Behind The Words

Gone Too Soon

This past Thursday the World was stunned by the news that pop superstar, Michael Jackson had died from a cardiac arrest.  Earlier that day, actress Farrah Fawcett lost her courageous battle to cancer. 

I spoke with my friend Sharon about this, and she made it clear that both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson played a special role in her childhood.  I seized the opportunity and asked Sharon to share her memories in this week's blog.  Over to you Sharon . . .

Rules of Thumb - Part Six

What is a rule of thumb?  Someone once said it is a homemade recipe for making a guess, an easy-to-remember guide that falls somewhere between a precise formula and a blind stab at something.  Rules of thumb help you evaluate a puzzling situation or a difficult project, or to navigate unfamiliar waters.  If you have never written a novel, and are considering tackling one, my rules of thumb will go a long way to easing you into your new endeavor and assisting you in navigating those mysterious waters.  I can vouch for my rules because each has been tested and proven many times, a few I even learned the hard way (for example, my blog entry on April 14 - Rules of Thumb, Part One, 2009: Rules #7 and #11).

Enjoy!

The Days of Wine and Roses

Recently, on a cable TV channel that airs old movies, I watched the wonderful Blake Edwards film, "The Days of Wine and Roses," starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick (1962). In one scene, Ms Remick recites a haunting and poignant poem:

"They are not long, the days of wine and roses:

Out of a misty dream

Our path emerges for a while, then closes

Within a dream."

Rules of Thumb - Part 5

I am happy to present another bountiful installment from my Rules of Thumb collection - hints and tips and tricks that have served me well in thirty-three years of being a published author.  These are tried-and-true rules that I promise will help you on your path to a career in writing.

I Remember John Ritter

In 2003 I was invited to an event in Beverly Hills where I was to receive a Brandeis University award for my latest book, "The Blessing Stone." My very dear friend and assistant, Sharon, (whom some of you know) went with me. The event was a fabulous banquet at the elegant Beverly Wilshire Hotel (opposite famed Rodeo Drive) and my fellow honorees that day included a stage actress, a biographer and actor John Ritter.

Rules of Thumb - Part Four

After I posted my personal Rules of Thumb For Writing (April 14, 2009), I received such a nice response from readers that I added to the list with a second and third installment. I am happy to present a fourth list of helpful hints, secret tips, clever tricks, and guarantied-to-work guidelines that have proven successful time and again in my thirty-one years of being a published author (I use the qualifier "published" because I have actually been an author for more years than that, but I mark the publication of The Magdalene Scrolls in 1978 as my debut as a professional writer).

My Dinner With Patricia Neal

 One of the side benefits of being a published novelist is the chance to meet celebrities.  A typical book and author luncheon, for example, will feature four authors: one who has written a non-fiction book; another who has written a children's book or coffee table book; a novelist; and someone (usually famous) who has written an autobiography.  At these luncheons, which are usually fund raisers for charitable causes, as many as five hundred guests will come to hear a panel of authors speak, each for about twenty minutes.  Over the years I have had the good fortune to attend many such events at which notable celebrities have appeared.

Rules of Thumb - Part Three

 While I am editing, trimming and polishing my latest manuscript, "This Golden Land," (please see last week's blog entry, "Now For the Real Work") I would like to take a moment and share some more of my favorite rules of thumb for writing.  These are little gems of wisdom that I have collected in my thirty-three years of being a published author, and they are good helpful hints for both the novice and seasoned writer.  Enjoy!

Now For The Real Work

This weekend I finished my latest book (#24), "This Golden Land," (which one might call a prequel to my earlier book about Australia, "The Dreaming"). The page total came in way past what my editor wants so now begins the work of trimming. This is a necessary step. No matter how brilliant or exciting a story might be, it will not have the desired effect if it is ponderous and wordy. Brevity truly is the soul of wit, but writing something short takes time. I believe it was Mark Twain who said, "Sorry for the long letter. I didn't have time to write a short one."

Rules of Thumb - Part Two

Two weeks ago I posted a list of my personal Rules of Thumb for Writing (April 14, 2009), gleaned from years of being a published author.  I have learned from my successes as well as my mistakes, I have also learned from other authors who have been kind enough to pass along their own rules of thumb.  Here are a few more, gems every one of them.

Strong Women, Frilly Dresses

I am told that my heroines are strong yet feminine, and I have frequently been asked how and why I achieve this.

