True Heroes: O for Osm (Sound that Out)

True heroes are all around us, in our every day lives, but some people stand out. During this A-Z Challenge I hope to share several of my real life heroes, and invite you to share yours in the comments.

lson family, Jeffery and Julie Olson. I met these amazing people shortly after moving to NYC, but they were so important in our lives--more than they may ever know.

In 2006 my husband got a job in New York, on the border of NYC. It was one of those crazy moments where he got in the car, drove cross country, and found work. While searching for housing, he attended church. He had no idea where he was going to stay that night, and we'd mostly dried up the financial reserves. Suddenly, this lovely young lady at church asked if he needed a place to stay. Her father, Jeffery, was the District President and they often invited people to stay in their basement.

That was the beginning.

Over the next year and a half we got to know more about this amazing family, and I have to say, I've never met anyone more inspiring. Nine kids. Living on Long Island. He worked for a Catholic university, even though he was Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), and frequently took trips to Rome. Julie took care of ALL OF THOSE KIDS, was involved in the community, and you couldn't help but feel her love instantly. I wanted to be exactly like her. She remembered all the little details about our conversations and was instantly invested in EVERYONE she met. Just WOW.

I remember clearly a year after we moved out of the city when she and I ran into one another. There was a big hug, some giddy jumping up and down, and excited chatter about everything that had changed in the last year. Even after we left, she continued to love us. They were the same way with everyone, and I suppose that's what impressed me the most.

I'm sure we didn't make that huge an impression on them, but in a time that was beyond turbulent for me, I was embraced by angels.

This is my week of excerpts, so I hope you like this one:

Kiren extended a hand to help her up, and she took it. Her feet were instantly below her—so quickly that she stumbled and landed against his solid form. An arm rounded her back tenderly, her legs threatening to give at the elation of his touch.

He turned in the direction of the house, pulling her forward with him, moving out of the garden and up to solid brick walls. They halted at a window, the study window. Father sat within, gazing at the portrait of Dana, fingers tracing the details.

“He gave her up.” Her attention snapped back to her breathtaking captor, inhaling his oaken tang. “He could have kept her for his own, and he gave her up.”

His eyes met hers. The azure depths broke in a myriad of lighter flecks, like stars reflected in an ocean tide. They consumed her, igniting a fire within her breast—an irrational hunger for the tremor in his arm against her back, the heat of his side against hers, the feel of his hand vacillating ever so slightly...

He released her and took a few steps back. “You need to go now.”

MOONLESS is on sale now for $1.99, but only for another couple days.

Have you met anyone who instantly loved and helped you? Who is it you most aspire to be like? Do you have alternate parent figures?

Choices, Choices

Have you ever been stuck in a phase of life where it was difficult to find happiness?

I remember living in NYC, how cramped, loud, smelly and exhausting every day was. Strangely, it was also one of the best times of my life. Having just given birth to #3, I learned how to homeschool my 6 yr old--while on double diaper duty with a 1 yr old. Every day was a struggle, start to finish. I could have been VERY miserable there, but a couple things happened.

1. I started seriously into my writing career. I met a wonderful agent who was kind enough to look over my most recent book and encouraged my growth and development. That gave me hope.

2. I really had the chance to focus on my family, and just my family. Spending that much time with my littles, I finally fell in love with being a mommy. (Yeah, it took 6 years--some of us learn faster than others.)

It didn't have to be the crucible of NYC that taught me these things, but the adverse circumstances helped.

I remember a time a couple years ago as I stood, hands submerged in soapy water while I cleaned dishes--without a dishwasher--and grumbled about the never ending chore. Suddenly it struck me. There will always be dishes. I can't change that. What I could change was my attitude, and from that moment on I tried to think of the family I was serving every time a job got especially arduous. I'd think about the clean/safe environment I was creating for them, and how it would add to the overall peace and happiness of our household.

My mom who is away on a service mission said it best: "Love what you are doing - and if you aren't doing that, it is time to refocus."

Happy Monday, friends. How's your focus today?

Dragging Your Sorry Rear Across the Country

Have you ever been homesick?

