All posts by NewEngland_Muse

I'm a traditionally and self published author. I write in the genre of children and YA at the moment but working my way up to adults. I'm a sports loving, photo taking gal who loves to sing/dance to my own enjoyment. I love to laugh even at myself. I am also owned by 8 birds and 2 hamsters, and yes they know it. :)
Cheers, Community, Kindness, Knows My Name, memories

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

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“Hi Sharon,” greeted Lori as I entered her used and new book store. Returning the sentiment I went to the back. It felt good to be recognized by the store owner. Growing up in a small town where the town population fluctuated between 800-1000 residents it was an adjustment moving to a larger area.  Granted this was just one of many cities I had live in since leaving the comforts of Northern Maine so many years ago. Over the years we have moved numerous times to cities of various sizes. Where I was no exception, my area had over 200K in number.

Having a place like Lori’s that made one feel cozy was nice. Lori always called when James Patterson or Stephen King had a book out. She knew I was their number one fan well in my heart and soul. I would be asked if I wanted a particular book or not, if I did she would hold it for me. There has been times she has called and the money was just not there for me to purchase the book. I would tell her to just put it on the shelf for I was not getting paid for another two weeks. Not a problem would always be her reply as she would place it in the back to wait for me. In the beginning I would tell her that if someone else wanted it to please sell the novel. She is running a business after all. This was something to this day she has never done. If I wanted it , the book would be there waiting for me. I don’t know about you but I am not familiar with any book store holding something for a customer that long. She is a gem for lack of a better word.

The kindness is continued by other shops locally. Being in a military town there is no lack of pawn shops. The one we visit has a layaway plan for 90 days. One of the rules is you must not lose your original ticket. A recent trip found me unable to find this little sheet of paper. Expressing my concern to the lady at the front counter I was informed not to worry. We know you and that you’re a good customer, this will not be an issue. They knew me by face and name and that was sufficient for them.

This kindness continues. The church we attend is not very big as far as membership but it still manages to have three masses during the weekend. Sitting in the same pew for a few years people get accustom to us as they nod and say hello inside and outside the church ground. Learning our names as we celebrate together.

All of the people who interact with me from the examples above will nod and say hello when they see me out in the community. It does a body good. While it is not easy adjusting to change these little experiences help. Adapting and overcoming is the key especially when our family is not near us. It is times like this that make our place in this city a home. I will probably never meet a good portion of the people who filter through the roads and businesses that lace our area. But that’s okay. For the ones I’m coming across are making our surroundings special and giving us lasting memories.

Amazon Parrot, Bird, Despicable Me, Family, memories, Movies

Minions

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Is there a movie out there that you could watch repeatedly? The jokes don’t get old? No matter if you know the next scene about to come but instead you are waiting for it so you can just laugh out loud? My latest love is “Despicable Me”. I can not even begin to count how many times I have seen this movie. The fact that it was In Demand on my cable was bad enough but now my son owns a copy. He had seen it so many times through me he is in love with it as I am.  It is good clean fun and no matter what part of the movie is playing, if I am walking by the couch will have a new buddy. I will be honest this movie was not watched when it first came out. But now that it has entered my life, last six months, it gets watched daily.

Now that might seem excessive to watch the same movie every single day. Well there’s a catch. Our birdie Jasper, the one pictured on this blog, has fallen in love with the yellow minions from the movie. My son and I both agree they make this film work. Jasper will slide down the rail, onto the couch and get comfortable in front of the tv so he can watch his movie. Please don’t walk in front of him. And whatever you do, DO NOT SIT DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM. Oh my gosh talk about a bird who will have a hissy fit.

This is a picture of him getting riled up when I walked in front of him while he was watching the movie. He ruffled his feathers to hurry me along.

This is when I was talking to him during the movie. He totally ignored me in hopes I would shut up so he could get back to the show.

Jasper absolutely loves this movie. In fact as I type up this blog he is situated at the corner of the couch watching “Despicable Me”. He laughs at the same spots we do and at spots we don’t. It is comical to find out what he thinks is funny or not.

We have corrupted our green buddy and he likes it. They are making a sequel that comes out next summer. Hopefully the people in charge do it justice. I suspect if they do a copy will make its way home for my family to enjoy for a long time.

Until then the spot on the couch will get a little more worn out from where Jasper sits to watch this film.

P.S.

Other shows he likes to watch are:

SpongeBob SquarePants

Scooby- Doo- But not the ones with Scrabby-Doo. My bird is smart.

How To Train Your Dragon

Author, Books, Creative Writing, Critique, Editing, Manuscript, Plot

Are you hooked?

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“You are going to hate me for this,” Robin said as she looked at me with sadness. I had just read the first chapter to a book that had been completed a week before. Sitting in the library room with one of my writer’s group I tensed on the inside. Okay be calm, breath how back can this be?

Robin said the first two paragraphs of my first page needed to go somewhere, anywhere but where it had been placed. My hook she continued really started on paragraph three. Looking where she pointed I knew she was right, 100 percent correct. Thanking her I made the notes on the sheet.

The back story would just be moved elsewhere in the book. It is rare I delete that much words unless they don’t work anywhere else. The hook, the most important part of any story regardless of length has to be mastered. There are many books on this topic though the one I refer to most often is “Hooked” by Les Edgerton. This determines if a reader will continue with your novel or just place it down never to be picked up again. Some example of hooks:

-”The creatures came again last night.” – Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge

-”I lost all interest in sex after I died.”- Water-Skiing Down the Styx

-”When John Rochon was found dead Sunday morning on his front lawn, his neighbors were not surprised- only they had always somehow suspected his timid wife Beth would die first.”-He Had It Coming

One of my writing teachers once said if you are missing a hook at the beginning, then go through your story and find it. There is a chance you have written the hook but have placed it further into the story line. This is something we as writers can not ignore and hope it will just happen.

One of the many reasons we write is to have people read our stories and get enjoyment from them. To do that we have to make sure they get pass page one, then page two and so on until the last page has been read. As much time and effort we put into writing it does no one any good if the book remains on the shelf or worse the trash can.