The Thirteen Traveling Journals Project

Site problems

2006-04-18T09:54:00.000-04:00

I've been having problems with the site email for the past few weeks. If you've sent me a question about the journal's next stop and not heard back, my apologies. The host and I are working on the problem.

I will respond as soon as I can get to the email.

My apologies for any inconvenience.

Devon

From "Fronds of Thought"

2006-01-02T08:55:00.000-05:00

More photos from Michelle.

The top image is the beautifull concert hall and the lower image is the courthouse in Ft. Worth, Texas.

From "Fronds of Thought"

2005-11-30T06:45:00.000-05:00

These images are from Michelle -- images of Fort Worth.

She's sent more photos, which will post over the next few days!

Thanksgiving Entry

2005-11-28T11:05:00.000-05:00

This comes from Angela, in the Tranquility Taverna Journal:

November 24, 2005

It’s Thanksgiving Day here in the United States and
I’m enjoying a few hours of solitude while my husband
works and our daughters visit their grandmother. I
try to carry a spirit of thankfulness with me
throughout the year because there’s always something
to appreciate.

My home has solid floors, a roof that doesn’t leak and
walls that really do keep out the weather. This home
is equipped with central air and heat so it’s cool on
hot days and warm on cold days. My childhood home
exists only in my memories and old photographs but I
can’t forget using a sleeping bag all winter just to
stay warm at night or walking around the 2x4 support
braces Mother put in to hold the ceiling up in the
living room. I remember taking the fastest showers
possible because I was afraid the bathtub I stood in
would fall through the floor like the other one had
done. I remember finding icicles on the inside of our
windows and listening to the rain drip in buckets and
bowls throughout the house. I think of all these
things and remember the millions of people around the
world who lost everything to natural and manmade
disasters this year and give thanks for the blessing
of a home.

According to the government, my family and I live
below the poverty line. We’re some of the lucky ones
because we have food, clean drinking water, and a few
luxuries. My daughters don’t know what it’s like to
wait for the bus with hands tucked in the sleeves of a
threadbare sweatshirt because there’s no money for a
jacket and none of the ragged hand-me-downs fit. They
don’t know what it’s like to wake up hungry only to
hear their mother say there’s no money for food so
crackers and water will have to do for the next day or
two. I know those feelings but I’m thankful I don’t
know the agony of watching my child shiver in the cold
or listening to my children complain they’re hungry.

On this Thanksgiving, I pause to think about the
freedoms I enjoy and to give thanks for those who paid
for my freedoms with blood, sweat, tears and time. I
give thanks for the health I enjoy. I can get out of
bed without assistance and I go about my day without
much thought. Hundreds of thousands of people here in
America can’t do that. There are wounded heroes who
may never stand again, brave men and women adjusting
to life with artificial limbs and others who simply
don’t have the strength to get out of bed. I’m not as
fit as I want to be but I can do something about that
and I have it better than a lot of people.

I give thanks for the friends, both offline and
online, who offer support and encouragement as I make
changes in my life and follow a dream. It’s been a
winding road but every time my courage fails, one of
my friends is there to help. I’m thankful for the
life lessons I’ve learned from my extended family and
for the ability to continue learning.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" ~ Theodore
Roosevelt

Web Host Move

2005-11-02T18:25:00.000-05:00

I sent an email out today to participants already signed up in the project, but also wanted to post on the site.

I am in the process of moving the web host for the Devon Ellington Work site. The 13 Traveling Journals addresses are tied to that site, so, until the move is complete, those addresses are down.

If you need to reach me during the next few weeks, please email me here. Please put "13 Journals" or "13 Entries" in the Subject line.

I will send out another email and post on this site when the DE addresses are working again.

That does not affect THIS site. This link is independent of the website, and therefore will remain intact.

Only correspondence addresses are affected.

This site has been quiet for the past weeks, and I apologize. We will liven up again soon, with both more entries and more press coverage.

Thanks to all the participants, and stay in touch via this site!

Journal Entry from Michelle -- Fronds of Thought

2005-10-19T12:50:00.000-04:00

Fall has finally arrived her in North Texas. It's a welcome reprieve from the relentless heat. Nights are cool now and I love the October moon high in the sky. With moonlight in a blue-white veil cascading over the cluttered backyard. The cool crisp air in the silence of the night that leaves goosebumps on your arms. Yes. This is my favorite time of year. October is - hands down - my favorite month. Here are some other favorites too.

I've always loved Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven":
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door;
Only this, and nothing more."

As well as Alfred Noyes "The Highwayman". Loreena McKennitt put it to music on her CD "Book of Secrets". The imagery in the poem is amazing:
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight, over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding-
Riding-riding-
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

More favorite things: Mexican food, shoes, books, music, a long nap, a hot bath, and warm chocolate chip cookies.

Michelle Miles
Visit me on the web: http://www.michellemiles.net
Writing historical as Fiona Judd: http://www.fionajudd.net

Want to participate? Email here.

