J. H. Authors

One Woman. Three Names. Many Books.

Random Thoughts

A Christmas Carol Challenge

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My favorite story of all time is Charles Dickens’ 1843 A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I hear some of you groaning. But hear me out. Have you read the book? While there is sentiment, there is also a brutal portrayal of the times. The themes of selfishness and redemption transcend generations. Dickens balances light and dark beautifully, which helps make the payoff so great.

Because of some overly sentimental versions the story is often dismissed. That is a mistake. Dickens condemns the London of Ebenezer Scrooge as he tells the story of redemption. Some of these scenes are difficult to watch (or read), and they are often cut. I am thinking specifically of the scene that Marley shows Scrooge of the ghosts who have lost the power for good, and are condemned to walk the earth powerless to help. Or the two children (Ignorance and Want) that the Ghost of Christmas Present has under his robe. Or Old Joe…

Knowing that I love this story (and I do) I have set up my own December Challenge. To write about a different version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL every day. Think that is impossible? I have a dozen DVDs sitting here right now that give me a good head start on the project.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the daily offerings. The Christmas Carol Challenge 2010 begins tomorrow–see you then!

Level Best Books and Regina

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This weekend I am going to Crime Bake. During the weekend I will be on a signing panel for THIN ICE, the new anthology by Level Best Books. “Tag, You’re Dead” is the first story I’ve ever had published. Here’s the blog post that featured me as an author. I am thrilled to be part of this collection. For a lot of reasons.

I missed the first Crime Bake, but have been to every one since. My friend Regina went with me that first year, 2003, the year  Level Best Books first anthology was released. Regina bought it, and walked around asking everyone to sign their stories.

“Wouldn’t it be cool to be in it some year?” she asked me.

Maybe next year I said.

But next year Regina wasn’t able to make it to Crime Bake. She had been diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in May, and was in the hospital.  The next year she was gone.

Regina was a force. I didn’t know her long (we’d met in a mystery writing class),  but I do think of her every year around Crime Bake.  This year another friend of ours is also in THIN ICE. When I sent Mary a congratulatory email, she wrote back.

“Wouldn’t Regina be proud?” she said.

Regina would be very proud. As am I.

The Oxygen Mask

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I have been missing from this blog for a while. It is not because I have nothing to say. Far from it. It is because I am having issues with my oxygen mask.

We all know the analogy. Emergency plane procedures say put your oxygen mask on first, and then help others afix theirs. I preach this to my friends with families. Take care of yourself. One challenge with being single and childless is that I don’t always think I need to worry about balance in my life. Sure, I’ll be on this committee. Of course I will read your play/story/manuscript. Happy to speak at this event. Run a race? Sign me up. All good, but then layer on work and trying (and failing) to write. Balance off.

I have been blogging (see here and here). And I have been thinking. But mostly I’ve been off balance. Of course this always happens at this point in the semester–treading until Thanksgiving. But still. Gotta work on my oxygen mask.

Picture

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I think I need to get a headshot of sorts–something more professional to post on the blog and on other blogs. For now, I changed it to the pith helmet photo. What do you think?

Kinda goes with the camel picture, doesn’t it?

Thoughtfulness

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A friend and I were having a discussion about brownies. Specifically the edges. And how superior they are. Cut to my birthday a few weeks ago. An Amazon box arrives. Included is this:

A edge pan. A beautiful piece of kitchen equipment (this pan will outlive me). And a wonderful invention.

Also a very thoughtful gift from a good friend. A friend who will be remembered every time I make brownies. Which, thanks to this pan, will be fairly often.

Have you ever gotten a gift that was unexpected, but oh so perfect?

Aging with Grace

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A friend posted a link to this great blog post called “100 Ways to Age with Grace, Elegance & Joie de Vivre”. I loved it. I plan on rereading it a few more times, and coming up with my own list.

There are some challenges of aging. Your skin starts to separate from your body. (Kids thinking about getting tattoos should take a good look at a middle aged body and realize that will happen to them. AKA, neck tattoos may prove to be a problem. But that’s another post). Your joints creak. Men your age date women twenty years younger.

But here’s the joy of it–you stop caring as much. About any of it. The realization that we are here for a very short time comes driving towards you. You can freeze in fear, or you can recognize the fear but still move forward. Somehow I am jumping on the second path, and the results are joyous.

I am going to work on a list of five new things to help me live with flair. I’ll post them later. Meanwhile, what do you think?