Writers and Non-Readers

You ever try to explain writing to someone who does not enjoy reading?
My parents tell stories about when I was little. I memorized a book when I was five, and my grandmother thought I could read. When I was six, I would go to the library everyday of the summer and borrow five books. I would read all day. The next day I would go back and get five more.

As a writer I am a big reader. When we go traveling, the used bookstores always catch my attention (even though I am an avid ebook reader now). So, it is always interesting to me when I have good friends or family members who are not readers.

As a writer, it is always interesting to converse with non- readers. They cannot fathom enjoying reading hundreds of pages let alone writing them all! This was further highlighted for me when I asked a friend to come up with some interview questions for an author's interview I was doing. My non-reader friend's contribution was, "How do you write all those pages?" (I am in no way trying to offend non-readers. How could I unless you tell them about this, because they won't read it.)

As I am in the process of self-publishing a book in print, my mind goes to who of my friends and family will buy my book. My brother and father are not big readers, I have several friends who are not big readers. I think about all the descriptions, adventures, and imagination that goes with reading. I love stopping at a place in a book, and wondering what will happen once I start reading again. I love how I can picture a character, and someone reading the same book will read it and picture them differently.

I love reading my writing over and over. It amuses me. I crack myself up. The characters are fun and witty, and intersting to build a relationship with. These are all things non-readers are missing out on. It makes me a bit sad. I guess they will just have to wait until I decide to expand to audio.
(Isn't my dog with my lap top the cutest picture for this? I am sure if she could, she would enjoy my books too.)



Readers Attacking Writing: 10 Thoughts on Negative, Harsh Reviews

A post by Jody Hedlund titled "Is Our Culture Becoming Too Critical and Open" echoed my feelings I have been having about reviewers and critics of books. When I was interviewed by Brook Syers HERE. He asked me what my biggest surprise was as a writer. I answered that it was that readers did not like my book, and that others liked my book. I, however, think it goes a step further. I think that my biggest surprise was that people were so blunt and mean at giving reviews of books.

With  a little help from my friends, families and colleagues, I have come up with some thoughts about negative reviews.

1. In our society there is a Negative Feedback to Positive Feedback Unbalance. Meaning that people are more apt to give negative feedback and comments then positive. If you buy a computer chair and it works fine and no problems, you go about your day. If you buy one and the wheels keep falling off, you bet you that there is a higher chance of someone sitting down and writing a negative review on their wobbly chair!

2. I, therefore, think that for every negative review there are many positive reviews sitting out there.

3. Emotions get out of control. It is a book. I love books, I love writing, but it is a book. I have seen people leave some harsh and mean reviews of a book. To me it as if the author was writing about the readers life or slept with their wife. Get over it.

4. It was 99 cents to $2.99. You spent a small amount of money for this book. Why are you getting bent out of shape? If you fries at McDonald's were too salty do you go the manager? I realize there are people who do that, but I would like to believe that that is the small minority of people.

5. It was the readers fault in the first place. I have received a couple of 2-3 Star reviews. The reader/reviewer stated something along the lines of "I thought this book was going to be about _____ but it was about this. Disappointed." I go back and read the description and think, "Umm I have no idea how they thought it was about that."

6. People are unhappy in life and putting a 1 star review on authors blog make them feel powerful.

7. Who cares what people think. I read bad reviews of books and buy the book anyway.

8. I am a supervisor and I am a BIG FAN of praising in public, critical feedback in private. I recently was asked to review a book by a few authors. They say "Be honest." I email them back and say, "I will review in a useful way, and give critical feedback to them directly." Hey, I would love to get emails or private messages sent to me through my blog, than all my mistakes and shortcomings put on Amazon or other sites.

9. Use the feedback. I recently got feedback that my time frame was off in my book. It could have been said a little nicer, and possibly through email or privately. I, however, went back into my book and fixed it all. Thanks reviewer.

10. Don't respond to the Harsh Reviews. I think that authors get caught up in that, and spend too much time responding to viewers. Authors have different opinions on this, but my current philosophy is learn from it, don't respond, and move on. Some authors don't even read their reviews.

What do you think about these reviews?
Do you write reviews on books?

Check-out the inspiring "Is Our Culture Becoming Too Critical and Open"
post by Jody Hedlund titled

Blog Tricks

Maybe you can help me out. I have been trying to pay more attention to my dog, my kids, my work, the outdoors, and my blog (not in that order). What trick or tactics do you use to improve your blogging?

