First off, let me apologize for my extended absence. I became sick for a while, and it was quite miserable. Then I needed to get a few things together in order to attend my very first writer's conference, the topic of this blog post.
Over the past weekend, I was lucky enough to have attended the 22nd annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference: Write Here, Write Now, Make It Happen. I signed up for the event months ago, and that's when the giddiness began in my tummy. I was so excited about the idea of hanging out with a bunch of other writers, people just like me. As the date approached, the giddiness mixed with nervousness.
When I registered for the conference, I marked the little box that would allow me to submit the first page of my Work In Progress (WIP). The option I chose would permit me to remain anonymous, while another person read my submission to a panel, which consisted of an agent, an author, and an editor. So, at least I wouldn't need to read my WIP out loud while industry professionals tore it apart, and the audience laughed in my face, right? But the thought of this critique still had me nervous. What if they didn't like it? What if I was told that I was the worst writer ever, and I should just go back to being a regular stay-at-home mom? Gasp!
Another option I chose at registration was a pitch appointment. A pitch is when a writer speaks with an agent or editor about their book. If the industry professional likes what they hear, they can ask to see the writer's work. Simple, right? I could talk about my writing. Trouble is, I'm terribly shy. Again, what if the agent/editor I talked with laughed at me? What if I forgot what my book is about? Hey, it could happen!
Like I said above, I'm a shy person. I liked the idea of talking with other writers, it always makes for a great time. But what if I didn't run into anyone I knew and had to sit alone in a corner? Or what if I was talking with someone and I said something wrong? I didn't want to offend anyone.
But here's what really happened:
I did have my first page read to a panel for critique. I received some great advice for strengthening my writing, but the ridicule and laughter I feared definitely did not occur. I was nervous when the time for my pitch appointment neared. But a wonderful friend sat down with me and helped me practice what I would say. She really calmed my nerves, so when I walked into the pitch room, I remembered what I needed to. As for being alone and without friends, I couldn't have been more wrong. I've been a member of an online writing community for about a year now, and where not many of us knew each other in person, we knew every one's names. I was able to meet at least half of my online friends face-to-face at the conference, and each of them was as excited to meet me, as I was excited to meet them. I'm sure I put my foot in my mouth while talking with someone over the weekend. But no one called me out on it, so I'll let it go. Finally, not a single person at the conference would have told me to stop writing. The amount of support and encouragement present was empowering!
My experience has reminded me that, we humans, fear the unknown. I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone, always a scary thing. But whether we are writers, doctors, soldiers, students, or what-not, if we don't step out of our own little boxes every now and again, we will never grow as people, never reach our dreams.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
A Bit of a Break
For the past week or so, I have been battling some sort of illness. It comes and goes, and it seems to be a nasty little virus. I am also gearing up to attend a writers conference at the end of the month. For these two reasons, I plan to take the next few weeks away from this blog. I plan on returning once I am healthy and the conference is over.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Medusa
Medusa is the creature from Greek Mythology who had snakes for hair and could turn people to stone if they looked directly into her eyes. Most people think of evil when they hear her name. But I've always felt drawn to her story, and hold a sort of pity for her.
Medusa wasn't always hideous. In fact, she was a beautiful maiden with fabulous golden hair. She was a priestess of Goddess Athena, and so she, like all of her fellow priestesses, took a vow of chastity. However, Medusa fell in love with Poseidon, God of the Sea, and the two were wed.
For Medusa's breach of vows, Goddess Athena transformed her into a monster. Medusa's beautiful golden locks were morphed into snakes, her eyes became red, and her milky white skin was changed to a greenish hue.
With her new serpent-like form, Medusa fled her home and became a recluse. Stories and rumors were spread about her, thus causing her to be very angry. Medusa finally met her match, when Perseus delivered her to the hands of death.
I was in the eighth grade when I began to study Greek Mythology and heard the story of Medusa for the first time. Her tale was then, and still is one of my favorites. What do you make of her story?
Medusa wasn't always hideous. In fact, she was a beautiful maiden with fabulous golden hair. She was a priestess of Goddess Athena, and so she, like all of her fellow priestesses, took a vow of chastity. However, Medusa fell in love with Poseidon, God of the Sea, and the two were wed.
For Medusa's breach of vows, Goddess Athena transformed her into a monster. Medusa's beautiful golden locks were morphed into snakes, her eyes became red, and her milky white skin was changed to a greenish hue.
With her new serpent-like form, Medusa fled her home and became a recluse. Stories and rumors were spread about her, thus causing her to be very angry. Medusa finally met her match, when Perseus delivered her to the hands of death.
