A NEW BEGINNING 2015: Autumn Fog

Posted on August 2, 2015 by peggylchambers

Autumn Fog    It’s August and temperatures are soaring.   Anything cool is a welcome relief.

Autumn Fog is the new color of my “writing room.”  It conjures up images of a misty pond or lake with hidden secrets.  The room is actually a guest bedroom.  But I spend a lot of time in there. It holds my grandmother’s bedroom suit and the aging leather recliner I inherited from my deceased father-in-law.   The multipurpose room holds memories of family and days gone by.  I think of the new color as grey with overtones of blue and green.  It is soft and soothing, and I hope encourages the muse that lives there.

I have been painting for the last week.  No, it is not a big room but I am an old person so it takes longer to paint than it used to.  I painted for two partial days, took a day off to rest my back and then went back to it. But Autumn Fog was worth it.  It is cool and warm at the same time and encourages my imagination.

I love the scent of a newly painted room – it smells clean like a fresh start.  I finished the first draft of my latest novel there and that is where I plan to go back over looking for plot holes and fleshing-out certain areas. I am sure the new color will bring out new and inventive ideas for my writing. It has already encouraged me to paint and redecorate two other rooms. Once I rest up.

It is the dog-days of summer and this one has been more humid than most.  So the idea of an Autumn Fog is even more pleasant.  I don’t know if I will really redecorate the other two rooms or not but a fresh start is always a good thing.

What colors do you have in your writing/reading nest?

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A NEW BEGINNING 2015: New Adult Novel Work In Progress

Posted on July 26, 2015 by peggylchambers

10050462-writing-on-a-white-laptot    I went out on a limb and decided to try my hand at New Adult writing.  I understand that New Adult (NA) and Young Adult (YA) though wildly popular, are not a genre but an age group.  Young Adult is considered the teenage years and New Adult the college years and beyond of the protagonist.  As a retiree I found more than a few challenges when writing about this age.  However, somethings never change, even if they change how they are done.

My suspense novel involves a young girl growing up in a blue collar family working with her mother in a flower shop. She then goes to college and works part time in a law firm.  She has a lot to learn and develops a thicker skin along the way when she runs into rude and sometimes dishonest co-workers while she juggles school and friends.  A friend becomes a boyfriend, and the bad boy she had stars-in-her-eyes for in high school transitions from a bully to a rapist.  The world is not always as we conceive it when we are young. And life is not always fair.

Erin is not only hard working she is brilliant and school comes easy.  Relationships, not so much.  Her father died when she was young and left a hole in her life. Her mother had to take on the role of both parents and being young herself, she and Erin sometimes grew up together.  But they loved each other and would do anything for each other.

Aunt Toni, her mother’s sister, became a lawyer and her life seemed so much more glamorous to Erin than her mother’s that Erin strove to be like her.  Erin wanted that type of life for herself.  But she was unaware of the sacrifices Toni made along to the way to become who she was.

Now someone in the small town of Mansfield is raping young women and Erin knows who it is.  He hurt her once when she was young.  She just needs to prove it to everyone around her while juggling school and work before it happens again.

Blooming Justice is my latest work in progress and is nearing completion.  I can’t wait to show it to you

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A NEW BEGINNING 2015: Glome’s Valley and Gloria Farley

Posted on July 19, 2015 by peggylchambers

new cover    In 1994 Gloria Farley published the book In Plain Site. (http://www.amazon.com/Plain-Sight-Records-Ancient-America/dp/1880820080/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437323148&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=gloria+farley+in+plain+site) Gloria was an Oklahoman with in insatiable curiosity.  She believed that Scandinavians and Egyptians visited the new world long before Columbus discovered America.  She attempted to prove it with carvings and artifacts dating long before Europe invaded what is now the Americas.  She felt they were not left there by the Native Americans but someone else.  She was not an archeologist; she was a social worker who spent her own time and money researching not only the Heavener Runestone but many more sites across the United States. But with the help of archeologists and other scientists who believed her tale, she found, researched, and documented runestones across the United States.

She first stumbled across the runestone in 1928 hiking Poteau Mountain near her hometown of Heavener, Oklahoma. It was then known as “Indian Rock.” And from that day forward, Gloria was hooked on artifacts.

