Premonitions--My Home Is In Heaven

Premonitions. We all have them.

I'm working on a scene in DRAGON VALLEY now, where the main character has had a very bad feeling about her daughter going on a trip to gather some magical herbs that may help save dragons. Maija's dead husband's spirit has been walking the halls of her home all night long, trying to warn her about something, but unable to break through the veil. The daughter laughs her fears off the next morning and insists on going with the gatherers.

While I was writing this scene, I wondered if it was too heavy handed. Will people think this is realistic. Then I remembered a story about Bill Linderman. Bill was a world champion cowboy. He won RCA saddle bronc world championships in 1945 and 1950, the bareback bronc riding championship in 1943 and steer wrestling in 1950. He was also the World Champion All-Around Cowboy in 1945, 1950 and 1953. He was the first man in professional rodeo to win three world championships in one season, claim both riding and timed event titles and earn more than $500,000.

To fellow competitors, he was known as The King.

It wasn't surprising, therefore, that he was voted as an officer in the Rodeo Cowboy Association for nine years. It probably would have been many more years than that had not fate cut this remarkable story short. But I get ahead of myself.

On November 10, 1965, Bill stopped in at the Pig N' Whistle Bar in Denver, Colorado to have a drink with some friends and visit with the bar owner, Eddie Bohn. Linderman wrote a counter check for twenty dollars and where he was supposed to fill in his address, he wrote, "heaven."

Eddie and the rest of the cowboys carried him high about the scribbled address and Linderman replied, "Boys, let me tell you something. I'll be in heaven before any of you guys--and some of you might not even make it."

Hours later he was on a jet that crashed in Salt Lake City, Utah with ninety-one passengers aboard. Some of them escaped via emergency exits. Survivors say Linderman did also, but turned back to help others and perished.

So it was, a few hours after he proclaimed his home was in heaven, he fulfilled the promise.

In writing, I have often found real life is much stranger than what most people create. So, maybe it isn't quite so odd that my main character has premonitions about things, and even less odd that others dismiss her fears with a laugh.

Giving Thanks

It's Thanksgiving and I have a lot to be thankful for. Three healthy children after a doctor told me I shouldn't try to have more children. This was after Mirinda died and he rightfully predicted I would have trouble carrying another child. I wanted six children and had four. I've lived to see three of them grown with families of their own.

Healthy grandbabies. Healthy, adorable, happy and intelligent grandbabies make a person's life complete.

My parents are alive and well. They've both had their share of health problems, so this is another true blessing.

I have a home and I have food.

I have some of the best writing friends a person could have. I expect to see them all in print one day. Many of them already are, and that is the quality of the group.

I'm thankful for our military and their families who spend so many of these holidays apart. We owe them a debt that can't be repaid and a simple thanks isn't enough, but it's a beginning.

With that in mind, I'd like to promote a few worthy sites where people can get involved to help them.

Tell Them Thanks  This is an organization that puts people who wish to send letters and care packages to service members who have put their name on a list to be adopted. The nice thing about this is they have the service member fill out a form requesting the things they most desire so you aren't sending Starbucks coffee beans to a soldier who is in a remote location with no coffee grinder, electricity or coffee pot. I've been getting names and addresses from them for a few years now and they are great people.

Soldiers' Angels This is a remarkable organization. If you have any skill at all, they can use you. They make quilts and blankets for wounded soldiers and those who are simply in very cold areas with little to no heat. Another team makes mufflers. They send care packages, help with the families of the deployed, help wounded warriors and many other vital missions. 

The Wounded Warrior Project This is a project given much attention by Gary Sinise. When our heroes return wounded, they face a multitude of challenges and this organization helps them meet them. 

The Gary Sinise Foundation  The is the home of Gary Sinise's foundation to help Wounded Warrior projects, first responders, disabled American vets and other worthy outreaches. Sinise's Lt. Dan Band has performed all over the world for the troops and at fundraisers for the organization.

Books For Soldiers  This is a wonderful organization that allows soldiers to request books and other materials to help pass the time. I know a lot of my friends are readers, so here's a great way to pass on books to people who will truly treasure them.

J.E.B Stuart and Pirate Latitudes

I can't believe September is half gone and Christmas looms just around the corner, but so it does. My birthday was the twelfth and I spent a quiet one at home remembering another birthday in Denver. There, at a writers' conference, a group of dear friends held a surprise birthday party for me. Surprise is hardly the word for it. I couldn't stop crying. It was the first birthday party I've ever had in my life and the thoughtfulness of these friends reminded me how very, very blessed I am.

