tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60812261864866463782024-03-13T22:41:56.762-07:00Madeleine's Writing WorldA blog about writing. My experiences, plus guest writers.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-53603555518583089322016-12-29T14:20:00.003-08:002016-12-29T14:20:57.175-08:00Boy's Own<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSuBzC22QMQ/WGWKnFgrksI/AAAAAAAAAHI/vp-gvkdyu5oqenPsPOXJJSaYBVMdgd7FwCLcB/s1600/TMCB%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSuBzC22QMQ/WGWKnFgrksI/AAAAAAAAAHI/vp-gvkdyu5oqenPsPOXJJSaYBVMdgd7FwCLcB/s320/TMCB%2B1.jpg" width="111" height="320" /></a></div>
A lot of my characters are young boys. In The Mountain City Bronzes, Kevin and his father tell their stories as children. In Beggar Charlie, Charlie tells of him and two other boys trying to find their way home. The story I'm working on presently is titled, The Last Words Of Edward Broome. In it, Albert tells his story. None of these boys are over fourteen.
Yes, I'll answer the question before the answer, it is hard to get into an adolescents minds. I am, after all, a fifty-seven year old woman. So I have to do a lot of remembering to the past when I was in school. What their interests were and such. Also, a lot of research into the past, the seventies in the first story, Victorian age in the second and the turn of the last century for my newest.
That being said, if you want a challenge, try writing from a point of view that may not be the most natural for you. It's fun and it also teaches you as a writer to be open to other's thoughts.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-38052280210867868572016-11-12T20:10:00.000-08:002016-11-12T20:10:59.116-08:00What's In A Name? Your Character TraitsWhen writing fiction, it is important to choose names well. All writers are taught not to make two names alike, (unless it's part of the story). The name must fit the character and sound well when read out loud. A character named, John Smith, say, would have to at some point in the story, explain why that is his name. This is so the reader doesn't get frustrated with the cliche moniker. It would have to be a plot point.
I fully believe that a character's name has to be part of the story, not just tacked on because you don't want to think of anything better.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQ17ATiAodg/WCfmLtKQwcI/AAAAAAAAAG0/u2ddGwqMi0odeE_qzE9xMT43h4mykmVPgCLcB/s1600/Beggar%2BCharlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UQ17ATiAodg/WCfmLtKQwcI/AAAAAAAAAG0/u2ddGwqMi0odeE_qzE9xMT43h4mykmVPgCLcB/s320/Beggar%2BCharlie.jpg" width="213" height="320" /></a></div>
Now, in Beggar Charlie, I chose an everyday English name, Charlie. Not Charles, which, to me, denotes a grown man. Hickory Dick was another name. Dick, plain English again to ground them in their English character, two boys lost in China, where not even their names belong. Tang, of course, was the Chinese boy who helps them.
But any story or novel a writer begins must start with him/her naming his/her characters.
Think of your story and you will get the name.
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beggar-Charlie-Madeleine-McLaughlin-ebook/dp/B00KXH9F60/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479010170&sr=1-1&keywords=beggar+charlie"></a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-80205313480525678582016-10-12T10:46:00.001-07:002016-10-12T10:46:35.174-07:00Beggar Charlie
Writing for tweens is unlike writing for any other age group. The thing is, tweens like action. That's true in movies as well as books.
So I had a challenge when writing Beggar Charlie, my tween adventure. I had to keep thinking, action, action, action. Also, I wanted it to be interesting for young readers. So the setting I chose was China in the 19th century. My reason was that western children don't know much about the subject and it might possibly interest them.
I have read about China and Victorian Britain for years and thought there was a good story in it. My first choice, the easiest one was my main character, Beggar Charlie. I felt that the quintessential Victorian British character is an orphan. So Charlie became an orphan.
I added a character that had been in 19th century America and thought I had a winning concept. Being a lover of history, every place in the world is of interest to me.
So I'm happy with my first published tween adventure. It did, after all, become a Wishing Shelf Book Award finalist.
If you're thinking of writing your own book for tweens, just remember action, and whatever age group you're writing for, you must know the kind of things they look for in their reading. That is also advice for genre, too. Look at your target audience.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zZ_wJDRxkI/V_515PDDyGI/AAAAAAAAAGY/7L6TPz-iwIo-l0SC5R2RUwzKP43juH5jACLcB/s1600/Beggar%2BCharlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9zZ_wJDRxkI/V_515PDDyGI/AAAAAAAAAGY/7L6TPz-iwIo-l0SC5R2RUwzKP43juH5jACLcB/s320/Beggar%2BCharlie.jpg" width="213" height="320" /></a></div>
BOOK LINKS
Amazon.com <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beggar-Charlie-Madeleine-McLaughlin-ebook/dp/B00KXH9F60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476294196&sr=8-1&keywords=beggar+charlie"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-7250828049579633292016-05-17T16:30:00.001-07:002016-05-17T16:30:38.735-07:00SorrySorry for not posting for awhile. I have been very busy. Just to let you know what I've been doing. I was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Awards and got a certificate. I was very happy with that. And I have been to the SCBWI conference here in Ottawa, ON.
