Writers Forever

Giving literacy help

2012-01-23T05:22:00.000-08:00

   I've written about getting help when you or someone you know can't read, but the flip side is to give help.
In a previous post I cite http://www.proliteracy.org, which states that 63 million adults in the U.S. over 16 years of age can't understand a newspaper article written at the eighth grade level. It goes on to say that this accounts for 29 percent of the adult population. The story gets worse. "An additional 30 million — 14 percent of the country’s adult population — can only read at a fifth grade level or lower."

   However, this means 71 percent of the adult population is literate. That's a lot of people who can give help. Where to go to volunteer your services?

1) Your local literacy council. No need to have a teaching certificate. The councils offer training sessions.
2) Community colleges. I received an email asking for volunteers to tutor students who are studying for their
      GED or are having problems with the courses they are taking.
3) Nonprofit agencies. Hope Harbor Home, the Brunswick County, N.C. agency that assists victims of
      domestic abuse, has women in the shelter who are struggling to make a new life for themselves. Most
      do not have a high school diploma.
   4) Churches. Many churches have immigrants who do not know English and would appreciate some
       assistance in learning it. Some offer GED help.

   Any of these places welcome volunteers.

Finding literacy help

2012-01-05T11:28:00.000-08:00

Literacy, especially adult literacy, is a special interest of mine. I understand the importance of reading as most of us do. The problem, though, is how to find help. Most U.S. born adults who are illiterate are embarrassed at their inability to read and won't ask for help. However, they get through life by being enabled by those who love them.

People from other countries may not know where or how to find help.

It is imperative for people to be aware of others who need help. What can we do?

1) Encourage high school dropouts to get their GED and help them find a program suitable for them. Literacy councils abound. Do a google search to find out where a literacy council exists in your area. I have access to two literacy councils: Brunswick County Literacy Council in Supply, N.C. and Horry County Literacy Council in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Horry County council has six branches throughout the county. In addition, churches and their clergy offer assistance. Seaside United Methodist Church in Sunset Beach, N.C. displays a GED sign on its grounds. Community colleges offer programs.

2) Volunteer at schools to help students improve their reading skills. I see notices in newspapers for volunteers and I receive emails asking for volunteers. No teaching experience is necessary.

3) Visit Web sites and blogs that offer tips on literacy. One comprehensive site is http://www.literacyconnections.com/. It has a massive amount of information.

For Literacy

2011-12-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

I realize the importance of reading and how it has helped me throughout my life, but according to facts at http://www.proliteracy.org/, 63 million adults in the U.S. over 16 years of age can't understand a newspaper article written at the eighth grade level. It states that this accounts for 29 percent of the adult population.

The story gets worse. "An additional 30 million — 14 percent of the country’s adult population — can only read at a fifth grade level or lower," it states.

I've loved reading ever since I was a child. I attribute it to my mother, who read to the four of us every day. The Joliet (Illinois) Herald was delivered daily, and The Spectator was delivered weekly. When the Chicago Tribune came to our area, my parents immediately subscribed to it. My mother received it until she died Jan. 8, 2011 at the age of 90.

How can "readers" help? First off, parents can read to their children. That's the start. If they aren't readers, there's hope. Siblings can reach to each other. Teachers can read to their students. Teens can form study circles and help each other. Those who have the inclination can volunteer at their local literacy councils and teach people to read.

I was a member of Literacy Volunteers of America before it merged with Laubach Literacy International and formed Proliteracy. I taught a woman from Thailand to read English. Her eyes lit up when she recognized a couple featured in the newspaper who happened to be her next door neighbors. She was able to read that they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. She was the success story. Others were defeated because it is difficult to learn to read as an adult. Reading, however, is the key to success on many levels.

I've taken the training at Brunswick County Literacy Council and have volunteered for that organization. I'm waiting to be assigned a student so I can help someone else experience that wonderful feeling of knowing what the names of streets are, what's on a menu and what teachers say in the notes they send home.

Designate time for writing

2011-12-01T15:03:00.000-08:00

How do people keep up with their writing schedules? I've fallen behind. I can't believe I haven't written a blog in more than a month. It happens that we had a death in the family since my last blog in October. My brother-in-law fell from a scaffold and died instantly. My sister is devastated. After 43 years of marriage, she's by herself. Two of her three children live within an hour and a half, so she's spend time with them.
The mourning process takes time and understanding.

I volunteer several hours a week, but it's a choice I've made. I love writing and had five assignments due this week. I met my deadlines. How can I finish the other writing assignments I've given myself?
It's a matter of designating time for them.

1) Make a schedule each day and keep to it.
2) Give yourself enough time to finish what you want to write.
3) Allow for delays and emergencies, e.g., an interview that goes past the allotted time; a call from a neighbor
who needs help; a need to sit and rest.

I look forward to seeing my family over the Holidays. I'll make my writing schedule in January!

"Linda Goodman's Sun Signs"

2011-10-31T10:45:00.000-07:00

I had not heard of the book, "Linda Goodman's Sun Signs," until I attended a writers' conference in Raleigh, N.C. The speaker, Cherry Adair, praised it and encouraged the 70 people in the auditorium to consider using it as a guide to develop characters in novels. She emphasized that novelists should choose a birthday for their main characters and NEVER change it. I took her advice, chose birthdays and bought Goodman's book.

I read about my own sign first and disagree with much of what is written in the book. Then I read my husband's sign and knew he didn't fit the mold in the least. In a novel, though, we set real life aside and create our own worlds and people, so this book is a start to helping choose traits for our characters.

My heroine in my work-in-progress, "Red Diamonds,"s is a libra. What a coincidence! Many of Tessa's characteristics fit her sign! I will not change what doesn't fit because no one fits a mold in its entirety, even fictional characters.

If nothing else, the book is a start to helping develop believable characters.

Self-publishing quandry

2011-10-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

Should I or shouldn't I self-publish?
Nearly everyone I know wants to write a book, whether it be a novel, memoir, autobiography or family history. The publishing market today does not allow for every book to be published; thus, well-meaning individuals turn to self-publishing.

Writing requires an enormous number of skills, among which are:
* well-defined topic
* clarity of thought
* spelling
* sentence structure
* punctuation
* syntax; that is, the proper use of the English language
* accuracy of facts

Note:
* I have a copy of a self-published book that has no author's name in sight.
* I have a copy of a self-published book that has factual contradictions in it.
   The original event either took place in 1959 or 1961, It did not take place both times.
* I have a copy of two self-published books that make no sense. I cannot follow the topic.
   The sentence structure is horrible. The sentences are convoluted and/or fragments.
* I have a copy of a self-published book that is a diatribe about the government.
   The author is bitter about his lot in life.

These aren't books. They are personal journals. I understand people wanting to give family
members a remembrance, but they shouldn't impose their personal histories and inaccuracies
on the general population.

If you have a good story, write a good story. Get help. Join a writers' group. Join a professional
organization. These people will be as honest about your writing as their consciences allow.
Paying for professional editing services is a last resort. Often the cost does not warrant the
suggestions.

Follow your dream of writing a book, but when you reveal it to the general public, make it
something they can be proud to have read so they can tell you with sincerity, "Job well done."

Motivation to Write

2011-09-08T01:31:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it's been three weeks since I last wrote a blog. Time does go by fast. I have a list of stories I want to write, and some how they aren't getting written. I get assignments and can polish most of those off in a few hours after the interviews. I need motivation, just like I need motivation to lose weight. What provides the motivation?
1) Serious life change--Everyone knows someone who has had a serious life change. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and died in 2010. His death affected my life and my husband's in numerous ways, especially in putting our own mortality in perspective. I know there's a limited amount of time I have to write--so I'd better get the stories written.

