Category: Writing

Does a break in routine matter?

1/1/2015

On the first day of 2015, I slept in this morning. No, I didn't celebrate the dawn of a new calendar year. The days will progress without my greeting. Maybe I'm a grumpy old woman, but random bangs woke me at the appointed hour. I guess young revelers were convincing themselves that the new year would bring better fortune. And there's nothing wrong with that. Hope gives drive to your schedule.

pixabay.com

My late arising disrupted my routine. Oh, yes, I'm a creature of habit. I cut short some exercises, meditated, and then hurried into the kitchen and ate some fruit—not fresh. No time to peel and lovingly prepare. I swallowed the usual four prunes, canned in juice, and one quarter of a ripe pear I'd prepared earlier. After dressing I ate a bowl of porridge.

Now, here I am, left without the time to read all the news items to find a suitable story to present to you. Writing and selecting suitable pictures to elaborate the piece normally takes me one and a half hours.

Okay. I didn't do that.

But, does it matter if we are running late? Most people will have the day off work on New Years Day, and will expect to rise late. For me, every day is the same, being deemed unfit for a proper job because of disability, and, most of all, age.

Am I letting my readers down by not presenting a proper snippet of news?

This brings me to the subject of whether to continue my daily blog. I've decided to go on for as long as the inspiration drives me. No reason to stop just because I make no money doing so. Other bloggers press their readers to make money in various ways. That doesn't appeal to me.

I'd rather write more novels, (which need your attention by the way. I promise you, they're undiscovered diamonds—well, moonstones. One click on any of the covers will take you to an Amazon near you.)

And so, barring an interruption in schedule, I'll continue on this blog for now. Should make a new one which incorporates following years. That takes time. For the moment, I'll break out of my cocoon and rise like a butterfly to suck from the nectar of views on news.

Update: I've made a new Weebly blog.
Francene - Views on news.
976640989349525961.weebly.com

Please, be sure to follow my during the following year.

7 Comments

Are you lonely at Christmastime?

12/24/2014

8 Comments

Severe weather is slamming southern USA and four people have been killed just before Christmas. I can only imagine what their families are going through—lights turned off on the Christmas tree and the festivities canceled.

In Glasgow, UK, a bin lorry crashed into unsuspecting shoppers yesterday, killing and injuring until it came to a halt.

For many people, Christmas time brings trauma. All the family of loved ones killed in accidents, or dying in some other way during this time must harbor memories that will not leave them.

commons.wikipedia.org

So many people are lonely during the Christmas period. The UK Government is televising messages about looking out for neighbors who need care and attention at this time. But it's not just the elderly who are lonely. For some people, the holiday brings up painful memories of tragic events and departed lost ones. They appear year after year each time the merry-go-round reaches this point of the year.

I'm one of the people with sad memories. A movie I watched yesterday of a family reunited touched me so deeply that I cried for my lost family. I sobbed, longing for the past, regretting my loss, and asking myself if I had loved them enough. I know in my own mind that I, as a young mother, could not have done more. My whole being was centered on the welfare of my children and I lavished love on them, brought out the strengths in each of their personalities, and taught them well. Yet, I feel bereft because two died as adults and the other lives far away and barely contacts me. My grandchildren are spread around the world and I've had little contact with them over their lives.

pixabay.com

My husband's adult grandson killed himself two days ago. He'd never met the American boy because of his estranged family, yet my husband feels the loss deeply, as must all his family.

I send my deepest sympathy to all the people who shun Christmas. The personalities of my loved-ones live on in my novels. For those of my fellow mourners who don't write, try to remember the good times instead of your loss.

Everyone else should appreciate the family with whom they share the celebration, ignore the squabbles, and bask in the closeness.

8 Comments

Bangor burglar returns the booty.

12/22/2014

6 Comments

commons.wikipedia.org

Ulster Television viewers voted for Bangor, a large town in County Down, as their most desirable place to live in Northern Ireland. The beautiful seaside resort on the southern side of Belfast Lough is part of Down, the closest county to the English coast. (yellow)

But this haven of natural charm, harbors bad as well as good people. Two days ago, burglars broke into a grieving couple's home and stole Christmas presents, bags and a laptop. This is bad by anyone's judgment, but the shocking fact is that their eight-year-old daughter had died just eleven days before from a rare degenerative illness called Batten's Disease. The child's room was ransacked, and, worst of all, the laptop contained the last photographs of their ailing child before she died.

commons.wikipedia.org

The Irish mother appealed for public help on social networks.