I first heard about the site on Discover Oklahoma tourism show on television and my husband and I made a weekend trip to visit the runestone.  I was enchanted.  Later I took my grandson back to see the site because I had an idea for a book using that area for the setting.  My “city kid” grandson with a constant electronic device in his pocket, said “This is cool, Grandma.”  I got through to him, and he was right.  It was cool.

Glome’s Valley (http://www.amazon.com/Glomes-Valley-Peggy-Chambers/dp/1633730603/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1437324299&sr=8-3&keywords=peggy+chambers) was hatched at that southeast Oklahoma site and my imagination was on full throttle. I loved the idea of a fairy tale born of Oklahoma history.  Gloria Farley felt the Heavener Runestone was a boundary marker stating that that valley had been claimed for Glome.  Whether her ideas were right or not it made a magical setting for a book; a Viking ghost named Glome who had been in the valley for centuries and a modern kid bored with spending his summer alone except for his ever present cell phone.  Of course since there is Viking mythology, Thor had to be involved along with his crazy step-brother Loki.  I wrote a fairytale for a magical area.

I hope you read and enjoy Glome’s Valley and visit the Heavener Runestone.  Take the kids. They will think it is cool.

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A NEW BEGINNING 2015: Writers and Social Media

Posted on July 12, 2015 by peggylchambers

try_something_new    I’m still learning.

I retired this spring and have more time on my hands than I used to.  I’ve been writing for about five years with some success.  I have three published novels and a short story coming out in the fall included in an anthology with some uber talented writers.  I guess you can say I will have four books after that. That success is nothing to sneeze at.

However, I still struggle with social media.  I’ve learned.  My great friend and author Lucie Smoker helped me build a website on WordPress.  Don’t blame her if it looks a little amateurish.  I have a Facebook page and an author page on Facebook.  I have a Pinterest account, Twitter account, an author page on Amazon, and Goodreads.  They are all linked to each other and the website. I’m learning all the time.  I’ve got to say that social media should come naturally to me at this stage in the game but I still struggle.

Lately, I have been working on Twitter.  I post, I have followers, but I have trouble engaging in twitter conversations.  I don’t know who to read and talk to.  I know my grandson would slap his hand over his eyes in frustration if he heard me say that, but he doesn’t read my blog anyway.

I believe it is a generational thing.  No, I don’t believe you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.  It depends upon the dog and how much he is willing to learn.  I am willing. But some days, I just don’t get it.

Yesterday I was given a list of books to read on the subject.  I downloaded them to my Kindle.  I plan to begin reading them and plowing back into the “Author’s Guide to Social Media Marketing” I was given when I joined Oghma.  This will not beat me. I will learn and I will teach others!  Onward and upward, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! But first, I will put out my Sunday blog (or rant).  I hope you read it and I hope you respond.  I can’t be the only one out there that feels like all of this is alien. I am writer, hear me roar.

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A NEW BEGINNING 2015: Legends of New Pulp Fiction

Posted on July 5, 2015 by peggylchambers

Airship 27    Airship 27 Productions  http://robmdavis.com/Airship27Hangar/airship27hangar.html is the publisher for my pulp fiction novel The Apocalypse Sucks.  Currently they are producing an anthology called Legends of New Pulp Fiction to be coming out this fall featuring some fabulous writing and art work from all over the country.  Legends of New Pulp Fiction is a collaboration of like minds to benefit Tommy Hancock, a pulp fiction writer, with some serious health issues. Check out his website at http://www.newpulpfiction.com/p/welcome-to-new-pulp-fiction.html.

I am honored to say I have been selected to collaborate on this fine endeavor with many people who have been in the business for a long time.  Like I said, it is an honor.

I’ve worked with Airship 27 before and they are a class act.  Their main goal is the production of pulp fiction – not making money – that is a side line (if it happens).  They are concerned with the preservation of the genre and the art and take good care of the people who work with them.  They are constantly bringing new talent into the flock.