2) Vision--I see the stories in print. I picture how I'm going to write them.
3) Hope--I'm investigating pubs that will accept them.

I don't want to look back and say I wasted time.
I'm on these projects today!

Travel Writing

2011-08-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Three weeks in Europe offered me multiple opportunities to write about the sights. I jotted notes as we toured the eight capitals. Others on the tour would ask what sights I was going to write about. I told them I didn't know. I'm not a travel writer. Transportation, directions, hotels, restaurants, costs and exchange rates are just part of what a travel writer must know. I enjoyed the trip and was enchanted by Vienna, St. Petersburg and Tallinn, but to be able to tell others how to "see the sights" isn't in my writer's lexicon.

Instead, I'm compiling a list of what impressed me and why, such as the boulevard that makes Vienna just like home, St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg and its spectacular interior, the unique upper town and lower town of Tallinn.

Other ideas I have are the humor of some situations: how I wanted a picture of myself for our family calendar, but a breeze blew up just as a kind lady snapped the picture and my hair is standing straight in the air; how I had a seat directly behind a large pillar during the ethnic dance in St. Petersburg and not only missed many moves but couldn't take pictures; how I carefully calculated the number of minutes I was spending online so I wouldn't go over my allotted amount when I realized I had an additional 150 minutes free.

The whole point of this entry is to tell writers that traveling doesn't necessary mean you have to write a "traveling" piece. Put a twist on your travels, and write something that doesn't involve train schedules, attractions and costs.

Sarra Cannon and Self-Publilshing

2011-06-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Sarra Cannon is phenomenal! Her story is an inspiration to struggling writers. She created a niche for herself by e-publishing her YA fantasy books: "Beautiful Demons," "Inner Demons" and "Bitter Demons." She has sold thousands of them, and she is willing to share how she began and how she continues to do it.

Sarra spoke at the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers meeting June 10 at the Southwest Regional Library in Durham, N.C. and urged those attending to consider self-publishing and e-publishing. She provided a step-by-step outline of how to accomplish the task and has the information on her Web site at http://www.sarracannon.com./

What is admirable about Sarra is her enthusiasm to help other writers. She understands the downside of writing and how discouraging the process of getting published can be. She offered an alternative to the traditional path to publishing. Based on the proliferation of tablets and e-readers, e-publishing will eventually take over the market. Now is the time to step in and form a readership with the e-crowd.

North Brunswick Magazine and South Brunswick Magazine

2011-06-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Most people like to read about where they live, and Brunswick County, N.C. has two offerings that have attracted attention: North Brunswick Magazine, which appeared five years ago, and South Brunswick Magazine, which arrived almost three years ago. The brain child of publisher Justin Williams of Leland, N.C. at the north end of the county, the magazines caught on because they offer positive, upbeat articles about people, places and events in Brunswick County. Newspapers provide the negative; Williams provides the positive.

In the interest of public disclosure, I write for the magazines, but I have never met Williams. He has not asked me to write in favor of the magazines either. I live at the south end of the county in Ocean Isle Beach and enjoy writing about what's happening here, and I enjoy reading about the area as well.

Why two magazines? Brunswick County is massive with 1,050 square miles, almost as large as Cook County, IL where I used to live, which has 1,635 square miles. The north end often doesn't know what the south end is doing.

The format draws readers in: slick cover and pages, pictures with blurbs, creative layout and fascinating photography. Some of the recent articles in SBM include:
* The legendary Sunset Beach bridge
* The charisma of Calabash
* Jon David, the county's newly elected district attorney
* Kathryn Parker, Seaside United Methodist Church director of music ministries
* The new flight school at the airport in Oak Island

NBM features:
* The Sandman Adventure Race at Brunswick Nature Park near Town Creek
* Eulis A. Willis, mayor of Navassa
* Youth Art Day in Leland
* George and Laura Patterson of Leland, didn't retire, opened their own business, Mulch & More
* Jane and Liz Tageson, mother-daughter team, teach together at Leland Christian Academy

The magazines are available at various businesses and by direct mail.
Information about the magazines are at northbrunswickmagazine.com and southbrunswickmagazine.com

"Swept Away by a Kiss" by Katharine Ashe

2011-05-16T05:27:00.000-07:00

One of the best historical romances I've ever read is "Swept Away by a Kiss" by Durham, N.C. resident Katharine Ashe. Her heroine, Lady Valerie Monroe, is assertive yet compassionate and avant-garde when it comes to passion. She's "swept away by a kiss" of Etienne La Marque, whom she believes is a Jesuit priest. Unbeknowst to her, he has assumed the disguise in his quest for justice. Later she meets him in his true identity, Viscount Steven Ashford. Valerie recognizes his attraction to her but can't understand why he continues to avoid direct contact with her until he reveals his mission.

The historical detail Ashe weaves into the story brings readers to the scene. They don't have to be familiar with the transportation, vocabulary or clothing of the early 1800s. They are immersed in it and understand the times because of Ashe's superb style.

When pirates board the ship carrying Valerie and Etienne from America to England, readers experience the cruelty of the pirates and the determination of the hero and heroine. When Etienne, now Steven, is in a "playful" fencing match, readers know what's happening in the scene even if they never heard the fencing terms.

The book has it all: memorable characters, heightened conflict and satisfying conclusion. Readers will be pleased to have this title on their book shelves.

Staying in touch with writing

2011-04-08T02:30:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to stay in touch with writing is to subscribe to magazines, read blogs and newsletters and join organizations. MAGAZINES *Writer's Digest This magazine offers something for all writers * Interviews with established writers * Tips to make your writing better * Conferences, workshops and other gatherings for writers * Tackles fiction, nonfiction and poetry topics *RWR (Romance Writers Report) * Specifically for romance writers, however, tips can be applied to all genres * In-depth articles * Contests and conferences *ROMANTIC TIMES * Book reviews, reviews and more reviews * Subtitled "The magazine for fiction lovers" * Interviews with authors BLOGS * Writers Forever--my blog offers 1) Tips on writing improvement 2) Book reviews 3) People who make a difference *Romantic Times blogs *Copyblogger NEWSLETTERS * Nelson Literary Agency--wonderful suggestions; tells what's going on in publishing * Local newsletters--keep you abreast of what's going on where you live for great story ideas ORGANIZATIONS * NFPW--National Federation of Press Women (accepts men as members)--many states have an affiliate * RWA--Romance Writers of America--many states have affiliates * Society of Professional Journalists * South Carolina Writers Workshop * Local groups, e.g, NCWN--North Carolina Writers' Network * Organizations specific to topics: travel writers, food writers, etc.

"In Love with Eleanor Rigby"

2011-03-24T17:40:00.001-07:00

Stacey Cochran, Raleigh, N.C. author and teacher, asked a meetup group I belong to if anyone wanted to write a review of his recently released novella, "In Love with Eleanor Rigby." I volunteered and am happy I did. Writing reviews is an ideal way to
1) Read books
2) Practice your craft
3) Be in contact with other writers

I posted the review on www.amazon.com, but I'm posting it here as well.

Stacey Cochran reaches new heights with his novella “In Love with Eleanor Rigby.” Joe Smith, a carpenter and recovering alcoholic who believes he must hide his past, falls in love with independent, pragmatic Tabitha Merriweather, a milliner who owns a gift shop. Joe notices every detail about Tabitha, the clothes she wears, the tone of her voice, every facial expression. He says her eyes are “as blue as the center of the ocean.” Her voice is “pleasant but not without spine.”

