Forward Hope!

 

December 2022 Blog

Preparations: A Haiku

Getting ready for

Another year, hopefully

Better than the last.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(11/30/22)

 

Actually looking forward to a year better than the last three years. Well, one can only hope.

Had a great NaNoWriMo month, so that helps in the hope department for next year. Writing always makes me feel better.

Okay, I haven’t done real well in the publishing department this year. I did much better writing and editing. That means publishing should be a breeze this next year. That’s one of my big hopes.

Also hoping for an end to pandemics and wars. But that may be too much to actually look forward to. Then there’s the outside hope for an end to gun violence and mass shootings. I realize that may be just beyond the reach of hope.

I plan on spending a lot of time this coming year all by myself in my own little worlds of my own design. I should be most happy there.

I may have to take some time off to have cataract surgery. I’ll find that out in January. I understand that is a relatively routine procedure now – not at all like I remember people having in the 80’s. It was not an easy thing then. But I’m still not looking forward to it. I’m not fond of anything that takes me away from my first love – writing.

And I’d better get to that writing. My characters are even starting to invade my dreams. And their worlds right now are more preferable to mine. Except maybe the Castleweaver, Eldreth, who appears more in nightmares than in pleasant dreams, but then that is his wont. Maybe he will win out. I could use the chance to get some horror off my mind. Eldreth is a great way to vent.

Detective Sam Rock is standing here with his arms folded. Okay, I’ve got to get his sequel out so I can write the third one in the series and explain how he got kicked off the force in the first place. He swears it was not his fault. I believe him.

So, I have a lot to look forward to. It’s onward and upward. Next month will bring the New Year. Hope we can all ring it in with cheers and happy bell ringing.

In the meantime, feel free to check out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. There may be something there you have yet to enjoy.

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

Until next month, read and write to your heart’s content. It certainly makes my heart feel better.

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 (yes, I still Tweet) and Facebook accounts, if you care to share your thoughts with me there or look for my publication announcements. They will be forthcoming:

https://twitter.com/awlasky

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

It’s now December, the last month of the year. Thirty more days and 2022 is gone. See you next year.

 

 

 

 

 

Transition!

 

October 2022 Blog

Transition: A Haiku

“That I am” need not

Be. if I change the story

That I tell myself.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(9/30/22)

 

To paraphrase Anderson Cooper on Stephen Colbert’s late night show: “You can change the story that you tell yourself”. Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Rearranging my story now.

“That I am” has not served me well lately. Need to rethink where I’m headed and head in a different direction. The last two years have just been devastating to so many of us in so many ways. I no longer feel the need to even list all that’s driven us to virtual distraction. Let’s just say our lives have been rearranged for us whether we wanted it or not. Time has come to take back what we can – to take control of those things dangling within our reach and set out again on our own path, believing that we can make our story go the way we want it to go.

Reminds me of what we authors do. We control our novels and their characters. We forge the story to go the way we want it to. Sure, sometimes they grab the reins and force their stories elsewhere...

But wait! Isn’t that what we must do with our own lives now?

Mine, anyway, needs an overhaul. I need better organization and better follow-through – starting with “a place for everything and everything in its place”. That way, when I get around to tackling a project, I’ll have everything I need right where I need it and won’t have to spend valuable time searching for stuff – a definite waste of time.

Starting and stopping projects hasn’t served me well either. Taking too long to restart the project means I often have to “reinvent the wheel” and backtrack before I can move forward – another time waster.

I probably should limit my computer time also. I have a tendency to get caught up in Twitter and solitaire and jigsaw puzzles. It’s amazing how time flies when you’re hyper-focused on those things.

I consider Twitter my window on the world right now, so I probably won’t cut back much on that. However, the solitaire and jigsaws may demand some kind of time limit. I should start setting my timer for fifteen minutes or so, so I don’t find myself glued to the chair an hour later, having spent time that could have been better spent sparring with my characters and recording their stories for posterity.

What a great idea! I can rearrange my story in order to tell their stories! That’s the spirit! Pumping myself up now. I’ve spent way too much time being down in the dumps. I’m smiling a little bit now. Thank you again, Anderson Cooper for your enlightening take on chaning our own stories and living our lives as we want them to be.

What an amazing concept! Building enthusiasm now – and energy. Hope it lasts longer than most of my bright ideas. But then it wasn’t my idea, was it? It was Anderson Cooper’s.

