppose I have with a couple of academic types, who think writing rhyming poetry is 'futile' and 'old hat' and believe free verse/prose is the only poetry that should be written or published, I honestly believe "A true poet is one who writes and understands the disciplines involved in any genre of poetry" not just one style, but in saying that my 1st love is Australian bush poetry.

How do you hope to differentiate yourself from other poets?

I'm not that interested in differentiating myself from other poets, I would rather be accepted by other poets, as a poet, and be known for what and how I write. I also know I'm not the best or greatest poet in the world, but I, (and so many others) enjoy what I write and as I continue reading and learning new styles, I can only improve as time goes on.

Is there anyone else in your family who shares your love of writing?

Not that I immediately know of, but you never know, one of my grandchildren might take up the cause.

Some of your poetry is called Australian bush poetry. Could you please explain what Australian bush poetry is?

I am a member of the Australian Bush Poets Association, http://www.abpa.org.au and by definition, Australian Bush Poetry is good metred and rhymed poetry about Australia, Australians and/or the Australian way of life. Bush poetry is very much on par with the American Cowboy poetry.

I love that you sprinkled some pictures throughout your poetry book. Did you add the pictures to help the reader visualize the poem or did you add them for pure enjoyment purposes?

Yes! There are quite a number of "Aussie" photos which have been donated by friends and family including some taken by my wife and myself, it was enjoyable adding the photo's but mostly to help the reader visualise the Australian landscape because I know there would be many American friends who do not know how vast and unpredictable our country can be, for example America's state of Texas fits approximately 7.9 times into my state of Queensland.

I love “In the Shadow of Ghosts” and “Cracker Night”. Both of these titles capture the entire poem and made me want to read your poetry story. As writers, we are proud of our writings, but are there any poems you hold closest to your heart?

I love all my poems but I must say you have picked one of my favourites "In the Shadow of ghosts" this is my small tribute to our great Australian poets, there are a number of poems I just can't or have great difficulty performing as a huge number of my poems could be classed as memoirs and are so close to my heart, for example a number of my tributes to our veterans like "Villers-Bretonneux" "Heroes of Gallipoli" or "An Old Vets Christmas" and of course some about my family.

Aside from poetry, have you written any other genre, such as short stories, novels, etc?

Yes, in 2010 I ventured into short story/memoir writing and almost immediately had wonderful success with these including my memoir "Tony the Wogs Mango Tree" accepted by a panel of academics at James Cook University for publication in their journal LiNQ also my humorous/fiction/memoir "Duffel Bag of Poetry" received 2nd place in Scribbligums short story competition 2010 and "Encounter of a Different Kind" received a Commended place in the same competition, which was fantastic considering the international submissions I was competing against.

Could you share one of you poems with us?

Since you mentioned one of my favourites earlier here is "In the Shadow of Ghosts"

To all and sundry I hereby attest

when writing stories, I will pen my best

to literary heights I will aspire

and write like poets, those that I admire.

To stroll with Lawson under silver moon

and sit with Dennis in the early noon

ride with Morant along the Condamine

inspired by Parkes, my rhyme I will refine.

Then walk with Kendall , hear the bell birds song

stand with Ogilvie, view the rushing throng

watch Evans write his women of the west

read Boake, great poet and one of our best.

There’s Esson’s tribute to the shearer’s wife.

the convicts who sang their rum song of life

then Song of Australia was Carleton’s view

I hear Paterson, and that Geebung crew.

Verse caught the time, the man rode Snowys side

viewed Sydney town when ships moved with the tide

rode Cobb and Co. along a dusty track

travelled the bush, where some never came back.

All master poets, experts in this craft

read so many, I smiled, I cried, I laughed

published in many a books well read pages

their words are still resounding through the ages.

I’ll keep on writing well into the night

knowing one day, I’ll pen the metre right

the flow of my rhythm will be like a song

the beat will sound its perfect soft and strong.

With help from writers, present or the past

my writings' true perfection, I will grasp

when all’s left are my poems and my rhyme

I would love them remembered for all time.

Thank you for this interview. Congratulations and much success on your writing.

It has been my pleasure Bea, all the best to you and your readers.

You can purchase David Delaney’s book by visiting the below links.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1886528012/ref=nosim/theplanningsh-20 (Colour edition)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0615467806/ref=nosim/theplanningsh-20 (Black & White edition)

Metre and emotion,

Bea

Meet Me on Monday!

2011-11-07T13:14:00.002-06:00

This week's questions are:

1. Are you excited for the holidays, or are you dreading them? I’m excited for my holidays. I love this time of year. I reflect on what I’ve achieved or failed to do over the year, and start making a mental checklist of next year’s goals. I also love spices, turkey, burning leaves, lattes, etc, which is what the holidays embody.

2. Do you hit the snooze button, or get right up? Nope. I’m up as soon as the buzzer goes off…sometimes even before.

3. Do you still have your tonsils? I refuse to let them go.

4. What was the last piece of candy you ate? My last piece of candy was Heath. Mmm… I love my English Toffee.

5. Do you shop at thrift stores? Definitely. I’m all about bargains.

Food for Thought

2011-11-04T12:15:00.001-05:00

"My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there are three other people." -- Orson Welles, author

"My mom made two dishes: Take it or Leave it." -- Stephen Wright, comedian

I thought I’d share a deeeeelish meal I made the other day. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture of it.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

4-skinless chicken breasts

½ cup of Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons of mayonnaise

¼ cup of Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs

Salt, pepper and parsley for garnish

1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2) Mix the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs in a bowl.

3) Cover the chicken with the mix and place on a cookie sheet.

4) Add salt, pepper and sprinkle parsley (optional).

5) Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked

Approximate calorie count: 310 per serving (one chicken breast)

Butternut Squash Fries

1 butternut squash

3 tablespoons of olive oil

Butter spray

Sea Salt

Cinnamon

1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees

2) Peel or cut the shell off, dig out and throw away the seeds and cut the squash up in your desired fry’s size.

3) Put the cut squash on a cookie sheet and lightly brush with olive oil. Add sea salt and lightly sprinkle cinnamon (optional). You can use paprika instead.

4) Bake for 30 minutes or until crisp (add butter spray halfway through baking)

Approximate calorie count: 95 per serving (one cup)

Comfort Food and colored leaves,

Bea

Time Will Only Tell

2011-11-02T11:36:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I went to see the movie, “In Time” with Justin Timberlake. I’m not a big movie theater person (costs are nuts), but I thought the concept of this movie was interesting and I needed to get away from looking at pictures of me. LOL! I have to find a picture for the back cover of my book and the publisher’s website…of course one where I don’t look like I’m harboring a week’s worth of food in my cheeks, my aging skin isn’t drooping in too many places and my nose isn’t taking up most of the picture. But that’s another problem for another day—back to “In Time”.

The movie is about people living off time instead of money. Time is the currency. When you’re born, your clock is set to zero until you hit your 25^th birthday and then the one-year clock (given to everyone) starts up. No one ages after 25 years, but you have to earn time in order to live (when your clock runs out, you immediately die). The rich are immortal while the poor die young.