I was in the eighth grade when I began to study Greek Mythology and heard the story of Medusa for the first time. Her tale was then, and still is one of my favorites. What do you make of her story?
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
The Rack
*WARNING: THIS POST IS VERY DESCRIPTIVE IN REGARDS TO A CERTAIN TYPE OF TORTURE DEVICE. SOME READERS MAY BE TOO SENSITIVE FOR THE INFORMATION GIVEN HERE.*
Two simple words - the rack. For some, these words may bring about happy thoughts of shopping in a very popular department store chain. Other people may snicker while thoughts of female anatomy run through their heads. But for me, these two words instill sadness and fear. Want to know why?
"The rack" conjures mental images of a medieval torture device that was commonly used to force people to confess to wrong-doing, or to give up information. It was a form of torture that was meant to be a last-ditch type of option. In other words, "milder" methods of torture were supposed to be used before the rack would be considered. Personally, I would really hope to not have an over-zealous torturer!
The rack was a piece of equipment, generally made of wood, where its victim would be bound by the wrists at one end and by the ankles at the other end. A crank or wheel would then be maneuvered, resulting in the tightening of the ropes. There was a possibility of loud popping noises because ligaments and other internal things could be snapped. Sometimes the device would be cranked too much (whether intentionally or not), and the victim would be rendered paralyzed as a result of dislocation, or possible separation of a limb.
Needless to say, this form of torture was excruciatingly painful on its own. However, often times other methods of torture were applied while the rack's victim was stretched. People would often be burnt, pinched, or have their finger and toe nails ripped off as well.
Though I haven't come across it in my research, it is to my understanding that the rack is no longer used - anywhere. However, in the height of its time, variations of this device were used throughout Europe.
Two simple words - the rack. For some, these words may bring about happy thoughts of shopping in a very popular department store chain. Other people may snicker while thoughts of female anatomy run through their heads. But for me, these two words instill sadness and fear. Want to know why?
"The rack" conjures mental images of a medieval torture device that was commonly used to force people to confess to wrong-doing, or to give up information. It was a form of torture that was meant to be a last-ditch type of option. In other words, "milder" methods of torture were supposed to be used before the rack would be considered. Personally, I would really hope to not have an over-zealous torturer!
The rack was a piece of equipment, generally made of wood, where its victim would be bound by the wrists at one end and by the ankles at the other end. A crank or wheel would then be maneuvered, resulting in the tightening of the ropes. There was a possibility of loud popping noises because ligaments and other internal things could be snapped. Sometimes the device would be cranked too much (whether intentionally or not), and the victim would be rendered paralyzed as a result of dislocation, or possible separation of a limb.
Needless to say, this form of torture was excruciatingly painful on its own. However, often times other methods of torture were applied while the rack's victim was stretched. People would often be burnt, pinched, or have their finger and toe nails ripped off as well.
Though I haven't come across it in my research, it is to my understanding that the rack is no longer used - anywhere. However, in the height of its time, variations of this device were used throughout Europe.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Robert the Doll
Do you remember the 1988 movie Child's Play, which spawned many sequels? Well, believe it or not, there's some truth to that story.
In Key West, in the year 1906, a man said to have been trained in black magic and voodoo gave a doll to a little boy. The magical man was angry with the boy's family, but he gave the boy a "gift" anyway. The doll he gave to the boy resembles a 20th century Naval officer. At first, the boy's parents thought it was cute that their son would talk to his little companion and then speak in a different voice for the answer. It soon became evident that the boy was not throwing his voice, but the toy was actually talking back! Some other things Robert the Doll has been said to do are facial movements and knocking furniture over. The little boy eventually grew up and when he passed away in 1974, Robert the Doll was shoved to the attic. When a new family moved in, a ten-year-old little girl became the proud new owner of the forgotten toy. Strange occurrences began to happen again. It's been over thirty years, and she still holds to the story she told in childhood - the doll wanted to kill her.
As I've never had the chance to visit Key West, I've not had the opportunity to see Robert the Doll for myself. However, I do remember watching the movie that his story inspired. I was a little girl then, but it still became one of my favorites. I liked the second movie too, possibly more than the first. Even as I sit here and type this, I have a smile on my face just thinking how that second movie was set at a military school, and I am now a military wife. Just a little strange coincidence, but I digress. Anyway, by the third movie, I thought the plot had become a little tired. Would Chucky and his murderous ways ever be stopped? I watched others after that, I think just because I loved those first two movies so much. What drew my macabre little mind to enjoy them so much, I do not know. Maybe I'll have to re-watch them to figure it out. It's been years!