The first time you left home, how did you handle it? My oldest recently got back from a week at Scout Camp, and while he had a blast, he was SO ready to be home. We visited for Family Night, and I don't think he's hugged me that much since he was about 4 years old. You could see it in his eyes, how much he ached to be back with his family. I was proud of him--making it through the week.

I was reminded of the summer I left home to work in West Yellowstone. It was a blast, but I couldn't wait until the weekly phone call with my parents, or to read their emails. When the summer ended, I returned to my parent's Taj Mahal of a house, and reveled in the loudness of my siblings. It was nice to be home.

We left our family in Utah 7 years ago, and set out for a grand adventure. We've now lived in NYC, the middle of nowhere, and a city with the second largest number of hotels in the world. (Right next to Disney, of course.) I remember going to visit the family in 2008, and as much as we enjoyed it, it wasn't home, not anymore.

Home is where your heart is--and for me, that means my hubby and kids. Mine happen to live here in Florida--sunny, happy, "vacation world." But you know, I've adored all of those other places that became "home" for a season. In fact, I think there's nothing better than exploring the world--and I'm not talking about hitting tourist traps. I think it's the coolest thing ever to settle into a new environment and learn how that society functions. I honestly think that's half the reason I wanted to be an author. (Give me a good excuse to travel, will you?)

This week I'm taking off on an amazing cross-country trip, hitting New Orleans, San Antonio, Roswell (NM), Salt Lake City, St. Louis, and Nashville. So yeah, I'll be on the road--without 4G. Forgive me if I'm slow to respond, but I'll be back in two weeks and bubbling over with awesomeness to share.

Is there a place you're dying to visit? Where do you call home (literally, and in your heart)?

Picture courtesy of Martz90 at Deviantart

Mothers Day? Bah! Humbug.

Have you read Great Expectations? I sometimes feel like that's the title for my life. 

I have a gorgeous family, the sweetest husband, and such an amazing life--but I have a confession. For many years, Mother's Day depressed me.

The humbug: I'd sit and ponder how I was doing as a mother. Was I failing? Did my children get enough attention? What behaviors were they displaying that spoke of need? I'd look around or read stories of parents who were doing amazing things with their children, and I'd think, why can't I seem to be like that? The day served to hammer home how I was failing.

Do you do this too? It's a slippery slope, my friend.

Because of my father's example (if you missed that post, you can catch it here), I've always felt if I'm going to accomplish something, it's going to be done
well--perfectly. (Yup, that oh-so-annoying inner perfectionist...)

Six years back as I sat in a tiny NYC apartment, frustrated by the chain-smokers upstairs and exhausted from a child who refused to sleep through the night, it hit me. We were doing the best we could with our circumstances. My children, severely demanding at the time, loved me, even if they couldn't give me enough space to stand back and see it. I was succeeding in the most important ways. I couldn't be prefect on all fronts, but I was giving it my best effort.

Through the years I've learned that much of my disatisfaction with life comes from the gap between god-like expectations, and reality. Set high expectations, do your best, then forget your expectations and find grattitude in life. I now find great joy in Mother's Day. It's a day of reflection on the good, and as my children shower me with cards, hearts, and hugs, I can't help but wonder how I ever found anything but joy from the holiday.

Here's a happy Mother's Day to all you amazing mothers, and a huge thank you to all you surrogate mothers. You are awesome sauce!

How to Find Happiness A-Z: S

(Previously published as a guest post, but so darn awesome I had to share it again...)

What do you think of when you hear the word, “cheese”? Yummy milk products? Picture taking? General silliness?

For me, cheese = smile = happiness.

We moved to NYC when my daughter was only a year old. She had absolutely no fear of people. She’d walk up to any stranger in the subway and take their hand—while I suffered heart palpitations. Even though it put me on edge, I had to appreciate that my child faced the world with such boldness, that she saw goodness in everyone. She had such a sincere love for people that she couldn’t help but spread it.

And the miracle? People responded. Hardened New Yorkers softened when she looked at them with those big eyes and that sweet smile. They constantly commented on how adorable she was, and everywhere we went, a trail of smiles followed.

Image courtesy of Nemo via Pixabay

It is a scientific truth that smiles pass from person to person, just like yawns. They’re contagious. In one experiment I watched, a well-timed smile even prompted the recipients to stop and help someone who’d dropped some books. Can you imagine that? A smile inciting the inherent goodness in people?

