Writing, Reading, and Smiling . . . It's Contagious.


Sunday, December 27, 2009

Seanachaí’s News


On the last Sunday of each month, I compile "Seanachaí's News," a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress.


My Work During the Current Month

  1. For those of you who enjoyed reading about my rebellious grandfather in Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family, be sure to check out my latest work of nonfiction about one of his war experiences in "A Tribute to Ace, Part II."  If you watched Jaws this weekend, this story is for you.
  2. "A Cool Sunday Morning" is a short work of poetic prose that looks at a wandering spirit's life a little too seriously (I often like to poke fun of my fabricated melancholy).  This piece also incorporates links to two other authors' works that you should read.
  3. Are you a writer?  If you're looking for ways to promote your book, you may be surprised by the "Eight Myths of Book Promotion."
  4. E. Michaels' new book, Turtles and Shells and Things is now available.  I was tech support on this title, and I must say that my colleague's latest book is a great way to encourage self-confidence in younger readers.  This first title in The Feel Good Series is about a little green snapping turtle named Timmy.  It has a story to read and color, activities to complete, and games to play.


My Plans for the Upcoming Months

  1. I'm currently assisting my friend and colleague, E. Michaels, with Little Duck Gets Ready for School, the second title in The Feel Good Series.
  2. For my own upcoming project, I'm currently "writing in my head."  This means that I'm constructing a pre-outline and formulating plans that will soon be written.  Why all the mystery and preplanning?  I'm attempting to devise a new form of storytelling and the plans are gelling slowly but purposefully.

Announcements

THANK YOU, everyone, for ordering my books this holiday season!  Without readers, my work would be lying in a ditch, delirious and without purpose (not unlike the unfortunate Edgar Allan Poe's final days).

Also, if you're looking for gifts UNDER $10, Haunted Voices from My Past, The Mysterious House, and Turtles and Shells and Things are on discount through the end of the year at Sunflower Footsteps.  You can also save $2 on Dead Bird in the WeedsVisit the website for the online coupon code that's on the home page.  Don't forget that you can read excerpts of these titles!

For more information on Sunflower Footsteps, authors, and titles, visit:

***

As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.


Sunday, December 20, 2009

Eight Myths of Book Promotion


I’m always looking for new ways to promote my work and interact with readers.  Despite the plethora of resources available, promotion is tough and sometimes seems insurmountable when on a budget and without the surplus of funds that flows through the fingers of giant superstore publishers.

More alarming than these like-minded big dogs and their mainstream agenda/products is the overflow of “sages” who tout book promotion strategies that are misleading and often illegal.  In this article, I will debunk many of these so-called strategies with the intent to steer struggling authors toward better promotional practices.



Eight Myths of Book Promotion


1.  Put flyers on parked cars to announce your book.
  • This is solicitation whether or not you have actual prices listed on the promotional material.  Check your city’s ordinance.  They may not permit this sort of solicitation.
       Solution:  Get your own website (with your own domain name and email) and blog.
  • You’ll reach more potential customers.
  • You’ll be taken seriously.
  • Make sure your web hosting company allows its members to solicit products/services.
  • Create keywords and tags for your site.  Many sites do not allow meta data.  Also, the old trick of using popular keyword text (which has nothing to do with your site) and “disguising” it with the same color as your background color does not work.  Your web hosting company will most likely find out.  Also, buying traffic through a company is a BAD idea and will probably get you into trouble.
  •  Set up a form on your homepage to allow customers to sign up for a newsletter. 
    • While it’s hard to get people to sign up for anything (even freebies), you may reach more customers this way.  Mention that you will not solicit their name or contact info.  Also, give them the option to unsubscribe in each newsletter.
    • We’ve all heard the suggestion about making t-shirts, bumper stickers, and car magnets to advertise your book/web site.  My answer:  How many slogans on t-shirts and cars do you read while out in the world?  No, seriously.  Yeah, that’s my point.  Judge accordingly.

2.    Hand out bookmarks, flyers, etc. to passers-by.  Tuck promotional materials into books at a popular bookstore or library.  You can also put advertisements in your monthly bills or other outgoing mail.
  •  Again, this is solicitation.  Check your city’s ordinance.  Also, if you’re passing out materials on another business’ property, you need to ask permission.
  • You may think this is a GREAT marketing strategy, but let me ask you this:  how many of those magazine blow-ins do you read?  Before reading any magazine, I shake it over the trash and let the blow-ins meet their death.
  • As for the third possibility, I once worked at a mailing/fulfillment house.  NO ONE who opens or sorts mail reads ANYTHING other than bills or order forms.  They DO NOT care about extra paper crammed in the envelopes, nor do they have the time to take notice of it.  Envelopes are slit by a machine before being fed into a sorting machine.  As the pieces of mail are coming down the conveyor, an operator pulls out the payment/order and everything else is pitched without a glance.  Many of these operators are paid through incentive which means the more mail they open/sort, the more they get paid.  Like everything in life, it’s a race.
       Solution:  Tuck bookmarks into friends’ cards (birthday or otherwise).  Give them two or more.  One is for your friend.  The rest are for passing to their acquaintances.  Word of mouth is one of the best marketing practices.  Think about it.  How many books have you bought because of the recommendation of another reader/friend?  Get it?