You pay with time. If you want a car, it could cost you 5-years of your life. In the movie, timekeepers make sure the poor remain poor and the rich continue to live. The rich raise taxes and time costs whenever they feel like it. Each social class is in a particular time zone, and when you attempt to cross to the next time zone, you have to pay extensively to prove you belong there.

When we got out of the movie, we talked about how it isn’t that much different from the struggles in the world today. The corporations buy enough minutes to live long, greedy lives while the poor to middle class struggle to survive each day. Zip codes divide our economic status and taxes and costs are raised whenever, many times without reason.

It’s scary to think that technology and government control could make our seconds, minutes, hours and days our currency. We then started thinking about how government and corporations could control (more than they do now) what we eat and do in life. What if a beer costs a day of your life? Or a cigarette costs you a week of your life? What if a cheeseburger costs five days of your life?

If you wore the seconds, minutes, hours and days on your arm, and saw it decrease with every purchase, would you think twice about what you do in life, and if so, what would you stop doing?

Tick tock and ageless,

Bea

Junkie's Child

2011-10-29T10:36:00.003-05:00

I still remember the deserted hallways of childhood, gutted rooms—emotional outbursts from a mother who had more of a relationship with a heroin needle than me. During her succumbed moments, I roamed the building peeling off chipped paint and wallpaper. Sometimes venturing outside to find the drunks huddled next to the fire, rubbing their hands while their deformed red-veined noses dripped. A junkie’s child—guilt slowly packing in arteries from the anger I felt toward my mother. For all I know, my father could have left because of her destructive behavior. But I didn’t want to think that way, since it would mean he deserted me too.

Adolescence blended into adulthood. I still search for parts of me I left in abandoned buildings—parts that built the armor coat I wear now. My relationship with my mother ceased when the drugs destroyed her body—chewing her from the inside out. Her body spread across the bed, eyes rolled back into her head, the color of dirty snow and marked by the incessant addiction that gnawed at her day and night. Sometimes I lay awake thinking about her troubled soul, wondering what pushed her toward drugs. Then anger sets in.

Who cares?

She was a mother—supposed to take care of me. My memories of her are like lemon drops—first sweet then they gradually sour. I wished her compulsions involved me.

Betty Baker’s mom did everything for her. Betty lived in a part of the neighborhood where the influential manicured their lawns and maids assisted with the household agendas. In the halls at school or outside, clean and sparkly Betty passed me with disgust on her face, appalled by my appearance and speech. If I ever overstepped the boundaries between us, she’d gather as many people as she could with her blazing words until an adult put out the fire. Betty did her damage—I became the dust mite of the school—an irritation to the rest.

Until freshman year when I watched Betty get into a Cadillac and disappear forever. Rumor had it that she knew the person driving the Cadillac. Those who knew her swore she'd never be associated with someone like that. Betty’s body was deposited in a corner of one of the many buildings I lived in—like a dust mite. I never shed a tear for her.

“Rocks don’t crack as easily as eggs.” This is what my first therapist told me the last time I slept with him. I think my distance finally got to him. He wanted the neediness of an orphan, not the coldness of ice. I went through the motions without offering up any part of me. I smiled when he indirectly insulted me and then went through the Yellow Pages for the next available therapist. Shrinks coexist with me, if only for when I need a little distraction from work.

Every inch of my home remains spotless while everything has its place and purpose. I fired several maids for dirty floorboards, dull brass faucets and uneven towels. Every dust particle, every uneven item makes my heart palpitate—my soul screams at the past. I don’t want my mother living with me—her filthy spirit contaminating things. My sanitized life is atonement for her sins.

But it’s the blackest of nights, when I sit in my car controlling the rush of excitement, when I feel the most pleasure. I stare into the endless blackness and methodically remove my rubber gloves, tossing them into a box. I step outside, place the box on the ground and set it on fire. The flames lick at the air as the box disintegrates. It’s the first part of cleanup. I can’t leave any evidence behind.

The kill is something that needs a before, during and after—a story told in my head. Afterwards, any connection to me is erased.

Short Stories and mysteries,

Bea

Autumn Song by Dante Alighieri

2011-10-27T11:28:00.001-05:00

Know'st thou not at the fall of the leaf
How the heart feels a languid grief
Laid on it for a covering,
And how sleep seems a goodly thing
In Autumn at the fall of the leaf?

And how the swift beat of the brain
Falters because it is in vain,
In Autumn at the fall of the leaf
Knowest thou not? and how the chief
Of joys seems--not to suffer pain?

Know'st thou not at the fall of the leaf
How the soul feels like a dried sheaf
Bound up at length for harvesting,
And how death seems a comely thing
In Autumn at the fall of the leaf?

Burning leaves and hot chocolate,

Bea

Versatile Blogger Award

2011-10-24T08:20:00.001-05:00

I want to thank Belva Rae Staples at Mainley Mug Ups for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award.

Rules in accepting this award: Thank the person who nominated you. Tell 7 things about yourself and nominate 15 other newly discovered bloggers and let them know you nominated them.

7 Things about Me

1) I have a psychological suspense novel, Net Switch, coming out in early December.

2) I already published a poetry e-book, Sipping a Mix of Verse, with a blend of traditional poetry and free verse.

3) My favorite color is red.

4) My two favorite smells are brewing coffee and fresh popcorn.

5) Weekly Autumn Love: Food cooking in the crock pot, window open, popcorn and beer while watching football. Congrats! Da Bears won against the Buccaneers in Britain.

6) I lived in Germany for 5 months and MIGHT move back there for a year or two.

7) I love black licorice.

My 15 Versatile Bloggers are...

1) (Victorious Secret) From Flab to Fab - http://www.flab-to-fab.com/

2) Let go of the Past, live Today and create Tomorrow http://tomoveforwardlive.blogspot.com/

3) Pat Newcombe, Thriller Writer’s blog, (aka Writing saved my life) - http://writingsavedmylife.blogspot.com

4) Will Write for Cookies - http://peggyeddleman.blogspot.com/

5) Encouragement in a Difficult World: Biddy Bytes Blog - http://biddybytes.com/

6) The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment - http://theqqqe.blogspot.com/

7) A Great Read - http://jessica-agreatread.blogspot.com/

8) My Shelf Confessions - http://www.myshelfconfessions.com/

9) Janet Beasley JLB Creatives – Creativity Imagination Dreams - http://jlbcreatives.blogspot.com

10) The bitchy Waiter - http://thebitchywaiter.blogspot.com/

11) Mr. London Street - http://mrlondonstreet.blogspot.com/

12) Bourbon & Pearls - http://bourbonandpearls.blogspot.com/

13) What do you mean I should start a blog? http://whatdoyoumeanishouldstartablog.blogspot.com/

14) La Belette Rouge - http://www.labeletterouge.com/

15) A Beer for the Shower - http://www.abeerfortheshower.com/

Awards and audiences,
Bea

Baery Scary Halloween

2011-10-21T10:41:00.001-05:00

I was never one for horror movies—blood—but I loved scary movie shows when I was young: Creature Feature, Twilight Zone and Svengoolie. We looked forward to Saturday nights to watch these shows. Of course they don’t even come close to being scary now, but at the time they were awesome. They were simple movies that served their purpose—entertain and scare.