I am trying to do a 7 minute blog post. Here it goes.
These are the things I have tried to do to improve Writer + Wilderness Girl Under It All blog.

1. Setting aside time in the day to blog.
2. Setting goals. By the end of May I will have over 100 posts.
3. Set a schedule of days that are dedicated to blog and sticking to the schedule.
4. Making a list of blog topics for days that inspiration does not strike.
5. Building a network of guest bloggers.
6. Taking a ton of pictures at every moment I get, so I have an archive of pictures to choose from.

3 minutes left

7. Look at other people's blogs to get ideas.
8. Change the look of the blog.
9. I am creating a button for my blog.
10. Talking about my blog with friends and co-workers.
11. Putting book excerpts of mine on my blog.
12. Writing about books I am reading.
13. Thinking about my blog while walking the dog and driving to work.
14. Listening to inspiring music.
15. Thinking outside the box.
16. When I look up how to do things and find out how to do them, I blog about it to teach others.
17. I keep an Author's Log.
18. Networking with others.
19. Commenting on other's blogs.
20. Writing this blog.

1 minute to spell check and a picture. Not sure I will make it.
What are your ideas? (21.Ending the blog with a question thus summoning comments).
Went over by 2 minutes due to trying to find the right picture.

He Asks 10 Questions

 Seem Carl Purdon's 10 Question Interview he Conducted about me on Carl Purdon's Fiction, Lies, and Carpal Tunnel Blog. While you are there, leave a comment on Carl's blog.

Excerpt from Tunnel W

I just sent and excerpt for a feature on author Jamie Marchant's blog. I will keep you posted when my interview is up on her blog. I thought it would be good to put an excerpt on my blog. Comment and let me know what you think.

 

After being forced to run into a high-risk prison tunnel, a fearless woman uses the two officers who chased her in there to help her escape. - Tunnel W

 

Excerpt from Tunnel W by Michele M. Reynolds
FREE On Smashwords HERE

"I can't believe they bucketed me,” she thought. She never thought she would be a Relo. She swore she would not be a victim, but here she was captured and eating carpet. The carpet smelled like rock salt. Her face look toward the front seat. She could see a dime under the black seat. Her hands were strapped behind her back by electronic cuffs. Four large shoes attached to two large people were on her back and legs.

