LisbethThom.com

Yeah, hurray, I finally have the proverbial tiger by the tail.  This means I have returned to work on my novel, Tessa and Claudine.  My characters are dusted off and back in action.  I wrote  my long-time friend and told him there is no longer any need to wait for hell to freeze over.  In my last e-mail to him, I had suggested this might happen before  I got back to work on my novel.

While taking a shower one recent evening, I got this brainstorm.  Of course, I couldn’t jot anything down.  (Sometimes inspiration hits at the most inopportune time.) I stood in the hot downpour and let the  ideas flow.   By the time I dried off, I’d concocted a whole new concept for my first chapter.  I made some quick notes, and the next day I wrote a new chapter one.  And now, I must revise the whole book, chapter by chapter.   It’s okay though.  I find that I am looking forward to the whole process.   May wonders never cease.

I heard from my writer friend and faithful blog reader, Glenda, today.  She tells me tidbits about events in her life with such marvelous detail.  I always feel like I am on the scene.  Now that is what I call good writing. 

If I can get myself to take a break from revising, I will try to deck the halls this week.  I am sure to run into to someone tomorrow or the next day at the grocery store or wherever who says, “I’ve finished decorating my house and am done Christmas shopping.”  I might  reply, “Well, I just finished revising Chapter three. So there.”

Lisbeth 

By the way, my daughter-in-law, Kara, has a blog geared for for Moms who like to find time for exercise while raising kids.  Her latest blog tells about these new Go Go Sports Girls dolls.  A great idea for young girls.  Check it out at:  http://mamasweat.blogspot.com

Over the river and through the woods – the family from Columbus, GA, is coming to Savannah for turkey day.  Well, they actually come on the paved road, but you catch the drift.  I’ve been piling in the groceries — my daughter and son-in-law have two high school age boys and a 6th grade girl and yes, they love to eat.  And play games which is great because I love to play Boggle, Rummy Cube, Triominoes , Pictionary, Nertz – you name it and we play it.  

I used to play games with my sister, Charlotte.  She didn’t like word games, but she loved card games:  rummy, canasta, poker, nertz.   And she  liked to stay up half the night.  Not me.  She’d tell me I could not go to bed, insisting it would simply spoil the fun.  I’d tease her, saying I needed toothpicks to keep my eyelids open.  I’d stay up just to keep her happy, and she would dance for joy when she beat me.

I’m sort of easing into the writing-marketing subject because I’ve had a bit of writer’s avoidance lately.  I’ve written a few poems, but I must admit I’ve let Tessa and Claudine sit on the shelf.  Every now and then I hear my characters calling out to me as if they wonder what happened.  They hang in limbo.  I admit that I’ve left them high and dry.  I had a note from a  long time, – I mean really long time friend,– this week.   He raked me over the coals.  I told him one of the characters in my new book is based on him, and now he is standing up for the guy, accusing me of deserting him.  The truth is, my friend is dead right.  I am guilty.  I have abandoned my book.  So, you have my confession. 

I told my friend I will not write him another message until I can report progress on my current novel and I hope that hell will not freeze over before that happens.    So it’s the same for this blog.  I intend to have some positive news about Tessa and Claudine in my next post.

By the way, does anyone else out there want to write but feel  themselves avoiding it?  

Bye for now.  I am adding a new soup recipe soon.  Lisbeth

           Thanks for stopping in to check out my blog.   I’m happy to report that life in Savannah is going well.  My son came for a visit this past weekend.  As a birthday gift, he flew to Savannah from Minneapolis and took me out to dinner Friday evening.   His hero wife stayed home with their three little girls and baby son.   We had such a fun visit.  The next day he and his dad played golf together, also a birthday gift.  He gave us the gift of his time.   Wow, what a deal.   I can’t remember the last time we had a chance for such a visit.

            If you’ve been reading my blog, then you know that I have requested some sister stories from my readers.  Well, I’m delighted to report that  Glenda, a fun reader from Illinois, shared great tales of her three sisters.    And, what fun I had reading her stories, which she had over the years published in a column in her town’s newspaper.  Glenda and her sisters had many interesting escapades.  And, by the way, I found out that I’m related to her husband.  His grandmother and my great-grandmother were sisters.    I sent Glenda a copy of my first novel, Row Away From the Rocks, and I feel certain her stories will inspire me as I wrap things up in my second novel, Tessa and Claudine.

