Storms, Traveling and the USB Drive

Wow, we had quite a storm this past month.  The sky was as dark as midnight and the thunder rumbled like there was a bowling tournament in Heaven!  The wind blew the rain against the windows like a car wash.  I made sure to grab my USB drive, which has a backup copy of my novel,  before heading down into the basement.  Whenever the weather radio goes off during this active storm season, I grab the USB drive.  Leaving it behind would feel like leaving one of my children behind.  I've told my hubby many times that I feel like this story is my baby.   If I don't bring my laptop along on trips, even day trips, I like to bring along a copy of my manuscript on my USB drive.  What if there was a fire?  What if there was a tornado that relocated my house?  It's always good to be prepared.  I couldn't imagine all the time and effort I put into it being gone, like it never existed.

I'm currently a little over 61,000 words on my manuscript.  Since I like to read books 300-375 pages in length, that's the size I'd like my novel to be.  Normally, that's about 85,000 to 90,000 words.  That means I have 2/3 of it written!  I still have plenty of revising to do, as well.

I'm currently reading Crystal Gardens by Amanda Quick.  She doesn't provide a year for the setting, so from my research, I was able to determine it took place after 1829 when she mentioned Scotland Yard.  She also mentioned traveling by train, which the first passenger trains in England began in the 1830s.  The telegram also became a method of communication in the 1830s and 1840s.  It's good to know these things, so I don't try to incorporate them in my own novel, which takes place in 1820.  I haven't decided if I'll include the year, or make the reader guess like Ms. Quick does.  If you're ever looking for a good mystery, I recommend reading one of her books! 

I hope you have a safe and Happy 4th of July!  It looks like we will be having our backyard picnic again this year.

Veronica 









I Dreamed A Dream

I saw Les Miserables for the first time last week; the 2012 movie with Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway.  I'm not really a fan of musicals, but I made it through this one thanks to subtitles.  I loved the opening scene with the ship being pulled in.  That was quite some cinematography. 

One thing I always enjoy about films with a historical setting is the costume design.  I especially paid attention between 1815-1823.  I love the empire dresses and that trousers were replacing breeches.  I've never been much of a fan of knee breeches.  Men used to wear them with white or black stockings covering their calves, with buckle shoes and it doesn't look masculine to me.  Now, if he were to wear a pair of knee-high boots such as Hessians or Wellingtons, well that's a different story.   It was interesting to see more of the poor in this film, as we normally see the wealthy dress in historical films.

Some of the songs were familiar to me from college.  I had a friend who loved Les Mis.  I can remember "On My Own" and "Castle On A Cloud".  "Do You Hear The People Sing?" has been stuck in my head since I first heard it.  "I Dreamed A Dream" was so familiar to me, that it took me a while to realize that was the song Susan Boyle sang in her first audition when she blew the world away with her talent.  Now, that's the lesson in the old saying that you cannot judge a book by it's cover!  I loved this verse in the song, "But there are dreams that cannot be.  And there are storms we cannot weather."

Something I discovered from the DVD extras was that Victor Hugo, the author of the original novel, was born the same year as my protagonist; in 1802.  I hadn't even planned that.  I should see what other historical figures were born in the same year.

I've been busy updating my web site, so check it out when you can.  Just keep in mind that I'm new to this and I'm learning as I go.

Hope you're enjoying the start of summer.  It feels like April here!

Veronica

Website

I finally have a website: My Website.  I also placed the link over to the right of this page with my other links.  It's a very basic site at this point, but it will give you more of an idea of what I'm about.  As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Happy Memorial Day!

Veronica

Dreams

I know of a few published authors who got ideas for their novels from dreams.  Stephenie Meyer who wrote the Twilight series is one of those writers.  She dreamt about the meadow scene, which compelled her to write the story that would forever change her life.  I'm not one to remember my dreams very often.  If asked what I dreamt about last night, I couldn't tell you.  The other night was an exception.  I dreamt of a hostage situation, which I won't disclose the setting because it was just weird!  It involved a mother trying to protect her children and considered doing things she normally would never do in order to protect them.  There were two men who were her captors.  One she didn't like, but the other she did.  She sensed good in him.  He was the one that interested me and I wish I could have found out if he helped her, but I woke up before he did anything!  I've never kept a dream journal before, but I made sure to write this one down for future reference.  I'd like to learn more about this fellow my subconscious dreamed up.  I'll just have to let my imagination take over.

I started reading Amanda Ashley's latest novel As Twilight Falls last night.  I read the first eight chapters and didn't want to put it down, but I really needed sleep.  It's kind of a Twilight Zone hostage situation story.  (Now, had I started it a few nights ago, I would have thought it triggered my dream.)  Can't wait to pick it up again.  That's what I love about reading; the anticipation of a good tale.

I saw the movie "42" a few weeks ago.  What a wonderful movie.  Even if you're not a baseball fan, I recommend it.  Harrison Ford was at his best.  I remember learning about segregation in elementary school, but it is unbelievable how racist "the greatest generation" was.  Just imagine their reaction if they could see our day and age!  The sad part about it is most of those people were probably Christians.

This may be a little early, but have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Veronica 

Empathy

This was a post I made on a different site with a writer's group.  I've decided to post it on here because it's easier to access. 

I consider myself to be empathic. Seeing someone else cry can make me cry. That is why I can't watch mourners at a funeral. I can easily put myself in another person's position and I feel that I'm more considerate of a person's feelings because of this. I think my empathy aids me in writing because it helps me imagine how my characters are feeling and how they would react. This really comes in handy with writing in third person.

