A Word in Hand

Good Day,

I am trying the old writer's trick of getting up each morning and actually writing something. To all intents, my aim is to add a few more words to the last of four novels set here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but some days I don't do a heck of a lot more done than to answer my emails.

Do you recall a time without emails? I do, sort of. I got on the Internet while I was still writing for the local newspaper. I got up early each morning to write the news. It was always an adventure - one that required a deal of artistic ability when nothing much was happening. Nothing much required making calls to various individuals in the community to see what was shaking - were the eagles hatching at the refuge; had the city rejected liquor licenses for the new restaurant on Main Street; what new requirements had been added to the building code; and which local cheerleaders were headed for the nationals? I won some awards for my excellence in community journalism, so the proof was in the putting.

A word in hand is worth two at the water cooler.

I had a tough time working on novels after a day without news, but I always kept an ear out for stories, let them perculate, and dredged them up one day later in life when I had time to really write.

Today, I try to do my blogs - this one and authorsontour.blogspot.com where I post blog stops for award-winning author and publicist Nikki Leigh first thing in the morning. Then, I try, and don't always succeed in adding a few words to the book.

I am not sure a series is a good idea. Four books is a lot, but I believe I will prevail and one day look back at the finished project as a study in discipline.

At any rate, if you are a writer, keep going no matter what else might come first. You and your readers will be glad you did. Terry

A Waterview Home

Howdy Bloggers,

Five years ago I stepped off the edge of the real estate cliff and purchased a home of my own. This might not feel like such a big deal to some people, but it was really important for me. I found my waterview home after only a year and a half of searching.

It was on a different side of the same block as my apartment, and offered at a price people can't believe. I slid under the gate as the boom arrived and the rest of the neighborhood was bought up by speculators. As a single woman, I had no idea what the heck I was doing. Whew!

To date, I have had most of the interior painted twice and accessed a grant program that helped me deal with the leaky windows and the holes in the floor. The siding has been repaired and the trim painted so that the house looks crisp and clean. There are still a lot of things I would like to do, but I am glad I took a friend's advice and didn't do anything at all for a year.

We learn to live with some of the flaws in our home sweet homes. And we learn to appreciate the good things: like the deep, shaded back yard that offers habitat to many species of birds and an enormous population of squirrels who eat everything I plant - and my porch with a water view.

The house is only four blocks from the Choptank River. The river, nearly two miles wide at Cambridge, sets the tone for the city where out-of-towners moor their boats and dream of retirement homes. That makes it a waterview home. I love it for it is surely on the sunny side, despite all its flaws. Terry

Blowing Bubbles

Hello Bloggers,

I worked for a medical adult day care center a few years back and one of my most successful activities for people with alzheimer's disease was to take them out to the porch and give them bottles of detergent so that they could blow bubbles. It was absolutely enchanting to watch their faces when the smiles emerged out of their foggy confusion.

Sometimes when I get stuck on a story I wish I had a magic wand to blow some of the fog out of my own brain. Fact is, I usually keep some of those little bottles of bubble stuff in the house and don't hesitate to go out on the porch to blow bubbles when I get stuck. Yes, it does draw some puzzled looks from my neighbors, but their opinion is their problem. They ought to try it.

Sometimes the simplest things can offer the solutions to the stickiest problems. If you look closely at a bubble you will see that it is composed of a rainbow wrapped around a wish. I have an idea that when the wish is freed, some of the block that held up my work disappears.

So, if you are having trouble finding the sunny side, why not try blowing a few bubbles? You will be glad you did. Terry

Terry L White -Author of the Chesapeake Heritage Series
"Travel Through Time With Terry"
http://www.terrylwhitesblog.blogspot.com/

Friday, March 6, 2009

Good Day,

Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours offers a full line of author services coordinated by award-winning author and publicist Nikki Leigh.

Today, join author Phyllis Schieber and Marta's Meanderings who shares a review of her new book Willing Sprits at http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/

Look forward to mid-month when Darryl Hagar, author of The Man Overboard, will share his story of being a merchant marine and working on 900' tankers and the extra curricular activities that led his life for over 25 years.

Learn to integrate the Law of Attraction at Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours, not use it by itself. Dyan Garris has built an integrated series of tools, including the award nominated book "Money and Manifesting" to help you overcome your financial shortages.

