Good News

Posted on June 1, 2013 by KathyH

I’m honored and delighted to write that my flash piece “Bonefever” will be published by Every Day Fiction on June 18th. It’s a zombie story set on Palm Beach (in the Henry Flagler Museum). I’ve been reading EDF for years (I follow them on Facebook), and they are a wonderful online magazine publishing new flash fiction daily. Check them out!

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Worth Reading #4: Abbreviated but Worthy

Posted on May 16, 2013 by KathyH

I have been meaning to write these reviews for months. These two books have been sitting on the shelf, and my original plan was to review them along with a third book. Needless to say, I still haven’t finished that book (Sena Jeter Naslund’s Ahab’s Wife – just lovely!), and it’s time to return these two to the library. First, brief reviews, with links to much more informative pieces about each book.

Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell. I love Karen Russell. I’ve read her two previous books (St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves and Swamplandia!), and her elegant writing style and rich imagination are inimitable. In Russell’s world, dead presidents return as horses (“The Barn at the End of Our Term”), and vampires haunt sun-warmed Italian lemon groves (“Vampires in the Lemon Grove”). In “Reeling for the Empire,” young girls are transformed into silk-spinning worms. The only story I didn’t find compelling was “Dougbert Shackleton’s Rules for Antarctic Tailgating.” I skimmed this tale and moved on to the next. Otherwise, another wonderful collection by a masterful writer. I look forward to her future releases.

For Joy Williams’ review of Vampires, please see here.

The Fiddler on Pantico Run by Joe Mozingo. Again, kudos to TheRumpus.net for introducing me to another fantastic author. Autobiography, memoir, genealogy, history, travelogue—this book is a little bit of everything adeptly woven together to form a compelling story. “My father’s family landed in 1942 Los Angeles as if by immaculate conception, unburdened by the past,” writes Mozingo. His last name intrigues him. What are its origins? Is it Italian? Basque? It turns out that the name Mozingo originated with a freed slave from Virginia, and every Mozingo in America is descended from him. Joe Mozingo embarks on a fascinating journey, exploring former plantations in Virginia, meeting distant cousins in Indiana, and finally traveling to Africa to find the earliest traces of the Mozingo line.

Here is the interview with Joe Mozingo.

Next on my reading list: Stoner by John Williams and A Jane Austen Daydream by Scott D. Southard.

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Small indulgences and the like

Posted on May 9, 2013 by KathyH

Last week, it rained nearly non-stop, which is a fairly rare occurrence in this part of Florida (tropical storms excepted). Practices and other outdoor activities were cancelled, and it made for a lovely, lazy week. Parenting is a seldom lazy life, and it was good to have a few days where I didn’t have to jump in the car and drive around for hours.

I neglected to recommend something for last week, so I’ll combine it with this week’s, a day early since I am traveling tomorrow. Small indulgences. In honor of Mother’s Day, but really, I’m thinking of the little moments that any mom or dad finds in the midst of all the busyness to breathe and enjoy something for her- or himself. Last week, as thunder rattled the windows and the rain pebbled against the glass, I poured a glass of wine and watched a re-run of the original “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Oh, the angst, the early ’90’s fashion statements. Long floral dresses, suspenders, dark lipstick and darkened eyebrows. It was the season four ender: Brandon goes to Washington, D.C., and Kelly follows him. Brenda is going to London/being written off the show. Good times.

My other small indulgence for this week is a manicure. I get maybe three a year, and today was one of them. My manicurist gave the best hand and arm massage, and my nails are a lovely shade of lilac (Essie’s “Love & Acceptance”). Of course, I smudged them while buckling my seatbelt, but still, they are pretty.

Now, back to preparing for travel, looking over a story nearly ready for submission, and working on the job hunt. Have a great weekend!

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Trust Your Judgment (or, some final thoughts on the thesis, editing, and feedback)

Posted on April 24, 2013 by KathyH

My novel/thesis project is now at my university, on my advisor’s desk, and I am waiting on her final approval. What a journey! Two years ago, the thought of getting a master’s in writing was little more than a brief thought, a vague idea: “Oh, I like writing…maybe I should look into a program.” Now, it’s real. May 19th and I will have the MA in Creative Writing.

