John Denver Aspen Glow & The Unpredictable Tale

It's my birthday! Here is a re-post from last year and gift for all of you. Enjoy!



Now that you’ve enjoyed the music, here is the game that Emma and her Dad, Dominic de Mattos came up with called The Unpredictable Tale. If you visit their blogs you can read some of the stories that were generated from the game.

The Unpredictable Tale

Upon looking for some fun and inspiration today, I came up with a game for my dad (over at Writes of Passage) and me. It is a sort of literary exercise in itself, in which you have to write a short story depending on the rolling of a die! Hence the title 'The Unpredictable Tale' came up, and we got to trying it out. Before I post the result of my literary experiment, I'll explain the options that came up, and you can try out the game yourself if you like.

First die determines the basic role of the main character:
1] Spy/Detective
2] Fighter
3] Mage/Sorcerer
4] Child
5] Poor Person
6] Rich Person

Second decides the gender:
1-3] Male
4-6] Female

The third die shows the setting:
1] Forest
2] City
3] Cave
4] Desert
5] Mountains
6] Dungeon

And the fourth the time period:
1] Medieval
2] Futuristic
3] Victorian
4] Present Day
5] World Wars
6] Post Apocalyptic

At this stage you write the first paragraph, which needs to detail the information you have gained so far. It will describe the character and the setting. The first time we did this exercise dad and I decided to limit each paragraph to 100 words. This is great if you want a real challenge! The next stage in the process was to introduce a second character, by re-rolling the first two dice. You then have another paragraph to introduce the second character and make them meet your initial character.

The third paragraph occurs after you have rolled the die once more to determine 'What happens when...?
1] There is an Explosion
2] There is a Thunderstorm
3] A Weapon is Drawn
4] A Prophesy is Made
5] You Find an Object
6] You get Trapped

Lastly the fourth paragraph is the ending. Having a set ending is difficult, but it really challenges the imagination to think outside the box. Here are the options on the die:
1] Joy
2] Fate Confirmed
3] Defeat your Demons
4] Death
5] Love
6] Cliff Hanger!

I know I found this game, difficult and very informative! It was also great fun, and really pushed me to the limits of my creativity. I came up with two short stories that I'm really very proud of, firstly with a hundred word limit to each paragraph and secondly with no length limit. I hope you enjoy reading about, and maybe even playing my game, and check out my stories and my dad's stories when he gets round to posting them!

Thank you Dominic and Emma for letting me share this game with my followers.

P.S. Tomorrow, Guest Author Enid Wilson.

Have fun everyone.

Betty Boop ♫ Santa Baby, Wish List

YouTube link

Santa Baby is one of my favorite songs. I don't think I would have liked it when I was young, but getting older has changed my attitude about a lot of over the top serious stuff. At least it was over the top for me.

So what is number one too much money on my Christmas wish list?

Dental Implants. $40,000 plus. I've out lived my Mom who had to have dentures at 40. I'll be 60 on Sunday. But my Mom had so much trouble with her dentures I would love to have the implants, my husband needs them too. So Santa Baby, pretty please let me win or make enough $$ to get the work done this coming year.

Another big one is a trip to Disney World for Thanksgiving 2012. My grandchildren will be 5 and how much fun would that be?

Okay...that is not all that naughty but it's what I want. My condo back would be great too.

So I guess I better get writing on my sequel to Treasures, half done. I also will soon have two Adventures of Newert children's books available. I'm waiting for the art on one, Newert and the Hump-A-Links and will soon add, Lost in a Closet with T-Rex. Watch for the announcements.

What's on your wish list?

The Writing Craft post will return in January.
Nancy

Le cygne - Saint-Saens by Houtblazer

YouTube link

Houtblazer (You Tube name), is a brilliant, self taught flutist who I found while researching to make my book trailer. He lives in the Netherlands. Isn't it great that through the internet we can connect with people all over the world and learn to appreciate them?

I hope you enjoyed this.

More news:

You know you're tired when you schedule a blog and then discover it published a week earlier and you didn't even know it. Ugh!

6th Annual Northern Colorado Writers Conference at Chiseled in Rock.

Here is a blog where you can go and play with your characters in different scenarios that they start. Come In Character Blog Spot.