The conference was great, there was an agent, an illustrator and three publishers. Each gave a talk and were very entertaining. Oh, did I mention that there were two authors, yes, Ruth Ohi and another lady gave quite enthusiastic talks. I was so ramped up during the conference that I wanted to grab the publishers and yell, "Listen to my ideas!" But I didn't.
The first morning was a Saturday. There was a steampunk party on Friday but I didn't go. I was up at three in the morning because I was so excited. I was there early, about seven o'clock. It began at eight-thirty but we needed to be there at eight. So I was early and watched the television in the lobby of the hotel, Albert at Bay.
By the way, everyone reported that their rooms, about $130.00 per night were superb. So if you're thinking of coming to Ottawa, ON you might want to take a look at that hotel.
Anyway, I watched Dr. Seuss cartoons with the Cat In The Hat. Before that day, I had not known there were such cartoons. The front desk clerk then turned on the news.
We all got our nametags and folders and coffee. Then we went in and listened to the speakers until noon. Then a catered lunch. Not bad.
Fortunately our big room could be partitioned so we each, Picture Book, Novel and Illustrators had their own space. I did not hear the novel and illustrator talks, just the picture books. It was money worth spent. I had a one on one critique with Ruth Ohi, who totally put her finger on what was wrong with it. I have re-written it completely.
On the second day it was warmer. But still, I wore a sweatshirt because it had been so cold the first day. It was a lot warmer and I felt so out of place with everyone else in nice clothes. If I could have hid, I would have.
Anyway, I was there at seven o'clock again, only to find that on Sunday the conference didn't start until nine. Oh my.
Around eight a couple of other people walked out to get breakfast. I decided to get some toast so I went out the back door to the same restaurant where they asked me to join them.
They were from North Bay, ON and were so nice. I bought a book from Heather Stemp called Amelia and Me, about her grandfather's sister who met Amelia Earhart. Great book. If you're looking for YA or Tween, try it.
They were so nice that Mr. Stemp paid for my toast and coffee.
Inside, when we got back, the room was full. We listened again, the whole room, to an agent, then we had pitch crits, where authors had sent in pitches for stories and the panel, all the publishers and the agent, gave us clues on how to improve our sales pitch and stories.
I forgot to mention that Karen Krossing got a Crystal Kite Award for Bog, her YA/Tween novel about trolls.
At noon, lunch. The food was not that good but it was adequate. After, I listened to the closing remarks, then because I was not signed up for a critique group, I went home. Great weekend.
Anyway, I hope you'll forgive me for not posting there were other things going on, too and maybe next time I post, I'll tell you about them.
CheersAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-42209862950805008182016-03-11T11:39:00.001-08:002016-03-11T11:39:19.680-08:00A Native ConspiracyIn the nineties, when I took to researching and history reading, I found myself drawn to the history of North, Central and South American. Most specifically, the native peoples, who they were and how their stories played out.
I found this most interesting and after reading quite a few books I decided to check the newspapers at the National Archives to see what they reported on the subject at the time that events happened.
I went to the oldest newspaper they had, a microfilm, actually, it was from the USA before it was USA. The date was in the 1600s on the east coast.
At that time, the Cherokees lived in the east and were trying to get along with the white people in their midst.
However, up north, in what is now southern Ontario, a group of white-hating natives called the Mingoes were wanting to start a war against white expansion. They were, in fact, prescient, and could see that white people would destroy the native world forever.
They were also remnants of tribes that had already been disseminated by the whites. They knew of what they spoke.
So the article was about a meeting that was supposed to take place between the Cherokees and the whites. The whites disappeared and it was put around that the Cherokees had kidnapped them.
The Cherokees big men got together and approached the whites in the colony, said they did not do it. That it was a warrior named The Wolf who had kidnapped the whites and tried to blame it on the Cherokees. The plot: that the whites would attack the Cherokee in retaliation and start a war. Then the Cherokee would side with the Mingoes and together they would destroy the whites.
Alas, the Cherokees wanted peace and promised to retrieve the kidnapped white people.
I never read if there was a follow-up piece or what they did about The Wolf. I didn't have to, I know how the story eventually played out.
Two hundred years later the Cherokees were displaced, sent to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. The Mingoes do not exist anymore. We won, blah, blah, blah. but sometimes victory doesn't feel so good.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-75370461539946641762016-02-20T11:39:00.000-08:002016-02-20T11:39:04.359-08:00Laurier Palace Theatre Fire Sometimes only a tragedy can effect changes which benefit society. The early part of the twentieth century saw no uniform building standards in the public structures of Montreal. Not until 1927 was this noticed to be a danger to the lives of the citizens who dwelt in the province.
On January 9, eight hundred children aged five to fifteen were attending a movie at the Laurier Palace Theatre. All of them sat in the balcony enthralled by the comedy 'Get Em Young'. Under the floorboards a cigarette lay smoldering. In an instant it flared into a big fire. An usher tried to extinguish the flames unsuccessfully while calling to the children not to panic, but they became hysterical anyway.