If I can make it work, I’ll be releasing my Sam Rock sequel in time for Christmas, along with Steve Hamm’s brilliant audio version of my paranormal western, “Black Oak: Town of Joy”.

In the meantime, I’m jumping back on the “Fly Lady” band wagon this month to get rid of my paper clutter. Really need to cut down on the boxes and boxes of paper stuff I’ve always thought I needed to keep. Less stuff means other stuff is less likely to get lost and force more downtime searching for stuff. Love that word “stuff”! It’s so much better than the word it replaces: “sh*t”, you know.

Well all of this will start tomorrow. Tonight starts the “Svegoolie” month of horror. Gonna love every minute of it! Oh, and then there’s the season premeire of SNL – Gonna love that, too.

If you care to check out some more horrific stuff, feel free to check out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. There may be something there to terrorize you.

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

Until next month, read and write to your heart’s content and see if you need to alter your own story. There will never be a better time.

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. They will be forthcoming:

https://twitter.com/awlasky

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

It’s now October and the world is cooling off. Unfortunately, its weather is most unruly. Praying for all those affected by the storms. May be a good time to check out: “Global Warning: Climate in Crisis” available from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/

 

 

 

The Write Life!

 

September 2022 Blog

Be Prepared: A Haiku

Words not written can

Oft’ not be remembered, thus

I keep pen at hand.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(8/31/22)

 

I always try to keep pen and paper handy. Sometimes I fail and the words are lost. In my mind, those lost words were really brilliant, and their loss a loss for all of posterity.

Okay, maybe that last part is pretty far-fetched, but you get the idea. As most writers usually do, I get ideas at the oddest moments – not just when I’m sitting down to write. I try to be prepared at all times.

I have a steno pad turned to a clean page with a pen insered in the spiral witin arm’[s reach of the bed. I used to joy down my notes in the dark of night, but I’ve recently added a tiny flashlight so I can read wheat I’ve written the next morning. Otherwise, it’s jibberish.

I also keep a small spiral notebook the my pocket along with a pen. They really come in handy at those odd moments I’m out and about and an idea strikes. I’ve even gone so far as to jot down an inspiration while sitting on the commode.

When I drove a lot, I used to have a cassette recorder handy to record those fleeting moments of brilliance. Now I don’t drive much or far and cassette recorders are fairly passé.

But the idea stands: Think it, Write it, or lose it. It is also important for those of us who write poetry. One may think of the perfect phraseology for a piece of brilliant poetry, but it can slip away before the ink can strike the page.

Although the main idea may persist, the perfect way to put it may be lost.

It also helps to jot down story ideas, plot points and even a tidbit one of your characters may share with you in those odd moments you are mulling over your story in your head.

I once had one of my main female protagonists tell me she had a younger sister and her name was Petra. The novel tool a whole new turn and richness. Thank goodness I captured that thought (though having a sister is kind of hard to forget).

It’s taken a while, but I guess I’m falling in love with the art of writing all over again (after a long dry spell). I’, beginning to picture scenes and people to populate the worlds my mind dreams up once more. My mind is filling with scenarios involving those people and places – beautiful. Stunning scenarios and (because I’m a horror writer) glorious blood and gore and...

Okay, I’m on a roo. Time to gather my notes and start writing again.

First come the ideas, then the words, then the sentences, the paragraphs, the chapters, the novels, and the series.

Smiling now!

So the take away from this month’s ramblings should be this: keep something to write with and something to write on handy. You will thank yourself (and maybe me) when that gem comes to you, and you capture it. Then you can polish it and share it for posterity.

If you care to see what I am sharing with posterity, feel free to check out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. There may be something to inspire you.

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

Until next month, read and write to your heart’s content and jot down those random thought. You never where they may land you.

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

You may also find some inspiration in my Haiku Collection Celebrating the #WritingCommunity: “Life’s Lemons and Lemonade: A Collection of Haiku, Volume Two: The Write Life”, available, of course, from Amazon at:

https://tinyurl.com/ycqtq3mt

It’s now September and the world is thoroughly heated up. The A/C is still working way too hard. A little more rain recently brought us some relief from the drought. Still a good time to check out: “Global Warning: Climate in Crisis” available from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KWQ6SHK/

 

 

 

Slip-Sliding Away!

 

July 2022 Blog

Slip-Sliding Away: A Haiku

Half a year is gone –

That time not much better than

The two years just past.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(7/1/22)

 

Must these precious, waning golden years lie but tarnished? To be covered by dust? I would hope not.

