We better enjoy this day--tomorrow it's going to be way too cold to walk on the beach. The pelicans are out checking up on things--dolphins are out too. Loving the beauty and the simplicity of nature.

Tidying up PELAGIC, yep, that's what I've decided to title this latest book--the romance. Then it is off to the editor and hopefully out the end of January. Got my fingers crossed. Thanks to the many for encouragement, advice and ideas.

QUOTE: "In character, in manner, in style, the supreme excellence is simplicity." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

WRITING TIP: Too many adjectives, too many explanations, too much of anything--there is a fine line when it comes to over doing something--my advice is to keep it simple, let the reader dress it up with their own imagination.

CHRISTMAS morning at the beach

 ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT

Joy and peace to you all. Have a wonderful day.

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood
A beautiful day for a neighbor...
well, we know how the rest of this little ditty goes.
And what a glorious day today has been. I love  an N C Christmas,

QUOTE: "You rarely have time for everything you want in this life, so you need to make choices. And hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you are"-- Fred Rogers

WRITING TIP: Dig deep inside yourself to find your characters.

From the workshop--hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. Peace and Joy to all. Hope the New Year brings good health and lots of good times.

QUOTE: "And now that you don't have to be perfect, be good"--John Steinbeck

WRITING TIP: in writing, it's not about being perfect, it's about relating to the reader.

Sort of chilly our there lately, but it's bound to warm up sooner or later. Still wrestling with the title for the new book--AS DEEP AS THE OCEAN, ALL THE OCEAN, PELAGIC--these are the three that I've narrowed it down to. Could really use some help in deciding. please send ideas to my facebook page, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

            POEM

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is a society where none intrudes,
By the deep sea and the music in its roar.

I love not man less,
But nature more.

--Lord Byron

In the story Callie (main character) is pained by the changes brought about by progress on Topsail Island. Then there are other changes in her life beyond her control with which she must contend, and choices she must make--the only constant in her life has been the ocean.

WRITING TIP: To write, you must use everything--all of you.

This morning as the tide was going out everybody was out there fishing--dolphins, seagulls, pelicans and this big guy. The ocean was fishy today.

It's a beautiful morning--working--tweeking the book I'm working on. Still have not settled on a title. Usually my titles are the first thing, but this time its between JUST ADD WATER, AS DEEP AS THE SEA, ALL THE SEA and PELAGIC. Pelagic means deep water. decisions--decisions. Here is a small excerpt from the book:

 In the broad and silky morn

The sun is warm upon my heart

And I know it won’t be long

before fated love holds my hand

And guides me to your side

I long to know your lips again

And taste the salt upon your skin

And know your thoughts as you do mine

And drink the sweet joy of us

As we swim in our pelagic love.  

Lovely day on the beach today. The weather has been phenomenal. Love it when the birds are congregated like so--makes me wonder if they are plotting something (ala Hitchcock) or simply having a hen party.
QUOTE: "Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit." e.e. cummings
WRITING TIP-curiosity is where it's at, man--keeps the ink flowing, the gray matter glowing. 

Not sure what pier this was,either Barnacle Bill's or Surf City, but it was taken in the sixties. Went into a shop the other day and their tee shirts said TOPSAIL ISLAND FOUNDED 1963. Where in the hell did they get their info. Mentioned the mistake and was ignored--oh well, Topsail Island was founded way before that and Surf City was founded in 1949. LIES...IT'S ALL LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PROPAGANDA FOR THE MASSES! Take a deep breath, Carol. This too shall pass.
Enjoy the photo, enjoy the sunshine--lovely for November--huh?
QUOTE; I can never change my past, it's already happened anyway. All I can do is make the best of today, let go, and keep moving on.
WRITING TIP: Don't let go, keep it bottled up--it will come in handy at a later date. Everything is fodder for writing.

