A Writer’s Pursuit…
August 12, 2008 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as A Writer's PursuitOF A MESSAGE
If you were locked in a tower, a prisoner, what would your message to the world be? Would it be a few short sentences? An ? Graffiti on the wall?
Back in June, I had the opportunity to explore the Tower of London. And in the Beauchamp Tower where many of the prisoners were held, intricately hand-carved inscriptions decorate the walls. They truly became works of art. The poetic words, the intellectual defense, and the design all combined into one message, shows us high-ranking political prisoners stayed there. And judging by the amazing details in the graffiti, some obviously stayed in that tower much longer than others while some prisoners didn’t have a chance to finish their message…because the person was freed, escaped, or put to death.
Did they know back during King Henry VIII’s reign (and earlier) that centuries later people would tour those towers and read those messages?
One entire room inside the tower is etched with inscriptions, but I’m only posting a few pictures so you’ll get an idea of what I’m writing about. I believe you can click the photo to enlarge; it might make it easier to view, if you wish. 🙂
Inscribed by Thomas Peverel
This one floors me, and it doesn’t look like it was finished…
Just in case you can’t read this well…It’s a list of all the inscriptions on the walls and who carved them. That’s quite a few!
It makes me wonder what these prisoners would do in this day and age to get their message out. They’d have the media at their disposal now. What do you think?
Michele
Michele Cwiertny writes dark paranormal romance and romantic suspense. To find out more about her, please visit her website, michelecwiertny.com, or her personal blog, Michele’s Writing Corner.
RWA San Francisco: Video Overview
August 11, 2008 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Confessions of a Podcast Goddess
Like many OCC members, I just returned from the RWA conference in San Francisco with so much to share–including the 7 gigs of video I shot while I was there.
Unlike Alfred Hitchcock, who storyboarded his shots, I shot a lot of video knowing I won’t use it all. I never know what will work or what won’t.
Some of what I shot was planned–like following Jane Porter around for a day and shooting video for her podcast (I’d set this up with her ahead of time). When it was time to sit down with Jane and talk about her books, Mrs. Perfect, and Flirting with Forty (a holiday movie for Lifetime this December starring Heather Locklear), I needed a pretty setting with good lighting.
And quiet.
I love RWA conference attendees. When I found a great spot in the downstairs lobby to interview Jane, I noticed several people sitting nearby, chatting. I asked them if they minded us filming a video (which meant no talking). They all agreed and for the next several minutes, Jane kept them spellbound with stories about her life, books, etc. When it was over, she had made several new fans!!
Most of what I shot wasn’t planned: like sitting down next to an Australian gal, Juleigh Start, the Author Liaison for the Australian Romance Readers Convention in February 2009, so we shot a promo for the upcoming conference.
Then there was the unexpected: like attending a workshop that was cancelled and spending the time in the PAN lounge with RWA authors shooting podcasts, including a fun video for my dear friend, Jacqueline Diamond. Jackie gave me a super interview, which I’ll be putting up asap.
And who can forget the Harlequin party at the Four Seasons Hotel? It was nonstop dancing–and yes, I’ve got it all on video.
I always shoot video of the Literacy Signing–it makes me smile to see all those readers and fans lined up to meet their favorite authors.
I got more than a few curious stares when I was shooting video in Italian in the lobby at the hotel (my books have been translated into Italian and I talk with the Italian fans on the Harlequin Italy blog ) and on Market Street. I want to give the Italian readers a view of San Francisco.
And I’ve got video of my Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs fishnet purple tights–they matched my bookcover and were a fun conversation piece.
And so much more…
It’s all coming up!!
Stay tuned…
But first, I’ll be putting up a fab interview I did with our August afternoon speaker, Tod Goldberg. We talked about writing and my fave TV show, Burn Notice (Tod is writing the books based on the series).
See you in September!
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, set in Cairo and Berlin during WWII.
Jina says, “What if Casablanca was erotic…”
“Get Caught in the Act!”
Cleaning. Oh Joy!
August 10, 2008 by A Slice of Orange in category ArchivesBy Nancy Farrier
I hate cleaning. I mean the deep cleaning that you always put off, or at least I do. For instance, going through the black hole in my bedroom, I usually refer to as my closet. Yes, I know there are those who do this on a regular basis. I’m not one of them.
After all, that comfortable pair of sandals looked very nice. There might even be a way to fix that broken strap some day, even though super glue doesn’t work. Then there are the old clothes. I could shed some pounds and fit back into the ones I haven’t worn in years. I’m not real concerned about fashion, so it won’t matter that they aren’t in, plus by the time I fit into them they might be the height of fashion again. That would be a reason to hang onto them.