Other featured tours this month include campaigns for Maria G. Mulvaney, founder of the Women's Millionaire Club and a Dan Fogleberg retrospective at http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/

Spring is coming, so keep on the sunny side. Terry

Brrrrrrrrrr, Really?

Hello Bloggers,

I am not used to the cold we are having these days. Brrrrrrrr as it says in my title for the day. The old folks, and native residents, tell me that this sort of cold is not unusual for the Eastern Shore. All of this indicates to me that weather can come in cycles.

I remember the late 60s in the Adirondacks and one winter when the temperature stayed below zero for more than a month, with the thermometer falling as far as 40 degrees below zero. The house I lived in had no plumbing, and I will tell you that morning walk to the privy was a bitch - but the pipes didn't freeze. You learn to count your blessings.

I am not so fond of the cold, it gets in my bones and some days the only warm spot was under the covers. I get up anyway and try to carry on my life under the pile of clothing necessary to maintain a steady body temperature. I sort of wish someone could take the 100 degree days we experience here in mid-summer and moderate the cold, saving some of the cold to temper the heat, but I suppose that is too much to ask!

One good thing about the cold is that it keeps me in the house looking for things to do. That said, I absolutely make myself sit down at the computer to work on the book of at day. I am in final book sag in my Chesapeake Heritage series and I have to thank this recent cold snap for keeping my fingers on the keyboard and breaking the writer's block on this particular tale. Thanks, Jack Frost. Thanks meteorologist. It worked!

So. I need to get to work. I sure appreciate the cold weather when things like that happen. Today I have to get out to attend the Wednesday Morning Artists weekly get together, so I sure hope the sun is shining on all of the ice and snow outside my snug little den. Have a great day folks and keep on the sunny side. Terry


Terry L White -Author of the Chesapeake Heritage Series
"Travel Through Time With Terry"
http://www.terrylwhitesblog.blogspot.com

Oh, Snow

Hello Bloggers,

Well, the weatherman didn't lie. There were a flurry or two last night when I went to bed and this morning we have the cliche 'winter wonderland.' I do not like this, Sam I Am.

Of course, children adore a day off from school and I don't begrudge them their snow day. In fact, I think it is pretty neat. There aren't too many hills here on the Eastern Shore, but today will see the city's kids playing over at the courthouse on what is optimistically called Snow Hill. Children have played on that lawn for years, sliding down the gentle slopes there. We make the most of what we have.

My tall yew hedge is bent nearly to the ground with the weight of the wet snow, and I can see at least one broken branch from my kitchen window. I hope one branch is all I lose. My back yard is fairly secluded thanks to this very tall hedge and I would hate to lose the privacy.

This is, I understand, winter's last gasp and I am tickled right to death. I love the sunny days of spring and I imagine there are lots of other folks on the Eastern Seaboard looking for the sunny side. Have a good one! Terry

Terry L White -Author of the Chesapeake Heritage Series
"Travel Through Time With Terry"
http://www.terrylwhitesblog.blogspot.com

Whaddya Mean Snow?

Good Morning Bloggers,

In like a lion! The weatherman says the Eastern Shore stands to get as much as a foot of snow tonight and tomorrow. I say Humbug! February is the worst part of the year for me, and now they are saying we are about to get a huge storm on the first of March.

I could do without it. Really I could. This isn't fair. The yard is alive with robins, whole flocks and herds of them are populating the yard recently. Kinda looks like they have been fibbing too. Whass up with that? I can deal with the darned groundhog. I think his publicist sets up a sun lamp so the poor little rodent sees his shadow and goes back in his burrow for an extended nap.

Hey, I get up in the middle of the night myself for a potty break.

The yard is ready for spring. The squill lilies and daffodils have sprouted and are nearly two inches tall. They are going to wish they stayed in for a while longer.

I know I don't plan to go outside if it snows. I spent way too many years wading in snow up to my ankles, knees and bottom. I shoveled snow and pushed snow and wallowed in snow. Never did like the stuff.

I even moved a few hundred miles south so I wouldn't have to deal with the rotten stuff so often, and it found me! My plan is to stop at the market on the way home from Sunday dinner and to fight the crowds. I need some bread, milk and toilet paper.

I would suggest you all keep on the sunny side, but you can't see the sun through the snow. An alternate suggestion: pray for spring. Terry

Terry L White -Author of the Chesapeake Heritage Series
"Travel Through Time With Terry"
http://www.terrylwhitesblog.blogspot.com