  • A word on the making of bookmarks:  I once ordered bookmarks from a reputable company and the card stock looked as if it had had been cut with scissors rather than a paper cutter. 
  • Some people also claim to save money by ordering bookmarks via the postcard method (designing an image that can be printed on a postcard several times and cut apart as individual bookmarks). 
  • My advice:  make your own and save money.  Order your ink wholesale (ink that comes in bottles) and refill your cartridges.  Buy a pack of card stock and print away (don’t use the highest printing quality; the “general” setting on my printer looks great and saves ink).  Use a paper cutter.  DON’T use scissors.  Even if you measure and draw a straight line on your paper, the bookmark is going to have an uneven edge.
  • Another plus to this method is that you can print as many as you need and you don’t have to use the same image for every bookmark.
3.    Sell your book out of the trunk of your car.
  • We’ve all heard of the successful author X who sold Y,YYY number of books out of the trunk of his/her car in big city Z and became a huge success.  This is great, but did this author have a business license/permit and a separate bank account?  Was the author collecting sales tax and reporting income to the IRS?  If not, this promotional strategy is potentially breaking the law.  Visit the IRS online and consult your accountant.  You do have an accountant, don’t you?  Also, check out SCORE.  This is a free service that can match you to a volunteer business counselor (usually someone who owns a business in your field/area) who can advise you in your  business and answer your questions.  Yes, if you’re selling your book on your own, you probably need to obtain a license to do so.
       Solution:  Send out a press release.  When my press release debuted in my hometown paper, my web traffic increased DRAMATICALLY (about ten times the normal traffic).  I also sold books other than the one that was featured in the article.
  • One more word about press releases:  Unless you’re a BIG author, don’t waste your time sending press releases to papers other than your hometown paper.
4.    Sell your book at a craft show.
  • See the explanation for #3.
       Solution:  Make your books available at online retailers.  
  • You will reach more people.
  •  Create a .pdf preview of one of the chapters in your book to let readers sample your work.  Everyone likes to browse before buying.  How many people have you seen blocking the aisle because they’re reading a book before purchasing it?  See what I mean?
  •  Have an online contest with your book as the prize.
    •  One word on this:  If your book is worth a substantial amount, it could be subject to gift tax.  Also, there are many rules regarding contests.  Check with the FCC, IRS, and your accountant.
5.    Leave yourself a five-star review at an online retailer.
  •  Tacky, tacky, tacky.  Even if no one finds out that you’re leaving yourself five-star reviews (and they will), this is bad ethics.
       Solution:  Ask friends, family, and readers to leave you positive feedback online.  You may think reviews won’t help, but ask yourself this question:  how many times have I been influenced to buy/not buy an item because of its feedback/rating/comments?  Also, make sure your reviewer has the proper command of the language (not everyone can construct a clear sentence) and has actually read your book.  A bad review is worse than no review.
  •  Send books to reviewers.
    • Although this may be effective, many people take more notice of their friends’ opinions. 
  •  Never pay for a review.  Many will review a book for free.
  •  Unless you’re a BIG author, don’t waste your time sending your book to popular newspapers or magazines.
  •  Also, if you’re self-published, reviews are sometimes difficult to obtain.  MBR and LL Book Review will consider such books free of charge.
6.    Buy copies of your books at online retailers to boost your sales rank or go to a local bookstore and order your own book (possibly a large order).
  •  Don’t do this.  You will be found out.  Enough said.
      Solution:  Create a book trailer for your book.
  •  If you use this route, don’t pay to have your trailer hosted.  There are MANY free hosting sites out there such as YouTube, Bookscreening, and Preview the Book.  You can also put your trailer on your website and blog.
  •  Book trailers have sold books for me and created substantial web traffic.  While my book trailer for Haunted Voices from My Past was the #1 most watched trailer on Preview the Book, I also noticed significant traffic increase.
7.    The local library and other businesses outside the sphere of a traditional bookstore will be happy to host your book signing.
  •  Fact:  No one cares about your book more than you do.
  •  Based on personal experience, I currently have no plans to contact my hometown library again about future projects.
       Solution:  What about an online book signing through a web conference?


