J. H. Authors

One Woman. Three Names. Many Books.

Musings

In Praise of a Handsome Man

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This could be a multi-part blog series. And it has nothing to do with the People issue that just came out, though Bradley Cooper was a nice choice. Instead, it has to do with the theater weekend I just had in New York. I saw three shows, all of which featured handsome men. Paul Gross in Private Lives, Alan Rickman in Seminar and Hugh Jackman in Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway. My focus for this post is Hugh Jackman.

I have seen him in the movies. And I have watched him host the Tonys. But I had never seen him live. And while I was prepared to enjoy the show, I was not prepared for how enormously talented Hugh Jackman is. He is charming and charismatic and has a nice singing voice. But it is the dancing that got to me.

I love old movie musicals, with a very special place in my heart for Fred Astaire, with Gene Kelley coming in a close second. I love their easy way of telling a story through dance, and layering romance with athleticism. Hugh Jackman is that kind of dancer. Lovely, at ease and really, really good. Truly a talent that may have been better served in another era, when he could have made some movie musicals a la Gene Kelley (or Fred Astaire). Wolverine the Musical? I don’t think so. But maybe take his Wolverine cache and make a big old fashioned musical with production numbers? A girl can dream.

Hats off to Hugh Jackman. You surprised me.

Surfing over the Bucket

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I have professional goals for my role as ED of a non-profit, and as a teacher. And writing goals, both for content and publication. And I have blogging goals (like doing it regularly).

And I have my bucket list. Now the bucket list are both goals unto themselves, and they require many steps that are goals unto themselves. For example, there’s surfing.

My BFF from high school had this on her bucket list, and I’ve added it to mine. We both have August birthdays, and thought it would be a good time frame for crossing this goal off the list. But the steps leading up to it include:

  • Getting in really good shape. One is because core work is necessary. Two, because there will be photos of me in a wet suit.
  • Figure out the best way to do this. TLS had found Surf Diva camps, and that seems to work.
  • Practice the jumping up part. You know the look–from stomach paddling to jumping up and standing. Right now I would need help with that, as I am not very nimble. Yoga will help, right?

Nine months away. TLS and I–Surfing USA. Should make for some interesting posts…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grj7sjQ0_p4]

Crime Bake 2011

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Just back from Crime Bake, and feeling inspired. Exhasusted, but inspired. It was my 9th Crime Bake (out of 10 total). They had a slide show from previous Crime Bakes, and I could see myself aging, and changing, throughout. Here are some of my take aways from this weekend:

  • Even though I am still working on getting the same book published/agented, the book itself has transformed thanks to many critiques. A number of those critiques came as a result of Crime Bake.
  • Being part of a signing (for DEAD CALM, Level Best Books‘ new anthology) was as thrilling as it was last year. In some ways, it was even more thrilling. “Her Wish” had a long journey toward publication. And it remembers my friend Regina, who came to that first Crime Bake with me and would have been thrilled to see me signing this past weekend.
  • Community is all. Most of the joy of Crime Bake is being with other writers. We are inspired by panels, supported by networking and pushed by opportunities to connect with agents, editors and masters of the craft. Both Sisters in Crime New England and Mystery Writers of America are great organizations that help promote that community.
  • The business is changing. But no matter what, there are writers who dream of getting their book published (myself included). Going to conferences like Crime Bake help step up your game.
  • We had a great social media panel on Friday that lead to many conversations throughout the weekend. One of the panelists said that blogs were dead. I disagree, but can’t really contribute to the conversation while I let this blog be so quiet. So short essays here, and on NHWN on a regular basis.

Anon.

 

The Fall Reboot

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The only reason I don’t adore fall is that I hate winter with such a passion. If fall led to spring or summer, it would be my favorite season. I love the crisp air. I love the colors. I love the seasonal food. I love the holidays, especially Thanksgiving. But most of all, I love the reboot.

My life is on a semester cycle. I teach, which helps. And my theater world has seasons, many of which either start or end in September. My daytimer starts in September rather than January. And since my birthday is at the end of the summer, fall is a time for me to set goals for the coming year.

This year the reboot hasn’t been automatic. Time is flying by so quickly I feel the need to respect it more. Is that really how I want to spend my time? Can my knees take another running program? How can I carve out more time for writing? Should I try meditation, again? What will make this time different?

How to break down the goals into manageable tasks, and how to be accountable to myself, those are the struggles. But crisp air, delicious apples and great sleeping weather help reframe the struggles a bit. After all, it is a new year.

Stop Making Sense

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Last week was my birthday. As a gift to myself, I’ve decided to stop making sense.

See, as a Virgo, making sense is comforting to me. I am organized. I scope out situations. I push myself, but they are calculated in that I know what I am getting myself into. I have taken the road less traveled (and it has, indeed, made all the difference), but I invest in a GPS and constantly fact check in order to make the road less traveled more secure.

But I want to find more joy in my life. So here are some of the senseless things I am doing.

I am writing a second book in a mystery series. The first manuscript isn’t sold. I could keep editing it. But instead, I am writing the second one. And loving it.

I am querying agents. I read the blogs, I know my chances. But I love my book. And more importantly, I loved writing it. So I am going to try and go the traditional route (though that may not make sense).

I want to go surfing next summer. This makes NO sense, since I have never been surfing and am not even close to agile enough to do it. But I want to go surfing. Or paraglide. Or both.

And the most senseless thing I’ve done of late? I adopted a cat. I had pets as a kid, and have had two cats as an adult. Having to put them to sleep killed me, and I have been gun shy about putting my heart at risk again. But I heard about a cat who needed a home, and I decided to go for it. She is 11, which could mean that our time together is limited. Or not. Who knows? She needed a home, and it turns out I needed her. It makes no sense, but has brought me joy.

And that makes sense.

Summer Lies

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One challenge of this blog is not to repeat my writing advice (doled out at NHWN blog). Nor is it to discuss theater (my day job), which I do occasionally on the StageSource blog and also on my class blog for Emerson.  Another challenge is to write with more frequency. Goal–Monday postings from now on.

Subject? Varies. This week is on the lies of summer.

Now don’t get me wrong. I adore summer. I love being warm (not hot, but warm). I LOVE baseball. I love going to the beach. I love grilled food (though I don’t love grilling). I love not having to layer my clothes.

But I’ve caught summer out on a couple of lies, especially of late. They include:

  • Exercise. That summer is a good time for it. Now as someone who trained for the past two summers, I can say there are positives to being able to go outside and do all sorts of sports. But not mentioned is the difficulty in actually doing this. Heat is tiring. Energy gets zapped. Sleeping is challenging at times, which doesn’t help.
  • Looking good. Since tanning is out, the sunkissed glow doesn’t happen automatically. That’s one challenge. The other challenge is that you look pressed and fresh for the five minutes before you leave your house, and then it all goes to hell. Sweating. Clothes sticking to you. Being surrounded by sweating people. Running makeup isn’t a good thing.
  • Feet. This may be me, but my dogs don’t like the heat. At all. They get swollen, and sore. I walk, a lot. (Boston is a walking city, I take public transportation most of the time and I do like to get the exercise). So even if I pull of good looking from the ankles up, my shoe choices are dictated by comfort, not style. Sneakers of late.
  • Weight. Magazines exclaim over the opportunities for fresh fruits and vegetables. True enough. But there are also side salads, lots more get togethers and vacations. Never mind s’mores. And the extra exercise makes you extra hungry.

I still love the season. Just saying the love isn’t without some challenges.