This week in connection to my new contest, I’d like to introduce myriad topics for thought and discussion—that non-essential marginalia that sometimes can produce fascinating “asides” of life.
Topic #1
Have you ever had a moment when you felt your age? I must admit, the older I get the wider the gap becomes between the age I think I am on the inside and the age I really am. I recall the first time I felt “old” and I was probably only in my twenties. I was with my girlfriend who had two young daughters, not quite teenagers at the time. I mentioned an actor who had been popular when I was growing up, and neither one of them had ever heard of him. Now this was no small actor—I actually think the name was Jerry Lewis, a comedian who also did telethons during those years. Realizing they didn’t even know who he was made me feel old for the first time in my life.
Somewhere along the way I became “ma’am” instead of “miss.” That made me feel old, too. Then the aches and pains began, and just yesterday I saw one of the kids in the neighborhood zip by—running so fast only a child can know what that feels like. I may burst into jog now and then, but my running-really-fast days are behind me.
How about you? No matter what age you are, do you feel like it?
Topic #2
Over the weekend my husband I talked a little about team building. We’re always telling our youngest son how important it is to be part of a team, to take ownership in something bigger than just one person. That reminded me that although writing seems to be a solitary occupation—and often feels that way—I started a long time ago to build a team around me. First readers who were friends or family members recruited to read my work, then fellow writer’s workshop members, critique partners, a prayer team, all of whom molded my willing attitude when it came to working on a publishing team—everyone from the publisher who looks at the big picture to editors who hone those ideas I present, on to marketing and PR personnel, sales staff and interviewers to expand my platform. Having a team attitude is vital, even in a supposedly solitary profession like writing.
Do you consider yourself part of a team? How has such an attitude helped you? As a mom, I sometimes feel like anything from the chief cook and bottle washer to the packhorse that totes along everything I think we’ll need for various outings. But I’m only part of this team that I love, and once the roles are defined life seems to go smoother. Has being part of a team made life easier for you?
Topic #3
Let’s lighten things up! Recently on another blog I visited, I posed the question about peeking at the end of a book you’re reading. Do you? Or do you resist, letting the story gradually unfold each and every mystery, clue, high and low?
Contest!
These are just a few topics to get some thoughts going. This week, I’m offering three copies, one copy to each of three winners, of an ARC of Look to the East. This is a re-release of one of my Great War stories (old cover pictured on the right). This is the story that starts at the beginning of the War and follows Julitte as she helps Charles hide from the Germans occupying a small French village. This story was released briefly in 2009, then pulled for a cover re-design—so if you missed it, now’s your chance to claim an Advance Reader Copy with the new cover (pictured below). For those who don’t win, the book will be hitting store shelves again later this year.
If your name is drawn at the end of the week and you’ve already read one of the original copies of Look to the East, just let me know at that time and I’ll send you a different book of your choice.
Here’s how it works to be included: Just leave a comment. You can talk about any of the topics presented above, or you can bring up a topic of your own. Or you can simply state you’d like to be included in the contest. This is a marginalia contest, which means the comments can be as mundane as you like. Just keep them clean, make sure your email is included (using the following format: youremail(at)carrier(dot)com) and post on my blogspot page rather than on my Facebook page. On Sunday evening, March 20th, I’ll randomly draw three names from those who leave comments and will contact the winners directly through the email address associated with the comment.
On Wednesday, I’ll be featuring New Fiction from a friend of mine, and comments left on that day will also be included in the random drawing.
All the best to you, and Happy Reading!
I'm reading Look to the East from my local library right now. It has the old cover 🙂 It has been interesting reading the series in reverse order (last to first).
I would say that most days I feel older than my age. Being the youngest in my core group of friends probably does not help with that.
I hope to get my own copy of Look to the East My email address is hohablog(at)gmail(dot)com
Marginalia – what a great word!
In response to #1, I always tell people I am too immature to be a grandmother. I don't think I'll ever feel middle-aged, but my body and sometimes-weary soul have a different story to tell.