            Guess you know what that means.  I am still trying to restructure the first chapter of Tessa and Claudine to get the reader in the story quicker.    I’ve also been nailing down my query letter.  I know, I know.  I’m as slow as molasses.   I’m simply trying to get things done right.

             I read Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture – what a touching story.  What courage.   My heart goes out to his family.   I am now reading The Madonnas of Leningrad.  Just started it.   

              I finished another writing project this summer, but it is a Christmas surprise, so stay tuned.  I can’t wait to tell you about it.  Have fun with the trick or treaters.   I’ll be back in touch soon.    Let me hear from you.

Lisbeth

                Here we are ready to jump into the fall season.  The days are no longer hot and humid in Savannah, the air has a hint of coolness, and the tides have been drifting in unusually high the past few days.   I know I promised to report on my marketing progress for TESSA AND CLAUDINE my novel in progress.  Since my last post, I have stopped calling it a completed novel.  

                Let me explain.  I was busy working on query letters, and yes even sent one to this nice young man at Curtis Brown Ltd. who invited me to send a query when I attended the San Franciso Writer’s Conference (a great conference, by the way).  I sent it to him via e-mail, and he wrote back  — a nice note saying my work was really not the type of work he’s now representing.  So, what I have to report is that I have started my pile of rejections.

                   And back to my novel-in-progress situation.  I  read an interview with Anne Tyler and she suggested, after completing a novel, the author should pick it up and read it like any reader would. I did that, and the truth is the opening seemed too slow, so I decided to rework  the beginning –add more action.  Before I contact another agent, I intend to make myself a happy reader. 

                Do any  of you other writers have any tips to pass along for that final test of your own writing? 

Until next time, Lisbeth 

PS:  I always like to tell you what I am reading. Right now I am 90% done with Pat Conroy’s South of Broad.   Conroy never ceases to amaze me with his command of the written word.  I heard Pat him speak in Savannah a few months ago.   He’s quite the interesting speaker, too.

Here it is September already.  I’m ready to get going on my agent search.  I’ve sent my poetry book off to the publisher, cleaned off my desktop, and even made a big pot of soup.  I’ve no excuses left, except for the fact that I want to finish this post and pass along my yummy  soup recipe.  I made Santa Fe Soup, and wow, it turned out great.  If you give it a try and let me know how you like it.  I’ve put on my recipe page.

Tomorrow I plan start going through my query letter file and will also begin to search through my stack of agent information.  I know it will be a struggle.  But chin up, I say.  I can do it.  I remember going through this process for my first novel.  It took 70 rejections, and then one day, I got the e-mail saying. “We would like to publish your book.”   I went off for a walk that day,a nd it felt like my feet never touched the ground. 

I’ll keep you posted on my progress.  Come along for the ride.  I could use a cheering section.  And if you are in the same boat, looking for an or a publisher — whatever.  I’d be happy to join your cheering section.

Have a good week.  Lisbeth

Thanks for stopping in to check out my blog.  Has anyone read the Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton?   I took it along on our trip to Tahiti.  It’s a delightful read about five young mothers in the late sixties who are busy raising children but share a love of books and writing.   I loved it and found it perfect to have along on vacation.   Meg did a great job of writing about women of that era.   Of course, I liked the sister theme, too, since my book, Tessa and Claudine, is about sisters.

And yes I also LOVED our trip to Tahiti. What a gorgeous place.  The water is streaked with every shade of turquoise, also cobalt blue nearby where it gets deeper, and it is filled with scores of fish — spotted, dotted,  striped,  and every color imaginable.  We went snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, hiking, kayaking – on a sunset cruise.  My hubby did this underwater dive – I opted out of that.  We even saw this  huge rainbow come through the clouds, touching the sea one afternoon.  

Sister Sharing:  It’s time for another sister story. 

My dear sister Charlotte was fifteen months older than I.  My mother used to tell me how Charlotte was forever giving me instructions, telling me what toys I could play with.  She basically ruled my life.  Mother wondered how long it would be before I stood up for myself.  She found out one summer day when she was outside hanging  laundry on the clothesline. 

