Two Years and Counting!

 

February 2022 Blog

Stumped: A Haiku

Nothing comes to mind

But the frustrations of life

As we now live it.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

 

My mind grows tired. My heart grows weary. I’ve been vaccinated and boostered. I wear a mask everywhere I go. I see no end in sight.

I’m not sure we’ll ever be given the “All Clear”, And if we are, I’m not sure there will be a normal life to go back to. (Yep, I ended that sentence with a preposition. Pretty much, I don’t care anymore. It’s how people talk now anyway.)

I Should be used to the solitary lifestyle we now endure. As a writer, I’ve spent a lot of time alone in my own little world. But that was my choice, and I’ve always had the option and privilege to rejoin the human race at any time and share a smile and a hug with a another human being even raise a glass or two at a favorite local restaurant. I’m not doing any of that lately. I’m beginning to miss it.

Also I’ve found that the less social I am, the less inspired I am to explore new avenues of murder and mayhem.             It’s amazing what a chance encounter or new surroundings can inspire. Just seeing an interesting face or  place can lend inspiration to so much of one’s writing, even in the strange stories I tend to spend my ink on.

And I’m still spending ink on my “Sam Rock” sequel as well as my ”Chronicles of Acqueria” prequel. Hopefully they will stay on track to be published this spring and summer respectively.

Once again, Sam Rock will come up against Maerie Delaceroix and her murder of ravens. And in the Acquerian prequel, the birth of Acqueria will be expanded upon.

     The more I think about them, the more anxious I am to get back to work on them, so this will be a very short blog.

I hope with the coming of Spring, we will get back to a normal we can live freely with, if not the normal we were used to. I wish us all a save Winter’s end. I am certainly looking forward to a brighter summer minus the endless precautions we are still encumbered with.

Until next time, read and write to your heart’s content. My eclectic collection of reading matter may take your mind off things. Enjoy.

https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky

As always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements:

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

Hopefully, this coming month we can recover from the Winter’s bleakness, and the following month will find us looking forward more freely to Spring.

 

 

Cheers To A Happier New Year!

 

January 2022 Blog

Season’s Supplication: A Haiku

I would not only

Pray for world peace, but health for

All this time of year.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

 

Hopefully, we have rung in a happier New Year. We are certainly celebrating the world over. Hopefully, that will not come back to bite us in the end.

We deserve an end to the pain and suffering and dying of the last two years. And I am so tired of the isolation. I would love to hug somebody, see the smile on an unmasked face. At the moment, it seems like only a far flung dreams, and we are mired in an unending nightmare.

I should have written tons on my manuscripts in the year just past, but the inspiration has been little and more than a long time coming. Yet I persist and I will publish what I can this year.

When I do write, I love it because for the time I’m writing I am wrapped in a world where I have the control. I determine who is happy and who is miserable. I decide who lives and who dies and when and how. Even the weather is at my command. Oh, the power! I can feel it even just writing this. It’s wonderful feeling.

But, then I put the pen down and I’m back in the real world, wearing a mask and trying not to touch too many surfaces anywhere.

I haven’t been to a movie theater in two years. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been to a restaurant in that time also. My shopping is limited to Walmart, the local grocery store, and Office Depot. The rest of my shopping is on line. Amazing how much you can spend with one click of the finger – and what you can find on Amazon.

We have not had a winter here yet. I’m sure we will have some bad weather in the next few months. We certainly could use the moisture. We’re already considered in drought conditions for the year ahead. Sounds like we are in for another grassless, flowerless summer. More hot and dry times ahead.

Actually, I’ve not heard much encouraging news about the upcoming months of the year we just embarked upon. All my hope is based on the belief that we’ve had enough, and we deserve better – much better.

I guess that makes me somewhat optimistic, which is not a trait I have an over-abundance of. “What could possibly go wrong?” is one of my favorite questions, which serves me well as a writer. It’s amazing what problems I can dream up. Unfortunately, life has thrown in its own answers, and they have not been pleasant.

I’m planning on spending more time with my pen and paper this year. Hope I have enough of life’s memories left that I can keep my writing interesting. I’m certainly not planning on making many new memories anytime soon.

