Tag Archives: Reading

Starting fresh

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I hate being a writer sometimes. It’s not that I hate writing, but the discipline required can be a total drag. I think that’s why most people fail at writing, or really at life for that matter. The ones that are successful have to be tenacious. Pursuing a dream doesn’t guarantee success, but giving up certainly guarantees failure. How many of us stop without realizing they’ve given up? How many times have I done that?

I’ve fallen into that trap as of late. It’s discouraging when you feel that you’re not making progress. Part of my problem is that I’m unwilling to let go of my work. Letting go means allowing myself to fail and that’s a problem sometimes. It’s scary to put myself out there for others to judge and criticize. Let’s face it, some people are assholes just to be assholes. Maybe they’re unhappy with themselves and deal with it by tearing others down. Who knows?

Looking at my blog stats, I’ve noticed a downward trend in page views stemming from my own lack of posting. I felt I didn’t have anything new to say, that I was repeating the same empty promises, sounding like a broken record about what I wanted to do and where I was going. Even my book reviews flatlined, breaking promises to read and review a few. I’m rectifying that now, but getting started is going to be troublesome. I’ve lost my mojo.

We’re already twenty days into 2016, and though the time of resolutions has come and gone, maybe it isn’t to late to set some goals for the year. My first is I’m going to post twice a week at the very least. Second, I’m going to write at least an hour a day. I need to reestablish my habit. Third, I’m going to publish a short story twice a month. I’m also going to push myself out of my comfort zone and dabble with other genres. That’ll be an interesting writing exercise!

Lastly, I’m going to write and finish Giada’s novel and start begin reworking Son of the Father. I want to tell Bishop Mendoza’s story, and I have for years. He isn’t a one off story but rather a series, beginning with Giada. I want to discover the road he took and see the reason why he isn’t some one-dimensional religious leader. He’s a real person with real issues and a history that wouldn’t recommend him for anything other than a life in prison.

But he grew up, changed his life, and found a calling out of a depraved life. He dedicated himself and has been a model priest, but the ghosts of his past begin to haunt him, giving ammunition to those who don’t like him. It’s the kind of story I like to read. I find church intrigue to be intriguing.

My writing, I’m discovering, is a journey of my own choosing. Were I to be honest, I would have to say I want my writing to be the engine that propels me out into the world. I’m not an adventurer, but I would like to be able to travel the world, see new places, especially those of historical value. I want to live in Rome, visit England and Germany, hell even see the other states of this great country. I want to have that freedom to explore which in turn will give weight to what I write.

Maybe it’s a pipe dream, but it’s not one that I’m willing to give up on. If anything, writing allows me a way out of the tedium of everyday living. I can explore without  having to leave the comfort of my home. I can do that with reading, but as the writer, I can dictate the flow of events. I like that. I just have to make myself do that.

Some of my favorite reads

Morris West

Shoes of the Fisherman
Clowns of God
Lazurus
Emienince

Greg Tobin

Conclave
Council

David Osborn

The Last Pope

Leading up to NaNoWriMo 2015

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NaNoWriMo 2015 is a month away. Are you ready? I know I’m not. I have no idea what I’m going to write about. I have nothing to say. There are a few ideas rattling deep in my head, but I don’t know if any are the stories I want to tell, and if they are the ones I want to explore.

Last year I began to write Giada, and it was an unmitigated disaster. I would like to revisit it, but this time change the point of view from Giada and back to Fr. Mendoza, the main character from my first NaNoNovel. This would be a prequel, the story about a prostitute that saves a pious priest. I still want it to be her story, but told from his perspective. I just don’t think NaNo is the right time to try so ambitious.

Then there’s my idea of a Hollywood producer wanting to make a movie starring his father’s favorite actress, a woman who had given in to a retirement she never wanted. He wants to make his movie, tell his story, something I relate to. I haven’t fleshed too many details, but this one intrigues me.

