A Slice of Orange

Home

The Long and Winding Road

October 14, 2008 by in category Archives

By Laura Drake

In a way, ignorance is bliss…at least for a little while. I started my first novel not knowing what lie ahead, and I’m glad. Not that it was awful – actually, I’ve had a lot more ups than downs, and I’m not even published yet. But if I’d have known how long it would take, and how much hard work it took – I would have been severely daunted.

First, you’ve got to actually write the novel. Don’t laugh; how many people have you met who told you, “Oh, I’m going to write a novel one day, I’ve got this idea…” but they never actually write anything? Ok, you finish. Whew! I learned a lot, and I’m sure the next time it’ll go faster.

I patted myself on the back repeatedly for a week, daydreamed about book signings and autographing for my adoring fans, and then started the editing.

Really glad I didn’t know what that entailed when I began. Eight full versions and countless partial edits later, and it’s done! I learned a lot, and I’m sure the next time it’ll go faster.

Then I submit. I decided to go the agent route. I know that to a certain extent, this is a numbers game; I put it out to as many agents as would accept my genre – came to about 125. I have told this to authors who looked at me in horror…for all I know, it’s the dumbest way to submit. But. I did get a lot more interest than I expected. I’ve heard stories about dejection due to rejection, and the emotional effect on budding authors. I didn’t take it personally, and wasn’t discouraged – at least with the first 100 rejections. After that, it started to feel like Chinese water torture.

But wait! I actually got a note back from an agent who said, “Congratulations on your first draft!” (first?!) she had issues with a couple of things – nothing big – just the hero, and most of the dialog, and the title. If I’d do a rewrite, she’d read it and consider representing me. Yeah! I think – we’ll see.

Luckily, I’m relentless when I want something. I’m working on the rewrite now.
At the very least, I learned a lot, and I’m sure the next time it’ll go faster.

3 0 Read more

ME AND THE DUKE

October 13, 2008 by in category Archives tagged as ,


By Bobbie Cimo

Elvis Presley might have been known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Michael Jackson as the Prince of Pop and James Brown as the Godfather of Soul. But way back when, in the good ole movie cowboy days, (so long ago, that I was a brunette), there was a tall, rugged actor, by the name of John Wayne, who had a title of his own. It was the “Duke”.

His real name was Marion Robert Morrison, but when his parents decided to name his younger brother Robert they changed his to Marion Michael. But it was the local fireman who saw him walking to school every day with his huge Airedale Terrier dog, Duke, that gave him the nickname of “Little Duke”. Because he preferred Duke to Marion, (and who wouldn’t) the name stuck for the rest of his life. As far as his stage name, John Wayne, that was decided by a director and a studio head, when he wasn’t even present.

I’m going to digress a little here and tell you about a cartoon that I had once cut out and taped to the inside of our kitchen cabinet when I was younger. It was of two Indian chiefs positioned on top of a mountain ridge, sitting on their horses, looking down at their warriors fighting cowboys and the Cavalry. One chief turns to the other and the caption reads, “If John Wayne is down there, I’m not going.” And I think that’s how we all felt, growing up on the Duke‘s movies. Off camera and on he seemed indestructible. According to Wikipedia Encyclopedia, he epitomized rugged masculinity and was considered an enduring American icon. It also states he was famous for his distinctive voice, walk and physical presence. All which I can attest to, since I got to meet him.

In the early days of television, when there were a lot of variety shows on the air, we (the employees of CBS) would spend our lunch hours, brown bagging it, while watching rehearsals in the studios. I think back then the celebrities were much more sociable and approachable than they are today. So it wasn’t uncommon to have the weekly guest star, rather then hide themselves away in their dressing room, to sit in the bleachers with us common folk and watch others rehearse–even though they weren’t needed on the set. It was kind of professional courtesy to watch one another’s work.

Which brings me back to how I met the Duke. I had wandered down to the Red Skelton set just to see what was going on. The crew was always friendly there, and it was safe, as long as I didn’t enter during “The Dirty Hour”. This is a well known inside Hollywood fact, that as much of a beloved clown Red was, he did have a side to him, that could make a sailor blush when he would put on his private shows for his cast and crew members.

I was very young when I started with CBS and nobody ever bothered to warn me about “Dirty Hour”. Unfortunately, I accidentally found out about it on my own. I should have caught on when I saw I was the only woman in the audience. And if Red was bad on his own, having Martha Raye as his guest, only made him even more incorrigible. Once he and Martha were up on stage, I found myself trapped in my chair. I was too embarrassed to get up, so I just sunk down low and kept praying the floor would swallow me up…it didn’t. The cast and crew loved them both, and I vowed never to return during The Dirty Hour and I never did. I can’t say all the guest stars participated in this show for the crew, but Martha sure did. Actually, she was worse than Red.

It was during normal rehearsal when I wandered down to the Red Skelton set and sat behind a tall, elderly, bald man, who was quietly reading, going through a script. It wasn’t until he got up and headed towards the back of the studio for some coffee, did I realize it was The Duke, without his hairpiece. And like a puppy, I got up and followed him. He was very unpretentious, as he stood alone, in the back of the studio, drinking his coffee.

Because I was new to California– fresh out of high school, and a dork, I carried my autograph book everywhere I went.

Standing next to him, the 6’4” star towered over me. And even though without a hairpiece, he resembled a bald eagle, his face was still ruggedly handsome and there was a twinkle in his eyes. When I asked him if he would sign my book, he couldn’t have been nicer when he answered, “Well, sure.” When he asked me my name, I told him, Barbara, (my formal name). Wanting to make sure he heard me correctly, he bellowed my name back to me,
B-A-R-B-A-R-A. And for a brief moment, I thought God was speaking to me.