It was a hot, humid day, and Charlotte, age two, and I, nine months, were playing on the grass with a bucket of water and some containers .  Charlotte kept taking things away from me.  I assume that I got tired of being the little kid, because I picked up a glass milk bottle and hit my sister over the head with it.  She screamed and Mother ran to her side.   The good news is that I did not split her head open.  She only received a big goose egg.

I don’t remember this event , but I was told that afterward, Charlotte was reluctant to grab things away from me.  I rather like this tale.  Imust admit I did not always get the upper hand.

Stop in again and share a sibling story of your own if you wish.

See you in September. 

Lisbeth

Has anyone been to see the movie, My Sister’s Keeper?  I loved the book as did several of my book club friends.  So we went to the movie one afternoon.  I liked the movie but was amazed at how many thing were changed in the movie, especially the ending.  Okay, I won’t say any more.  I don’t want to ruin the movie for anyone.  I’d like to hear what you think about the movie.  Since my book Tessa and Claudine is about sisters, I do, of course, like these sister stories.

My daughter, her husband, and their daughter, Mary, are coming for a visit today.  Their two boys are at a Scout camp.  I am making a new recipe, a tomato tart.  It sounds delicious.  I baked a pie shell this am.  I plan to fill it with grated mozzarella cheese, sliced tomato, zuchinni, fresh basil from the garden, a bit of minced garlic, fresh parmesan cheese, and drizzle olive oil on top.. oh and I forgot, I will lined the pie crust with dijon mustard before I add these ingredients. Sounds pretty good, right?  I will  let you know how it turns out.  My husband is grilling some lamb, and I will toss a green salad.  And dfor dessert my speciality — failed fudge over ice cream.

Yes, many years ago, I attempted to make fudge, and you got it.  I failed, so we put the hot gooey mess on ice cream.  And it became a family favorite.  We will be celebrating my daughter, Kristen’s birthday, so we can stick a candle in the ice cream.  Beats a cake any day.  I’d better go wipe those counter tops.  I will have a new sister story next time. 

Drop me a line.  I’m waiting your YOUR sister stories.

Lisbeth

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I’ve had a good day. How about you? I live in Savannah, Georgia, where it is sizzling hot right now, but I’m not complaining. I’d always rather be hot than cold. I went to the dermatologist today and she zapped some small precancerous spots on my face, arms, chest, and leg. I know I’ll look scabby by tomorrow. Oh well, better safe than sorry. She reminded me to keep applying the sunscreen. She took a look at the forms I filled out and commented, “So you’re a writer.  What do you write?” I told her fiction novels, essays, short stories, and poetry, and she got excited. She’s a writer and would like to retire and write books. I invited her to come to Zona Rosa, my writer’s group.

Zona Rosa is led by author, Rosemary Daniell, a writing workshop pro. Rosemary gives workshops all over the country and also foreign countries. We meet once a month. Rosemary shares writing and marketing tips and often has guest authors speak. She reads from our work, does critiques, and we critique one another’s work. I find the workshop evenings a small slice of heaven.

Finding a home for my novel, Tessa and Claudine, is a top priority right now. I’m working on my query letter and researching agents. I lost my only sister in a car accident, so this sister subject is close to my heart. Tessa and Claudine is a work of fiction, but I’ll admit it contains threads of emotional truth.

Sister Sharing: She Made Me a Deal I Could Not Refuse

Mother gave us enough allowance on weekends to go to the matinee on both Saturday and Sunday and also buy a candy bar. My older sister, Charlotte, wanted to go both days. Mother said we both had to go, or else we stayed home. Charlotte begged me to go. I said no I preferred to stay home. She went crazy. My sister, a social butterfly, loved to be on the go. Dreading the thought of staying home, she offered to pay my way into the theatre and also buy me a candy bar if I’d go to the Saturday matinee.

It was a deal I could not refuse. After putting my money safely into my dresser drawer, I went to the movies with her. The next weekend, we went through the same routine. She asked me to go. I said no. Once again, she offered to pay. I said okay and stashed my money in my drawer. This routine continued for the whole summer.

When we got older I laughed myself silly when she teased me about stockpiling my money. As the sister stories continue, you’ll discover that I did not always get the upper hand.

Come back for a visit soon.

All the best, Lisbeth