They fled from the balcony trying to get down the stairs to safety but as the doors opened inward, the great crush of small bodies pushing out kept the exits tightly shut. Children were trampled to death as more and more of them reached the doors in their haste to get out. The smoke choked and blinded the kids and more panic ensued.
Although fire station number thirteen stood just across the street, they did not arrive soon enough to divert the tragedy. Many children had already been crushed underneath the feet of other kids when the firemen came. The men chopped holes beneath the stairs and walls, dragging children to safety. Many had already expired from asphyxiation and being crushed. One fireman, Adelard Boisseau, discovered his six-year old son's body when he entered the building. Later, at the morgue, he found two more of his children. This place became filled with distraught parents throughout the evening. Many parents were questioned as to whether their child had been accompanied by an adult or someone who could have calmed them. The answer was usually no.
Immediately the Catholic Church exerted their great influence. Priests, who had always worried about the safety of people's souls called for changes as the shocking story hit the news.
On January 11, the city held church services for all the victims. There were 78 dead children in all, most of them French-Canadian. The funeral procession was attended by 50,000 people. Mayor Moderic Martin issued condolences to the families from his office and the Montreal Theatre Managers' association began collected money for the families of the dead. They set their goal at $10,000, which would be $120,000 in today's money.
The co-archbishop of Montreal railed from the pulpit, preaching that cinemas were unhealthy for children. It weakened the lungs, he said, and gave children sinful ideas which led to immorality. He demanded the moving picture theatres be closed to children. A few months later a judge recommended that everyone under sixteen be barred from public cinemas. More importantly, building codes were also changed. Now all safety doors had to open outward.
In 1967, the ban on children at the cinema was lifted. Forty years of safe movie viewing plus the decline of influence of the Catholic Church made people stand up for children again visiting the theatres. Laws were modified with movies labeled as 18 and over, 14 and over and general admission. All this happened at the same time as Expo '67 when Montreal was opening itself to the world.
Even though some of the survivors still lived, older folks now who could remember the smoke, heat and panic of that night, the majority of Montrealers were convinced that their children could now sit safely in a cinema and thrill to cartoons and comedies like other kids around the world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-81005015629529226962016-02-11T09:48:00.002-08:002016-02-11T09:48:24.647-08:00Cash Cow?TV has a lot about mysteries on it. A couple of mysteries I have thought about are the Chupacabra and Cattle mutilations. Then one night it occurred to me.
I have always thought the only animal to take blood out of a creature and leave the body behind is man, ditto for mutilating. Of course these mystery shows liked to posit that it was coming from aliens. The Chupacabra being an escaped pet of aliens who have visited Earth. The cow mutilations come from the aliens themselves.
But I wondered, why would aliens leave a body they could just as easily take with them? To make a long story short, I looked at other animal stories.
Stories of poachers.
So who leaves the body of an animal to rot? Poachers. Think of the African elephant and Siberian tiger whose remains are found all over their habitat.
And why are they poached? Medicine. Or for nickknacks made of ivory or rhinoceros horn. What is taken from the cows is their sex organs. So maybe there's a market for cow sex organs somewhere? Why would a poacher just have a herd of cows when they could steal some for less? And for the animals in Latin-America? Blood is drained. So maybe there's a need for blood in some market in the world?
Just a thought. But I can't bring myself to believe that an alien would come millions of miles to Earth just to steal and cow's uterus.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-71189067172711859292016-01-23T18:04:00.001-08:002016-01-23T18:04:13.550-08:00February 2It's coming up. My fifty-eighth birthday. I am getting old. No, I don't really care anymore, I went through that trauma back when I was in my forties and realized that no one would buy or give me anything anymore because they thought I was pretty. That is for young women.
I don't mind. I'm looking forward to all the benefits of senior life. Like discounts.
This year I'm going to have a cake, too. Last year I didn't, I was trying to lose weight. But I've found out that my problem with losing weight isn't overeating, it's under activity.
I'm on the computer most of the day and don't get out much. I have a friend who mountain bikes. He can eat anything that he wants to. So this year, for my fifty-eighth year, I'm going to get more active. It's going to be hard. I have a wrecked left knee and flibitis in my right elbow. I have a back which goes out everytime I do something I'm not used to.
This is old age. So I have to try to find something interesting to do that I can do. Soccer is a possibility. All you do is run. I won't be good at the start but maybe I can get better.
Of course that's not possible in winter.
Another thing is, every year I buy myself a birthday gift. I don't want anything, really, but I am going to buy a really big steak. I'm looking forward to it.
Winter birthdays are lots of fun. It's a real nice break in the cold days to celebrate anything, I find.
Anyway I'm going to have a good time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-67865018353808513722016-01-09T14:45:00.001-08:002016-01-09T14:45:45.236-08:00The Children's Chocolate Bar StrikeIt was 1947. The war was over and costs that had been held down by the war were zooming up. A chocolate bar in Canada was five cents. But cost of sugar etc was up. So the chocolate companies decided to raise the price to eight cents.
A boy went down to get a bar and noticed the price. He complained and soon he and some friends were on a picket line outside the shop.