I guess I’ll just hunker down and keep a low profile in the real world. I thank the internet gods for the ability to connect with people all over the world at anytime of the day or night as long as the power doesn’t go down – there’s that “What could possibly go wrong?” again.

Guess I’ll post this and get on with finding dastardly situations to embroil my heroes and heroines in. Smiling at that thought. Writing horror is good.

Here’s hoping again for a brighter and better New Year. Maybe I better light a few candles and say a few prayers.

Happy New Year to one and all!

Until next time, read and write to your heart’s content. My eclectic collection of reading matter may take your mind off things. Enjoy.

https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky

As always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements:

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

Hopefully, this month we can recover from the holidays and next month will find us looking forward to a less restrictive spring.

 

 

 

 

 

Happier New Year 2021

 

January 2021 Blog

Hard to raise a resounding cheer replete with mask and gloves, but here goes.

 

Happier 2021: A Haiku

The clock has struck, and

I have held my breath too long;

My cheer is silent.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

 

Happy New Year! I am imploring 2021 to do better by us. It’s predecessor was such a cruel, deviant monster. It would be difficult to survive two such years in a row.

I know nothing has changed overnight, but there is hope on the horizon for better days ahead. I’m actually looking forward to getting a shot in the arm. Also, looking forward to less daily chaos surrounding us all. The sooner, the better on that front.

After things settle down, I’ll look forward to finishing at least two novels this year, along with a couple of Haiku chapbooks.

Sometime this month, the Audible version of “The Seasons of Sam Rock” will be live. I’m  listening Steve Hamm’s upload now. It sounds great! He really brings Sam Rock to life. Would love to see him star in a Sam Rock movie someday. I’ll settle for him doing the audible for the Sam Rock sequel now titled “The Secrets of Raven’s Roost: A Sam Rock Novel”, if he’s available. I like to dream big.

I’m also dreaming of a healthy world at peace. I’m thinking that is not so far-fetched with the changes coming this month. We can only wait and see, but the signs are encouraging

Maybe I’ll be able to concentrate more on my writing this year. There is so much I need to catch up on that’s been so difficult to do this last year. I spent way too much time worrying and waiting for the worst to happen. Maybe this year is my year to anticipate the good things left in life.

I’ll also look forward to going to a restaurant and enjoying the company of others. I’m even looking forward to getting in a car and going somewhere to enjoy the scenery and the people. And, although I don’t like crowds, I’d love to attend a gathering of people and not have to worry about coming in contact with someone with something I might get that might kill me. Oh, and I’d like to see a movie at a theater with popcorn and everything.

I ‘m hoping this New Year finds all my friends well and safe. It’s been rough for all of us. We’ve all gone from crisis to crisis with barely a chance to breathe in between. May we all find the inspiration to follow our dreams instead of reliving our nightmares on a daily basis.

I will try to maintain a positive attitude for this coming year. I’m planning on getting everything organized and clean and neat and tidy. Okay – now I’m getting into resolution territory. I hate doing that, because there’s always so much room for disaster and failure.

So, I’m not making any hard and fast resolutions this year. I’m just going to do the best I can, which is really the best we all can do.

I’ll be happily reading and writing and editing and publishing to my heart’s content. And I will be encouraging my writer friends to do the same, so all our reader friends out there can continue to follow our journeys and enjoy themselves.

So, again, Happy New Year! Cheers to a much better 2021!

Hard to believe that I have eleven books published, All are available on Amazon for your pleasure.

https://www.amazon.com/author/annwilmerlasky

Until next time, read and write to your heart’s content. Look forward to the best of the coming year. I have a feeling...

As always, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements:

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

Hopefully, all were able enjoy some holiday festivities, and we can look forward to enjoying our lives even more in the coming months. Let’s keep the faith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once More into the Breach

January 2019 Blog

Happy New Year to my faithful readers and my fellow writers. May we all be blessed with a brighter and more prosperous 2019.

Wishful Thinking: A Haiku

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

Father Time has wiped

The year’s slate clean, left new chalk

To write life anew.

