tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34173406820397972742024-02-07T16:48:03.755-06:00Recipes for WritingLip-Smacking, Finger-Licking Recipes and Tell-Tale Story MakingLMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-679185469814451302012-07-07T12:06:00.000-05:002012-07-07T12:06:01.213-05:00Adding 3 Flavors to Story and Strawberry Kiwi Vanilla Pudding Pie<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mr. McGregore was a mean old man.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a creative writing teacher, students constantly write sentences similar to the one above.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a perfectly good English sentence, everything is in its proper place, including the punctuation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite its grammatically perfect structure, the sentence violates the first--the very first rule of telling tales--IT’S BORING.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sentence contains absolutely no emotional, moral, psychological, spiritual, or ethical connection to the reader.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the words of Truman Capote: “That’s not writing. That’s typing.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I get a sentence from a student like the one above, I have the student sit in front of me, and I begin asking questions like Joe Friday interrogating a hoodlum on the old </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dragnet</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> radio and television show.</span></b><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who is Mr. McGregore?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why is he mean?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did Mr. McGregore do something to you?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you have a problem with Mr. Gregore?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you TP Mr. McGregore’s home?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do you care that Mr. McGregore is mean?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do I care that Mr. McGregore is mean?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe Mr. McGregore isn’t a mean old man. Maybe Mr. McGregore is just a lonely old man who’s tired of teenage punks like you running around the neighborhood ringing doorbells and putting cherry bombs in mailboxes.</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last question I ask is</span></b></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can you give me three--only three--elements in this sentence as to why Mr. McGregore is a mean old man and why the Hell I should even care?</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">----------------------------</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I cook I try to add at least three of my favorite ingredients to each recipe. I try to combine spices, herbs, vegetables, meats, and liquids that don’t necessarily go together, like rosemary, curry, and salmon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also like combining my favorite foods for tastes that are familiar and enjoyable.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Strawberries are my favorite fruit and vanilla pudding is my favorite pudding. I’m also quite fond of kiwi and vanilla wafers.</span><br /></b></span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a data-cke-saved-href="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/0000bsxd/" href="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/0000bsxd/" lj-cmd="LJLink"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Strawberry Kiwi Vanilla Pudding Pie" data-cke-saved-src="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/0000bsxd/s640x480" height="130" lj-cmd="image" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/0000bsxd/s640x480" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; cursor: default; float: left;" width="200" /></span></a></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, I prefer to eat pie rather than cake any day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Mike’s Strawberry Kiwi Vanilla Pudding Pie</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use your favorite pie crust recipe or frozen pie crust</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following makes for two pies</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 cups strawberries, sliced and quartered</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 kiwi, peeled, sliced, and halved</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3/4 cup sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3/4 cup water</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 tbsp cornstarch</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 tsp salt</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 box instant vanilla pudding</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">crush one cup strawberries and place in pan</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">add 3/4 cup water and bring to a boil</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">simmer for three minutes</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">strain juice from cooked strawberries into measuring cup and add water to make a full cup</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">combine remaining strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in the same pan</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(you can also add the pulp from the boiled crushed strawberries or use the pulp later to mix a smooth)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">slowly add juice, stirring until it boils and thickens</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">coat pie crust with powdered sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pour mixture into uncooked pie crust</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cook in preheated oven to 375 F until crust is golden brown</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mix instant vanilla pudding and stir until thick</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pour vanilla pudding over strawberry mixture</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">place kiwi slices on top of vanilla pudding</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for an extra kick, crumble enough vanilla wafers to cover the top of the pie</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">place pie in refrigerator and chill before serving</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first time I made this, I used frozen strawberries; however, the mixture was too watery and wouldn’t hold form. Using fresh strawberries is best to ensure the mixture thickens properly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">----------------------------</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, how does the writer fix the sentence, “Mr. McGregore was a mean old man.”?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By adding just three elements to the sentence, the writer can hook the reader and draw the reader to the second sentence, then the third sentence et cetera.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Mr. McGregore opened his front door on the cold wet day to find a rain-soaked puppy looking up at him with its large pleading eyes, and the old man kicked the puppy across the street.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The three elements added are</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><ul style="padding-right: 40px;">
<li><span style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b>setting: cold wet day</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">emotional: rain-soaked puppy looking up at him with its large pleading eyes</span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;">action: kicked the puppy across the street</span></li>
</ul>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sentence shows the reader the meanness of Mr. McGregore rather just merely tell the reader that he is mean.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The intelligent reader can evaluate for himself just how mean Mr. Gregore is rather than the writer merely making a statement of fact.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s interesting is that when I use this example in my class, I get two distinct reactions:</span></b></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The girls say, “Oh, that’s so mean.”</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The boys laugh and say, “That’s cool.”</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.10073810047470033" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t know why the girls and boys react differently, but they do. I could figure it out if I really wanted to, but the point isn’t how the students reacted.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The point is that the students REACTED to the revised sentence whereas their collective reaction to the first version was dull eyes rolling back into their skulls.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether a strawberry pie or a sentence, I strive to achieve a reaction from either the eater or the reader.</span><br /></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">When I write, I check each sentence to ensure it has at least three ingredients to which my reader can react. The worst reaction I've ever heard is, "Eh, it's okay."</span><br /><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />For eating and reading, just like cooking and writing, are metaphors for each other.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In their own unique ways and purposes, a well made pie and a well told story provide expectation, flavor, nourishment, pleasure, and satisfaction.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bon Apetite</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Write Well</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Mike</span></b><br /><br /></span></span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-73787108889832326172012-07-03T09:48:00.000-05:002012-07-03T09:48:35.710-05:007 Virtues and 3 Meat Firecracker Hamburgers<br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.7566819647327065" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="" data-cke-saved-src="http://ziptivity.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/fireworks.jpg" height="160" lj-cmd="image" src="http://ziptivity.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/fireworks.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; cursor: default; float: left;" width="200" />Liz has to work on the Fourth until 8 PM, so we’re not really planning anything to celebrate our country’s Independence other than just watching the fireworks at the City Reservoir.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One purpose of holidays is to get us to think about certain events, evaluate our lives, set new goals, take assessment of old goals, and to be with family, friends, and loved ones.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holidays are also the time in which men can suddenly cook, albeit outdoors on an open flame. Perhaps it’s the Call of the Wild in men, a harkening back to the time when Humanity actually sat around campfires cooking, communing, and recalling the deeds of the hunt, which were often over exaggerated.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I continue further in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I’ve been evaluating the various traits of the characters, how each of a character’s traits play off the traits of other characters, help each character, hender each character, and move the story forward.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also got to thinking about what, if any, holidays the Children would continue to celebrate after all the adults disappeared and the children were totally in control.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think the Fourth of July would take on a whole new meaning for the Children--both a time of celebrating Independence, a time of mourning for the loss of their parents, and a time to reflect on those values the Children were learning from and admired in their parents.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made a list of those traits all Parents should extol to their children. I’m working on a scene in which the Children celebrate the Fourth complete with fireworks and a reading of the list.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They also celebrate with a big community cookout in which the various factions put aside their differences--even if only for a few hours.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-----------------------</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Mike’s 3 Meat Firecracker Hamburgers</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For every 1 lb of hamburger meat (80/20), add the following:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 bratwurst (skinned)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/3 lb hot sausage</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp cumin</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp paprika</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp red curry powder</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp pepper</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/2 tsp malt vinegar</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spot of wasabi</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use a food processor to blend until meats and spices are well mixed.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shape into 1/2 inch patties and cook as desired.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I like to put my burger on an onion roll and top off with horseradish sauce or coarse mustard, fresh onion, tomato, lettuce, and Monterey Jack cheese.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-----------------------</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My protagonist Laynie Price of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> undergoes several crises of character in which she has to reassess what she truly believes. Sometimes she fails miserably and feels as though she is not up to the task, a failure, a complete worthless human being.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes, while at the depth of her greatest despair, she pulls herself up and discovers a strength within her she never knew she possessed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To keep to the straight and narrow on this character theme, I’ve listed virtues Laynie must work through. In fact, I’m using these for all the major characters--some with triumphant results and some with deadly ends.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 Character Virtues (not in any particular order)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Morality--a definite sense of Right and Wrong; brought about through trial and error and inner/spiritual evaluation</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Courage--facing fears; standing up to overwhelming odds in the face of certain death or public ridicule</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Benevolence--the kindness of the Good Samaritan without prejudice </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Respect--acceptance of others despite one’s personal beliefs and sense of morality; respect is not “approval”, but acknowledgment that all people have value</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Honesty--Inner Truth in Action in all things</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Honor--knowing that your actions do define you as a person, that others will judge you in what you say and, more importantly, by what you do</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. Loyalty--standing by others when they are at their lowest; not blindly standing by someone when you know he is wrong, but having the courage to stand up to a friend to help him work through a moral failing<br /><br />Happy Independence Day!<br /><br />Larry Mike</span></b><br />LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-7679824509510629162012-06-25T11:06:00.001-05:002012-06-26T08:46:12.376-05:00Sopping Up Good Ideas with Cheesy Bacon Bit Biscuits<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: larger; line-height: 18px;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every morning Grandma Smith would cook a pan of biscuits, fry up some bacon, and make some coffee. Sometimes I would drop by in the afternoon to see how she was doing, and I always found a biscuit or two and a couple strips of bacon left from that morning. I loved to take a biscuit, split it open, and put the bacon between the two halves to create a snack. I thought then that an egg, bacon, and biscuit breakfast would be a great menu item.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was doing this before McDonald’s, Burger King, and Whataburger came up with their individual breakfast menus. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Great ideas are a dime a dozen and no one has a claim on any one of them. The greatest ideas are the simplest ideas, born out of frustrated necessary or sparkling epiphany--the “Oh, wow!” moment.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grandma Smith’s biscuits were straight out of the can. I would think at times that when I got to be a granddaddy, some of my grandkids would stop by to see how I was doing, and I would have a couple of biscuits and some bacon left over so they, too, could also make their own snack. Except I wanted my biscuits to be homemade from my own special recipe.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In order to create my own special recipe, I borrowed basic ingredients from other recipes, tweaked them with my own favorite flavors and have finally come up with a biscuit recipe that My Liz and I really enjoy eating.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="NEVRLAND" data-cke-saved-src="http://nevrland.info/images/laynie-in-shock.jpg" height="198" lj-cmd="image" src="http://nevrland.info/images/laynie-in-shock.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; cursor: default; float: left;" width="180" />Without realizing it, I did the very same thing with my story <i>NEVЯLAND</i>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a good idea. It came to me when I asked one simple question: What does a young teen fear the most? I thought about it all weekend--no friends, pimples, unpopular, too tall, too short, too skinny, too fat, no boy/girlfriend, can’t dance et cetera.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">None of those answers were very helpful. Too many tales had already been written about such teenage angst. I wanted something different.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I asked a friend at work the same question, wanting her to think about it until the end of the day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Actually, the answer came to me when a student was talking about her parents being away for the weekend. Some of the students thought it would be cool to have their parents gone. Some wanted her to throw a party. When my parents left town for a couple of weeks during the summer between my junior and senior year, I had a party.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This senior girl, though, was worried about being alone without her parents. She didn’t like the idea of not having her adult parents around and worried how she would get along without them. Some of the students joked with her about still being a “child”, but I’m sure their reaction was more bravado than brazen chiding.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had my answer: For all their talk about not liking parents, about being embarrassed by their parents, about how they wish their parents would just go away, teens need and want their parents around to guide, to instruct, to protect them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was my answer: a world in which all adults have disappeared.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I asked my friend that afternoon what she feared most as a young teen, she replied, “My parents disappearing.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I knew I had a good idea.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fact, I thought I had a great original idea. I got to work brainstorming as soon as I got home from teaching.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was in touch at the time with another writer, and I told her my idea about a story in which all the parents disappear, leaving only children behind.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She liked the idea, but then said, “That sounds like </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Michael Grant.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was devastated. I thought I had a very original idea. I had never heard of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, so I checked up on it, and, sure enough, it was about a community in which the adults had disappeared and how the children reacted.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had already done much brainstorming and research on my own tale. I had a steel blue knot in my stomach as I realized how similar my idea was to Grant’s. I didn’t want to go further with it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few days later at a library book sale, I found a YA novel called </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whispers of Death</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> written by Christopher Pike in the 1980s that was quite similar to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and to my idea as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was even more upset and definitely didn’t want to continue with the story.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I put </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> aside after a few months of working on it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">------------------------------------</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Mike’s Cheesy Bacon Bits Biscuits</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ingredients</span></b></span><br />
<ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding-right: 40px;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 cups all-purpose flour</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 cup shredded cheese (a mixture of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and American is best)</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/3 cup bacon bits</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 cup red pepper flakes</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 tsp garlic powder</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 tsp parsley flakes</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp red curry powder</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp thyme</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp crushed rosemary</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp onion powder</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tablespoon baking powder (3 teaspoons)</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp salt</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/3 cup shortening</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2/3 cup milk or buttermilk or yogurt</span></b></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 18px;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Process</span></b></span><br />
<ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding-right: 40px;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a big bowl, put the flour, baking powder, shredded cheese, garlic powder, parsley flakes, red curry powder, thyme, crushed rosemary, onion powder, and salt into the bowl.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add the shortening and bacon bits, and, using your fingers, gently mix with the dry ingredients.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t over mix. There should still be a few lumps of shortening, the size of peas, or even a little bigger. Two minutes or less of mixing should do it.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next add the milk, buttermilk, or yogurt--or a combination of these three.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stir into a soft dough. It’s best not to use a blender</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On dry days you may need another spoonful or two of milk.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With your hands, form the dough into a soft ball.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lay a piece of waxed paper on your counter and sprinkle the waxed paper with a little bit of flour.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Place the dough ball on the flour and knead it exactly 10 times. No more, no less. This activates the gluten in the flour just enough, but not too much.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flatten out the dough with a rolling pin or your hands so it is about 3/4″ thick.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cut into biscuit shapes with a biscuit cutter, or the rim of a clean cup or can. I use a tomato paste canfor small biscuits and a tuna can for large biscuits. Works really well.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lay the biscuits onto a cookie sheet or pizza pan and bake them at 425° for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on their size.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Makes about a dozen medium sized biscuits.</span></b></span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brush them with melted margarine when you take them from the oven if you want them to look pretty when they arrive at the table.</span></b></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: larger; line-height: 18px;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.115346027771011" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">----------------------------------------------</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I relayed my angst and distress about the similarities of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whispers of Death</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to my writing friend and that I put my story aside, she laughed and told me about one of her books that had been published a year earlier.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unbeknown to her, another writer had written a book that was being published at the same time. Both books took place in a similar time period, used similar events, and even had similar opening scenes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both were quite different in style, tone, voice, and climax--but, still, the similarities were such that my writing friend was sure she would be accused of plagiarism.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She wasn’t. In fact, she and the other writer began a conversation and both had had the same fear--that readers would think one writer had borrowed from the other writer’s work. Before this incident, neither writer had heard of the other writer or read any books the other writer had written. Eventually, they just laughed it off.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Great ideas are a dime a dozen and no one has a monopoly on any one idea.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The point is is that no idea, whether for biscuits or post-apocalyptic adults-have-disappeared stories, is new.</span><br /><br /><img alt="NEVRLAND" data-cke-saved-src="http://nevrland.info/images/nevrland_web_logo_01.jpg" height="63" lj-cmd="image" src="http://nevrland.info/images/nevrland_web_logo_01.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; cursor: default; float: left;" width="350" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is nothing like </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whispers of Death</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. In fact, I read </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and thought it lacking. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Just like sometimes I don’t like the hamburgers, steaks, or chimichangas at the so-called best restaurants and prefer my own recipes for these repasts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I did like </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whispers of Death</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> very much. Kept me in suspense, something </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> hadn’t done.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A writer’s mind is like a biscuit: it sops up ideas, facts, and emotions of life around us. We all have stories that are similar to other and perhaps more established tales.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m sure somewhere out there a recipe for cheesy bacon bits biscuits similar to mine exists.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, a determined writer (or cook) will ignore any similarities between his and other stories and concentrate on taking the basics of the tale and creating a story (like my biscuits) that is familiar but uniquely his own.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bon Apetit.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good Writing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Mike</span></b></span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-11097261554041860072012-06-15T22:26:00.000-05:002012-06-15T22:28:50.061-05:00Gnomic of the Novel Gnome & Ginger Chicken Curry Fajitas ala Liz<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="A Christmas Carol" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MDKs_Vc-hCrwBSzheA6-ieJ6t4_cN9fq-ZXo7s4j-1StpOITr_0fM33j49TVndjwVDxt2U49BTTRc2AlyUmlquMB0nK3HSs3q-Z8q5tXw_QMGTsSbeQZ3x7cO-Ini4A9_NyplXfPEq8g/s400/+christmas_carol_dickens.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" width="200" />Because I was an avid reader in elementary school, my fifth grade teacher Mr. Potteroff suggested I read a book called </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christmas Carol</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Charles Dickens. The school was having a book fair, and the book was among those being offered, so I bought it and I read it, and I fell in love with not only the story, but the power of the narrative.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christmas Carol</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was one of the first books that introduced me to the world of "grown up" literature. Unlike the chapter books I had been reading that were of the same length, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christmas Carol</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was actually something Mr. Potteroff called a "novella".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I knew then I wanted to be a writer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've read hundreds of books since then. They have ranged from 1,500 page tomes to Ayn Rand's under 100 pages </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anthem</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and every length in between.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've read </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord of the Rings</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> four different times: as a teen; while on three-month cruise while serving in the US Navy; the summer I turned 30-years-old; and, more recently, two summers ago for my 55th birthday.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During this last reading, I found myself growing impatient with the story--not with the quality of the writing, the richness of the characters and the world, the depth of the themes, and the multitude of enduring heroic tales--but with the length of the story itself.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LotR</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is often described erroneously as a trilogy and printed in three different volumes. That’s the way I read it the first time 40 years ago. The last three times, I read it as Tolkien intended: as one long novel.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The same is true of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hunger Games</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: It's actually one large novel published in three distinct volumes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other hand, the Harry Potter Saga is seven different novels, each written following the same plot template.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The problem I have with such long story arcs is the invested time required to get through each tale from page 1 to page 1,000 (</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LotR</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) or page1 all the way through to page 42,000 (Harry Potter).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In recent years, I have found myself tending towards shorter novels--especially what I call the Novel Gnome.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who doesn't like cute little Gnomes?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Although, even cute little Gnomes can be dangerous, as Chuck Sambuchino points out in his </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Survive-Garden-Gnome-Attack/dp/158008463X/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&i"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack: Defend Yourself When the Lawn Warriors Strike (And They Will)</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You probably know the Novel Gnome as the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Novella</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I find myself not only reading more novelle in recent months but also writing in the novella format as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="NEVRLAND" height="261" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/0000arce" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" width="200" />When I was younger, I wanted to be the next Edgar A. Poe and Ray Bradbury, to be known as a great short story writer. Then I grew up, and the short story market dried up</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A good writer cannot make a living as a short story writer as he did in the days of old.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I work through my present novel </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I’ve made a fantastic discovery: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is nine novelle, each novella separate, complete, and distinct, the combination of each creating a unified whole.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what do I like about the novella--both reading and writing?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The novella appeals to a deep brevity, just as the ingredients for a good quick meal that is delicious and healthy, like Ginger Chicken Curry Fajitas ala Liz.</span><br /><br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/AgpseeKwhVSLXUNLT_bRERJKD1uf-cbvZC97sW1Sc5KNjcC6UgjbR5lDOLQ2r9Htl1IObVTE8RVuulATtCk0s7DO8VUJjpQJYhmKRw5efCwbKEHNCaY" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px;" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Mike’s Ginger Curry Chicken Fajita ala Liz</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 teaspoon pure chili powder</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 teaspoon kosher salt</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/2 teaspoon of the following:</span></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ground cumin</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ginger</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">curry powder</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cayenne</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">thyme</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sage</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rosemary</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">onion powder</span></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 tsp garlic powder</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tbsp cornstarch</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1/4 cup water</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 whole skinless, boneless chicken breast (about 1 pound), cut into 1/2-inch strips</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 green bell pepper—cored, seeded and cut into thin strips </span></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to make it quite colorful and a more interesting taste, use strips of orange bell and red bell pepper with the green bell pepper</span></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8148372273426503" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 medium onion, thinly sliced</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 flour tortillas, warmed in the microwave</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shredded lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream, for serving</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Ginger Chicken Curry Fajitas" height="416" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00009yf3/s640x480" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" width="300" />--In a resealable plastic bag, combine the chili powder with the salt, cumin, ginger, curry, cayenne, thyme, sage, rosemary, onion powder, garlic powder, cornstarch, water and 2 tablespoons of the oil.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--Add the chicken, bell pepper and onion, seal and knead gently to coat.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--Refrigerate for 15 minutes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet until shimmering.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--Empty the contents of the bag into the skillet and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 6 minutes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--Transfer the chicken and vegetables to a large bowl and serve with the warmed tortillas, lettuce, cheese, salsa, sour cream and lime wedges.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I like to do is put a helping of the GingerChicken Curry in a tortilla, fold, and then place in an oven to broil for 15 to 20 minutes.</span><br /><br /><img height="8px;" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MSFj_JMBjzYy1V0e65bCukg3QaHAREFEfYWHO4A3ukdfuPOEyR7OY-NUz2Kxv3tYe-5n57iIRmqDpejpNHFJ79Sj1xXvp6ScZTMb-_plKqgN-uQy7Zo" width="570px;" /><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, what does the novella offer for the writer and for the reader?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Only the best of both the short story and the novel worlds, that's what.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The only job of any writer is to entertain, whether writing a short story, a novella, or a novel. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Essentially, length is unimportant. A great novel of 1,000 exciting pages is a quicker read than a short story of ten boring pages.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Shadows" height="306" src="http://fearytales.com/images/shadows/shadows.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" width="200" />In a well-crafted story, the perks for the reader is a tale that is factually, mentally, and emotionally rewarding. A well-stocked tale helps the reader to understand the life around him and how to live with himself--no matter the length of the story.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, finding good short stories is hard and, sometimes, a reader doesn't want to invest dozens of hours, days, or weeks required to read the thousands of pages of a ten-novel series that is populated with dozens and dozens of characters, vast amounts of scenery, and subplots that multiply like rabbits every five pages.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The novella combines the unity, the impact, and the economy of the short story with the broader scope, large cast of characters, and more extended time of the novel.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Anthem" height="305" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n3/n18663.