8.    Join message boards that deal with the topic of your book.  Rather than talking to members about your book (so as not to be annoying), include your book’s website and link in your signature line.  Interested parties will be prompted to follow the link.

  •  This is one of my favorite myths.  Most message boards do not allow solicitation in any form.  To prove my point, I set about getting myself banned from a message board by putting a small thumbnail of my book cover and a link to my website in my signature line.
  •  Attempt #1:  The first board I tried does not allow spamming of any type.  “Spam, flooding, advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, and solicitations are not allowed on any board” (I’m lifting this statement directly from their member guidelines).
    •  I put a thumbnail of my book cover (with a link) in my signature and began posting.  I was positive this was enough to get me banned, but nothing happened.  I even started a new thread where I introduced myself as the author of Haunted Voices from My Past.  I was warmly welcomed.  I’m proud to say I’m making friends and I’m still a participating member of this fun community.
  •  Attempt #2:  I joined a popular board that states “There is no ‘right’ to freedom of speech here...shouting about how we have infringed your ‘freedom of speech’...is silly...”  Spamming/advertising will not be tolerated...posting the same topic in several forums is considered spamming...” (again, I’m lifting this directly from their site).
    • After perusing the board and conducting some research, I found that this site seems to take delight in banning people for minor infractions (or seemingly none at all) and has banned a shocking number of people.  Bans can sometimes be lifted after a period of time or after a member’s groveling (whichever comes first).  Many moderators (some even have comrades) seek out posted material that does not coincide with their interests/beliefs and ban accordingly.  More interesting is that I came across one of their moderators who sought out a blog (that discussed the board’s practices) and acted as a troll (an online bully). 
    •  I knew this was the site for me to get banned from!
    •  The results:  Again, my signature line had a small thumbnail of my book cover (with a link).  That was enough to get me banned for life with no possibility of parole. My account has been terminated, I’m not permitted to discuss my ban with a moderator, and every post I made has been erased (if you type my name into a search engine, you’ll come across several broken links that lead to nonexistent threads).  My name has also been added to the “forum prison” (quoted from their site) as a troublemaker.
    •  My thoughts:  I’m glad I was not seriously considering membership to this narrow-minded board.
    •  Conclusion:  Sites and moderators define spamming in different ways.  If you’re not sure, always ask the moderator before posting.
       Solution:  Swap links with other authors (make sure they are not promoting illegal activity on their site). 
  • Join online communities.
    • I’m often dubious about the marketing potential of online communities.  Keep in mind: “Everyone talks.  Few listen.”
  •  Be personable.  No one likes a robot or a self-centered person.

The best advice I can give is to be excited about your work in positive ways.  Have fun, and above all, use legal methods to promote.


I am not affiliated with any of the above-mentioned companies, services, etc.
This article should not be considered legal advice.

***

As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.


Sunday, December 13, 2009

A Cool Sunday Morning


What do I write about on this cool Sunday morning since you have taken no notice of me?  I could tell you about the tinkling of raindrops against the window panes or let you feel the chill that seeps between my calloused fingers.  I might remark on my sleepless nights or ignore you as I watch the juncos fight over cracked corn. 

Would you like me to share with you the bundle of private letters that I read?  If you're not too busy, I could come over and read a poem aloud to you that made me want to cry.

Hush.  Did you hear it?  Did you hear it? 

Perhaps I will slip a photo of my Christmas tree into a yellowed card and imagine that you care.



*** 
All kidding aside (never take yourself or anyone else that seriously), I want to encourage you to read the "bundle of private letters" that I mentioned.  It's a preview of Levi Montgomery's forthcoming novel, Jillian's Gold.  I was up until 1 a.m. reading it, and it was one of the best late-night reads I've encountered in a long time.


If you like poetry as much a I do, check out Winslow Eliot's "Remembering," that was posted today.



***

As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

A Tribute to Ace, Part II


On December 7, 1941, a key nation secured membership to the World War II Club.  The inductee was the U.S. and the admission requirement was met through the sinking of its fleet at Pearl Harbor.

The attack on the naval base had been executed in a process similar to the means employed by a pack of hungry sharks.  The Japanese banded together, targeted their prey, and achieved their objective by swallowing an entire fleet whole.  Fours years of war followed and thousands of Americans were called upon to defend a nation and a world.  A small man with black hair and silver eyes was one such recruit.  To soldiers, he was known as “Ace.”  To me, he was known as “Pa.”