The idea caught on. More and more boys and girls showed up to picket the high price of chocolate. Newspapers zeroed in on the children and the children's chocolate strike was born.
It was country-wide and looked on with some amusement by the adults. The chocolate companies tried to reason with the kids. Tried to tell them about soaring costs of making the candy. Kids didn't listen.
Then, on the eve of the biggest strike that was to hit Canada, a telephone call came it.
The children, it said, are being used by the communists to derail the capitalist economy. No one knows who made the call.
Overnight parents forbade their children to strike, fearing their sons and daughters were pawns of communist sympathizers. It was over as quick and as sudden as it began. The price of chocolate held at eight cents and now is about two dollars.
But oh, those were interesting times.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-37562163356073560242015-12-29T14:56:00.000-08:002015-12-29T14:56:08.153-08:00HolidaysWell we had a pretty good Christmas and holiday over all. I know, I know, it isn't over yet. There's still New Years Eve and New Years Day to go through before we get back on our usual schedule. Okay.
But I like to take stock before the new year, just to relax a bit in the in-between week and think whether it was good this year.
I think yes. We had a great turkey. We had great presents. Everything came off beautifully. So it was good. What's New Years anyway but a chance to get sloshed?
I might buy David a bottle of wine. I got him a new brand this year Hanging Man and he liked it very much. But it was white. He likes red better. Or maybe an Italian wine.
He hasn't worn his cap yet. I got him one that has a maple leaf.
Of course, one thing, my birthday is in February. So I'm looking forward to that. So all in all, this time of year is good to me and it always has been.
So I'll see you all in 2016 and have a great one.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-32942750747570420322015-12-14T16:28:00.002-08:002015-12-14T16:28:58.339-08:00Dream GravesAt 57, I've reached the age where I'm giving up on some of my physical dreams as being 'not able' to complete. When I was younger I used to walk along the bicycle paths. One is in Quebec. I would just cross the bridge and the bicycle track ran along the river.
Once when I was walking, I saw a sign that said 'Quebec City' and an arrow. I was quite excited and decided that some day, I would get a bike and go along the track from Hull to Quebec City. What fun!
I would have to take money for motels and food, but wow, what a great thing to do. My only problem is I never learned how to ride a bike. No worries. I would learn. I was young, right?
Years go by and I would think of my 'trip' from time to time and watch it slip farther away from me.
Now that my left knee has so much arthritis that my patella rides freely, only held by the tendons, I realize that there's no way I will be able to bike up to Quebec. I didn't even learn how to ride. Bah.
But wait, there's other things a person can do. Only I haven't come up with many of them. Well, one of my mother's cousins went whitewater rafting when she was 73 but she said it was real easy run, just hold on.
That's a great idea. I would love to be on a river, outside. Just hold on. Hmmm. Of course, technology might make things a little easier for older people. I'm sure there is a bike that runs on a motor. Not a motorcycle, but a regular bike. Why I'm sure I could learn to ride that.
Or wait. In Ottawa, in summer, they have the Corridor Special on the train. Kingston to Quebec City for twenty-nine dollars. Well, I can sit on a train. And take a friend. We could even bring our own food. It's a six hour trip.
I have been to Quebec City already, years ago. But I've always wanted to go again. Maybe it doesn't matter so much how I get there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-27229314617849736512015-11-22T10:28:00.002-08:002015-11-22T10:28:32.748-08:00Late Snow, Great SnowIt was supposed to snow today. So far, it's been all sunshine. And it's not too cold. Last week, we had a 14 degrees Thursday. This is November. In the old days, about twenty, thirty years ago, this time of the year was covered in snow and about twenty degrees below zero.
It's common in Ottawa to hear people say, "If this is global warming, I like it." Which may be ignorant and selfish but I kinda feel the same way, too.
Except I like the first snow of the season. I've always liked the first snow of the season. I love watching the flakes come down and the quiet of it all. Of course since I live in downtown Ottawa it isn't too quiet. Not like when I visit my friends out in Smith Falls, ON in the winter and they have a snow day there.
I love to see people walk around in the snow and how happy they are. But in Ottawa, everyone complains about snow. People on the street, the radio and the television. Because of the driving.
Now a lot of people who know things will say Ottawa drivers are especially bad. I don't know. I do often see people turn from the wrong lane and not signalling and I've gotten used to watching the driver of the nearest car when I'm crossing the street. Just to see if he/she is paying attention. Sometimes they aren't. A woman texting once almost ran me down in Chinatown. She wasn't even aware that she had done so.
Back to snow, Tuesday is also supposed to snow. Now since it hasn't snowed today, I'm looking forward to Tuesday. But I'm not sure I want it to snow too much. I am getting old.
Now I guess I'll go and walk around in the sun.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-81189983295265881802015-11-04T12:23:00.000-08:002015-11-04T12:23:06.691-08:00Monroe IsadoreWell, sometimes I don't know what to make of the world. I spend some time trying to figure out which country is the best in terms of safety etc. I used to think it was Norway and then some guy shot a bunch of kids on an island. Sweden's out, too. That leaves Finland and Denmark.
