Weathered Work

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.

Weather or Not It’s Funneling

 NOAA Photo Library

I’ve recently finished reading The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum, and whether or not you’ve experienced a tornado, this book gives you an understanding of the devastation it brings. Timing plays a role in connecting with a book, and this one twisted with the tornadoes that recently swept across the country. This novel isn’t only about the weather; it’s also about twins struggling with their own identities.

Karena Jorge, a writer for the Minneapolis Ledger feels a hole in her life since separated from her twin, Charles for twenty-years. So it’s no surprise Karena decides to find him after receiving a call from a medical center in Wichita, Kansas. Charles suffered a panic attack, but his sickness is deeper. He is bi-polar, which drove a wedge between the twins. As Charles describes it, “And they tip me off Into the Black. That’s this tarry, oozy place that traps me and holds me while my brain is raked over and over with a comb made of knives…Everything hurts from the inside out. But I can’t move. That’s Into the Black.”

Since she has failed to find him all these years, Karena is determined to this time and joins an adventure of a lifetime—chasing. During her chasing time, she falls in love and finally finds Charles, which reignites their whirlwind relationship. Like tornadoes, Charles spins out of control when he’s Into the Black, and most of the damage hits Karena. Being reunited again forces them to face who they are and the secret they buried years ago.

If you’re looking for a summer read, I recommend The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum.

Sunday Sundries

Food

Check! We started walking every day—walked a total of 20 miles this week. I feel so much better, plus we’re eating well. I made homemade chicken noodle soup and my own concoction of chili.

Chicken Soup: Added left over chicken and juice to water and chicken bouillon. I let that heat up while I cooked the noodles and cut up the onions and carrots. (We didn’t have celery). I added salt, pepper and some other seasoning mixes. As all of that began to heat up, I added the noodles and let it simmer for 15 minutes. This was the first time I ever made chicken soup.

Chili: I cooked up ground beef/pork and slowly added chopped green and yellow peppers and onions. I added garlic salt, pepper, cayenne and mustard to the mix. In another pot, I emptied some tomato paste, kidney beans and stewed tomatoes. When the meat was finished with the vegetables, I added to the tomato paste and let it simmer for about ½ hour. This was the second time I’ve ever made chili. 

I wish I took a picture of my Love’s breads. He’s been doing great at baking them and I kinda told him maybe we should consider opening a small bakery where we offer four different kinds of bread. Not a lot of homemade bread in the U.S. and it’s so good. Carbs are good in moderation!

Writing

I sent out several of my works to different contests that won’t reveal the winners until sometime this spring. Writing is a waiting game. I’m still entering contests and sending my writings into magazines. It takes a while, if ever, to make it as a freelance writer.

I’m on the second revision, close to the end, of my novel. After that I’ll send it to my editor and my beta readers—more eyes the better. Along with revising, I’ve already started doing some research regarding query letters. There is so much pressure on writing a great query letter, because you could have a great story but if your query is weak you’ll never get in an agent’s door. So I figured I better start now. With hard work, maybe I’ll be able to start querying agents by April. *cross your fingers*

Weather

It’s been decent in Germany compared to last November and December with the highs in the low 50s/high 40s. And sunshine! We didn’t have much of that last year. It’s not showing any snow in the 7-day forecast. 

Well that’s my Sunday Sundries. What’s going on by you?

GO BEARS!

Time Out!

Hello All!  It’s summer time and I’m enjoying the weather and activities.  I have been busy with my personal life, clearing up my condo, finding another job, so I figured it’s time for a ‘time out.’

If you need to get in touch with me, please don’t hesitate to send an email.  You’ll find my email address under my profile.

I wish you all a safe and wonderful summer and I hope to see you back at the end of August.

Weather or Not It's True!

Lingering white

floating

rocking

like a kite

Soothing cold,

glitter

precious

like some gold

Surreal scene

frozen

time

like a dream

Old man winter

mood

divides

like a splinter

Better days

release

warmth

like lovers' gaze