Silver Linings and Such

Photo courtesy Pexels

 

2020 sucked for almost everyone. Some had it worse for any number of reasons. Now, as the end is near for this pandemic, I want to focus on positive things. I'm basically an upbeat and optimistic person, which is probably why I don't like angsty books or stupid drama over inconsequential things. Here is a short list of good things I found (not in any order of importance) to be happy about:

1.  We welcomed my grand niece, Savannah Rose, into the world. Such a cutie!

2.  The vaccine was created in record time and in several months, I hope to be vaccinated and enjoying simple pleasures like a movie and hugs again.

3.  My husband retired which means we can travel (maybe I can get him to finish putting up the molding around the house too).

4.  My eldest son achieved Honors in Rutgers School of Engineering. 

5.  My nephew graduated high school and is doing well in college.

6.  My middle son is back in college with a determination to succeed that thrills me.

7.  My youngest is working in the pharmaceutical field with a bright future and recently got a promotion and raise. 

8.  None of my family suffered illness or death due to Covid-19. 

9.  The trees are budding and spring is only days away.

10. I'm revising a manuscript for an interested publisher.

I could make a longer list of things that have gone wrong, but what's the point? There will always be challenges and I prefer to look ahead with hope. 

Wishing you more good things-

Char

One Helluva Week

 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Been a rough week, right? I'm not getting political because no one cares what my views are, I don't want to hear criticisms for my views, and I don't care what anyone else thinks; how I vote is private. All I'm going to say is that I'm exhausted from the turmoil and tuning into the news through the day to see what tragedy has now happened or is expected to happen. 

With all that, it's hard to think of what to blog about, so let's take current events in contemporary books. I wonder how many authors are writing, or will write, about the Covid-19 pandemic. Not me. Nor will I read any books about it because I'm living it and really, going on a year of lockdown and/or limited movement in public spaces, dealing with selfish people hoarding, the foot dragging of officials, and the devastating economic results, I want to forget this as soon as possible. It's like writing off a losing season when I was on my high school track team. Or my beloved Patriots missing the playoffs- I just want to put it in the rearview mirror. Now I did write a book (FYI looking for an editor or agent...) called the Frankenstein Vendetta which has a scene where the monster comes across a town dying from the plague- but it's set in the 1700's when those things happened more frequently, and I wrote this before the Covid pandemic.

I'm not going to read or write about coups either because I don't write politically based novels anyway, and I'm still scared/angry/disgusted/shocked etc. over the treasonous events in our Capitol. I can't imagine any story line in this whole nightmare of death, destruction, treason, and upheaval that would make me want to write or read about it. No doubt someone can, but this is too close to home for me. It's different when it's Tom Cruise taking on shadowy government figures because that's fake.

Honestly, I rarely write novels based on current events. A lot of my friends do, whether fiction or non-fiction. By the time the books come out in droves, I've already noted and moved on. If vampires are the hottest thing, I write anti-vampire or avoid it all completely. I like going against the grain, the expected.

In general I don't write about a lot of 'hot button' contemporary issues because either I don't feel I'm in a position to, i.e. diversity, gender, or social justice, and being white, straight, and middle class, I feel that there would be outrage. And if you know me, you know I don't do hand-wringing or angsty novels, I'm more of a humourous or snarky writer, although I do have non-humorous novels. I don't even write about issues that my family has faced- death by cancer, mental illness, alcoholism, bullying, etc., preferring to choose historical, mythical, fantastical, or romantic subjects which are far removed from my life.

So I hope you're safe, taking care of yourself, and taking a break from the stress and strain of these days.

Char

Skip the Year End Review

Photo by Olya Kobruseva from Pexels

 

It's that time when we review the past year. For most of us, the few bright spots were dim in 2020. I don't know anyone who wants a repeat of this year. Everyone is hoping for health, financial recovery/success and a return to the life most of us took for granted. 

I'm not reviewing the year- I just want to forget it and move on. Like Patriot's coach Bill Belichick says after a loss: "We're onto (next game)." That means no dwelling on the loss- learn the lessons and move on. The only reviewing I'm doing is to the several manuscripts I've written and/or subbed. One of my few happy moments is a publisher expressing interest in one manuscript, pending some revisions and a resubmit. 

So I leave you with wishes, hopes, prayers, and pleas for the universe and each other to treat us better.

Peace-

Char

Don't Want to Hear That Anymore...

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Besides being the year for almost every conceivable disaster- pandemic, social chaos, tornadoes, unemployment, school cancellations, tropical storms, heat waves, toilet paper shortages- 2020 will also be known as the Year of Yet Another Cliche. These are the phrases/words I NEVER want to hear again: 

        Unprecedented times

    Challenging times

    

    Hydroxychloroquine

    Social distancing

    Kanye

    Uncertain times

    Karen

    United - Apart

    We're in this together

The one that bugs me the most (ok, they ALL bug me) is 'social distancing.' Um, NO. What we want is physical distancing- you know, keep your physical distance to stop the spread. Social distancing implies avoiding any social situations. That would mean no one goes anywhere, ever.  And that is just not possible. So politicians, if you want an accurate catch phrase, next time call an author.

I'm pretty sure most of you feel this way too. And, as an author, I will never write a pandemic story because you know almost everyone else is going to write a novel or screenplay about it. I read pandemic stories before Covid-19, and that was fine. I've lived through a pandemic now and to me, that's like reading about your worst nightmare; I don't go there. I don't read all happy, happy, joy, joy books but it doesn't mean I want to relive something which stresses me to the max personally. 

Now I have to get back to my rom com novel because I have to break a few hearts and totally screw up a character's life...  😉

Char 

(wow, I really like all the new font colors, Blogger, but where the frick is the tab to fix spacing??) 😖