  QUOTE: "The cream of enjoyment in this life is always impromptu. The chance walk;
the  unexpected visit; the unpremeditated journey; the unsought conversation or acquaintance"- Fanny Fern

Joey, Detective Dog, waiting anxiously for the perpetrator of the latest round of crimes in Surf City. Yes, he knows THE MERMAID DID IT and is on the look out for Carol Ann Ross's (4th in the series) book (due out next summer). It might be a long wait, but he's always on guard.

the bank of clouds as I came across the span bridge this morning was breath taking. Love this kind of weather--my church is in prime mode on days like this. Thank you God.
QUOTE: "My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me"- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
WRITING TIP: Listen

My what a foggy day today is. There's a kind of  comfort though, in the mist that wraps around you--it's as if the sea is kissing you.

QUOTE:Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way"-- E.L. Doctorow

Early morning (of course, the early mornings are getting later and later this time of year), nonetheless--early morning on the sound. Beauty always softens the heart, makes you want to love and be loved. 

QUOTE: "Not everyone will have the heart you have. Not everyone will appreciate you and what you do for them. It won't be easy having a kind heart in a cruel world. Be prepared."

WRITING TIP: Angst--how do you portray angst in your writing?  Do you write in a line telling the reader or do you portray your character's actions and reactions?

JUST ADD WATER-yes, the main character in my new book is a surfer girl. Been fun researching her since surfing was never a sport I picked up. I was always too chicken--especially after I saw the boys surfing and 8 foot sharks swimming alongside them. But Kallie is a tenacious gal. She'll surprise you with just how tenacious she is. JUST ADD WATER will be out sometime in January.

QUOTE: But more wonderful than the lore of old men and the lore of books, is the secret lore of the ocean-H.P. Lovecraft

WRITING TIP: Research everything! If you don't you run the risk of looking ignorant.

I never tire of this sight.

Wrapping up the love story I've been working on and have decided to change the title once again. It will be JUST ADD WATER and will be a stand alone story--no trilogy or series as with my previous books. (They are all available on Amazon) I have a strong affinity for "Water" and I hope my readers will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

QUOTE: "We are all human beings. We all feel fear. We all love and become confused when we don't act as well as we would like to. We all get depressed and have feelings of uselessness. All of these things are true and have always been"--Akhil Sharma

WRITING TIP: Writing is finding your way through the haze of confusion.

Early morning Sunday, before AWT, and walking out on Jolly Roger Fishing Pier--still dark outside and man was it perdy. EVERY day I feel blessed to be here, my home.
It has been a wonderful AWT. I met some really cool people and saw others that I hadn't seen in a year. I'll next be at Surf City Summer Market on Black Friday. This year the market will be in Hampstead at Cedar on the Green-. SCSM brings so much business to the island. ANYWAY - y'all come out to Hampstead on Black Friday and see our wares--lots of unique, handmade, local stuff.

QUOTE:  A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it-George A. Moore

WRITING TIP: Imagine writing a scene about lying- without saying a character is lying. How does the reader know?

What a wonderful day at Autumn with Topsail. The weather was gorgeous, the music was fantastic and the crowds were huge. Thank you to my returning customers. Coming back for the second and third book in a series means a lot to me. Tomorrow is the last day of AWT so come and enjoy the music and wares the vendors have to offer. The live music is sooo good, the food is great (chicken teriyaki on a stick is super) and everyone is so friendly.

In ten years I'll look at this photo and think I looked young. The mind plays cruel jokes on us sometimes. Right now I think I look like some old Russian woman. Odd how we view ourselves. Guess the character studies we did in class last night got to me. We had some very interesting people in -- a couple locals, a couple from New York. Geez, I'm so grateful when people tell you how they really feel. This semester has been one of the finest I've had in a long time. We are trying some new things that really get you thinking, exploring and learning. WOW! it's fun. Looks like some more fun is on the horizon.AUTUMN WITH TOPSAIL is this weekend. Three bands will be playing music and lots of food, beer, all kinds of vendor stuff, pottery, wood working, leather working, painters, stained glass, beach stuff and MY BOOKS.  Please come join us--the fun starts at 9:30 Saturday morning-or that mean old Russian woman in the picture will have a hissy fit.

QUOTE: Success isn't measured by money, power or social rank. Success is measured by discipline and inner peace-Mike Ditka

WRITING TIP: a writer gets to know himself/herself better and better the more her or she writes.

         sketch by A. Glover (may not be reproduced without consent)

Toying around with various photos and sketches for the book I'm working on now. I've found a wonderful young artist that captures what is in my head. Still, this is a work in progress.
It's not often that you find someone with whom you have such a good connection. I miss those type of artistic relationships.