According to Gary L. Wenk, a Ph.D. and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, a smile (fake or real), pulls on the thin bones in the face and causes increased blood flow through the frontal lobes of the brain. When that happens, the body releases an increase of dopamine—which is a naturally occurring “happy drug.”

Believe it or not, you are dosing yourself with happiness every time you smile—and inspiring others to do the same. Maybe that’s the real secret behind children being so much happier than adults. They smile more.

Seems like my daughter had life all figured out at the age of one. Guess I should try to be more like her, eh? Would you like to try the experiment with me? Let’s see if we can’t make the world a better place, one “cheese” at a time.

How to Find Happiness A-Z: N

What do you do for fun?

While home schooling 3 kids, I live a very confined existence. We get out, but not as much as I'd like, so I look to another medium to "get out":

Novels.

Picture courtesy of rocksee

Who else loves sinking into an imaginary world and disappearing from reality? *waving hand in the air* Nothing better. When I was a kid, I was a total book worm and the library was my dojo. In anticipation of summer, I'd buy a stack of books at least 8 to 12 deep, and as soon as I'd consumed the stack, we'd start hitting the library. The NYC library system was a dream come true, and Florida almost killed me until we moved into Orange County with access to the Orlando Library.

My point is, we have to occasionally unplug and regenerate if we want to be successful, balanced, and happy. This great article in the New York Times talks about how taking regular breaks actually improves productivity, creativity, and relieves stress.

I don't know about you, but the times I'm the least happy are when I'm so bogged down by task after task, I don't feel like I can take a spare breath. So then, to find true happiness, we need to establish "novel" time, or hobby/relaxation time. We can't demand too much of ourselves ALL THE TIME.

What is it you do to escape? To get away? To relax? Are you a book worm, and if so what genre takes you far, far away? 

How to Find Happiness A-Z: L

Listen.

What do you hear? I hear a little boy chanting, the scrape of a chair, the hum of a refrigerator, the click of a microwave...

The world around us is filled with confusion and noise. It's hard to tune out the sounds, voices, and electronic devices long enough to even ponder what's going on inside ourselves; but for true happiness, this is an essential element.

Picture courtesy of aresauburn

One of the things that brought me the most happiness as a teen was going out to the yard, sitting on my thinking rock, and watching a sunset or starry night sky. Just listening to and observing nature calmed my heart and gave me the perspective to deal with the crazy crazy of each school day, relationship issues, and the stresses of finding my place. Listening, or not listening to all the other insistent voices out there helped me find my center.

True happiness also stems out of the relationships we build. Do you have a friend who loves to call you, but all they ever talk about is themselves? How deep is that friendship? Do you eventually tire of that person? My advice is, don't be that person. Listening, truly listening to others requires a certain amount of investment. It means we have to care about the person in order to care about what is said. It means we have to be willing to tune out all the other noises and focus. Now I admit, when my six year old tells me the exact same thing for the fiftieth time, it's difficult to want to pay attention, but the most profound things come out of that kid's mouth. Caring about others adds a deeper dimension to ourselves. Deeper satisfaction comes from seeking others' happiness before our own. That's why parenthood is such a noble/maturing/humbling/satisfying thing.

My husband's first boss in NYC was an "art-EE-st"! The guy carried so much ego you couldn't come within twenty feet of him without being knocked off your feet. He also couldn't keep employees to save his life. Wonder why. *shaking head* He was so concerned about being right and perfection that he never paused to consider people had "feelings". Everyone quit within a week, and he blamed it on them--thinking they were all just lemons. (My hubby made it 6 months, by the way--poor guy.)

I call that an extreme case of self-preoccupation.

My neighbor in NYC was the reverse. She immediately came over to meet us when we moved in. She sincerely asked about our lives every time we saw each other, and I knew I could call on her if needed--which, it was. As my husband and I climbed into the car to go to the hospital, me eight months pregnant and extremely sick, we had no idea what we'd do with our two young children. She came running down her steps and invited the kids to stay with her family as long as we needed. She was "listening", or paying attention, and to this day my heart swells with love and gratitude when I think of her. Talk about a true friend.

Self reflection: So which are you more like? The ego-driven genius, or the invested neighbor? (Please do not answer these questions in the comments.)