Just like trick or treating, an all out evening adventure. There were no time limits to trick or treating, and there weren’t really Halloween parties. My trick or treat days began when candy scares first started—razor in an apple or candy. I think there was a mixture of urban legend and truth to the stories, yet it didn’t stop my mother from checking. We poured out our candy on the floor and she picked out her favorites, unwrapped them as she explained she was checking to make sure they were all right for us to eat.

But it didn’t matter that she was checking, because we emptied our pumpkin buckets so we could head out for more. We rang doorbells until 10:00 p.m. and told other children which houses not to go to because they were giving out pennies. Pennies! Can you believe it?

I grew up on a street that was full of children—young couples moving into this new division to raise a family. When I was really young, there wasn’t much to choose from in the way of costumes. Stores were loaded with plastic masks, pants and shirts. Below is a picture of me wearing one of my Halloween costume.

As we got older, my neighbor’s mother used to make his costumes. I was so jealous because one year she made him a Jaws costume. It was awesome.

I miss those easy days of figuring out what to wear on Halloween and trick or treating with friends and family without worry. Colored leaves accumulating along the curbs with candy wrappers and costumes that couldn’t hold up to the challenging hours. The smell of burning leaves in the distance.

Smarties and Mary Janes,

Bea

BOOO!!!! BOOOO!!!!

2011-10-19T12:35:00.006-05:00

It’s a cold, rainy and WINDY day in Chicago, so I thought I’d post a few games for those who are bored at work or home.

http://www.freegaming.de/onlinegames/Adventure-|-Action-Games/Halloween-Broom.html

http://www.freegaming.de/onlinegames/Adventure-%7C-Action-Games/Halloween-Chion-2.html

Stay dry and warm.

Pumpkin spice latte and fleece socks,

Bea

It Makes Cents

2011-10-17T13:28:00.002-05:00

This weekend I read a blog post about book advances—about how they could hurt a writer. After reading it, I realized it makes sense, yet I never really thought about it before.

For those outside of the writing community, the publishing world has changed since the ’60s and ‘70s where authors became rich off their talent, and a household name. Traditional publishing houses began tightening their purse strings, and grew hesitant on taking chances with new writers as opposed to committing to high profile names. If you look at the books out there now, you’ll see more than ever, books published by celebrities (90% of them written by ghostwriters). Writers became frustrated with the way they were treated by agents and publishers, so when they saw a market in technology they went for it. Writers took the opportunity to self-publish by utilizing e-books. You can learn more about e-books and self-publishing on Joe Konrath’s blog.

As for the book advances, traditional publishing houses, Simon & Schuster, Random House to name a few, give authors advances with their signing contracts. These advances are given because the publisher believes they will make a large profit on the book. Let’s say Marsha gets a $25,000 advance on her book. She will not make any more money until she sells enough books to hit the $25,000. Nowadays, this is very difficult to do because of all the competition out there. If Marsha’s hard cover costs $25.00, she would need to sell 1000 copies to hit $25,000. If her soft cover costs $14.95, she would need to at least sell 1700 copies. This is very difficult to do for an up and coming author.

Book advances can also hurt a writer’s chance to publish again through traditional methods if they didn’t sell their first book as predicted. Fortunately, publishing houses haven’t requested the money back on advances. Yet.

Today’s times show that people want things at their fingertips. Unlike me, most people don’t enjoy browsing around a bookstore, looking at the covers, reading synopses and leaving with an armful of books. Believe it or not, it’s only a matter of time before e-books outsell print copies everywhere (here’s a link regarding Amazon sales). Unfortunately, this means our brick and mortar bookstores will slowly disappear. Majority of people do not want to waste their money on a hard cover book—they look for cheap and usually online. I’m not saying selling large quantities of print books is impossible, but as a new writer without an audience, you had better have a great book and a fabulous marketing/promotion strategy.

Writing a book is a small part of publishing. There’s so much more involved in getting it together and ultimately promoting it. I could say that most writers dislike the promoting part of publishing. We want to write, not research on how we’re going to get our name out there. But the fact is if we don’t promote and have people spread the word, then the titles of our books will fade away in a warehouse or in the virtual world. Promotion is key in getting your book in as many hands as possible. Those authors who get large advances should use it for promotional purposes, because like self-publishing, writers who go through the traditional methods are basically in charge of marketing their book, too. Some publicity is given, but not much. Writers are up against hundreds of books published each day either electronically or traditionally. It’s funny that most people think authors are rich. Unfortunately, majority of writers are lucky to sell 40 books a year.

One last thing I’d like to share is an article regarding Penny Marshall’s Memoir. “Amazon Publishing won the rights to the book and will issue both a traditional print and a digital edition.”

Promote and prosper (as best you can),

Bea

The Art of Reading

2011-10-14T08:01:00.001-05:00

Cover Art is one of the most important aspects of a book. It’s the first thing that captures the attention of a reader—willing them to pick it up—and intrigue them enough to buy it.

This week I’ve been working on the contents of my design and figuring out the cover art. I have put my hands into every aspect of my book, author website and trailer to name a few, to have a better appreciation about what it takes to publish and promote a book. This doesn’t mean I’ll be using these cover art ideas, but I thought I’d get your input.

Since I rely on my blog for many things, decisions, discussions and thoughts, I figured why not get your thoughts and reactions. It doesn’t mean the best choice is going to be our (me and my publisher’s) choice, but it will let us know if the cover art is appealing and if we’re headed in the right direction.

If we decide to use one of these pictures for the cover art, and you picked it, you’ll automatically be entered to win a free autographed copy of my book. I know…very exciting. I’ll have a future contest, which will be posted at a later date.

The pictures don’t have the title of my book or my name. I’ll post pictures and number them. Let me know which picture(s) you like, why or why not. What do you think when you look at the picture, scared, eerie, beautiful? Please leave all comments on my blog. If you don’t have a Gmail account, you can always post as “anonymous”.

Picture # 1

Picture # 2

Picture # 3

Picture # 4

Picture # 5

Picture # 6

Picture # 7

Picture # 8

Picture # 9

Picture # 10

Picture # 11

I’m looking forward to your thoughts.

It's that Time of the Year!

2011-10-10T13:27:00.002-05:00

Sit down. Start writing. I am itching to do that…to start something new. After a year of revising my psychological suspense novel, Net Switch, I’d love to jump into something fresh and different. I even have a title, but that’s it.

The fun month is approaching…National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)…a month where you sit your butt down and write your heart out. The goal is to write a novel of at least 50,000 words. It starts on November 1 and ends at midnight on November 30. There is worldwide participation. You can sign up on their site at National Novel Writing Month. In the past, I’ve heard some people make it a family event in which they each attempt to write a novel. It’s a great way to write what you like, and utilize your time. Even if you don’t complete the task, you might have the meat for a great short story.

My novel came from my 2008 participation. I joined to see if I could do it—I did—and because of it I received a badge stating I was a “Winner NaNoWriMo 2008” (still on my blog). After that, I put it aside, happy that I accomplished writing 50,100 words in a month. But as fate would have it, someone read it and encouraged me to publish it.