QUOTE: Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live--Norman Cousins.

WRITING TIP: You need to see the action between your characters--see them come to life. Then simply write what you see.

photo is courtesy of Connie Pletl

I'm pretty sure this is a scene that has to be enjoyed while sitting in the dunes listening to Pink Floyd.

QUOTE: Smell the sea and feel the sky. Let your soul and spirit fly--Van Morrison
WRITING TIP: I'm speechless.

AUTUMN WITH TOPSAIL  is coming up--Oct. 21 and 22. There will be live music both days, lots and lots of arts and crafts, food and beer. Y'all come on down!
I'll have all my books! The weather is supposed to be fantastic!

               THE MUHLY IS HERE
     And it keeps getting more and more brilliant as the weather cools. Enjoy it now, because after the first or second frost it will once again fade into its dormant bland colors.
     Had a wonderful class last night at CFCC--exciting new format and exciting new students that have added so much to discussions. If you missed this one, please sign up for Spring--that class will start the last week of February and will last only 6 weeks.

(a side note: the article about Barbara Lee and the haunted house is now out in Livin' Out Loud magazine. Issues can be found at the Hampstead Library, and several shops in Surf City. Copies should be at the Sneads Ferry library and Senior Center by this afternoon.--Thank you Barbara).

     One of the things I tell my students is to not expect perfection. No one is perfect-- especially with their first attempts. I had a friend say something to me today and since they are a friend I appreciated their honesty--my friend is one of my beta readers and I value her opinion and trust her explicitly. She said she was so delighted about how much my writing has improved--paraphrasing, she said, 'it was hard for me to get through the first book but now your writing is so improved. I really enjoy the stories.'
     I have to admit, I have re-read some of my first stuff, and though it sold well, I cringe and wish I could re-write it. But alas, it is what it is, and a first book is just that, a first book--an intro to what you have to offer. Be proud of that first book, and if you keep writing, (as in living) you will continue to grow and improve with time and experience. It takes giant cojones to put yourself out there--actually it takes a self awareness that few possess.
     Another friend of mine mentioned one time that he re-read THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA and was disappointed that it did not read as well as it had when he had first read it. I believe he was seeing style and content for the first time--realizing things about his own writing--a good thing. THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA is considered one of Hemingway's finest novels. Would it be considered so today? Again, the question, story or style? More than not, good is subjective--remember this. If you value an objective person's opinion, believe it and move forward.
     Keep writing, keep believing. The results are so fulfilling.
QUOTE:"There is  nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self"--Ernest Hemingway.
WRITING TIP: you can re-write until you're 80 and re-write some more. There comes a time when you have to get over yourself and be satisfied.

If you can click on the picture to enlarge it, you will  notice more clearly the dark splotches in the water--these are schools of fish running through the ocean. I'm sure you've spotted them from the shore or fishing pier. very cool, thousands of fish, little fish chasing bigger fish.

QUOTE; You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth--Evan Esar

WRITING TIP: reflective writing, check it out.

This is my father. Many of you who follow me may remember him. I've come to find out that he was someone you liked a lot or didn't like at all-at least, that is what I have been told. I do know that he wasn't impressed by one's "stuff" but rather by what kind of person one was.I think he judged people on  how honest they were with themselves--how well they knew themselves--their integrity (something that is very rare these days).  His influence on me has been monumental and is evident in several of the characters in my books.  Thank you, Daddy.

QUOTE: Don't sweat the small stuff or the small people-Frank Ross

WRITING TIP: The characters among us are the fabric of our stories.

OMG! A perfect day! Just a little too breezy, a little too cloudy, a little too non-typical. But then, that's always the best way for things to be. Beauty is subjective, isn't it?
As for that nasty ol' hurricane, Maria-best that we have the peripheral effects of her--the full effect would be oh so destructive.
QUOTE: Normality is a paved road: it's comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow--Vincent Van Gogh
QUOTE: Fake people have an image to maintain. Real people just don't care.

WRITING TIP: It's the abnormal character (person) that adds substance to your story (life)--the abnormal events that make a story interesting.

