CATCHING UP - Back to Writing!

After three months of not working on my book, I'm finally getting back to writing Marc and Katie's story. I'm not actually putting words to paper this week. Instead, I'm getting back into the story by rewatching the videos, reading the news links and listening to my playlist. 

I need to enter their world before I can take you along. 

I learned last week that the Ozark Creative Writers conference for October has been canceled - thanks to Covid-19.   Just saying that makes me want to rant, but I won't. We each have our opinions. I'll keep mine to myself. 

Friday, I received a call from Inn of the Ozarks asking if I wanted to cancel my reservation or move to next year. I opted to cancel for now. Instead, when we deem it safe, I'll make a new reservation (hopefully for the fall) and hide out for 3 or 4 days to do the final edits of this book. When I'm ready, maybe they will be a bit more open and I can enjoy the peace & tranquility. Time will tell.

In the mean time, I'm going to travel back there through An Ozarks Soldier's Homecoming.

We have Cynthia D' Alba in The Writer's Nest this week. I think the world of this lady and I look forward to showing you inside her space.

I am also currently reading The Brigands by Parris Afton Bonds. If I can get that read before Wednesday I'll have my review posted, otherwise that will run the following week. If you know anyting of Texas history, I'm sure you'll enjoy the book.

I have a new Blog Editorial calendar that I'm rolling out and hoping to keep me on track. I have 19 days til Bob comes home. Let's make this work!

Happy Reading!

CURRENT PROJECT - Timeline & Playlist

from popsugar.com

There are days when I feel like I'm barely treading water. I have all kinds of stuff in my head but when I sit down to type, nothing makes sense.

Then there's the AhHa moment... that blink when you realize why things aren't working.

I had two of those over the weekend.

1 - I've always written to a playlist that fit the story. I hadn't put one together for this book. There was no emotion behind anything I typed. My characters were flat, lifeless things with stories they weren't sharing.

In acting, (as I understand this) you are taught to connect with something in your past to build the emotion you are trying to portray.

Well, let's see. I've lost people in my life but I don't get emotional that way. I always see it as part of the circle of life. I grieve then I move on.
I love to bake but have never owned a bakery.
I've known two very special military people in my life. Neither of them died in battle. In fact, one still lives and serves 36 years after we first met. 

Where would I pull those emotions from?

I spent yesterday, Easter, putting together my playlist on YouTube. Then I watched several soldier homecoming videos and spent the next hour in tears. If you need a good cry and the tears won't come, watch some of those. The ones where service men/ women surprise their families during special occasions like weddings, graduations, or something as simple as Valentine's Day.

Here's a link to my playlist for An Ozarks Soldiers' Homecoming.

#amwriting

I'll leave you with some Reunion stories via a YouTube compilation:

NATIONAL PUPPY DAY!

Seriously, who can resist a cute puppy face and those sweet puppy kisses? I know I can't. This sweet boy is a perfect example:

Taken through the screen door, this is the day he showed up on our door step with that 'Can I come in?' look too cute to resist.

HoneyB was approximately six months old when he bounded onto my porch showing his cuteness. He is part Beagle ( a breed I swore I'd never own), part Spaniel and part Basset.

We discovered the Basset after  about the 1 year old mark when he began putting weight on. The Beagle in him is definitely the predominent gene. He scared himself the first time he found his howl. LOL Come August, he will be with us almost six years.

While this is Puppy Day, I thought this a good time to show the Hero's dog in AN OZARK SOLDIER'S HOMECOMING

I can't tell you when this sweet shepherd will make his appearance in the story but I promise you're going to love him!

Have pictures to share of your precious pooch? Share them on Instagram and tag me AngelaDrakeA .

Happy Reading!

CURRENT PROJECT - Returning Characters

The thing about writing a series is you often have characters that at least make an appearance in subsequent books.

Stephanie Douglas Keane was the heroine in An Ozarks Christmas. She and her business, Planned to Perfection, play key rolls in each of the three remaining books in the series. While we won't see much of her dashing musical husband (Brendan) her oldest daughter, Kimberly, is a solid character. 

Photo Courtesy of PixaBay

In An Ozark Soldier's Homecoming, Kim is fourteen. That makes her old enough to work as a bus person at Myrtie May's. She also has an interest in baking, helping Katie in the kitchen on occasion. Could we see her in Katie's bakery in a future book as a full employee? Maybe. We'll see how she does.

I've also been researching death benefits to see what Miss Edna would have received when the Army declared him deceased. The amount wasn't much. From what I've read, she would have received a one-time death benefit of around $700 and roughly $18.80 per month from social security. Using the Inflation Calculator, that comes out to about $192.68 today.  Not a lot for someone to live on, let alone raise a child. You'll learn more about Miss Edna and how she managed her finances over the years...

... just as soon as I finish the book ;-)

Do you know what your parents would have made in 1950? How does that compare to today and could you raise your family on that amount?  I'd love to hear.

Happy Reading!