Three years later, over 75,000 words, my book will be in print just in time for the holiday season.

If you know of anyone with imagination and writing skills, or you want to challenge yourself to a creative competition, then I highly encourage you to signup now and put on your idea cap. It’s the perfect time to prepare for a month of writing—letting your imagination run wild. I’d love to know if anyone is interested in joining.

I’m pretty busy with things going on in my life, but I can’t seem to ignore this writing itch. Maybe I'll be able to juggle it.

Scratch and create,

Bea

Poetry Guest Blogger - Chris (Singh Albatros)

2011-10-07T11:21:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone!

I have a treat for all you poetry and culture lovers. My poetry guest blogger is Chris (Sing Albatros). Chris lives in Australia and Singapore and has a list of writing accomplishments.

“His newest collection: ‘The Bearded Chameleon’ explores cultural adoption as a convert to Sikhism. ‘The Laughing Buddha Cab Company’ (2007) looks at Asia through a series of taxi rides. Mooney-Singh’s fiction has appeared in ‘The Best of South-East Asian Erotica’, ‘The Best of Singapore Erotica’, ‘Love and Lust in Singapore’ and ‘Crime Search: Singapore’. Has several guest appearances at festivals. “Two short plays were produced for the Singapore Short and Sweet festival in 2008 and 2009. He was a guest at the Austin International Poetry Festival (2003), the Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival (2004) and the Kuala Lumpur International Literary Festival (2007), the Salt of the Tongue Festival and the Melbourne Overload Poetry Festival in 2010.”

Chris was kind enough to answer some questions for me and share his knowledge, experience and one of his poems. Enjoy.

1) Chris, you are currently attending Monash University, Melbourne as a post-graduate research scholar. Could you please explain in detail what exactly you do for your post-graduate studies?

A PhD on the Emergence of Asia in Australian poetry. I basic research indicates that Australian poetry bears the influence of orientalism from the early 19^th Century, which has been unknown and downplayed due to neo imperialist empire building moves through Australia’s shameful White Australia policy which formally ended only as late as the late 1970s when the first Vietnamese refugees flooded into Australia after the end of the Vietname War. Since then, there has been a rising increase of poets engaged with traveling to and writing about Asia and also now Asian diasporic writing within Australia itself. This is a significant trend I believe before 10 percent of Australia’s population is of Asian origin and within 3-4 generations we I believe will be a truly Eurasian society, perhaps the first of its kind in the world due to our small population and the reality of demographic mixing now occurring here.

2) You state that you travel between Singapore and Australia. It must be very interesting to experience two different cultures. Since I’m not familiar with either culture, could you name a few cultural differences between Singapore and Australia?

One is predominately a huge island continent western in outlook, but geo-economic realities are I believe pushing it to create closer cultural ties with the Asian region as it has economically been already. China is Australia biggest trading partner for example. Singapore is the 3^rd biggest banking hub in the world, and although only a tiny island of mixed Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian population is for its size one of the richest and most progressive countries in the world. Other than indignenous traditions, Australia literary history dates from 1788, the beginning of the creation of the first British colony. Singapore formally a part of Malaysia has a modern history of less than 50 years. Both have English language literatures of contemporary sophistication, equal to other world literatures in English, despite the fact that publishing domination by London and New York do not work in their international favour. As Asia rises in economic importance and dominance, I believe these things will balance out. For example, Asian e-publishing alternatives are developing quickly and although Amazon is a huge monster dominating the web, it will not always be so.

3) Along with your writing endeavors, you’ve been involved in many festivals in Singapore and Australia? Could you explain the differences between Singapore and Australian Literary Festivals?

Basically all literary festivals, especially officially government funded ones are the same all over the world, except that each country emphasizes different literary agendas according to its national and cultural interests. I am also the director of an emerging writers’ festival in Singapore http://litup.sg which annually celebrates and supports the expression of new writing and performance. This is organized under The Writers Centre Singapore which is a body I and my co-directors set up as a non-profit arts organization. http://thewriterscentre.org

4) “The Laughing Buddha Cab Company” expresses the excitement of culture shock, which teaches us many lessons as well as shakes our realization. Much of the book focuses on your experiences traveling in cabs from different perspectives. This is definitely something many people would love to hear about. Can you recall the most interesting perspective you encountered while gathering this book together and what was the subject matter?

The taxi cab poems are set mainly in Singapore and India. The taxi is both a real experience and a metaphor for what I see as intense capsule moments in time, not unlike the slowed down movement of the speeding bullet of a poem, looking at that moment’s human experience against an urban or developing world backdrop. Our world is moving so fast, and, in a sense human experience is the soft target that is a fragile and profound thing ironically under threat, given the global pace of life. I am interested in looking at core human experience and inherent spiritual poignancy in the world, asking the fundamental questions of who we are and why we are here, but in a contemporary and engaging time and way. Just like climate change issues, we are being pushed by globalization to ask the hard questions even more dramatically. A developing country like India throws up dualities and things in opposition again forcing us back on our existential selves. Many choose to ignore or block it out though. I have taken a lot of taxis in Singapore where I don’t own a car and never fail to learn something interesting about the driver, the place where we are driving, the relationship with myself and my co-passengers. Just as Blake says to cleanse the window of perception, a taxi cab’s glass windows are like being inside an all seeing eye. It’s a brief window of perception one can look through and see what is really happening. Catch a cab next time and become a ‘passenger’ in a life moment, become detached as a Buddha in the backseat and learn.

5) Below is your poem, The Bearded Chameleon, which I love, love, love. The way you describe a chameleon is fantastic, “Prehistoric, spiky, punk”. I also enjoyed the way you worked in the way you took shape in another place and time. These are great lines: “as I feel my oddness avalanche / into a vast primordial past / where man and lizard were one caste.”

When you sit down to write such a poem, do you already know how you’ll write it, lines and rhyme, or does this occur over edits?

The title poem of my new book was born from an actual experience in a Punjabi compound, but it evolved over several years (coming back to it several times) after gaps from strongly cadenced verse into metical 4 beat tetrameter verse with rhyming couplets. The short metre and strong rhymes helped accentuate an element of knowledge, lightly worn and expressed with a sense of humour. Writing about spirituality and religious themes is risky and this helped to make this approachable for myself and I believe the general reader. It was a kind of watershed poem where I addressed for the first time my conversion to Sikhism and also the long practice of metrical and formalist poetry skills I worked hard at improving from 2002. I put myself back into self-study to understand metrical verse and other traditional ways of classical poetry believing that a good poet should know the rules he or she might then break knowingly when writing open or free verse. I place as much importance on skill, technique and craft as I do on having original subject matter and thinking and now write in a mixture of open and formal ways according to inclination and occasion. If the message of Eliot and Pound is that we live in a wasteland of broken traditions, ie within the ruins, we also have built modern skyscrapers and brick veneer suburbs there. Old and new coexist and my aesthetic view is that post modern poets can use it all, just we are forced to live lives through various changing identities like colour-shifting chameleons.

The Bearded Chameleon

1
A sci-fi thing, you shoot a tongue
above the compound, floored with dung.

Your sucker feet were born to grip.
Prehensile tail, a coiled whip

is clinging to the pipal trunk.
Prehistoric, spiky, punk

with membrane beard (a he or she?)
you blend in with the Buddha tree.