I have a friend who refuses to read a book unless he knows the ending. He'll read the first chapter and the last if intrigued he'll read the rest. This is the guy who likes to do a jigsaw puzzle without looking at the picture.
Reading the ending is like seeing the last few minutes of a movie then watching it from the beginning. The surprise is gone, the smooth transitions is gone. Worse yet the ending is not satisfying because you know it.
Speaking of knowing the ending, when I was a kid my dad took my siblings and I to see "The Sting." Anyone who's ever seen that movie knows this is positively one movie you want to see as the director imagined – in order, no peeking, no spoilers. But when my dad said "Let's go to the show" he meant let's go – now. No Internet to check movie times, we just went. We walked in on the last fifteen minutes . . . long enough to know what "the sting" was all about. We did stay until the show started over again and watched it all the way through, but that experience made me vow to never, ever peek at the end of books or listen when someone tried telling me how a movie ends. Sigh. I guess it was worth it…
My niece Shaunalee was three when she was a flower girl at our wedding. About 12 years later, I showed her the high school graduation picture of the boy who'd stood with her as ring bearer. I naively assumed she'd remember him. Not only did she not remember him, she looked at me with a vague look and said "I don't remember your wedding." Boy, I felt old.
jltodd(at)mts(dot)net
I will not go to the ending of a book, just a pet peeve of mine since I have a friend that will do this and has told me what hppens. I hate this trait of hers, and told her not to ever tell me how a book ends.
Thanks!
Rebecca
rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com
I never, never read forward when engrossed in a book. I don't like to know what's coming or the end. It's because I like to see if I'm right about the direction of the plot. Then, I am a writer, so this interests me. My sister always reads the end first. That would ruin the whole book for me.
I never peek at the end of a story/book. To me, that would ruin it all. I like to follow the story with all the emotions it entails and be surprised at the end of the book.
lgm52@hotmail.com
I cannot peek to see how the story ends, not even when I'm not enjoying the book and know I wouldn't finish it. As for the books I got lost in, I don't want to know where I'll end up.
Barbara nailed a major reason not to look at the end of books – as writers, we can't read just for pleasure. We want to take the ride as the author offers it, and that includes letting it unfold to reveal its original, complete design. We can't really study the structure, the way it builds (or doesn't) if we peek ahead of time.
I have a tendency to read ahead sometimes. There are times when I resist the temptation, and most of the time I actually don't read ahead, but there are just some books when I can't wait to see what happens.
Thanks for this awesome giveaway!
lubell1106(at)gmail(dot)com
Oh, I'd love a chance to win this book! The cover is great, and the plot looks amazing!
jennycohen104(at)gmail(dot)com
Hey Maureen!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I'd have to say that I pretty much always look at the end of a book to see how it ends. Although, if it's a series and I've been following it since the beginning, I tend to wait and find out when I'm finished. But most of the time if it's a new book or a new author, I do read the very last page.
Emreilly303(at)gmail(dot)com
Um, I don't know if my last comment was approved because I forgot to sign in. Sorry! Anyway, thanks again for the giveaway!
Emreilly303(at)gmail(dot)com
I can't see why anyone would read the ending of a book before reading it. My grandmother used to read the last chapter before starting a book and if she liked the way it ended proceeded to read the rest. I can't understand it myself, I think that would ruin the story for me.
Thanks for the giveway! I can't wait to see who wins!
Dreilly316(at)gmail(dot)com
Please enter me.
acohen.816@gmail.com
Just wanted to let you know that I've chosen the 3 winners to receive ARCs of Look to the East and have sent out emails to notify them. If you didn't win this time, I hope you'll check back for future contests!
I ALWAYS read the end! I have no idea why, but somehow it is comfortimg. The fact that 90% of the novels I read are romance novels means that I pretty much know the lead characters are going to end up together, so it isn't as if I am spoiling anything by peeking.