Surprise, Surprise. She got the laptop back. She did not go into details of how the laptop came to be returned and thanked all the people who offered help.

I can only assume the burglar's conscience spoke. This is the type of story I like to use for one of the visions in the Moonstone series. A little voice whispers inside someone and tells them to change their way of thinking.

Take a look at the very first vision in the novel Still Rock Water on my website.
http://francene--wordstitcher.weebly.com

Most people can be redeemed. I love a story with a happy ending.

6 Comments

Out of imagination comes a parody.

12/17/2014

6 Comments

en.wikipedia.org

Once, a woman had the idea for a book. J.K.Rowling wrote and wrote, never giving up on her effort despite every rejection from the literary world. Nobody thought young teenagers would provide a big enough demand for her books. The rest is part of modern culture. Rowling achieved what every writer longs for—recognition.

In the latest enterprise, Harry Potter fans have the opportunity to attend a different wizardry school early next year.

Rather than creating an exact replica of Hogwarts, organisers decided to invent a new school based on the famous wizarding school at the Polish castle of Czocha. In November, a Polish company Liveform and Rollespilsfabrikken staged their first Live Action Role Play event based on the Harry Potter book series and movie franchise with around 190 participants from 11 countries.

en.wikipedia.org

The fans donned wizard robes and cast spells at the Czocha College of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Places sold out in just two days. But fear not if you missed out, sign-ups for the next event in April 2015 open on the 11 of December, which can be booked here.

The four day event costs approximately £220 (US$ 345.700) which includes food and accommodation. You are also provided with a wizard robe, a study book and a house tie during your stay and these can be purchased if you’d like to keep them as souvenirs.

Right. What would I do with similar circumstances—with a popular series of novels, and the public clamoring for more?

What about allowing fans to experience a vision? Unfortunately, by whispering advice to another being (in this scenario it would be an automaton within a controlled room) the participant's suggestions could work for good or evil. That might bring out the worst in humankind. But what about grading each player, like a gamer? Those who suggest evil actions could go to the lowest level, and rise until they reach the highest rank. Edgar Cayce, the renown psychic healer from the 40s, suggested heaven is divided into different planes in just such a way. If you would like to read the first of Liliha's visions in the Moonstone series, click here.

What do you think about turning a book plot into reality?

6 Comments

Christmas 100 years past and future.

12/11/2014

6 Comments

www.telegraph.co.uk

An article headed, 'Christmas is not for trivializing' caught my attention this morning on BBC News Magazine. In the UK, people—even advertisements—are commemorating the Christmas Truce of 1914. During that year, soldiers on the WW1 front line briefly made friends with the enemy. Sebastian Borger of 'Berliner Zeitung' says few Germans have heard of it.

My German co-writer of the futuristic the Higher Ground series and I have shared a different experience, which I'll tell you about later.

In Britain, the military top brass take part in discussions on the media. Retired generals and admirals have seats in the House of Lords and take an active role in public debate, whereas that doesn't occur in Germany.

en.wikipedia.org

One hundred years ago during the Christmas of 1914, British, French and German soldiers took it unto themselves to give World War One a break. Initially they wanted to bury their comrades whose bodies had been lying in no man's land for weeks or months. Following that, the gesture of respect for each other's dead developed into a gesture of goodwill. For a day or two, in some places even well into the New Year, the men in uniform met between the trenches, sang carols, exchanged gifts and even played football.

If only their union could have developed into lasting peace.

Now to the part I want to tell you about. The English, whom I represent in this tale of co-writing, and the Germans are now friends, united in the common goal of telling the truth. Here's a scene set in the future that we wrote between us from Long Doom Calling, where Cerridwen is telling a story to her companions one dark night around the fire.

"I had a dream once," Cerridwen said, "about the before-times. I flew above a battle. In the dusk, many men stood on top of a hill and pointed sticks, which they called rifles. Many others tried to climb the hill, carrying the same weapons. After flashes of bright light and loud bangs, men fell wounded and dying on both sides of the open ground between them."

"Why did the men want to kill each other?" Hugo asked.

