I got accepted into the weeklong writer's conference that I wanted to attend. Only 10 or less people are chosen to attend any one workshop (there are six offered the first week when I'm attending) so I feel very honored (though I believed I would be selected).
I did not, however, get my first choice-- the fiction workshop. I will be in the memoir workshop.
So my stay in San Francisco will be extended. I will go there to read for Juneteenth (that should be on a Saturday) and then Sunday I'll move onto the University of San Francisco and hang out for a week. Yay!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Seriously?
Why don't the writers of the guidelines for some magazines know the difference between simultaneous and multiple submissions??????
Sometimes when I read the guidelines and see that whoever wrote them obviously doesn't know that simultaneous means I send my ONE story to 45 magazines; multiple submissions means I send my 45 stories to just you Mr. Fiction Editor, to just your ONE magazine, sometimes I wonder if I really want to be in that publication at all. . .
Sometimes when I read the guidelines and see that whoever wrote them obviously doesn't know that simultaneous means I send my ONE story to 45 magazines; multiple submissions means I send my 45 stories to just you Mr. Fiction Editor, to just your ONE magazine, sometimes I wonder if I really want to be in that publication at all. . .
National Poetry Month
One of my favs:
The Road Not Taken -- Robert Frost
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
The Road Not Taken -- Robert Frost
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
National Poetry Month
Grace by Forrest Hamer
This air is flooded with her. I am a boy again, and my mother
and I lie on wet grass, laughing. She startles, turns to
marigolds at my side, saying beautiful, and I can see the red
there is in them.
When she would fall into her thoughts, we'd look for what
distracted her from us.
My mother's gone again as suddenly as ever and, seven months
after the funeral, I go dancing. I am becoming grateful.
Breathing, thinking, marigolds.
This air is flooded with her. I am a boy again, and my mother
and I lie on wet grass, laughing. She startles, turns to
marigolds at my side, saying beautiful, and I can see the red
there is in them.
When she would fall into her thoughts, we'd look for what
distracted her from us.
My mother's gone again as suddenly as ever and, seven months
after the funeral, I go dancing. I am becoming grateful.
Breathing, thinking, marigolds.
Lesson in Love #3
I was having an especially bad day, some somber news from home about my mother. At work, a man I usually have very animated conversations with, noticed that there was something amiss.
My first response was to brush it off, to tell him that it was nothing, that something that had my mind preoccupied ('cause when we ask someone 'how are you?' do we *really* care?) then I decided to be honest and I told him (briefly) my distraction. Much to my surprise, Donnie chose to be present with me and he expressed his sorrow and concern.
He and some buddies come into the restaurant to have coffee in the morning and then return for coffee in the afternoon. When he returned after lunch, he said he wanted to give me something, in hopes that I might feel better and he went on to sing "Diary" by Bread.
How did he know I loved that David Gates song!
I smiled, tears coming to my eyes. He had made me feel so much better.
Love is wonderful when it's given; so much sweeter when it's received.
My first response was to brush it off, to tell him that it was nothing, that something that had my mind preoccupied ('cause when we ask someone 'how are you?' do we *really* care?) then I decided to be honest and I told him (briefly) my distraction. Much to my surprise, Donnie chose to be present with me and he expressed his sorrow and concern.
He and some buddies come into the restaurant to have coffee in the morning and then return for coffee in the afternoon. When he returned after lunch, he said he wanted to give me something, in hopes that I might feel better and he went on to sing "Diary" by Bread.
How did he know I loved that David Gates song!
I smiled, tears coming to my eyes. He had made me feel so much better.
Love is wonderful when it's given; so much sweeter when it's received.
Friday, April 24, 2009
so cute
I love pigs(preferably in strips next to some scrambled eggs) and I collect pig stuff. This pic is too cute!
and I can't credit the photographer 'cause I don't know who he/she is or I would 'cause that's the proper thing to to. Snagged it off the Yahoo page, though.
I'm soooo in love
Haved enjoyed him in his six-episode stint on The Office. Sadly I think it ended with last night's episode (which was hilarious). He is uber-yummy-sexy!