He breaks through the denial of his past at an A.A. meeting when a fellow member explains that people choose to live or die. Joe realizes then “how much it helps to talk.” He decides to break his silence and tell Tabitha about himself. Tabitha accepts Joe’s revelations but keeps her distance until she decides to be part of his life.

The reader can’t ignore the comparison between the Beatles’ hit, “Eleanor Rigby,” and Cochran’s Tabitha Merriweather and Joe Smith; however, Tabitha and Joe conquer their inner demons.

Cochran’s imagery, metaphors and subtle humor unveil a story that contains universal truths that readers recognize. They picture the scenes and the people in the novella. They hear the words as if Joe is speaking directly to them. Cochran achieves what the greatest writers accomplish: layering. The story covers many levels, and his economy of language dazzles.

Entertainment Writing

2011-03-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago when my husband and I attended the Long Bays Symphony concert, "Motion Picture Magic, Music from the Movies," a friend I saw there asked if I was writing a story for the paper. I told her I was there to enjoy it!

I enjoy writing, no matter the topic, but it got me thinking about the entertainment programs I have written stories about. I've covered:

* Sea Notes Choral Society in Southport, N.C.
* Senior Follies fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity in Oak Island, N.C.
* Concerts on the Coast, the outdoor summer fare that's free to all and paid for by local
groups in Brunswick County, N.C.
* Dancing with the Brunswick County Stars

I wrote all of these stories for The Sun News, the Myrtle Beach daily. The stories were human interest and promos for the groups rather than revues.

For those interested in getting published, contact your local publisher and ask if you can cover the concert, play or other production in your area. Often the designated staff entertainment writer isn't able to attend a program, so the editor may be willing to hire a freelancer for the job. Be familiar with the group you will revue, do your research and tell the editor what you know.

Another possibility is to interview the headliner. It's easier than most people think.

* The-late Frank Capra Jr.: I had no trouble getting an interview with him just by telling him I wanted the interview because he was the guest speaker for Brunswick County Volunteer Center.

*Michael Gurian: I agreed to call this Washington state author of "The Wonder of Boys" and 24 other books, after 8 p.m. his time. I live in the Eastern time zone, three hours later than Pacific time.

*Wives of sports figures: At the beginning of my career, I wrote about wives of Chicago Bears football players. I interviewed the wife of golfer D.A. Weibring, who won the Western Open in 1987.

Look around for authors, speakers, singers and other headliners, and most will be happy to talk to a writer.

Mamie McCullough, Motivational Speaker

2011-02-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

Motivational speakers provide the impetus people need to act, and Mamie McCullough is one of the best. Her background is heart-wrenching. Born in rural Georgia, one of nine children, she grew up dirt poor, poorer than anyone I've ever known. She knew life had to be better, and all she wanted was to be better.

When she was 20, she decided she wanted to go to college. She boarded a bus to take her to Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. She gathered together her two dresses, a sack of her mother's fried chicken and $25. She said she didn't know she'd have to pay to go to college. She didn't know she'd have to choose a major.

Dr. Guy Newman, the president of the university at the time, was her guardian angel. He invited her to live at his house with him and his wife. He enlisted his wife's help in getting a wardrobe for Mamie, teaching her etiquette and helping her acclimate to a world apart from Dixie, Ga.

Mamie's is a stupendous success story. Not only did she earn her degree, she worked with Zig Ziglar, the motivational speaker. She was vice president of several corporations. She taught school. She was a high school principal. She has written five books. Payne University named a building after her.

I have her book, "I Can. You Can Too!" I plan to pass along some of its tidbits when I get into the book.

No one I've ever known has overcome such monumental adversity and achieved so much. Give her Web site a visit: www.mamie.com.

Jan Igoe is a humorist for today

2011-01-29T06:56:00.000-08:00

South Carolina writer Jan Igoe is one of the finest humorists writing today. Her humor column "Earth to Jan" appeared in The Sun News, the Myrtle Beach, S.C. daily, a few years back and touched on family, children, jobs and idiosyncrasies that had people nodding and saying, "That's so true. That's how it is."

Jan moved on to other publications and continues her humor writing as a columnist for South Carolina Living magazine. The current issue carries "Lazy until proven active," a prime example of how Jan gets to the heart of the situation. She cites Bloomberg Businessweek's 2010 ranking that states South Carolina is the eighth laziest state in the Union. Speaking as a South Carolina resident, Jan agrees and tells why!

How can a writer project the humor that people appreciate?
1) By making themselves the object of the humor
2) By seeing the humor in an otherwise undesirable situation
3) By using specific examples

Check out the article in South Carolina Living magazine on Facebook or go to www.ecsc.org.
If you're interested in humor writing, see if you can take a rather ridiculous accusation, situation or circumstance and write a piece that makes people laugh.

Writing resolutions for 2011

2011-01-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

How do you motivate yourself to write in 2011?

1) Consider your goals. If the desire to write something--anything--dominates your thoughts, this is the year to start. On the other hand, if the passion to write an article, novel or poem isn't primary in your mind, store the idea away until Jan. 15 or Feb. 1. Revisit the idea then.

2) Choose a project. Do you want to write your autobiography? a novel? an article for a specific magazine? a poem? Focus on the project. If you don't know how to start, do a Google search and get some help. Dozens of books, magazines and college and online classes are available.

3) Put time aside to write. Take a minimum of an hour, more if possible. Determine to write 500 words in that time. You can always increase the amount.

4) Write at the same time every day. Be faithful to the time. Don't take any minutes or days off. Be persistent.

5) Believe in yourself and your goal. You can reach it.

Christmas Stories

2010-12-15T13:47:00.000-08:00

The Christmas, Hanukkah and other holiday seasons offer a challenge to writers. It's important to get stories written, but how can they get written when shopping, baking and other tasks need to get done?

Now is the time to formulate your 2011 holiday stories. Many publications accept Christmas stories a year before. The ideas will be fresh in your mind. If anything unusual happens, any surprises, any humorous experience, now is the time to write those down.

Here's a check list:

* Write about the hustle/bustle of getting ready for the holiday
* Write about visiting family during the holiday
* Write about what the holiday is like away from home
* Write about who is absent
* Write about your ideal Christmas, Hanukkah or whatever your favorite holiday is

You can come up with many more ideas. Then write the story and send it to the publication you know will publish it.

www.ed2go.com

2010-12-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

One of the best ways to supplement your education is by taking online courses, and one of the best sites that offers a myriad of diverse, continuing education courses is http://www.ed2go.com/. I have taken five courses from the site and enjoyed them, learned what I set out to learn and had a wonderful time completing them--and it's on a time schedule I set for myself.

I started with Introduction to Photoshop, moved to Power Point, then Quicken, Intermediate Word and finally Romance Writing Secrets. The format for each course is the same: 12 lessons over six weeks with lessons available on Wednesdays and Fridays. Each lesson includes a quiz, which can be taken as many times as you like. You are given two weeks to complete the final exam at the end of the course; however, it can only be taken once. A certificate of completion used to be mailed to your home, but after I submitted the final exam for Romance Writing Secrets, which ended Nov. 26, I was able to print out the Certificate of Completion immediately. You do not earn college credits for the courses, but some employers may accept the Certificate of Completion as proof of continuing your education.

Ed2go.com divides its courses into four categories: Career and Professional; Computers and Technology; Writing and Publishing; and Personal Development. Within each category are dozens of courses. Want Accounting? Criminal Law? GED Preparation? French, Italian or Spanish? A host of Microsoft Suite courses are offered. Take a look at the selections, and you'll want to sign up right away. Cost of courses varies, but I don't think they are deal breakers.