But wait, what am I talking about?
I heard a story that shocked me and need to talk about it and wonder how many countries this could happen in. I'm talking about the 107 year old man named Monroe Isadore, who got confused when people came to take him away to a nursing home and lay down on his bed with a gun, firing into the ceiling.
Someone sent out the S.W.A.T. team. Why? I can't figure out why anyone would need twenty big men with assault weapons to contain a deaf, blind centenarian.
They had a camera on him all the time. They knew he was not a threat. He would not even be a threat to a wussie like me. Why didn't they yell out that they were police? His family says he would for sure have come out.
I can't get the image from my mind of ten young, strong men with assault weapons pumping bullets into a terrified 107 year old man who couldn't see them.
It's clear from the tape that he was terrified, he had no idea who was trying to get into his house. Why didn't they send in some of his family?
But the question is: which countries could this happen in? It could not happen in Canada where the cops will wait all night if they have to, just to resolve things peacefully. I think it could happen in South American countries and I really think it's a shame that it happened in America. Of course, happening there, it is on the news and people have a right to comment.
Anyway, I think it must be hard to live in a country with so many guns although that isn't really an issue here. Except that an old man shouldn't need a gun. So R.I.P. Monroe Isadore. I'm really sorry that you couldn't end your life peacefully, that it had to end with a whole bunch of panicky cops killing you. Hope you find justice in Heaven.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-88442205927628267392015-10-10T13:09:00.001-07:002015-10-10T13:09:37.398-07:00OctoberOctober. Great month if you ask me. Thanksgiving. My brother's birthday. Halloween. David's birthday.
Of course, Ed lives in Edmonton, AB and I live here and anyway, he's got his own family. But I do wish him happy birthday every year. Not that he remembers when his birthday is.
This year, David and I will not do anything for Thanksgiving. No turkey. Nothing. It's not that we don't have anything to be thankful for, it's just that celebrating is starting to take more out of us, than just doing nothing. It's going to be really terrible when I'm older. David is 72 this year.
And of course, let's not forget Halloween. I'm already looking forward to television. I know they'll have Michael Meyers on again this year. I don't watch him but it's comforting to know that he'll always be there.
I haven't dressed up for Halloween for years now and I don't know if I'll do so this year. Costumes are so expensive.
When I grew up, we made our own costumes. Sheets and construction paper. Dad's hats. I don't know about these princess costumes and sexy three year olds. I'm sure the makers think they're being funny and cute but it's to young to be sexy.
At any rate, I'll be looking around this year, I have received my book order and will be looking for a place to read to people and sell my books.
If this is like other Octobers, it will be a good time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-1832985277285695222015-09-19T10:41:00.001-07:002015-09-19T10:41:29.383-07:00Sex And ExploitationIf there's one thing that's true in any capitalist country, is that there's a lot of exploitation. The guy bagging groceries at your neighbourhood grocery store is being exploited, really badly, in most cases.
I only mention this because I cringe every time I hear feminists complaining that strippers and nude models are being exploited by the male patriarchal society.
I mean, as far as strippers and models go: Men like to look. That's just nature. It will always be so, even in one thousand years from now. In fact, it's the women who say. "I may as well make money from it." It's the women who are getting high incomes from man's natural urge to look at women.
It's deal. I will show you all of this: Legs. And some of this: Use your imagination. And women have always done it. So that's the way women exploit man's natural urges.
Now for the other side. Women like to hear things. Pretty words. "You're the most beautiful girl." That also nature because women have a need to hear nice things to feel good about a man. And unlike men, who can sleep with a women they don't care about, or even dislike. A woman needs to like a man.
I need not tell anyone that men will say anything to get a girl. Therefore men can exploit women's nature, too.
But isn't that really just part of it? Isn't it just that young people have a lot of hormonal urges? And when they fall in love they leave all that behind. Well, a lot do. Some don't, there's always cheaters on both sides.
So, I just thought I'd let off a bit of steam about feminists misunderstandings, as I see it, about what goes on in people's minds.
I just don't see it as that bad. The guy at the grocery store makes a lot less than the girls.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-20699175473005960452015-09-02T01:47:00.000-07:002015-09-02T01:47:02.395-07:00Christopher Mannino
Hi people. Today is a bit different, I'm having a guest on my blog. It's Christopher Mannino and he's written a great book. I'll just dive right into the questions.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PpKkG30IQTs/Vea3DJA-VdI/AAAAAAAAAE4/Tb4Gj8YcdUQ/s1600/Mannino_Pic1Headshot.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PpKkG30IQTs/Vea3DJA-VdI/AAAAAAAAAE4/Tb4Gj8YcdUQ/s320/Mannino_Pic1Headshot.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvR57lfBnzU/Vea3ZAnym0I/AAAAAAAAAFA/kynRVl6n4iA/s1600/CoverSwordofDeaths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SvR57lfBnzU/Vea3ZAnym0I/AAAAAAAAAFA/kynRVl6n4iA/s320/CoverSwordofDeaths.jpg" /></a></div> Hi Chris, I just have a few questions.