           "It is hard enough to sit up from this position, let alone fight," she thought. "That's probably why they have me like this." She was glad she had positioned her belt buckle to her left hip. Nobody ever wears their belt buckle in the center anymore in case of being bucketed. Bucketed that is what they call being thrown in the back of a car with bucket seats.
            She didn't even remember that it was the 1st of the month. She had been told by elders that the 1st of the month used to just meant turning your calendar to a new picture of a cute kitten or beautiful landscape. Now it means that you better turn and run and watch your back. You never knew when it was going to be your turn to be bucketed. It was a 1 in a 1,000 chance in her city.
           There was a sharp pain in her knee.
           "Lay off the knee you Swabby!" she managed to yell from the floor mats. The Swabby on her knee lifted up his or her feet and placed them lower on her calf. The Swabby with her feet on her back pushed harder and leaned down close to her head.
           "Listen here, Relo," the Swabby said through her gritted teeth. "We don't have to take anything from you. We have lost many lives during transfer. It is nothing to us. We can hit you again if you want."
           "Look Amazon, let's not let the estrogen run wild in here," she answered. "No reason for me to piss all over your van." Then that Swabby grabbed her hand and twisted it hard. A surge went up her arm, but she refused to scream.
          "Easy," the other Swabby said. It was a young man's voice. "She will bring us a lot of points. She is in good shape. I need the points, so easy, easy."
          "Hear that sweetie," Amazon Swabby said. "Your lucky my partner here is sticking up for you."
          "Look just take these cuffs off me, and you and I can go toe to toe, Amazon," she answered. Amazon Swabby scoffed.
           "Nothing like that will happen," the male Cutie Swabby interjected. "I have the taser on the highest level.” She heard the clicking of the taser gun. "Got it?"
          "Got it," she answered. "Hey, can we at least stop for some fries?" She loved that saying. She had no idea what fries tasted like, but remembered them from some old 1990's movies.
           "Get her prints," Amazon Swabby ordered. Guy Swabby grabbed her hands and gently slid her fingers into something that felt like have a soft, plastic glove. The glove tightened on her hand and she smiled.
           "Whaaaat?" Cutie Swabby said.
           "Is it one of those hard to pronounce names," Amazon Swabby asked as her voice trailed. She was looking out the back window.
          "Nope," Cutie Swabby answered.
          "Fingerprints removed?" Amazon Swabby asked.
          "Nope there are fingerprints alright," Cutie Swabby answered. "According to this, she is five people."
         "Let me see that," Amazon Swabby answered as she grabbed the fingerprint translator from him. "Okay, so Janis Joplin, Cassie Cain, Penny Parker, Harriet Truman and Alannah Scott. So which one is it honey?" Amazon Swabby called down to her and dug the heel of her boot into her back.
         “Take your pick,” she answered as she chuckled.
         “How do people address you?” Cutie Swabby asked. He actually seemed puzzled.
         “They don't,” she answered.
         “I am sending this in about Ms. Five here,” Amazon Swabby said.
         “Sindi, we. . . what,” Cutie Swabby said and then whispered. “I have never run into this.”
         This statement was followed by silence. She heard some light ticking on something and realized Sindi was probably typing a message into base.
        “Vizio, they said to take her into Tunnel W,” Sindi said.
        “What?” Vizio asked. “Is that necessary? She is just a . . . girl.”
        “Orders,” Sindi said.
         She lay on the floor under their feet with just the sounds of the road funneling through her left ear. She could see the black shoes of the driver up front. The driver's right foot pushed on the gas and left foot tapped lightly as if to the beat of music. She thought about how music, singing, and dancing helped people through many tough times. She thought about busting into song but knew that would drive Sindi's heel harder into her back.
        She was going to Tunnel W. It must be a terrifying place. She heard the quiver in Vizio's voice. The car turned onto a gravel road. Sindi moved forward and tapped the hard, plastic divider between the back and front seat.
        “Tunnel W!” Sindi yelled. The car veered a hard right.
        As her face lay against the rug, she felt her adrenaline kick in. She slowly started moving her wrists back and forth trying to loosen the restraints. She attempted to pull her wrists away from each other the restraints got tighter.
      “Sweetie, you are going to get your wrists cut-off if you keep struggling. So struggle all you want,” Sindi laughed.
     “They are mechanical, electronic ya' know,” Vizio said. “Stop struggling.”
      She said nothing. They stopped and she could hear the driver roll down the window and share words with someone. It sounded like two guys speaking. She tried to lift her head and to look at the guard. Sindi pushed her feet into her slamming her to the floor.
     “Easy there Amazon!” she said. “Save it for your husband.”
     “You know you will get what you deserve. You should be scared,” Sindi's voice grew to a whisper. “I wouldn't even step foot into Tunnel W.”
      A small horn sounded and she heard what she thought was a gate opening. Her adrenaline was kicking in faster. She steadied her breathe, closed her eyes, and smiled. The car stopped and Sindi got out first. As she stepped out she put extra pressure on her captives back, and pushed the palm of her hand into the back of her captive's head. Sindi slammed the door shut.
    “Easy now,” Vizio said. “Don't make me zap you.” Vizio opened the door. “Ok get up on your knees and I will guide you out.” She got on her knees. Vizio grabbed her wrists and pulled her backwards out of the van. 
      Vizio led her a few steps away from the van. Before her stood a man in a brown suit, another man in what seemed to be a guard uniform, and a woman about six feet tall. She guest the woman was Sindi. Vizio stood behind her still holding her wrists that were fastened behind her.
      “This her?” the man in the suit asked. He had brown and gray hair and a receding hairline. His face wore many wrinkles.
      “This is she,” she answered.
      “Feisty huh?” the suit asked.
      “Yes, sir,” Vizio answered. “But no problem picking her up. I am thinking that this must be some misunderstanding. I don't think she is Tunnel W level.”
      “Officer?” the suit man asked as he looked at Sindi.
      “No problem, just a big mouth, sir,” she answered. With that the man in the business suit waived the guard off and the guard walked over to a booth 100 feet away. She looked around her. They were in the middle of what looked like a common. In front of her was a wall made of gray, square rocks. It looked to be about 200 feet tall. In the middle of wall was an opening with an arced entryway. Behind her was the road from which she came down. There was a weird blue hue that tainted the trees and mountains.
       “Surrounded by a force field,” Vizio whispered to her. “You don't want to get within ten feet of that.”
       A few guards emerged from a building attached to the wall. They were about 100 yards away. She looked back at the man in the business suit. He was squinting with the sun behind her. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of sunglasses and put them on.
       “Do you know who I am?” he asked.
       “I am assuming I should,” she answered.
       “Yes you should,” he answered. “I am High Commander, Sam Day. I run the tunnels.”
       “You must be fit,” she answered. “You know all that running.”
       He let out a short laugh and said, “Now your turn.”
       “Turn?” she asked.
        “Turn to introduce yourself,” he answered. “That was rather clever with your aliases.”
        “Did you guys know them?” Sam asked Vizio and Sindi.
        “No sir,” Vizio answered and Sindi just shook her head.
        “One of them was a druggie a hundred years ago,” Sam said.
        “Janis Joplin, musician,” she said over her shoulder to Vizio. He tightened his grip on her wrists.
        “One of them was the name for cat woman or bat woman or something,” Sam continued.
        “Cassie Cain,” she said as she turned to Sindi. “She would kick your ass.” Sindi's lips formed a snarl.
        “Then there were two names that were tough,” Sam said. “But with some time I found it. The female versions of Spiderman and the Green Lantern.”
        “Nobody reads comics anymore. It is such a shame,” she said as she moved her wrist apart and the restraints got tighter.
        “Stop squirming,” Vizio whispered. “I can't loosen them on you.”
        The guards were only 20 yards from them at this time. One of the guards slowed as he saw her. He put his arm out and stopped the other guard and seemed to say something to him.
       “And then there was Tubman,” Sam said as he looked at her.
       “Queen of the underground railroad,” she said to all of them.
       The approaching guards turned pale and reached for their weapons. She was the only one that noticed the fear in their eyes.
       “Rebel,” one of the approaching guards said. “Rebel!” he yelled. Sam's eyes went wide. Vizio tightened his grip on her wrists.
       “Rebel?” Sam asked. “You?”