Ed2go.com is associated with 1,800 colleges and universities across the country. When you sign up, you find the college closest to you that is a participating school. Brunswick Community College in Supply, N.C., the only higher education school in Brunswick County, participates.
Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, N.C., Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, N.C. and University of North Carolina at Wilmington are also participating schools. I'm from Joliet, IL, and Joliet Junior College participates. It won't be hard to find a school near you.

Ed2go.com is a way to enrich your life and learning. Just writing this blog inspired me to sign up for at least three more courses: Introduction to Excel, Photography Secrets and Get Funny, which would have me in writing humor.

Ed2go truly makes learning fun.

Baked Salmon on Thanksgiving Day

2010-11-16T07:18:00.000-08:00

I remember years ago when a friend of mine asked if I thought people would accept salmon as their Thanksgiving dinner instead of the traditional turkey. My first thought was that she was crazy. What citizen of the United States would want salmon instead of turkey? At the least, serve beef!

I hesitated and my blank stare prompted her to say that many people don't like turkey, and she had this huge salmon in her freezer that her husband had caught on a fishing trip that summer.

I told her I'd call the guests and find out from them if they would accept the nontraditional on the most traditional dinner day in America. She mentioned to a few guests before Turkey Day that she was serving salmon. Some gagged, but she went ahead and baked the "king of fish" anyway. She really wanted to get rid of the thing that took up too much room in her freezer.

After Thanksgiving, she said the people liked the change of menu, so if anyone is looking for a nontraditional entree such as salmon, go to Patricia Gambarelli's blog at www.patriciagambarelli.blogspot.com and get one of Pat's favorite recipes: "Baked Salmon with a Cranberry Crust."

What's great about the recipe is that it has the traditional Thanksgiving Day twist with the cranberry addition. It sounds easy and fast, so for the nontraditional celebrating a tradition, it might be the perfect entree.

To get more of what Pat's about, go to www.patriciagambarelli.com.

Sunset Beach Bridge Walk

2010-11-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

What a great time it was Nov. 1 when hundreds of people showed up for the Sunset Beach Bridge Walk. With the sun shining and the temperature in the mid-sixties, Sunset Cyclists and Cape Fear Cyclists led the gathering across the bridge. Young mothers pushed strollers, residents had their dogs on leashes, people talked on their cell phones and dozens of people came to the railing to take pictures.

What I especially like about the bridge is that it's wide! It has two bicycle lanes (which, I'm sure, will also attract walkers) and two vehicular traffic lanes. It rises high enough for people to see the marsh, Ocean Isle Beach and its high-rise building, boats on the Intracoastal Waterway and vistas that delight the imagination.

I got to the top of the bridge, which rises from 62-65 feet in the air and extends for a half mile, as the pontoon bridge was opening for water traffic on the Intracoastal. It was providential that we saw the sight in its waning days. Feelings are still divided about the new $32 million bridge vs. the 52-year-old pontoon bridge.

"We're tried of waiting in the traffic," said Nancy Sneska of Carolina Shores, N.C. At the same time, "We're anxious to see what they do about the parking."

"It'll be nice to get over here, but I would prefer the old bridge because it's historic. That's the charm and beauty of that bridge," added Pencie Crews of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.

Jackie Headman and Pat Sheridan of Sunset Beach said they were happy with having a new bridge. "I'm thrilled," Pat said.

"As much as we know you have to progress, it's a sad time, too," Jackie said.

Chris Wilson of Sunset Beach is promoting the preservation of the pontoon bridge. Those who want to learn more or are in favor of the preservation can go to www.theoldbridge.org for more information.

No day or time is set as yet for the official opening of the high-rise bridge, but I am sure some people will be cheering and others will be crying.

Scrapbooking

2010-10-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

What a phenomenal gathering I went to today. It was called "Scraptacular," a weekend retreat for people who scrapbook as a hobby. This bi-annual "crop" was in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and was hosted by Rayann Culp, owner of Scrapbooks by the Sea in Pawleys Island, and Linn Phillips, owner of Scrapbook Concepts in Florence, S.C. Eunice Alexander of MeMe's Scraps & Invitations in Hartsville. S.C. and Laurie Capps of Charleston Scrapbook Company in Summerville, S.C. were also there.

My daughter-in-law, Meghan, has scrapbooking as a hobby. She's given us several books, and we love them. It's a perfect way to be creative and to preserve heart-felt memories. I was covering the event for my story on scrapbooking. It's a huge topic. There's traditional, digital and hybrid scrapbooking. Then there's card making and other paper items to make, such as "pillow boxes," which are used for gift cards, cash or jewelry.

I label all my pictures and put them in photo albums, but what I do is primitive compared to scrapbookers. They use patterned, themed and colored paper. They add yarn, letters in all sizes and fonts and any other appropriate item. Most of the scrapbookers give the books as gifts. It's worth looking into as a hobby.

To read my story go to http://www.thesunnews.com/ and type in my name: Jo Ann Mathews. That's the fastest way to get the story--but you have to wait. It won't appear until Nov. 4.

Brunswick County, N.C. in October

2010-10-06T11:55:00.000-07:00

Although the vacationers have gone home, lots of activity continues in Brunswick County, N.C. On Oct. 1 the new Sunset Beach Bridge, named Mannon C. Gore Bridge after the founder of Sunset Beach, was dedicated. The town held its Sunset at Sunset festival Oct. 2, and on Oct. 4 the town council voted to preserve the bridge tender's house that sat atop the old bridge.

Oct. 15 is the grand opening of Ocean Isle Beach Park off Old Georgetown Road adjacent to Ocean Ridge Plantation. Then on Oct. 16 and 17 the 30th annual North Carolina Oyster Festival is held at Ocean Isle Beach. It begins Oct. 16 with a walk/race at 7 a.m. The festivities continue all day with arts and crafts vendors, entertainment and activities for children. It culminates with the Oyster Shucking contest from 4-6 p.m. The highlight Oct. 17 is the Oyster Stew Cook-off at noon.

The 9th annual Communities in Schools gala takes place Oct. 21. This black tie optional event was the first ever annual ultra-formal celebration in Brunswick County. It raises more than $125,000 each year. All proceeds go to programs for children in Brunswick County Schools.

The 3rd annual Wag Shag gets going Oct. 24 in the tent at Sea Trail. What a treat it is to see the dogs dressed in costumes and performing for the audience. This year features Halloween costumes. No dogs are unruly, and owners make sure thier pets are friendly to all those at the big party.

Brunswick County is an exciting place to live.

My new Facebook page

2010-09-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of developing a new Facebook page for business contacts. My page is Writer Jo Ann Mathews in Brunswick County, N.C. It's rather long, but it says what I do. It covers a lot of bases. I write for three area publications: The Sun News daily newspaper and Coastal Business Life magazine, both out of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and South Brunswick Magazine out of Leland, N.C.

I know the area, and I know Brunswick County, so anyone with questions about the politics, beaches, restaurants, events, attractions, stores, and any other facet of the County can contact me. If I can't readily provide the information, I can find someone who can.

I've interviewed politicians, the movers and shakers, the average residents, transplanted residents and those in-between. I love writing about Brunswick and Horry counties, and I love what I'm doing. Come and visit me at Facebook.

Sunset River Marketplace, Calabash, N.C.