I recently finished reading PIRATE LATITUDES by Michael Crichton. It was a spur of he moment buy as I have been focusing on Civil War reading, particularly books about J.E.B. Stuart.  The last one I finished I will not name because I was so dissatisfied with the job the author did. Plus, the migraines hamper reading much at all, but the book spoke to me and I answered. Yes, the cover did catch my attention. I'm one of those people who won't buy for a cover, but they often catch my eye long enough to make me pick the book up.

In this case, I was so glad I did. The book was found on Michael Crichton's hard drive after he passed away and the family decided to publish it. I'm so glad they did. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the historical detail and the rollicking fun adventure.

Of course, one thing that may have influenced my decision is Captain Boots Trelaine, my pirate in FAR RIDERS. I'm nearing the end of this round of revisions. I've added a character, changed up the story some to invest, I hope, the readers more in the existing characters, and twisted things a bit more.

One thing that niggles at the back of my mind is how the series will end. There is a satisfying enough ending if FAR RIDER is the only story that sees the light of day, but it really is part of a series. I actually know how the series ends. I have the scene roughed out already. I know what happens to some of the leading characters, but the middle is very fuzzy to completely non-existent.

I spoke to Beth Shope, a writer friend of mine, about this and posed the question, "What if FAR RIDER sells and someone asks what happens next? I really don't know." Her answer was perfect, as always. "Have you thought about looking at the character line and thinking about what happens to each one?'

Well, that got the wheels to turning. Lately, I've had problems sleeping due to pain, so that gives me a lot of hours in the dark to think. I finally worked out Capt. Trelaine's story and I love what he does and who he will become. Trelaine is one of those characters women will love, I think. Originally, I had thought of him dying tragically soon into the second book, but this is much more satisfying and satisfies my lust for pirate adventures.

To that end, someone suggested I read Patrick O'Brian's books. I ordered the first four books in the series and the movie MASTER AND COMMANDER. I started the first book last night and I've fallen in love with the writing. I wonder if O'Brian would have a hard time getting an agent or publisher today because it seems to start a bit slow, but I was so immediately caught up in the character and the writing I can't help but believe others would be also. There is a reason he was a top-selling author, after all.

The downfall to reading both of these books is I realized how much I truly adore these novels where the settings are described in detail. I love getting sucked into these worlds and then I make the mistake of going back to my little fantasy world that seems woefully devoid of these passages I love in other books.

Somewhere twixt and between is the happy middle, I hope.

The Wave

I'm sitting here with a bag of frozen chocolate chips under my foot. It would be frozen veggies, but I, in my fervor to clean out the freezer didn't remember that frozen veggies make excellent ice packs.

So, why do I need an ice pack at all, be it veggies or chocolate chips or ever real ice packs? Well, in addition to the other maladies related to the accident and a steadily deteriorating body, I may have a problem with the plantar fascia that causes heel pain which, in turn, causes more walking pain. Treatment for said problem is stretching and ice. Hopefully, it hasn't already caused a bone spur. Who would have thought one could get a bone spur from that?

Anyway, my fearless writing partners tackled another scene. This is one where Gen is chosen to go with a patrol to destroy a "zombie" who was a fallen paladin. Paladins are rare in my world. There is only one remaining, and yet everyone desires to one day become one.

I introduced some elements to the story I really like. They develop the characters more and give the story increased depth. I'm still having a problem bringing Gen more to the front in these scenes.

I had to think back a bit to the Harry Potter books. I don't like everything Rowling did, but I think she did a good job, for the most part, on character development. I came to realize this more when I looked up her character list to see how she handled it. That was prompted by the agent assistant suggestion I make a character list as well as add maps to the manuscript.

Rowlings' character list is immense and almost all of them have developed backgrounds. I am near the end of the last round of revisions, but I realized that I need to add a bit more about some of these characters. Even though many of them will die in the end, it doesn't matter if no one cares about them.

I compare this to McMurtry's dreaded farewell wave. When a character of his, one he made sure you love, turns to wave goodbye, you can bet he is going to die.

In LEGENDS, David Gimmel was brutal in killing off characters the reader loved. Even walk on characters became someone the reader cared about. Then he systematically wiped just about everyone out including the main character. It was a thoroughly depressing book and the last one I read by Gimmel. It was a good story, but just too danged depressing.

Getting back to the scene in question, (you thought I forgot, didn't you?) I wanted to bring some minor threads to the forefront. Many of these characters appear in the final battle, so I want readers to know them and care about what happens to them.

In the back of my mind was a demon named WordCount, growling at me every time I added more words instead of trimming. This paralyzed me in a way because I saw where I could add things that made people care, but I ignored them because that little counter kept ticking away.

What's even more worrying is I am concerned people won't truly care about the mc. What if I haven't developed her enough? What if no one cares if she waves?

So, life and writing go on.