It's always pretty, it's always what I need. Thank you God. Doesn't being where you feel good make you want to be good to other people? Even the ones that have been kinda shitty to you? I wish everyone good health and success. Keep pursuing your dreams, don't give up on them--they are worthy and you deserve what you have worked so hard for.

QUOTE: Telling someone the truth is a loving act-Mal Pancoast

WRITING TIP: Don't be afraid to seek out people who know more than you. Their knowledge can only add to yours.

                    A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS

Didn't they sing that song AND I RAN, back in the eighties? Geez it looks like they added a few band members since then. Wonder if they still sound the same?

QUOTE: I love to laugh, and laughter is one of my favorite things. When you have a really good laugh, you feel great afterwards-Bill Engvall

Writing tip- don't just say that your character laughed, describe it.

QUOTE: The ocean is more ancient than the mountains and freighted with the memories of the dreams of time--H.P. Lovecraft.
  (Geez, what beautiful inspiring words!!!)

Lovecraft was an author of horror and the macabre during the turn of the century. He died penniless, never having achieved the fame or recognition that he did posthumously. He lacked the confidence and whatever it took to promote himself. (I bet a long lost family member got all the dough)

WRITING TIP: grow a pair, promote yourself or be like Lovecraft.

    Working on the first truly only romance novel I've ever done SOMETIMES A BOOK IS JUST A BOOK--no historical fiction, no murder, just pure LOVE (oh my!). Been pulling out all the old love songs and watching all the old romance movies I can get my hands on. (gotta put myself in the zone) Hell, writing murder books is a lot easier than dredging up all that mushy stuff. Anyway, here is an excerpt. 

     Callie loved when Doc touched her, when he spoke, when he laughed. She loved everything about him. The way he walked, the way he held himself, the way he straightened his shoulders when he was serious about something.

     He must have felt the same way about her too or he wouldn’t touch her hand like he did, hold her gaze for so long--he wouldn't move in so close that she could feel his breath on her neck. He must feel the same way or he wouldn't do those things. Would he?

I'm about one-third the way through with the book and am now researching stuff, talking with professionals that add to the authenticity of the story. I meet an artist today that may be able to construct the cover for me. Still gnawing on what I want.

QUOTE: Mysterious love, uncertain treasure, hast thou more of pain or pleasure!.....Endless torments dwell above thee;yet who would live, and live without thee-Joseph Addison
QUOTE: I'm scared to love again....I'm scared to get hurt again...I'm scared of being lied to again. I'm scared of being thrown away like garbage--whisper.

WRITING TIP:  If your character is confused, don't say it--show it. show how it feels, write how it feels.

This is a photo of the haunted house I visited the other day--an interview for Livin' Out Loud magazine--the article should be out next month.
This was a very interesting interview--I keep meeting interesting people--I'm blessed.

Trip to Morehead and writer's luncheon at Floyd's Restaurant was very  nice--Never had a better shrimp sandwich in my life! Thank you, those who attended and thank you for the kind comments on my presentation. Hope to come back soon.

QUOTE: You don't meet people by accident. There's always a reason, a lesson or a blessing.
WRITING TIP: write the contours of what you feel, think and believe.

Always thought that if I was going to come back as something it would be a dolphin, but on second thought, perhaps a sandpiper would be better. Dolphins are hunted by several predators, among them the killer whale. Sand pipers, on the other hand don't seem to have many predators..and they are such care-free critters. They always bring a smile to my face. Try as he may, Joey (my dog) hasn't caught one yet. Ah...real life is so much better than television or anything on a screen.
Speaking of good things, I had a delightful interview with a very interesting woman yesterday--Barbara--she lives in a haunted house (so apropos for upcoming Halloween) Anyway, hopefully Livin' Out Loud Magazine will be running that article in the October issue. More about her later.

QUOTE: The best way to find out if you can trust someone is to trust them--Ernest Hemingway.

WRITING TIP: Trust that part of you that feels right, even if it is wrong.