 Tunnel W is FREE on Smashwords HERE.

 

 

Book in the Works

It took me years to complete  Trail Swap. It is in ebook form and I am working on getting it into print. Then I wrote Off-Trail: Trail Swap as a trailer for Trail Swap. I also wrote Tunnel W as a short story to get me some more publicity. Both can be found at Smashwords for FREE here.

Currently, I am working on a book "still to be named." It takes place in the 2040's in the Florida Everglades. It includes some interesting characters like biker gangs, police, security guards, and juvenile delinquents so far.

So far the characters keep running in all different directions and I have to keep corralling them back. Some of the characters respond to threats, others to bribery, and others are better listeners than others.

I will keep you posted as time gets closer. I plan to put some book excerpts on my blog.
This book also is forcing me to do some action scene research.
 Don't worry no readers will be hurt with the making of this book.

Taking my Books On the Road: Check me out!

Author Brook Syers interviewed me about writing, my books, and upcoming book on his blog here
Michele M. Reynolds on Brook Syers Blog. Check it out! He asked some interesting questions. A lot of you who think you know me, might be surprised with some answers. Come back here and let me know what you think about the blog.

Successful Book/Reader Break-ups: Writing a Good Ending

I was a journalism major at some point, so I had several articles published. As an intern, a good handful of my stories were printed front page and above the fold. (Look that up if you don't know what that means). I, however, am very excited about my first guest blog post for a storyteller Jordan Smith. Check it out at Jordan Smith's Fix My Story Website.

It has interesting information in a friendly package on how to write a great ending to your books.
While you are there, check our Jordan's blog. It is full of useful information.

Big Changes in Life

There have been many big changes in my life. A lot of people have big decisions or happenings that lead to big changes in their life. Some people's life is a little more stagnant. Some of my changes followed a somewhat typical milestone in life. From elementary school to middle school to high school to college. There was moving out of my parent's home. Then there were changes that started to shape my life with more depth.

 

I'm not Alone?: One of those changes was when I "came-out" to myself. I realized since I was in 5th grade that I liked girls, but I did not know what that meant. I was brought up Catholic so I thought this was an evil part of me that I somehow had to defeat. I went to college read Rubyfruit Jungle (the main character was not the best role model for future lesbians), and the book let me know that there were other lesbians out there. Then I had my first girlfriend and my life took another road in a way.