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: right;" width="200" />Other advantages for the reader (as well as for the writer) of the novella are as follows:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--read in one sitting</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--strong single center of interest</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--often a single strong character without the distraction of a half-dozen other characters vying for attention</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--very limited number of sub-characters in close connection with each other</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--more range of action than in a short story but not as exhausting as the novel</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--broader expanse of settings than a short story but doesn’t require the reader to have a Google Maps memory of the imagined world</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--pace is not urgent as in a short story but more immediate than in a 350-page novel</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--the situation is seen as a whole, one solid movement from beginning to end</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--state of being in some detail and depth but not overwhelming</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--provides for a variety in style and shading without getting lost</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--not just an incident or an episode</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">--doesn't require an extensive knowledge of the history and composition of the imagined world setting (</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harry Potter; Lord of the Rings; Game of Thrones</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, many readers want all the depth and history of 1,000 page novels and novel series that number into the 10,000 page realm.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I like about the novella is that the novella combines in a manageable length the virtues of the compactness of the short story and the complexity of the novel.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Multum in Parvo" height="305" src="http://www.philsp.com/data/images/m/multum_in_parvo_library_189401_v1_n1.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" width="200" />The narrated time of the novella serves as a window to illuminate a remoter past and to reveal something of a foreseeable future, and all in one reader's sitting. I can begin a novella after supper and be finished by bedtime.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The novella is </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Multim in Parvo</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> at its finest.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While working on </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I’ve discovered that dividing the trilogy into nine distinct and unique novelle has tightened up the story and created a tale that is exciting and rewarding--for the characters, for me, and, more importantly, for the hurried reader.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bon Appetit.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Write Well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Mike</span></span></b>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0100 W Broadway St, Altus, OK 73521, USA34.637765 -99.334044234.5332505 -99.491972699999991 34.7422795 -99.1761157tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-11362573647640697902012-06-10T10:18:00.000-05:002012-06-10T12:51:01.124-05:00Rock of Eggies & Junebug Journal<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9994538645260036" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00007a0g/"><img alt="" height="188" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00007a0g/s640x480" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" width="250" /></a>“Those look like rocks,” said my friend Lisa after I had taken out my Eggie-made hardboiled egg from my lunch pail.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yep, it does.”</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She was right. Lisa is one of the more astute observers I have ever known. </span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My hard boiled Eggie wasn’t egg white, it was gray and pitted, like a weathered conical stone sitting on a flat bottom.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The reason my hard boiled Eggie looked like a pitted conical stone with a flat bottom was because rather than merely crack and pour the egg into the Eggie mold I had scrambled the eggs, mixed them with some spices, and then poured the concoction into the Eggie molds.</span> </b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had seen the Eggie commercials for some time, and I finally bought a set of six Eggies a few months ago. </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After some failures, I learned how to cook the perfect hard boiled Eggies, and I refuse to hard boil my eggs any other way.</span>
</b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The trouble I was having with the Eggie molds in the beginning is that my eggs were sticking to the inside of the mold and when I took each egg from the mold, it ripped.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, I followed the enclosed instructions by coating the inside of the Eggie mold, but my finished Eggies looked nothing like the perfect Eggies on TV.</span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I decided to do it my way, and I’ve made perfect Eggies ever since.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The same thing was happening as I worked on </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Something about the structure of the story just wasn’t right, despite the fact that I was following the “enclosed instructions” for writing a YA post-apocalyptic tale.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To get myself out of the funk, I returned to my beginnings--as a journalist.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I started writing news and sports stories when I was 15-and-one-half-years-old and by the time I was sixteen I was the sports editor of the Wyoming State Tribune, a state-wide newspaper. </span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also took up photography under Pulitzer Prize nominee Pat Hall, and my photojournalism career was launched as well.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I begin to write </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND </span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as though I were reporting the news.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Junebug Journal” was born. </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had not intended for Junebug Journal to be any more than a writing exercise, but after I had shared it with a couple of friends, they suggested I post the fictional newspaper and published more editions.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s these same friends that suggested I publish some of my recipes along with my journal about writing.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-------------------------------------------</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Mike’s Rock of Eggies</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This makes for a spicy hard boiled egg that does look more like a rock sitting on flat bottom, but it sure is good!</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00004p40/"><img alt="The mixture & eggs" height="155" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00004p40/s640x480" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" width="250" /></a></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Six Eggie molds</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Six eggs</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">⅛ cup Bailey’s Creamer (non-alcoholic)</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 tsp soy sauce</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">¼ tsp cumin</span> </b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">¼ tsp curry</span> </b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">¼ tsp thyme</span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><img alt="Mixture & eggs" height="225" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00005fds/s640x480" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: right;" width="135" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">¼ tsp sage</span> </span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">¼ parsley</span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">¼ tsp black pepper</span> </span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">¼ tsp cayenne pepper</span> </span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">½ tsp horseradish</span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 tsp capers, chopped</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 tsp jalapeno peppers, chopped</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mix all the ingredients in a bowl</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put all six eggs into a blender cup and then pour the spicy mixture into blender cup with the eggs.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blend until well mixed.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00006pwq/"><img alt="100% virgin olive oil" height="250" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00006pwq/s640x480" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" width="182" /></a></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coat Eggie molds with 100% virgin olive oil. (I always use virgin olive oil to coat my Eggie molds)</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pour egg mixture into Eggie molds.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have any mixture left, just cook as a scrambled egg.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Boil for 20 minutes</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remove egges from Eggie mold while hot and let set out until cool.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tastes great with a beer or Irish Breakfast Tea</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-------------------------------------------</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Producing a weekly newspaper about the horrific events and terrified Children of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has had its benefits.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing the news articles is helping me with both plot and characters. </span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m looking at the story from different characters’ points-of-view instead of only my protagonist’s point-of-view.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00008xdh/"><img alt="Junebug Journal" height="250" src="http://pics.livejournal.com/talewright/pic/00008xdh/s640x480" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" width="181" /></a></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m giving voice to other characters, developing the setting, getting insights into the type of world that would exist if everyone over eighteen disappeared and some 2,000 children were left alone and trapped in their small town.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not everything that appears in Junebug Journal will find space in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEVЯLAND</span><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but the newspaper is helping to keep my story fresh for me, which juices me to continue writing the tale as characters and ideas pop up.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The point is--do whatever you have to do to keep writing your story. Yes, the prescribed enclosed directions you’ve gotten in creative writing classes and writing conferences and workshops are good, but somewhere in your writing, you’ve got to step out on your own and just do it your way.</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A writer must be brave. A writer is like every other person except that the writer has the courage to run fifty yards up the beach, plant his flag, turn around, and shout to the others standing on the shoreline, “Now: Follow me!”</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To read the various editions of Junebug Journal, visit the </span><a data-mce-="" href="http://nevrland.info/" style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">NEVЯLAND</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> website.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bon apeptit</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good Writing</span> </b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Larry Mike</span></b>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-36226494944527597052012-05-27T13:31:00.000-05:002012-05-27T13:31:12.659-05:00Stuffed Oklahoma Omelet & the Summer Writing Schedule<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>It’s summer.</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the first time in many, many years, I don’t feel obligated or tied down. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>I feel free this summer.</strong>
<strong>Free to write. Free to create. Free to finally put the voices in my head on paper and to share them with others.</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>“I’m making a daily schedule,” I say to My Liz.</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>“Of what?” she replies.</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>“What I should do everyday: outline, write, revise; garden; housework; doing something with you.”</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>“That sounds like a good plan.”</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>“Yeah. I’ll probably stick to it for a day or two.” I laugh.</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“No: You’ll stick to it until school starts again.” </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Her statement wasn’t a command but encouragement.</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>One thing I’ll be doing more of is cooking as we’ll both be home for lunch as well as breakfast and dinner. No more rushing around in the morning.</strong>
<strong>I love eggs. </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>My grandson Fenix made the observation the other day that “chickens are in eggs and eggs are in chickens.”</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>“It’s a conundrum,” I said.</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>“Yeah,” he replied as he took a big bite of the omelet I had made for breakfast. “These are good eggs!”</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>---------------------------</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Larry Mike’s Stuffed Oklahoma Omelet</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>(Depending on your appetite, this can make enough for two people or one for a very hungry person.)</strong>
<strong><img alt="Mixture" height="124" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/DaGie1SESDqFDZzZjP7De0V2M5XZmi_4Wbppw_K_7Dv1QmpwzU_EG4HzE-EQdd5DLbddr7JgN0M" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; float: left;" title="Mixture" width="208" /></strong>
<strong><br /></strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Half mixture before microwaving</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Two eggs</strong>
<strong>¼ tsps of the following:</strong></span><br />
<ul>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">cumin</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">curry</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">garlic powder</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">paprika</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sage</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">rosemary</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">thyme</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">black pepper</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">capers, chopped</span></strong></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>⅛ cup skim milk</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>2 small jalapeno peppers, </strong><strong>chopped</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>¼ onion, chopped</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>¼ tomato, chopped</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<strong style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img alt="Bottom half" height="124" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/VhQ0IM9qYoHW1XGmNCx5cM2kzEcu6L8W_ENJ8PwA_7tepuU18aUiFvEuJdZQTDuTE1vGRXPvgfY" title="Bottom half" width="208" /></span></strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>I normally don’t add salt, but when I do, I add sea salt to taste.</strong>
<strong>Bottom half awaiting the top half</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Stuffing:</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Ham, sausage, bacon</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Favorite Cheese (cream cheese or cottage cheese are good substitutes)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<ol>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mix all ingredients except the meat and cheese--only a few seconds.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Coat a small bowl with nonstick spray such as Pam or with oil. I like olive oil.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pour ½ the mixture in the bowl and microwave for 2 minutes.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gently remove the partially cooked omelet and place on a hot griddle or in a hot skillet.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Place the ham and cheese on this half of the omelet.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Respray or re-grease the small bowl and pour in the remaining omelet mixture.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cook this second half in the microwave for 2 minutes.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When finished, flip this half onto the first half.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Brown both sides.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Serve with Irish Breakfast tea</span></strong></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong><img alt="Two Halves Joined" height="124" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8DMc7fx_9uRydWJNpW1wq0JGehOFRTA5akUl5ObahPlO-txF-cynTExUOVYpPNcnchXWKX19ECs" title="Two Halves Joined" width="208" /></strong> <strong>Two Halves Joined</strong> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>I like putting sour cream on top of my Stuffed Oklahoma Omelet.</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>--------------------------------</strong>
</span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My Liz says, "At first I turned my nose up at your stuffed omelet."</span></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Because of the color?"</span></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Yes. But I decided to try it anyway."</span></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"And?"</span></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I finished it, didn't I?"</span></strong></div>
<strong style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">I like to hear that from a person, whether about my cooking or one of my tales!</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /> <strong>So, my summer will be a mixture of projects and events, just the way I like it.</strong>
<strong>I’m quite excited to get back to NEVЯLAND and to outlining Popinjay.</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><strong>Of course, to write well, I’ve got to be well, to live well, awaken to each day not with the “idea” I can do all this, but, as Carolyn See says, to Live the Writing Life.</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><strong>Bon Apetit.</strong><br /><strong>Write Well.</strong><br /><strong>Larry Mike</strong></span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-32920042465663907502012-04-29T14:42:00.001-05:002012-04-29T14:46:34.263-05:00Super Conference Smoothie<br />