No, I will not see him in his big-screen movie that opens tonight 'cause I'm not fan of the singer-who-thinks--she-can-act who co-produced and co-starred. I sat through "Dreamgirls" but I will NEVER sit through another film with her in it!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I made the wrong choice
except for one particular, I think I should have chosen the $49 apartment special.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Reality vs live vs Life
So there's much being made about the 12-year old on "Britain's Got Talent." Someone wrote on a comment section of an article that Simon Cowell had tried to manipulate things so this young man beats out Susan Boyle. (He stopped the kid from singing one song and they put on another recording, which this person felt was unfair.)
Uhmmmm. . .
This show is not live. It is a reality show and therefore is edited and don't think that the judges don't know what's going on /what's going to happen.
It's not LIVE TV where anything could happen just keep rollin' the cameras.
And, it is not LIFE. Don't get so concerned about the contestants. Put that same energy, passion and concern into your own self, dear commenter.
Uhmmmm. . .
This show is not live. It is a reality show and therefore is edited and don't think that the judges don't know what's going on /what's going to happen.
It's not LIVE TV where anything could happen just keep rollin' the cameras.
And, it is not LIFE. Don't get so concerned about the contestants. Put that same energy, passion and concern into your own self, dear commenter.
National Poetry Month
Grandfather Says
"Sit in my hand."
I'm ten.
I can't see him,
but I hear him breathing
in the dark.
It's after dinner playtime.
We're outside,
hidden by trees and shrubbery.
He calls it hide-and-seek,
but only my little sister seeks us
as we hide
and she can't find us,
as grandfather picks me up
and rubs his hands between my legs.
I only feel a vague stirring
at the edge of my consciousness.
I don't know what it is,
but I like it.
It gives me pleasure
that I can't identify.
It's not like eating candy,
but it's just as bad,
because I had to lie to grandmother
when she asked,
"What do you do out there?"
"Where?" I answered.
Then I said, "Oh, play hide-and-seek."
She looked hard at me,
then she said, "That was the last time.
I'm stopping that game."
So it ended and I forgot.
Ten years passed, thirtyfive,
when I began to reconstruct the past.
When I asked myself
why I was attracted to men who disgusted me
I traveled back through time
to the dark and heavy breathing part of my life
I thought was gone,
but it had only sunk from view
into the quicksand of my mind.
It was pulling me down
and there I found grandfather waiting,
his hand outstretched to lift me up,
naked and wet
where he rubbed me.
"I'll do anything for you," he whispered,
"but let you go."
And I cried, "Yes," then "No."
"I don't understand how you can do this to me.
I'm only ten years old,"
and he said, "That's old enough to know."
Ai
"Sit in my hand."
I'm ten.
I can't see him,
but I hear him breathing
in the dark.
It's after dinner playtime.
We're outside,
hidden by trees and shrubbery.
He calls it hide-and-seek,
but only my little sister seeks us
as we hide
and she can't find us,
as grandfather picks me up
and rubs his hands between my legs.
I only feel a vague stirring
at the edge of my consciousness.
I don't know what it is,
but I like it.
It gives me pleasure
that I can't identify.
It's not like eating candy,
but it's just as bad,
because I had to lie to grandmother
when she asked,
"What do you do out there?"
"Where?" I answered.
Then I said, "Oh, play hide-and-seek."
She looked hard at me,
then she said, "That was the last time.
I'm stopping that game."
So it ended and I forgot.
Ten years passed, thirtyfive,
when I began to reconstruct the past.
When I asked myself
why I was attracted to men who disgusted me
I traveled back through time
to the dark and heavy breathing part of my life
I thought was gone,
but it had only sunk from view
into the quicksand of my mind.
It was pulling me down
and there I found grandfather waiting,
his hand outstretched to lift me up,
naked and wet
where he rubbed me.
"I'll do anything for you," he whispered,
"but let you go."
And I cried, "Yes," then "No."
"I don't understand how you can do this to me.
I'm only ten years old,"
and he said, "That's old enough to know."
Ai
It's not over yet
Here is a note from Talia.
Please continue to support her! I've read the excerpt and though I haven't yet a chance to post a review, I'm going to try to get to it. But don't be like me; go the distance. Trust me-- her writing ROCKS!