Some brief thoughts as I wrap-up this phase of the writing journey: Based on the feedback I have received from my advisor and thesis mentor, I’m already considering some significant rewrites of my novel. Both instructors pointed out weaknesses and issues in the story. There are clichés and some oblique spots where it’s unclear what the characters really want. There are moments where I can paint a more in-depth picture with words. What are my background characters doing? my advisor asked me. Can you make those scenes more than a collective blur? In addition to rewriting based on specific feedback, I’m also considering problems that are nagging me. Like my ending. I don’t like how I’ve written parts of it. I think it could be more meaningful—richer—with some plot changes.

Now, I have my summer writing planned.

Both my mentor and advisor have said all along to trust my judgment, that at the end of the day, it is my decision to make any suggested changes. As a fairly new writer, the thought of trusting my judgment can be a little daunting. There’s something comforting about receiving feedback, whether good or bad, and being able to adjust a story accordingly. The next step is to take that feedback and consider what I want to do with this story. It’s exciting. It’s scary. I need to make choices that will serve the story. What will emerge organically? What will be changed consciously?

In the meantime, I’m taking some time off to consider the next step. I’m starting to look for jobs, and I haven’t ruled out applying to MFA programs. At the beginning of the semester, I submitted several short stories, and I have to return to those and send them to other journals. Publication is essential. And, of course, I have to start writing again. This blog post is the first new writing I have done in months (excluding the thesis). I feel rusty and hesitant. But I have several ideas for fiction and non-fiction projects, and I love the thrill of beginning a new piece.

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Finished!

Posted on March 8, 2013 by KathyH

I suppose a book is never truly finished, but yesterday, I completed a solid draft of my novel/thesis project. There’s much more editing ahead; indeed, the binding copy is due in April, and I will have to revise based on my advisor’s feedback. But it feels great to look at the document and know that the writing is consistent, the plot is stronger, and that I’ve begun (it’s not truly finished) to grasp my characters’ motivations and emotions.

I began this novel in 2005 as a sequel to a novel I had completed but eventually decided to shelve. About four years ago, I rewrote/revised about half of the novel and then abandoned it when I hit a block. When I needed some pages to workshop for a class last winter, I dug out the first 20 pages. For a self-editing course this fall, I continued revising it, and it made sense to finish rewriting it for my thesis project. And yesterday, I finished.

I’m pleased with the changes I’ve made. Originally, it had a “chick-lit” quality to it, both in content and structure, that felt dated and false. While by no means is this the “Great American Novel,” the writing is more mature. Gone are the little snarky asides and one-word quips. My chick-lit novel has graduated to women’s fiction. I’ll take it! There’s a decent market for that genre, and with more revision, I’d like to have it ready for querying by the end of the summer.

But for now, I’m enjoying the feeling of accomplishment and the sense of relief that I will graduate with the MA this May.

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Odds and Ends, Again

Posted on February 6, 2013 by KathyH

I have officially not exercised for the past two weeks, unless my two walks count. I’ve been eating cleanly, with the exception of this past weekend, and I generally feel good. One of my kids has been ill this week, so I’ve done a lot of sitting around. Thank you, Bravo TV, for producing deliciously craptastic television. “The Millionaire Matchmaker,” who knew??

The novel/thesis project is moving along. I’ve revised the first two parts and am about to tackle the third. This is where I stopped writing in the past, and I remember why. I hit a block of sorts – more like a panic. I am writing scenes where my protagonists are finally together, and now what? I’m looking at these remaining pages (literally, as they are spread across my dining room table), and dread fills me. I know how the novel ends; I’m happy with the final scene. But to get these characters through an emotionally-charged day to those last moments…more writer-angst as I consider the choices I need to make.

I made these scones yesterday, and they are amazing.

I’ve talked a little here about how I follow a Paleo-style of eating and about some of the blogs I follow. Lately, I’ve been reading the comments following certain blog posts, and it always astounds me how people feel compelled to leave hostile comments about the blogger’s recipes or lifestyle. I’ve seen it elsewhere, and what irks me the most are the misspellings. If you write on someone’s blog in a negative or challenging manner, at least use proper spelling. And punctuation. And think before you write – what are you really trying to say and does it make sense?