2010-08-13T16:15:00.000-07:00

When rains come to Brunswick County, North Carolina, people don’t go to the beach or swim in the ocean. They seek other diversions. One alternative is Sunset River Marketplace, a 10,000 square-foot art gallery filled with art works in every medium. Jewelry, pottery, oils, watercolors. Name the medium and the gallery has it. Not only does it display works by local and regional artists, it offers workshops, presentations on a multitude of topics and discussions by local authors. It’s a place that locals frequent. I seldom walk out of there without buying something. I love the place!!

►Coffee with the Local Authors
Unless a holiday interferes with the schedule or some other circumstance prevents it, the first Thursday of the month from September through April, three or four writers form a panel and discuss their books and answer audience questions. Sometimes it’s a single author who explains writing style, talks about getting started in writing or discusses a pertinent topic on writing. The event is free to all who attend.

►Creative Exchange
The second Wednesday of each month throughout the year when schedules permit, the gallery hosts a presentation on a fascinating topic such as efficient packing for travel, scrapbooking and fashion jewelry. December always has a holiday theme. Cost of the event is $5, which includes lunch.

► Workshops
Artist Sterling Edwards presents “Acrylic Abstracts” from September 20-24. Edwards is a watercolorist with a unique style that art lovers respect.

►Exhibitions
The gallery highlights artists and their works inside the front door. Past displays include “Watercolors with a Transparent Touch” by Richard Staat and “Barns of the American Landscape,” a group exhibit.

►Classes
Want to learn to paint in watercolor? Oils? What about learning pottery? A variety of classes are offered, including those for children.

►Custom Framing
No matter the size or style, the gallery has thousands of choices for framing and matting. I’ve had several paintings framed there. The results are great.

Owner Ginny Lassiter is friendly and knowledgeable. Check out the gallery at 10283 Beach Drive, Calabash, N.C. 28467, at http://www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com/ or call 910-575-5999.

Inlet View Bar & Grill, Shallotte Point, Shallotte, N.C. in Brunswick County

2010-07-23T10:14:00.001-07:00

One of the first questions newcomers to Brunswick County, N.C. ask is where the best restaurants are, specifically seafood restaurants. In 2009 Inlet View Bar & Grill at the end of Village Point Road in Shallotte, N.C. reopened after a five-year hiatus. The results are astounding!
The décor is simple with lots of wood and huge windows that overlook the Intracoastal Waterway with all the splendor a seascape offers. Patrons can visit the upstairs bar and go out on the massive deck to enjoy the outdoors and the view. They can eat on the bar level if they wish, but the main dining room is one floor down. An elevator assists those who don’t want to tackle the steps.
The owners buy local seafood as often and as much as possible. Shrimp, soft shell crab, clams, oysters and flounder are the popular catches. The light breading on the generous portions of fried seafood is sweet and tender. The hush puppies have a special taste that makes them irresistible. One basket is never enough.
Start with bacon-wrapped scallops for $8.95. Other than the market priced items, the most expensive selection on the menu is crab legs at $18.95. A house salad is only $4.25 while a Caesar salad is $4.50, but top them with shrimp, tuna or mahi mahi and it jumps to $11.99.
Grilled chicken ($13.95), hamburger steak ($9.95) and ribeye steak ($15.95) are the only non-seafood dinners, but BLT, cheeseburger, ham & cheese, hamburger and grilled chicken breast are on the menu. The “kiddie” menu has the always popular grilled cheese, chicken fingers and hot dog. For the young seafood eaters there is fried shrimp.
I choose flounder, and it was yummy. My dinner companions chose shellfish in all its forms and said it was the best they had ever eaten. It could have been the view, the conversation or just the ambiance. We enjoyed every second of our time there.
Look for information at http://www.inletview.com/ or give the restaurant a call at 910-754-6233.

Ingram Planetarium, Sunset Beach, N.C.

2010-07-09T06:25:00.000-07:00

Another unique attraction often overlooked when visiting Brunswick County, N.C. is Ingram Planetarium, a few miles south of Museum of Coastal Carolina just off Sunset Boulevard, aka Route 179, in Sunset Beach. Both facilities lie under the umbrella of Ocean Isle Museum Foundation, Inc., which supports them.

Ingram Planetarium enjoys the luxury of being one of the few planetariums around the world to have SciDome HD, a system that projects around three million pixels on the sky dome. With ImmersaVision from Spitz, Inc. visitors see 360 degrees of viewing. No matter where they sit, nothing is blocking their view. In addition, it contains 500 million objects and is updated on a regular basis. Technicians can show 88 constellations in various ways.

Mark Jankowski, senior technician at Ingram, said he can outline the stars six different ways, show the Big Dipper, connect the dots and display the overlay of a bear. He takes viewers into space and makes them feel as if they are really there. Want to go to Jupiter, Saturn or Mars? Just make the request.

Shows at the planetarium begin on the hour starting at 1 with “Astronaut.” At 2 the program is “Oasis in Space,” 3 is “Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” and 4 is “Seven Wonders.” Free family programs are also available through Aug. 19 in the Paul Dennis Science Hall. Tuesdays feature “Navigating the Seas.” Wednesdays have “Turtle Talk” and Thursdays offer “Sun Fun” in which families look through a solar telescope and discover sun and participate in sun-related activities.

The planetarium also offers musical laser shows at 5 and 6 p.m. through Aug. 19. On Tuesdays at 5, catch “Laser Beatles.” At 7 watch “Laser Arena Rock.” On Wednesdays at 5 see “Laser Metallica” and at 6 is “Pink Floyd: The Wall.” It is recommended that young children not see this one. On Thursdays at 5 “Laser Beatles” returns, and at 6 is “Laser Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon.”

The planetarium is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:30- 7; on Fridays and Saturdays from 12:30 to 4. Cost per show is $8 for those 17-59 and $6 for those from 3-16 and those 60+. People can find more information at www.ingramplanetarium.org, e-mail personnel at infor@ingramplanetarium.org or call 910-575-0033.

sightseeing in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.

2010-06-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

I’m familiar with a vacation spot that thousands of people visit each year: Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. Visitors to this seaside paradise come primarily to lay on the beach for the perfect suntan, but this town offers much more. Right on the island is the Museum of Coastal Carolina. The museum has special programs throughout the week during the summer.

Each summer it varies, so now in 2010 on Mondays children and their families learn how to tie five different knots. They receive a knot-tying guide and rope to take home. On Tuesdays visitors learn to identify fish in the museum’s Ocean Reef Gallery. On Wednesdays children learn oceanfront safety. In addition, an Ocean Isle Beach fireman drives a fire truck to the museum, talks of fire safety, tells what firemen wear and what they do and gives visitors a tour of the truck. Wednesday evenings people walk to two haunted locations and learn about ghosts in the area. Thursdays children learn about sharks and dig for sharks’ teeth. On Thursday nights Matthew Bookout brings his reptiles and snakes and tells all about them. Fridays are Touch Tank feeding days. Visitors learn which fish swim in the tank and watch a docent feed the fish. They learn to identify shells and can bring their own shells to be identified.

These afternoon programs start at 3:30 while the evening programs are at 7. The museum opens at 10. The programs are free but require admission to the museum. Costs range from $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students and $4 for those 3-5. The phone of the museum is 910-579-1016; e-mail is info@museumofcc.org and its Web site is www.museumofcc.org.

Friday nights are concert nights in the Museum parking lot beginning at 6:30. A different band plays each week. A full schedule is at www.brunswickcountync.gov. Under departments, choose Parks and Recreation. At that page choose Community Events. The entire Brunswick County schedule of concerts and movies is listed there. I will be highlighting a different attraction in the Ocean Isle Beach area throughout the summer.