"I wondered that. Then, I found myself understanding one man on the top of the hill. He was called Freddy and he didn't know why he was fighting on this night. Everyone around him had to do the same: fire at the enemy. Kill them to prevent them from storming up the hill. Or else they might try to take power in Freddy's own land of England."

Hugo leaned forward. "Aren't they fighting in their own land?"

"No. They were over the sea far from home. While Freddy fired his rifle and watched his companions die, he thought about the special feast the next day and his family back home. His wife would set out presents for his two little children to find when they woke up in the morning. How he wanted to be there with them to celebrate the birth of Jeeves."

"Oh, that's the man in Saint Eyes," Hugo said.

"No. He was named after the man born long ago in a place called Lehem, in a distant land. The holy Jeeves became a gentle man, who taught love and understanding, and spoke about his father in heaven." Cerridwen paused. "That's the creator who I think of as the Highest—"

"And I call the Lord." Hugo grinned and rocked back and forward.

"Anyway, Freddy just wanted to lay his rifle down at this special time. When I looked at the men below, their shoulders were drooping and some rubbed their eyes. The dark settled over the area and stars twinkled. One man dropped his rifle and lowered his head. I remember feeling sorry for him too. In a flash I joined with him, the way you do in dreams without any explanation of why it's happening."

"Yeah. It's strange," Hugo said.

"His name was Hans. He didn't want to think about killing the enemy. He didn't know why he should do what the man in charge told him he must. He was thinking of his new wife and his parents back home. He imagined them getting together for a feast on this special day, and he longed to be with them. He called to the man next to him and pointed at the stars. His friend nodded in understanding."

"Why the stars?" Hugo asked.

"The stars had a special meaning on this holy day." Cerridwen searched her memory. "Back with Freddy, I saw the men murmuring in prayer together. Then they burst into song. Silent night, holy night... Below, enemies joined in, singing the same melody but the words sounded different: Stille Nawkt, high lee gue Nawkt... Freddy said, 'I don't want to fight on this special day. What do you think they would do if we went downhill to join with them in peace'?

One of the other men said, 'Let's give it a try'.

'They might shoot us', one man grumbled.

'I don't care', Freddy said. 'We shouldn't kill each other at Christmas. Listen. They're singing another song. I'm going out'. Freddy left his rifle on the ground, climbed to his feet and started towards the men below. He expected to feel a sharp pain in his body at any moment, but no one shot him. Some of his hesitant friends joined him, faces serious. But not a bang echoed in the night."

Hugo sat with his mouth open. Hasid smiled.

"One by one, the men below left their cover and walked towards them, hands empty of weapons. When they met, they laughed and nudged each other. They couldn't understand what the other men said, but when Freddy met Hans, they pointed to the stars. Hans reached into his pocket. He brought out a little parcel of food and held it out to Freddy, smiling and nodding. Freddy took a packet of food from his own pocket and passed that to Hans. All the men swapped food and drink. They joined together in singing until the dawn light. Finally, they all went back to their original spots. Freddy settled down to sleep, thinking about the picture Hans had shown him of his wife. He understood that they both lived similar lives, followed similar dreams and shouldn't be killing each other."

"Great story," Hugo said. "I guess that ended the war."

Cerridwen sighed. "I'm afraid not. Freddy knew the whole time they'd be killing each other again the next day. Or be shot by their own headman. Once a war breaks out, it's hard to stop. Like an awful disease that spreads from one person to the other."

"Oh, that's terrible." Hugo looked down at his hands to hide his disappointment.

And so, a German and an English writer foresee the 100 year-old story of unity being told in the future.

Click here for Long Doom Calling

6 Comments

Don't judge a book by its cover.

12/8/2014

5 Comments

I can't even remember the book cover of the Lord of the Rings. I read the novel in the early 70s while sitting on white sand on a deserted beach in Australia. It could have been this one, released in 1968. Nothing special—not like the plot.

Have you ever wondered what inspired the great series of fantasy novels? Read this terrific account of Tolkien's background on the BBC. I couldn't do it justice or show the wonderful pictures.

Things about writers trigger different ideas. For Tolkien, it was where he lived in England. His setting related to a Warwickshire village of about the period of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, along with the underground holes where the little people were said to live, the round doorways into dug-in dwellings, an old Roman gold ring, and even battles in France during the end of WW1.