--------
New York, April 15, 2009
Out of close to 10,000 entries, my yet-unpublished novel JERUSALEM MAIDEN has now made it to the semi-finals in Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. The selection was made solely upon Publishers' Weekly review combined with Amazon's experts' reviews.
Thank you all who have read the excerpt and reviewed it on Amazon. Your reviews will now play an important role as Penguin's editors are reading the semi-finalists to determine the top 3 finalists. Customers' reviews is one of the three criteria they use.
That also mean that the race for more reviews is far from being over. If you have not yet read the excerpt, please do so, and, since you've had a good reading experience, please tell your reading friends about it. The direct link is:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UG3AOG .
Set in the early 1900s in Jerusalem, JERUSALEM MAIDEN is the story of Esther, a young woman destined to be married in order to hasten the messiah's arrival, when she discovers her talent for art. However, visual expression is against the Second Commandment, “though shalt not make any graven image,” and thus begins Esther's struggle between her yearning for individuality and the demands of her society's religious dictates.
Thanks a million for your support!
Warmest regards,
Talia Carner
Author, Puppet Child & China Doll
www.TaliaCarner.com
Please continue to support her! I've read the excerpt and though I haven't yet a chance to post a review, I'm going to try to get to it. But don't be like me; go the distance. Trust me-- her writing ROCKS!
--------
New York, April 15, 2009
Out of close to 10,000 entries, my yet-unpublished novel JERUSALEM MAIDEN has now made it to the semi-finals in Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. The selection was made solely upon Publishers' Weekly review combined with Amazon's experts' reviews.
Thank you all who have read the excerpt and reviewed it on Amazon. Your reviews will now play an important role as Penguin's editors are reading the semi-finalists to determine the top 3 finalists. Customers' reviews is one of the three criteria they use.
That also mean that the race for more reviews is far from being over. If you have not yet read the excerpt, please do so, and, since you've had a good reading experience, please tell your reading friends about it. The direct link is:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UG3AOG .
Set in the early 1900s in Jerusalem, JERUSALEM MAIDEN is the story of Esther, a young woman destined to be married in order to hasten the messiah's arrival, when she discovers her talent for art. However, visual expression is against the Second Commandment, “though shalt not make any graven image,” and thus begins Esther's struggle between her yearning for individuality and the demands of her society's religious dictates.
Thanks a million for your support!
Warmest regards,
Talia Carner
Author, Puppet Child & China Doll
www.TaliaCarner.com
Sunday, April 19, 2009
It's raining, the Doobie Brothers are singing "Jesus is Just Alright," I'm terribly happy and it's still National Poetry Month
Tell Me a Story by Robert Penn Warren
Long ago, in Kentucky, I, a boy, stood
By a dirt road, in first dark, and heard
The great geese hoot northward.
I could not see them, there being no moon
And the stars sparse.I heard them.
I did not know what was happening in my heart.
It was the season before the elderberry blooms,
Therefore they were going north.
The sound was passing northward.
Long ago, in Kentucky, I, a boy, stood
By a dirt road, in first dark, and heard
The great geese hoot northward.
I could not see them, there being no moon
And the stars sparse.I heard them.
I did not know what was happening in my heart.
It was the season before the elderberry blooms,
Therefore they were going north.
The sound was passing northward.
Maybe the Yankees should spend all that ca$h they got
on some brains.
'cause something just ain't working;-)
not that I'm complaining 'cause if they sat out another World Series, yay!
'cause something just ain't working;-)
not that I'm complaining 'cause if they sat out another World Series, yay!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Susan Boyle
The lesson remains-- what a person looks like says little about who they are, what gifts they possess, what lessons they could teach us.
(yes, grammatically incorrect --singular noun/plural pronoun, but that's okay for the sake of this post.)
(yes, grammatically incorrect --singular noun/plural pronoun, but that's okay for the sake of this post.)
naked cheerleader coach
So somewhere in America, a cheerleading coach got fired because she'd posed for Playboy. Don't know if if was pre-coaching days or post-, still some girls who didn't make the team were instrumental in "exposing" her. Hell hath no fury as a wanna-be cheerleader who doesn't make the squad!