Featured Diarist: Quincee

2005-09-24T10:52:00.000-04:00

1. What do you find the most enthralling part of the writing process?

Creating the story and writing the first draft. I always know the end of my story first. Therefore, when I sit down to begin a story I’m flying by the seat of my pants from the first line until I reach that last scene that I imagined before I began the story. That’s the best part.

2. What’s the most frustrating part of revisions, for you?

Staying focused and motivated to RE-write what I’ve just written. Because I write my first drafts so fast, my second drafts are written much slower and words chosen with much more care. The deliberateness and attention needed is sometimes frustrating because it’s much easier to procrastinate and over think things.

3. Does your love of basketball feed in to your writing at all, or does it give you a much needed respite and a way of switching gears?

I’ve loved basketball since I was a ten-year-old following my teenaged brother to the public courts just to watch. The first novel I wrote was about basketball. The central character was consumed by basketball and the dream of being a professional ball player. My love for the game both informed and fueled my love for the story I was creating. The novel I’m working on now is about musicians and so there is almost no mention of sports of any kind because the main character is music driven. I guess this season I’ll just watch the NBA for the fun of it.

4. What changes do you think the Educational System needs to make in order the genuinely educate people?

Schools must address the real issues. They must “educate” students, instead of simply housing or babysitting students. They must diversify educational styles so that all children have an opportunity to be successful and they must find a way to recruit the best and the brightest to teach. Teaching must be elevated to an honorable vocation, not the “fall-back” occupation it has become.

5. In one of your blog entries, you mention that (to date) you’ve changed the title of your novel three times. In this particular case, what process has dictated the title evolution?

I began with “The Skinny”—named for the nightclub that is central to the story, then I had this idea to focus on the romantic aspect of the story by giving it the title “Turo’s Star” (Arturo & Starletta), and finally, as I reached the end of my first draft I thought I might be able to play up the female lead’s name (Starletta) by introducing the factual elements of astronomy to the story and the title “Supernova” was suggested. However, by the time I finished the third chapter of the rewrite I was back to “The Skinny” and that’s the title I’m sticking with. In my opinion it most represents the central themes of the story I’m trying to tell.

Visit Quincee’s blog, Blackberry Pearls, to read more about her life and work. Thank you, Quincee!

Journal Entry #1 From Rhythmic World Bridger

2005-09-19T09:31:00.000-04:00

Rhythmic World Bridger sends us entries from the past month’s travels in the UK. Here’s the first one:

Magnetic 1, Seed 13, 2005

I¹m going to tell you about the 13 Moon Calendar now, so you will be less confused by the system I use to orient myself in time. Today is the first day of the Cosmic Seed Year, the new year¹s day of the 13 Moon Dreamspell Calendar. The first moon is called the Magnetic Moon and the first day is Dali 1.

There are 28 days in each moon, and 13 moons in every year, with One Day-Out-Of-Time as a gap between the old year and the new year. I started using this calendar in 1995 and have completely replaced the Gregorian calendar with the 13 Moon calendar for all practical purposes.

Today corresponds to July 26, 2005. The rest you can figure out for yourself.

I received the journal today, so the timing is perfect. New journal, new year, Cosmic Seed!

The significance of Cosmic Seed is that it indicates a year of transcendence. Seed symbolizes the power of planting and 13 is the tone (or frequency) that symbolizes magic flight. Imagine planting a seed in the imaginal world... where might that take you? And for that matter, where might this journal go?

I¹m going to warn you now that my journal entries will be comprised not only of the physical events of the 28 days of the Magnetic Moon, but also my dreams and imaginal wanderings.

Notice I did not say, my imagination. I said imaginal wanderings.

It is my experience that there are worlds beyond the physical that I am capable of entering and exploring. Sometimes I do this when I am sleeping and sometimes I do this by entering a state of contemplative relaxation. Most people think that the imagination is something that we use to think up stuff, which is correct -- on that level -- but our imagination can also act as a gateway to the imaginal worlds.

The imaginal worlds are virtually limitless (the only reason I put in a qualifier is because I don¹t know for certain) and one of the first things you learn is that all of the limitations are self-imposed. It¹s a little like the dilemma of wandering into the biggest mall in the world where everything is free, what would you choose to do first?

So I¹m going to try to describe everything that I find interesting over the next 28 days, both on and off earth. I hope you will find my travels interesting too.

Journal Images Re-posted

2005-08-31T11:06:00.000-04:00

I wanted to re-post the images of available journals for our newest members -- so they get an idea of their choices!

More interviews and updates soon!