My grandfather survived the war, and though he has been dead thirteen years, I still smell the aroma of the cup of coffee that never left his side.  If I squint and think of yesterday, I see the haze of smoke that always arose from a half-burnt cigarette.  When I close my eyes and listen, I hear myself asking him to tell that shark story one more time.  When asked to retell the encounter, Ace would grin, chuckle softly, and sip his coffee before beginning.  Though worthy opponents, the sharks in his story were not the Japanese.

***


In the midst of the war-ravaged Pacific, Ace and several friends were atop a cliff, daring one another to dive into the ocean to rescue their small boat that had drifted from the desolate island.  Ace was resolved to volunteer for the task, but before he made a verbal statement or decision, he always took a long drag on his cigarette and sipped from his bottomless coffee cup.  Coffee was not available, so he settled for a cigarette.  As the rolled addiction ignited by way of a hastily struck match, Ace was shoved over the edge of the cliff.  

Neither the fall nor the fear of being unable to swim is reason to revere this story.  Ace  survived the premature dive, and he was an excellent swimmer.  He had a way of surging through the water like a bobbing frog, and if one were not careful, one would drown in the water parted by his strong, jutting chin.  

“Ace,” one of the men shouted from the cliff.  “Ace, hurry up, there’s sharks down there.”

The human frog stopped swimming and looked back at the island.  Three grey fins seared through the waves near the rocks several yards behind him.  Determined to thwart his friends’ cruel joke, Ace shot through the water and headed for the boat.   

Despite his speed and agility, one might doubt the presence of sharks or the tale itself.  Yet, Ace was indeed a fast swimmer.  He was four times my age when we raced and swam together with our arms linked.  In the first scenario I never won and in the second he usually ended up tugging me along because I was unable to keep up with him.  

To conclude, Ace eluded his ravenous pursuers and reached the boat before it drifted into deep water.  Was Ace quivering with fear when he reached the boat?  Was he able to avoid the sharks when paddling to his friends waiting for him on the shore?  To answer the first question, Ace was laughing when he reached the boat which is not typical of someone afraid of being eaten by sharks.  Why would he laugh?  The explanation is found in the answer to the second question which can be summarized by stating I hope Ace’s friends could swim because that is what he made them do.

*** 

If you enjoyed this tale about my grandfather, you can read more about his life in my latest book, Haunted Voices from My Past:  True Narratives of an Ohio Family.  Within its cover are the chilling stories: “Railway Nightmare,” “Another Hitchhiker from Hell,” and the most terrifying incident he experienced, entitled “Ace and the Devil.”  Each of these accounts awakens the supernatural and macabre.



After ordering, be sure to read A Tribute to Ace, the blog that inspired this latest entry.



***



For more information on Sunflower Footsteps, authors, and titles, visit:



***


As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.


Sunday, November 29, 2009

Seanachaí’s News


On the last Sunday of each month, I compile “Seanachaí’s News,” a status report that assesses my work during the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming months. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress.


My Work During the Current Month


  1. I've been busy promoting my new novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family.  Check out my "Collecting Acorns" blog where I discuss the meaning behind "haunted voices."
  2. Looking for a new recipe?  For a taste of homegrown vegetables from the haunted garden that is featured in my new book, try my spooky spaghetti squash.
  3. "My Name is Dorothy" is a short, inspirational piece about my childhood and my positive outlook on life.
  4. If you like poetry, you won't want to miss my collection of inspiring haiku that hints of the gentle "Murmuring that Creeps into the Life of a Wandering Soul...".


My Plans for the Upcoming Months

  1. Right now I'm assisting my friend and colleague, E. Michaels, with a brand new title, Turtles and Shells and Things.  This title will be available for the holiday season.  Check Sunflower Footsteps' website for its release.
  2. I'm excited about this new book because it's the first title in The Feel Good Series.  This series is dedicated to encourage self-confidence in younger readers.  Each title has a story to read and color, activities to complete, and games to play.
  3. The next title up for publication will be E. Michael's next story for The Feel Good Series, Little Duck Gets Ready for School.
  4. OK, I've been stalling long enough.  Before I get the bombardment of questions about what my plans are, I'll try to be concrete.  All right, at the moment I have NO projects of my own on my desk.  However, that does NOT mean I'm not formulating plans for a new book.  I'm playing with a new way of storytelling, and I might already have a title for the new project (if I can grab a few minutes to check the calendar for accuracy).

Announcements



THANK YOU, everyone, for ordering my books this holiday season!  Seriously, it's the readers who make my work possible.  Without you, I would have to put away the books and get a "real" job.  Thanks for not letting that happen!


Also, if you're looking for holiday gifts UNDER $10, Haunted Voices from My Past, The Mysterious House, and Turtles and Shells and Things are on discount through the end of the year at Sunflower Footsteps.  You can also save $2 on Dead Bird in the WeedsVisit the website for the online coupon code that's on the home page.  Don't forget that you can read excerpts of these titles!