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I’m looking forward to next weekend’s Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc., conference.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Liz won’t be able to attend, and that will be the only downside to the trip.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">The upside is I get to hobnob with fellow writers and some of the movers and shakers in the writing profession. I get to be of service as well by volunteering to be a shepherd and a go-fer.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">During the past five-six years, the workshops/sessions I’ve attended have rarely yielded anything I don’t already know. I’ve written long enough, have had a dozen book sales, and read several writer/editor/agent blogs and writing news, so I know the game.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">So, why attend?</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Simple answer: I need a pep talk. I need to hear someone chide me for not doing what I should be doing everyday. I need my ego bruised and my envy at the success of others to rise to the top.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I need a quick kick in my writing butt, is what I need.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I don’t think of writing conferences as “learning something new” but as a spiritual retreat to renew my vows to Tell-Tale story making.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I recently changed my eating, drinking, and exercising habits, which are parallel to changing my writing habits.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I eat as much protein as possible, nearly cut out all fat products, am conscience of my choices in a restaurant.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I power walk 12-15 miles a week. I’ve gone from doing a 2.5k in 50 minutes to doing a 5K in 39 minutes in one year. I do resistance exercises on those days I don’t power walk.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I make sure to get eight to nine hours of sleep a night.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve stopped drinking nearly all colas, fruit juices, and other “unnatural” drinks.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">One of my new favorite habits is a SuperFood Smoothie I quaff on a daily basis--and I’m working on developing a SuperWriting Smoothie to get my tell-tale career up and going on a daily basis once again.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">------------------------------------</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Larry Mike’s SuperFood Smoothie</span></strong></h6>
<h6 class="wp-caption alignleft" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><a data-mce-href="http://talewright.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/power_smoothie.jpg" href="http://talewright.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/power_smoothie.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1714 alignleft" data-mce-src="http://talewright.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/power_smoothie.jpg?w=189" height="300" src="http://talewright.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/power_smoothie.jpg?w=189" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: default; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="power_smoothie" width="189" /></a></strong></span></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">½ cup blueberries<br />½ cup strawberries<br />3 slices grapefruit (remove pits)<br />½ banana<br />1 cup plain nonfat yogurt<br />½ cup skim milk<br />½ tsp ginger<br />¼ tsp nutmeg<br />¼ tsp chili powder (optional)<br />1 square unsweetened (baking) 100% dark cocoa<br />2 to 4 drops pure vanilla extract (according to taste)</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I like using frozen berries as this makes for a chilly, nearly frozen smoothie drink.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Chop up the cocoa square into small pieces.</strong><br /><strong>Put all ingredients in a blender and fire up the blades!</strong><br /><strong>When all is liquefied, pour in your favorite drinking vessel and enjoy!</strong></span></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Makes one serving. Double or triple or quadruple for serving to family and friends.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Can freeze for later--make it overnight, freeze it, take it to work for a nice mid-morning repast.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Some optional additions to make the SuperFood Smoothie interesting. Choose one, not all, unless you want to make it really interesting:</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>2 ozs vanilla vodka</strong><br /><strong>2 ozs red wine</strong><br /><strong>2 ozs plum wine</strong><br /><strong>2 ozs Irish whiskey</strong><br /><strong>2 ozs tequila</strong></span></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">------------------------------------</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">I must constantly remind myself to write everyday. To tell the stories in my head that are yearning to be free.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">My SuperFood Smoothie has now become a daily habit, a ritual, something I don’t miss on a daily basis.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">And, constructive writing everyday is becoming a habit once more. My mind and soul don’t like to miss a day without writing</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">There’s no great secret to staying healthy: Just eat what I know is good and healthy for me. Change my cravings from those foods that contribute little to my physical, emotional, and spiritual well being. Eat Super Foods.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">There’s no great secret to writing: Just write. Put down one word. Then put down another word after it. Put my fingers on the keys and tap downward with a purpose. Change my cravings from those distractions that don’t contribute to my tell-tale story making. Write Super Tales.</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Oh, I still have a pizza or ice cream or candy every now and then; however, the taste is not really as satisfying as it once was, and my body yells, “What the Hell was that? Where’s the Super Food, buddy boy?”</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">And, I still watch brainless TV shows on occasion; however, after a bit of watching, Myself says, “What the Hell you doing? Laynie or Sati or Whatever-Character is waiting for you to get back to their tales, and you’re pissing them off!”</span></strong></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Eat well.</strong><br /><strong>Write Well.</strong></span></h6>
<h6 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Larry Mike</span></strong></h6>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0Altus, OK 73521, USA34.637765 -99.334044234.5332505 -99.491972699999991 34.7422795 -99.1761157tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-7056112994580420762012-04-21T15:46:00.001-05:002012-04-21T15:56:36.571-05:00Currying Favor with Salmon (Is it Sal-mon or Sa-man?)<strong>The 44th Annual OWFI conference is in two weeks. It's theme is Story Weavers, and we've got some great folk coming to speak and teach.</strong><br />
<br />
<img alt="Chuck " height="168" src="http://www.chucksambuchino.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Screen-shot-2012-02-12-at-9.12.22-PM.png" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" title="Chuck" width="256" /><strong>I have been blessed to be one of the shepherds, and I get to shepherd the remarkable <a href="http://www.chucksambuchino.com/" target="_blank" title="Chuck's Page">Chuck Sambuchino</a>--pick him up at the airport, make sure he has what he needs at the conference, introduce him at the sessions, and make sure he makes his flight at the end of the conference.</strong><strong>I’ve read his blog for quite some time, and am excited about finally meeting him.</strong><strong>Being a writer is more than just writing. It’s about service as well. I’ve always done something at the OWFI conferences I’ve attended--volunteering to be a shepherd at the first one before I even knew anyone or knew what OWFI was all about.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>I had to miss last year’s OWFI for personal reasons, and I vowed then I wouldn’t miss another one no matter the reason short of life-or-death.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>The speakers/presenters who come to OWFI conferences are highly impressed with the professionalism and personableness of OWFI folk, and it’s people like the shepherds and other volunteers that make it so.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Sometimes, OWFI is a speaker’s or presenter’s first visit to Oklahoma. It’s up to me (and the others) to make sure they leave knowing they are welcomed, appreciated, and a part of our OWFI family.</strong><br />
<br />
<img alt="Josh among cadre" height="236" src="http://s126640.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/3Amigos1BW1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: right;" title="Josh among the cadre" width="235" /><br />
<br />
<strong>The last time I was a shepherd I got to usher the knowledgeable <a href="http://hsgagency.com/" target="_blank" title="Josh's Site">Josh Getzler</a> around. I remember he had an impromptu session at the bar after Saturday’s duties were done. During our friendly talks between sessions and such, I had learned of Josh’s enjoyment of a particular drink, and while wide-eyed writers were picking Josh’s well-honed brain about the writing business and craft I was whispering to a few what his favorite drink is, and Josh was quite surprised when a refreshed beverage showed up in his hand every few questions.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Currying favor with those who are successful in our little profession is very important, not simply for the sake of self-serving desires, but because it’s the nice thing to do.</strong><br />
<strong>--------------------------------------------------------</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Larry Mike's Curry Mustard Salmon Patties</strong><br />
<br />
<img alt="Salmon Patty Meal" height="184" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2257464798_e443cfea9e.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" title="Salmon Patty Meal" width="240" /><br />
<ul><li><strong>1 can (16 ounces) salmon</strong></li>
<li><strong>1 medium onion, finely grated</strong></li>
<li><strong>2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley</strong></li>
<li><strong>¼ tsp ground black pepper</strong></li>
<li><strong>½ tsp curry</strong></li>
<li><strong>¼ tsp cayenne pepper</strong></li>
<li><strong>1 tsp dry mustard</strong></li>
<li><strong>¼ tps garlic</strong></li>
<li><strong>2 large eggs, well beaten</strong></li>
<li><strong>1 to 1 1/2 cups fine dry bread crumbs</strong></li>
<li><strong>3 tablespoons butter</strong></li>
<li><strong>3 tablespoons shortening</strong></li>
</ul><div dir="ltr"><strong>Preparation:</strong></div><ol><li><strong>Turn salmon and ¾ liquid into a medium mixing bowl.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Flake with a fork, removing OR mashing any bones (they are edible).</strong></li>
<li><strong>Mix in onion, parsley, mustard, garlic, curry, cayenne pepper, and pepper.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Mix beaten eggs with salmon.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Add enough bread crumbs, about 1/2 to 3/4 cup, to make thick enough to shape into 12 small patties.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Roll patties in 1/2 cup bread crumbs.</strong></li>
<li><strong>In a large heavy skillet over low heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter; add patties.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Fry patties slowly on one side; add remaining butter, turn patties, and fry until brown on the other side.</strong></li>
</ol><strong>Serves 6.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>--------------------------------------------------------</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>The Writing Profession is a Family Business. We are brothers and sisters in a craft as old as humankind. Some of us, though, have forgotten this. Some of us have forgotten that making and keeping friends--writers, agents, editors, publishers--is important.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>The best selling book rarely makes it up the list without “family” help.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>To some “currying favor” is brown nosing, sucking up, and selling out.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>As I writer who has had some modicum of success, I still curry the favor of others, not just for the sake of doing something to please them to meet my own means but because I’m a friendly guy with some talent and drive and I realize that I need others to help me along in my craft.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Besides, it’s just the nice thing to do.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>No man is island. No writer is wholly successful solely by his own efforts.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Eat well.</strong><br />
<strong>Write well.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Larry Mike</strong>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-53916925132733099392012-04-14T12:56:00.002-05:002012-04-14T16:08:19.631-05:00Apocalyptic Zombie Ketchup or Dystopian Ghoul Catsup?<strong><img alt="Ketchup or Catsup" height="155" src="http://www.colourbox.com/preview/2907910-662727-bottle-of-tomato-ketchup.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" title="tomato ketchup" width="173" /></strong><strong>Every time I hear the term “zombie” applied to the flesh-eating, bacteria-virus-infested cannibals either of film or print, I cringe.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>They are not “zombies”--they are ghouls.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>A “zombie” is a person brought back from the dead to serve as the slave of another person.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>A “ghoul” is the malignant spirit of a dead person, a dead person whose body has been possessed, or a demon in human form who terrorizes the living by eating live flesh and causing havoc throughout the neighborhood.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>The “zombie” movie that started it all never even called the dead cannibals “zombies”. <em>Night of the Living Dead</em> is attributed with having started the whole dead-eating-the-living craze. However, if you actually watch and listen to the movie, the dead-eaters are never referred to as “zombies”.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Because they are not “zombies”.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><img alt="Crazy Mixed-up Zombies" height="240" src="http://talewright.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/fmotf6p16.jpg?w=223" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" title="Crazy Mixed-up Zombies" width="179" /></strong><strong>Check out Ray Dennis Steckler's 1964 B-movie opus <em>The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?</em> No flesh-eating here: just a crazy dead person killing those who did him and his crazy gypsy sister wrong.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>I feel a heated passion arise in me of late when I hear or read the terms “apocalyptic” and “dystopian” being used as synonyms.</strong><strong><img alt="Ghoul Feeding" height="169" src="http://fc05.deviantart.net/images2/i/2004/03/2/c/Ghoul_Feeding.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: right;" title="Ghoul Feeding" width="211" /></strong><br />
<strong>Comments and reviews of<em> The Hunger Games</em> have helped to blur the line between the two distinct terms, but it's not the first story to do so. I don't know what Suzanne Collins calls her tale, but others have given it both the “apocalyptic” and “dystopian” labels—but it's really only one of those.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>So, which is it?</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>------------------------------------------------</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>It's the difference between "ketchup" and "catsup".</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Some will argue that the only difference between "ketchup" and "catsup" is the spelling. Such culinary pundits are woefully mistaken.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>As with so many other foods that have become a staple of Western cuisine, "ketchup" was invented by the Chinese (鮭汁, kôe-chiap and kê-chiap) and brought to the West by Italian traders.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>It was a sauce for fish. Those wacky Italians, though, made it into a sauce for just about everything else, including ice cream. I swear to God, I've seen people put it on ice cream.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>So, I offer you my Chinese Vodka Ketchup recipe of my own particular taste:</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Ingredients</strong><br />
<ul><li><strong>1 6-ounce can tomato paste</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/3 cup brown sugar</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/2 cup apple cider vinegar</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/2 cup vodka or red wine or beer or whiskey</strong></li>
<li><strong>1 teaspoon sea salt</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/4 teaspoon onion powder</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/4 teaspoon garlic powder</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/4 teaspoon cumin</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/4 teaspoon curry</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/4 teaspoon paprika</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/4 teaspoon parsley</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/4 teaspoon ginger</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/4 teaspoon thyme</strong></li>
<li><strong>1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper</strong></li>
</ul><strong>Directions</strong><br />
<ol><li><strong>Combine ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk to eliminate lumps while bringing to a boil. Reduce heat to low.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Simmer partially covered (careful, the hot bubbles splatter) for 20 minutes, until thickened.</strong></li>
</ol><strong>Makes about 1 1/2 cups.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Notes</strong><br />
<ul><li><strong>Homemade ketchup won’t last as long as commercial ketchup, but with sugar and vinegar as natural preservatives, it should keep fine for a week or two in the fridge.</strong></li>
</ul><div><strong>So, what's the difference between my Chinese Vodka Ketchup and any other "catsup"?</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong></div><div><strong>For "catsup", use white sugar and add more of it; leave out the vodka, wine, beer, or whiskey and use white vinegar instead; and leave out the cumin, curry, paprika, ginger, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and cayenne pepper. This will produce the bland sweet "catsup" Americans slather on everything.</strong></div><br />