If you'd like to learn more about Robert the Doll, you can check out the museum's website at www.robertthedoll.org. There, you will find tales of how Robert's story was taught in a classroom, how he possesses an aura, and other blogs about him.
In Key West, in the year 1906, a man said to have been trained in black magic and voodoo gave a doll to a little boy. The magical man was angry with the boy's family, but he gave the boy a "gift" anyway. The doll he gave to the boy resembles a 20th century Naval officer. At first, the boy's parents thought it was cute that their son would talk to his little companion and then speak in a different voice for the answer. It soon became evident that the boy was not throwing his voice, but the toy was actually talking back! Some other things Robert the Doll has been said to do are facial movements and knocking furniture over. The little boy eventually grew up and when he passed away in 1974, Robert the Doll was shoved to the attic. When a new family moved in, a ten-year-old little girl became the proud new owner of the forgotten toy. Strange occurrences began to happen again. It's been over thirty years, and she still holds to the story she told in childhood - the doll wanted to kill her.
As I've never had the chance to visit Key West, I've not had the opportunity to see Robert the Doll for myself. However, I do remember watching the movie that his story inspired. I was a little girl then, but it still became one of my favorites. I liked the second movie too, possibly more than the first. Even as I sit here and type this, I have a smile on my face just thinking how that second movie was set at a military school, and I am now a military wife. Just a little strange coincidence, but I digress. Anyway, by the third movie, I thought the plot had become a little tired. Would Chucky and his murderous ways ever be stopped? I watched others after that, I think just because I loved those first two movies so much. What drew my macabre little mind to enjoy them so much, I do not know. Maybe I'll have to re-watch them to figure it out. It's been years!
If you'd like to learn more about Robert the Doll, you can check out the museum's website at www.robertthedoll.org. There, you will find tales of how Robert's story was taught in a classroom, how he possesses an aura, and other blogs about him.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
The Stanley Hotel
Most people know of the Stanley Hotel as the place where Stephen King wrote The Shining. It is a destination on the lists of many ghost hunters. I have the privilege of saying that I've been there a couple of times.
In 1903, F.O. Stanley and his wife, Flora, were instructed by a doctor to visit Estes Park, Colorado. The doctor suggested the mountain air would be good for F.O.'s tuberculosis, so the Stanley's headed west. They stayed in a cabin and immediately fell in love with Estes Park. F.O. Stanley purchased a good piece of land from the Earl of Dunraven in order to build a place he and his wife could enjoy and entertain in. In 1909, the Stanley Hotel was opened.
Many tales of otherworldly activities have been told with regards to the Stanley Hotel. A lot of those tales are said to center around a former housekeeper for the hotel. On June 25, 1911, an electrical storm occurred. The lights went out, and Ms. Elizabeth Wilson was walking around, lighting lanterns to see by. When she was at the spot where room 217 now is, there was an explosion. Ms. Wilson was shot down from the second floor to the first floor, where the MacGregor Room now sits. She was not killed in the accident, but she did break both ankles. Since her death in the 1950s, people have benefited from extra housekeeping, such as beds being turned down, being tucked into bed, and having luggage unpacked. On my trips to the hotel, I have not run into Ms. Wilson. I can say that I have had a number of experiences though, most of which happened on the fourth floor.
The fourth floor used to be the children's floor, so a lot of running around, playing and what-not occurred up there. On the ghost tours, it is common for the group to sing songs, such as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" on the children's floor. Sometimes ghosts will make their presences known while the song goes on. Twice I've been on the tour when ghostly activity, in the form of cold spots, surrounded me.
I've also had my pants leg tugged on. When it happened, I had a sense of a child playing hide and seek. Of course I looked down to see if my pants could have brushed up on something. There was nothing near my leg when the experience happened.
I have also had the privilege of going into the closet of Dunraven's room. It was said that he used to take the nannies in there and do nefarious things with them. While in the closet, I saw the image of a face hovering just inches in front of mine.
I was also able to spend the night in the hotel once, as a gift from my husband. While there, my son (then three years old) and I went to explore the hotel. We went up to the fourth floor, and my son backed us into a corner. He had us kneel down on the floor. We stayed there for a number of minutes and then I asked him if we could go back to the room. My son told me we had to stay where we were. When asked why, his whisper to me was "The people will see us." There was no one to be seen in the hallway with us.
Have you been to the Stanley Hotel? Did you have any otherworldly experiences? I'd love to hear of them!