Wilderness Road: I graduated college and snagged a job in the Florida woods. I lived in the woods with a co-counselor and 12 at-risk youth. Enough of a change? This job changed my life in so many ways. It put me out of my comfort zone, it gave me confidence, and gave me opportunity to make a difference.

 
Weird I have Time: The 9/11 attacks changed a lot of people's plans in life or it hurried them to their goals. People got married or decided to have a kid, or left their job to pursue their dreams. My girlfriend (at the time) and I decided to move from North Carolina up to New England closer to our families. This moved me out of my 24/5 job to the 40 hour work week. Weird I have time now.

From the Usual 2 to 5: Then there was the "instant family." I went from dating single women to becoming part of a family with three kids, then a house, then 4 cats and a dog. We got married in June. Having a family and being a step-mother is one of the biggest changes in my life. I think it is one I am still acclimating.  

I am not sure what the next change will be. I mean what big change will I make if at all. I quit soda for two years now. I go on and off of diets. I published a few books. I got new shoes. I am not saying that I have to make a change. My life is pretty, awesomely perfect.

16 Ways to Make Work Fun

I am all about finding ways to make work fun. This goes for chores, homework, hard labor, paperwork, general work milieu and meetings. There is a slogan I think coined by Ben & Jerry (the ice cream guys), "If it isn't fun why do it?" Sometimes these are my thoughts exactly. I go step further and say, "If it isn't fun, make it fun."

Here are some of my tactics. This are tested and proven for my simple mind.
 
1. Sing while working. Even if you are bad singer.

2.Whistle while you work (do do do do do do do).

3. Time yourself and try to beat your high score. This is perfect for unloading the dishwasher, folding clothes, raking leaves, shoveling, performing surgery (works on Grey's Anatomy), filing, etc.

4. Find a fun way to do the chore. For my kids recycling chore we set up the plastic and cardboard bins and they stand at the top of the stairs and throw them in. See who can pick up the most stuffed animals. Do a slip and slide on a tarp you have to clean.

5. Have someone else do it. You can delegate a task. They might enjoy it more. My kids love doing dishes while camping. Go figure!

6. Pretend that your job is more important than it is. For example, when filing you are a secret agent looking for top secret information. Any time someone comes into the file room that is the chance  you will be found out as a spy.

7. While working try out an different accident. That is what telemarketers and customer service people do. They are not Indian or Pakistani, they are actually from Tennessee.

8. Give out stickers. When I give out my staff's monthly productivity report, I give them stickers if they are above expectations or on target. They enjoy them.

9. Don't go to work. Stay home and have fun.

10. Leave little presents in your staff's mailbox. Write fun jokes on a white board. Dress-up funny one day.

11. Invite a speaker for a meeting. Play a fun game to learn a new strategy or information. Have food at a meeting. Go on field trips.

12. Do a job with a kid. The conversation alone will be interesting.

13. Find a new toy, tool, sticky notes, or system to make your job more fun or easier.

14. Get friends help. Make a party out of it.

15. Teach your pet to do it.

16. Reward yourself for getting it done.


Check out this site for my ideas. Fun at Work

Dream Job or Dream Guy/Girl: Radio Show Topic

I was listening to DJ's on my archaic shower radio talk about the topic would you rather have your Dream Job or your Dream Guy/Girl. I only heard comments from a few callers because I have to stand still in the shower for the radio not to lose reception.

What would you want? The dream job might come with a lot of fame, fortune, or happiness. It might make it harder to sift through all phony guys and gals who are out for your money or mystified by your fame. If  you don't believe in fate or your destiny, you might want to pick the Dream Guy or Girl, because you might not find him or her otherwise.

Then I started to wonder, "Am I my wife's dream girl?" Heck, I am smart, easy on the eyes, have a nice heart, and I am freakin' funny. I am good with kids, and I am very loving. I even have a steady job that pays pretty well. What else can you ask for? (I just asked her the radio question and she did not respond with "you are my dream girl.") So, I have to be somebody's dream girl.

Goes to show, don't ask your partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, or wife/husband this questions.

Homeless?