Journal #1 -- Thought Waves

2005-08-31T11:05:00.000-04:00

Journal #2 -- Fronds of Thought

2005-08-31T11:04:00.000-04:00

Journal # 3 -- Tranquility Taverna

2005-08-31T11:02:00.000-04:00

Journal #4 -- Roads of Inspiration

2005-08-31T11:01:00.000-04:00

Featured Diarist: Brooke Sikula

2005-08-20T13:30:00.000-04:00

Brooke Sikula, one of our diarists for Tranquility Taverna, spends some time with us today:

1. How did a year in Madrid change your perspective on life?

How didn’t a year in Madrid change my perspective on life? Living abroad for a year gave me a much broader perspective on the world. Through my travels to Madrid and elsewhere, I think I’ve been able to burst the American bubble we all grow up in. More importantly, I learned a great deal about myself and [I think] I have become a more understanding person by learning and living immersed in a very unique culture.

2. Did you study a specific period of history, or was it a more general overview? Do you have one particular period that draws you the most strongly?

Due to spending my last year of college in Spain, I focused a lot on Spanish history. This was purely circumstantial – my true love is modern history from the 1900’s to present day. Two topics of particular interest to me in college were the genocide in Rwanda and the Spanish press during Franco’s regime. I think my interest in history has also nurtured my interest in politics because of the direct correlation to modern day history.

3. What is the hardest aspect of writing an SEO article?

The hardest part of writing any type of article or piece is to edit my own work. I find I really have to sit down and focus on correcting and fixing errors instead of becoming emotionally attached to my original words. The good news is that editing becomes easier for me with every project I do.

4. Has writing about parenting changed your perspective on both writing and parenting, and, if so, how?

I don’t think I’ve written enough about parenting to change my perspective on writing or parenting. The true challenge is to change my website so it’s up to date enough to reflect more current projects and interests! However, I will say that being a parent has changed my perspective on the importance of parenting. I began freelance writing so I could stay at home with my son. I can’t imagine having to send him to daycare and know that I am blessed with the ability and fortitude to be able to run my own home based business.

5. If you could take one fully funded year off, what would you do?

This is a topic of discussion from time to time in my household. My husband and I want to travel to Asia, probably China, and live for about 10 months or so either with or in close contact to a native Chinese family. After that we would spend the last two months sightseeing in countries we’d like to visit. This would probably include Australia, Thailand, Eastern Europe, Japan and Russia.

Thank you, Brooke!

Visit her website at: www.brookesikula.com

Want to participate in this project? Email me here.
Want to post an entry from one of the journals? Email me here.

Updates

2005-08-18T12:42:00.000-04:00

Eileen sent me some sketches from Tranquility Taverna; for some reason, I’m having problems loading them. As soon as it’s fixed, they’ll be up.

In the meantime, here are two additional links that you may find of interest:

A Passion for Peace
This site offers a “Write a Piece for Peace” Challenge for 2005. I’m definitely going to do it.

The site looks terrific, and there are interesting and challenging links on it. Definitely worth a visit.

Inspired to Journal
Is another excellent site. I found them while surfing, and we’ve agreed to exchange links. There are articles and resources for people interested in the journal process. It’s a beautifully set up site with great information.

Want to participate in this project? Email me here.
Want to submit an entry from one of the journals? Email me here.

Featured Diarist: Brenda Williamson

2005-08-17T09:34:00.000-04:00

Brenda generously shares her views and opinions with us:

1. Your book, Indigo Winds, will be published in 2006 as part of The Seven Deadly Sins and Virtues series. Would you talk a bit about the project, the authors, your interaction? Are all your characters within a specific world? How does that work?

The project was created by the publisher of eXtasy Books. It's a series containing 14 books, one each of 7 sins, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, sloth, & pride. And then there is the 7 virtues; humility, kindness, abstinence, chastity, patience, liberality, & diligence.

I'd list the authors, but sometimes things change so until the series is completed I can't give the names yet. Since each book is loosely based on the theme, there is no necessary interaction between the writers, but we all talk about our work on the publishers private authors loop. Everyone’s story is of their choosing and can be as varied as a ghost romance, to a vampire, to something like mine, a pirate tale.

2. What was the inspiration for Dangerous Desires, your serialized vampire romance?

No inspiration, just a plan to write a historical with a vampire. I write by the seat of my pants so I've no clue as to how a story will go from start to finish. As for Dangerous Desires, it was completed for a full length novel which needed editing so decided to adapt it for Keep It Coming.

3. Why do you think Gothic romances still hold so much appeal?

Because everyone likes mystery. Gothics use to be Victorian and more ghostly. Today's gothics can be contemporary, have fantasy, and werewolves. But what makes them likable is the often dark, eeriness in them.

4. How does your blog help define your work, if at all?

My blog is a start of something, but I haven't figured that one out as of yet.

For Romance Readers & Writers you're invited to join:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BrendaWilliamsonRomanceParty/

Or visit her website: http://www.brendawilliamson.com

And check out her KIC serial: http://www.keepitcoming.net/dangerous-desires.html

Want to participate in this project? Email me here.
Want to post an entry from one of the journals? Email me here.

Entry: Julie Failla Earhart

2005-08-13T13:19:00.000-04:00

Julie, one of our diarists for Fronds of Thought, shares this photo with us:

Thank you! It's nice to meet you!