2
My sun-cracked soles have drawn some sap
from green Punjab. An Aussie chap,

I chew on sugarcane each week
and sport this beard—a convert Sikh.

Now turbaned like a maharajah,
I‘d pass for Ranjit Singh, the Padshah—

a bit like you, chameleon—
a colour-shifting charlatan.

3
Yes, since I came in my blue jeans
to do write-ups for magazines

your form has been my best touchstone
on how to live here in The Zone.

A decade later, more or less
I still reside at your address

with farmers, trades-folk, holy men
who can‘t read books, or use a pen.

4
Neighbours greet me in the lane
from buffalo cart, stacked with cane

or two old uncles call: ‗Come, sit
beside the hand pump.‘ There we spit

and chat of wheat and sugar‘s price
or winter‘s crop—basmati rice.

I wet my tongue, pretend what‘s best
and they are kind, pretend the rest.

5
A mascot white-man, or crackpot,
I walk to view the chilli plot.

You are a comfort on the branch
as I feel my oddness avalanche

into a vast primordial past
where man and lizard were one caste.

I‘ve learned to stand, chameleon.
My feet, like yours can now stick on.

6
I‘m changing colours far from home:
here nothing‘s shot in monochrome.

Suburbia was a dumb cartoon:
here, typhoid sweats through each monsoon;

and though dung-fires choke the breath
I feel alive as I breathe death.

A beard‘s the symbol of the sage.
In lizard-time—mine‘s under-age.

7
Sun-bathing is the reptile‘s art.
Daily, I make a clean, fresh start:

lather hair and beard with soap,
then wring it out as one wet rope;

next, oil and comb and wind the bun
and check my topknot in the sun;

I tie a turban, high with grace,
chameleon-ness—all now in place.

8
Our artery is the market lane—
village life is one food chain.

Strolling here, I bear the heat—
my adaptation seems complete.

I‘ve learned your culture-blending knack.
Have I moved up, or ten lives back?

After a walk, I will sit and stare—
I am king of an old cane chair.

9
My pen is like your sticky tongue.
I snatch my image-flies among

the geckoes, birds on tree or plant,
or dogs and pigs in excrement.

If I could train my mind or hand
not just to write, but understand

your stance and poise upon the tree,
chameleon, I might step free.

10
Dear dinosaur in miniature
who blends in well with any weather

yes, you have mastered with sharp eyes
the yogic art of catching flies.

Perhaps, I will, one-day, be free
to blend in with the Buddha tree.

I bow, pranam, dear bearded friend—
my weird barometer till the end.

A Cautionary Tale

2011-10-05T17:51:00.003-05:00

I want to express my concerns and give everyone who reads my blog a warning. I’ve always loved Italy—three of my top favorite places, Rome, Venice and Lake Garda. It’s a beautiful country, beautiful people and spectacular history.

The problem and concern I have regarding Italy are their driving laws. Back in February, we rented a car from Hertz and drove to Lake Garda. From there, we went to Verona and Bologna. This past month, my Love received a letter from Hertz stating that they are charging him 35 euros EACH for three moving violations he received in Italy that spanned 15 minutes. He was stunned because he hadn’t even received any moving violations from Italy, so we both went online to do some investigation.

Complaints Board – Traffic ticket complaints in Italy and regarding Hertz.

Fodor’s – Traffic Tickets in Italy

Budget Travel – Italy: Fines for rental-car drivers on the rise

Italy has limited driving zones within city limits to reduce fumes and traffic. In our search, we have found Italy issues close to 27 million traffic violations a year—mainly to tourists. I understand that people should know the driving laws in other countries, but there’s a difference between speeding, running over people, knocking things over, as opposed to driving in an area that is restricted. Why aren’t there gates preventing people from entering if you don’t have a city limit card?

First off, Hertz should have said something to us regarding these limited zone areas. But the fact is, they don’t because they make money off the administration fees. We believe the traffic tickets are from a camera snapping a picture of our car as we passed on the outer circle of the city because we got lost. The times are like 4:01, 4:06 and 4:13 (these aren’t the exact times), so we can assume the tickets are from a camera snapshot. So Italy is going to fine us three times for passing an area in a 15 minute time frame, and the cost could be around 115 euros for EACH violation. I think it’s a disgrace that Hertz purposely doesn’t say anything so they can make more money and that Italy would fine a tourist for getting lost—which the times clearly prove.

We left a beautiful country after having a beautiful time, and now we will have to pay for that time with an additional cost close to 500 euros.

This is a warning to anyone who are considering on going to Italy. Forget about it, or don’t bother renting a car if you plan on going into an Italian city center. You’ll pay more than you bargained for and that leaves a lasting impression.

Ich Lerne Deutsch! (I learn German)

2011-10-03T07:28:00.005-05:00

Herzliche Gruesse,

Ich bin Bea Sempere und ich bin aus Chicago. Chicago ist nicht die Hauptstadt von Illinois. Wie heisst du?

Translation:

Heartfelt Greetings,

I am Bea Sempere and I am from Chicago. Chicago is not the capital city of Illinois. How are you called?

Since the beginning of September, I have been learning German from meinem Liebsten (my Love). We are working from a textbook and two workbooks, but it’s difficult not being in an environment where German is the primary language. I want to learn German so I can a) communicate with mein Liebster’s parents and brother, and b) in case we wind up living in Germany for a year or two. It will give me a head start before taking an extensive German course out there.

It’s tough learning a language at this stage in my life, and German isn’t an easy language to learn. English was derived from the Germanic language, yet much of what is utilized in German, isn’t in English. Unlike a Spanish translation, German doesn’t translate well into English—at least not word for word. There are many English words and phrases that don’t exist in German, and different grammatical rules.

All nouns have an article: (die) feminine, (der) masculine and (das) neutral. Not only do I have to learn the nouns, I need to learn the article forms…and on top of that…the article changes with the noun depending on the object. Nouns are capitalized, too. Wie heisst die Biologielehrerin? How is the biology teacher called? The ending is “in”, which indicates that the biology teacher is female. That’s why the article is “die”. If the biology teacher is male, it would be der Biologielehrer. My brain does flips when I have to say and write out a number. Germans start with the second number first, such as 43 (my age). Ich bin dreiundvierzig Jahre alt. I am 43 years old.

I’m actually enjoying the challenge until mein Liebster starts talking fast. Like all languages, he blends his words together as opposed to annunciating each one, so I’ll be using Wie bitte? Excuse me? plenty of times.

Do you speak a second language?

Bratwurst and beer,

Bea

Now I Know!

2011-09-29T11:44:00.001-05:00

Back in the day when learning words and telling time were all I needed to do, I remember my grandmother teaching me how to read from the Dick and Jane books. They were vintage books used to teach children to read from the ‘30s into the ‘70s, and are still sold today. There was a lot of repetition in them, such as “Look. Look Up. Look Up at the sky”, so it was easy for children to learn words and sentences. I also remember the colorful illustrations in these books.