Then, there are all the bits of yarn, the only slightly damaged gift bags, the odd pieces of wrapping paper that might be the perfect size for the next gift, and the list goes on. How am I supposed to part with all those valuables?
When I do take a deep breath, gather my resolve, and begin to sort and pitch, I’m amazed at the change. I have room in that closet again. I’m not living in fear for my life every time I open the door.
I often find editing my writing to be the same difficult chore. I recall the first time I had to change scenes that were perfect. (In my eyes only.) It was hard. It was painful. Yet, when I listened to the editor, and followed the suggestions I’d been given, the finished work was so much stronger and more believable. Who knew all those ly adverbs, and flowery adjectives, weren’t necessary?
Killing my darlings still isn’t easy. However, I know the hard work and persistence will pay off. My readers will be happier, and so will my editor. As for the closet—I love to live in fear.
It’s Worth It
August 9, 2008 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as It's Worth ItAN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES
By Kitty Bucholtz
I finally recovered from the RWA National Conference that I attended in San Francisco last week. Whew! What a week! I drove up with my friend Lori and her husband and son (both of whom are sweet and cute and fun!). Then I stayed with my friend Marcy for a few days while we brainstormed all kinds of writing-related ideas including weighing the pros and cons of me getting a Master’s in Creative Writing degree. (I think I’m going to do it!) Remember in last month’s column I was stressing because I needed to see my friends’ little baby Grace? Saw her! Spent the whole day with them and I wasn’t even asked to change her diaper – excellent!
After such a great start to the week, I was eager for the conference to begin. It was a wonderful combination of fun and work. I had “not dinner†with some OCC friends (the restaurant was so ba
One of the best parts for me was hearing someone say, “Send it to me.†I tracked down an agent and an editor who I’d researched a few days before the conference, and both want a proposal from me. (Yea!) We heard some great keynote speakers (Victoria Alexander was a hoot!), learned from some great teachers (Eric Maisel’s “Creativity for Life†might have been my favorite class), and met a lot of people! Lori and Lynn and Kimberly and I made a chal
The trip was expensive in terms of money and time, and it took me a few days to get my energy back and my life back in order once I returned. But as Lori mused on the long drive home, we received an embarrassment of riches. This wealth is pushing me to work harder and faster than ever before (remember those two proposals I need to get out?), but it feels great, and I totally believe it’s worth it!
Kitty Bucholtz writes romantic comedies because, well, she lives one! She wrote her first book in the NBC cafeteria, the second snowed in at a Reno hotel, and the third from a tiny apartment in Sydney. 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.
Is the book always better than the movie?
August 8, 2008 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as moviesI’m about to make a sweeping generalization…but I hope someone out there can prove me wrong.
Have you ever noticed that when you read a book and see the movie of the same story, the book is always better than the movie?
There are a couple of simple explanations… A book allows you to get into the character’s head better, because their thoughts are on the page. And when you look at how much shorter a screenplay is than a book, you realize the screenwriters have to lose a lot of material from the book in order to fit it into a movie.
But on the other hand… A movie can be so much more visual, and can bring a book to life in an almost tangible way. So why is the book always better? Or am I wrong about this?
There are some movies I’ve enjoyed without ever reading the original novel. You’ve Got Mail, based on the book The Shop Around The Corner. Heartburn, from the book of the same title. I can’t comment on the book v. movie question there.
And I have to say, The Sound of Music (my favorite movie) was better than the book The Von Trapp Family Singers. But it doesn’t really count, as the movie was only very loosely based on the book. It wasn’t an adaptation of the book for the big screen.
Some great books have been transformed into terrible movies. The Bonfire of the Vanities (horribly miscast, IMHO). Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. And my kids tell me they didn’t enjoy the Eragon movie (they loved the book). Reportedly, The Other Boleyn Girl was a poor reflection of the book, but I haven’t seen that one.
There have, of course, been some excellent adaptations—the Harry Potter movies, a couple of John Grisham stories, Stephen King’s Misery—but I wouldn’t say they were better than the original books.
I haven’t read The Diving Bell And The Butterfly, nor read the book. Apparently they’re both great – I don’t know which to do first. Any recommendations?
When I hear that a book I love is being made into a movie, I’m cast into nail-biting anticipation about how good the movie will end up. Can Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic heroine Becky Bloomwood be as brilliant on screen as she is in the books?
I wonder what the secret is to turning a great book into an even better movie…if that’s possible. I’ll bet Blake Snyder knows—he’s a Hollywood screenwriter who gave a brilliant talk about story structure at the Romance Writers of America convention last weekend.
What do you think about the book v. movie question? Give me your recommendations for “a great movie from a book,†and I’ll go rent the DVD.
Abby
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