Featured Diarist: patgalca

2005-08-12T10:30:00.000-04:00

Patgalca, one of our diarists for Thought Waves, has a few words for us:

1. What draws you to writing in a diary?

Sometimes it is therapy for me. If I am sad or angry, it helps to get my thoughts down in writing. It's kind of a release. I also like to keep an account of what's going on in life to look back on later or for future generations.

2. Are you a life-long diarist or is it something that came along in
adulthood?

I took Creative Writing in Grade 10 in high school. Keeping a journal was a must for the course. I started then and haven't stopped. Well, perhaps I did stop for awhile because of time (raising a child on my own and working). Kind of wish I had those years written down now.

3. Do you read published journals and diariest? If so, which are your
favorites?

No, not really. Does Bridget Jones' Diary count? LOL!

4. How do you think journals can enhance or impact readers’ understanding
of history?

I think if my children were to read what I went through as a teenager or young adult, it might help them to understand some things are a part of life or, boy she had it worse than me. LOL!

5. What other interests and activities that you enjoy will you share with
us?

Writing and reading are my top interests. I used to bowl but had to stop when I became ill. If I could I would start again.

Thank you, patgalca!

Want to participate? Email me here.
Want to post an entry? Email me here.

Journal Entry -- Fronds of Thought

2005-08-09T08:55:00.000-04:00

Colin Galbraith wrote this poem especially for the journal:

Fronds of Thought

I feel it grow
inside my spine

stretch into my mind
inspiration flooding

branching out
in misty corners

leaves touching
hidden points

fronds fondling
patches of contemplation

destined to awake
reveal the depths

my inner mind
my heart and soul

in black
and white
evermore

Featured Diarist: Michelle Miles

2005-08-06T13:02:00.000-04:00

Michelle, one of our diarists on Fronds of Thought, shares some of her ideas and opinions with us:

1. What draws you the most strongly about writing romantic fantasy?

I love creating worlds and painting a picture of a place that doesn’t exist (although in my mind, it DOES exist). I’ve always had my head in the clouds and I’ve always wanted to live in a place where magic is possible. I try to steer clear of the typical fantasy elements in my fiction because I feel like they’ve been done to death. So I strive to create a vivid world full of fantastical things the reader can get lost in. I use a lot of magic, but never vampires or werewolves (I think they’re overdone).

Plus, I think there is a serious lack of romantic fantasy fiction in the marketplace. I always long to read a wonderful fantasy book with the romantic elements, where the hero and heroine fall in love. But those books are few and far between. That’s why I decided to write my own.

2. Do you feel genre lines are blurring a bit as people widen their interests, and do you think publishers should address that by loosening the often-restrictive guidelines? Do you think the guidelines can cause cookie-cutter type fiction?

Tough one!

I do think genres are starting to blur – especially with paranormals and time travels so big right now. Not to mention chick lit. I’ve read the chatter on the loops regarding what editors want (since the RWA National conference has just ended), and they want chick lit that crosses genres – paranormal chick lit; time travel chick lit, etc. – and the same goes for any other genre. Cross-overs are big and they want “high concept” ideas, too.

Editors are busy people and I think it makes sense to have the guidelines in place, but I also think there are exceptions to every rule and they are made to be broken. I think if you can tell a good story in a unique and interesting way, you can sell it. Every editor is looking for something different, something that grabs them, something with a different twist. It’s just getting past the slush that’s the trick. You have to be lucky and talented.

Cookie-cutter fiction – yes, I suppose there is that. Editors know what will sell and what won’t. They’ll stick to a concept they know will make them some money. Very rarely do they test the waters with something new. The market is flooded with Scottish paranormals, for example (don’t get me wrong, I love a good Scottish romp), but rarely do you see a good fantasy romance combining a great love story with a fantasy setting.

3. What have you found to be the upside to blogging? And, on the other hand, the downside?

The upside – Not only do I enjoy it, but I find it keeps me on track with my goals. I can write out what I want to accomplish via the blog, plus I keep the “word meter” on there so I can see my progress of the current WIP. It’s a good creative outlet for me and it keeps me motivated.

The downside – I spend too much time blogging! LOL Plus I like to tinker, so I’ll mess with the code on the blog until I get it just right (and I’m addicted to other writer’s blogs!).

4. Tell us a bit about Fiona Judd, and how you decide which “voice” tells the story -- Michelle or Fiona. Where did “Fiona” come from?

I love historicals. I had tried to write them before, years ago, and gave up. I would get stalled because I didn’t know some historical detail – clothes, hair, medicine, whatever. I gave up. But when I started writing the adventure serial (which is a time travel), I figured out how to write historical and what works for me. I find an event to “center” the story on and build from there. I decided to start a new medieval, but I wanted to keep it separate from the fantasy writing. Fiona Judd was born. Fiona Judd writes the historicals and Michelle Miles writes the fantasy.