Lately I have been thinking about different paths, roads, highways my life could have taken. On the internet, Facebook, and television I see people living in RV's, in tents, on the streets, in 180 sq. ft houses. I think about what if I did not have a family, a job, or my house where would I live.

 A few months ago I read a book titled A Girl's Guide to Homelessness. That book opened my eyes to the diversity of homeless people out there. In my mind I knew that all homeless people were not alcoholics, druggies, or have a mental health disorder. I, however, had some stereotypes and isms toward the homeless. Brianna Karp in this book talks about these belief systems.

 One of them is that homeless people should not buy anything of comfort or have anything that is not a necessity. For instance, homeless people should never go to the movies. Really? So that $7 -$10 that homeless person spends on the movie really could have paid the mortgage or rent. The other misconception is that they should have cells or laptops. Brianna used the lap top to get a job and was using it to keep in touch with people and search for a job. Here is Brianna Karp's Blog.

 

I went on a tangent a little. I wonder what it would have been like if I decided not to buy a house or did not have a family to settle-down with. I thought about an RV but too much on gas. Then I thought about living in a tent somewhere, but it would have to be somewhere warm. I thought about one of those small houses, and that could have been an option too. Either way, I would still need a lap top, books, and my dog.

 

  

Freakin' About No Power

I don't remember ever losing power growing up in New Jersey in the 70's - 90's. It has happened a few times in New England due to hurricans and snow storms. It always amazes me how much people freak-out about it. I understand if you have medical conditions that warrant having electricity. Let's just take that off the table. I, also, understand if you don't have any way to heat your house.

What I find is people are so upset to lose their electronics. The main thing is their television. There are many Americans that fill their past-time with television and it is as if you cut-off their arm if they no longer can watch television.

A close second is computers. (Of course, this post is based on solid knowledge due to me surveying half a million Americans in a structured study . . .) Without the internet, how are people supposed to know what their movie stars tweeted, and how long to boil an egg. Thank goodness for iphones and other phones that people can access their email, and the internet.

Among other things, if not fully charged, people will miss video games, kindles, ipads, tablets, itouch, and idon't-know-what-else. With the current impending storm to hit New England my kids made sure to plug in all their electronics, "just in case the power goes out."

Me, besides worrying about keeping the food in the fridge from spoiling, I am fine without electricity. I love to light a room with candles, card games, board games, and reading (I am addicted to my Kindle, but unless we lose electricity for a month I should be good.) And then there is this phenomenon called talking . . . a wierd thing conversing with people instead of staring at a rectangle with pictures moving on it.

My world was simpler when I lived in the woods (except for those 12 at-risk youth I was responsible for). We just made sure we had enough firewood and kerosene. A more complex life is not bad, but I have to laugh at people freaking out about losing these electronics for a few days.

What Kind of Dog Would You Be

I was at work today and a supervisee of mine told me that if I was a dog I would be a Saint Bernard. I did not know how to take that. I didn't know much about Saint Bernards other than on cartoons I saw them saving people in the snow and had canteens around their necks. I then did the stereotypical womanly thing and wondered if I was being called ugly or big and fat.  They are not that great looking.

Unless you are looking at Saint Bernard puppies, and almost every breed dog puppy is cute.

And the snow, I hate the cold and the snow. So, now I am even getting more and more angry becauseI cannot be this big, ugly, snow loving dog. It is at this point in this post I realize I am taking this too seriously.

 

So I go home to my family, and our family conversation around dinner was "if you were a dog what would you be?" They decided on a dog, and each one the family decided on for each individual was very accurate. Then the moment of truth came and what did they say?

Yup, a Saint Bernard. That led me to doing some research and I found out some things that made me feel better about being associated with these creatures.

1. They are extremely loyal.

2. They are very intelligent.

3. They are trainable.

4. They are even tempered and rarely aggressive unless needed.

5. They are good with kids.

6. They are very confident.

 

Overall, I found out that they have a great sense of smell, and are excellent rescue dogs. The rescue dog part I already knew. What I did not know that when the Saint Bernard found someone trapped in snow he/she would stay with the victim and lick them to keep them warm.

 

 

Part II: Books in the Woods

One of my best experiences with kids reading was when I worked at a wilderness camp. It was an experiential learning program for kids that usually chose between juvenile jail and wilderness camp. The library we had there was a 20' x 20' room (if that huge). There were slim pickings when it came to books.