I write about a ring in all my novels, both the present-day Moonstone series, and the futuristic Higher Ground series, co-written with my German friend Edith Parzefall. The stories are not of doom, gloomy wars and marching armies, but of love, of hope, and of redemption.

The ring featured is a star moonstone set in pure gold, which I bought through a friend in the 70s when I lived in Australia. The two cuts on the ring shaft made me wonder if it had ever been chopped off someone's hand, and so, my imagination ran riot. I also wondered if a special stone, formed in Earth's infancy, could link to a person's emotions, or if it had an ancient history.

The setting for all the novels: Cornwall, England's beautiful coastline that has seen pirate ships and trade for its mined tin for thousands of years.

Double Dragon Publishing has just released the fifth futuristic novel in the Higher Ground series, Seaweed Ribbons, (Universal link) http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00Q3IVJ1M which I wrote alone. It's a wonderful story of the way love conquers all during an outcast couple's trials and how Ginny used seaweed strands as a signal of her love when they are separated. (Like 'tie a yellow ribbon on the old oak tree.')

I hate the cover, but I had no control over that—not like our earlier cover pictures where we had an input into the design. The publisher held onto the manuscript for one year before publishing, so I guess I should be thankful he even bothered. Years ago, my co-writer and I were thrilled to be accepted, but the eagerness has tarnished as the service declined.

However, I'm proud of the novel and hope you'll take a look.

And—don't judge the book by its cover.

5 Comments

Rare Shakespeare book found in France.

11/29/2014

6 Comments

A rare and valuable William Shakespeare First Folio has been discovered in a provincial town in France.

#William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". Wikipedia#

Shakespeare - www.bbc.co.uk

The rare book of Shakespeare plays had lain undisturbed in the library at Saint-Omer the north of France for 200 years. It is claimed to have been left behind when a school now based in Lancashire was expelled from the area.

In the 16th century, Saint-Omer was home to an important Jesuit order that welcomed Roman Catholic clergy fleeing Protestant persecution in England. The First Folio discovered in the town is thought to have been brought to France during that era and held in the Jesuit library until the French Revolution when the order’s collection was confiscated and used as the basis for a public library.

The Shakespeare First Folio, said to be the most important book in English literature is one of only 230 believed to still exist. It included almost all of the plays widely accepted to have been written by Shakespeare and is credited with being the reason his literary legacy survived. The tattered book lay in a library in Saint-Omer, near Calais, for 200 years.

St Omers College began there in 1593, later changing name to Clitheroe's Stonyhurst College. A spokeswoman said the "dog-eared" book must have been "overlooked" when the establishment was ordered to leave in 1762 and moved to its present home in Lancashire.

Photograph: Denis Charlet/AFP/Getty Images

The Folio collects 36 of Shakespeare's 38 known plays for the first time, and was originally printed in 1623, seven years after the playwright's death.

The rare copy was discovered by librarians planning an exhibition on the historic links between the Calais region and England.

The librarian contacted one of the world’s most eminent authorities on Shakespeare, Prof Eric Rasmussen of the University of Nevada in Reno, who was in London working at the British Library.

The book, once believed to contain 300 pages, has around 30 pages missing and no title page. However, it will be the centerpiece of the French library’s exhibition next summer.

The Saint-Omer library holds a collection of 50,000 books and manuscripts dating from the 7th to the 19th century. The library also holds one of only 48 existing copies or partial copies of the 15th century Gutenberg Bible, one of the world’s most valuable books.

Unfortunately, the original copy of First Folio will not go on general display, but will be scanned so it can be consulted on the library website, available for other libraries and museums to borrow.

Don't you just love it when precious items from the past are discovered? Dreams of the future: My Moonstone series of novels will be published as one book and citizens of the future will find a single copy in a golden casket, hidden in the bell tower of Elstree Church just up the hill from where I live. But, that's the plot of another novel. Now, back to reality. Shakespeare's works are incredible.

6 Comments

To infinity and beyond.

11/4/2014

7 Comments

I read an article this morning which said news is bad for you. The writer stated that news made people anxious and never generated a positive thought or contributed to their lives in any way. If we set the news aside and never read another word, our lives would be happier. The story from last year stated that news doesn't encourage thought.