My strong heroines stemmed from my frustration as a reader when I was young.  There seemed to be not much to choose from in novels: heroines were either ladylike governesses waiting for Mr. Rochester to come along and marry them, or wild women out of control needing a Petruchio to tame them, or the witchy heroines of steamy potboilers hopping into bed with every man from chauffeurs to CEO's.  None of them were real and therefore their stories were not satisfying.  A reader needs to relate to the central character in order for a story to be successful.  A reader needs to like the central character in order to care what happens to her.  I thought: why can't a heroine be strong and nice at the same time?  Assertive yet ladylike.  Confident yet with manners.  A woman in whom we would like to think we see ourselves.  After all, that's why we read fiction - to experience an adventure we would never experience in real life.  And the more we see ourselves in the protagonist, the more we enjoy the adventure.

Rules of Thumb - Part One

I recently purchased a great little book called Rules of Thumb by Tom Parker (Workman Publishing, 2008) and discovered some gems between its covers:  "The drier the wine, the higher the alcohol level," and "To test for a rotten egg, put it in water.  Rotten eggs float."

Am I Doctor Birnbaum?

I am often asked if my characters are drawn from people in real life.
The answer is: All authors draw their characters from real life, either by creating pastiches from borrowed bits and pieces from people they know, or using a full-blown person and hoping to get away with it.

My father was someone I frequently drew dialogue from.  Since he was Polish, with English being his second language, he sometimes didn't get things quite right.  One day, as he stood in front of a mirror patting his stomach, he said, "Babs, I'm putting on weight.  Do you think I should join Watch Makers?"  I put that amusing comment in the mouth of a character in Stars, my sequel to Butterfly.  My father also had an interesting way of stating the obvious about the weather: "Rain's coming down."  "Wind's blowing."  "Sun's shining."  As if the rain and wind and sun could do anything else.  I had a character utter those phrases in Private Entrance.

Things Are Not Always What They Seem

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog entry about my broken washing machine and how it gave me a little taste of history (February 17, 2009). I am now doing laundry with my brand-new whoop-de-do machine that is so computerized, it weighs the clothes before pouring in the water. Fancy indeed, but there are still some bugs to be worked out. My futuristic washing machine still can't tell when a red sock has been accidentally mixed in with the whites, so I now have some lovely pink blouses! But this incident has triggered an interesting memory from my past.

Congratulations!!

Congratulations to my dear friend (and assistant) Sharon, and her husband on the birth of their baby boy, Adrian who was born Friday March 20th.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE!!

But Is It Good For Your Heart?

This year, in the United States, Daylight Saving Time began two days ago on March 8.  It will end on November 1 (giving the trick-or-treaters an extra hour of daylight).

Fond Memories of Denali

In my list of books that I would like to write, there is one that chronicles the modern history of Alaska. I had the pleasure of living there for a while, and the memories are all wonderful. I worked at Mount McKinley National park, catering to tourists. It was a great way to meet people, and wildlife as well.

Are You A Mover?

I recently read an interesting anecdote about Herbert Hoover (31st President of the United States, b. 1874 d.1964). When he was a college student, he looked for jobs to support himself while going to school, and one business that he applied at had an opening for a stenography position. Hoover jumped at it, but said he couldn't start for several days. His new boss said that was okay and sure enough, a few days later the young man showed up promptly on time. Curious, the employer asked Hoover why he needed the delay, and the young man replied, "The job calls for skill with a typewriter, and as I had none, I needed to find a typewriter and teach myself how to use it."

A Real Taste Of History

I had an amazing time-travel experience this morning.  It was unexpected, and quite a hoot, but one that I wouldn't wish to repeat.  In the wink of an eye, I was flung back to the pre-washing machine era.

Since most of my novels are historical, people tend to think that I must wish I had lived in ages past.  But the truth is, the more I have studied history, the more I am glad I live when I do.  While bygone eras might seem romantic to us, I think that truthfully, we would not find them so pleasant. 

 That was my experience this morning as I sat here working on my latest book, "This Golden Land."  The beautiful silence of the morning was shattered by an awful sound.  It came from the laundry room.  I raced to see what had happened, and found that my twenty-year-old washing machine had passed away in the middle of the wash cycle (it couldn't have chosen to die during the rinse cycle, nooooo).  Nothing I did could coax it to give me one more cycle.  I had no choice but to pull the soapy, sodden laundry out of the machine and haul it into the kitchen where I dumped the entire mess into the sink.