THE WRITE PLACE…

to find Patti Singleton these days.

Tag Archives: books


by 15 Comments

My Writing Process Blog Tour!

Welcome to our blog tour! Garden gate to my mom's garden. Eagle River, Alaska 2012

Welcome to our blog tour! Garden gate to my mom’s garden. Eagle River, Alaska 2012

Frankly, when Sheree Nielsen at http://shereenielsen.wordpress.com/ invited me to join this blog tour, I thought my plate was too full. That’s because it is! Oh, well, whatever spills over the plate and onto the floor, the chickens can eat. Wait, no chickens here. My neighbor’s dog, Gertrude, can have whatever falls off my plate.

So, um, thank you for adding me to the tour, Sheree! Our little community here LOVES pretty photos, and I know they will hop over to see the ones you and your husband take. You also have that fantastic “healing” coffee table book, Folly Beach Dances, coming out this month. I’m sure it will sell very well!

Sheree was brought to the tour by Mary Horner at http://writrteachr.blogspot.com/ , and she was brought on board by Donna Volkenannt. This is beginning to sound like that old 70’s shampoo commercial, “…and she told 2 friends, and she told 2 friends…” etc.

Okay, down to business, which is to answer four questions about my writing process. (Oh, this should be enlightening!)

1. What am I working on? A better question for me at this time, would probably be: What are you NOT working on? I am not working on my memoir series, the short “Postcards” book, nor any of the children’s poems and stories on my hard drive, that patiently await my attention. Instead, I’m dabbling in this cool blog tour, teasing my muse with the A-Z April Challenge, and reading (and commenting!) on some damn fine blogs. I’m also THINKING about writing A LOT while the dirt collects under my broken nails and sweat forms on my brow from some serious garden work.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? It may be a bit…looser than other memoirs, I have a hard time sticking to rules when it comes to writing. I write from the heart. When I write for children, I put on my silly hat (one of many—me and the late, great Dr. Seuss have that in common) and tell wild tales that also have some heart thrown in.

3. Why do I write what I do? The memoir was something my late husband and I planned while we spent a year fighting for his life. We wanted to offer some help and humor for others who would follow our path of living in hospitals and short-term housing during a health crisis. Writing for children comes from raising a couple of great ones along the way, sharing laughs with my little grands and never loosing site of my own childish side.

4. How does your writing process work? Ha ha ha ha! A writing process?  I’ve been meaning to get one of those. I bet there’s an app for that! Seriously? For the memoir, and other non-fiction writing, I start with a small mind map in a notebook (very low-tech), then I make a poster-sized one that I can follow as I progress (IF I progress). Basically, I start brain-storming and circling points that I want to make in the book or article. It’s a wildly fun and fast-paced process, where one thing leads to another. Here’s a post I did on it: Mind Map.

No one likes to hear how I write most of my fiction stories, but here goes. I dream them up. Literally. I wake up with an idea, or sometimes with a whole story, and CAN NOT go back to sleep until I get it written down. I usually start in a notebook, but I’m learning to go straight to my lap top instead; transcription is so tedious!

I also use photos to prompt stories, as I did in the B & C installments of the A-Z April Challenge.

Next up on the My Writing Process Blog Tour! are three lovely writing friends, who I think you will all enjoy meeting.

S.K. Nichols at http://redclayandroses1.wordpress.com/ has been a blogging friend since I began my blog. Susan is the author of Red Clay and Roses, a fictionalized true story that blends mystery, rape, murder, drama, and forbidden love into a historical context. She has several other books in the works. Susan is also great about sharing her writing progress, writing book reviews and gathering our community together to discuss writerly issues. She is open, honest and humorous about her journey of writing and publishing.

My second choice for the blog tour is actually a mother/daughter writing team, Inion N. Mathair, at http://inionnmathair.wordpress.com/ . They  have been a writing duo for the past six years and have published YA novels, The Perfect 7, Nightwalkers; The Secret of Jessup and a collection of short stories, From the Dark & Twisted Mind of Inion N. Mathair. Not only prolific writers, but Ginger and Natalie spend almost as much time promoting other writers across their social media network. They write book reviews, present writer interviews and they heavily promote and share all the beautiful, fun, sassy and witty blogs that they discover along the way.

Aside from their obvious writing talent, all three ladies are tops with supporting other writers and bloggers. Please take a few minutes and visit their sites.

Hope you enjoyed!

Patti


by 19 Comments

EDDD 11; Thawing Those Frozen Plans

Frozen waterwheel in front of restaurant in Grayland, WA. PHALL PHOTO 2013

Frozen waterwheel in front of restaurant in Grayland, WA.
PHALL PHOTO 2013

The beginning and end of tonight’s post went on at 7 p.m., but when I check at 10:30, everything in between is still blank! Frozen. Today’s horoscope didn’t suit my mood and if I wrote my own it would just say, zzzzzzzzz. Yep, I slept my day away, after going to bed around 11 this morn. Mom’s call woke me around 6 this eve and I was sleeping so hard I didn’t know what day or time or life I was in. Depression, she suggests. Nonsense, I’m just on a different schedule than most.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m heading to Alaska soon to help mom and my brother when they have their hip, back and neck surgeries. That’s been moved ahead to January or February. My frozen plans are beginning to thaw. Okay, now if I can get these computers going, maybe I can make a leap of progress in getting the Postcards published. I have a stack of book reviews to write and a small stack of books to read for reviews. I have some more genealogy organizing I’d like to get through, and I am excited about the ancestor info coming from England any day.