I got the name Fiona from that silly Irish name generator on Blogthings. LOL I liked and have always liked it and kept rolling it around in my mind. The name Judd just popped into my head and it seemed to fit with Fiona, so I kept it. I knew then I could write under two different genres, using two distinct names. Sort of like JD Robb/Nora Roberts and Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley McGregor. When readers pick up a book written by Michelle Miles, they’ll know it’s a fantasy; when they pick up a book by Fiona Judd, they’ll know it’s an historical (I dream big, don’t I?).

5. How do you find your graphic skills enhance the writing, and how does the writing enhance the creation of the graphics?

Funny you should ask! Don’t tell anyone, but I create my own cover art when I start a new WIP. (grin) It gives me a visual sense of the story. I always look for some picture to keep the idea spark alive. Sometimes I’ll print it and keep it nearby when I’m writing. Other times I just save the graphic and refer to it occasionally. I wrote this morbid short story once called "Masquerade" and made this collage of masks to go along with the story. I loved that graphic. Other times, a graphic will spark the creativity and I can write from that. It’s just another creative outlet for me. But even when I’m creating graphics, I always think about the writing.

Visit Michelle Miles at
Her website: http://www.michellemiles.net
Her blog, Ye Olde Inkwell: http://www.michellemiles.net/blog
As Fiona Judd: http://www.fionajudd.net
Her action/adventure serial, The Adventures of Ransom and Fortune: http://www.keepitcoming.net/ransom-fortune.html
And
Her romance serial, Scars of Yesterday: http://www.keepitcoming.net/scars-yesterday.html

Want to participate? Email me here.
Want to post an entry? Email me here.

Featured Diarist: Angela Giles Klocke

2005-08-04T09:12:00.000-04:00

Angela Giles Klocke, one of the Thought Waves diarists, kindly granted us this mini-interview:

1. You do a lot of work with teens (Bartow Teen Connection, One YoungParent). What drew you to this and how did it become part of yourlife’s path?

I am a former teen mom, so I know how it feels to be so alone at sucha trying time. When no one understands how you feel and what you're going through, it just makes everything that much harder. I knew whenI could reach a good place in my life, I would start something to help those in my old shoes. Working with teens is the best, in my opinion. It's HARD to be a teen, frankly...caught between childhood and adulthood. And the issues flying at teens these days...scary. But I relate so well, it just makes sense, even if I'm 11 years past that time in my own life. I have a teen son, as well. There's a fine balance between being ateen's friend and being the adult, but so far, I've been doing OK, and my work just grows and gets better. I look forward to it each day.

2. Would you talk a bit about blogging for charity?

Blogathon is a 24-hour blogging event to raise money for each blogger's charity of choice. I chose a local group, the fosterchildren of Bartow County, as my charity this year, and I hope to raise more money than last year. I'll be writing for 24 hours, beginning August 6 at 9 a.m. eastern, and people can sponsor me for flat donations. All monies pledged are sent directly to the Bartow County Foster Care Silent Santa program, never to me.

3. You mentioned that you collect and adore cow-themed items. What are some of your favorites? What are some of your most unusual?

My favorite cow items are my soft cuddlies and a Mary Moo teacher knick-knack an online friend sent me once. The most unusual cow I have is probably one that, well, kind of poops jelly beans. It was a gag gift from another friend, but it's so funny. And ick. So ick it'sfunny!

4. What are some of your ideas on ways people can make a positive impact in their communities and surroundings?

Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! Open your paper. Someone needs you. Schools need adult mentors. Shelters need mentors. I currently mentor at the children's shelter. It's an awesome experience. I also volunteer, of course, with the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force and Teen Leadership Team, and the work we've done has been wonderful. You don't try to save the world; you simply try to help one at a time.

5. On a down day, what is your favorite re-motivator?

I've reached a point where I allow myself the chance to feel down without guilt. As long as I don't stay down for too long. To re-motivate myself, I get active. It's easy to sit and wallow. But getting active when you're down is very hard, yet it's the thing to doto get going. And by active, I mean, get to the shelter to mentor, o rcall a friend to encourage her, or spend time with my family.

Visit Angela Giles Klocke at http://www.angelagilesklocke.com/

and check out the Blogathon:

BLOGATHON 2005 -
Sponsor Me!
http://bartow.angelagilesklocke.com/
Total Raised: $176

Want to participate in The Thirteen Traveling Journals project? E-mail me here.
Want to post an entry from one of the journals? E-mail me here.

Featured Diarist: Angela Miller

2005-07-30T08:44:00.000-04:00

Angela Miller, one of the diarists for Tranquility Taverna, gave us this inspiring interview:

1. What psychological differences do you find in writing in a physical journal and a blog?

When I’m writing a blog entry, I know someone else will read it so I try to balance negative comments with positive ones and to use identifiers such as my sister. I’ve been told my blog is ‘too personal’ and one former reader complained she felt like she was invading my personal thoughts when she read it but I’m less open on my blog than I am in my physical journal.
I also avoid using the blog as a place to write down story ideas. Some things are too personal to put on the internet.

