Month: August 2016

We Love Memoirs Giveaway–Loveyoubye

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I’m gearing up for the birthday bash at We Love Memoirs on August 28, 2017. This is a fun, hilarious, and oh so friendly, memoir-loving group on Facebook  where there’s always something going on. On this momentous day (I do believe it’s their second birthday), I’m going to pay them a visit where I’ll eat some virtual cake, drink a virtual martini, (maybe two), sneak down the “naughty” step, and give away an ebook of my memoir, Loveyoubye: Holding Fast, Letting Go, And Then There’s The Dog. I’d love to see you there!

Loveyoubye_Full Cover 9781938314506 6Dec2013.indd

Below, I’ve listed some questions and answers about my writing process and also a little insight as to how Loveyoubye came about.

1. What inspired you to write this particular story?

It started out as a way for me to let off steam and gain some sense of sanity after my husband of twenty-five years started disappearing for weeks at a time, without apology or explanation.

2. Describe your writing in three words.

That’s a hard one. Instead, how about I share a couple of Amazon reviews for Loveyoubye:
“. . . an honest book written by a woman with the soul of a poet.”
“. . . the author tells her husband’s side of the story with generosity and love, with sympathy and candor.”
And finally, people say my books are an “easy” read.

3. What authors inspire or influence your work?

Mary Karr, Abigail Thomas, Carol Shields, Raymond Chandler, Anne Lamott, Elena Ferrante, Elmore Leonard (“leave out the boring parts”), and countless others.

4. Is the Thesaurus one of your best writing friends?

Definitely. I want each and every word to count. Finding the right one is vital.

5. How Does Your Writing Process Work?

So far I’ve been prompted to write by a need to resolve some issues deep inside me, to scratch an itch I can’t quite locate.  I wrote all three of my books by the seat of my pants, this way. However, I’d love to be able to outline a story. I’m working on it.

6. What project(s) are you working on now?

My gazillionth revision of my YA novel, Monkey’s Wedding is with my editor. It was almost published back in the late 90s, but my publisher merged with another house and I was dumped. I went on to write the sequel, Mine Dances (also set in Africa), which I’ll spiff up next. Then it’s on to getting them both published.

7. Where can readers find you and your book(s) online?

https://www.rossandrawhite.com, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound

 

Day 5–Positivity Challenge

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The last day of my 5-day Positivity Challenge! Doing my bit to radiate positive energy in these Days of Trump. And all the other negative energy being generated around the globe. It helps you know. I’m blogging three things about my life that are positive (or for which I’m grateful) and posting on Facebook. This time, I’m not going to tag anyone, like I did the first two times. To tell the truth, no one responded when I did. It could’ve been a glitch between my blog and Facebook, and no one caught their names. Or. It’s about doing what I’m moved to do without acknowledgement or support. A biggie for me.

Here goes:

 

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  1. I am so very grateful for all the music and art that’s available in Laguna Beach. Especially now during summer. On Sunday, I was moved to head down to the Festival of Arts to attend whatever was playing at the Concerts On The Green series. It happened to be a Bluegrass trio. More than the music, I found myself appreciating  how it was the creative spirit that had led these musicians to this very stage.2016-08-16 10.30.202. I love that I live in a neighborhood that has a resident horse. Meet Scout with his fly mask on. He gets this blissed out look when I scratch his cheek, and his eyes follow me and the pups as we pass him on our way up the hill.2016-08-16 10.38.363. The first Naked Lady (aka Belladonna) flower of the season. Always a treat.

 

Day 4–Positivity Challenge

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Day 4 of my 5-day Positivity Challenge! Doing my bit to radiate positive energy in these  Days of Trump. I’m blogging three things about my life that are positive (or for which I’m grateful) and posting on Facebook. This time, I’m not going to tag anyone, like I did the first two times. To tell the truth, no one responded when I did. It could’ve been a glitch between my blog and Facebook, and no one caught their names. Or. It’s about doing what I’m moved to do without acknowledgement or support. A biggie for me.