Finally, there’s the story of a priest with a promising career ahead of him, who though he’s intelligent, charismatic, and a favorite of his superiors, but is otherwise arrogant and aloof towards those he feels beneath him. As a punishment, he’s exiled to some poor, rural parish, one that’s nearly bankrupt, financially, spiritually, and morally. I like this one because it’s mostly about small town politics set within the confines of a faith community, where being Christian  is only a buzzword and not actually practiced.

I’m sure there will be other ideas that come and go in the next month. Hell, I may be inspired to write something completely different come November. Right now, I need to read a few books to review for this month and the beginning of next. If I decide to review a fourth, it’ll have to wait until the beginning of next year. I don’t want to exhaust myself like I did last year.

Updating my review schedule

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I received my copy of Oliver Chase’s new book, Levant Mirage, yesterday afternoon. With it in my hands, I can put it on my calendar and say the review will be posted on October 5th. It’ll give me plenty of time to read it and give it the thoughtful consideration it deserves. However, if history is any indication, I’ll read it on the 4th and hastily type it up. Bad habits die hard.

While I’m on the subject of reviews, I also got an email from Christa Yelich-Koth, and she too has a new book coming out next week, Illusion. She asked for a review, and though she’s out of hard copies to hand out (bummer), she promised to send a .pdf copy immediately. As soon as she does, I’ll put in on my calendar as well. Just need to decide if it’ll also be in October, which would put it on the 19th, or wait until the 2nd of November.

And while I wrote this, I checked my email and my copy is here. Yay! It’s fun to write in real-time. So I’m planning on posting the review of Illusion on the 19th. I’ll update my Book Review page to reflect the changes. This is going to be fun.

If you have a book you would like me to review, I’ll set aside the first Monday in November and in December for reviews. I’ll make any additions as needed, and open up months into the new year should I be asked for more. Let’s see what happens. Until then, happy reading and good luck to these two authors as they release their new books!

I think I’m rambling again

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My best friend has been asking me if I have started listening to the audio copy of Ernest Cline’s novel, Ready Player One. I have had to admit to her several times that I haven’t. I just cant’ make myself listen to it, despite the fact that I spend two hours commuting to and from work everyday. Nope. Can’t do it.

Part of the problem stems from the fact that I’m a horrible listener. I have trouble understanding what’s going on if I don’t’ actually read the words for myself. I have the same trouble with music and songs. I have to actually read the lyrics to have any idea about what’s going on. It’s just the way I am.

So, very reluctantly, I’m having to buy the book, and it’ll have to be a hardback because that’s what I like. I have a few paperbacks, but I prefer the feel of a hardback. It’s nothing personal. It’s purely an aesthetic choice on my part. I just haven’t made it to the book store, yet. I hope to make it this week.

But speaking of books I need to read, the head of a writer’s group I’m in is releasing her second book soon. I want to be supportive, and I bought a Kindle copy, but I haven’t read it. My Kindle went kaput after I dropped it for the umpteenth time. That’s okay, because again, I want an actual copy in may hands. I just can’t seem to warm up to e-books. In this case, it’ll have to be a paperback, since that’s all that’s available.

I want to support self-published authors. I really do, but I’ll admit that I’m not really being selfless in my support. I want to build some good karma should I ever actually publish something. A co-worker said that I probably would never do so since I would never be able to let my book go. Maybe they’re right, but that’s no reason not to read a self-published novel.

I’ve read several that I enjoyed during my time as a book reviewer. There are several talented authors who have chosen to publish themselves rather than to seek the traditional route. What amazes me is the sheer number of people writing and publishing their own works. It’s mindboggling!

I would like to join the swelling throng of writers. Until then, I will gladly be one of many who supports them. It’s not too much to hope that one of the writers I support will be picked up by a traditional publisher, and they themselves become a successful author. Would that it could be me!

I’m aware that I’m rambling. I should probably go to sleep. I have a lot of books to read, and I think I should get to it. I just need to finish my own work, which feels like it’ll never happen.

P.S. I promise to read Ready Player One, Amy. It’s on my list!

To Read

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to readMy current to read stack of books beside my bed. There’s only nine, but there are several more on my Kindle. And yes, that’s a Stephanie Meyer’s book on top of the stack. Don’t judge me.

P.S. My birthday’s coming up. Just saying.