For more information on Sunflower Footsteps, authors, and titles, visit:




***



As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.


Sunday, November 22, 2009

Murmuring that Creeps into the Life of a Wandering Soul...


Haiku is a wad of yellowed paper with cheesy drawings.

When I was cleaning a closet several months ago, I happened upon a dog-eared folder. Tucked inside was a jumble of mismatched poems (mostly haiku) printed neatly with a rainbow of colored pencils. Each yellowed page was accented with childish doodles that frolicked around the edges. Ah, youth!

As I grew older, haiku became a way to express my imaginings and explore my journey through life, thought, and maturation. Walk with me now down a narrow path edged with silver-sprigged lavender and listen to the murmuring that creeps into the life of a wandering soul...

Cool morning and breeze
Lavender hangs in the air
Don't close the window

Characters, play nice
stop wandering in white space
imagination

Straining my brown eyes
by the light of green lilies
See how they flicker?

I inflate the tires
as weeds choke the spindly fern
A toad hears the hiss

The white morning mist
and the scent of an aged sun
write old tales, new dreams

Rain tickles the screens
As I peer through the window
Tears flow steadily

The shimmering dew
beneath the aged coral sun
cries upon my shoes.

Crickets in the night
chirp to be heard in the crowd
We are all insects

I remember when
the seasons held no purpose
tears rained from our lies

How many people
write frosty words in the snow,
dreading the warm sun?

The window is closed,
trapping me in this stale box
of dried memories

When I was little
I thought notions not spoken
were words in a cloud

What am I doing?
Ignoring hunger pangs and
feeding my vision

Autumn shakes the trees
as tense leaves contrive to bare
their dying splendor

Autumn trickles down
parched window panes, melting like
snow on timid tongues.

Brown leaves cry beneath
bored feet, victimized by the
synthetic souls' stride

Morning will not come;
the light of initiative
was smothered by doubt.

I lay down my head
and hide behind watchful eyes
The harvest has died






The snow will not fall
upon the shadows of trees
Think of me and breathe




***

As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

My Name is Dorothy


Toto had glass eyes and smelled like instant coffee.

My mother crocheted a small grey and white blanket from leftover yarn with the aid of the dim light over the kitchen sink. She then unearthed a scruffy white poodle from my closet and dyed its shaggy coat with three cups of her favorite instant coffee. After a night spent by the heater and a quick blast from the hair dryer, the stuffed dog was crammed into a wicker Easter basket and covered with the grey blanket.
Toto was ready for school, but Dorothy failed to appear. Instead of partaking in my school's "Storybook Day," I stayed at home nursing the flu with the hundredth viewing of The Wizard of Oz.

Since that fateful day, I have been resolved to miss nothing more. Now I rejoice in the simplicity of summer's end, the diligence of the autumn woolly worm, and the magic of the first snow. I applaud the plight of those who never give up and marvel at the pear tree that retains its leaves until winter's winds wipe away summer's decay. I wonder about the package delivered to the house across the road and remember the clear brackets glued onto the mail carrier's blue-white teeth. I think of Christmas and BB guns and the setting of the low winter's sun. I remember fireworks, blueberry tongues, and paper cartons filled with ice cream. I recall the stories of Ace and the smell of rich coconut. I sing with the Lollipop Guild and chuckle. I never noticed the multitude of flowers growing from all those tiny shoes.

My name is Dorothy, and I'll never stop exploring and remembering.

***

As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

A Spooky Autumn Recipe


Those of you enjoying my new book, Haunted Voices from My Past, know that my garden grows not only an abundance of tasty vegetables but also harbors a roguish ghost. Try my homegrown recipe for a taste of autumn, and, if you're lucky, a sampling of the paranormal.



Seanachaí's Spooky Spaghetti Squash



Serves 2 HUNGRY Ghosthunters


What you'll need...


  • 1 medium-sized spaghetti squash [about 8" long and weighing 5 lbs.]
  • tomatoes
  • green peppers
  • cheddar cheese [the liquefied cheese in a jar]
  • spaghetti sauce [optional]
  • salt, pepper


1. Begin by washing the squash. After drying, cut lengthwise [from stem to opposite end]. You'll need a sturdy knife because spaghetti squash are quite tough when uncooked. They're a bit like a pumpkin or cantaloupe. Make sure you cut away from yourself, and don't worry about removing the stem. Whatever doesn't break off at picking time, stays.

2.
After cutting, the squash can be a little resistant. I usually sneak my thumbs into the cut and pull the halves apart. What will greet you is a mess of innards. Again, it's going to resemble a cantaloupe. Use a large spoon to remove the seeds and membrane in the center. Leave the outer flesh. It will be in a ring just beneath the rind and is usually 1" thick. This is the part you'll eat. Remember, it's just like a cantaloupe.

