I was sitting at my computer, hammering away, trying to meet another self-imposed deadline. Now that I had my first novel out (Waters of the Dancing Sky)my readers were anxious for a sequel. I'm honored! But lately they've been asking how soon it will be available in the bookstores or on Amazon.com. Meanwhile, I'm struggling to complete another novel which will be set in the old western ghost town of Virginia City, Montana. So much to do...so little time. Wasn't publication, after all, my ultimate destination? Isn't that why we all write?
Maybe...maybe not. I belong to a wonderful writers group, The St. Croix Writers, and am learning a great deal from the members. Publication isn't necessarily the goal for many of my writer friends. It's the writing that counts - the sharing of thoughts and memories. It's a matter of tapping into one's creativity, looking at the world in a new way, learning and growing. If publication occurs, that's great. But,it's really more about the process of writing itself and the sense of satisfaction that results.
Yes, "writing is a journey, not a destination." We need to take time to enjoy the trip. Along the way, some of us chose to stop at destination points, islands of publication, before we embark again. But we need to take time to enjoy the journey, I think, instead of obsessing over publication and deadlines.
Today the loons are calling to me as gentle waves lap against the shore outside my window. Diamonds of sunlight glisten and dance across the waves. I think my computer needs a break from me today!
Stay tuned and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
"The Best Time EVER to be a writer!"
One of the key messages that I brought home from Book Expo America in New York City this week was this: "Now is the best time ever to be a writer!"
Why? Because the publishing world is changing radically. In fact, the balance of power seems to have shifted to the author! In 2010, more titles were published by authors than by traditional publishers! There has also been a dramatic increase in e-book sales with both Amazon and Google reporting that e-books are now selling more copies than printed books!
Guess I'm slow to move into the world of e-books, although I now offer a Kindle version of my novel, Waters of the Dancing Sky. Still, I love exploring physical bookstores, holding a book in my hands. But I do plan to break down and buy myself a Kindle soon.
With so many books and authors out there, how will anyone ever find your book? The good news is that there are unprecedented marketing opportunities unfolding on line everyday. Think e-books, websites, blogs, Amazon.com's Author Pages, social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn,and Twitter. (Yes, I need to learn to "tweet" or so they tell me!)
There are also many good non-traditional or alternative publishers out there to guide you along your writer's journey. Check them out carefully since there still are some of the old "vanity presses" around which you may want to avoid...
Did you know that The Shack was initially self-published? So were Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau, and a number of prolific authors.
Yes, today is a great time to be a writer! If you've always dreamed of becoming an author, you can do it!
Stay tuned and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
http://www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Sunday, May 1, 2011
SPRINGTIME ON RAINY LAKE
Despite the fact that Old Man Winter doesn't seem to recognize the fact that it's time for him to go away... my thoughts have turned to spring. After all, it is May 1st today!
When I think of spring, I can't help reflecting about springtime on Rainy Lake along the Minnesota/Ontario international border. This is the place where my novel, Waters of the Dancing Sky, is set, a place that I fell in love with as I researched background for my novel.
A good friend from Rainy Lake recently sent me his copy of a book entitled "Ober and his Rainy Lake World." It's a collection of articles from the Rainy Lake Chronicle newspaper that was published in the charming Rainy Lake Village of Ranier from 1973 - 1982. It includes numerous "Drumbeat" columns written by Editor Ted Hall, whose work I greatly admire. I'd like to share excerpts from one of Ted's columns with you today:
At the end of a warm day that was kissing our northern winter good-bye a thunderstorm rolled in from the west and stamped winter's exit visa. In that wild wet night the gray ice plain began to darken and along the shoreline of the lake the band of open water widened.
The prudent traveler slides a canoe beside him and is ready to sprawl into it when the squeak of ice underfoot sounds a warning note. A man watching his footprints deepen as he stands in them meets aloneness face to face... It is winter's corpse he walks upon, the rotting ice, but all around is life. The greens of the forest are brighter now and the blue juniper berries are plump and perky. A doe heavy with fawn moves serenely along the inner rim of a small beach, then slips back into the woods. A pair of Mallards fly away, circle back, and land precisely where they'd starated from. Ranier herring gulls have come to begin early patrol.
Here on the mainland the ice has retreated from the shoreline and a canoe moves easily down the avenue curbed with ice on one side and granite on the other. From a notch in the cliff a slender thread of water falls forty feet to the lake.
The earth is turning and it turns only one direction. It is tilting our northern band slightly toward the sun, just enough for the water to run again, for those mallards to nest again and for a man to journey out to see up close some of the detail work that goes into the changing of a season around here.