<strong>------------------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Okay--the difference between "apocalyptic" and "dystopian" genre.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>First, an “apocalyptic” tale involves a story in which some catastrophic event has occurred in which the survival of humanity is in question. <em>On the Beach</em> is a good example of this. So are <em>The Core</em>, <em>Armageddon</em>, <em>2012</em>, <em>I am Legend</em>, <em>Resident Evil</em> (et al), and the flood stories of Gilgamesh, Noah, Quiche Mayans, and many, many more. An "apocalyptic" tale results either from man's own negligence or God's wrath or nature's revenge.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Stephen Vincent Benet’s short tale “By the Waters of Babylon” is a perfect example of the apocalyptic event caused sometime in the distant past by humans themselves.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>An “apocalyptic” tale almost always includes some spiritual message within the story. Benet’s tale turns the apocalyptic event into a dream of a great burning in which the gods were displeased with humans and mankind was nearly wiped out.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>A “dystopian” tale is one in which a repressive government enslaves its people in the belief that humans need repression in order to save them from themselves-- or simply because those in power are in it for the sake of the power itself.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>In a dystopian story, society believes it has achieved Utopia and cannot or does not see the fatal flaw within its system that is actually working against the advancement of Humankind--usually the repression of individual choice and creativity, as in Ayn Rand’s <em>Anthem</em>, Bradbury's <em>Fahrenheit 451</em>, and Lowry's <em>The Giver</em>. In almost every tale, the government sets out to repress individual choice and creativity and even destroy human productivity and enlightenment.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><em>V for Vendetta</em> is one of the best examples. <em>Nineteen Eighty-four</em> is an excellent example of a government enslaving its people simply for the sake of power: “Do want to see a picture of humanity?” O’Brian says to Winston. “It’s a boot in the face.”</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Other good examples of true dystopian fare are <em>Equalibrium</em>, <em>The Postman</em>, the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, <em>The Handmaid’s Daughter</em>, and, yes, <em>The Hunger Games</em>.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><img alt="Repo" height="157" src="http://gruesomedetails.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/repo-the-genetic-opera-graverobber.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" title="Repo" width="281" /></strong><strong>One of the best tales in which a dystopian culture is belched from an apocalyptic event is <em>Repo: The Genetic Opera</em>. In Terrance Zdunich's tale, the apocalyptic catalyst is the failure of human organs. The dystopia arises when Genco offers savioristic transplants and a culture paradigm shift emerges in which everyone believes society has achieved utopia.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Another good example of the apocalyptic-to-dystopia scenario is P.D. James's <em>The Children of Men</em>. This tale of the future demise of humanity begins with the last child born on earth dying--and he's 18-years-old. Humanity can no longer reproduce. Society shifts into paranoid mode in which whole countries are now barb-wired from each other, each blaming the other for the "disease" of sterility, and everything from a space virus to God's Armageddon is offered for the explanation as to why humans can no longer produce children. A new culture arises as human kind slouches through the apocalyptic slough, a dystopian culture.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><img alt="Children of Men" height="240" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/12/25/movies/25chil.2.190.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: right;" title="Children of Men" width="190" /></strong><strong>Collins’s tale is not “apocalyptic”.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>I will submit that a dystopian setting can arise out of an apocalyptic event and an apocalyptic event can result in a dystopian society’s choices.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Generally speaking, though, the tale is dominated by one or the other. <em>The Hunger Games</em> is without question dystopian, not apocalyptic. Maybe it will morph in apocalypticism or the society is the result of an apocalyptic event, but the events in the story itself lead to only one conclusion: dystopian.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>My tale <em>NEVЯLAND</em> is apocalyptic whereas my story <em>Popinjay</em> is dystopian.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>I have approached each with the distinct definitions clearly delineated in order to keep the two tales straight and true to their intended purposes. The backstory of <em>NEVЯLAND</em> does not have dystopian catalyst just as the backstory of <em>Popinjay</em> has no apocalyptic event.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Okay, I know some will protest: “This is a distinction without a difference, like zombies and ghouls.”</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>And thus I taunt you with this: Nuts! It’s the distinction that makes the difference in the first place.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Zombies are not Ghouls.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Apocalypticism is not Dystopianism.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Ketchup is not Catsup.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Eat well.</strong><br />
<strong>Write well.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Larry Mike</strong>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0Altus, OK 73521, USA34.637765 -99.334044234.592235 -99.3832377 34.683295 -99.284850699999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-65573574060317161822012-04-07T11:32:00.002-05:002012-04-07T11:42:48.506-05:00Banana Juice in Three Acts?<span style="font-size: larger;"><strong><strong>Since Syd Fields so astutely wrote about screenplay writing, the three-act structure of plotting has been a staple of screenwriters for decades.<br />
<br />
Once upon a time, in some lonely writer’s den, a novelist or short story writer struggling to find Voice and Structure in his tale read Fields’ screenplay bible, drew a red line from Fields’ premise to the structure of story in prose writing, and ever since that epiphany moment, the hue and cry of publishers, editors, agents, and writers has been, “A writer must write in the three-act plot structure, or write not at all!”<br />
<br />
Acknowledging that Syd is much more intelligent and creative than I am, I propose that writing in the three-act structure for novels and short stories is anathema to the art and craft of tell-tale storying.<br />
<br />
Now, I realize I just stepped on some very tender and sensitive grad school creative writing toes and can hear the collective gasp of the three-act faithful at my heretical statement.<br />
<br />
I submit that writing tales utilizing the ritual of three-act structure is unnatural to storytelling.<br />
<br />
I remember watching the old <em>F.B.I.</em> on television and each segment of each show began by naming the “Act”. A couple of other shows did this as well.<br />
<br />
What exactly was each “Act”? Simply, that meant “End of commercial interruption; Now, on with our show.”<br />
<br />
I listen to much Old Time Radio shows on iTune via <a href="about:blank">http://radio.macinmind.com,</a> and I hear the same pronouncements by the announcers: “End of Act One” or “And now, for Act Two of <em>Suspense</em>.”<br />
<br />
However, short stories and novels don’t have commercial interruptions. A person can stop at any point in the tale to go to the bathroom, answer the phone, get a glass of tea, eat something, clean the house, et cetera.<br />
<br />
Thus, writing in “Acts” doesn’t really fit. Movies, television shows, and even Old Time Radio programs are different media from short stories and novels, and, therefore, require a different approach to tale-telling--a division into Acts.<br />
<br />
Think in terms of natural structure of the problem:</strong></strong></span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>The action that created the problem—inciting action</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Threat—who/what created the problem</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>The action that resolves the problem—principle action</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Anti-threat—driving force of the principle action</strong></span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>“Anti-threat” is, of course, the “protagonist”.<br />
<br />
What I like about calling the “protagonist” the Anti-threat is that this perspective requires the writer to look at his tale from the point of view of the “antagonist”, the Threat who caused the Inciting Action (Problem) in the first place. Without the Threat, the writer has no story whatsoever.<br />
<br />
And this is where good writing is separated from Really Good Writing: the THREAT is the reason for the story NOT the Anti-Threat.<br />
<br />
Begin with the Threat, not the “protagonist”.<br />
<br />
Just like I begin by adding vanilla before I add any other ingredient in my Banana Juice. Vanilla is an intoxicating smell for me. If Liz wore vanilla as a perfume, I wouldn’t be able to keep myself off of her.<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------<br />
<br />
I love bananas. I love vanilla. I love cinnamon. I love milk.<br />
<br />
And I love combining all the things I love into a tasty treat. For the following quaff, I added a bit of nutmeg, which reminds me of Christmas, which I also love very much.<br />
<br />
Larry Mike's Banana Juice</strong></span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>One banana</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>16 ozs skim milk</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>2 tsp honey</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>¼ tsp vanilla extract</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>½ tsp nutmeg</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>½ tsp cinnamon</strong></span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Blend all ingredients together.<br />
<br />
Drink immediately or chill in a covered cup until later.<br />
<br />
Makes one serving for me.<br />
<br />
Of course, you can make this a really interesting quaff by adding one-two ounces of your favorite adult beverage. Mine is vodka. I use McCormick’s Vanilla Vodka and leave out the vanilla extract.<br />
<br />
-----------------------------------<br />
<br />
Okay, I hear the grad school and high school creative writing teachers screaming: Write in Acts! Write in Scenes!<br />
<br />
Really?</strong></span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong><em>Beowulf</em> isn’t written in Three Acts.</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Dante’s <em>Inferno</em> isn’t written in Three Acts.</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Milton’s <em>Paradise</em> <em>Lost</em> isn’t written in Three Acts.</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Sophocles’s <em>Oedipus Rex</em> isn’t written in Three Acts.</strong></span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong><strong>Each of the aforementioned classical works of literature follow a much simpler and more natural approach to tale-telling.<br />
<br />
Although Syd is a saint in the Gospel of Screenplay Writing, I prefer Aristotle’s simple approach to writing a good story:</strong></strong></span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Beginning</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Middle</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>End</strong></span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong><strong>Again, writing a tale from the point of view of the Threat (antagonist) rather than the Anti-threat (protagonist) provides the tale-teller with a profound insight to story structure and creation:</strong></strong></span><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Resistance—the Threat that caused the problem; resists the Anti-threat’s attempts to resolve the problem</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Complications—those events set up by the Threat that resists the attempts of the Anti-threat to easily resolve the problem, which leads to the</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Crisis—an event that defines the Anti-threat’s character and forces the Anti-threat into</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Climatic Action—that then forces the Anti-threat into</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Crisis—in which the Anti-threat is forced by fate or sheer will to the only</strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>Resolution—possible because of the choices made by both the Threat and the Anti-threat</strong></span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong id="internal-source-marker_0.7443234587553889">Okay: Once you get all the above into your tale, if you still feel the urge to “divide” your story into Acts for the sake of discussion with other writers, prospective agents, and/or potential publishers, then do so.<br />
<br />
Otherwise, every good recipe has one little secret, and you can keep your antithesis to the “acceptable” format for tell-taling to yourself--and I’ll keep your dirty little secret as well.<br />
<br />
And, so, I raise my Banana Juice to each of you tale-tellers, and I wish you<br />
<br />
Bon Appetit & Good Writing,<br />
<br />
Larry Mike</strong></span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-57557975791883371802012-03-25T14:49:00.001-05:002012-03-25T14:51:59.940-05:00A Tasty Treat for "The Hunger Games<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">WARNING: The following contains several spoilers concerning both the book and the movie </span></span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">The Hunger Games</span></span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">.</span></span></b></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">If you haven't read the book and/or seen the movie, don't read the following thoughts, critique, and review.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">You've been warned</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I thank you for your consideration.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 16px;">------------------------------------------</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I rarely get on a bandwagon about much. The last time I was excited about seeing a movie, rushing to buy a ticket a day before the movie came out, was </span></span><em style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 16px;">Star Wars, Episode 1: The Phantom </em><em style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 16px;">Menace</em><span style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">. The experience left a bad taste in my mouth, and I swore off opening-day excitement.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The same is true for books. Just because Stephen King wrote another tome or the New York Times and all my writing friends are slobbering over the latest best seller doesn't mean much to me.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I wait. Like a hunter. To strike when the moment is right for me.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I usually wait some time before picking up a best seller to read it or see a box officer record-breaking movie to view it.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The same held true for Suzanne Collins's <em>The Hunger Games</em>. I didn't read them when they came out as I've been working on my own post-apocalypitic YA novel </span><em><a data-cke-saved-href="http://nevrland.ino" href="http://nevrland.ino/" lj-cmd="LJLink" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">NevЯland</a><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span></em><span style="font-size: small;">and didn't want to be unduly influenced by her tale.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">However, Liz wanted to see <em>The Hunger Games</em> on opening day, and I had bought her the box set of the trilogy for Valentine's Day, so I sat down one day last week and read the first book from cover to cover. I was quite happy that my </span><em style="font-size: medium;"><a data-cke-saved-href="http://nevrland.ino" href="http://nevrland.ino/" lj-cmd="LJLink" target="_blank">NevЯland</a> </em><span style="font-size: small;">is nothing like</span><i style="font-size: medium;">The Hunger Games.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The problem with being a writer, like being a chef, is that while you can thoroughly enjoy a tale (or a meal), you always find elements of the story to change, like a chef adding his own touch to a popular dish.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
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Is it ironic to gorge oneself while reading <i>The Hunger Games</i>? Does that make us no better than Effie?<br />
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Here's a tasty fruit dip I like very much so you can eat a sweet treat while reading the book (or sneak it into the theatre to avoid those outrageous snack bar prices.<br />
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Larry Mike's Irish Sweet Treat Fruit Dip</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ol style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; padding-right: 40px;"><li style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 (6 ounce package) instant vanilla pudding</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 cup skim milk</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup Bailey's Irish Cream (non-alcoholic if children are around or alcoholic if for adults only)</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 (8 ounce container Cool Whip) </span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon</span></li>
</ol><ul style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; padding-right: 40px;"><li style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Whip all ingredients together.</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chill for one-half hour</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Serve with your favorite slices of fruit</span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">------------------------------------------</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the first scenes I would have changed in the tale is the death of Rue.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Katness should have been the one to kill Rue. Having to make such a horrific decision would have been an unstoppable catalyst for Katniss to bring down the Capital.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Oh, I got it about Rue in the book. I did like the giving of the bread from District 11 and Thresh's role in saving Katniss so he doesn't owe her. The addition in the movie of the riot started by her father in D11 was a nice touch to set up what follows in the sequels.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In the movie, the attention to the Gamemaster and the tension between President Snow and Katniss were nice, too. A bit of a jump in the series, though.<br />
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<br />