3. After digging out the innards, you'll have two halves with holes in the center. Fill these holes with diced tomatoes and green peppers. Don't be stingy. Fill the holes completely! Vegetables shrink when cooked because they're mostly water. Also, spaghetti squash has a mild taste resembling that of spaghetti. The addition of green pepper will sweeten the flesh.

4. Top the vegetables with 1 tbsp. of cheddar cheese. Add salt and pepper [as much as you would for spaghetti]. Place both finished halves [faceup] in a microwave-safe baking dish. Fill bottom of dish with 1/8 cup of water [to help steam the vegetables] and cover with plastic wrap. Cut a tiny hole in the center of the plastic to allow steam to escape. For a medium-sized squash, baking time is about 25 min. on high power [adjust cooking time to your microwave's wattage].

5. Squash is done when the rind is papery and the flesh can be pulled away easily. Use a fork and gently pull the flesh from the rind. Notice how the squash comes off the rind in long strands, hence, the name "spaghetti squash."

6. Add another tbsp. of cheddar cheese to the squash, tomatoes, and green peppers. If you prefer tomato sauce over extra cheese, add sauce to taste. Stir ingredients and microwave an additional 3 min.

7. Serve! I enjoy eating my squash directly out of the peeling rather than scraping it into a dish. The peeling, though inedible, serves as an eye-catching, bright yellow bowl. If you choose to eat it this way, put it atop a dish because it's a little too flimsy [and HOT] to stand alone.

8. What to serve with your spaghetti squash? I enjoy a crisp garden salad and breadsticks with mine.


Let me know if you enjoy my ghostly recipe!


***

As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Collecting Acorns


Halloween is a time of ghosts and burning leaves, vampires and dying trees, and unwrapped candies accompanying creepy stories.

I remember three distinct details from my childhood. The first two are homework and snow days. Oddly, they complement one another in that one always intends to catch up on homework during a snow day. However inclined, the snow beckons and while one is creating angels in the cold, white winter dust, the dreaded schoolwork is not only pushed aside but forgotten until the sun sets and signals the migration to the house and the restoration of the memory.

The third thing I remember from childhood is akin to the world of endless snow days. It has nothing to do with hot cocoa, television, or the internet. It comes from the history of Beowulf and the bard. This third memory is that of the oral storyteller.

I come from a family tree laden with storytellers who drop acorns upon unsuspecting relatives. These "acorns" or "stories" are always told in the first person and relate true narratives of the supernatural, macabre, and unexplained.

As a child I remember sitting by the wood stove and listening to the ghoulish tales of my grandfather being confronted by an evil hitchhiker and my grandmother's home being guarded by more than one dead individual. I recall my mother telling of her escape from a flying entity, my cousin relating her firsthand experiences with the supernatural, and my aunt sharing her cerebral storehouse of family lore.

Intrigued by these stories as a child and later as an adult, I set about collecting the acorns of my family that dangle from a tree of half-forgotten memory. After emptying the sack of acorns, I ground them into a fine powder of daunting yarns entitled Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family. My new book is a tribute to my ancestors and their lives, a look at my own fragile experiences with the unknown, and an echo of the haunted voices that once shared their stories with the hope that they would be respected, retold, and preserved.

Thanks to all of the readers who made my new book a success last week, my family's ghost stories have been heard. Take a moment to shake your family tree and tell me some of your true ghost stories in the comments section below.

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As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

The Launch of Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family


It's Here!


Last night at midnight, my new novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family, was officially launched. If you don't know what the buzz is about, click on the book cover on the right to read an excerpt, watch the trailer, and, of course, order a copy in time for Halloween. Thanks to all of the readers making Haunted Voices... a success this morning.

Also, head over to the Haunted Halloween Book Giveaway at Sunflower Footsteps to find out who received a free, advanced autographed copy of Haunted Voices from My Past.

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As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family


Experience a Firsthand Haunting


Another exciting event is happening this Sunday. If you enjoy ghost stories, make sure you head over to the homepage for my forthcoming novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family. Once there, you can read an excerpt and watch the trailer.

Also, be sure to enter the Haunted Halloween Book Giveaway. Next Sunday, one person will be announced as the recipient of a free, advanced autographed copy of Haunted Voices from My Past.

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As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family


Many exciting things have been happening this week. Yesterday, the trailer was released for my forthcoming novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family. You can view the trailer here.

Also, Sunflower Footsteps released the
blurb today. You can read the blurb, watch the trailer, and enter the "Haunted Halloween Book Giveaway" (one person will receive a free, advanced autographed copy of Haunted Voices...) by navigating to the homepage for Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family.