Will she or won't she? That is the question. Looks like Irma is poised to strike our area and she looks like a real bitch. Mother Nature does what she wants. Mother Nature is angry-she wants her island back. Remember--1954 Hurricane Hazel, cat 4,  hit us head on during high tide and a full moon. Hazel wiped away what had been built in preparation for the swing bridge. It took another year before our little bridge came into use. Maybe our Mother is trying to tell us something. Or perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part.
Barrier islands are designed to protect the mainland--so why the @#*! have the dunes been destroyed?  JUST A THOUGHT.

Pretty flowers in the marsh.

September 13, I will be teaching a seminar in Morehead City at Floyd's at 400 Bridges Street. Hope to see you there.

QUOTE: "just because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction-" Criss Jami

WRITING TIP: Is your antagonist a liar? Pull from your experiences to create him or her. We've all been lied to.

Coming up the Intracoastal, some places are quiet and serene. This is nearly untouched, and what has been touched has been done so with respect and desire to protect the integrity of the area.
QUOTE: Some see a thing and see only price, others see it and see its value. (I think this was Oscar Wilde-not sure. But he has a quote very similar. This quote epitomizes my sentiments toward Topsail. Someone (or several) looked at it and thought- Wow, nothing's here. I'll make lots of money developing it. Others looked at it and saw the simplicity of its beauty. (Greed sucks)
WRITING TIP: Sometimes bare bones says the most.

Of the thousands of people I see at the markets or other local places only a handful have said they are glad the swing bridge is going. Most people see the bridge as a landmark and express the sentiment that coming across it means it is time to relax, slowdown and enjoy our quaint little island.
BUT NO-DOT knows best !@#$!^^**.--is all I have to say about that.

QUOTE: Being in a hurry. Getting to the  next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing...through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away--Ann Voskamp

WRITING TIP: You can no more rush your character's development than you can rush learning who you are.

Lots of foot prints in the sand--must mean lots of people on the beach. It is almost September.
Did around 1500 words today on SOMETIMES (new book) and as I tend to do when I get into a character and start developing them, I look into all places to tell me who they are. Callie-one of the main characters, is in love. (well, the book is a love story) anyway-watched a movie, listened to some music, checked out the net--pondered her. She is taking shape and I like her. All the above help develop Callie. The movie led me to Oscar Wilde, the music to sexy Pink Floyd, the net-all kinds of stuff.
QUOTE: You don't fall in love with someone for their looks, or their cloths, or their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear-Oscar Wilde

WRITING TIP: Your characters are everywhere-in the past, the present, the future and in all your experiences.

Working on SOMETIMES A BOOK IS JUST A BOOK.  I know it is a long title, but believe me it is very appropriate. Also meeting with a few people (who know a whole lot more than I do about things)to discuss certain changes on the island--should be interesting. Getting your facts straight is very important and expressing a character's point of view should be backed up with facts. I'm shooting for a January date to release my newest novel. FINGERS CROSSED.

QUOTE: Once you make it to your point of making it, you'll appreciate the struggle.

QUOTE: I have sea foam in my veins, I understand the language of the waves.

WRITING TIP: even if it sounds stupid, write it down. Somebody is going to relate. Or--keep working on the thought until it no longer sounds that way.

                     
                                                                                            MONSTER

                         You lean in to me
                         So close that I
                         Can feel your
                         Warm breath on my                                neck

                         You stroke my arm
                         As if you have
                         To know the
                         Touch of my skin

                         You say the words
                         That tell me
                         So many lies
                         That sound like truth

                         Your stare
                         Wants me
                         Your movement
                         Disturbs me

                         Until I cede
                         All my strength
                        Then you turn
                        And walk away.


Sometimes, more often than not, characters get in my head and all kinds of things spring from them. This is a poem that my character Callie would write. Callie is from the new book- bouncing around titles in my head. geez, they all sound so good at the time--

QUOTE: Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for-Bob Marley.

WRITING TIP: It's okay to be confused-just write the ambivalence into one of your characters.

Local lobsters--notice they have no claws, but man are they tasty. You have to go pretty far off shore to find these.
Still working on the new book, the love story, and have come up with a new title.
SOMETIMES A BOOK IS JUST A BOOK-- okay, you have to read the book to get the title. But so far this is top contender for the title.
I'll begin teaching another writing class at CFCC next month, be sure to sign up or have a friend sign up. Trying some new things this time. It will be 8 weeks instead of 6 and there will be more class interaction.