In the movie, President Snow gives Katniss a Victor's crown and not Peeta (as in the book). To me, this diminishes his role in saving Katniss.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">After I finished the book, I said to Liz, either Katniss is truly immaturely naive when it comes to human relationships or she is cruelly cynical when it comes to anybody outside of her inner circle (Prim and Gale). I began to empathize with Peeta in the book. Of course, in the movie, they didn't have time to really play up his love of Katniss to the extent Collins did in the book, so I think those who saw the movie without reading the book have missed that tension/conflict.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">I liked the movie very much, but only because I read the book. By some reactions, I could tell some in the audience hadn't read the book prior to seeing the movie. We went to the 10 PM showing, and when Peeta and Katniss kissed, you could tell which females where still in junior high (and what they hell were they doing at such a late show?). The showings completely sold out for 7:15 and 10 PM, and then they had quite a crowd from the Friday midnight showing. I was happy the audience was quiet and into the movie and not using it as a social gathering.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The weakest part of the book was Cato's death. I didn't want to feel anything for Cato and yet Katniss has to put him out of his misery with a shot to the skull. Because the cornucopia was not described in the book, I saw an actual giant gold cornucopia, and during the climatic scene at the field I had a hard time imagining how the hell they were climbing on it. The movie made it more representational than actual, and that helped.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The addition of the mutts was weak in the book, like a reverse <em>deus ex machena</em>. I didn't like that they resembled the other tributes who had died, especially Rue. Such confusion as to their origin distracted me from the action of the story. I would rather a horrific battle between Cato and Katniss had taken place with Peeta getting mortally wounded again and Katniss having to save his ass once again--thus her arrogance towards him being weak would be a nice juxtaposition in the fact that he was the smartest of them all--and the most honest.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Making Rue black in the movie distracted from her real intended purpose story-wise: as a surrogate sister for Katniss to protect. I understand the desire for inclusiveness and have no problem with the casting other than Rue not resembling Prim. Then again, Katniss's protective nature for her sister or any 12-year-old girl is made more evident when she takes Rue under her protection.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">As I said, I do understand why Rue was killed by the boy from District 2 (?) and the emotional impact that it has on Katniss,but Katniss needs to truly HATE the Capitol, and if she had been forced to kill Rue, that would spur her to rebellion even more. But, I get it. It is, after all, a YA novel. When in the novel District 11 sends the bread as a way to honor what Katness has done for Rue (flowers/song/respect) and she thanked them, I choked up.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was glad to see that Collins had a screenwriting credit--that means she had more say in the final draft than most writers, so she approved of the changes. Most writers are given "script approval" but not "final script approval", meaning they have no say-so over the changes and the final look of the film. Her screenwriting credit says she had "final script approval" and is also now a SWG member, which is one of the hardest writing organizations to be accepted into.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The changes from the book were not overwhelmingly distracting. The Gamemaster was okay, but it took away from Katniss's POV and shifted more attention to power/tension between Katniss and President Snow.<br />
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Without reading the other two novels yet, I had envisioned Panem as an oligarchy much like <em>Nineteen Eighty-four</em>. Several of the "girls" in the audience giggled at the appearance of the Gamemaster, which was annoying, and I still wonder what the hell junior high girls were doing at the 10 PM showing.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I like the Avox in the book. <em>Avox</em> is portmanteau for "No Voice" in Latin, which is symbolic of this whole society's mute population. The Avox remind me of the servants in <em>Dune</em>, who have their eyes, ears, and mouths sewn shut--very horrific.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I've been guessing that "Panem" is shortened for Pan American. I thought at first it was pronounced <em>pan-EM</em>, but as I read, I changed to <em>pan-AM</em>. And in the movie they pronounced it as <em>pan-AM</em>.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The train trip from the districts to the Capitol, Katniss and Peeta's reaction, and the people of the Capitol all reminded me of the scene in <em>Apocalypto</em> when the forest Mayans are taken into the urban Mayan society and we witness the transformation of society with the degradation of human rights and the destruction of nature and society inherent in top-heavy government urban-centered societies. No matter how beautiful the Capitol is (or the Mayan capitol) or the plentifulness it offers, it's built on human suffering, bloodshed, genocide, and destruction of the spiritual creativeness of the god-side of humans.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The ending (book and movie) reminded me of <em>Rollerball</em>, a movie from the early 70s in which the world is kept distracted from the oppressions of the one-world government by a brutal blood sport (not the terrible 2002 remake!), much like the Hate Rallies of <em>1984</em>. In <em>Rollerball</em>, the best player over comes all odds and becomes a hero to a repressed society and his individuality begins a revolt against the world oligarchy.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Also, the 1964 "Fun and Games" episode of <em>The Outer Limits</em> pits two teenagers on a distant planet to battle to death while the universe watches on television screens back home.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Again, as with Harry Potter, Collins's story is not original, just told in an original way, which is why it's a best seller and the movie is watch-worthy more than once.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Even as I've devloped my own post-apocalypic novel <a data-cke-saved-href="http://nevrland.info" href="http://nevrland.info/" lj-cmd="LJLink" target="_blank"><em>NevЯland</em></a> over the past two years, I've come to realize all the fine works of literature and film with the same themes and basic plot, and although I was upset when I first realized how these previous tales had "influenced" my own story, I soon learned to embrace those stories as I develope <a data-cke-saved-href="http://nevrland.ino" href="http://nevrland.ino/" lj-cmd="LJLink" target="_blank"><em>NevЯland</em></a> into its own unique tale. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I bought Liz a collector's box set of <em>The Hungar Games</em> trilogy, and we will add the films to our collection. I can't remember the last time I have attended an opening day for a movie based on a book, but I will remember <em>The Hunger Games</em>, both in print and on film.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Be well,<br />
Eat well,<br />
Write well,</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Larry Mike</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-41991638648300782062012-01-18T06:34:00.000-06:002012-01-18T06:34:34.422-06:00Sweetened Iced Tea & Ego Extract<span style="font-size: larger;">Although she generally plans out the menu, when it comes to preparing dinner, Liz pretty much lets me cook the way I want. Sometimes, she's quite pleased. Often, she's a bit cautious and suspicious of the concoctions I've come up with.<br />
<br />
As I’ve stated before, my recipes come about when I eat something I like very much and then my desire to create my own version of the culinary delight, hoping to improve upon the meal as well as add my own special touch.<br />
<br />
The same goes with a nice beverage.<br />
<br />
I grew up drinking sweetened iced tea. And although Paula Deen may have sworn sweetened tea to curve her Type 2 diabetes, I'll probably drink sweetened tea on my death bed.<br />
<br />
One of my fondest childhood, teenage, and young adult memories is visiting Grandma Smith in Altus and drinking her sweetened iced tea.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Iced Tea" height="144" src="http://talewright.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/milk_pitcher.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" width="150" />After brewing and sweetening her tea, she put it in an old tin milk pitcher much like the one posted here, except Grandma's was just plain silver. The pitcher held about a gallon, and she’d have to make two or three gallons a day when any family visited on vacation.<br />
<br />
Grandma super-sweetened her tea. That’s why I (and the others) liked it so much. I’m not sure, but I think Grandma put two or three cups of sugar in her tea, so much that it was more like sugar water with a little tea flavoring.<br />
<br />
I smile when remembering opening up her refrigerator, grabbing that old tin milk pitcher, and pouring a big glass of sweetened tea over several cubes of ice--even though the tea was already quite cold.<br />
<br />
One of the downsides to Grandma’s sweetened tea was the pitcher itself. It was an opened pitcher with a wide pouring spout. As with liquids and other foods, the tea would often absorb any aromas wafting around in the old fridge.<br />
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So, if Grandma had fried some onions and put the leftovers in the fridge, the fried onion aroma floated through the fridge and would do a swan dive into the wide-mouth tin milk pitcher, thus mingling as one with the overly sweetened tea.<br />
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This is back in the day before plastic containers with airtight lids to keep aromas and freshness within the containers. Back in this day, tin foil often served as the lid for the leftovers, and tin foil does not an aroma barrier make.<br />
<br />
So, I’d dive into the fridge, grab the tin pitcher of sweetened tea, pour the brownish-gold liquid over the ice cubes, and quaff.<br />
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Only after a few greedy gulps did I realize I was quaffing an interesting juxtaposition of sweetened tea and fried onions.<br />
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Still, it was so sweet that I didn’t mind the imbuing of the two contrasting palatine pleasures.<br />
<br />
I’ve continued to drink tea over the years, many of those years I'd be drinking unsweetened iced tea in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep my weight at a respectful balance<br />
<br />
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gone back to sweetened iced tea, but I haven’t settled for the mundane sugar-tea combination.<br />
<br />
And I winch at the thought of drinking tea full with as much as Grandma would stir into the tea.<br />
<br />
So, I have compromised with my own concoction.<br />
<br />
<em>Larry Mike’s Sweetened Iced Tea</em>:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: larger;">1 ounce of your favorite flavor of tea (leaf or bag)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;">2 quarts of water (distilled/filtered is best)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;">1 ¼ cup of sugar (or none, or sugar to taste, but not too much sugar or the sugar will mask the flavor of the tea, as Grandma’s would)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;">1/3 cup of pure lemon juice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;">1/8 cup of pure lime juice</span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">1. Place tea in the two quarts of water and bring to boil<br />
<br />
2. Boil for several minutes (two to five)<br />
<br />
3. Turn off heat but keep the water/tea on the burner, letting the water slowly cool down from boiling<br />
<br />
4. After a half hour of brewing, remove tea leaves/bags<br />
<br />
5. Add lemon, lime, and sugar and stir vigorously<br />
<br />
6. Put in a one-gallon container and add enough water to make one gallon<br />
<br />
7. Although you can serve over ice cubes right away, I like to let the tea set overnight in the fridge to give all the ingredients time to fully mingle and become one.<br />
<br />
Occasionally I'll add a bit a pure extract flavoring just to spice up the tea somewhat. Be careful if you do this so the flavoring doesn’t monopolize the tea-lemon-lime-sugar.<br />
<br />
All flavors should work together to produce a delicious cold beverage rather than have one that dominates the others, like all the sugar Grandma put in her tea.<br />
<br />
If you do add pure extract flavoring, just put in a drop, maybe two. Make sure to use pure extracts. I know the imitations are much less expensive and you (or I) probably can’t tell the difference in the taste between the artificial and the pure. Still, I prefer to pay a little extra for the real thing.<br />
<br />
I’ve used the following pure extracts to enhance the sweetened iced tea experience:<br />
<br />
Almond, Vanilla, Bourbon Vanilla, Peppermint, Raspberry, Strawberry, Blackberry<br />
<br />
Of course, honey is a nice addition.<br />
<br />
The first time I added a pure extract flavoring, I added too much, and the extract flavoring was all I could taste, ruining what I thought would be a perfect mixture of some of my favorite tastes.<br />
<br />
Liz didn’t like it either. So, with great reluctance and a ceremony befitting a Viking funeral (I hate wasting anything, even if it’s something that’s gone wrong), I poured the remainder of the sweetened tea (a gallon minus two cups) down the drain.<br />
<br />
I learned to use just enough extract flavoring to suggest, to hint at the taste of an additional flavor, to provide an occasional change to the routine.<br />
<br />
------------------------------<br />
<br />
Sometimes when I write, I add too much of a good thing, I put in too much Creative Writing Extract.<br />
<br />
I've attended dozens of workshops, completed several creative writing classes, and I have even conducted workshops and taught creative writing as well.<br />
<br />
I know much about how to put a story together using all the standard tools, techniques, and tricks of writing.<br />
<br />
And, as with many writers, I sometimes let my cleverness and my talent and my knowledge take over and the story gets bogged down. I add everything to the mix so that the story becomes an exercise in Creative Writing cleverness rather than just a good story.<br />
<br />
The reader has to sluggishly make his way through the thickness of Writer’s Ego Extract to get the real taste of the tale, leaving a thick, yucky heavy taste on his mental toungue.<br />
<br />
If the reader gets to the end of the tale at all. Once a reader realizes he/she is merely indulging a Writer’s Ego in his exercise of Cuteness, he/she dumps the tale, just as I dumped that tea down the drain the first time I made extract flavored sweetened iced tea.<br />
<br />
I want my reader to enjoy a story I've written the way he/she would enjoy a nice cold beverage I've made on a warm summer’s day while sitting on a porch swing, watching the world go by: relaxing, refreshing, invigorating, and enlightening<br />
<br />
But, when I add too much pure extract of Graduate School/Creative Writing flavoring to my story (all that Creative Writing School/ How to Write the Perfect Story and Get Published nonsense), I’ve lost the true intent of tale-telling in the first place--to refresh the reader.<br />
<br />
Adding a drop or two of pure extract to my sweetened iced tea is a refreshing change.<br />
<br />
Extracting my Writer's Ego while weaving a tale is the best writing advice I can give to myself to provide the best tasteful flavor of story for my readers.<br />
<br />
Bon Appétit<br />
<br />
Larry Mike</span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-6991398257794339542012-01-15T23:26:00.001-06:002012-01-16T10:22:06.310-06:00Tale of the Ole Taco<span style="font-size: larger;">Once a week Liz makes out the dinner menu for the upcoming week as well as the grocery list. I pay for it. To be fair, she does ask me, “What do you want?” or “What do you think about . . . ?”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">But, basically, she makes out what she wants to eat, and I go along with it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">I like this arrangement, Liz deciding what we're going to eat for dinner. Just one more decision (actually, seven decisions) I don't have to make.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">One of our favorite meals we have about twice a month is taco.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Now, Altus has a Mexican restaurant on every corner. They’re competing with the churches around here to see who can proliferate one small southwest Oklahoma town with the largest number of the Same Thing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">So, if you ever need a Mexican meal or a baptizing, Altus can accommodate you quite well with both.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">I've eaten at several of the local Mexican restaurants around Altus, most of them mom-and-pop places, not fast-food chains.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">They all seem the same to me. It also seems the secret to having a local Mexican restaurant is to paint the outside of the building in some arrangement of Green, White, and Red--maybe have a sombrero or burro or cactus painted on the sign or the sides of the building.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Same thing for the inside: Green, White, Red, sombrero, burro, cactus.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">And cheese.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Lots of cheese on every entrée. Sometimes I want to order some meat, lettuce, tomato, onions, et al to go along with my Mexican cheese meal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">I’ve eaten at a couple of “real” Mexican restaurants along the border, and the menus at the border restaurants are quite different from the local places.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">When I eat something I like very much, I want to make it myself at home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">To do this, I try to guess what ingredients are mixed together.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Thus begins a trial-and-error period in which Liz and others are subjected to my experiments to imitate good food.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Here’s the seasoning I’ve come up with for <em>Larry Mike’s Ole Tacos</em>:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* 1 tablespoon chili powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* ½ teaspoon garlic powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* ½ teaspoon onion powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* ¼ dried oregano</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* ½ teaspoon paprika</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* 1½ teaspoons ground cumin</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* 1 teaspoon sea salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* 1 teaspoon black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* 1½ teaspoon curry powder</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Mix together and store until needed. This allows the various ingredients to get to know each other and to become friends so that when they are added to the meat, they really know how to throw a party.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">When ready to make <em>Larry Mike's Ole Tacos</em>, add one tablespoon to each pound of ground beef used to make your tacos.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Here’s how I make my Ole Taco Meat:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* Brown 1 pound of 81/19 lean beef and then drain</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* Once the meat is returned to the stovetop, turn the heat down and add the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* 1 tablespoon of <em>Larry Mike’s Ole Taco Seasoning</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* ½ to ¾ cup of chopped fresh tomatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* ½ to ¾ cup of chopped fresh yellow onions</span><br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">* ½ to ¾ cup of chopped fresh yellow onions</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Let the meat, Old Taco Seasoning, tomatoes, and onions simmer in 1/4 cup of water (adding a drop of lime juice gives it nice tart taste).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Now, here’s where I differ from other taco makers. I don’t use taco shells. I don’t like them. They get soggy and they fall amount, and I’ve choked on a few sharp edges during my taco-eating.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Instead, I use 10” flour tortillas.