Because he was so nice, I didn’t hesitate the next day to bring my camera to work. This time the Duke was all dressed in his cowboy garb, complete with hat and hairpiece. He truly looked like the John Wayne that I knew from the movies. And when I asked him if I could take a picture with him, he quickly obliged…except I made the mistake of standing on his bad side. And without any warning, he said to me, “Not that side, this side,” and with one swift movement, the man had picked me up with one arm and swept me over to his good side. The picture was snapped and the light bulb went off. The American icon of the silver screen, using the back of hand, wiped his eyes with his knuckles and then grumbled, “Damn light bulb, can blind ya” I guess, I should have responded with, “Whoa, take ’er easy there pilgrim”…but I didn’t.

We said our friendly goodbyes and I wish I could say like a true hero he rode off into the sunset, but he didn’t–instead, like a true professional, he walked onto the set.

2 0 Read more

A Writer’s Pursuit…

October 12, 2008 by in category Archives tagged as

Yesterday, I’d attended the OCC meeting for the first time since May and it was wonderful to see my friends–Live! In Person!–again. Although, I did attend the conference in San Francisco and had such a great time spending the week with them.

It’s so easy to stay isolated from friends and family when you’re going through some kind of crisis–health, financial, or family. And some times, like in my case, it would just be easier not to respond to the concerned e-mails right away. But I know everyone genuinely cares, just as I care about them, so I certainly do my best to respond. 🙂

Isn’t it wonderful to know that no matter what family health crisis your family is going through, no matter what the state of the world and the global economy… your friends will be there to support and encourage you, as well as give you a swift kick in the “writing arse” when you need it? Thank goodness.

When I joined OCC, I had NO idea I’d discover these incredible friendships.

Thank you for being there for me, you guys!

Do you belong to a writing organization? What do you enjoy most about belonging to it? The support? The friendships? The business advice?

Take Care,

Michele

Michele Cwiertny writes dark paranormal romance. To find out more about her, please visit her website, michelecwiertny.com, or her personal blog, Michele’s Writing Corner.

1 0 Read more

Australian Romance Readers ready to party like it’s 2009

October 11, 2008 by in category Archives tagged as

by Jina Bacarr

My favorite Podcasting rule: Expect the unexpected and make the most of it.


I was hanging out in the downstairs lobby of the San Francisco Marriott during last summer’s RWA conference when I started talking to a gal sitting next to me. When I found out she was Juleigh Start, the author liaison for ARRC (Australian Romance Readers Convention), I convinced her to do a podcast promo with me for her event.

Juleigh was fabulous! We shot this in one take, but I updated it when I put together the podcast. I added a voiceover letting the viewer know Registration for the convention was open. It’s important to put enough information in your video description as well as in the credits so the viewer can find your website, event, etc.

Want to know more about ARRC? Here’s the info from their website:

“Celebrate romance fiction at the inaugural Australian Romance Readers Convention.

Meet your favourite authors, discuss your preferred romance sub-genres, buy books, get them signed and party. The inaugural Australian Romance Readers Convention will be held at the beautiful Jasper Hotel in Melbourne, Australia from February 20 – 22, 2009. Australian Romance Readers Convention is a not-for-profit event and is being organised and run by a group of hard working, dedicated, romance-reading volunteers!”

Visit http://www.australianromancereaders.com.au/

Enjoy the video!
Best,
Jina

Jina Bacarr is the author of The Blonde Geisha , Naughty Paris, Tokyo Rendezvous, a Spice Brief, and Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs, featuring a female Indiana Jones.

Coming in April 2009: Cleopatra’s Perfume

“One whiff and every man was her slave.”

0 0 Read more

It’s Worth It

October 9, 2008 by in category Archives tagged as

READER COMMENTS – OR THE LACK THEREOF

by Kitty Bucholtz

When my Internet browser opens, I have it set so that several web pages come up at once. Several – like the Slice of Orange here – are industry blogs that I’m keeping up with. I often find myself nodding and agreeing with the writer, or I’ll think of something about the topic I want to share. But I usually don’t have time to read and comment.

That made me think about my own blogs and how few comments there often are. I realized that a lot of times people are probably thinking what I’m thinking – I either don’t have time, or I don’t want to write “I liked that” or “I agree” because the comment seems so inane.

Keep that in mind when you’re writing. I’ve had dozens of magazine articles and devotionals published and – with the exception of my recent RWR article – I’ve only received one note from a reader. (Thank you, friends, for your outpouring of electronic high-fives on that RWR article!) People will like what we write and be nodding their heads, or shaking their heads, or thinking about it for a while, and we’ll never know. While sometimes my words may not affect a single person, a lot of times they will, if only one. We need to keep writing. Don’t stop. It’s worth it.


Kitty Bucholtz writes light urban fantasy novels with a romantic comedy spin. She is a co-founder of Routines For Writers, a new web site to help writers write more. Read her article ORANGE YOU GLAD YOU THOUGHT OF THAT? in September’s RWR magazine. Even though she loves talking about, writing about, and teaching about writing, she’s pretty sure she knows at least three people who aren’t writers.

0 0 Read more

Copyright ©2017 A Slice of Orange. All Rights Reserved. ~PROUDLY POWERED BY WORDPRESS ~ CREATED BY ISHYOBOY.COM

>