I beg to differ. For almost two years, I've written a daily blog based on a news story. Recent events have sprouted my opinions and raised questions. If we look beneath the story, we can always find something to think about.

Today, one of the most endearing stories is about a cartoon character. Even if you haven't watched the Disney animation, you'll know about Toy Story.

Buzz Lightyear's catchphrase "to infinity and beyond" has been named the UK nation's favourite film catchphrase.

Why would the public like this phrase? Perhaps the absurd concept of a cartoon character thinking beyond the boundaries—that he would know about an expanding universe. Many writers contributed to Toy Story. Their combined creation draws laughter and thought from the audience.

So, don't just read a news story, give the subject some thought. That's where our power lies.

7 Comments

Did your parents teach you well?

10/30/2014

10 Comments

www.theguardian.com

I don't want to concentrate on a depressing subject, but terrible things are happening in society, right here in the UK. One of them is child abduction. More than 3,000 children under the age of 18 have been reported missing in Greater Manchester this year.

Sexual exploitation of children is a normal occurrence on some streets and estates in that city. Children are often snatched while making their way home after school.

The alarming new report, released by the Home Secretary, suggests child sex abuse may have been fuelled by the youngster's increased exposure to explicit music videos and so-called "sexting", selfies and Instagram.

How could a sane so-called society allow such things to happen? I could cry for all the children who will never live a life we call normal.

One of my own adult daughters died nine years ago after treatment for leukaemia and consequent liver damage. With any death of a child, the parent is left with lingering guilt. Did they do enough? Did they raise their child with the skills to survive in the world? Here's a poem I wrote after receiving her last letter.

SHE WROTE TO ME

You taught me well, (she wrote to me)

Showed me how to be free

Could not have hoped for any more

Brought teaching to the fore.

You are my amazing mother

Not like any other

And although my path is troubled

I must walk on, hobbled.

Never forget it's my own path

Now I've strayed from the hearth

And I must tramp along the way

Although I'd love to stay.

Back then you showed me how to live -

A good life and to give

Even though you're treated badly

Not to give in, sadly.

And how to be an example

Your lead was so ample

Showing others how to hold tight

Though they would rather fight.

(And when I read her letter

Appeased and felt better

To know that I'd done a good job

Whilst trying not to sob.)

There must be many people who haven't been raised well, but have been strong enough or lucky enough to become a strong adult.

What has your child/parent experience been?

10 Comments

How could you pretend to be in a coma for 2 years?

10/22/2014

9 Comments

A UK man, who claimed to be a quadriplegic so ill he would frequently slip into a coma, has been caught out.

During his trial, a judge watched video pictures of him shopping in Tesco and driving across the Severn Bridge In a Swansea Crown Court yesterday, he was unmasked as a callous fraudster.

Knight stole £41,000 from an elderly neighbor then spent two years pretending to be too sick to stand trial.

During the trial, the 47-year-old appeared in a wheelchair and neck brace. He admitted 19 separate counts of forgery, fraud and theft.

The video footage showed Knight pushing a trolley around various Tesco stores and it was confirmed he was there because his store card had been used.

I'd like to know how the fraudster could put up such a pretense for such an extended period of time. Surely nurses would have visited to check on his condition from time to time.

So, all you potential crooks, maybe you could try to act the part of a quadriplegic, but if you venture from home, you'll be caught.

This brings to mind a hero of mine. Let's end on a happy note. See the inspiring song I wrote about Christopher Reeve, which is featured in the first novel in the Moonstone series.

Still Rock Water Book Trailer: Trapped by marriage until an Egyptian ring shows her a way out http://youtu.be/VM9nzvHci9A

9 Comments

<<Previous

Francene Stanley:
Author
I use news items in my fantasy novels.

Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books on the sidebar below?
I blogged 260 days last year. Link.

Does a break in routine matter?

Are you lonely at Christmastime?

Bangor burglar returns the booty.

Out of imagination comes a parody.

Christmas 100 years past and future.

Don't judge a book by its cover.

Rare Shakespeare book found in France.

To infinity and beyond.

Did your parents teach you well?

How could you pretend to be in a coma for 2 years?

Francene Stanley:
Author
I use news items in my fantasy novels.

Archives

Categories

Francene Stanley:﻿Author﻿I use news items in my fantasy novels.

Archives

Categories

Francene Stanley:
Author
I use news items in my fantasy novels.