With that in mind, all proceeds for this book go to Mr. Hancock.  I can’t wait to see what other stories are in this collection and the art work that goes with them.  I sent my story in last week and it was accepted.  I wrote a werewolf story with a different slant – not Lon Chaney and the Wolfman.  This is new pulp for a new generation and I am sure you will find some very inventive stories paired with original artwork.

Be sure to watch for Legends of New Pulp Fiction coming out early this fall. I can’t wait!

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A NEW BEGINNING 2015: Mountains, Cobblestone and Lavender

Posted on June 28, 2015 by peggylchambers

medicine creek    Last week Hubby and I went to the Wichita Mountains in southwest Oklahoma.  Recently retired we had the opportunity to travel when we wanted, where we wanted.  I loved the scene from the top of Mount Scott mount scott    and the animal reserve in the area. Every time you rounded the corner on a winding road, there was another lake.  I had no idea there was that much water in the area.  We had a small confrontation with a long horned cow who thought we didn’t belong on her reserve.  But finally a honk turned her around before her horn scraped down the side of my new car.

We stayed in a cute little cobblestone cabin with an L-shaped screened-in porch complete with daybed and three ceiling fans.     porch med parkIt was small but had everything we needed.  Many lawns had metal art and there were quaint walking bridges wherever you needed to go.  moose Med Park    However, we should have checked more carefully, because there were a lot of businesses not open in the middle of the week.

The Medicine Creek was once considered a mystic place by the Native Americans who lived there.  The creek itself was thought to have healing powers and the round cobblestones also were considered magic.  What was truly amazing was the camaraderie of the town’s people who gathered to clean up the bathing area after a recent flood and the obvious pride they took in their community. You don’t get that in most large cities.

The little town of Meers is known for the Meers Burger restaurant and store.  My husband wanted to take me because he had been there on a “guy’s trip” once before.  We tried twice.  They are closed on Tuesday and also Wednesday.  There is more than one sign on the outside of the building.  We should have called, but we drove their twice and never could not get in.

On the way home we drove through Apache to check out Lavender Valley Acres. This home-grown farm produces all kinds of lavender, peacocks and also a small gift store.  I brought home a lavender plant to take the place of the one that died last winter and some garlic for my herb garden.

The dog wasn’t too happy not being at home.  We took her with us because she loves to ride in the car.  New places to sleep at night – not so much.  She hardly ate.  Next time we’ll leave her home.

It was a relaxing three days and I’d like to go back.  Maybe next time I could see a few more places that were closed. Check out Medicine Park, Oklahoma in the Wichita Mountains near Lawton, and do it on the weekend. http://www.medicinepark.com

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A NEW BEGINNING 2015: A Rich Bounty

Posted on June 21, 2015 by peggylchambers

sandplum bush    Today is the first day of summer and a new season begins.  With it come homegrown and wild fruits, berries and other goodies from the backyard garden and nearby ditches.  In Oklahoma we have a rare delicacy called Sand Plums.  A Sand Plum is simply a wild plum that grows out in fields and goes unheeded beside roads in rural areas.  The fruit grows on bushes and many are not much larger than your thumb.  Others are bigger than a Bing cherry.  The pits, however, are as large as a regular plum and look just like them.  They are red when ripe which makes them easy to spot from the highway and since the ditches on the side of county roads are free to the public, the hunters found many of them.

My husband and his friend, both avid outdoorsmen, traveled the county roads last week in search of wild Sand Plums and came home with a cornucopia of fruit. Armed with boots, jeans, hats and plenty of insect repellent, they found their prey. They both took large plastic buckets and hubby came in with ten pounds of the tart plums. He left the rest for the local wildlife.

It took all day but it was worth it.  We made wild Sand Plum jelly.  By the way, ten pounds of Sand Plums nets about eight pints of the ruby colored jelly.  It is wonderful on toast or biscuits fresh from the oven.   Sandplum jelly

A couple of weeks ago we drove to Ponca City to visit a friend whose garden was overrun with asparagus.  I froze several packages of it after putting it on the grill.  It was tasty and I plan several more meals with it.  aparagus

cherries 2    My son and his wife have two tart pie cherry trees in the front yard that the birds eat most years.  Evidently when they fall to the ground and are hit by a lawn mower it looks like a massacre on the side of the white house.  This year I helped them out.  I picked five quarts of cherries and pitted each and every one of them by hand. Afterwards I discovered I could order a pitter from Amazon that took care of them six-at-a-time.  I now have it in the kitchen for next year.   We are having cherry cobbler for Father’s Day. It may have a few blackberries in it for good measure since they were ready when I picked the cherries.   cobbler

The freezer and cabinet are filling up with the bounty that we find here on the plains.  We will not go hungry unless the freezer quits. What have you been freezing or canning from your backyard?