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">For each “taco”, I spread a generous portion of the Ole Taco Meat on the tortilla along with a helping of sour cream, some fresh cut lettuce, chopped jalapeños, and shredded cheese.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">I then fold the tortilla once, fold in the edges, and then roll it so it shapes into a nice four to six inch “taco”.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Next, I cook them in one of two ways for that crispy, crunchy taste we have come to associate with a taco:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: larger;">in a 375 degree oven until crispy or</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: larger;">in a deep fryer until crispy</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: larger;">I make sure to have homemade guacamole and salsa sauce for the repast (those recipes for another time) and more sour cream for dipping.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">I serve with refried beans, real Mexican beer, and/or good tequila.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">I know what you’re thinking: that’s not really a taco--that’s a burrito.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Perhaps, but the idea started with me wanting to make tacos like ones I enjoyed at the border, to make a better, more authentic taco because I can’t find one around here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">If I put the Ole Taco Meat in a hard crunchy corn shell, then it would truly be a taco.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Still, I will call my taco creation made with flour tortillas <em>Larry Mike’s Ole Tacos</em>, and you can either eat them or not.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">-------------------------</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">The same is true when I write.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">When I read a story I like very much, I want to make that story my own by trying to figure out the ingredients the writer used in his/her story, just as I did with the border tacos.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">I experiment, revise, workshop, rewrite, and experiment some more. My family and friends are the guinea pigs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Soon, I have a tale I like very much, and while it has much of the same successful ingredients as the story that inspired me (and all good and great stories, for that matter), I have added enough of my own personal touches and ingredients--my personality--that my tale has little resemblance to the original and, hopefully, is similar but something new and different.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">And while my Dark Fantasy may not perfectly fit the Dark Fantasy motif because I use a different approach or a different style or add different motifs from other genres, I will still call it Dark Fantasy because, to me, that’s what my story is.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">I’ve known many writers over the years who have some talent but lacked either the ambition or courage or both to take a successful formula and rework it as their own.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Yes, it’s nice to have rules and archetypes and motifs and standards. It's good to have a well-tested recipe.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">The thing of it is though--<em>the thing of it is</em>--it's just one recipe for making delicious tacos or writing a lip-smacking story.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Just ONE.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">A good writer, like a good cook, takes the basics and adds his/her own special ingredients so that while similar to those stories and tacos that have come before and will come after, this ONE story or this ONE taco is as unique as it can be and has a distinctive signature so that the reader, or the taster, will exclaim, "Ah, ha! This is one of Larry Mike's creations."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Bon Appétit,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">Larry Mike</span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0Altus, OK 73521, USA34.6207871 -99.256385934.4831631 -99.4630399 34.758411100000004 -99.0497319tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-42623666705070922932012-01-07T20:34:00.003-06:002012-01-07T21:06:51.583-06:00Sloppy Joes--Sloppy Stories<span style="font-size: medium;">Who doesn't like good ol' fashioned Sloppy Joes?<br />
<br />
The problem isn't in the liking of good ol' fashioned Sloppy Joes--it's in the making--like writing a good story.<br />
<br />
As with eating Sloppy Joes, we all like to read a good story, too. As a writer, I like to write a <i>good</i> story as well.<br />
<br />
The thing of it is though--<i>the thing of it is</i>--is the time, the patience, and the energy required to produce the best story possible.<br />
<br />
Sometimes my impatience gets the better of me, and I settle for a Hamburger Helper meal rather than take the time and exert the proper energy to produce a really good meal--or a really good story.<br />
<br />
I crave for instant gratification, whether in sating my appetite or stroking my writer's ego.<br />
<br />
Here's my recipe for Larry Mike's Hearty Sloppy Joes:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 lb. 81/19 lean ground beef</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1/3 lb sausage</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 bratwurst</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 sm onion, chopped</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 tomato, chopped</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 (12 oz.) can tomato sauce</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 tbsp. vinegar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 tbsp. malt vinegar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1 tbsp. brown sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">2 tsp. chili powder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1/3 tsp. paparika</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1/3 tsp jalapeño sauce</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1/4 tsp. garlic salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">1/2 tsp. salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">¼ cup water</span></li>
</ul><ol start="1"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Peel casing from bratwurst</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Mix all meats together.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Brown beef, sausage, & bratwurst mixture with onion and tomato drain well</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Mix all remaining ingredients with meat and let set for one to two hours</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Heat and put generous portion on each bun</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: medium;">Cheese slices (optional)<br />
<br />
Hamburger buns--swab with garlic butter and grill<br />
<br />
Serve hot with homemade iced tea (lemon/lime).<br />
<br />
---------------------<br />
<br />
The trick of course is possessing the patience to give all the meat and ingredients time to mix and to mingle, to imbue themselves so it seems they all have been one from the beginning of time.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, impatience sets in, the desire to eat <i>write</i> away, and, while still a good meal, the mixture is not really a cohesive and satisfying whole.<br />
<br />
Same for writing. Seems to be a rush to publish at the expense of quality.<br />
<br />
With all the "instant" Hamburger Helper publishing opportunities available to hungry writers, many writers, and I'm just as guilty, will settle for a Hamburger Helper story rather than put our tales aside for "an hour or two" and let each tale mix itself properly--with editing, revision, re-writing, re-writing, re-writing.<br />
<br />
As with an over-weaning appetite, I'm dying for ego-filling publication and am tempted to rush my stories to the all-too-easy Hamburger Helper publishing opportunities and to settle for an artificial recipe.<br />
<br />
Sloppy Joes make for a great appetizing and filling repast.<br />
<br />
Sloppy stories do nothing but waste time and bore readers.<br />
<br />
<i>Bon Appétit</i>,<br />
<br />
Larry Mike<br />
<br />
PS: I am not adverse to SmashWords, Lulu, Amazon, B&N, and all the other digital publishing opportunities. There's just too much emphasis given on publishing "now" rather than publishing "well".</span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0Altus, OK 73521, USA34.637765 -99.334044234.592235 -99.3832377 34.683295 -99.284850699999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-2865227682844382822011-01-23T12:17:00.000-06:002011-01-23T12:17:50.283-06:00<span style="font-size: larger;">Friday, 21 January 2001:<br />
<br />
I'm up between 4 and 4:30 AM Monday through Friday.<br />
<br />
I write, revise, read, or grade papers until around 6 AM.<br />
<br />
At 6 AM, I begin the arduous process of rousing Caleb and Kyleigh from their slumber. Kyleigh is easier than Caleb.<br />
<br />
While they are maneuvering from dreamland to reality, I go into the kitchen to fix their breakfast.<br />
<br />
Then I fix their lunch for the day.<br />
<br />
Except today!<br />
<br />
Today I'm letting them eat the school food. The calendar says they're having burritos. I've eaten the school's burritos. They're not bad. So, I'm letting Caleb and Kyleigh eat burritos with Spanish rice, fruit, and milk.<br />
<br />
Yummy.<br />
<br />
The best part--the <i>very</i> best part--is I don't have to make their lunches for the day.<br />
<br />
I have fifteen free minutes to do with as I please--to jump up and down, to sit and relax, to drink coffee in peace, to get a massage, to read the news--<br />
<br />
--to write!<br />
<br />
I have fifteen more minutes to write--900 extra seconds.<br />
<br />
Before Caleb and Kyleigh came to live with us, we had not had any children in our home since 2005. We haven't had any small children for twenty years.<br />
<br />
Before Caleb and Kyleigh came to live with us, I thought and planned my writing and, basically, my life in terms of days, weeks, and months.<br />
<br />
Since Caleb and Kyeligh came to live with us, I have re-learned to think in and plan my writing, and, basically, my life in terms of minutes and seconds.<br />
<br />
Every multiplication of minutes, every compounding of seconds I have just for myself is Christmas gold.<br />
<br />
900 seconds just for me.<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" class="alignleft" height="108" src="http://www.happymancan.com/images/happy_man_can_t-shirt.jpg" title="Happy Man" width="177" />I can write another couple of pages.<br />
<br />
I can revise a particularly unsettling scene.<br />
<br />
I can dream.<br />
<br />
I am a happy man, indeed.<br />
<br />
See you on the bookshelf.<br />
<br />
Larry Mike.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: larger;">PS: If you know where I can get a fifteen minute massage at 6 AM, forward me the info, please.</span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-8736558693307828932011-01-17T12:50:00.013-06:002011-01-18T05:08:18.563-06:00The Relativity of Riding<big>To paraphrase my favorite Twentieth Century physicist, "Reading and writing are both but different manifestations of the same thing - a somewhat unfamiliar conception for the average writer."</big><br />
<br />
<big><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Clock-Kat-Martin/dp/B003156B36/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295293739&sr=1-1" target="_blank" title="The Christmas Clock"><img align="left" alt="" class="alignleft" height="250" src="http://www.katbooks.com/images1/Xmas-clock-l.jpg" title="The Christmas Clock" width="150" /></a>My granddaughter Kyleigh gave me "The Perfect Stocking Stuffer" for Christmas--a book. The quote was on the front cover of that gift book, 'The Christmas Clock' by Kat Martin.</big><br />
<br />
<big>I'm not a romance reader, but I thanked Kyleigh most earnestly for the gift of a book, then I swallowed hard, and I set about reading the novel in plain sight as I knew Kyleigh would be watching to see if I would read and enjoy her gift.</big><br />
<br />
<big>So, on our two-hour outings to the park nearly every day during the Christmas break, I took my comfy folding chair, my reading glasses, and "The Perfect Stocking Stuffer" with us.</big><br />
<br />
<big>I sat and read as Kyleigh and her brother, Caleb, played on the equipment and made new friends in their new town.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Now, Kat Martin's been quite successful, and I'm never one to deride the success of a writer in a genre I have absolutely no interest in writing let alone reading. So, my comments are not directed at Kat or romance writers; rather, the following merely reflects my personal tastes, likes, dislikes, and sensibilities.</big><br />
<br />
<big>I read the Prologue. At the first break in Chapter 1, on page 4, I knew how the story would end.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Okay, I thought to myself, this is going to be a long trip until I finally get to the Epilogue. I never turn to the back of book I am enjoying to see how many more pages I have to read--not since graduate school when I had to read some god-awful artsy-fartsy Euro-trash novels. </big><br />
<br />
<big>At that Chapter 1 break, I flipped to the back. </big><br />
<br />
<big>Whew! Thank God: the final fifteen pages were discussion and an excerpt from an upcoming novel. </big><br />
<br />
<big>However, I still had to ride it through to the Epilogue, which finally ended on Page 172. </big><br />
<br />
<big>I felt as though I were slouching towards Bethlehem rather than participating in a wonderful and insightful adventure.</big><br />
<br />
<big>The reason the trip was long for me is because I had nothing to do as the Reader.</big><br />
<br />
<big>I was a passenger in the backseat being taken for a long ride to a place I didn't want to go. I couldn't see over the front seat to at least get a glimpse of the approaching scenery. Besides, the trip was quite predictable anyway--but, still, "A view! A view! My Reader's Sanity for a view!"</big><br />
<br />
<big>The back windows were tinted and the driver was going at such a pace that the view from the back was dark and uninteresting even if I could see it clearly.</big><br />
<br />
<big>I the Reader want something to do while I'm reading. I'm not merely a some wayward passenger being taken for a ride. I'm an active participant in the tale's journey--at least I should be! </big><br />
<br />
<big>After all, damn it, I paid for the trip when I (or at least Kyleigh) bought the book. I have some say-so in the type of road upon which I'm being taking for a trip.</big><br />
<br />
<big>So, I've come up with my Relative Theory of Story Telling:</big><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><big>RE=W+RJ2</big></div><big>Or, Reader Enjoyment=Writer and Reader Journeying Together.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Note to Writer Self: Give the reader something to do while he is journeying through the tale--not just merely reading--not merely a bored passenger in the backseat with a limited or no view at all. <span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></big><br />
<br />
<big>Place the Reader in the Front seat. Your book, my book, all books should be like one of those driver's ed cars that has a steering wheel and a brake on the passenger side as well.</big><big>(Second Note to Writer Self: Post it note this reminder to the wall in <b><span style="color: red;">BIG BOLD RED LETTERS</span></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">.)</span></span></big><br />
<br />
<big>Let the Reader drive occasionally.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Let the Reader be a "backseat driver" occasionally. </big><br />
<br />
<big>Let the Reader turn left even if You the Writer want to turn right.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Let the Reader brake, accelerate, cruise, or drag race occasionally.</big><br />
<br />
<big>In non-analogous words, bring the Reader into the Story.</big><br />
<br />
<big>The Story should be told in such a way that the Reader is as much a Character as the Writer, the Protagonist, and the Antagonist are.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Sadly, too many writers treat the Reader like a scurvy hitchhiker the Story has had to reluctantly pick up along side the road and then treated like one of those bobble head dogs on the dashboard.</big><br />
<br />
<big>For, Reading and Writing are, after all, different manifestations of the same thing--the Adventure of Story.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Kat's story gave me nothing to do after page four. </big><br />
<br />
<big>Kyleigh would quiz me at times about the tale, and I would tell her what was happening. </big><br />
<br />
<big>I'm glad she didn't ask me if I liked the story. </big><br />
<br />
<big>I don't like being dishonest or deceptive to my Grands. </big><br />
<br />
<big>She did ask me if I liked the book as a gift. </big><br />
<br />
<big>Oh, yes, Kyleigh! I loved the gift of a book from you. </big><br />
<br />
<big><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abraham-Lincoln-Vampire-Seth-Grahame-Smith/dp/0446563080" target="_blank" title="Abraham Lincoln--Vampire Hunter"><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright" height="276" src="http://liveforfilms.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/abe-lincoln-vampire.jpg" title="Abraham Lincoln--Vampire Hunter" width="183" /></a></big><big>Actually, Kyleigh gave me two books for Christmas. The second is much more to my liking, and I'm dieing to sink my teeth into it next. </big><br />
<br />
<big>The book? 'Abraham Lincoln--Vampire Hunter'!<br />
</big><br />
<br />
<big>See you on the bookshelf. </big><br />
<br />
<big>Larry Mike</big><br />
<br />
<big>PS: To be honest, I liked the tale of 'The Christmas Clock' itself--it was the storytelling, the mode of transportation, that bored me. I was taken for a ride in a 1976 Chevy Chevette when I prefer to ride in a Lexus of any year.</big>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-69705850203841597332011-01-08T23:03:00.001-06:002011-01-08T23:05:47.558-06:00The Non-Revision Revision<span style="font-size: small;">October 1998: As the Holiday Season approached, I was inspired to write a Christmas tale based on a children's card game called The Wish.<br />
<br />
The story's basic plot, the characters, the setting--all began to formulate as I drove from Altus, Oklahoma, to Marlow, Oklahoma, five days a week to teach school, a 172 mile round trip--three hours a day.<br />
<br />
Plenty of time to think.<br />
<br />
As Halloween approached, the Holiday Season began to blanket me, and the Christmas story wended its way through my brain.<br />
<br />
I called the story 'The Wish'. I talked the local newspaper into serializing the story. Two chapters a week were published with the climatic final chapter published on Christmas Eve.<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="The Wish cover 1998" src="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/the_wish_cove_98-190x300.jpg" style="height: 220px; width: 139px;" />The local newspaper and I received many positive responses from readers, especially children. A few parents said they had cut out the chapters, scrapbooked them, and intended to read the story each Christmas. Some children wanted to know where they could buy the special cards the protagonist used in the story to play the card game The Wish, the same game the protagonist plays and the major plot catalyst for the tale.<br />
<br />
After that serial run, I literally handmade several copies of the tale for family for Christmas 1998--this was before the days of PoDers such as Lulu and CafePress.<br />
<br />