That almost sounds like a plan. Don’t be ridiculous! I’m just thinking out loud, in writing. To you. And you probably have all sorts of plans, don’t you? Admit it. And you’ll probably follow through on them. I know you will, because I surround myself with supportive, rational, friends who follow their plans. Cool. I’m psyched now. Here I go to follow my plan…”see” you soon.

Happy 5th birthday to my grandson, Hunter.

Thawed & Planfully Yours,

Patti

From writing challenge Every Damn Day December at http://treatmentofvisions.com/2013/11/26/evdadadec/

I mean REALLY frozen! PHALL PHOTO 2013

I mean REALLY frozen!
PHALL PHOTO 2013


by 8 Comments

Trashy or Treasured Book? Each Reader Decides For Themselves

Stormy day on beach. Not a great place to read:>) SONJON PHOTO 2013

Stormy day on beach. Not a great place to read:>)
SONJON PHOTO 2013

I get asked about what books to read, pretty frequently, but it is so difficult to answer. Unless I know your reading style and preferences, I can’t begin to answer you. One person’s trashy book, is another person’s treasured book. That means I can answer the question for my mom and my aunt. I could make a good guess for a few others. That’s it.

I love many things about technology, and one of them is the way I can easily find books that I would like to read. I hope these suggestions lead you to hours of great reading.

If you go to www.goodreads.com and join, you can quickly zip through, mark and rate the books that you have read. Soon, goodreads magic will give you tons of suggestions based on your top-rated books. Easy-peasy. You can even see what your friends are reading. You can even see what I’m reading. However, my page is not very accurate. I read many books that I don’t mark, and I review books that I win, or books from other writers that I meet. I am lousy at updating with the books I am reading.

Join http://www.mobileread.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24 and look for threads of the genres you enjoy. I randomly chose a thread about end-of-the-world themes WITHOUT aliens, vampires and the like. Oh, and I didn’t join. About a dozen people answered with title and author and a short comment. If you click on the title, you are taken to the book’s page on Amazon.

At http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet23 you can chose book lists by age group, and they also have a list of banned books, just for fun:>) My library, Timberland Regional Library, list books the same way. When I click on a book, to read its description, it also has links to the same kind of book, or other books by the same author. Your library probably has some of the same features.

http://bestsellers.about.com/od/readingrecommendations/Reading_Lists_Recommendations.htm has some interesting lists that you might want to check out. Extensive reviews, including pros and cons.

There are many, many more sites, but this should get you started. Happy reading!


by 14 Comments

THE READER PLACE; Our Reading Habits and Places 2

reading

My son reading to his son:>) Jon & Hunter
PHALL PHOTO 2013

reading

What a cozy reading spot! Luanne already knows I’m going to tease her about the hat :>)

Here’s what some of our other friends have to say about reading, from comments on original post here.

helenmidgley
As the only female in a house full of men, I read to escape, lol. Although my husband would say I read to escape the washing up, the ironing, the cooking and the polishing, but I don’t believe him

tpolen

As a child, I loved reading in the swing on the front porch right before a storm. Now, my very favorite place to read is on the beach, but if I can’t have that, I’ve enjoyed our covered outdoor patio during this mild summer – the weather has been great! I’m the lone female in my male dominated house and, for the most part, the only reading they do is Sports Illustrated.

Susan Call Hutchison
Initially, I wondered if an eReader could ever match the magic of turning pages to devour a story. I found out the ease of having a Kindle app on my iTouch made it my favorite way to read. I can have a LIBRARY in my pocket, and take it out and enjoy, anytime, anywhere. I read the scriptures every morning for 1/2 hour in bed, before I do anything else. My husband and I read aloud to each other every evening when we were first married (34 years ago), and after our first daughter came. We alternated chapters, and introduced each other to the writers we loved. My husband enjoyed reading aloud to our whole family as the girls were growing up. Now that they are out of the “nest,” Marc and I still read to each other, sharing “the good parts.” And both of us read avidly, silently to ourselves. Wherever we want to.

Judy

Susan, my husband and I also read ‘the good parts’ to each other. And, at holiday time, he reads A Child’s Christmas in Wales (D. Thomas) at the annual family gathering. Wonderful way to bond and share. Think we’ve created a tradition with our kids and grand kids.

coastalcrone

What a wonderful image – a boy reading in a tree house! Better than video games. I read in bed every night or read while I am waiting for someone or something.

Ginny

My son hides in the bathroom to read…lol my hubby reads on the couch and I like to read outside or in bed..I cant wait to hold your book in my hands with a cup of coffee and sit outside and read it.  along with a big box of Kleenex.