There are cheerleader moms in an uproar --the boys on the football team have probably seen the cheerleading coach!!-- but guess what Mommy, the boys on the football team have probably seen your little Becky sans clothing via a text.
There are cheerleader moms in an uproar --the boys on the football team have probably seen the cheerleading coach!!-- but guess what Mommy, the boys on the football team have probably seen your little Becky sans clothing via a text.
Monday, April 13, 2009
National Poetry Month
Lyn Lifshin.
An amazing talent. If there is a magazine that publishes poetry that has not published a work by her, please let me know 'cause it is probably a new publication or a rarity 'cause that wonderful poet, it seems, has been published everywhere.
I discovered her when I worked at a library. Found chapbooks hidden in the "forgotten" stacks in the periodical section and one book was sooo amazing I had to steal it. Have it still this day.
I love Lyn Lifshin.
An amazing talent. If there is a magazine that publishes poetry that has not published a work by her, please let me know 'cause it is probably a new publication or a rarity 'cause that wonderful poet, it seems, has been published everywhere.
I discovered her when I worked at a library. Found chapbooks hidden in the "forgotten" stacks in the periodical section and one book was sooo amazing I had to steal it. Have it still this day.
I love Lyn Lifshin.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
National Poetry Month
We Real Cool
The Pool Players.
Seven at the Golden Shovel.
=
We real cool. We
Left school. We
Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We
Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We
Jazz June. We
Die soon.
Gwendolyn Brooks, “We Real Cool” from Selected Poems. Copyright © 1963 by Gwendolyn Brooks.
The Pool Players.
Seven at the Golden Shovel.
=
We real cool. We
Left school. We
Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We
Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We
Jazz June. We
Die soon.
Gwendolyn Brooks, “We Real Cool” from Selected Poems. Copyright © 1963 by Gwendolyn Brooks.
Friday, April 10, 2009
June is pretty full
I hope to reading in LA on the 6th, I will read in San Antonio and possibly speak or conduct a workshop at a conference on the 13th/14th and then the next weekend I'll be in San Francisco to read at a Juneteenth celebration and then the last week I hope to be at that writing conference.
Unsure if I'm going to leave Tn and travel or if I will be heading out completely. Like everything else, we will wait and see.
Unsure if I'm going to leave Tn and travel or if I will be heading out completely. Like everything else, we will wait and see.
a freak accident gets me a trip to the emergency for some stitches
but the doctor ends up doing the staple thing so I'm forced to return to the hospital 'cause my blood pressure was crazy crazy and they want to check it out again when I return to have the staple removed.
I've never had stitches, well only in connection with childbirth but we won't discuss that;-). Glue was also an option. Probably wasn't gonna be Elmer's. Getting stapled was weird and it looks weird but that's better than gaping and bleeding.
I've never had stitches, well only in connection with childbirth but we won't discuss that;-). Glue was also an option. Probably wasn't gonna be Elmer's. Getting stapled was weird and it looks weird but that's better than gaping and bleeding.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Three things you didn't know about Gwendolyn Mintz
Did you know that Gwendolyn Mintz...
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- Translates to the number 3 in numerology
- Has the Sabre-toothed Tiger as their Power Animal
- Shares their name with a guesstimated 5 Americans?
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Poetry quote for 4/1/09
Poetry is the music of the soul, and, above all, of great and feeling souls.
--Voltaire
--Voltaire
Quote for 4/1/09
You and I will meet again, When we're least expecting it, One day in some far off place, I will recognize your face, I won't say goodbye my friend, For you and I will meet again
--Tom Petty
--Tom Petty
This post belongs on the teddy bear blog
but I'm too lazy to sign out and resign in under another user.
I've got to run to Hobby Lobby really quick and then get back here and make my orders. I can't believe and I can believe that I'm headed where I want to go!!!!!!!!!!!
No fears, no holding back. I'm just ready to do this.
I've got to run to Hobby Lobby really quick and then get back here and make my orders. I can't believe and I can believe that I'm headed where I want to go!!!!!!!!!!!
No fears, no holding back. I'm just ready to do this.
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