But, the story went dormant in my files. I had intended to send the tale on the rounds of agents and Houses, but something about the story just didn't feel right.<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="Feary Tales Vomit 1" src="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/feary_tales_01_front-196x300.gif" style="height: 203px; width: 132px;" />Halloween 2010: I was thinking about another addition to my previously self-published 'Mr. Creepers Presents FearyTales-Vomit 1'. I had PoDed several copies of 'Feary Tales Vomit 1' from Lulu and gave to family and friends as a 2008 Halloween treat. As I was thinking of the tales to include in 'Feary Tales Vomit 2', I was inspired to pull out 'The Wish', revise it, and make it available for Christmas 2010.<br />
<br />
End of school finals, grading essays, the addition of two Grandchildren coming to live with us, and other erstwhile distractions didn't allow me the concentration I needed to put forth a valiant and earnest effort into the tale. So, I put 'The Wish' aside until things settled down, and I had more time.<br />
<br />
When my two grandchildren, Caleb and Kyleigh, came to live with us, I decided to read the original version of 'The Wish' to them as their bedtime story, a chapter each night until Christmas Eve.<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="Caleb & Kyleigh" src="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/caleb_kyleigh_nye_dinner_2010_02.jpg" style="height: 139px; width: 178px;" />One night, after I finished reading a chapter of 'The Wish', and after I hugged and kissed the Grands good-night, Kyleigh said, "I want some cards like Angela has." (Angela's the protagonist of 'The Wish'.) "I want to play the Wish game and win a Christmas wish like she did. And I know what I would wish for."<br />
<br />
I told Kyleigh I'd think about it.<br />
<br />
As I closed the bedroom door, I thought to myself 'Why not?' I had always thought a set of cards as described in the tale would be a nice addition to go along with the book.<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="Exaltation" src="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/back_wish_angels-214x300.jpg" style="height: 152px; width: 108px;" />Designing, printing, trimming, and making the cards obsessed me for three days. During this spate of non-writing creative activity, the cards I was making for Kyleigh took on a life of their own and looked less and less like the cards I had described Angela had used in the book to get her Christmas wish.<br />
<br />
As the cards evolved, the story walked up to the edge of my mind, did a perfect swan dive into the folds of my brain, delved into the deep abyss of dream thought, and then swam through the sea of synapses until it finally came to rest on the sands of Revelation Beach.<br />
<br />
Ah, ha! Now I knew what the tale wanted me to do.<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="A new Angela" src="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/angela01-214x300.jpg" style="height: 179px; width: 127px;" />As I began to retool the story I soon realized the revision of 'The Wish' had begun not in the usual rewriting and editing of the tale but in the creation of the cards for Kyleigh. The cards told me a similar but better story and helped me to understand the basic problems with the original tale.<br />
<br />
I learned three lessons from this:<br />
<br />
1. The 'inspiration' for the revision would not have happened without Kyleigh's pleading to make The Wish cards. Plus, the timing was serendipitous as well: The crispness of the cold wind, the colors of the season, the smells of holiday food, the excitement and anticipation on the faces of Children--these only happen for a brief period. I've learned over the years that 'inspiration' does not always lead to Story or Story Revision, but it's a good place to start--to record feelings, events, fears, needs, wants, and dreams--to be quiet and listen to that still small voice.<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="Hungry Bear" src="http://mithryl.net/042079-Grizzly_Bear-catching_salmon_on_water_fall.jpg" style="height: 127px; width: 190px;" />2. For me, revision and hunger are synonyms--a bear hunting salmon during the spawning season--plenty of fish for the taking, but it's hard work that pays off only with tenacity, stamina, and stubbornness--and how hungry the bear is.<br />
<br />
3. <i>NOT </i>actually rewriting the story is often better than trying to force myself to revise when there is no revision 'inspiration', no revision hunger. Making the cards for Kyleigh let me see the story from a different creative point of view, to explore avenues of plot and character, to understand motivation, and to begin the revision process.<br />
<br />
Some writers paint, garden, photograph people/nature, restore old cars, and any number of activities not directly related to the craft of tell-tale story making, and such activity actually releases the creative hunger within them.<br />
<br />
After the experience of making the Wish cards for Kyleigh, I'm determined to create things (games, cards, pictures, videos, faux newspapers--as in the 'NEVRLAND' tale) based on the story I am revising (or even writing) and open the sluice gates to allow different creative streams to contribute to the irrigational flow of Story Telling.<br />
<br />
See you on the bookshelf.<br />
<br />
Larry Mike</span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-64059929629976148182011-01-05T17:55:00.002-06:002011-01-05T17:55:55.243-06:00For Whom does the Sugar Plum Fairy Call?<big>Inspiration is often used as the catalyst for story telling. A sound, a smell, a daily event, a passage from a favorite book, a lyric from a song, the image of a photograph, a wisp of yellow hair in a painting.</big><br />
<br />
<big>A holiday season.</big><br />
<br />
<big><img align="left" alt="Christmas Dream" class="alignleft" height="268" src="http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/photos/1907cover.jpg" title="Christmas Dream" width="207" />With the Christmas season still dancing around in my head like a Sugar Plum Fairy, now is the best time for me to capture in words these transient feelings, sights, and sounds of family, friends, inspiration, and insight before they all meld into the misty realm of dreams.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Which writer during the Holiday Season has not been inspired to write the next holiday classic?</big><br />
<br />
<big>When did Moore first think up 'A Visit from St. Nick'?</big><br />
<br />
<big><img align="right" alt="" class="alignright" height="288" src="http://images.betterworldbooks.com/039/How-the-Grinch-Stole-Christmas-9780394800790.jpg" title="The Grinch" width="212" />I'd like to know when Dickens was inspired to write 'A Christmas Carol' or exactly when Dr. Suess's Grinch began to percolate in the great author's brain.</big><br />
<br />
<big>I'm going to guess that the germ of the ideas for 'St. Nick', 'Carol', and 'Grinch' occurred within a whisper of the Holiday Season.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Now, the actual writing might have taken place during the hottest months of the year, but the inspiration- the jotting of scenes, the snippets of character, the notes recording the sights, sounds, and smells--come from being an active part of the Holiday Season--of being alive and sucking in the verve of reverie.</big><br />
<br />
<big>The time to start that next great holiday classic is Now. Work hard enough and I'll have something to share with family and friends for the next Holiday Season, and maybe a nice contract as well.</big><br />
<br />
<big>The Sugar Plum Fairy is allowed to work her magic.</big><br />
<br />
<big>So, for whom does the Sugar Plum Fairy call?</big><br />
<br />
<big>The Sugar Plum Fairy calls for Thee (and Me)!</big><br />
<br />
<big>See you on the bookshelf.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Larry Mike</big>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-50551970833609832422011-01-01T09:42:00.000-06:002011-01-01T09:42:03.257-06:00Angel's New Year<span style="font-size: large;">We all need an Angel to welcome the New Year.<br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="New Year Angel" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1672" height="414" src="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/angel_new_year_eve.jpg" title="New Year Angel" width="296" /></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've had this Angel since I was a baby, and she has topped the majority of the Christmas trees in my life and welcomed in the New Year as well.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<br />
Happy New Year.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">See you on the bookshelf.</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Larry Mike</span></div>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-10652575264888231552011-01-01T05:00:00.005-06:002011-01-01T09:19:55.701-06:00No Resolutions--A 'To Accomplish' List Instead<big>Yeah--</big><br />
<br />
<big>It's that time again--the perfunctory resolutions that look good on paper but which slowly fade as time and reality creep into the fibers.</big><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://huehueteotl.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/success-in-sight-cycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://huehueteotl.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/success-in-sight-cycle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><big>So, my resolution is to make no resolutions.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Instead, I'm making a 'To Accomplish' List.I've read some writers are putting "Get Published in 2011" on their resolution lists.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Really? I wish getting published were that easy.</big><br />
<br />
<big>My 'To Accomplish' list doesn't have "Get Published in 2011".</big><br />
<br />
<big>Oh, I'm going to do all the right things to better my chances of getting published, but, ultimately, I know that actually getting published requires that a House somewhere out there wants to publish me. I'll make myself presentable, lovable, approachable, workable, amenable, punctual, and just down right adorable.</big><br />
<br />
<big>My job as a writer isn't "To Get Published". My job as a writer is to tell stories. Getting published is the reward for well-written tales and hard work, research, resolution, and stamina--not wishing. </big><br />
<br />
<big>If a writer is burning to get published, there are plenty of vanity and POD "houses" itching for such a writer's business. Hell, Tate Publishing needs another $4,000 from some publish-me-hungry writer.<br />
</big><br />
<br />
<big>My 'To Accomplish' includes finishing three novels I've been working on the past year, each with its own self-imposed deadline as well as two anthologies of short stories each based on a common theme. Sounds like an overload. Each task, though, is at the near completion stage, and I've been procrastinating about finishing any of them.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Entering writing contests is another "To Accomplish" goal. I've shied away from them--not because I was afraid of not winning, but because I was afraid to simply enter. It's like a runner who has talent and speed but is just too afraid to toe up to the starting line, or a talented surgeon who sweats bullets to make that very first cut.</big><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.casco.lib.me.us/images/writers_guild_images/writers_guild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://www.casco.lib.me.us/images/writers_guild_images/writers_guild.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><big style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Attending more writer meetings is on my 'To Accomplish' list as well. Living in Southwest Oklahoma is a bit like living on Mars, and if it weren't for email and the Internet, I wouldn't know what the hay was going on with the groups to which I belong. But, the Ethernet doesn't replace flesh and blood, and I not only want but need to be around other writers of like mind. </big><br />
<br />
<big>I started a writers group in SW-OK but with vacations and conferences, we only had two meetings. I've also got a creative writing club going at Altus High School with about 20 student members.</big><br />
<br />
<big>The more I'm around other writers, neophyte and professional, the more I want to write.</big><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ppn1ROxpMNY/R4Gwk2yMKvI/AAAAAAAAAHA/K6qxOf1LKXU/s400/Carolyn+See.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ppn1ROxpMNY/R4Gwk2yMKvI/AAAAAAAAAHA/K6qxOf1LKXU/s200/Carolyn+See.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><big>One way "To Accomplish" my goals is to actually Be A Writer. I read Carolyn See's "Making a Literary Life" a few years ago. I need to read it two or three times a year. So, I've started reading it again. I met Carolyn many years ago at a writers conference, and we've exchanged a few post cards since. The theme I get out of "Making a Literary Life" is that to Be A Writer I Must Live Like A Writer.</big><br />
<br />
<big>And that brings me to my next "To Accomplish" objective--read more. I teach high school English. I read constantly--student work, the works of the writers we're studying, reports, essays, research papers. By the time I get some time to myself, my eyes are crossed, my synapses have snapped, and my soul is exhausted.</big><br />
<br />
<big>I've found over the past few years that I have gotten away from reading just for the sake of reading. I read a few books this past year, but not near the number I want to read. Reading what others have published is to a writer what viewing game film of the opposing team is to an athlete. Read, read, read. That's what I tell my creative writing students. Good advice for me, too.</big><br />
<br />
<big>That's it.</big><br />
<br />
<big>I'm not actually making a list.</big><br />
<br />
<big>These "To Accomplish" objectives won't do me any good on a list. I've never been a "list" kind of guy. I prefer to mull and meditate so that what ever I have to accomplish becomes imbued with my heart and soul. </big><br />
<br />
<big>Putting these objectives on a list and posting them to the wall in front of my writing desk won't do me any good. After a while, the list will be absorbed by the wall and disappear, along with all the other lists and notes I have posted on the wall in front of my writing desk.</big><br />
<br />
<big><img align="right" alt="Kyleigh Garmon" class="alignright" height="183" src="http://www.uscconlinealbum.com/photos/photo01/18/3f/1771c9a66d4f.jpg" title="Kyleigh" width="246" /></big><big>Oh, yeah: I'm raising two of my Grandchildren for the next 12 to 14 months while their father is deployed to Korea. </big><br />
<br />
<big>See you on the bookshelf.</big><br />
<br />
<big>Larry Mike</big>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-24558811422895750992010-09-20T06:24:00.000-05:002010-09-20T06:24:06.020-05:00NEVЯLAND--Suffer the Children Book Trailer<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">My first attempt at a book trailer.<br />
<br />
A bit longer than most book trailers, but I like it. Rather dramatic.<br />
<br />
Thank God for LBJ's 1964 fear-mongering ads against Barry Goldwater. I've used the infamous Daisy Ad and the War on Poverty Ad to highlight the book trailer.<br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="360" width="580"><param value="true" name="allowFullScreen" /><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess" /><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fs0SKZhH3dg?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" name="src" /><param value="true" name="allowfullscreen" /><embed width="580" height="360" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fs0SKZhH3dg?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
<br />
I enjoyed putting it together. It took about four different versions before I settled on this one.<br />
<br />
One interesting side effect of making the book trailer is that the process of creating a visual interpretation of my story has inspired me to keep going and even generated new ideas and new enthusiasm for the tale.<br />
<br />
I'm sure a professional book trailer maker could do a more precise and shorter version, but I still like this first attempt.<br />
<br />
Now, back to writing the tale!<br />
<br />
Be well.<br />
<br />
See you on the bookshelf.<br />
<br />
Larry Mike</span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-10722882820527329792010-09-17T20:44:00.000-05:002010-09-17T20:44:19.546-05:00Laynie NEVЯLAND Code Solved: 2 Prizes Left!<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">NEVЯLANDer Teresa R. has solved the code Laynie uses in the sub-headings to tell her story.<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="NEVЯLAND Stein" class="size-full wp-image-1585" height="115" src="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/cp_nevrland_stein_both_side.jpg" title="NEVЯLAND Stein" width="184" />She gets the one-of-a-kind NEVЯLAND Stein.<br />
<br />
Several others are close but not quite there yet.<br />
<br />
I'm still waiting for the second and third NEVЯLANDers to solve Laynie's code.<br />
<br />
The second NEVЯLANDer to solve the code will a receive nifty one-of-a-kind signed NEVЯLAND t-shirt.<br />
<br />
The third NEVЯLANDer to solve the code will receive a nifty one-of-a-kind signed NEVЯLAND mouse pad.<br />
<br />
I'll post pics of the mouse pad and t-shirt soon.<br />
<br />
You can join the NEVЯLAND Facebook Group by ticking <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122385841121944" target="_self" title="NEVЯLAND--The Group">HERE</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">.<br />
<br />
I appreciate those of you who have taken an interest in this.<br />
<br />
Remember, TWO MORE PRIZES are offered--so don't give up!<br />
<br />
See you on the bookshelf!<br />
<br />
Be well,<br />
Larry Mike</span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-70779578964530772242010-09-15T14:50:00.000-05:002010-09-15T14:50:00.170-05:00NEVRLAND: Suffer the Children, Chapters 01-04, now on Scribd<a href="http://www.scribd.com/document_collections/2607427"><span style="font-size: larger;"><img align="left" alt="NEVRLAND: Suffer the Children" height="118" src="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/nevrland_logo_100531.jpg" width="80" />NEVRLAND: Suffer the Children, Chapters 01-04, now on Scribd</span></a>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-10295847941433232312010-09-13T09:00:00.007-05:002010-09-13T09:00:00.990-05:00NEVRLAND--Part 01: Rapture--Chapter 04<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKPXCHFzaxesFegdApiQqzKhWqOXw5PFE5xeRfVvOaXv3zZDB99X0ylc3fgPXqWXV_8sDLhHNjwfp0Xj8_cBWRLqNeMB8pJFzO2CfLhA3l_h7-hYpkRQhlnoqxf-LZ_NdEdMlEVu3a9c/s1600/crying_doll_head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKPXCHFzaxesFegdApiQqzKhWqOXw5PFE5xeRfVvOaXv3zZDB99X0ylc3fgPXqWXV_8sDLhHNjwfp0Xj8_cBWRLqNeMB8pJFzO2CfLhA3l_h7-hYpkRQhlnoqxf-LZ_NdEdMlEVu3a9c/s200/crying_doll_head.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/?p=1559">NEVRLAND--Part 01: Rapture--Chapter 04</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Submitted for your approval.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Be well,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Larry Mike</span>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3417340682039797274.post-47919080574689288682010-09-12T10:47:00.002-05:002010-09-12T10:47:00.200-05:00OpenOffice.org Suite: A Convert Explains His Conversion<span style="font-size: larger;"><big>I'm a recent convert to </big></span><big><a href="http://openoffice.org/" target="_blank" title="OpenOffice Suite"><span style="font-size: larger;">OpenOffice.org</span></a><span style="font-size: larger;">'s suite of office programs. I'm slowly weaning myself off any and all Microsoft Office programs, and this includes PowerPoint and Excel. <br />
<br />
Read the rest of the blog at </span><a href="http://larrymikegarmon.com/"><span style="font-size: larger;">LarryMikeGarmon.com</span></a></big><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><big><a href="http://larrymikegarmon.com/"><img alt="OpenOffice.org" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1534" height="161" src="http://larrymikegarmon.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/why_home.gif" title="OpenOffice.org" width="229" /></a></big></div>LMG Swainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06422366394404281220noreply@blogger.com0