1. Tell us about your book and why you wrote it.
Sword of Deaths is the second novel, in my trilogy "The Scythe Wielder's Secret." I wrote the series after becoming stranded in Cornwall on a cliff, and imagining a character who is completely alone, attacked from all sides, yet who overcomes that isolation. Sword of Deaths expands on the issues of sexism and racism introduced in the first novel, while going deeper into the fantasy adventure.
2. What engaged you about your MC?
My main character is the only girl in a world of men, which is daunting. I find Susan's persistence, despite challenges, to be really inspiring. At the same time, this novel is told from two other characters' point of view. Of the three main
characters, one was particularly fun to write, as he's not human, and struggles against his own supernatural powers, which both help and haunt him.
3. What made you choose this genre (which genre is it?) and do you always write in the same genre
This is my second Young Adult fantasy novel. I work with kids daily. During the school year I teach high school theatre, and during the summers I work with younger children through a professional theatre company. Writing books that appeal to my students has been very rewarding, as encouraging young minds is why I write. However, in the future, I do plan to expand into other genres. Following this trilogy, I plan to start an adult sci-fi thriller.
4. When did you decide to be a writer?
I was an avid reader as a young child, and have dreamed up stories for as long as I can remember. I started my first novel shortly after graduating from high school, and although it was never published, I never stopped writing after that.
5. How long did it take you to succeed and is there any advice you would give to those starting out?
It took me a year of writing, editing, and re-writing before I had a novel worthy of submission, and then it took another year of persistent queries before School of Deaths was picked up. Before writing the book, I'd spent over ten years attempting to write other stories that hadn't worked as well. Any new author needs to be persistent and to never give up. It's also tricky to stand out in today's world, with so many new books published every day, but writers need to believe in themselves and keep getting their stories out there.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-80849097028768892192015-08-22T16:06:00.001-07:002015-08-22T16:06:49.050-07:00Groceries, Anyone?There's always construction in Ottawa. For the last four years they've been building a big condominium and grocery store at the end of my block. The new store was what everyone was waiting for.
You see, there is already a grocery store downtown, but so many people had problems with the moody staff and other inconveniences that they could hardly wait for the new store to open up.
It was May when it finally had it's big opening. I mentioned that they were much friendlier there than at the other place and was told that everyone she had met in the store said the same thing.
Two days later, I went to the old store because the new store didn't carry all the brands I use. It was almost empty. People were gleeful. "That will show old Mr. _____
a thing or two."
Today, I went to a corner store. There's a man who works there who also works for the old grocery store. I asked him if he still worked there, and mentioned the name of the store.
"Oh. He sold the store. It's now run by someone different. He's retired." So much for glee. He probably got millions for the business, perhaps even, 'dumping' it on someone. So I guess he had the last laugh.
If you're on Facebook, I am having a I Want To Go To School Release Party on September 5th. If you want an invite, just contact me through my personal account.
<a href="http://https://www.facebook.com/madeleine.mclaughlin.7">https:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/madeleine.mclaughlin.7">//www.facebook.com/madeleine.mclaughlin.7</a></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-12318534334736762752015-08-05T12:11:00.001-07:002015-08-05T12:11:16.416-07:00I Want To Go To SchoolIt's almost here! In one month my first children's picture book, I Want To Go To School, will be published. It will be a physical book, your child can hold it, read it, and hopefully, love it. I'm so excited I can hardly wait.
One thing, it reminds me of my own 'first day of school'. I was used to being with my mother and I liked being with my mother. I did not want to go to school. I wanted to be with my mom. So I was upset as we walked that first September day to grade one that I couldn't talk. No skipping. No singing. I dragged my feet and asked, "Do I really have to go?" and she would say , yes.
We arrived at school and mom filled out some forms. Then the secretary sent a young student to get the first grade teacher, Mrs. Davis. She came out and got me and took me to class. Mom had asked did I want her to stay and wait and I said yes.
Now Mrs. Davis was an old hand at teaching. She was also one of the best and all the students loved her. Anyway, she had us speak out loud our names to each other. I was so shy that it was torture but I did it. Then Mrs. Davis said anyone who wanted to leave could or they could stay and hear a story.
I left.
Mom was surprised to see me so soon. But I held her hand and happily left the school. We walked home, me knowing that I had to come back the next day and this time I had to stay until twelve noon. In those days, grade ones went a half day for six months.
So in a way this blog today is a teaser, if you wish to see what my story is about, you'll have to read it. I believe you won't be disappointed. You can look up the Fox Tots Publishing site on Sept. 5 and order it there.
I hope I'm not giving you a 'hard' sell.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-85045423022904702062015-07-19T11:38:00.000-07:002015-07-19T11:38:36.118-07:00Crimes Of AveragesNow, I have a question to ask. What is average? What is an average person? Does that notion play out in reality? You often hear, when people talk of someone who's done something out-of-the-ordinary, that's they're 'not your average person'. Well, what does that mean, I ask again? Who's really average?