The Surrender

When the Civil War broke out, Robert E. Lee was in Texas. He received the news and spent the night pacing his room in the Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, torn about what he should do. He was against slavery. He'd written editorial letters in newspapers with his views about why it was wrong and he believed in the near future the issue would resolve itself peacefully as more people in the south joined his belief and the practice simply became economically unsustainable.

Lee was staunchly in favor of the Union and the constitution.

His dreams for a peaceful solution ended with the secession of the southern states. Lt. Col. Lee had just been promoted to lead the Texas armies, but he was recalled to Washington with the looming war in the east. On February 1, 1861 Texas seceded from the Union just as Lee was preparing to go to Washington after being recalled by Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott. By April seven states had seceded. On April 18, 1861, four days after the fall of Fort Sumter, Scott offered Lee command of all the Union armies.

Lee replied, "I could take no part in an invasion of the southern states." He resigned his commission, ending more than thirty years of service to his country.

He loved the army. It was his life and his dream even before he entered West Point where he graduated without a single demerit in four years and was the first graduate to do so.

"I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union," Lee said in a letter to his son. "I will sacrifice everything but honor for its preservation."

On April 3, 1865, Richmond fell, ringing the death knell for the confederacy.

Lee's army was weak, exhausted and surrounded as they retreated to the west with Grant nipping at their heels.

On April 7, Grant initiated a series of dispatches that led to the eventual surrender at Appomattox Courthouse.

Grant's dispatch rider passed through Confederate lines to deliver the first message.

"General R.E. Lee, Commanding C.S.A.:
5 P.M., April 7th, 1865.
The results of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.
U.S. Grant, Lieutenant-General"

Lee promptly responded and Grant received his answer shortly after midnight.

"April 7th, 1865.
General: I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender.
R.E. Lee, General."

Grant, who was suffering from another of his debilitating headaches, replied early that morning.

"April 8th, 1865.
General R.E. Lee, Commanding C.S.A.:
Your note of last evening in reply to mine of the same date, asking the conditions on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply I would say that, peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon,--namely, that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received.
U.S. Grant, Lieutenant-General"

As the armies continued to fight, and Lee retreated, Lee sent the following message.

"April 8th, 1865.
General: I received at a late hour your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army, but, as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at 10 A.M. to-morrow on the old state road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies.
R.E. Lee, General."

Grant was exhausted and still suffering from his headache when he penned the reply at 5:00 in the morning.

"April 9th, 1865.
General: Your note of yesterday is received. I have not authority to treat on the subject of peace. The meeting proposed for 10 A.M. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, that I am equally desirous for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their arms, they would hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, etc.,
U.S. Grant, Lieutenant-General"

Still suffering, Grant received Lee's response as he approached Appomattox.

"April 9th, 1865.
General: I received your note of this morning on the picket-line, whither I had come to meet you and ascertain definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now ask an interview, in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday, for that purpose.
R.E. Lee, General."

Grant immediately dismounted and wrote his response.

"April 9th, 1865.
General R. E. Lee Commanding C. S. Army:
Your note of this date is but this moment (11:50 A.M.) received, in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road. I am at this writing about four miles west of Walker's Church, and will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take place will meet me.
U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General."

General Horace Porter later recorded in great detail the days leading up to the surrender and the actual agreement between the leaders.

It's an amazing detail in history and I strongly urge my readers to take a few moments of time to read it.

As I near the end of the revisions in FAR RIDER, I cannot help but think of the rest of the story, for although it reaches a satisfactory conclusion, it does not tell the entire story. The scheming baroness will continue to create events that stir up hatred toward the M'Eriyn until a final flashpoint causes an all out war.

Families will be torn asunder very similar to our own Civil War. My heroine will assume a role much like that of J.E.B. Stuart's to Gen. Lee. The young nobleman who once teetered on the brink of love will become her nemesis and hound her throughout the war.

A part of me wants to continue writing this story once I ship it off as I am fully in love with the tale and its characters. Another part of me realizes the sad truth. There is a very real possibility FAR RIDER will never draw its first breath, and so I will proceed to resume work on DRAGON VALLEY once FAR RIDER is re-sent to the agent.

Timeline by Michael Crichton Review

TIMELINE by Michael Crichton was my last read by him. I've started this book several times and I have no idea why I never finished it.

 TIMELINE starts out in the New Mexico desert. A wealthy couple is driving to a remote New Mexico town to purchase a Navajo weaving when an elderly man appears out of nowhere. There's a thump and the wife thinks they hit the man even though the husband can see him still standing beside the road. They turn around to check on him and then take him to the nearest hospital where the old man, dressed in an odd robe over modern clothes dies.

Crichton then weaves in some back story on key players, including an ex-military man named Gordon, a carefully groomed corporate lawyer named Kramer and a scheming corporate owner named Doniger. There is also the obligatory group of dedicated, selfless scientists who are more interested in pursuing the truth than fame and glory.