At this camp, kids were there to work on goals, and to get away from their everyday problems. There were no electoronics. In that day it meant no walkmans and hand-held games. Today it would be even more of a hardship for youth who have iphones, ipods, itouch, and idon'tknowwhatelse. It was a group therapy model. Thus, if one youth was having an issue, we would do what was called "huddling-up" and procede to have a group therapy session that could last from a minute, to hours, to the whole night.

It was times like these that drove kids to reading books. I witnessed teenagers who never read a whole book before begging for any stolen second to read the book. They would wake-up, urinate, get dressed and have a book in their hand. They would carry 1-2 books with them at any given time. During one long huddle, I remember a kid reading a whole book, and stating, "I am done." He put it in his backpack and then grabbed another book out of his sweatshirt to begin.

I vividly remember one group called Mahetus that all but one member were book worms.
We would walk from chuckwagon (dining hall) to their campsite in a single-file line. One group member would lead-out pushing the wheelbarrow and the rest of the boys would follow behind with their noses buried in their books. The lead kid was about 12 years old and was not a great reader. At times he would take the wheelbarrow and walk zig-zag and the group would follow their noses still buried in their book. He would begin to giggle, and a couple of the more senior kids would yell at him, and he would straighten out.

I wish I had a picture of this because it was a wonderful site.

Read Your Children Well

Not to be confused with Crosby, Stills, and Nash- Teach Your Children Well.
I could write many posts about children and reading, and I shall. I have had many experiences with children's adventures with books. From my own childhood, own family, and including children I worked with in many capacities.

I will begin with currently. My family and I are participating in a chart that was created to keep track of the books we are reading.

 As you notice I picked to take the picture during a time that I was ahead by one. This is no small feat considering the kids read several books a day. They probably  are ahead of me, but haven't posted their books.

Making reading part of their life is important.
1. Read in front of them.
2. Read to them.
3. Talk about reading.
4. Buy them books. I was recently a lame aunt and bought my nephew a bunch of books for Christmas. He was so excited and said, "Nobody ever bought me chapter books before."
5. Go to the library.
6. Go to bookstores, yard sales, and anywhere else they sell books.
7. Create books with them. Writer your own books.
8. Read books that have movies and once the book is complete watch the movie.
9. Bring books on road trips and vacations.
10. DEAR. Drop Everything and Read.

Poop Lady

You must be desperate if you are reading a post titled Poop Lady. I read a blog today that stated 100 Things I Never Expected to Learn about Blogging on the blog Single Guy Laughing. One of the suggestions he had was to write about something embarrassing. I thought about strange habits, quirks I have and quickly pushed them out of my mind. I was not sharing those things. Then an embarrassing moment came to me with the help of Cali.

She is just the cutest dog in the world (warning biased opinion). No fail on practically every school day, she takes a huge dump as a school bus full of kids drives by. Now everytime this happens, I experience an internal dialogue happens. I think about how eventhough I was a good and kind kid, I could not resist saying something mean that I was thought was funny about a woman picking-up poop.

I envision the kids on the bus saying things like, "That stinks", "Crappy Job" "Is that your Lunch?" "Holy Crap!" or other witty things.  If I was consistent enough, and the bus driver and I were insync, the same busload of kids could witness this and I might even be the lady they call the "poop lady."

Then I think my internal dialogue turns into a debat or an argument that I am having with the kids.
"At least I am picking it up. I could just leave it there for you to step in."
"Everyone poops." Not to be confused with REM's "Everybody Hurts."
"Wait until you are older, you will be doing the same thing."
Or just hurling the poop at the bus window. So, as for my embarrassing moment, that is it every school day.

To upgrade the embarrassment factor. There is what my partner calls the "fecal fiasco". This is when Cali is squatting and pooping, and there is a problem. Hanging from her butt is a turd that looks like it is suspended in air. It is not actually suspended in air, but there is something stringing usually hair or a blade of grass that is keeping it attached to her anus. Yes, very lovely. Poor Cali is stuck squatting there until it drops, and it won't without an intervention. This requires me to grab a leaf or use a poop bag to pull the poop, hair, and grass out. This is fun because dogs and my dog in particular does not like things or people by her butt. I think this is a practical quality. Doing this task is hard enough, and then I have cars and people going by witnessing this feat. I make sure it is not a busload of kids.

"Shit happens."