If there is a tribe where every man is six foot and all the women five foot, the average height is five foot six inches. Yet, no one in the tribe is five foot six inches. Or how about that 2.2 kids that the 'average' Canadian is supposed to have. I have never seen or even heard of (other than in averages) a .2 kid. What you be if you were .2 of a person? Only an arm?
I'm just saying that the idea of average is only good for pretending. One middle-class family my make $10,000 dollars a month. Another may make $4000. So which is average when they're not even the same? Of a family may have three kids. Another two. But the fathers and mothers have the same job. So the four person family can afford more 'goodies' with their wages while the five person family may have to hitch in their belts to make ends meet.
Or how about someone who's job changes because of some government law that comes into force. A good example is man I know who sold pesticides in Ontario. The government of Ontario passed a law prohibiting pesticides.
Overnight, his job was gone. Is that average? Did that happen to the 'average' Canadian? Yet he had about a 50,000 dollar per year job. (Just as an aside, he moved to BC and now landscapes out there. Happy ending)
So what about this 'law of averages'? To me, it's just so much blah, blah, blah. Let's be real about people and in that way, we can be fair to the reality of people's lives.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q60W3GCMPf8/VavukElI9JI/AAAAAAAAACw/Isi-1Kny4og/s1600/I%2BWant%2BTo%2BGo%2BTo%2BSchool%2BWEBSITEADCAMPAIGN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q60W3GCMPf8/VavukElI9JI/AAAAAAAAACw/Isi-1Kny4og/s320/I%2BWant%2BTo%2BGo%2BTo%2BSchool%2BWEBSITEADCAMPAIGN.png" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-86617208505407641752015-07-08T06:20:00.000-07:002015-07-08T06:20:15.973-07:00TMZ Girlie PunchI was watching television yesterday, a program called TMZ. This is a celebrity gossip show which masquerades as news. But that's okay. Anyway, there was a security camera shot of a girl and famous professional football player arguing in a bar.
She makes a fist with her right hand. He grabs it to defend himself from being punched. She then punches him with her left fist. He punches her right in the face, almost dropping her to her knees.
Some were saying, a man shouldn't hit a woman. But I wonder if the real problem is women who think that to attain equality, they have to be tough like a man. For me, the male mammal instinctively knows all about challenges and threats. They deal with it all the time. Women seem to think that challenging someone like a man is a cute personality trait and something they should attain to be 'equal'.
If women are going to say that they have the adult choice to go to a bar and if they're going to get drunk and fight, then they're bound to get a fist in the face once in a while. I don't want to seem old-fashioned about women. I'm not saying they should stay home and defer, I'm just saying that women should understand what they're doing.
When a women acts tough and hits a man in the face, she's challenging him. She's saying, "I'm tougher than you." In this dog-eat-dog society, if he doesn't want to be seen as someone who is a push-over, he has a right to fight back. If a weaker person challenges a stronger one, he gets pushed out. It should be the same for womenAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-59531365048844220452015-06-18T09:53:00.000-07:002015-06-18T09:53:24.829-07:00ThunderstormsSo summer days are here, in Ontario, this brings thunderstorms, which we are having one today. I don't mind this, I like thunder and rain and today it will be in the evening. Ontario has great storms.
One of the best storms I've ever seen, though, happened back in White Rock, BC in the seventies. The trees across from our house were snapping back and forth and the lightening made the night seem like day. It was great.
So far in Ontario, we haven't had anything like that but I'm waiting. It makes me glad I'm not a homeowner, though, as there are many things, like trees falling through houses that can ruin any homeowners dreams.
Flashing back to White Rock, we had a tree come through our house. It was before we lived there and my room was the addition that was built after the tree ruined the front of the house. It was so cold in that room. Winters were awful and the floor was torture. But, oh well, as soon as we moved into the house that Dad built on the back of the property, we had all the heat we could manage.
So today I wait for my storm. We don't need heat at this time of year. I want to go out before the rain and thunder and lightening hits. I plan to have a good time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-15133820233219070912015-06-01T15:28:00.001-07:002015-06-01T15:28:41.983-07:00June DaysIt's a nice hot day in Ottawa and I think it's going to be that way for the rest of the summer. I'm always a bit nostalgic at this time, thinking back to when I was in school and this time of year meant: one more month to summer!
Yes, it was great to lean back at my desk and dream about all the great things I would do. Of course, there was always tests coming up and the dread that I'd failed. My whole elementary school life was spent worrying about failing and having to be seated the following year with the grade behind me. I remember how important one year was to me when I was a child, like it was with everyone, I suppose.
After elementary school, I did not do as well. I lost any motivation for school work. I guess it was my fault. I had always made sure I did not get on the honor roll because I didn't want to be on stage. The honor roll kids all stood on the stage to get their little gifts.
So by the time I got to junior high, I was sort of used to not working too hard. I did once think I would buckle down and do lots of work. I took a course of Mr. Bash. He was the biology teacher and his course was very precise.
Pencils had to be sharpened exactly one way only. Books had to be kept a certain way only. But, I dropped out of that course. Not that I was a slacker then, that came later.
However, I passed all my tests all the way through school and was happy to be finished with it. I never liked getting up in the morning from a nice dream to be faced with going to school.