Then many, many years passed before I had any desire to read again. When I started back, I went through a phase where I would only read Sidney Sheldon books. At the time, I had no idea how much this man accomplished with international praise for his scripts, movies, plays and novels, let alone that he was from Chicago. He thought of his writing success as a miracle. “I was born in Chicago during the Depression and both my parents were third grade drop-outs," he recalled. "My father never read a book in his life and I was the only one in the family to complete high school." His books were mostly crime fiction and thrillers. He was the only author I’d read, and that was the last time I ever stuck to only one writer. Unfortunately, Mr. Sheldon passed away in 2007, but left behind a legacy of words.

I then ventured out and started reading Mary Higgins Clark and Victoria Holt, and both of these women wrote suspense with a romantic flare. I’ll admit that I didn’t know what genre any of these writers wrote until now. I always thought they were romance novels with an ingredient of suspense. After these female authors, I started reading Sandra Brown, who also writes suspense.

I find all of this interesting because for a few years I didn’t read many women authors (this in no way suggests that women authors aren’t great writers). Since my early favorites, I’ve gone on to read many authors of both gender and all different genres. After finding out that all of my favorite writers, who got me back into reading, were suspense and thriller writers, it now makes sense that I have written a psychological suspense thriller.

Genres are and will always be foreign to me. Each category has its definition, but some of these definitions blend in with others, such as thrillers and suspense. I believe they both go hand in hand. How can you have a thriller without suspense, and how can suspense not be thrilling? Since I’m not one who has done extensive research in genre categorization, I’ll have to leave it up to the experts.

What’s your favorite genre, or who is your favorite author? Has it changed since your earlier days of reading?

Revisions and Tea,

Bea

Literacy—Read, Write and Think!

2011-09-26T15:54:00.004-05:00

This past summer I went to Open Books for a volunteer orientation. Open Books is all about promoting literacy in Chicago and elsewhere. They work hard, utilizing volunteers, to make young and old literate through social events, programs and field trips.

This is taken from The New York Times article by Jessica Reaves. It is estimated that about 23% of American adults do not have basic reading skills—they are unable to read directions (medications), look for employment or take care of their finances. Chicago’s illiteracy suffers with “53% of adults having low or limited literacy skills”. The numbers might not be exact but the fact is this city and country should not have a problem with illiteracy.

Since I’m unemployed I decided to do some volunteer work, and what better place to volunteer at than with books. Today I woke up early, got ready and drove to the Open Books warehouse. It has definitely been a long time since I woke that early and had to look presentable. LOL! Anyways, when I walked into the place it was full of boxes of books donated by people. The guys working there set me up on a computer to scan the books for resale. It’s amazing how many people donate, and what is even more amazing are the books people buy. There were old 60's and 70's cook books, travel books and 80's workout books. Do you remember Susan Powter? “Stop the Insanity!” I guess this catchphrase can be used for illiteracy.

I enjoyed my volunteer work and wanted to share my experience with you, continue volunteering and hopefully I can pay it forward. Aside from the bookstore on Institute Place, they resell books on different websites—Amazon being one of them. (The bookstore is setup so cute. The picture of the fireplace on this post is from the store.) On Amazon, the books are sold under used. So if you are ever browsing for a book, click on used and search for Open Books to help fund literacy.

My next topic has nothing to do with literacy and everything to do with winning.

Did you watch the Bears vs. Green Bay game? The outcome of this game really makes me mad because a) I don’t like Green Bay and b) the Bears could have won the game if offense knew how to block and catch, and Devin Hester learned how to keep his temper in check. *rant over*

Have a great day!

Secrets

2011-09-22T07:54:00.001-05:00

On Sunday or sometime during the week, I like to stop by the postsecret website and read people’s secrets. I enjoy the witty secrets sent in, and I think of those who are clearly in pain. Sometimes after reading them, I get writing ideas for poems or short stories. I've even learned a few things from these secrets. Here are a few of this week’s post secret’s that stood out for me.

“If postsecret has taught me anything, it is that heartache (of any kind) is not personal. It is human.” This is so true, and something to always keep in mind when you feel like you’re the only one who is going through heartache.

“I told people you were GAY because I couldn’t accept that you didn’t want me anymore” It’s sad someone felt that overwhelmed by not being wanted that they decided to devour someone else’s reputation.

“I’m quitting my painfully torturous job to follow my dreams. I’m terrified this move is just self-sabotage. I hope I’m very wrong.” Oh boy, can I somewhat relate to this secret. My advice to this person is that following your dreams is never self-sabotage. Self-sabotage is NOT following your dreams.

We all have secrets we’d like to share with someone, yet we’re afraid of judgment and ridicule. In a sense, fiction writers can get away with incorporating their secrets into their writings and no one would be the wiser. Within our storyline, the dimensions of our characters, we can plug in a secret we haven’t shared with anyone. Or we can make one of our secrets a storyline. Writers incorporate their emotions into their writings, so secret depression or anxiety can be revealed. I hadn’t really thought about putting an actual secret into my writing. The idea is great—therapeutic in a sense.

Secrets are usually told in some way or another—in life or death. Several people live a life of secrets. There are secrets withheld to hide the past…and there are secrets that hide the turmoil inside. Secrets are exciting and dangerous, and most of all, everyone has them.

Do you tell your secrets to anyone? How do you cope with your secrets, vodka tonics, therapy, post secrets? I tell my secrets to mein Liebster or sometimes I expose them to everyone (the emotional ones) on my blog.

One final note: My blogging etiquette has diminished over time because I haven’t thanked my followers for their company. BIG thanks to all my followers. You make blogging worth it.

First Book Publication!

2011-09-19T08:46:00.001-05:00

I know I’ve been slow at the start of my blogging, but I’ve been working on getting my poetry e-book out and I’ve succeeded. YAY! It is now on Kindle, Nook, and Lulu.

“SIPPING A MIX OF VERSE” BY DENISE BAER IS AVAILABLE NOW!

No, Kindle or Nook?! No Problem.

If you do not have a Kindle, you may download Kindle for PC or Kindle for Mac for free to read “Sipping a Mix of Verse”.

If you do not have a Nook, you may download Nook for PC or Nook for Mac for free to read “Sipping a Mix of Verse”.

If you would like it in Adobe “.pdf” format, hop on over to Lulu for your copy of “Sipping a Mix of Verse”.

I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement. It means so much to me, and I couldn’t have done it without you.

Have a great week! But first, don't forget to get your copy of "Sipping a Mix of Verse"!

Forgotten Precious Moments

2011-09-13T12:46:00.005-05:00

That’s me—15 years old. Twenty-six years later and I just realized how much I have forgotten some precious moments in my life.

But let me back up a bit and give some background. Part of my heritage is Lithuanian, and like other cultures, we also have a cotillion—a formal evening ball. Our Lithuanian cotillion is called “The Amber Ball”—Amber being the national gem of Lithuania. It began with a dream of the Council General of the Chicago Lithuanian Women’s Club, Josephine Dauzvardis. She wanted a Lithuanian debutante presentation ball (although I’m sure Mrs. Dauzvardis didn’t have “me” in mind as a precious gem). During this presentation, the debutantes are presented by their fathers, and Lithuanian folk dances performed with escorts and post-debutantes. Each debutante comes out to the ballroom floor and bows before everyone.