Along its edges the black ice crumbles into sparkling needles. They ring like crystal bells. The bells are playing the recessional for winter. They're playing the processional for Spring.
Spring seems to bring out the writer and the poet in many of us... Happy Spring to you all!
Stay tuned...and please stay in touch.
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
When I think of spring, I can't help reflecting about springtime on Rainy Lake along the Minnesota/Ontario international border. This is the place where my novel, Waters of the Dancing Sky, is set, a place that I fell in love with as I researched background for my novel.
A good friend from Rainy Lake recently sent me his copy of a book entitled "Ober and his Rainy Lake World." It's a collection of articles from the Rainy Lake Chronicle newspaper that was published in the charming Rainy Lake Village of Ranier from 1973 - 1982. It includes numerous "Drumbeat" columns written by Editor Ted Hall, whose work I greatly admire. I'd like to share excerpts from one of Ted's columns with you today:
At the end of a warm day that was kissing our northern winter good-bye a thunderstorm rolled in from the west and stamped winter's exit visa. In that wild wet night the gray ice plain began to darken and along the shoreline of the lake the band of open water widened.
The prudent traveler slides a canoe beside him and is ready to sprawl into it when the squeak of ice underfoot sounds a warning note. A man watching his footprints deepen as he stands in them meets aloneness face to face... It is winter's corpse he walks upon, the rotting ice, but all around is life. The greens of the forest are brighter now and the blue juniper berries are plump and perky. A doe heavy with fawn moves serenely along the inner rim of a small beach, then slips back into the woods. A pair of Mallards fly away, circle back, and land precisely where they'd starated from. Ranier herring gulls have come to begin early patrol.
Here on the mainland the ice has retreated from the shoreline and a canoe moves easily down the avenue curbed with ice on one side and granite on the other. From a notch in the cliff a slender thread of water falls forty feet to the lake.
The earth is turning and it turns only one direction. It is tilting our northern band slightly toward the sun, just enough for the water to run again, for those mallards to nest again and for a man to journey out to see up close some of the detail work that goes into the changing of a season around here.
Along its edges the black ice crumbles into sparkling needles. They ring like crystal bells. The bells are playing the recessional for winter. They're playing the processional for Spring.
Spring seems to bring out the writer and the poet in many of us... Happy Spring to you all!
Stay tuned...and please stay in touch.
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Saturday, April 16, 2011
A Trip Down Memory Lane...
"There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever before." Elizabeth Lawrence
I recently took a trip back in time...a journey into the childhood I left behind some 40 years ago! My goal was to do some geneological research on my ancestors whose roots were deeply embedded in this Minnesota town. I needed to understand more about their lives and the places we all lived, before I could write my family history and memoirs.
As I approached my hometown, reminiscing about childhood days spent roaming freely around the neighborhood, exploring and building forts in the wild ravine below our home, swimming at the little lake on the outskirts of town...I was rudely awakened from my day dreams. Lanes of traffic streamed past me on a maze of interstates. The countryside and woods that previously surrounded my hometown were gone. My town seemed to have sprawled out and been swallowed whole by surrounding cities.
Still, I found remnants of the past, including the 100-year old church my family had attended. While the homes of some of my relatives were now buried beneath large hotels and condos, I did find my childhood home intact. Sitting outside, lost in memories, I realized that it had perhaps shrunk over the years! The ravine was now developed...but my memories there will always remain. Flashbacks drifted in and out of my mind...reading books beneath the old weeping willow tree, swinging as high as I could- trying to touch the sky, the fragrance of my mother's rose garden, writing in my locked diaries, and playing with neighborhood children.
There's nothing like a trip down memory lane to reconnect with your inner child. As a writer, I believe we all need to make that connection now and then. While I found a wealth of historical information, I also got in touch with feelings and memories that will someday surface in my novels.
I leave you with the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "The leaves of memory seemed to make a mournful rustling in the dark."
Stay tuned -and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
I recently took a trip back in time...a journey into the childhood I left behind some 40 years ago! My goal was to do some geneological research on my ancestors whose roots were deeply embedded in this Minnesota town. I needed to understand more about their lives and the places we all lived, before I could write my family history and memoirs.
As I approached my hometown, reminiscing about childhood days spent roaming freely around the neighborhood, exploring and building forts in the wild ravine below our home, swimming at the little lake on the outskirts of town...I was rudely awakened from my day dreams. Lanes of traffic streamed past me on a maze of interstates. The countryside and woods that previously surrounded my hometown were gone. My town seemed to have sprawled out and been swallowed whole by surrounding cities.