Sound familiar? Yes, the characters bear some resemblance to Jurassic Park, Lost World and Congo.

What is amazing to me is that Crichton carved out a niche for himself writing techno-thrillers that may seem formulaic, but the reader completely forgets that when they get pulled into his world.

Having researched quite a bit about ancient, Celtic and Medieval history for both pleasure and as background for my own books, I was pleasantly surprised that Crichton was so fastidious in building his medieval world. When you look at the five pages of bibliography, it's easy to see why his details, both scientific and historical are so well written.  He put a tremendous amount of time and effort into this work.

For a lesser author, this could have turned into a bone-dry lecture instead of a rousing adventure. Crichton wrote the technical aspects of the story so well, I almost felt like he had been in a New Mexico laboratory taking notes.

The real adventure begins when ITC, Doniger's company that is supporting interesting archeological digs around the world, pulls in a team from France to show them what they are actually doing…time travel.

The team goes back to 1357 to rescue their leader who was sent back in time to prove the technology and the means for enhanced research of history. Unfortunately, Professor Johnson is trapped in time and the team, or at least most of them, go back to rescue him.

The world-building is wonderful. I felt like taking notes because he made it so real. If I had one complaint, it would be that one of the members goes from being a klutzy computer nerd to an accomplished and self-confident fighter in a matter of days. That was a bit of a stretch, but not enough that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the story.

I  highly recommend this book. The book is definitely better than the movie was.

I'm Going To Write A Book

Yes, I've been missing in action and we won't go into all the reasons. Partially, the migraines and ensuing other problems are getting worse. Partially, I'm still revising and I went to the beginning to make some more changes. Partially, I got very irritated when the computer crashed and I lost my maps I had spent weeks on. Partially, I've been doing some freelance articles for a magazine.

Mainly, I haven't had anything interesting to say.

However, today, someone I know as an online friend announced he/she was taking a break for a month and finishing their book. He/she is then going to send it to some publishers.

Me, "You're going to finish writing a book and send it to publishers?"

"Yes, it's time to get it done."

Me, "You know most major publishers won't take material from anyone but agents."

"I've done a lot of research. I know which publishers I want to approach. Besides, agents don't work for free and I don't want to give up control of my book. I'm a control freak."

Me, after stunned silence, "I had two publishers request my manuscript and I thank heavens I wasn't foolish enough to send it to them as it was. The agent who asked for revisions has helped me improve this story so much I don't even recognize it."

"Yes, well, I want to get mine done and published."

The unspoken thought being, "Yeah, you screw around doing revisions all you want, I'm going to get published."

Will called earlier, and we spoke for a while. I related the story to him and he's not even privy to the industry, but he was astounded. "Do they really think it's that simple?"

"I guess."

"I don't really like paying lawyers, but there's a reason you don't go to court without one."

"Yes, and aside from professional representation, the agent knows what needs to be polished to get the material in the best possible shape before sending it out."

He paused for a minute. "So they're just going to write this book and ship it off?"

Obviously, I hope this person realizes their dream because they really are a good person and everyone deserves to see their dreams come true. I'm just a little concerned about the route he/she is taking.

I read back over the first chapter of FAR RIDER today and realized how remarkably improved it is based on suggestions from the agent's minion. Said minion came up with an opening scenario I doubt I would have imagined.

Beth Shope made a comment about the new opening and said, "I was going to sleep and I thought about this. What happens to the horse?"

Good question. What does happen to the horse?

So, the new opening, I think, is an absolute knock out. These are two new exciting elements to the story that wouldn't have been there without these suggestions.

I've said this before and I really can't think of how many times and how many ways to say it. Good beta readers are worth their weight in gold. They see things you don't see. There are some writers who are so well trained and talented, they need little advice. Most mortals need fresh eyes.

Speaking of beta readers, mine have just finished commenting on a "new" chapter. The chapter replaces one that wasn't working. When a person is doing revisions, they wind up with new material. That new material is first draft. So, whole the majority of the manuscript might need just minor tweaking here and there, the first draft parts are all the way back to the beginning. For me, that means three or four rewrites after the beta readers see it.

Between some very good beta readers and agent suggestions, the manuscript should be competitive in the marketplace.

Going the step above and beyond, is the agent who makes suggestions and gives advice based on their professional knowledge of what's happening, but I think part of it is also a gut feeling. The agent wants to sell a book. You want to sell a book. They are not your enemy; they're the one in the trenches with you.

Like I said, I wish this person all the luck in the world, but I have doubts it will turn out quite as they planned. Then again, they'll have a book going to publishers in a month and I won't.

Who am I to say anything?