Thank you all for participating and please keep sending them in!  1writeplacewordpress at gmail dot com I need them by Sunday. Add a link if you have a business or book you want us to visit. I’m still looking for some that Paul took of me reading…

Thanks Peeps,

Patti


by 10 Comments

THE READER PLACE; Our Reading Habits and Places

READING rooster alaska

Bob the reading rooster. This photo has not been touched or retouched. This story is real.
Alaska, USA
PHALL PHOTO 2012

The first Monday reader photo for our first weekly feature, The Reader Place, is Bob the rooster.

Bob came into my life just when I needed a good friend. I was in Alaska for 4 months last summer, because my mother had an accident that left her unable to care for herself. I was there for mom and Bob was there for me.

I had briefly met Bob the February before, when my family gathered to mourn the loss of my sister. Bob and I bonded over our grief out on the cold porch, while I smoked and cried. (He was not allowed to smoke due to his burnable nature) I kept us both warm with blankets, and occasionally, Mom’s 100 lb Rotty mix, Sophie.

When I returned in May, Bob rejoiced. His was a solitary life spent sitting on the deck that overlooks a busy road, waving at all the passersby.  That’s why I taught Bob to read; he needed a diversion from his lackluster days on the deck.

Next thing I knew he was stealing my mocha’s and my books. People came to visit and he would pull every conversation over to the book he was reading. I’d created a monster! The final straw was when I caught him as you see in the picture; he has my reading glasses (Bob has perfect eyes!), the mocha that sis Laura brought by for me, and my latest murder mystery.

We finally agreed on some ground rules.  Bob got his own library card, reading glasses and an empty mocha cup, since with Bob, it was all about image.  He meets with a readers group every week to discuss his books and him and Mr. I.V. Poley text each other often. That’s enough about Bob, let’s move on to the next photo.

Hope for school photo challenge in Bavaria. Photo by Nicola

Hope on a snow mound for her school reading challenge in Bulgaria.
Photo by Nicola

Mom Nicola says, “Here’s the pic, as promised. My nine year old (Hope) did it for her school, as they were having a reading challenge of the most interesting place to be snapped whilst reading.  It is taken in Pamporovo, Bulgaria.
Nicola Young
nikkiyoungwrites.wordpress.com

A very creative young lady. Look at that snow falling! Oh, Bob just wrote in to say he’s seen the snow in Alaska all the way up to his deck! Bob has attention issues, excuse him everyone. Thank you Hope & Nicola, and make sure you all stop by Nicola’s WP blog. Next photo, please.

Cousin Jimmy reading.

Cousin Jimmy reading.

Another reader in our family. I love the picture of a window on the wall.  How can he read that tiny thing? He doesn’t even have glasses on. He MUST need them, he IS five months older than me:>) Is this staged or not?

The next photo is his sis, Elizabeth. My cousins have the wonderful habit of coming through for me when I need them:>)

Cousin Elizabeth reading in bed.

Cousin Elizabeth reading in bed.

Looking cozy, Cuz! I think I’m going to save the comments that people sent in for next Monday, I bet you’d all agree that Hope wins for most unusual, Bob wins the mascot award and my cousins get the loyalty award. Thank you all for participating and please keep sending them in!  1writeplacewordpress at gmail dot com I need them by Sunday. Add a link if you have a business or book you want us to visit.

Thanks Peeps,

Patti

 


by 5 Comments

I Won Another Book! Memoir, Life in the Land of ‘IS’ from beachboundbooks.com

Just last week I told my mom that this was going to be my lucky year! In three months of blogging, I’ve won two books, just by reading and commenting on blogs that interest me. So, in other words, no talent used here, but still….
Here’s the scoop:
Patti,
 I just wanted to let you know that you are the winner of the Life in the Land of ‘IS’ giveaway. Please let me know where you would like me to send the book. Thank you for taking the time to enter and for adding my badge to your site.
Stacie Theis,  Beachboundbooks.com (see badge on home page)
A quote from the review by Stacie, Life in the Land of ‘IS’ is an amazing story about the unyielding human spirit that catapults a woman from a life shattering accident to an inspiring role model for others.”
********
I’ll add my other winning info below and take it off the main page.

“The winner of the Leanne Shirtliffe book, Don’t Lick the Minivan, is Patti Hall. Congratulations, Patti! I’ll be in touch to send your book.”
From http://www.marionroach.com

I received the book in the mail, read it, and sent it on it’s journey to my daughter (who has a minivan, and 3 who may possibly try to lick it), then to my aunt and on to Alaska for my mom to read. They both had station wagons, and 12 kids between them, that I’m sure did much worse than lick the station wagon.The book is hilarious. Thank you Leanne and Marion!

********

Thanks for stopping in,

Patti

 


by Leave a comment

Once Sold Tales Offers Book Grab Bags – GalleyCat

Once Sold Tales Offers Book Grab Bags – GalleyCat.

A sad time for them. If you are nearby Seattle, do stop in to find some gems. If I were there, and had a purse…well Maggie (the RV) would be filled to the brim. I have this picture of Maggie with books coming out her ears, mouth and eyes (all windows, you know). Books on her roof, books spilling from underneath…you get it.