2. In your blog, Introspection, you talk a lot about your wonderful, insightful children. How do your children inspire your writing?

It’s fascinating to watch my daughters interact with each other and with the world around them. They’re always calling attention to different things. One might point out a tiny purple flower while another calls my attention to an ant parade and the third wants to be sure I see the squirrel in the tree. They remind me to pay attention to details and demonstrate how strong sibling bonds can be despite different personalities. Those things come through in my writing. The girls are fun to brainstorm with, too. I give them a basic idea and sit back while they spin
tales for me. Their enthusiasm ignites my own and many times a word they use sparks pages of notes for a future story.

3. You’re an Angel to several soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. How did you get involved in that? How does your work as a writer help in your
support of the troops?

All my life I’ve listened to two of my uncles and my father talk about Vietnam. Every time they mentioned the war, they talked about how much a letter from home meant to them. Each one of them would name a comrade who never got mail from home and ‘just gave up.’ My uncle once talked candidly about feeling like nobody cared if too much time passed without a letter from
home. As soon as troops deployed to those areas, I knew I wanted to do something. I believe we should all do what we can and that we all can do something to make this world a better place. I found an excellent site for one time support ( http://anysoldier.com/ ) but I wanted to provide ongoing support so I kept looking. I admit I had a list of requirements for the org so it took a while to find what I wanted. I’ve been with Angels ‘n Camouflage (http://www.angelsncamouflage.org/new.html ) since last August. I can’t say enough good things about the organization or the other angels involved. The organization was started for veterans and expanded to include deployed service members, then veterans incarcerated and most recently made public a willingness to provide ‘adoptions’ for troops from the UK and Canada (where there aren’t any soldier support programs). I’m an angel to four veterans, three of them incarcerated, through Angels 'n Camouflage, too. As an angel, I write weekly letters to my ‘adoptees.’ People usually ask, “What do you write about?” Anything, everything and nothing at all once. Really. I don’t hear from most of my adoptees and don’t expect them to write but I never run out of things to put in the letters. I think that comes from being a
writer and finding inspiration in the smallest things. Out of the six soldiers I’ve supported during the past year, one has been in touch with me. It’s easier to write letters to her now but it’s never hard to write ‘my guys.’ I’ve described the view from my window just as spring crept across the Earth. I’ve written about things I did as a child like the table I built for a Girl Scout project and nicknamed “The Wobbler.” I’ve filled pages with writing updates or silly stories about my kids and, of course, I make sure each letter carries a message of appreciation for
all they’re doing (or have done in the case of my veterans). Each letter is written with the knowledge I may never hear from the soldier whose name appears at the top of the page. I like to think the letter makes them smile and that’s what being an angel is all about for me.

4. Was there a specific inspiration for your romance serial, When Fate Steps In? Would you share that with us?

While looking at pictures from a trip my husband and I took to Gatlingburg, TN I started thinking about what might have happened if the cabin we rented hadn’t been available that weekend or if it had been double-booked. The next thing I knew, I had written a couple thousand words of a story that continues to surprise me more than 400 pages later.

5. What advice do you have for women balancing writing and families, who worry that personal fulfillment takes away from their families?

I don’t know if I have any great advice but I do have a story to share. For five years, I devoted myself to being the best wife and mother in the world. I paid a high price for that. I didn’t even make time to read a book for my own pleasure and I certainly didn’t write. Most of my friends drifted out of my life and I started to depend on my husband more than ever. My increased dependence frustrated him and created more tension in an already difficult situation. The more I depended on him, the more he pulled away from me. He started to lose respect for me, my self-confidence plummeted and we quarreled often. My family took advantage of me because I didn’t have enough self-confidence to tell them no when they asked me to do something for them. One day, during a pity party, I got a glimpse of my future and what I saw left me
shaken. I saw my mother! From the moment she had her first child at 17, my mother devoted herself to her family. I never knew her to have a friend or a hobby. She wouldn’t even put together a jigsaw puzzle unless one of her kids was doing it with her. At almost 50, Mother is one of the most unpleasant people I know. She’s angry, bitter and her self-worth is still tied
to her children. I make up things for her to do at my house because she needs to be needed. The more I thought about it the more women like my mother I identified, women who gave up their identities when they married and had children and are now looking back at lives filled with regret. When I realized I was doing the same thing my mother and others had done, I started making changes. My self-confidence has soared and I’m happier now than I have been in a long time. It hasn’t been easy to get to this point and I’m still having to remind people about the boundaries. I won’t go back to the woman I was for anything. My daughters see a woman with her own interests and dreams, a woman excited about the future. They think a woman can do
anything she sets her mind to. I can live with that.

Thank you, Angela! Visit her blog, Introspection, and her serial, When Fate Steps In.

Want to participate? Email me here.
Want to post an entry? Send it to me here.