QUOTE: Scenery is fine, but human nature is better--John Keats

WRITING TIP: experiment with dialect, it can be fun and add a different dimension to your story.

Hurricane Donna Sept. 12, 1960 --winds at 100 mph. Only a cat 2 but a strong cat 2.  The fishing piers got blasted then, winds came and knocked the center or ends of most off the 8 piers that were on the island at the time.

QUOTE: When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in. That's what this storm is all about--Haruki Murakami

WRITING TIP: The storm inside you  needs to be on paper.

I've never professed to be a painter-an artist in that medium-but as I stared at the plain blank walls of my abode i was compelled to do this. Hope you enjoy - would welcome any criticism--she can always be improved. A name? any suggestions there?

We all have stories. Stories happen to us all the time. Someone asked me the other day if one of my characters was a particular person. Of course, my characters are composites of the people whom I have met, those who have impressed upon me their lives, loves--their character. I'm sure I'm a character in someone else's story. I hope I'm a kind, pleasant one. Thank you to those interesting people who have come into my story.

QUOTE: "I had as yet no notion that life every now and then becomes literature"-Norman McLean (A River Runs Through It)

WRITING TIP: If you truly love writing, nothing or no one can ever stop you.

                                                                In the broad and silky morn
                                             
QUOTE AND TIP: A writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world, And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true--John Steinbeck

Oh, don't we look so excited (really?) geez--why didn't we smile more back in the day?

QUOTE: How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were? - Satchel Paige

WRITING TIP: When I write about youth, from a youthful perspective, I remember how I felt--all the insecurities, the doubts. Time or fashion does not change those things.

                LIFE STINKS
Out and about today, checking out the water--the sound. Geez, it was mighty peaceful--t'was nice.
Low tide comes along slowly, so does the smell that comes with it. Low tide is all about life; its beginning and ending. You can see it. Hermit crabs are out, fiddler crabs are scuttling along the marsh searching for food. Little fish are making sure they don't get stranded in the mud.
So much life comes from the sound where bigger fish come to spawn, shrimp are doing it too, other shell fish, all sorts of sea life (including sharks and rays) come to the sound where there's food and safety.
All that life is another world and it has a particular smell. I liken it to collards cooking or when I was a kid and would pull the covers over my head and let one rip.  Anyway, I've come to love that smell--it's life.

QUOTE: There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle-Albert Einstein
QUOTE: Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing-Camille Pissarro

WRITING TIP: stay amazed at what you are capable of.

     Before 6 this morning; it was so beautiful I had to take the shot, but then two seconds later the sun breached a bulkhead of clouds and it was even more beautiful--seconds later, even more...it just doesn't stop.
     Along the shore of my church, I contemplate a scene in a fiction I'm working on. Paula is tall (for a woman) lanky, almost boyish, with a shock of mousy brown too curly hair. Her heart belongs to the ocean and to a man who holds everything that love is supposed to be. Her trust in him is palpable. And he loves her heart, her goodness and how easy she is to manipulate. He will break her heart. He will destroy that which made her believe in dreams, and the hurting...it just doesn't stop.

Quote: I wake up in the morning and my mind starts making sentences, and I have to get rid of them fast--talk them or write them down-Ernest Hemingway

Writing tip: God made post-it-notes for a reason. Write down everything. If you are afraid of what others may think of what you write, then you shouldn't be a writer.
   
   

                                                                  Early morning beautiful.

QUOTE: Go outside amidst the simple beauty of nature and know that as long as places like this exist, there will be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be--Anne Frank

WRITING TIP: keep it cohesive, keep it simple.

A short while back I mentioned that I was writing an article about Monty Brigman for Livin' Out Loud magazine--well, here's Monty and his lovely wife Pansy many years ago. The photo below is Monty now. Monty fought in World War II. He was kind enough to sit down with me for an hour or so and tell me about those years of war. You can find the article on Monty in the above mention magazine; it is on line and copies can be found at the Sneads Ferry library, the Hampstead library, lots of doctor's offices and many shops in Surf City. Hope you enjoy the read.