“Gratitude is the first sign of a thinking, rational creature.” ~Solanus Case (an American Capuchin friar and priest who was known during his lifetime as a wonderworker–1870-1957)

Here goes:

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  1. The three shishito peppers I finally managed to persuade to grow, what with my bad luck this year with anything green, and the frickin’ rats eating everything I put in the ground. (Note the wire enclosure.)2016-08-13 17.38.44
  2. “Boochcraft,” an alcoholic kombucha (was the name Hoochcraft taken?): Ginger-Lime-Rosehips. Delicious!2016-08-13 18.06.54
  3. This little tile bench made by Hank Westmoreland, talented artist, and all around classic Lagunatic, sadly deceased. I haven’t had this piece for very long, but I don’t know how I did without it.

Day 3–Positivity Challenge

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Day 3 of my 5-day Positivity Challenge! Doing my bit to radiate positive energy in these  Days of Trump. I’m blogging three things about my life that are positive (or for which I’m grateful) and posting on Facebook. This time, I’m not going to tag anyone, like I did the first two times. To tell the truth, no one responded when I did. It could’ve been a glitch between my blog and Facebook, and no one caught their names. Or. It’s about doing what I’m moved to do without acknowledgement or support. A biggie for me.

 

Here goes:

Fergie staring at me

  1. Fergie. My baby girl. It took me three years to get another Staffie (breed of my heart) after Sweetpea died. Her (The Ferg) with those giant burps, and murmurs of assessment, and kissable belly.2016-08-13 16.20.51
  2. The tchotchkes I’ve collected through the years. For example, this ceramic bird I bought in Mexico shortly after I left my first husband. The fact that it has survived my  bull-in-a-china-shop nature makes it especially precious.
  3. My intrinsic nature: my tenacity, my sometimes embarrassing enthusiasm and my openness to all possibilities. I’m finally appreciating who I am. About time.

Day 2–Positivity Challenge

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Day 2 of my 5-day Positivity Challenge! Doing my bit to radiate positive energy in these Trump Days. I’m listing three things about my life that are positive (or for which I’m grateful), which I will then post on Facebook and tag three FB friends. They’ll do the same. If you find it hard to participate in the daily task, that’s okay. Just keep trying. Forget about coming up with anything profound, just focus on finding one thing, no matter how small. DO NOT have to blog, just post on Facebook. 

2016-08-10 19.56.27-2

Here goes:

  1. Steve Martin. Last night, I saw his new “adult” comedy, “Meteor Showers” at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. It wasn’t as good as I’d hoped. Way too “clever” to be cohesive. The acting was superb though, and the venue delightfully intimate. A magical evening.
  2. Yet another dragonfly visit. Big and brown, the creature showed up in my writing studio, yesterday. The last dragonfly who paid me a visit was a wild and fiery red, perched on a bullrush reed in my pond. According to animal totemism dragonflies are connected to the symbolism of change and light. When the dragonfly shows up in your life to remind you to bring a bit more lightness and joy into your life. Yes indeed!
  3. Laguna Beach. I may complain about the traffic and this and that, but I am so ever fortunate and grateful to be living in an art town.

5-Day Positivity/Gratitude Challenge

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Reminded by Faceboook of the 5-day Positivity Challenge I took in 2014, I’m starting one of my own. Couldn’t be a better time, don’t you think? Too much Trumping going on. Time to radiate positive energy. So, for the next five days, I will list three things about my life that are positive, or for which I’m grateful on my Facebook wall and then tag three Facebook friends, who will do the same, and so on. If you find it hard to participate in the daily task, that’s okay. Just keep trying. Forget about coming up with anything profound, just focus on finding one thing, no matter how small. You DO NOT have to blog, just post on Facebook. 

Day 1:
1. I am so wildly, madly grateful for my sweet loving Jake. He has buoyed me through some mighty trying times. And at 12 1/2 years old, he’s still willing to climb the dratted hill  every day with me. Even in the broiling sun. I love you Jake!!!

Jake Closeup

2. I’m loving “A Moon Shaped Pool,” Radiohead’s latest albumn.  Yow!

3. Finally, I’m blogging again, albeit, a short stint. Still, it’s a most positive event.  I’ve been querying Small Presses for Monkey’s Wedding, and trying to find a path into the memoir (or maybe it’ll be a novel) that’s been tapping me on the shoulder.

Until tomorrow!