Do you have a "thinking rock", or quiet place to ponder? And what is it that really draws you to people? 

The Next Big Blog Hop

When you step away from a project or regular social activity, do you fear you'll be forgotten? It's a question that's been on my mind through our most recent move, having left all our dear friends behind. BUT, I got assurance that I HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN online. Yay!

I've been tagged! My long-time blogging buddy, Ian, over at Views from the Bald Patch (who has been way more involved in the blog-o-sphere than me for the last while,) put a smile on my face when he remembered me. Thank you, Ian!

I guess the point of The Next Big Blog Hop is to brag, er, answer 10 questions about your WIP, or Work in Progress. So, here we go.

1. What is the working title of your book?

Project Alaska.

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
New York City, and one totally awesome dream.

3. What genre does your book fall under? 
Fiction--I know, how general can I be? YA fiction. Better?

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 
See, this is the problem with YA. Actors who are in the age range to play the main characters are difficult to find because they don't have a long history in film. However, if you want the look of the characters, these are my MC's:

       

Alaska or "Ally"                               Michael AKA "Ryan"                         

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Okay, I don't have it down to one sentence yet, so...

Ally doesn't ask for excitement. She steers clear, struggling to balance her Manhattan high school education around raising her little brother, keeping her illegal mother under a roof, and aiming for the cure to all their ails: Columbia Law. Boys are the last thing on her “to do” list, but Michael is no boy. From the first time he dismantles a security system to the first time he annihilates a foreign assassin, her world is forever altered. Now keeping him one step ahead of the searching military is the only thing that matters—as long as she can avoid falling in love.

6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Agency.  

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? 
This one has been with me since we lived in NYC and regularly interacted with people who lived in the "projects", or government housing. Throughout the years I've been toying with it and doing research, and am still working on the draft. It's a ways from completion, but there's so much heart behind the story that when I stop worrying about my other projects (especially the one being considered for publication right now), I'm going to dive in full time. 

8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
It fits in the same world as the TV series Kyle XY, and closely with Breathless by V.J. Chambers. (Though much cleaner.) 

 

9. Who or What inspired you to write this book? 
I met one of the characters while living in NYC. I met so many others who faced the struggle of making it in a city where just one person is inconsequential. While struggling with that idea, I dreamed this story, and it's been bursting at the seams to break free ever since. 

10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Do you believe in liberty or patriotism? Which is more important, loyalty to cause, or freedom to discover who you truly are? 

Okay, that's all I'll say and tag 5 other people--all recent friends I've come to adore in the virtual realm. 

Tammy Mckee
Fiona Claire
Elizabeth Prats
Christine Danek
Nazarea Andrews

So what is your big project right now?

Decisions: dream or die?

I've made the choice a hundred times. The first time resulted in working for a music/video production company. The second time meant learning how to be a studio singer. The third time meant overcoming my fear of intricate computer programs. The fourth time required moving to New York City...

So why is it so hard to make that decision, yet again? Maybe because this time I know it's serious, that other people will be involved, that I'm going to have to fight for my artistic vision or worry about industry scavengers trying to embed their own seal...

If you're new to my blog, you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. Well, that pretty link on the side there, Immortal the Musical, that's my baby and it finally has a producer.

After a brief hiatus we are about to go into discussions--the scary kind: the kind where we look at that ginormous endeavor (the one we've spent the last 8 years of our lives building,) and figure out how to chop the pie.

Who will be doing what? Who will be paid what? Who will retain the rights for this or that?

*gulp*

When you write a book no one quibbles over lyric royalties vs libretto rights. Granted, these are my shaking knees speaking. I have no idea how this will play out. I only know this is the beginning, the real beginning. There will be no going back. No second guesses. Past the point of no return.

Oh boy. I think I need some muenster to settle my nerves.

Okay professional nail biters, how do you deal with moments like this?

The Secret Project: Pull Back the Curtain

Eight years ago I wrote a musical about a vampire. For the last 4.5 years we've bouncing between NYC, Upstate NY and Florida in pursuit of this project, including several false starts.

That's not the secret.

INTRODUCING THE SITE: 

www.immortalthemusical.com

Highlights: 

Intro: front page--listen to the opening number...except for the vocals. They will be added shortly...relatively speaking.

