Hey y'all--I am going to be moving my blog to carolannross.com. It's certainly easier to find and hopefully more pleasing to the eye with the new format.
 In fact, lots of things are changing with the blog and my author page. Please continue to follow and comment if you will. I always enjoy the comments. Thank you, Carol Ann Ross

Recently I had the chance to introduce the ocean to someone who never thought about it.
Sure, they had seen it a few times, played on it's beaches, but getting to know it--well, that's a different story. I have no more power to make someone know the ocean than I do having a rock talk, but the introduction, the quiet, the little snippets about swells, tides, the critters that come out of it-as we walked. After a time I noticed a different demeanor, a calm, and found myself invading a space they had  found--even without looking for it, it had happened. I saw it in their face-because there are no words. 
 I am a thalassophile. My journey is to bring as many as I can to know the ocean--through words, or just being--to share its power, its calm and that sense that we are one with this grand entity.


QUOTE: "The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew,
the furrow followed free:
We were the first that ever burst
Into that silent sea."  from THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The last couple of days have been quite blustery and overcast, but that's no excuse for not walking on the beach. A real mermaid is sea bound in all types of weather. And if you missed the storm last night, it was a doozy-Amphitrite had the ocean whipped up into a frenzy. If you don't know who Amphitrite is, she was Poseidon's wife. Like I said-- learning all kinds of stuff with THE MERMAID DID IT. And yes, Amphitrite was a mermaid.
     Searching for ways to express myself can be a bug-a-boo, so I search for vehicles. This time I'm using mythology.....somewhat.

QUOTE:"I have moments of huge frustration because of my inability to express myself linguistically as clearly as I would like to." David Gilmour

WRITING TIP: There are oodles of things that can be your inspiration--nothing is stupid or trite.

Poseidon plays a significant role in my next book THE MERMAID DID IT. I've been learning a lot about this Greek god while working on the new project--he is the brother of Zeus, he's the god of the sea and other waters, of earthquakes and horses.  Not surprisingly, and like most of the gods of Olympus, Poseidon was a great lover. His most noted lover, and wife was a mermaid named Amphitrite--this itself, is an interesting tale. If you have the time,  check out this love story.

As for THE MERMAID DID IT, The book is moving along swimmingly, (lol)
I'm a little over a third of the way through, so I thought I might share a bit--here is a small excerpt:

   I thought it could be her—not a lot of gals built that high and with freckles.” .......

now, she’s a looker. Hot stuff, and the way she stands—there’s something about her—man-eater.

     “You got that too?”

     “Yep, I’ve seen enough of them to know—kinda a sixth sense.”

QUOTE: "When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew." William Shakespeare

WRITING TIP: Writing is an opportunity to learn about all kinds of things, especially yourself.

    

Lovely day for a walk on the beach. Found 12 pieces of glass and a nice sized shark's tooth. If you've read my Waterlogged, Bridge Tender and the Tower, then you are familiar with the character Lev. He's a bit more active in this new book THE MERMAID DID IT. And poor ol' Paula, all I can say is-it stinks being forced to learn new stuff. Life's lessons can be harsh.

QUOTE: "I do not understand how anyone can live without some small place of enchantment to turn to" -  Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

WRITING TIP: The perfect place is the place where you have to be.

Another beautiful day at the beach. Thank you Jesus--and Happy Easter!
 The above is a water color by Patti Blacknight. Patti is the owner of The Mermaid's Purse in Surf City and a very talented artist. She does some funky stuff with what is called Steam Punk--anyway--Patti is designing Poseidon, a sort of character in THE MERMAID DID IT. I'm now 1/3 of the way through my little mystery--hoping it will be ready by the end of July.  Lev, Don, Paula, Carrie, and some more good guys and bad folk are turning out to make this one hell of a story. FUN, FUN, FUN!

QUOTE: "If you presume to love something, you must love the process of it much more than you love the finished product" John Irving.

WRITING TIP: I think Mr. Irving is correct-- I do love the writing process, it takes me to another land. The idea of never going there again is unimaginable. I love what I get to do--and though I'm rarely wholly satisfied with the end product, it is so worth the journey.