Also, don't forget to visit Sunflower Footsteps next Sunday for the anticipated event: one
COMPLETE chapter will be available for preview.


For more information on Sunflower Footsteps, authors, and titles, visit:


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As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family


Notice anything different about my blog this week?


The cover of my forthcoming novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family, is along the right column and was unveiled today at Sunflower Footsteps. Click on the book cover to view a larger version. The link also leads to a page where you can download the book launch schedule and enter the "Haunted Halloween Book Giveaway" to receive a free, advanced autographed copy.

Be sure to visit Sunflower Footsteps next Sunday, October 11, to read the blurb.


For more information on Sunflower Footsteps, authors, and titles, visit:



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As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Seanachaí's News


On the last Sunday of each month, I compile “Seanachaí’s News,” a status report that assesses my work dur
ing the current month and also formulates my plans for the upcoming month. It will also give you a peek at my works in progress.


My Work During the Current Month

  1. My forthcoming novel, Haunted Voices from My Past: True Narratives of an Ohio Family, is finished. Currently it is in the final stages of production, and if all goes as planned, it should be printed near the end of the week.


My Plans for the Upcoming Months

  1. Haunted Voices from My Past... will be launched on October 31, 2009, giving readers the opportunity to experience a firsthand haunting for Halloween. To celebrate its publication, Sunflower Footsteps will host a series of events beginning with the Haunted Halloween Book Giveaway” on October 1st. All events can be viewed on Sunflower Footsteps October Calendar. Also, a surprise event is scheduled and does NOT appear on the calendar. Keep watching my blog and Sunflower Footsteps Bulletin for its disclosure.

I hope you’ll be along for the ride!


For more information on Sunflower Footsteps, authors, and titles, visit:



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As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The Autumn of a Novel: Proofreading


The maple tree next to the road performs its annual Shakespearean death scene. Crickets halt their strident song and vacate the courtyard. I sigh and hunt for the socks I stowed away four months ago. Summer is but a memory as autumn's chilly hand draws an amber shade over pink lemonade and charred hot dogs.

In my corner of the world, autumn's cool breath is not confined to the outdoors. It seeps through the cracks of the windows and drifts over the last leaves of a lingering novel that filled my summer. After all of the plotting and brainstorming, writing and rewriting, editing and proofreading, the autumn of my novel has arrived.

For me, the autumn of this current work involves a final proofing. Proofing my own work is difficult.
I know what I am saying, therefore, I am not relying on the written words to convey meaning. Although I employ standard proofing techniques, I also depend upon the vision of others and the reliability of sound. Without them, I believe a work never achieves maturation.

Fresh eyes are the best proofreaders because they are not hindered by the monotony that has afflicted the author. After reading the same passages repeatedly, my brain tends to shut off. This know-it-all has a bad habit of glancing at the first and last letters of words and filling in the blanks. To avoid this trap, I pass my work to another proofreader. Rarely does the work come back without a red mark.

Sound also plays a part in skirting the trap my brain sets for me. By reading passages aloud I force myself to do more than glance at the word. Another ideal proofreader is Hal, my computer. If you have a PDF reader and a sound card, you have Hal, too. Open your PDF reader and look under
view, then read out loud. As you listen to Hal read your work, you may be surprised by the mistakes your eyes and tongue miss.

With that said, I'm going to return to the final proofreading of my novel. That's odd. The crickets have returned. I thought they were gone. I no longer see them, but I do hear them. Maybe I should put on a blindfold and have another confrence with Hal.


Did you find the typo in the above passage?

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As always, I love to hear from you. If you're in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It's contagious.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

A Tribute to Ace


Monday was Labor Day for those of us residing in the U.S. Despite its connotation, it does not denote a day set aside for work. Rather, the day celebrates the ability to laze about and feed one’s face, preferably with one’s fingers accommodating in rapid, shovel-like gestures. While participating in this yearly ritual, I snuffled over half-cooked coconut pie filling, remembering a man who died thirteen Septembers ago.

Why was I crying? Each holiday my grandmother made a coconut pie for Pa and me. She always cooked the homemade masterpieces over her gas oven the night prior to the big day. Before the filling had set, Pa would slice through the gooey custard and warm crust. Between mouthfuls, he would dial my phone number to taunt me about his sneaking the first piece. This man was my grandfather, and he was known as “Ace.”

In tribute to Pa’s memory, I wrote the following short piece about one of the tales he told during a warm day like this and after an empty pie pan like now.


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      Ace returned from the Second World War a changed, hardened man though he eventually confronted his problems and altered his life. Before this metamorphosis, he was a rabble-rousing young man with a cigarette in one hand and a homemade blackjack in the other.