My daughter has a blog, please visit her at Tiger On My Bookshelf.
Nancy

John Denver - Annie's Song, Terry Wright wants short stories

I missed Alex J. Cavanugh's music blogfest because I was in the middle of my blog book tour to promote The Treasures of Carmelidrium. So I thought, why not share the music I love on Tuesdays. I know you're all busy, so one fabulous song at at time.


YouTube link

This song represents to me how, Prince Healden, in my epic fantasy, feels about my heroine, Michelle. Her nickname is Missie.
Enjoy!

Some corrections.

Terry Wright is both self published and has been published by a small press. He is currently looking for short stories to publish via his new e-publishing business, TBR Press. Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Horror and Thrillers. Anyone can submit at submissions@twbpress.com

Plus, another 4 star review of The Treasures of Carmelidrium by Cherie Reich. You can read it here or on Amazon.com & UK, Good Reads and I put it in my pages above too.

Nancy

The Beauty Of Mathematics!!.mp4

I hope you enjoyed that. I'm taking this week off.

On Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 I will start a new series that will take a close look at Plot. See my blog schedule tab above.

An absolutely must read post is here.

Predictions for the future of publishing can be found here.

See you then.
Nancy

Here's the YouTube link.

Supermarket Flashmob, Hump Day Improvisation:

Your Hump Day Challenge:

I hope you enjoyed the mob flash and are inspired. Today, write a few sentences about a character that is lost in time, for good or bad.

As always, I will have my sentences added at 6 p.m. Pacific time. Check back to read them.

Have fun!

2010 New Year's Firework at Harbour Bridge SYDNEY

New Years Eve: No Resolutions Here

I’m not big on making resolutions. They only get broken. So here are a few thoughts and a YouTube of New Years 2010 in Sydney, Australia.

1. I’m going to become a millionaire by writing the first ever “word verification” dictionary. Think of the possibilities. Turning non words into meaningful…well, you get the idea.
2. I have lost 31 pounds this year, and yes, it was on purpose.
3. I am moving to a far away place where no one can bug me…okay, I’m not really doing that.
4. I plan to blog even more in 2011.
5. I plan to write the next book in my High Fantasy Series. Book one is out. “The Treasures of Carmelidrium.”
6. The way to pronounce that is: Carmel-li-dre-um. Does that help?
7. I made up the word Carmelidrium so I am on my way to making that money with that “word verification” dictionary.
8. I am going to write a series of novellas too, featuring a Phoenix heroine.
9. Someone asked me how I knew they would be a novella? Because I plan it that way.
10. How big is a novella? Well, it’s at least 20,000 words and no more than 45,000 words. At least to me anyway.
11. Wait…I just realized my entire blog could be a novella. Well, I won’t do that to you.
12. I’m stopping now. I hope I made you laugh in between the true stuff. I like the word stuff, don’t you? It reminds me of cuddly teddy bears.



By the way, my blog book tour starts Friday, Jan. 7, 2011. I’ll be posting the tour schedule next week.

Happy New Year, Nancy

Vanessa Williams performs "I Wonder as I Wander"

You Tube...Vanessa Williams, I Wonder as I Wander.

Come back tomorrow for another favorite. Merry Christmas!

Hump Day Improvisation: Winter Activities & Sleigh Rides at Homestead Resort

Rocky Mountain Outfitters, YouTube.

Now that you are inspired. (You did watch the video. Yes, it is Colorado, U.S.A.) Today’s Hump Day Challenge is to write several sentences with a character that is enjoying some sports activity or a sleight ride in winter. Okay, you can go to the dark side of winter too. Accidents, whiteouts, blizzards, frozen limbs…good or bad have at it. Once you’ve had a chance to post your sentences, come back after 6 p.m. pacific time to read mine.

Above all, have fun!

P.S. I have jury duty today. I've already written my sentences scheduled for 6 p.m. pacific time, but I may not be back to do much blogging. I'll miss you all.

Hurray, the trial got canceled and I got to come home.
Nancy

Midwinter Blogfest & Christmas Canon

Since I signed up for two blogfest in one day, I posted the Midwinter blogfest first and Harry Potter after I hope you will visit both post and leave comments for each

Midwinter Blogfest hosted by Marieke at Marieke’s Musings.

