The last blog of 2014, this is the 48th blog for the year.  Weeks when I was traveling either for family or book events or just plain fun I didn’t write a blog.  Everybody, especially me, needs a break from time to time.  Forty-eight blogs in a year is respectable, I think.

In 2015 I have agreed to be the discussion leader for two book clubs.  One book club is in a local assisted living facility.  The book club is the direct result of a community reading program sponsored by our local library to have the entire community read the book Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman.  The readers at the assisted living facility didn’t want to read just one book and asked me to continue leading a monthly discussion.  Who could resist a request like that?  The only condition the group had was that they wanted small books, 200 pages or less.  Our local library staff researched the availability of books with 200 pages or less and gave me a two page list.  Library staff scours other libraries to order the number of copies needed for our group and I deliver them each month. 

Our library has several book clubs that meet there monthly including the evening book club, the mystery book club, the romance book club and the afternoon book club.  The discussion leader of the afternoon book club is moving out of state and the group was in need of a leader.  They invited me to attend one month to lead a discussion and give me a try.  We talked about plot, writing style, characterization and author intent.  It was a different approach for them and they liked my approach, they took me on as their leader.

I also participate in the Tuesday Morning Book Talk group lead by Dr. Emily Auerbach.  Being a member of three book clubs means I get to read three books a month and inevitably, some of them are repeats.

This month I’m re-reading Plainsong by Kent Haruf, who died recently.   I distinctly remember my first reading when I had to work to become accustomed to his style of not using quotation marks for dialogue.  At my first reading I was also amazed at how he wove the stories together at the end of the book.

For my second reading more things are being revealed.  First, I realized it is a literary work, not commercial fiction at all even though it had enormous commercial success and received several awards.  I also now feel that the beginning chapters when the characters are introduced to us with their own chapters are bleak and dark.  Gutherie is a high school history teacher with two sons and a wife suffering depression who moves out of the house.  Victoria Roubideaux is a pregnant teen whose mother kicks her out of the house and ends up living with two bachelor cattle ranchers, the McPherons.  While the story is unlikely Haruf makes in believable and credible.

I know there’s the adage that there are too many books and not enough time to read the one’s we’re interested in.  However, I am also learning there are some books, some authors in particular, that deserve a second maybe even third reading.  Wallace Stegner is another author in that category for me.    

As grandparents we’ve decided that our mission is to enrich the lives of our grandchildren by sharing experiences with them.  We have no interest in buying them “things”.

For Christmas this year we have searched for gifts that, at their age, our grandchildren may not understand but will, we hope, give them opportunities they will enjoy.

For our granddaughter in Omaha we purchased a family membership at the Omaha Zoo.  When we visited earlier this year the entire family visited the zoo and the pictures we have of our granddaughter staring at the aquarium and the dinosaur exhibit are priceless.

Our oldest grandson loves to visit the library with me.  This summer he learned how to select books he wanted to have us read to him.  There’s a children’s corner with a variety of activities that he has become expert in and he makes instant friends with whoever is there that day.

We decided that while only 3 ½ our grandson should have his own library card.  We completed the form, got Mom & Dad’s signature and I took him to the Library to get the card.  I showed him that his card looked exactly like mine.  We walked to the picture book area and he ran up and down the aisle grabbing books off the shelf asking, “How about this one Poppa O?”  Then he discovered the cd area and was thrilled to find Curious George cd’s.

We took our collection of books and the cd to one of the self check out areas that was at his height.  I showed him how to enter his code on the touch screen and scan the bar code on his selections.  Listening to the machine talk to him captivated his attention.  As we left the library I asked him if he wanted to carry his things, “No thank you.  You can carry them for me.”

We hopped into the car and as I turned the ignition, from the backseat he said:  “Thank you for taking me to the Library Poppa O.”  My grandson had given me the best Christmas gift ever.

   

I took a month off from fiction writing after completing the first draft of my second novel.  I’ve vacillated on a title but recently have settled on Out of Darkness, at least for the time being.

While I took a month off from fiction writing I didn’t stop working as a writer, I continued my blog, my Extra Innings column and most important, researched self-editing a novel.  Of course, I would never take on editing by myself.  I will hire the same copyeditor and proofreader, Christine Keleny, who worked with me on Murphy’s Troubles.  I am also working with my dear friend and mentor, Marshall Cook on story development and novel structure.

About a week ago I sent Marshall the first three chapters to read.  As usual, he gave me thorough, thoughtful comments – three pages worth of detailed review.  The last line of his review said it all.  “After studying these comments I think it would be a good idea to re-write the first chapter.  I hope you agree.”

I felt like a train that just derailed.  I didn’t need to tinker with this or that I need a complete re-write.  I studied his comments and read my manuscript together so that I could learn from his analysis.  Of course, Marshall is right, the chapter needed to be re-written.  I spent three days re-writing that one chapter and have sent it to Marshall for critique.

This experience has taught me that I misjudged the time I’ll need to edit a 97,000 word novel.  The first chapter is absolutely critical and I may need to change the point of view, meaning a complete overhaul.  I am thankful that I have someone like Marshall to help me learn the craft.  I need to get on the right track.    

Are you working on a book?  Have you considered independent publishing?  I will be sharing my experience with self-publishing my novel MURPHY'S TROUBLES . . .

                                                            SUNDAY
                                             DECEMBER 7TH   2:00 P.M.
                                                 CONFERENCE ROOM
                                         SUN PRAIRIE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Explore the prospect of being your own publisher, and learn the secrets to the editing process, cover design and options for printing.  Learn about resources for marketing a book and attracting readers.