The Devil in the White City, Part III

2010-05-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

Besides the fascinating story of the development of the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and the corollary story of serial killer H.H. Holmes, aka Herman Mudgett, what impressed me the most about this book is the detail Eric Larson includes. His research extends beyond what most readers expect. An example of this is when he explains that the Exposition’s hospital treated 11,602 patients. He follows that declaration with the number of people treated for specific conditions, such as diarrhea, constipation, etc. He names a total of eight conditions. All dental problems are grouped together in one category separate from those mentioned above.

Another example of being specific is the details of the August 16, 1893, Midway Ball. He tells about the various people who attended and what they wore, about the dances and who led them. He lists the entire menu. Larson ties the story together at the end by explaining how the Exposition concludes and how Holmes meets his demise.

The unity of the story is complete when Larson finishes as he started—April 14, 1912—the sailing across the Atlantic of the Titanic coming to America and the Olympic going to England. Most of the architects and directors involved with the Exposition had passed on by then; however, Daniel Burnham was a passenger on the Olympic and Frank Millet, a painter from New York who was responsible for the “White City” and “Whitewash Gang” terms being applied to the Exposition’s buildings, was a passenger on the Titanic.

The reader can skip parts that include too many details yet get the core of the story. Those interested in writing nonfiction can learn how to mesh story and detail by reading this book.

The Devil in the White City, Part II

2010-04-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'm almost halfway through the book, and I'm horrified by Dr. H.H. Holmes sadistic, cold-blooded killings. I still haven't learned what his motives are for killing women. Eric Larson's description of him is similar to the descriptions of Ted Bundy--a charmer who is irresistible to women but a serial killer nonetheless. So far Holmes has killed at least two women and a child. Another woman left Chicago abruptly, unwilling to say why except she didn't want to talk about Holmes. She went home to Iowa and died there. I suspect Holmes poisoned her. He was a trained physician and knew how to kill without using weapons.
The Columbian Exposition--actually, its proper title is World's Columbian Exposition--is progressing faster than I thought it could. The number of buildings and their detailed construction defies credibility, but Burnham pushed ahead, determined to show the world that America, specifically Chicago, could accomplish the established goals.
I am impressed with some of the names associated with the Exposition--Thomas Edison, Elias Disney and Frederick Law Olmstead, landscape designer of New York's Central Park and Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.
This book contains biography, history, suspense, murder and intrigue. I've talked to some people who didn't want to read all the details of the developing Exposition, but as the story unfolds, I don't want to skip one word!

The Devil in the White City, Part I

2010-04-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

I grew up in the Chicago area--Joliet, Ill. to be exact--and I learned that many innovations were introduced at the Columbian Exposition, which commemorated Christopher Columbus' discovery of America 400 years earlier. Erik Larson's "The Devil in the White City" casts a perspective on the Exposition that I never realized existed.
Larson starts with the Exposition Universelle of 1889 in Paris, which set the wheels in motion for the United States to top that World's Fair. Architect Daniel Burnham, who is credited with not only the design of Chicago but for preserving land throughout the Chicago area to be used for recreation--hiking, picnicking and other family activities, is at the core of this book as is his partner, John Wellborn Root. Another figure, Herman Mudgett aka Dr. H.H. Holmes, is a person whose name I never heard before. He's the antagonist in juxtaposition to Burnham, Root, et.al., the heroes in the story.
The book reads like a novel, but it's all true, and what truth Larson provides!
Be assured that Holmes, who copied his name presumably from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective, Sherlock Holmes, is not in search of justice for the downtrodden or misunderstood.
He may be classified as a psychopath, but he is likable. He charms women and they fall under his spell. As I continue my journey through this book, I hope to uncover the reason for his behavior and how he managed to ignore the value of life.

Genes, environment and success

2010-03-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

“The Help,” a novel by Kathryn Stockett, and “Outliers,” a nonfiction book by Malcolm Gladwell that he subtitled “the Story of Success,” strikes me as being based on the same premise. That is, genes and environment determine success.
“The Help” chronicles the plight of blacks in the South, specifically Jackson, Mississippi, during the 1960s. The only obstacle to a black’s success was skin color, which, of course, includes genetics and environment. Slavery had been abolished, but the majority of southern whites treated blacks as slaves. Blacks in the North didn’t have such severe restrictions as their southern counterparts although they experienced discrimination as well. Blacks were never given credit for their intelligence and never rated on the same scale. The courage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., James Meredith, the first black student to enter University of Mississippi, Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama, and the four men who sat at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C. helped change blacks’ status in America. However, many whites believed blacks couldn’t achieve the success of whites—simply because their skin color was dark.
In “Outliers” Gladwell tells how children born into an environment with multiple opportunities have a better chance at success. If a child is associated with an accomplished musician, for example, that child has a greater chance of developing an interest in music and becoming a musician. If someone is surrounded by diplomats, that person learns the skills diplomats possess.
Gladwell also gives examples of how those born “at the right time” have a greater chance of success. Consider the cut-off dates for children’s sports’ teams and entrance into school. A child born Sept. 1 when the cut-off date is Aug. 30 has a full year ahead of anyone born Aug. 30. He or she will be bigger, stronger and probably more mature.
What bothers me about Gladwell’s theory is that he doesn’t give credit to people who achieve high goals when they are faced with several disadvantages. Anyone born in the projects, surrounded by poverty, gangs and illiteracy, must work harder to achieve commendable goals, but with dreams and goals in his or her heart, that person can achieve success. Those without supportive parents, teachers or friends, can ignore the negative and set their sights on high goals.
What is unfortunate about Stockett’s story is that it happened and discrimination still exists in America. What is unfortunate about Gladwell’s book is that people may believe him.

Writing Contests

2010-03-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

Writing contests are a great way to hone your skills and read what are considered award-winning works. I entered a short fiction contest and enjoyed the challenge of following the rules. The topic had to be on love--love of any kind, e.g., a friend, the environment, knitting, whatever the writer decided, and could not exceed 275 words. I chose love of a pet. The reward I received was being named a finalist.

I have the piece here. Let me know what you think.

Love Bite

Connie reached to pet the tiny Boston terrier but withdrew when Tilda snapped at her outstretched fingers.
“She’s frightened,” the breeder said, clutching Tilda closer to her chest. “She’s the runt of the litter. She’s been overlooked for six months.”
“My two preschoolers are boys. They want an active boy dog,” Connie countered.
“Tilda can be an active dog for boys. She just needs some encouragement.”
Connie reached again but Tilda stuck her nose in the air and turned her head away, brushing Connie’s fingers in the process. Connie smacked her lips and frowned then pointed to a lounging pup in the far corner of the room. “How about that one?”
“You don’t want Henry. He doesn’t move, not even to eat. He’s the laziest dog I’ve ever owned.” Henry rested his head in his paws and closed his eyes.
“I see a Boston running in the backyard.”
“Hazel doesn’t like people. That’s why she’s back there. She’s left alone. I leave her food on the porch so she doesn’t have to get close to people.”
“That one by the front door looks friendly, healthy and happy,” Connie answered.
“You don’t want Pete. He eats everything—photographs, computer keyboards, toilet paper. Not a good match. Tilda eats very little, loves people and is active enough for boys.” She petted Tilda, who turned to face Connie.
“I’m—” Connie fanned her hands.
At that moment, Tilda jumped from the breeder’s arms into Connie’s extended hands and licked the clutching fingers as if to heal them.
Startled, Connie hugged the dog close. “How much?” she asked, dipping her chin to caress Tilda’s furry spine.