In fact, one of my dreams was of getting dressed and walking to school only to wake up and realize that I had to get up for real. It seemed like something I'd already done.
I've always had very vivid and life like dreams.
So I'm looking forward to June. I can have fun one month early now that I'm grown.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-74597554111215051512015-05-22T12:07:00.002-07:002015-05-22T12:07:51.121-07:00Cold NightsFinally, winter is over. The nights in Ottawa are very cold this year. When I went out shopping today, it was only 8 degrees. I was wanting to wear my flip flops but it was not possible. So I wore my leopard shoes.
The streets were not heavy with pedestrians so it was quite pleasant walking to Sparks Street Mall to buy a couple of dolls. I purchased one princess and one Lucy-from-peanuts doll. Only seven dollars each.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the jigsaw puzzles. For a long while the pictures to put together have been drawings, not photos. So when I looked at the puzzles and saw a whole bunch of photos - and nice ones, too - I was happy.
I also notice how many businesses are closing down. Of course Zellars is gone and also one restaurant is gone and has been replaced by another. I can't figure out why some restaurants succeed and some fail. They all seem to be about the same.
I wandered over to the book store and bought a couple of kiddie books and then over to Shoppers Drug Mart to buy some milk for David.
So a good day with lots of walking but not too much, my flip-flops are better for walking than my leopard shoes and hopefully next time I go out, I can wear them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-31424254318697413592015-05-05T13:58:00.001-07:002015-05-05T13:58:51.690-07:00Past and FutureSo much changes from when a person is a child to when they are older. There's the obvious change for me, at least, to living near a beach - so much fun to spend summers on the beach - to now, when I live in a land-locked province. We do have lakes and then there's the Ottawa River. Some sections have been made into beaches. Unfortunately, they are not near the downtown.
Yet, there's other, social changes. Remember standing up in the car when you were little? Life before seat belts. No one was afraid to die but my father, in the mid-sixties, had seat belts put in. He made us use them. In some way, I suspect to get us to stop horsing around in the back.
We never got into an accident so we never had to see if they worked but at my age, I'm grateful he took the time to care.
Related to summer, I wanted to go to the beach by myself when I was four. No way, my mother was adamant, not until you're in school. Six.
Now, I just want to say, my mother wasn't an awful woman but there are a lot of people who may not agree with letting a six year old go on her own to the beach or anywhere not under adult supervision. But like I said, it was a different age.
There was not much said about people who kill children, in fact, there weren't many people who did that kind of thing. Nobody thought some man in a car would bother me. And I never did get bothered.
And then there's what you might call generation changes. The sixties when I grew up began to get fearful after drugs came around. People warned us that we would think we were birds and jump out a window if we took LSD and other such things.
Come to think of it, it was all different after kids began taking drugs. The generation gap began but for kids my age, who were being told by teenagers not to trust anyone over thirty and people over thirty telling us not to trust teenagers, it was all very confusing. I think that's where kids began to think they had to do everything themselves. They had to learn all they could, not from their parents, but from their peers and life.
So now we're in a very distrustful age, where hockey coaches molest children and nobody looks up to anyone except celebrities anymore. I think that's because celebrities don't mind saying that they're screwed up whereas 'respectable' people who molest kids will lie about who they really are.
That being said, I'm glad I made it through to this time of life, just to see all the changes, especially the ones I never knew were coming. I don't know what young people will make of the future but I expect that it will be a complete surprise to them. Just like it is for me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6081226186486646378.post-80779328022873528732015-04-21T08:12:00.003-07:002015-04-21T08:12:47.586-07:00LibrairiesSo I'm going to have a children's picture book published. It's supposed to come out in September. I'm extremely excited because it's very difficult to break into that market.
Even though I have years of drawing experience, I'm not doing the illustrations. I'll let a professional do them. It's going to be with Nocturnal Press Publications.
It reminds me how much I loved books as a child. The drawings and paintings in my books were entrancing and the poems were great. Just turning the pages gave me a thrill.
Of course as I grew my tastes changed. Nancy Drew was a great favorite and they still had drawings in them. Horse stories were another favorite. I had my own library card and used to go with my mom and get books. I suppose all kids know of that experience. Libraries in those days were silent. No talking allowed.
It's so much different in Ottawa's libraries. They have a space set aside with easy chairs for people to sit in and chat. It's right next to the computers so it isn't likely to disturb any reading. Honestly, there is not much reading done in the library downtown. Mostly it's used as a drop-in center for poor people who have no place else to be.
There, they can use the computers all they want. They wouldn't be able to afford computers and internet on their own. So it's good all around. There are some complaints from some, better? people who don't like the smell of them. But that's life in the downtown core.
Aside from this complaint, the libraries are still a place where you can see mothers and kids looking for appropriate books.
In my teens I was all about science fiction. Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke and the usual 'gods' of the genre. Then I moved on to art books. Biographies about Van Gough and others. Now, my favorite is historical fiction although I'm open to read other things.
Anyway, when my cover comes out, I'll try and post it here.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16404152302311728039noreply@blogger.com1