No more unsolicited advice from me today. Back to the novel!

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Spine

Posted on January 18, 2013 by KathyH

I didn’t know which verb to use – “grow” or “fuse” or “generate” or “re-generate” -when it came to this topic. So, I’ve simply titled this post “Spine” because I’m trying to grow, cultivate, reinforce – whatever – mine, in a metaphorical sense. I’m a pushover, basically; I will go out of my way to keep everyone calm and happy, many times to the detriment of my own mental and emotional health. So, 2013 is going to be the Year of the Backbone. I’m getting one.

Every time there’s a confrontation, I back down and give in to the other’s point-of-view/argument. In a recent situation, several months ago, I started out strong, grew progressively defensive throughout the conversation, and then found ways to lighten things up and make the other person feel better. Again. It’s the same pattern.

My point here isn’t to complain or argue my point of view. Rather, with the advent of a new year, I’m looking at myself and thinking that I need to make changes. Reinforce my backbone. Stand up for myself. Model strength for my family. After years of dealing with issues one way, I’m trying to make some subtle changes so when another disagreement resurfaces, I will have better ways to handle it.

Several years ago, I was on a kindness kick, and a friend and I would discuss kindness at length, how there was so little of it in this world, and what we could do to increase it. I’m now thinking about being kind to myself, and part of this is standing up for myself, being confident enough to feel that my view, my perspective, is just as valid as anyone else’s. I am also thinking of how I have misinterpreted kindness as trying to please others, and the harm that has done to me.

So, yeah. A spine. Backbone. Self-growth. I’ll be working on it.

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Procrastinating

Posted on January 17, 2013 by KathyH

Is what I’m doing at the moment. Perusing Facebook, adding recipes to my Pinterest page, reading authors’ websites, etc., etc. Basically, I’m avoiding my novel/thesis, which is silly because once I focus, I can usually churn out some decent pages. The problem I’m running into now is ending a section. My female protagonist has been narrating this section, and now it’s time to advance the narrative five years and let my male protagonist take over. I want to wrap up this section, offer some resolution, but introduce future conflict, or at least the possibility of such. I don’t know if these scenes are the right ones to end the section with. Oh, the angst.

No matter what choices I make, I’m happy to move this novel forward.

Aside from running, I’ve stuck to my resolutions. Last night, I submitted a story to three journals. I couldn’t come up with a reason to keep the piece on my hard drive any longer. It’s done. I’m tired of looking at it. If I cannot find a home for it, then I’ll revise it some more (or retire it). I’m going to do the same with another finished short story, and I also have two flash pieces that are ready to go. No expectations, but it feels good to finally say I’m submitting.

I made an amazing broccoli recipe tonight: roasted with garlic, olive oil, lemon, and Parmesan cheese.

Okay, now back to work. Stupid endings.

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Resolved, 2013

Posted on December 31, 2012 by KathyH

I don’t believe in resolutions, but I believe in lists. So here, I offer my plans for 2013:

  • Yoga –  really and truly try yoga this year. I bought a Groupon; now, I have to call the studio and get started. I want to be a yoga mom–they seem so serene.
  • Submit – I need send stuff out. Really. I have several finished stories. Rejection can’t be any worse than looking at the files on my computer and thinking: “What if?”
  • Finish the novel – or, at least a solid draft by 30 March. That’s doable, as I need to finish my thesis to graduate in May.
  • Cook – prepare more meals at home and find fabulous veggie recipes.
  • Run – running is awful, but I like how I feel afterwards.

And that’s it! We are celebrating the new year with a crew of good friends, and then it’s back to school and life. Happy New Year!

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Dinner

Posted on December 21, 2012 by KathyH

It’s supposed to be in the 40s tonight. Chilly! Taking advantage of this wintry-ish weather, I’m making lentil soup tonight. This is one of my favorite recipes, courtesy of Ina Garten and the Food Network. I’m serving it with French bread, and dessert is chocolate chip cookie bars.

Lentil Sausage Soup on the Food Network.

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