Featured Diarist: pattierwr

2005-07-29T10:36:00.000-04:00

Pattierwr, who is one of the diarists for Thought Waves, was kind enough to do the following interview:

1. I was impressed by the letter you wrote to Waterbrook Press, pointing out the need for a reprint of Jen Abbas’s book Generation EX: Adult Children of Divorce and the Healing of Our Pain. How do you think we, as individuals, can encourage that kind of social responsibility?

I don’t think I was truly involved in anything that could be described as socially active (outside of voting and giving blood) until the mid-90s. There was an issue in the state where we lived that had to do with education, and I started writing letters to my senator and state representatives. I just never stopped after that.

The situation you mentioned, regarding this book, is an interesting one. I had read the author’s blog and she had written about the possibility of her book not being reprinted. Being an adult child of divorce is an issue close to my heart. After I wrote to the author, she asked me if I’d be willing to write to the publisher, telling them what I’d told her. Even if the publisher doesn’t respond, they have my opinion in writing. I took a stand, and it felt good. I encouraged others to do the same, and it felt even better when others followed my lead.

I was taught, growing up, that if you don’t do something, you have no right to complain. There’s truth in that. If a person is unhappy with a situation, it is up to her to do something to make it right. Complaining may help her vent and get something off her mind, but if it isn’t followed by action, it’s just griping. I have taught my students that throughout the years, and I am teaching this to my two young daughters as well.

2. How did you become a community leader for iVillage’s Journal Board?

Last summer, I was searching iVillage boards for something about journaling, and I happened upon the board. I’d been a member of iVillage for many years, but with teaching full-time, I hadn’t had time to be involved. I sent in my Community Leader (CL) application and almost immediately heard back from one of the community moderators. I answered the questions they asked, and within a few days I was placed in the Journaling board as co-CL. A couple of months later, the other CL resigned and I became the only CL on the board. I felt funny about it because I was so new to the whole process, but it has worked out well. I love journaling and everything about it. I think it is a great way I can be involved in an online community promoting something I love.

3. What do you do when you feel overcommitted in your life? How do you decompress?

I suppose overindulging in chocolate and coffee isn’t the response you’re wanting? (Ha ha!) It’s funny you should ask this question, because I am struggling with overcommitment right now. Last spring I left teaching to stay at home with my youngest daughter in her last year before kindergarten, and I wanted to squeeze in as much volunteering and other activities as I could. I have found, however, that I have taken on too many responsibilities. Fortunately, many of the time-consuming ones are ending soon. I am learning to choose more wisely where I spend my time and energy.

When I need to decompress, I write in my journal. Writing always helps me feel better. I sometimes blog about some things that are bugging me, but the really personal things remain in my handwritten journal. I talk things over with my friends, too. Depending on the perspective I need, I will also talk to my husband, my mom, and/or my sister. Each of them has a different view of me, and they can help me see myself more objectively.

4. What is your favorite thing about teaching?

I think my favorite thing about teaching is connecting with students as writers. Sometimes I think of myself more as a writing coach than teacher. I much prefer guiding students into better writing, rather than standing at the front of the room, lecturing and saying, “This is wrong.”
At its best, teaching energizes and invigorates me. At its worst, it drains me. I am thankful I had this past year off from teaching (after almost ten years in the classroom), but I am also excited about my new venture as part-time instructor of English Composition at our local university.

5. Describe how writing with your favorite pen (you mention in your blog that you have a collection of pens) affects your writing.

Oh, I have so many pens that I am constantly discovering new ones I forgot I had! I was at the office supply store with my husband the other day, and he had a new package of pens in his hand. He sheepishly said, “I have a weakness for pens.” I laughed and said, “Oh, so do I!” Different colors, styles, and even free ones fill the pen mugs on my desk.

Different pens give me different handwriting and in a way, a different way to write. When I write with a ballpoint, for example, I tend to be neater, as if I were in school. I am more careful with my words. When I use a liquid gel pen, my writing is faster, but less neat. Fast pens are great for high-speed venting. I have found the “perfect” pen in a particular roller ball, which I find works best for journaling: the perfect mix of speed and neatness.

Oh, and I rarely grade papers using red ink! I prefer green or purple.

Thank you so much, pattie! Visit her site, Pattie's Place.

Tranquility Taverna Entry From Eileen

2005-07-28T11:37:00.000-04:00

July 24, 2005

The Chinese characters on the cover of the “Tranquility Taverna” journal that I am contributing to represent tranquility, clarity and harmony. It is possible that Chinese characters appeared as early as 8,000 years ago.

The character tranquility can be translated into one who is unaffected by disturbance. As early as 3,000 BC, courtyards were designed and built to offer Chinese families a private place for rest and rejuvenation. Without tranquility, we experience chaos and violence.

The character for clarity is qing, and can have different connotations, depending on other characters that it is used in combination with. This character is also related to the heart sutra in that the individual who has obtained clarity has gone beyond and is enlightened. Conversely, without clarity, one lives in a haze of unclearness. Thoughts and feelings can be obscure, distorted.

The character for harmony represents agreement. When you have harmonious relations with others, daily life can become less stressful and more peaceful. Alternatively, when we have disagreement and dissonance, life presents greater difficulties.