1. Story: Read the teaser.

2. Music: Listen to 7 selections of the 34 songs. People who have experienced the entire musical will tell you what you hear represents only a minor dynamic of the show. It is much more varied, and in the next several months we hope to add MANY more numbers (including updated ones of the current features). 

3. Characters: Meet the characters. They have been with us eight years. We love them. You will too.

4. Volunteer: SHARE THE SHOW!!! E-mail a link to everyone! Like it on Facebook. Share it on Facebook. Twitter it! Sign up for a newsletter and receive updates instantly. Donate...if you feel so inclined. In the future there will be more opportunities to get involved. (Contests, events, etc.)

5. Creative Team: Say hello to our AWESOME support group. They totally rock. 

6. BLOGS: A general news blog will keep you up to date, and you can get to know our fabulous team through their own words. BEST OF ALL, get the inside scoop from the characters! They've agreed (though some very reluctantly) to share their story with the world, and you could be the first to learn it.

THE FUTURE HAS ARRIVED (Where you come in): We are not shopping the show through conventional means. We don't have money, and we don't know anyone with clout. SO, the only other method at our disposal is a viral approach. We will be promoting the site through contests, youtube videos, and potentially, through an online reality show. If we have enough fans (because we really deserve them, we hope), then we don't need money or clout. We just need you. AND EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

The Secret Project: Revealed

This will not come as a surprise to some of you, but 8 years ago I wrote a musical about a vampire. For the last 4.5 years we've bouncing between NYC, Upstate NY and Florida in pursuit of this project, including several false starts. If you want to read about that I've blogged it in my blog section (the one on the website).

That's not the secret.

INTRODUCING THE SITE: 

www.immortalthemusical.com

Highlights: 

Intro: front page--listen to the opening number...except for the vocals. They will be added shortly...relatively speaking.

1. Story: Read the teaser

2. Music: Listen to 6 selections of the 34 songs. People who have experienced the entire musical will tell you what you hear represents only a minor dynamic of the show. It is much more varied, and in the next several months we hope to add MANY more numbers (including updated ones of the current features). 

3. Characters: Meet the characters. They have been with us eight years. We love them. You will too.

4. Volunteer: SHARE THE SHOW!!! E-mail a link to everyone! Like it on Facebook. Share it on Facebook. Twitter it! Sign up for a newsletter and receive updates instantly. Donate...if you feel so inclined. In the future there will be more opportunities to get involved. (Contests, event, etc.)

5. Creative Team: Say hello to our AWESOME support group. They totally rock. 

6. BLOGS: This is where content will change EVERY WEEK. A general news blog will keep you up to date, and you can get to know our fabulous team through their own words. BEST OF ALL, get the inside scoop from the characters! They've agreed (though some very reluctantly) to share their story with the world, and you could be the first to learn it!

THE FUTURE HAS ARRIVED (Where you come in): We are not going to shop the show through conventional means. We don't have money, and we don't know anyone with clout. SO, the only other method at our disposal is a viral approach. We will be promoting the site through contests, youtube videos, and potentially, through an online reality show. If we have enough fans (because we really deserve them, we hope), then we don't need money or clout. We just need you. AND EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

IMMORTAL

A brief introduction: Immortal is a musical. Yes, a musical. I love music, and occasionally (not nearly as often as I should) I actually sit down and write it. (Rather than books.) This project is my second baby--and what I mean by that is, kid #2. Born in 2003, it has evolved and taken us such strange places as NYC, upstate New York and Orlando. In the subsequent years I hope to see it take us many many more places.

Without further ado, the teaser:

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Do you want to live forever?  

Three hundred years, dodging shadows, avoiding sunlight, fleeing the family who created and then vowed to eradicate him… Lucas can no longer outrun the hunter.  

Fate has brought him to his hometown in the late 1700’s, the place it all started, the locale of his nemesis’ family, to her.  

Three centuries of surviving, never looking back on the life he lost--the guilt it harbors, the insatiably tainted thirst or the pain of isolation, Lucas feels for the fist time the hope of something greater. If he is capable of love, is he capable of redemption?  

And will the hunter, her uncle, kill him before he has the chance to find out?