Still, I found remnants of the past, including the 100-year old church my family had attended. While the homes of some of my relatives were now buried beneath large hotels and condos, I did find my childhood home intact. Sitting outside, lost in memories, I realized that it had perhaps shrunk over the years! The ravine was now developed...but my memories there will always remain. Flashbacks drifted in and out of my mind...reading books beneath the old weeping willow tree, swinging as high as I could- trying to touch the sky, the fragrance of my mother's rose garden, writing in my locked diaries, and playing with neighborhood children.
There's nothing like a trip down memory lane to reconnect with your inner child. As a writer, I believe we all need to make that connection now and then. While I found a wealth of historical information, I also got in touch with feelings and memories that will someday surface in my novels.
I leave you with the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "The leaves of memory seemed to make a mournful rustling in the dark."
Stay tuned -and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Saturday, March 12, 2011
In The Wake of Disaster...
This is not the blog I'd hoped to write...but one that must be written.
It's difficult to focus on the relatively petty events in our lives when the world is rocking after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunamis. Now, massive waves are even crashing over our West Coast.
It is difficult, from the comfort of our cozy homes, to comprehend the magnitude of this tragedy. What must it be like to be in Japan today, searching for loved ones who have disappeared, trying to locate towns that have been consumed by the sea? Now, amidst the relentless after shocks, as death tolls continue to climb, Japan struggles with nuclear explosions and the threat of a potential melt down. How much worse can it get?
My thoughts and prayers are with the survivors, with all who have lost loved ones. I urge you all to keep them in your prayers and to contribute whatever you can towards Japan's recovery efforts.
If there's any possible lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it is this: Disaster has a way of bringing us back to reality, of reminding us of what is truly important in life. Be grateful for all that we have - family and friends, food, shelter. Everything else is secondary. Perhaps our little problems really aren't as important as we once thought they were.
In the wake of disaster, it's time to put our squabbles and grievances aside. It's time to come together, to focus on what is truly important in life.
Stay tuned and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
It's difficult to focus on the relatively petty events in our lives when the world is rocking after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunamis. Now, massive waves are even crashing over our West Coast.
It is difficult, from the comfort of our cozy homes, to comprehend the magnitude of this tragedy. What must it be like to be in Japan today, searching for loved ones who have disappeared, trying to locate towns that have been consumed by the sea? Now, amidst the relentless after shocks, as death tolls continue to climb, Japan struggles with nuclear explosions and the threat of a potential melt down. How much worse can it get?
My thoughts and prayers are with the survivors, with all who have lost loved ones. I urge you all to keep them in your prayers and to contribute whatever you can towards Japan's recovery efforts.
If there's any possible lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it is this: Disaster has a way of bringing us back to reality, of reminding us of what is truly important in life. Be grateful for all that we have - family and friends, food, shelter. Everything else is secondary. Perhaps our little problems really aren't as important as we once thought they were.
In the wake of disaster, it's time to put our squabbles and grievances aside. It's time to come together, to focus on what is truly important in life.
Stay tuned and please stay in touch!
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Full Moon Mania
This is the night of January's "wolf moon."
Well aware that my fellow "Luna Chicks" are gathering someplace in the frigid northwoods of Wisconsin to celebrate this event tonight, I can't help peering out from the balconies of my condo on Galveston Island, Texas, to see the infamous Wolf Moon. I miss my Luna Chick friends...and it's hard to connect with them tonight as the moon darts and dodges behind and between cloud formations that shimmer seductively across the endless waves of the Gulf of Mexico.
I thought about going down to the Beach Club to sit in the outdoor hot tub overlooking the ocean, with a glass of wine to toast my old friends back home. But... the sky is eerily black. The wind howls. I can no longer see the full moon.
Instead, I will bury myself in a new novel, one that I cannot put down, one that will undoubtedly impact my writing in the future. They say that one of the best things that writers can do to improve their writing, and their chances of publication, is to READ.
It's not always easy to find time to read... BUT, I have recently discovered a novel that speaks to me - and compels me to spend the night of this full moon devouring its messages, poetic images, and insights. The title is "Sea Music" by Sara MacDonald. A resident of Cornwall, England, this is the first of her novels to be published in the United States. Check it out!
Here's to "happy howling" and all the blessings that a full moon can incite within us all!
Stay tuned and please stay in touch.
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Well aware that my fellow "Luna Chicks" are gathering someplace in the frigid northwoods of Wisconsin to celebrate this event tonight, I can't help peering out from the balconies of my condo on Galveston Island, Texas, to see the infamous Wolf Moon. I miss my Luna Chick friends...and it's hard to connect with them tonight as the moon darts and dodges behind and between cloud formations that shimmer seductively across the endless waves of the Gulf of Mexico.
