August is ending. Summer is almost over, which means it is time for me to return to my writing and art. And with that, it is time to break those long periods of silence here. Before I took large portions of the summer off to collect my wits and to catch up on the partsContinue reading Coming Attractions [plans]
Writing Novels
It seems as if every successful author has written a book about how to write novels. One author I read about compared writing novels to performing in a circus, with juggling and balancing acts that will entertain to keep your audience mesmerized. It’s a unique comparison to the many other authors who have compared itContinue reading Writing Novels
Book News, April 2019
Plans continue to rewrite and retool my ebooks at Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. I published my first book there in January 2013. Although my main character was a boy named Lenny Stevens, it introduced Vree Erickson and started the ball rolling for her to take center stage in many of the stories that followed. IContinue reading Book News, April 2019
Birthdays and Life
Today is my birthday. Another year older and closer to death. Death is a common theme the older I get. But that’s life for all of us. I was born on Sunday, 62 years ago. My mother said she went into labor while laughing at Jerry Lewis. She and my father were watching Hollywood orContinue reading Birthdays and Life
Future Writing Plans Update
I am planning to write a new book. It will feature a LOST AND FOUND story involving time travel. Time Travel to the Past: British physicist Stephen Hawking held a party for time travelers in 2009. No guests showed up — he sent out the invites a year later. Some time travel theorists argue that the guests—perhapsContinue reading Future Writing Plans Update
What’s Ahead For My Characters
2018 is a year of do-overs for my Ridgewood characters and their stories. Forget everything about them. Forget all of it. This is the year that began with a blank slate—a book of blank paper where anything is possible. Like many writers, there are times when I dread starting the blank paper because, well, ifContinue reading What’s Ahead For My Characters
Taken By Surprise, by Polly Smrcka [guest post]
(From Hatch Hollow Tomboy. Used by permission.) Life on the stony, rolling acres of the family farm was never dull. There were always new and interesting, sometimes frightening, experiences to add to the daily humdrum of endless work. Never were two days alike. One particular day from early childhood never dims in my memory withContinue reading Taken By Surprise, by Polly Smrcka [guest post]
Writing Time
I could write more books—and blog about them—if I had more time to write. My 9-to-5 job—the one that pays the bills—runs within a timeframe of 8:30am to 10pm, five of the seven days of the week. My hours worked during a week fall between 30 and 38 hours. A typical schedule looks like this:Continue reading Writing Time
Another Year and Fixing My Blog
Yes. Another year. As usual, I entered my WordPress blog after a long hiatus and spent the whole day redesigning my blog instead of writing. The artist is the true inner child in me—I love playing with design. Anyway, I played all day with many themes, inspecting their positive and negative elements until I foundContinue reading Another Year and Fixing My Blog
Area History, Chapter 10, by Beverley Bittner [guest post]
The Corry Building That Wouldn’t Stay Put. By Beverley Bittner. It was built by William Brightman in Wayne Township before the Civil War. Brightman’s father was a Methodist preacher and the 32 by 45 foot building was to be a Methodist church. It was located about one mile northwest of Corry beyond Macadam Hill atContinue reading Area History, Chapter 10, by Beverley Bittner [guest post]
Area History, Chapter 9, by Beverley Bittner [guest post]
Vene Potter’s Trip to Dixie. By Beverley Bttner. Vene Potter left Bloomfield Township with two horses, a dog, and a loaded wagon weighing 2,735 pounds. He was bound for a farm in Virginia and a new start in life. His letters home indicate the hardships of the journey and the indomitable pioneer spirit that makesContinue reading Area History, Chapter 9, by Beverley Bittner [guest post]
Area History, Chapter 8, by Beverley Bittner [guest post]
Spartansburg: An Historic Village. By Beverley Bittner, From Steppin’ Out, August 1971. About thirty miles west of Warren and ten miles south of Corry, in Crawford County, lies the historic village of Spartansburg. About 1837 Andrew Aiken and his brother Aron built a dam across the creek for power, then built a grist mill onContinue reading Area History, Chapter 8, by Beverley Bittner [guest post]