***


      Ace’s car swerved around the deserted town like a child’s toy car spinning on linoleum. The drunken young man jerked the steering wheel again, determined to elude the blaring police car chasing him down the darkened road. He stomped harder on the gas pedal and whizzed around the corner past a gas station. His grey eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. The police car had fallen behind during the last maneuver but continued its pursuit. Ace glanced at the gas gauge and grimaced. He was nearly out of town, and if he were to lead the police into the countryside, he would soon run out of gas. He threw his spent cigarette to the floor as he reached the last intersection. The car engine whined as the accelerator furthered the distance between him and his pursuer. Grinning, Ace fumbled in the dark for his cigarettes. He glanced one last time at the rearview mirror and flipped off the headlights.


***



      The police car raced through the intersection and rounded the corner into an alley. It roared down the gravel road past the cars parked alongside a series of crumbling brick buildings. After stopping briefly for the traffic sign at the end of the road, the car headed west.
      A tiny orange light bloomed and faded in the alley. Ace was lounging on the hood of his car, smoking the remainder of his cigarette and laughing.



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As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neighbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.


Sunday, September 6, 2009

"Writing What You Want to Know"


"Write What You Know"


How many times do we hear this slogan from teachers, writers, and peers? Though this adage is overused, it holds merit.

On the other hand, writing what you know does NOT mean you have to write about the autumn leaves in your backyard. It DOES mean that if you want to write about something OTHER than falling leaves, you have to research.

I suffered the same dilemma when writing my new book, Dead Bird in the Weeds. In the beginning, I was hesitant to start this project because "write what you know" was holding me back. At the time, I did not know that attaining the qualifications to write this book was within my reach.



"Writing What You Want to Know"


During my last project, my focus was on the 1798 rebellion in Ireland. Besides having to write about foreign places, people, and events, I was also catapulted into a different time period. As these obstacles were hurled at me, I took a deep breath and followed these steps to success:


  1. OBTAIN PRIMARY SOURCES: Primary sources are works written by people who have experienced events firsthand.

  • Though beneficial and necessary, secondary sources do NOT take the place of primary sources. While researching the 1798 rebellion in Ireland, I did not rely solely upon secondary information. I wanted to know what actual people of that time felt, thought, and did during the rebellion, so I read firsthand accounts.

  • If you have trouble finding primary sources for your subject, look in the “Works Cited” section in the back of a secondary source. A bibliography of all the primary sources used will be there.

    • How does one obtain primary sources?

      • Besides a trip to the library, which may or may not have primary sources (most likely NOT if you need dated historical material), search the Internet. The Internet Archive and Project Gutenberg are great repositories for such works.

  1. READ SECONDARY SOURCES: Secondary sources are works written by people reporting on events that happen to others.

  • While primary sources are key to understanding your subject, don’t neglect secondary sources. They gather a great deal of information into a condensed work that gives an accurate understanding/time line of the subject/event.

  • I also live by the “three source rule.” If I find the exact same information stated in three legitimate sources, I feel confident of its validity. Also, be sure to cite any references you use.

  1. CONDUCT INTERVIEWS: These provide either primary or secondary information.

  • Interviewing someone who has experienced your subject or is an authority on your subject provides unique information and quotes.

  1. REQUEST FREE INFORMATION: Many organizations and tourist companies provide free information on request.

  • Also, many people associated with organizations are usually more than willing to help out with information their institute can provide.

    • Keep in mind that you may also be ignored or treated rudely. I have been the recipient of both tactics. The best response is to not reply and move on.

  1. BECOME AN EXPERT: Experience your subject directly.

  • In order to write effectively and with authority, become actively involved in your subject.

    • If possible, visit the location of your subject. If you cannot afford travel fare, the Internet provides a plethora of information on practically every location in the world. Photos, videos, and articles from other travelers are indispensable.

    • Wear your characters’ shoes.

      • In my last project, my main character was thrown into a period jail/dungeon. In order to recapture the character’s emotions, I spent the entire day in a dark closet. I kept a log of my emotions and reactions, and after several hours of darkness, my mind recreated the feeling of being trapped and alone. While this is a bit extreme, you may find other methods of exploring situations. Please remember safety!


Turning “what you want to know” into “what you know” requires time, research, and patience. By investing in each, you can write effective, authoritative works.


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Announcements


This is the last day to enter the drawing for Sunflower FootstepsBack-to-School Book Give Away


For details, visit:


Visit Sunflower Footsteps

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As always, I love to hear from you. If you’re in the cyber-neigbourhood, drop me a line. In the meantime, keep writing, reading, and smiling. It’s contagious.