I thought about going down to the Beach Club to sit in the outdoor hot tub overlooking the ocean, with a glass of wine to toast my old friends back home. But... the sky is eerily black. The wind howls. I can no longer see the full moon.
Instead, I will bury myself in a new novel, one that I cannot put down, one that will undoubtedly impact my writing in the future. They say that one of the best things that writers can do to improve their writing, and their chances of publication, is to READ.
It's not always easy to find time to read... BUT, I have recently discovered a novel that speaks to me - and compels me to spend the night of this full moon devouring its messages, poetic images, and insights. The title is "Sea Music" by Sara MacDonald. A resident of Cornwall, England, this is the first of her novels to be published in the United States. Check it out!
Here's to "happy howling" and all the blessings that a full moon can incite within us all!
Stay tuned and please stay in touch.
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
Friday, January 14, 2011
New Beginnings
"Today is the first day of the rest of your life!"
I've always loved this quote,from an unknown source. As we enter a New Year, I think it's appropriate to think about what that means. Perhaps some of you wrote New Year's Resolutions... and have conveniently forgotten about them already. You know, the same resolutions that many of us make year after year... dieting, exercise, speending less money, etc.
This New Year's Eve was a special one for me with two of my three children's families gathered here with me on Galveston Island, Texas. We made New Year's Resolutions for each other. There was a sheet of blank paper for each of us. We passed them around the room and took turns creating resolutions for the others. At the end, each person (including 6 of my grandchildren) read aloud the resolutions made for him or her. It was hilarious at times. We laughed until tears ran down our faces. Other resolutions were serious and set some important goals. One of the resolutions that family members made for me was to write another novel this year! Yes, I will take that one very seriously. Seven-year old Jared even gave me the gift of a special pen to write my next book!
Whether you believe in resolutions or not, a New Year can still be an important "new beginning" in life. Maybe it's not all about what we do or don't do. It begins with how we think, how we choose to view the world and to react to other people and situations. It's about learning to see, and appreciate, the silver lining in every cloud. About turning challenges into opportunities. Life's problems are frequently blessings in disguise.Only YOU can decide how to view your world - and what choices you will make.
Speaking of choices, it's easy to get into a rut, doing the same old thing. Trying to juggle impossible schedules and demands. No time to pursue old interests or new friendships. BUT, we can re-evaluate our priorities. It's a matter of understanding the natural rhythm of life. Sometimes we need to let go of things that no longer work in our lives (including relationships) or things we've lost interest in. By letting go, we free up space in our lives to pursue new adventures and follow our dreams.
Here's to new beginnings! Please stay tuned and stay in touch.
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
I've always loved this quote,from an unknown source. As we enter a New Year, I think it's appropriate to think about what that means. Perhaps some of you wrote New Year's Resolutions... and have conveniently forgotten about them already. You know, the same resolutions that many of us make year after year... dieting, exercise, speending less money, etc.
This New Year's Eve was a special one for me with two of my three children's families gathered here with me on Galveston Island, Texas. We made New Year's Resolutions for each other. There was a sheet of blank paper for each of us. We passed them around the room and took turns creating resolutions for the others. At the end, each person (including 6 of my grandchildren) read aloud the resolutions made for him or her. It was hilarious at times. We laughed until tears ran down our faces. Other resolutions were serious and set some important goals. One of the resolutions that family members made for me was to write another novel this year! Yes, I will take that one very seriously. Seven-year old Jared even gave me the gift of a special pen to write my next book!
Whether you believe in resolutions or not, a New Year can still be an important "new beginning" in life. Maybe it's not all about what we do or don't do. It begins with how we think, how we choose to view the world and to react to other people and situations. It's about learning to see, and appreciate, the silver lining in every cloud. About turning challenges into opportunities. Life's problems are frequently blessings in disguise.Only YOU can decide how to view your world - and what choices you will make.
Speaking of choices, it's easy to get into a rut, doing the same old thing. Trying to juggle impossible schedules and demands. No time to pursue old interests or new friendships. BUT, we can re-evaluate our priorities. It's a matter of understanding the natural rhythm of life. Sometimes we need to let go of things that no longer work in our lives (including relationships) or things we've lost interest in. By letting go, we free up space in our lives to pursue new adventures and follow our dreams.
Here's to new beginnings! Please stay tuned and stay in touch.
Janet Kay
www.watersofthedancingsky.com
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