Writing "Wilderness" or "Wild Ness"

I don't have a name for this new book I am working on. I am pouring a lot of blood, sweat, and DEET into it. The book takes place in the mid-2000 in the Florida Everglades. The story is forming as I am writing it and I am only about 15%-25% through creating it.

So far the main character Breeze has found herself in desperation that lands herself in a wilderness camp. This camp is no summer camp. It is the product of a world that has discarded bruised, spoiled, disobiedient, and less-desirable youth. The Everglades itself is enough to turn around the average, below-average, and above average person. It takes a certain somebody to visit there, let alone live there.

To make matters even worse, Breeze falls into this man & boy land and not only has to navigate it as an outside but as a woman. The more time she spends there, the more twisted and dire the situation has become. Breeze feels instantly connected to a group of boys.  Breeze becomes more desperate to make a change.

Wilderness  or Wild Ness is a newborn and yearning to walk into ebooks stores by the Spring.

Surviving: A Writer's Journey to New Jersey

I recently returned home to my parents house (the house I spent time in from age 0-18). There I encountered siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, an uncle, my parents, and their friends. It was very interesting to get their unsolicited feedback regarding the books I have published. Many of them had purchased TRAIL SWAP, my first book.

The feedback I received was a mixture. Nobody was brave enough to come outright and say it sucked. I am thankful for that. It is hard to take such criticism in front of a room full of family and family friends. My parents are very popular in town and have friends who have known me since I was just a pup. One women was so excited about my book, and requested I write the name of the book down. I not only did that, but wrote the two other books I had published. She also asked how she would buy it for her Nook which I briefly walked her through that process. She was so excited and stated how she knew it was so hard to get published.

New Publishing Game: So, I briefly described that I had not been required to jump through all the hoops that one goes through to get a book deal, and be picked up by an publisher or acquire an agent. I described very briefly among clanging glasses, screaming/laughing children, and televisions blaring how the ebook world is emerging. Yes, I let the cat out of the bag gently. I did not outright say, "It could suck, have 1 million errors, and make no sense and still be published."

"The Kind of Book I Like is. . . ": Then I conversed with people who started by saying, "Oh, so I heard you wrote a book. The kind of book I like is . . ." Then they proceded to tell me the genre of book they read. Suspense, thriller, mystery, romance, Stephen King, Danielle Steele, etc. It was interesting to hear what people liked. It was even more interesting to know that my book was nowhere near any of those categories.

Kill someone in the first page: Then there was my uncle who thinks he is funny. Sometimes he is. He asked, "Does someone die in the first page? I only read books that people die in the first page." Somehow this stuck with me. I do realize especially in today's Attention Deficit, impulsive, instant gratification world, that I have to capture readers in the first page. Today things are so fast paced that it is almost as if you have to revert back to newspaper article writing by putting all the what, why, who, when, how in the first paragraph. Like Blues Travelers say you need a hook.

You're in it. Then there was telling my oldest nephew that he was a character in the book. I had forgotten since I wrote it so long ago, and only published it recently. That spurred him to say, "Now I have to read it."

All in all, it was my first time experiencing this type of feedback. It was nice knowing people were excited and reading my books. It was also scary, and that was my biggest issue. I was scared people I knew would not like the book.

Bucket of Tissues & Foggy Head

I have been sick the past week and due to not being able to concentrate, I have resorted to watching the boob-tube. I have come to the realization that there is a lot of (to say in technical jargon) CRAP out there. I am not sure if that encourages of discourages my voyage to be a great writer.
I have a lot of stories in me, and just have to work at getting them out there and in the right vehicle and dressed in the right outfits. Sometimes I feel as if I am in jeans and a t-shirt at a fancy wedding.

That being said, being sick gives me a new perspective and more momentum to appreciate things I take for granted. Things like walking to the fridge without gasping for air or feeling dizzy. The ability to form words and have complex thoughts. Yes, for about a week, I was stripped and naked from these abilities.

The biggest thing that this time with the bucket of tissues and a foggy head made me think about is that I do not want to lose my mind. I know there are  many people who have this goal, but what a horrible thing to lose ones mind. To not remember things, to make no sense, to not be able to communicate, would be horrible. It would be one of my worst nightmares.

One thing I always come out thinking after and injury or a sickness, is that my sick or injured days makes me appreciate my healthy days.