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A NEW BEGINNING: A Tale of Two Book Signings

Posted on June 18, 2015 by peggylchambers

Hastings    This week I had two book signings – one at Hastings in Enid along with members of the Enid Writers’ Club.  We had a great time reading to anyone who would listen and selling our published works.  Hastings is always a great place to work with.  They set up the tables at the front door and then afterwards our books went on their shelves under a poster stating “Local Authors.”  Thanks you David and Chandler!

Tuesday I was involved in the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County’s summer reading program.  Along with the talented author Veronica Fuxa, we had a book signing at the library while the kids also had a book swap.  The kids brought books from home to trade with each other – an inventive idea from the mind of YA Librarian Gloria Cumpston.  She also offers library bucks to the kids that they can earn and then use like money to purchase books.

I sold a few books, but mostly saw old friends and made some new ones.  Veronica Fuxa is a high school student from Pioneer High School near Enid and has published her first book, Red Smoke.  It is an historical fiction set during the Holocaust. Her character, Jenna, is a young Jewish girl sent to a concentration camp with her family.  Because she is blond and blue-eyed she does not look like most Jewish girls.  This trait causes her to become experimented on by the Nazi’s and their quest for the super race.  Veronica and I traded books and I can’t wait to read hers.  I know this young woman will go far.  Her next book is in the editing phase at this time and will be released soon.  Red Smoke

I love meeting new people involved in literature and resurrecting old friendships.  Gloria Cumpston and I have known each other for many years and are kinda shirt-tale relatives (her niece married my nephew) but it is interesting to get reacquainted because of our love of books.  It is hard to go wrong with people who hang out in libraries.  Thank you Gloria and the Enid library.  You took me in this summer and allowed me to be a part of your group. I felt honored.

Support your local libraries and book stores.  You will both benefit from the experience.

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Deep P.O.V. Part Two—Crawling Inside Your Characters

Posted on June 11, 2015 by peggylchambers

Author Kristen Lamb's avatarKristen Lamb's Blog

This GORGEOUS image via Flickr Creative Commons, courtesy of Aimannesse Photography This GORGEOUS image via Flickr Creative Commons, courtesy of Aimannesse Photography

Last time we talked about the history and evolution of POV (Point of View) and why certain types of POV might not be the best choice for a modern reader. We also talked about what is often called “deep POV” which, until I looked it up one day? I thought was just tight writing. Who knew it had a name?

Today we’re going to dive deeper into deep POV.

Wow, deep.

Yes, there are style changes we can make, like removing as many tags as we can and ditching extraneous sensing and thinking words. But deep POV is strongly tethered to characterization. Good characterization. Before we get to that, let’s talk about what we often do when we’re new.

The Fishy Flashback

When we’re new writers, we often don’t understand plotting. We don’t yet have the skill set…

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Deep P.O.V. Part One—What IS It? How Do We DO It?

Posted on June 10, 2015 by peggylchambers

Author Kristen Lamb's avatarKristen Lamb's Blog

Writing is like anything else. The trends and fashions change along with the audience. For instance, Moby Dick spends an excruciatingly long time talking about whales, namely because the audience of the time probably had never seen one and never would. If we did this today? Sure, feel free to walk around in a literary gold-plated cod piece, but er…

Yes, awkward.

Epics were also very popular. Follow a character from the womb until death. FANTASTIC STUFF! Why? Because no one had HBO, Pinterest or Angry Birds. Books were a rare indulgence usually reserved for a handful of literate folks with the money or connections to get their hands on…a book.

Also, since writers were paid by the word, their works were padded more than a freshman term paper. Their motto? No modifier left behind. These days? We have to write leaner, meaner, faster and cleaner.

Recently, we talked about…

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