In 1903, F.O. Stanley and his wife, Flora, were instructed by a doctor to visit Estes Park, Colorado. The doctor suggested the mountain air would be good for F.O.'s tuberculosis, so the Stanley's headed west. They stayed in a cabin and immediately fell in love with Estes Park. F.O. Stanley purchased a good piece of land from the Earl of Dunraven in order to build a place he and his wife could enjoy and entertain in. In 1909, the Stanley Hotel was opened.
Many tales of otherworldly activities have been told with regards to the Stanley Hotel. A lot of those tales are said to center around a former housekeeper for the hotel. On June 25, 1911, an electrical storm occurred. The lights went out, and Ms. Elizabeth Wilson was walking around, lighting lanterns to see by. When she was at the spot where room 217 now is, there was an explosion. Ms. Wilson was shot down from the second floor to the first floor, where the MacGregor Room now sits. She was not killed in the accident, but she did break both ankles. Since her death in the 1950s, people have benefited from extra housekeeping, such as beds being turned down, being tucked into bed, and having luggage unpacked. On my trips to the hotel, I have not run into Ms. Wilson. I can say that I have had a number of experiences though, most of which happened on the fourth floor.
The fourth floor used to be the children's floor, so a lot of running around, playing and what-not occurred up there. On the ghost tours, it is common for the group to sing songs, such as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" on the children's floor. Sometimes ghosts will make their presences known while the song goes on. Twice I've been on the tour when ghostly activity, in the form of cold spots, surrounded me.
I've also had my pants leg tugged on. When it happened, I had a sense of a child playing hide and seek. Of course I looked down to see if my pants could have brushed up on something. There was nothing near my leg when the experience happened.
I have also had the privilege of going into the closet of Dunraven's room. It was said that he used to take the nannies in there and do nefarious things with them. While in the closet, I saw the image of a face hovering just inches in front of mine.
I was also able to spend the night in the hotel once, as a gift from my husband. While there, my son (then three years old) and I went to explore the hotel. We went up to the fourth floor, and my son backed us into a corner. He had us kneel down on the floor. We stayed there for a number of minutes and then I asked him if we could go back to the room. My son told me we had to stay where we were. When asked why, his whisper to me was "The people will see us." There was no one to be seen in the hallway with us.
Have you been to the Stanley Hotel? Did you have any otherworldly experiences? I'd love to hear of them!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
Valentine's Day is tomorrow, but I've never really cared for the holiday. So much pressure to have the perfect day, showing the person you love that, well that you love them. Seems foolish to me. Instead, I think I might take the time out of my busy schedule to reflect on the tragedy that was the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.
During the days of the Prohibition Era in the 1920s, the city of Chicago had two powerful gangs - the Italian gang to the south, and the Irish gang to the north. The gangsters of the south were headed by Al Capone. The gangsters to the north were led by Bugs Moran.
On February 14, 1929, five members of the North Side gang were lured to an empty warehouse. The plan was to kill Bugs Moran and maybe a few of his men. However, as Moran was on his way to the meeting spot, he caught a glimpse of a police car and it scared him away. He wasn't in the warehouse when the shooting took place. The Irish gangsters present were lined up against a wall of the warehouse and executed.
According to a few witnesses that would testify, two of the shooters disguised themselves as police officers. The other perpetrators dressed in what was then a business casual type of way. There are a few different theories on who those suspects were. The killers could have been any of the numerous other gangsters or even the police themselves.
With the majority of the material I've read on the crime, the number one suspect seems to have been Al Capone, Public Enemy #1, himself. However, Capone was never convicted of the crime.
Who do you think did it? If forensic science of the 1920s was what it is today, do you think the mystery could have been solved?
During the days of the Prohibition Era in the 1920s, the city of Chicago had two powerful gangs - the Italian gang to the south, and the Irish gang to the north. The gangsters of the south were headed by Al Capone. The gangsters to the north were led by Bugs Moran.
On February 14, 1929, five members of the North Side gang were lured to an empty warehouse. The plan was to kill Bugs Moran and maybe a few of his men. However, as Moran was on his way to the meeting spot, he caught a glimpse of a police car and it scared him away. He wasn't in the warehouse when the shooting took place. The Irish gangsters present were lined up against a wall of the warehouse and executed.
According to a few witnesses that would testify, two of the shooters disguised themselves as police officers. The other perpetrators dressed in what was then a business casual type of way. There are a few different theories on who those suspects were. The killers could have been any of the numerous other gangsters or even the police themselves.
With the majority of the material I've read on the crime, the number one suspect seems to have been Al Capone, Public Enemy #1, himself. However, Capone was never convicted of the crime.
Who do you think did it? If forensic science of the 1920s was what it is today, do you think the mystery could have been solved?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)