Spinning Into Big and Small

calliopeintime — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:49:07 +0000

This is the title of the final book in the Calliope in Time series. I will post some excerpts from it in the near future. I am now in the process of editing and submitting all three of my novels. I entered summaries and the first 3000 words of the second two novels to our local Lewis County Writer’s Guild. The top ten in the contest will be seen by an agent.
I learned a lot just preparing for the entry.

An Unread Blog

calliopeintime — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:45:46 +0000

I decided today it is time to invite people to visit my blog. Since there are a number of people who have now read some of my work, I would love to get comments on what I post here. If you are new here, please leave a comment so we can get the ball rolling. I would love to visit your blog if you want to leave the address

The trilogy, unedited is forthcoming

calliopeintime — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:57:51 +0000

Oh my poor, neglected little blog! First, I should report that I have written a triolgy. Calliope in Time is the first book in the trilogy. I am currently working on a revision of that novel, now that I know a little more about how to write for publication. The second novel, Falling Into Green, has also been neglected I fear, as I have sped on to write Spinning into Big and Small, the third and final novel of the trilogy.
Recently, at the Lewis County Writer’s Guild monthly meeting at our coffeehouse, I read from Anais Nin, one of my favorite authors. I was introduced to this wonderful writer/diarist when I was only eighteen years old, yet her wisdom still resonates for me. Somewhere in the piles of this author’s work which I perused in preparation for my presentation, I came upon a part where she stated that attempting to write fiction, professionally, was difficult for her because the pieces did not feel real, as her diaries felt when she wrote them.
Since I am currently participating in a writer’s critique group at our coffeehouse, this point has great significance for me. I find myself–a rebel by nature– in conflict with the many “rules” and expectations for writers seeking publication. And I am drawn back, tenuously to the memoire/cookbook which was my first toe-in-the-water attempt to capture life and put it onto sheets of butchered trees. In that regard, I have added a page here–an excerpt from How to Chaperone at the Beach and Other Recipes. The excerpt comes from the middle of the book, Chapter 4, where I decided to get a little more real in my writing.

NoNano Blues

calliopeintime — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:30:55 +0000

Well, here it is February and I have got the no-more-nanowriting-can’t get-around-to-editing-blues. Yes, I managed to finish my 50,000 words and now they lie sleeping on my computer like an orphaned monster waiting for a makeover. I’d better get to the critter because the Matrix is sponsoring an open mic this Friday. Readings from nanonovels will be encouraged as this will be the first meeting of the revived writing group here in Lewis County. (The meeting starts at 6pm, readings at 8pm) That being said I will open the door to the monster’s lair and my fragile editor may tip toe in, returning from a hiatus after a grueling period of being locked up in November. She will step in carefully, remembering that she once loved this unmangeable beast and see what she can do with him, or is it a her? The title of the sequel is Falling Into Green, and now that I remember it, there are some wonderful parts to it.

Qassia

calliopeintime — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:13:43 +0000

I just joined a cool website Qassia go to my page there hollystclair.qassia.com and see what it’s about

NanoNano–in the groove

calliopeintime — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:37:21 +0000

I am off and running, writing a sequel to Calliope in Time for the Nanowriters’s contest during this month. I hope others out there are having fun with this. All you have to do to “win” is accomplish writing 50,000 words in the month of November. The value of writing WITHOUT editing is very beneficial, although I have to say I don’t have much of an “inner editor” as some writers do. In fact, sometimes I can’t find an editor within me at all….maybe she killed herself…maybe she’s in hiding….maybe she’s embarrassed about her ineptitude in this department. Oh well, At this point I have about 15,000 words. The sequel, entitled “Falling Into Green” will feature an Artificial Intelligence as one of the main characters, so if any of you have characteristics of a female AI that you’d love to see depicted leave a comment. Actually, I am almost through the fun part of initial character development and will be moving on to plot development…..yes this novel very well may have a plot….:) I have decided to postpone the second run for Calliope until I have the required cash, but there are a few left of the first run at the Matrix Coffeehouse and a few are also available through BasementiaPublishers and possibly at Book and Brush in Chehalis. My posts, and any updating of this blog may be slim this month, but be sure to check back in December.

Nanowrite this November

calliopeintime — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:23:29 +0000

I wrote Calliope in Time, my first short novel during the 2005 nanowriters challenge. In case you don’t know what that is it’s a challenge to write 50,000 words during the month of November. I decided to do it the last time on October 30th when 2 people planning to participate came into my coffeehouse and told me about it. I had NO idea I could write that much in a month and I had NO idea I could write dialogue either. What an adventure! So, if you are a procrastinating, budding author, take the challenge, sign up and try it. It’s a great opportunity to develop fluency(no time to edit) The year I “won” there were 6.000 people around the globe who accomplished it! The website is wwwnanowrimo.org. Check it out. If you’re in Chehalis, there will be a write in on Nov. 1st at Little Ceasar’s –I’m not sure what time…I think 10am or maybe noon.

Book Seminar on Calliope In Time, Thurs., Oct. 30 at Matrix

calliopeintime — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:39:26 +0000

For those of you I have not been able to contact personally, I want to let you know that I will be having a book seminar on my book Calliope In Time. It will be Thursday, Oct. 30th at 5:30 at the Matrix Coffeehouse in Chehalis. You are welcome to attend if you’ve read all of the book, part of the book or even if you are just interested in getting a copy and seeing what it’s all about. I do have a few copies left of my first run, so if you want one for yourself, or for an Xmas present, get one now as I can’t be certain that my second run will be ready before Christmas. It is in the process, however. This will be your last opportunity to get a book at the discounted price of $10…they’re more if you order from Basementia or purchase in stores. Hope to see you there!

The Empire is falling and I want a free vacation

calliopeintime — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:11:44 +0000

I have just posted a piece I wrote last year about housesitting. If you want to read it, it’s entitled Free Vacations listed to your right. I thought about trying to submit it somewhere for publication but it’s the end of summer, isn’t it? We had a Fall equinox event here last weekend. I am continually reminded of what Caroline Casey said about what was happening astrologically starting May 2 last spring and then again coming up on Nov. 4th(election day). Quoting Caroline–”the empire is falling, don’t cling to the rocks falling around you” I will post her blog roll here when I figure out how to do that, but for now you can search her name and Coyote Network News.

Leave comments on Calliope

calliopeintime — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:46:16 +0000

Since I have a lot of books from my first run out there now, I would love to get comments from people who have read, or are reading it. What parts did you like? If you put the book down and didn’t get back to it what caused the “stall”? Is anything confusing? I know that my first run was not well edited by myself and I am starting to revise it. I just wanted to get copies out to the people who prepaid and waited so patiently. And, I’m savin’ up money for a second run. My son-in-law,who is working on his PHD in literature, advised me that authors usually need to focus on getting works of short fiction published first, so I’m working on some and will be posting them here for your perusal. I will also try submitting some pieces. Anyone have ideas on where I should submit? Meanwhile go ahead, criticize my book…I can take it! In fact I WANT it..perhaps it’ll make me a better writer.