My mother bowed in the first Amber Ball in 1961, and I bowed at the 25^th Amber Ball in 1985 with my two cousins. This is a picture of me doing part of the bow.

What prompted me to write about this is that there is a 50^th Amber Ball Anniversary celebration in October. Yesterday, I started looking through the Amber Ball booklet from my year, reading through the pages, best wishes, and pictures. I haven’t looked at it in years, and I guess when I did in the past, I never REALLY saw what was written. My grandmother, who has passed away, left wishes for me, and within them stated, “Continue to follow your dreams…whatever they may be. Your success is my success.” I actually got tears in my eyes reading those words. My grandmother, Genevieve (Getling) Giedraitis was a true lady, and well…I was far from it. I was the type of teenager who argued about everything and defied what every adult said—a “don’t tell me what to do” type teenager. I wasn’t good with authority.

Now twenty-six years later, it dawns on me that I didn’t appreciate the kind of woman my grandmother was and the talent she shared with the world. My grandmother was a professional opera singer—she expressed her words through voice. I express my words through writing. Even though I didn’t REALLY read what my grandmother wrote, or maybe I had forgotten, I did follow her wishes. I followed my dreams of writing…And grandma, if you’re looking down, my success IS your success. God Bless You!

Website, Book Trailer, and Publication, Oh My!

2011-09-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

Hello Everyone,

I’m back! First, I want to wish everyone a wonderful autumn season. I know it officially hasn’t started yet, but where I’m from, it has. This is my favorite season of the year because it embodies so much of my favorite things; sweaters, jeans, FOOTBALL, beer, popcorn, burning leaves, mulled wine and so much more. I’m sure some of you are shaking your heads no, dreading the cold that will creep back into our lives soon.

Even though my blog has slept, I have been busy behind the scenes. On a personal level, my Love returned to Germany because he didn’t find a job. I’m still looking for a job too and working on my writing life. *drum roll*

I have officially launched my “author website.” This is a task I’ve been working on for months. It’s amazing how you think you have it completed and then you find a grammatical error, or something isn’t working properly. I’ve tested and tested, but I finally have to understand that it will look different on others' computers.

Stop on by and visit my author website. http://www.authordenisebaer.com/

Along with my website, I’ve been working on my book trailer for my poetry e-book. I have never created a trailer and I wasn’t quite sure how I should put it together. Most book trailers give short synopses of their book. I couldn’t quite do that with a poetry book, so I put in some lines from my poetry. You can find the trailer on my website, but here’s the YouTube video.

This is the beginning of my writing promotion and I would truly appreciate it if you could share my information with anyone and everyone.

Have a great day!

Don’t Call Me, I’ll Call You!

2011-08-20T14:09:00.002-05:00

Over the past few years I’ve heard people say how aggravated they get when they text someone and the person calls them back. They’ve said that they text the person because they don’t want to talk to them. Recently I’ve seen a trend in unanswered calls, but responses in text, email or on Facebook. Maybe it’s me. Maybe the people in my life don’t want to talk to me. But if that’s true, then I have to ask, “Why bother contacting me at all?”

I’m writing this post because I don’t understand the whole “don’t call me when I text you” thing, so hopefully someone can explain it to me. Have phone calls already become a thing of the past? There have been a few times, maybe coincidences, when I’ve called someone and they didn’t answer the phone, but shortly afterward I’ve received a text or email from them. Really? When I’m trying to set something up, or even have a quick question, I want to talk to the person. First off, I don’t like text talk such as ‘u’ for ‘you’. I feel it’s making us a dumber and lazier society. Secondly, things get lost in translation when you text and email. For me, nothing is more annoying than going back and forth in several texts and emails to set up the simplest get together when I could get it done within a five minute phone call. Done—no more time wasted.

Technology has given us so many wonderful opportunities, yet it’s also made us strangers even to our closest friends and family. I don’t know if it’s laziness or impatience that makes people want to text or send email instead of hearing the person’s voice. Some people I know say texting and emailing is quicker. I shrug at that argument because I don’t agree. If someone sends me an email while I’m out, I won’t get it until I come home. I don’t have a multi-mobile fetish—my phone allows calls and texting. I’m not a “here, now, know my location and what I’m doing at this moment” kinda gal. I’ll admit that I don’t like talking on the phone for long periods of time, and when I’m not in the mood to talk that pretty much covers all mediums.

This whole “don’t call me, I’ll call you” thing makes me wonder about emergencies. What if someone called a friend or family member because they were in an emergency situation and that person decided not to answer but text? I posed this question to someone before and they told me the person should have called 9-1-1, not them.

Are you a “Don’t Call Me, I’ll Call You” person? Do you think there’s anything wrong with texting and emailing instead of calling? Are you a “here, now, know my location and what I’m doing at this moment” kind of person? Do you think talking on the phone should be a thing of the past?

Let me…but just don’t call.

Summer on Fire by Kevin Craig

2011-07-31T14:22:00.000-05:00

It’s time I stop by my blog to let you all know that so far, during my relaxing summer, I’ve had the opportunity to read Summer on Fire by Kevin Craig. Summer on Fire is a young adult (YA) novel, which isn’t my usual reading genre, but I know Kevin from a writing forum and wanted to expand my reading horizons.

This book is about three friends, Jeff Barsell, Arnie Wilson and Zach Carson (the narrator), who are about to embark on the freedoms of summer only to be involved in a horrific fire. As the chain of events unfold, each friend battles their personal challenges along with the loyalties of friendship. In the end, Jeff, Arnie and Zach learn some valuable lessons about people and the lengths they’ll go to for community and friendship.

I enjoyed this book. From the first page, I was engrossed in the story by Kevin’s gift of bringing vivid actions of the story and characters to life. As the three friends scramble to get out of the burning barn, I felt myself praying for their safety. “Fire formed a hot umbrella of flames above us, swallowing the place…The roof beams, resembling the ribcage of a mammoth beast, were now engulfed.” I grew a love or hate relationship with each character and sympathized with some of their debilitating weaknesses.

I highly recommend Summer on Fire by Kevin Craig. It’s a coming of age book that reminds us again about the importance of friendship and loyalty.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

2011-07-12T13:22:00.002-05:00

Hello, my Friends,

As you can see, I haven’t been blogging much due to other pressing matters. I wanted to stop in to let you know that I will be taking time off from my blog for the rest of the summer. This crazy little thing called love will get all my attention—Mein Liebster (my love) will be home in ten days.

When I do publish my poetry e-book, I will post it on my blog and Facebook to let you all know. I thought I’d have it out on Kindle and Nook by July, but I’m waiting for copyright. My novel is still on for November 2011, and I will post more about it as we get closer to publication.

I wish you all a safe and happy summer. ♥♥

Love,

Bea

Freedom!

2011-07-04T06:46:00.002-05:00

It was our country’s separation from Great Britain,
which brought fame to the Declaration document,
courageous free people proposed our own government
and spirited men sat down until it was written.

Forefathers established a land of independence
to prosper, away from religious persecution.
We needed brave souls to sign such a solution
maybe resulting in death, but worth transcendence.