These characters speak to me on a personal and a global level. We live in a fast-paced world. Chaotic events, whether they are natural disasters, famine or war affect all of us. The challenge for peace loving individuals is to work fro the aspects of tranquility, clarity and harmony in our own lives, and then from a place of being centered, tranquil and clear we are better positioned to work towards peace and harmony in the world.

From the Tao Te Ching:

Intelligent people know others.
Enlightened people know themselves.

You can conquer others with power,
But it takes true strength to conquer yourself.

Ambitious people force their will on others,
But content people are already wealthy.

Featured Diarist: Sharron

2005-07-25T09:09:00.000-04:00

Sharron, who is one of the diarists for Thought Waves, was kind enough to answer a few questions.

1. The photos on your website for your Bed and Breakfast are beautiful. What made you decide to run a bed and breakfast, and what made you choose the area you chose?

Thank you! Our first Bed and Breakfast experience was when we were in Mendocino, California over 20 years ago. We stayed in a beautiful character home there and loved it. We talked often after that great experience about how much fun it would be to run a bed and breakfast one day. Finally the opportunity arrived after a young friend of ours asked if she could help us fix up our workshop and then rent it from us. She helped insulate and add on a bathroom and then to her surprise and ours, a man entered her life and she no longer needed to rent our little cabin. So we proceeded to finish it and set it up as a Bed and Breakfast. We chose our acreage over thirty years ago, dreaming the self sufficiency dream of the seventies, so a bed and breakfast just fit in as yet another way to stay home and make a living. Nothing is more satisfying then having a dream and making it come true.

2. Running a B&B is time-consuming, not to mention all the wonderful guardianship you obviously do with your property. Yet you write poetry and your husband paints. How do you keep it all in balance?

Balance, what's balance? ;-) Neither of us are very balanced so our lifestyle fits in fine with our philosophy and outlook on life: Do the best with what you have and share it with others when you can. Keeping up the garden and yard gives us pleasure but there is even more incentive to keep it up when we can share it with others. We are basically lazy gardeners, weeds and dandelions are just as beautiful to us as planted flowers and we do not use chemicals on our land so bugs and slugs are welcome too. Not to mention nibbling deer and marauding squirrels.

We both seem to go through phases of creativity and then phases of being lazy and just maintaining until another wave hits and off we go, writing, painting, taking photographs, crocheting pretty and useful things, making jam and jelly, renovating our house or making new trails through our woods. We love where we are and what we do so there is always something to be immersed in. I guess that is one quirk of both our natures, we feel we are playing in the woods or garden rather than working. We perceive serving our guests as a gift of something valuable we have to give, rather than work. We believe each person who finds us and visits us is part of our life for a day or two and we enjoy watching the tight lines on their faces relax and the smiles loosen up as they breath our clean air and unwind under our care.

3. If there was one thing you could change about your life now, what would it be?

My husband says, high speed internet, which isn't available to us yet. ;-)
We really do love our life right now. My daughters are grown and in happy relationships; our six grandchildren are great fun to have visit and watch grow and learn from. Sometimes we get the urge to head further into the bush as development gets closer to us, but then again we think we'll stay here till we die. I guess change will happen and we'll change with it but for now, we are content.

4. If there was one thing you could change about the world now, what would it be?

Now that is another story. Our world, as in nature, is the most beautiful place I could imagine and yet we who live here take it for granted and abuse what has been given to us to enjoy. If I had the power to change anything other than myself, I would open the eyes of every person in North America so that what they look at daily would be filtered through the eyes of someone who has never seen what we take for granted. I would pour wonder into them again and gratitude and I would figure out a way we who have so much could share it with those who have so little. I would pick up and hug every unloved and uncared for child and hand them to someone with empty arms desperate to hold the heart of a child. I would find a way to stop wanton waste when so many are in need. I would pray for those who have so much and are yet so unhappy and I would put an end to greediness and hatred. Oops, I see you said 'one thing' ! There is so much that needs to be changed in our world, but all I can do is change myself and I work on that every day of my life. I ask myself why I think I need another pair of shoes when I can only wear one pair at a time, why do I think I deserve more food than I need three times a day, what can I give to someone else today that would make their day better, that's all I have the power to do.

5. Where do you go on vacation (if you ever actually get one)?

Our life is a vacation. We live where people pay to come. We don't really feel like we have to vacate our life in order to appreciate it when we get back. BUT - we have a dream - which we hope to make come true next year. We want to drive across Canada, see our country from coast to coast. We want to see and experience Canada and we have come to realize if we are ever going to do it, we need to do it now. So that will be our adventure. I guess it will be our vacation. But we aren't vacating so much as expanding our life. We do take time off from play to explore our coast by kayak whenever the weather is suitable. Ken takes photos on our excursions to use as subjects to paint or make cards from.

Thank you Sharron!

See her B&B homepage at: www.hardtocomeby.com