I'm curious about the rest of you. Do sad stories make you cry? Do love stories give you the euphoria one feels with new love? Does someone else's joy bring you joy? Have you ever felt fear that wasn't your own? Do people consider you someone easy to talk to? Have you ever disliked someone for a reason that you couldn't explain? I'm just curious if it's just me or if the rest of you writers are sensitive to emotions, too.

Veronica

The Tragedy of Darth Vader/Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Parallel

One aspect in life I find by being a Lit. person is finding the similarities between real life and the arts. I think many of you remember literature class in high school, where you would look for the author's inspiration or compare a character to a real person.  Due to recent events, I found myself comparing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev life to Darth Vader's. Has anyone else noticed the parallels?  I think the idea started when I thought of this wavy-haired boy being a killer.  I kept thinking, "He's just a baby!"  And I began to think about another young man in a tale that took place a long, long time ago. 

Look at the two: 

• Vader (then known as Anakin Skywalker) was born into slavery, then freed and brought to a new world when he was about 9 years-old.  Hmmm . . . Jahar's (as I'll refer to him as it's easier to spell) family left their homeland due to persecution and came to America when he was 9 years-old.
• Anakin became a Jedi apprentice;  Protector to the Republic.  Jahar was a lifeguard and I thought I heard that he was thinking about pursuing medicine.
• Anakin's mentor and friend, Palpatine, influences him to go down a darker path.  Jahar's brother plots against the U.S. due to wars in the Middle East.  He influences his brother.
• Vader leads the attack on the Jedi temple.  He kills Jedi younglings (children.)  Jahar helps his brother place bombs at the Boston Marathon.  His bomb was responsible for killing a child and injuring many other people.   
• Both betray the democracy that offered them a better way of life.
• Both end up seriously injured shortly after the attacks.  Both are taken away on a medical gurney and require oxygen.  Vader is burned after a duel with his former Jedi master.  He's left scarred and requires a life-preserving suit.  Jahar has multiple injuries due to engaging with law enforcement.  What is interesting is Jahar has an injury to his throat and is unable to speak at this time.  Who knows if he permanently damaged his vocal cords.  I wonder if he still requires oxygen?  I don't think his respirator would be quite as pronounced as Vader's, but the similarities are almost eerie.   

Here the parallel ends.  Vader redeemed himself by helping to destroy the Empire that he helped create.  I don't know if there's any way that Jahar could ever redeem himself.  Unlike the 9/11 terrorists, Jahar is able to see the results of his actions.  And will be held accountable for them.

George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, when discussing his character of Darth Vader claimed that no one who is evil thinks of themselves as evil.  They think they are doing the right thing.  He must have done his research.  I think he must have studied the Nazi's judging from the scripts that he wrote.  I think it very well applies to the Jihad extremists/terrorists.

Even though Star Wars is science fiction, it really has to do with the human spirit.  Under all that CGI and alien worlds, it's really about ourselves.  I'll leave you with a quote from Yoda but it's really George Lucas' words,

"Fear leads to anger.  Anger leads to hate.  Hate leads to suffering."

How very true it is.

Veronica

Edited to add:  Discussing Vader and his breathing reminded me of the teaser trailer for Ep. 3.  That breathing (:47) still gives me goose bumps!  Star Wars Ep. 3 Teaser

Life Finds A Way

A baby boom in Boston in approximately 38 weeks due to Friday's lock down.  Life finds a way. 

This was my tweet/FB post this morning.  I have to admit that it was my husband who thought of it.  He said to me yesterday afternoon while we were watching the news coverage, "I bet they are going to have a baby boom in January."  So, it got me thinking.  The plan of the terrorists was to kill Americans, not make more of them!  And I'm sure that's what happened with Friday's lock down.  Stuck in the house together all day.  What to do???  What to do???  So, thanks to the younger brother trying to elude law enforcement most of the day on Friday, the chances are favorable for a baby boom come mid-January in Boston.  Imagine after all that planning to take life, they inadvertently created more!  Oh, the irony of it!  Granted, nothing can replace the lives that were lost, but this goes to show that we will prevail.

I followed the manhunt through most of the day yesterday through the media.  I couldn't remember ever seeing a whole city shut down for most of the day.  I have to explain a little about me so you don't take it the wrong way about what I'm going to write.  I consider myself to be an empathic person.  Seeing someone else cry can make me cry.  I can't watch mourners at a funeral because of this.  I think my empathy aids me in writing because I can put myself in another's position.  This comes in handy with writing in third person.  As a reader/writer, I like to look for redeeming qualities in the villain.  As I watched the standoff last night, I started to feel a little sorry for the perpetrator.  Now, don't throw stones!  I haven't forgotten about what he's done!  I haven't forgotten about Martian Richard nor the rest of his victims.  I just started to think how he hit the ultimate low.  There he was, hiding in a boat, wounded and bleeding,  surrounded by an army of law enforcement.  His brother was dead, he probably hadn't eaten anything all day, he probably hadn't slept in days.  Maybe the guilt was starting to wear on him?  If his brother had convinced him to take part in the plot and now he was the only one remaining to take the full responsibility for the terror they inflicted on others.  I was relieved to see him taken alive into custody, so his family didn't have to lose a second member that day.  My hope is that everyone finds the answers that they are seeking and will eventually find closure.

It was wonderful to see the residents of Boston back out on the streets last night.  And to watch them cheer the members of law enforcement and emergency services as they left the scene.  We have to remember there are more good people out there than the bad.

My thoughts and prayers are with Texas as well during this trying week. 

Have a safe weekend!

Veronica