Thirteen states declared their God given rights
Admit, “All men are created equal… by their Creator”.
Even they believed in a higher being much greater
than humans’ ongoing faults of lost lives through fights.

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” to secure
allow “it is the right of the people to alter or abolish”
“Change for light and transient causes” will demolish
what these great men risked to challenge and endure.

Then King of Britain caused our great nation’s missions.
Failures for the good of the people, they listed his malice.
“Refused… to cause others to be elected;” sitting in palace
“Prevent the population of… states… raising the conditions”

”Warned them… of attempts… [no] jurisdiction over us”
As a result, our men found the King unfit to rule free lands.
Time to rule for the people, they declared their demands
for us to become as one and reach the goal of success.

“Representatives of the United States of America” swear
absolve “free and independent states” from the British Crown.
We seek our own judicial system covered by majority’s gown
“[p]ledge… our lives, our fortunes and… sacred honor” in prayer.

233-years later, we find ourselves another road of challenge
deviating from the mass to suffice a few needless complaints.
Some cry over stolen freedom while others deny all saints.
Still hope in bringing our Declaration back, we vote for change.

Now we plea to “provide new guards for [our] future security”
Find what had once been established in writing for what remains.
Snap ties that bring our forces down with negative campaigns
Relinquish what once we relied on to wash away impurity.

Let our minds speak again for the Freedom of our Population
“Whenever any form of government becomes destructive”
“Institute new… foundation on such principles” stay productive.
Come together again, united, to enjoy today’s celebration.

The Murderer’s Daughters

2011-06-27T12:08:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine recently made a blog post, Complete, Yet Incomplete, about a book having so many great things about it, yet parts of it failed. She asked her readers several questions, such as how we consider a story a success, or if we didn’t like a book by an author, would we attempt to read that author again?

In The Murderer’s Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers, I can honestly answer with a booming response that this book is a success and I’d definitely read another one of her books. It was the first since The Book Thief where I wanted the end to tie everything up in a little bow, yet even though that didn’t happen I was content (with a smile). The Murderer’s Daughters is beautifully written and executed with emotional depth and truth from two points of views (POV)—Merry and Lulu (the daughters).

This book spans about 30-years of Merry and Lulu’s lives. They struggle with who they are and how to get through life after family abandons them, spending years in an orphanage and then college to be free of other’s help. Each girl has her own demand of life, very different from the other, and each one remembers from the age of loss. “Trying to catch memories of mama felt like trying to hold rain.” (173)

The story begins with Merry (the youngest) and Lulu’s (the oldest) father killing their mother, stabbing Merry and trying to kill himself. From the first page, my throat constricted and I cried for these two girls.

Essentially, Mama regarded me as a miniature hand server:

Grab me a Pepsi, Lulu.

Get the milk for your sister’s cereal.

Go to the store and buy me a pack of Winstons.

Then one day she upped the stakes:

Don’t let Daddy in the apartment.

Each chapter is Merry and Lulu’s POV of how they see the world, their father, and how they cope with life. Lulu, the oldest and practical thinker, tries to bury the past and makes plans to better their lives—it’s her survival mechanism. Merry, the youngest and emotional child, tries to please her father by visiting and relies on her sister’s direction. Many times they are at odds for their feelings toward their daddy. Lulu wants nothing to do with him while Merry feels obligated because daddy has no one else. How they deal with their father is how they deal with life; one wants to be free of the past and the other can’t let go.

The Murderer’s Daughters reveals the struggles and sadness when horror strikes a home. It shows the after effects of how a family has to pick up the pieces and carry on; some unable to glue the pieces together; and some tossing them away. As Merry said, “Did he know that sometimes I hated people so much it burned?” (40)

I highly recommend The Murderer’s Daughters. You won’t be disappointed.

Weathered Work

2011-06-23T10:15:00.001-05:00

I stopped in at my blog and noticed I hadn’t posted since Saturday! It isn’t that I’m ignoring my blog—it’s just that my unemployed days are not empty. I wake early to go through my email job notices (apply or not), and then work on a combination of my poetry e-book, website, homework or my novel revisions.

Like the title of my post, my weathered (tough, windswept, worn) work has coincided with Chicago weather. As soon as I think it’s okay to head outside, the clouds roll in and the rain comes down. Every time I think I have the formatting perfected with my e-book, I view it and something is off kilter.

This week I’m working on my poetry e-book for publication within the next week or two. I can’t begin to explain how crazy tough it is to create a book. Not only did I have to choose the poems and edit them, but I want it appealing so I changed formatting and added pictures. I’m hoping these additives will help readers interpret my poems and keep on reading. Of course, not all my formatting converted properly, which forced me to remove some of it. I’m not complaining about creating it—having fun—although decision making and formatting is taking more time than anticipated.

My poetry e-book, Sipping a Mix of Verse, will be available on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook and Smashwords. I want it accessible to everyone, not just those who own a kindle or nook (because I don’t have one). Poetry isn’t a high reading genre; however, I hope my poetry will convert some non-poetry readers into enjoying the beauty of it. I think some people find poetry intimidating—mainly due to interpretation—but readers can enjoy poetry without worrying about what the author means. Take it for how it affects them individually.

What have you been up to? I’d like to live vicariously through you.

Friday Night at the Movies

2011-06-18T14:35:00.004-05:00

After being on the computer writing cover letters and submitting with resumes, working on my poetry book and studying, I decided to make it “Friday Night at the Movies” night. Of course, I’m not one to rent known movies—Oscar nominated; I enjoy Sundance Films or Independent. Instead of getting a romantic comedy, my favorite genre movie, I wound up with two sad and depressing movies—Blue Valentine and Like Dandelion Dust. Even though they were sad and depressing, I liked Like Dandelion Dust better than the promoted Blue Valentine with Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.

Blue Valentine was sex induced, which led me to be unsympathetic to Michelle Williams character, Cindy. In the movie, she is promiscuous and her relationships are about sex. When Ryan Gosling’s character, Dean wants her emotionally and she claims she doesn’t have any emotion left, I thought, “I didn’t think she ever had any.” Her character was bland and the storyline dragged like a wet blanket hanging from a car door.

I prayed Like Dandelion Dust would be better. This is a story about two sets of parents, one biological and the other adoptive. The biological parents played by Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper are poor, and the adoptive parents played by Kate Levering and Cole Hauser are rich. Barry Pepper’s character, Rip Porter goes to prison at the beginning of the movie for domestic violence due to his alcoholism. Mira Sorvino’s character, Wendy Porter finds out she’s pregnant and gives her child up for adoption. When Rip finally gets out of jail, she tells him about the pregnancy and adoption, and he wants his son back. He’s a changed man and never signed the papers.

Like Dandelion Dust comes from the idea of making a wish on a dandelion and blowing on it—this sets the wish free. Each set of parents has a wish, which both entail their son, Joey. It shows what lengths each one will go to for their son as they break from the pressure. In the end, their wish is granted—for their son to be safe and happy.

If you’re looking for a compelling drama, I recommend Like Dandelion Dust and skip Blue Valentine.

Do you have any movie recommendations?

Have a great weekend!