What does your MC do for the holiday? It can be a holiday before you place them in the story you’re writing. In 500 words or less.

Christmas Concert to Benefit the Children’s Hospital

“Please welcome, Rama Mohammad and Missie Kersten,” the conductor said.

The crowd clapped.

Missie smiled at Rama, they walked on stage. The scent of pine washed over Missie. The orchestra occupied a place at the far end. Rama’s grand piano was close while Missie’s music stand was in the center. Behind, the auditorium backdrop featured a midwinter scene at night. Before the backdrop, fresh pine trees glowed with colored lights.

The conductor lifted his baton. With a nod of his head and a dramatic sweep of his baton the holiday concert began.

Rama played the first notes to O’ Holy Night, her fingers gliding over the keyboard. The orchestra joined in, the violins struck a balance to the brilliance Rama inspired. As the song swept into the final note and the orchestra faded, Missie’s butterflies dispersed from her nervous stomach and she lifted her flute to the tune of I Wonder as I Wander. The flute became soulful. On the fourth stanza Rama’s piano joined the flute. Both women lifted the tune, the violins were sweet, the song slowed, the flute tones faded, the piano held a note, and the cymbal broke the mood to introduce Feliz Navidad.

Rama’s piano struck a playful dance; the trumpeters stood and cheerfully blew the notes in rhythm. Missie waited, she watched the conductor, patient for her moment. Raising the flute, she held it close to her lips. The lights dimmed and the spotlight shifted to Missie. She felt the increase of heat. The conductor signaled and she tenderly blew the first note of Ave Maria into the aperture of her instrument. Not once did she waiver in her solo performance. The music drew her heart. She neared the end…hold, release.

The lights faded from Missie and captured Rama, then the orchestra. Rama immediately touched the keys of her piano and introduced, Christmas Canon. The violins joined her and a childrens choir walked on stage singing the classic music. Missie smiled, she loved this song.

The tone faded, the children began to leave the stage while still singing the last two lines. The conductor waved the baton toward Missie, the lights drew her figure, and she blew the notes to Aspen Glow. A guitarist in the orchestra strummed the music along with her; the bell choir tinkled at the precise moment. The orchestra took the lead to blend into Carol of the Bells.

Rama played. Instead of a French horn or Trumpet, Missie’s flute carried the quick beat, capturing the tension, she added drama, and excitement flowed through her.

When the last note played, and the orchestra fell silent, Missie lowered her instrument and stepped in front of the music stand. Rama stood before the grand piano and the orchestra before their chairs. The audience cheered, the musicians bowed, and the thrill of the evening still danced in Missie’s heart.

The End.

Now for your enjoyment, Christmas Canon from YouTube.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer Official HD, and other things.

Friday, Nov. 19, 2010




Very cool! Will you go see it?

Last week Joanne asked:

I'll go back to your writing roots. What made you decide to actually write a book? Do you remember when that spark took hold, and what incident, or words, or thoughts, brought it to life?

I dabbled in writing most of my life and that is saying something since I was switched from my left hand to my right and couldn’t read until my mother taught me phonics in the summer between 3rd grade and yes, 3rd grade. I had to repeat for obvious reasons.

Life sent me a tragedy when I was in my mid-twenties. I left that situation and was deeply affected. That was when I began to write in earnest. I never thought of publishing until I allowed my mother and a few friends to read my little story. All of them said I should try to get it published. That story went through many transformations and is in some measure reflected in what all my characters go through in all my subsequent stories. Isn’t that true of all of us? It resonates with readers because, while we all suffer things, they are not entirely the same thing, yet the emotions, the struggles; the heartache is much the same. Like our characters, we should all have hope, to come out of any trial a better, more compassionate person.

If you’d like to ask another question, give it a whirl.

Tomorrow I am hosting Mary Montague Sikes on her blog tour. Don’t forget to check in.

Election Day in Colorado, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010

If you've always wondered about American politics and you are from another country. Okay, if you've wondered and you are from America. Have no fear. In America, it is illegal to assassinate your political opponent. This has lead to a rare form of death. Better known as 'Death by Tongue Lashing.'

My good friend and critique partner has a few things to say about that in the YouTube post below.



He has my vote!

Rejection

Rejection.