My sister, Charlotte, was 15 months older.  Of course, in her eyes she was MUCH older.  When were were little our mother dressed us alike, much to my dismay.   I often had to wear hand me downs from my sister.  When I grew out of my dress or pants outfit, I then had to wear Charlotte’s clothes, perhaps in a different color.  Bummer.  

My sister reigned as the roller skating queen in the neighborhood. She taught all of the neighborhood kids how to skate.  I was her most difficult student.   Her lessons took place on the Jefferson Street hill on the corner, a half block away from our house.  I could skate down the hill — the problem was I had trouble stopping at the bottom.  I had scabs on both knees all summer the year I was in training.   Each evening I got iodine painted on my knees after my bath.

That reminds me of another sister issue.   We’d get called inside at night to take a bath.   The deal was if you went in first, when Nana, our great-grandmother who lived with us, hollered for us from the front porch — you got the clean bath water.  If you were last to come in, you got to skate with the neighborhood kids longer, but you got the dirty bath water.  Charlotte usually said, “You go first.”  Most of the time, I did just to keep her from throwing a fit.  The truth is, I rather liked the clean bath water.

It’s fun to think back to those years.  Over the years, I had a lot of fun with my sister.   We shared many good times, had many great conversations, played cards until all hours, agreed, disagreed, laughed and cried together.  We married and lived far apart, but we stayed in close touch with phone conversations and visits.   Our children got to know one another.   Life moved on.  We mourned the loss of our mother together.  And then one day I got a phone call from my niece — my sister was gone, too.  A car accident.  The news knocked the wind out of me.  I wondered what would I do without Charlotte in my life?

I stumbled around in a daze for a while, then realized that I had to keep my chin up, move on with my life, and carry along  my special memories.  I can still picture my sister’s fun, smiling face, and hear her laughter.   She was one unique gal. 

So, here’s to you, Charlotte.   Keep an eye out.  I’ll see  you someday when I cross over the bridge.   And if you are giving lessons of any kind, you know, like maybe how to flutter wings, or how to skate on clouds, whatever.  I’m getting in your line.  Sign me up — go ahead, pre-register me.

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For all of  you readers who are lucky enough to have a sister, don’t forget to get in touch with your sister during National Sister week.  Thanks for stopping by.  Lisbeth

In Chapter 17, Tessa has a disastrous experience during her first week of college and is now highly suspicious of all males.   After a short downhill slide, she gets involved in her classes and campus life and is able to move on.  By Christmas break, she’s learned to love  her freedom.  Back at home, she gets immediately slapped in the face by her controlling mother.  She feels her independence slip away.  She turns to her sister for support but Claudine, too involved with her dominating husband, ignores her.   Tessa is ready to give up on her family.  She can’t wait to get back to her dorm.

Tessa and Claudine are drifting farther and farther apart.  They are at a fork in the road.  I’m just hoping I can figure out a way to get these sisters on the same page again. 

I have read several good sister stories. Does anyone have a sisters’ novel to recommend to me?  I’m always looking for another good book to read.

Stay cool.  Lisbeth

Okay, okay, I know I am getting silly.  It’s time to wish the newlyweds well.  Here’s hoping the media heeds their pleas to leave them alone.  I certainly hope so.  Now, it’s time to slide  on to the next subject.

I want to give you an update on Tessa of “Tessa and Claudine” fame.  Well, my novel “Tessa and Claudine” is not exactly famous.  It’s still in the works, but I am simply getting Tessa ready for the celebrity routine.  I don’t want to take her by surprise. 

At this point, in Chapter 15, Tessa is anxious to go off to college.  Her sister is married now (to a guy she thinks is a real creep), and Tessa is eager to take wing.  Leila, her stepfather, Harry’s, mother,  a loud Italian lady from the Bronx, has just left, after visiting for a week and sharing a room with Tessa (much to her dismay).  Soon after Leila leaves, Tessa writes to her good friend, David Finkelstein, who goes to college at the University of Missouri, telling him details about Leila’s visit.  Tessa is disappointed because David has decided to go to summer school.   Before she can finish her note to David, she hears a loud pounding on their apartment door.  Tessa soon finds herself in the midst of a family emergency. 

This  chapter is not a fairytale.  Not even I expected it to end the way it did. 

Tessa is definitely growing up.

In writing a novel, you start out adding conflict that causes tension.   As your novel progresses, the added tension grows to a very uncomfortable stage, eventually reaching a point where things can’t get much worse.   You continue to blast your story with conflict until the tension peaks.  That’s when it’s time to back off, you must lead your characters to a place where a conclusion can be reached and all is well. 

An important thing to remember is that the tension gets undermined when an unnecessary line is thrown in.   

I’m in the midst of revising Tessa and Claudine, my current novel about my two sisters.   I’ve spent some time reading over past workshop notes.  I was delighted when I found the great example from Johathan Rabb of the sticks and the rubberband and especially loved being reminded about undermining the tension.   

In the chapter I just revised,  Tessa’s sister, Claudine is about to get married.  Tessa doesn’t like Frank, her sister’s husband-to-be.  Actually, she can’t stand the guy and for good reason.  Should she tell Claudine why feels so uncomfortable around him?   It might ruin her sister’s future.  There’s plenty of opportunity for conflict in this chapter.   Now let’s just hope I can identify those uneeded lines.  If not.  Thank goodness I have great friends who critique for me.  We trade off reading manuscripts.  Sometimes it takes another eye to see what needs to be whacked. 

Good luck with adding tension to your own writing.  And be sure to cut out those lines that don’t move the story forward. 

Enjoy the springtime, Lisbeth

Rosemary had invited me to come to meet her guest speaker, Jessica Handler.   I’m certainly glad I accepted her invitation.  Jessica spoke about her book, Invisible Sisters, a memoir about Jessica and her two sisters.  Her sister, Susie was diagnosed with leukemia and died at the age of eight.  Her sister, Sarah, was born with a fatal blood disorder.  At this point, Jessica said she introduced herself as ”the well sister.” 

She has written a moving story about the effects of illness on her whole family and how she survived to find her way.   Jessica has become a successful individual with a talent for sharing herself.  Jessica is creative writing instructor in Atlanta.  I highly recommend her memoir.  You can check out her website at:  www.jessicahandler.com

Lisbeth