Literacy and "Precious"

2010-01-31T13:11:00.000-08:00

The importance of literacy attracted my attention once again after I read "Push," the book by Sapphire that was made into the movie, "Precious." It's hard to believe that people in America today are illiterate or functionally illiterate, but according to statistics at education-portal.com, 50 million Americans are unable to read above the fourth or fifth grade level, and 42 million can't read at all. What's worse, at least two million Americans are added to that number each year.

The importance of reading in today's society doesn't need any explanation. Rather than criticizing parents and teachers for this debacle, let's see how relatives and friends can help those they know who can't read.

I came across Literacy Center Education Network at literacycenter.net. It's a good place to start because it's comprehensive and gives visitors choices. Want to learn colors? What about uppercase and lowercase letters? Shapes? Those are all there. Besides, it gives a choice of languages--English, Spanish, German and French--thus, it serves a dual purpose for those who want to learn a new language.

Claireece Precious Jones, the character in the book, is a special case that will astound readers, but she's one of the millions who can't read. I'll do some more searching and see what other Web sites people can visit that might help someone they know learn to read.

Web reconstruction

2010-01-23T06:40:00.000-08:00

While my Web site is under reconstruction, I will suspend writing on my blog. Thanks for your patience.

A BETTER MAN BY KELLY JOHNSON

2009-12-20T14:42:00.000-08:00

Kelly contacted me recently and said she has an opportunity to hand-delivery her book, "A Better Man," to Oprah Winfrey. What a fantastic prospect! Everyone knows that a mention of your book on Oprah is an instant best seller. I wish Kelly that good fortune, and I'm posting my letter here, hoping that others who aren't familiar with Kelly's book will pick it up and pass it along to a teen.

Ms. Winfrey: As you are aware, teens need role models, and I would like you to know that Kelly Johnson has an indisputable line-up of 26 role models in “A Better Man,” the book of essays and interviews she has compiled and edited. Johnson found reputable leaders in a vast array of professions from athletics, politics, the military, education, entertainment and more. Some of the men, such as director, producer and actor Kenny Leon, grew up poor. Others, such as President George H.W. Bush, were born to privilege. In all cases, these men overcame adversity, used their talents to achieve success and also to benefit others.

This book can help boys look to men who have succeeded in fulfilling their dreams. It can help them understand they can attain their goals. I recommend this book for all young men from middle school through college. They can benefit from reading about men with dreams just like they have. Johnson gets to the heart of the subjects and presents their stories in understandable terms.

I hope you can find time to invite Johnson to your television program to discuss “A Better Man.”

Thank you for considering this request.

Sincerely,
Jo Ann Mathews

WHEN SOMEONE BELIEVES IN YOU

2009-12-03T07:44:00.000-08:00

One of my first posts at my Writers Forever blog was about LENKE BROWN, an 88-year-old who wrote a book with the help of her long-time friend, MAUREEN WOODS. “Life As Lenke” is an autobiographical account of how Lenke overcame monumental obstacles growing up in Hungary, worked as a seamstress in her homeland, survived the Hungarian Revolution, immigrated to America and became a successful businesswoman/designer/seamstress in her adopted land.
Her inspiration for writing the book was her husband, Larry, who encouraged her to record the fascinating, as well as sordid, details of her long life. It was his dream to have Lenke write her autobiography. His dream was fulfilled in May, and at the end of October at the age of 97, Larry died. He and Lenke had been married more than 30 years.
Even though it was Larry’s dream, out of love for him, Lenke fulfilled that dream. At the same time, she accomplished a seemingly unachievable goal. English is not Lenke’s native language, and she didn’t feel competent to write a book. In steps Maureen.
Think about how people help each other and how many massive roadblocks are smashed when someone believes in another. All of you who want to write to publish can accomplish that goal. Find others who encourage you, others who believe in you. Don’t be discouraged in spite of barriers. Think of Lenke and what she accomplished. If writing a book is your life’s dream, work to accomplish that goal. Make that your 2010 resolution.
Larry believed in Lenke. He didn’t want any recognition for Lenke’s book. He just wanted other people to know how valuable and noteworthy her accomplishments are.
“Like As Lenke” is available at amazon.com.

Jacqueline DeGroot, Novelist

2009-11-21T11:52:00.000-08:00

Jacqueline DeGroot is a prolific self-published novelist who specializes in erotica. She calls herself “Jack,” saying that the nickname is a result of being in auto sales. Ben Steelman, feature writer with the Star News in Wilmington, N.C., recently dedicated a column to her. Despite her popular sex scenes in “Climax,” “Barefoot Beaches,” and her latest “Tessa of Crooked Gulley,” one book in the Widows of Sea Trail series, my favorite book is “For the Love of Amanda.”

In this novel, the protagonist, Michele Moore, wants to save her daughter, Mandy, from dying of leukemia. One way is to harvest stem cells from an umbilical cord. The problem is that Michele is a widow whose husband, Kevin, died in an airplane crash. Michele is desperate, though, so asks Kevin’s twin brother, Michael, for his sperm. Michael agrees.

I like the story because it approaches love from several angles. The reader admires Michele for her love of Amanda and praises Michael for his love of Michele. Then you have Mandy and her friend Gabby and her cousin, Sam.

Jack does her research and knows what she’s talking about when she delves into the medical field. Michael is a physician, which can be complicated if the writer doesn’t know procedures, techniques and medical terms. Jack knows all about these, and I give her credit for writing so lay people can understand what she’s saying.

Jack is also wonderful at self-promotion. She attends festivals, book discussions and book signings where she sells a good number of her books. Her dozen titles are available at amazon.com and on her Web site at jacquelinedegroot.com.

Amazon, book reviews and HCRW

2009-11-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

It came to my attention that I was reviewing the same books on this blog as I was reviewing on amazon.com. I had hoped to give more coverage to little known books that are worth reading, but amazon gets a lot more readership than my blog does. So in the interest of efficiency, I will only review books occasionally.

There are dozens of books being published that are excellent reads. Heart of Carolina Romance Writers in Raleigh, N.C. is one group with talented writers. The organization, a chapter of Romance Writers of America, promotes its membership and their books. A list of the nearly 50 authors in HCRW is at heartofcarolina.org. More information about the authors is available by clicking on their names.

Other information is at the Web site as well. Nonmembers can read about the organization, which meets the second Saturday of each month, usually at Cameron Village Library in Raleigh. Nonmembers can also take online classes HCRW offers.

My Best Seller Contest!

2009-10-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

Have your book reviewed on my blog! Five people will receive the honor.

I’ve read excellent books that don’t get the publicity they deserve. More people would buy them if they heard the title and read glowing comments about them. You can increase sales and advance your career if your book gets good reviews. It doesn’t matter if the book is nonfiction or fiction, an e-book, soft cover or hard cover, published by a small publisher or self-published. But it must be published!

To enter the contest, submit one paragraph of 50 words or less saying why your book deserves to be read. Include publisher and where the book is available. The criteria I use is that it better be good! Compelling motivation and believable characters, if it’s fiction. Informative, if it’s nonfiction. I have examples of my reviews right here.

Enter today by e-mailing me at jamathews124@aol.com. Put “contest” on the subject line. Deadline for entry is Nov. 20. You will be notified by e-mail if you are one of the five chosen.