If only this were true, and we did not carry life’s baggage into each New Year we are given to celebrate.

The start of a new year gives us impetus to start again and that will last for me, I hope, at least a few weeks into this new year.

This last year for me saw two new works published “Life’s Lemons and Lemonade: A Collection of Haiku, Volume Two: The Write Life” and “Black Oak: Vengeance Bound”. Not a lot, but something accomplished, anyway. In addition, it has ended on a great note – “The Seasons of Sam Rock” will soon be an audio book, brilliantly narrated by actor and voice-over artist Steve Hamm (@SteveHamm on Twitter). I feel he will more than do justice to Sam Rock and company.

I’m currently formatting my second Castleweaver chapbook “The Castleweaver's Tales: The Madness Continues: Anniversary Edition” It’s not easy-formatting poetry for publication. It’s not just words on a page.  It has to be visually effective also – and in all formats..

My project list for 2019 includes the second “Sam Rock” book and either a sequel or a prequel to “The Chronicles of Acqueria: Blood Moon Treachery”.

Also, I will be publishing two or three more Haiku chapbooks. The  most important of which will be “Global Warning”. If only a poet could influence the minds of the people, especially those who deny that climate change exists.

I’m also re-evaluating the purpose of my blog. Besides waxing eloquent on this writer’s life, trials and tribulations, I’m thinking of offering tips and hints to make the “Write Life” a little easier in the coming year. I understand there are many aspiring and beginning writers out there who can use a little encouragement and wisdom gleaned from years and years (okay – a lifetime) of doing things the wrong way.

In fact, in my spare time, I’m thinking of writing my memoirs just chock full of what  not to do. I may call it: “How Not To Live Your Life”. I’d have no problem filling tons and tons of pages with that advice.

Actually, I’m looking forward to a lot of things this coming year. I’m more optimistic than usual for a new start, new possibilities, and a better life. Hopefully, that feeling will last longer than the keeping of my new year’s resolutions. That usually lasts about half-way through January in a good year.

I’m also going to reach out to my faithful readers this year. Each month I will offer an autographed copy of the book I’m featuring for the month. The winner will be randomly chosen from my blog readers who leave word in the comments section by the 15^th of the month that they’d like to win a signed copy. I will contact the winner for mailing information and drop it in the mail around the end of the month. The winner will be announced in the next month’s blog.

I’m thinking of calling it “My Biggest Fan Award” in honor of my favorite tongue-in-check fan pic. Time to have some fun.

I have no complaints as the new year begins. I’m in reasonably good health and still have all my faculties about me. I’m not happy with the state of the world, but I’m hoping for changes on that front this year.

The weather this winter has not been too extreme, and I’m thankful to Mother Nature for that. I hope it holds for the rest of the year. Mild in all things is good (except pastels – I’m not a pastel person).

So all-in-all, I’m wishing and hoping for a better, brighter, more prosperous year for us all. For my friends in the etherland, know that I am grateful for each and every one of you.

Happy New Year to one and all.

Until next month, keep the faith and keep writing (or at least reading). Hopefully, I’ll see you then with more updates from the “Garret of AnnNoE”.

Until that time, I welcome your reactions and responses to any of my blogs. I love to hear from my readers. Also, here are links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts, if you care to share your thoughts with me there:

https://twitter.com/awlasky

https://www.facebook.com/ann.wilmerlasky

I’m also including a link to my Amazon’s Author’s page. Feel free to visit me there also:

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003SH6HIQ

All of my books are available on Amazon.

January’s featured novel is “The Chronicles of Acqueria: Blood Moon Treachery”. It comes from a time that never was and place that could never be. It is the story of a love that shouldn’t have happened, but did. The Chronicles of Acqueria is a young adult coming-of-age story of a strong young lady growing up in a patriarchal society. See how she copes. It is available from Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/y96zzp9u

Happy New Year

Happiest of New Years! I've been on a two week shutdown from my day job and apparently from life. I haven't gotten even a smidgen of the things I really wanted to do done, including writing. What makes me think retirement is going to be any different. The minutes seem to fill themselves without my direction and my lame attempts at organization seem doomed from the getgo. Gotta do something about that!