PASTA FOR MEN ONLY by PATRICIA GAMBARELLI

2009-10-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

“I know recipes that work,” Patricia “Pat” Gambarelli told me.
That’s the kind of chef I like to be around!
PASTA FOR MEN ONLY is a collection of recipes with easy-to-follow directions, tasty dishes, and, as an added treat, some background information.
For example:
· “ Dos and Don’ts for Perfect Pasta” — 10 tips
· “Tomato—the Magical Fruit” — the nutritional value and more
· “Basil: King of the Realm” — history and facts about this herb, such as:
► Tear it don’t chop it
► Add it the last five minutes of cooking because heat destroys the sweet flavor

Each recipe has a brief introduction, e.g., page 20: Tomato Sauce with Sweet Sausage.
“I always look for sweet sausage that doesn’t contain fennel.” Pat tells more in four sentences. Fascinating!

What is remarkable about this slim, 124-page book is its numbered steps in the instructions. Pat has made cooking as simple as 1-2-3. Let’s take a peek.

Tomato Sauce with Sweet Sausage
1. In a large saucepan equipped with a cover, heat the oil.
2. Brown the sausage.
3. Add the pureed tomatoes and salt.
The instructions have 6 more steps. You are never left to wonder what to do.

Each of the recipes is paired with a suitable wine. This one suggest Zinfandel.

You can imagine that this book isn’t only for men. Women will love it, too.

You can read how the book came about, order the book and read Pat’s blog at her Web site: patriciagambarelli.com. You can e-mail her at letscook@atmc.net.

A BETTER MAN by KELLY JOHNSON

2009-10-03T03:03:00.000-07:00

I wrote about A BETTER MAN by KELLY JOHNSON on my blog before I switched to writersforever.blogspot.com, but that post was erased, so I thought I’d give more people a chance to hear about the book.

KELLY JOHNSON, writer, lawyer and speaker, wanted to direct her five sons, as well as other boys aged 12 through their teens, to worthy role models. She said that currently boys are looking at musicians, actors and other high-profile men 24 years and younger as role models. She believes men have to have life experiences well beyond their twenties before they can be noteworthy examples for young adults.

After doing research and consulting others, she chose 26 men who fit her criteria. A BETTER MAN is a compilation of essays about and interviews with these men. JOHNSON’S “Editor’s Note” after each entry gives some background about the man and explains why she chose him as a role model. The Honorable HARRY L. CARRICO, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia, was the first man to accept JOHNSON'S invitation to be part of the book. She clerked for him after she graduated from law school and writes that he is “the most decent person I’ve ever met.”

JOHNSON’S final list includes men in a wide variety of professions from athletics, the military, politics, the arts and education. Among those featured in the book are former President GEORGE H.W. BUSH, who responded with a letter of his own; former NBA star DOMINIQUE WILKINS; Seattle Seahawks quarterback MATT HASSELBECK; and actor TIM REID. She also wanted to include someone from a faith community, so she asked REV. HECTOR LACHAPELLE, a Catholic priest, for an interview, which he granted.Kelly gets to the heart of the matter in each interview/essay and includes exactly what makes these men remarkable. RISING WRITERS who want to break in by writing essays or by interviewing people can use Kelly's book as a guide. She's a talented and creative writer, who herself can be included in a book on women role models.Information about KELLY JOHNSON and A BETTER MAN, are available at http://www.abettermanbook.com. Let me know what you think about all of this at http://www.jamathews.com.

Undaunted Heart: The True Story of a Southern Belle & a Yankee General by SUZY BARILE

2009-09-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

I am using my Blog to review some books by local authors, and the latest I’ve read is a wonderfully crafted addition to the host of books surrounding the Civil War, "Undaunted Heart," subtitled: "The True Story of a Southern Belle & Yankee General" by SUZY BARILE.

The book tells a love story that involves:

* prejudice

* politics

* family

*values

—topics in the news on a daily basis.

The Yankee general is Smith Dykins Atkins from Freeport, Illinois, and a volunteer for the Union cause.

The southern belle is Eleanor “Ella” Hope Swain, daughter of David Lowry Swain, governor of North Carolina from 1832-1835 and president of University of North Carolina from 1835-1868.

BARILE writes, “Ella did the unthinkable: She married a Yankee general at the close of the Civil War.” A North-South marriage was as offensive to the general public in 1865 as a black-white marriage was in the 1960s.

The angle is unique to books concerning the Civil War, and BARILE does a fine job of recreating the attitudes of the times and capturing the spirit of Ella and the general.

BARILE has an extraordinary perspective. While searching in her mother’s attic, BARILE found a box of Ella’s letters. BARILE is the great, great granddaughter of Ella and the general.

2009-09-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

September 8, 2009 - The Gift of Years: Growing Old Gracefully

It happens that I have gotten several assignments from The Sun News in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (where I am a free-lance feature writer) to review books or to attend seminars when a book is discussed. A recent panel discussion concerned “The Gift of Years: Growing Old Gracefully” by Joan Chittister.

The U.S. Census Bureau projects the population over 65 years will be 72 million people by 2030, about 20 percent of the total population. This is twice as many senior citizens as in the year 2000.

Few people look forward to aging, especially when they consider its effects: slower movements, medical problems, sagging skin, bulging middles, gray hair and most importantly, diminishing respect from younger people.

American culture concentrates on youth and beauty and doesn’t give much value to aging. Chittister acknowledges the disadvantages age brings, but she suggests people consider its benefits:
· Beginning of a new life
· Time to think of your purpose
· Wisdom of years
· Freedom, primarily from work, raising children and other restraints
· Developing another kind of usefulness

The list goes on. What’s the benefit of reading the book? A new perspective on aging.

August 21, 2009-Life As Lenke

2009-08-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

Lenke Brown turns 88 on Sept. 26 and proves that publishing is possible at any age. She tells her life story in “Life As Lenke,” a self-published book that became available in May 2009. Lenke is one of those fascinating people who helps you realize you can survive hardships, learn anything you want to and accomplish your goals.
She still plays golf, a sport she took up in her late 50s. She learned to play chess after she married Larry Brown when she was 56. As a child she was deathly afraid of deep water, but as an adult she learned to water ski. She grew up in Hungary, escaped that country during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and immigrated to America. She learned English, opened her own tailor shop and was a successful businesswoman. She’s lived in Connecticut and Nevada and now lives in North Carolina.
Larry urged Lenke to write her autobiography, and her good friend Maureen Woods made it possible. Lenke recited her memories on audio tapes and Maureen transcribed them.
The book is worth reading because the reader:

► sees fortitude in action
► is inspired to accomplish long-sought goals
► develops a deeper appreciation for freedom
► is amazed at the anecdote about Frank Sinatra

Maureen suggested the self-publishing route to Lenke and chose Mystic Publishers in Henderson, NV. Self-publishing is losing its negative connotation. This is one book that deserves to be published. Once started, it’s hard to put down.

Initial Post-Friday, August 14, 2009

2009-08-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

This is scary--writing my first post for my new blog: writersforever.blogspot.com. I've had a blog on my Web site, jamathews.com, for a year, but I felt I wasn't reaching enough people. I also have pages on my Web site I named Rising Writers. The intent was to offer suggestions to those who want to write for publication but need encouragement. I've decided to combine my blog and the Rising Writers pages and expand my focus.
On this blog I plan to:

review little-known, self-published books that deserve readership
review books by well-known authors
recommend other blogs and Web sites
highlight writers who have written a noteworthy piece
offer suggestions to Rising Writers so they can accomplish goals they set for themselves
present information that others can discuss, meditate upon and contact me about

I want to post a blog every seven-to-ten days. If I feel inspired, it will be more often! Inspiration--what every writer hopes for without sweat equity!

I am open to ideas, suggestions and opinions.

Enough for now. I'll return soon.