So much left to be done and so little time left to do it. Like Sisyphus, it seems, we roll that burden up that steep hill – only to have to duck it as it rolls backwards to crush us.

It also seems like only the right to kill with a gun will survive our current version of the Supreme Court.

A most certainly biased majority panel of supposed unbiased Supreme Court Justices is plunging us back into the dark ages, where women and people  with different perspectives on life were persecuted and punished even unto death for merely being women or having different perspectives on life.

I grew up in the 50’s with high hopes and eagerness. The path ahead (after World War II – the war to end all wars) was strewn with progress and the promise of a better, longer life for all – and peace upon this planet. That shining vision lasted into the 60’s and the “Dawning of the Age of Aquarius”, flower children and nothing but love, baby.

Somewhere along the way, a darkness crept into more and more souls, until it has become so pervasive as to cover the Earth with a pall of disease, inequity, unnecessary warfare and environmental abuses so grave they threaten the very existence of human life on this planet.

Forget that the birds are angry (as well they shold be at us for destroying their habitats), we have become an angry, vengeful species with few qualms about unleashing our anger to the point that it may consume us.

Forget what Nature may do to man, man is quite capable of destroying himself.

Forget about the separation of church and state, we have succumbed to an oligarchy of men who believe their “church” should rule – and the people should remain undereducated and unenlightened and thus under their thumb for as long as mankind shall live.

I am long past the age of taking up arms (which I wouldn’t do anyway) and battling these seemingly overwhelming odds at adds with clear-thinking, moderate, intelligent people may be best left to the young. I hope to pass the torch to a new generation of free-thinking, accepting, inclusive and mindful individuals who will once again give us high hopes and an eagerness with which to look forward to a full life and a future once again.

In the meantime, I’ll finish that Sam Rock sequel as soon as I find my notes and manuscript changes. They seem to have gotten misplaced in the shuffle of moving things from palce to place. Everything else is going according to plan so far. We’ll see.

Hopefully, my new books will be published soon and bring some respite from the facts of life these days.

Be sure to watch for upcoming announcements about the upcoming book launches. I’ll post the news between writing sessions.

In the meantime, if you need some relief from the news out there, feel free to check out my eclectic selection of books on Amazon. There may be something there you have yet to read.

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

Until next time, read and write to your heart’s content. Enjoy what respite you can find in your lives.

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

It’s now July and Summer is heating up. The A/C is working hard. We have had a little rain to bring us some relief from the drought – of course, flooding came with it.

 

 

Life in Limbo!

 

May 2022 Blog

Stasis: A Haiku

Time was “Limbo” was

Just a dance; of late, it’s been

The state of our lives.

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(4/30/22)

It’s like waiting for that other shoe to drop. You know it’s gonna...  Whether its war or  pestilence, something is going to happen. I’m so tired of holding my breath, waiting for those things. I think it’s time to raise the bar and get back to something  like normal – like going to restaurants and movie theaters. Maybe just going out and having fun, maybe writing and editing and publishing like I used to.

Okay, maybe it’s  not just the plague and horrifying  news. Maybe it’s also that I’m getting older and more tired. Naps lately are sounding really good.

I guess I thought I’d just sail along through my golden years with the same energy and enthusiasm I’ve always had.

It’s not happening, and I feel the need to conserve what energy I do have. I’ve tried making lists and schedules, but it’s really hard for me to stick to them. Perhaps if I scheduled nap time in there, it would be easier to stick to.  But then I would probably just nap more.

So I guess I’ll keep muddling along until something clicks and I feel better and have more energy. Then I look forward to writing up a storm or two.

Maybe I’ll even get my ducks in a row. Heaven knows they’ve been paddling in circles for too long.

If you feel you need some relief from the doldrums or the news, feel free to check out my eclectic selections on Amazon. There may be something there you have not read yet.

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

Until next time, read and write to your heart’s content. Enjoy what respite you can find in your lives.

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

Spring has sprung here and Summer is following close behind. It’s going to be a hot time. I’ve already fired up the air conditioners.

 

 

 

Still Hanging!

 April 2022 Blog

Delayed Reaction: A Haiku

I’d put off musing

About the day until it

Improves somewhat, but...

by Ann Wilmer-Lasky

(3/30/22)

...it may not. And the war and the virus continue. And I’ve come to a conclusion: I am that which is...  and the only one who can “make it so”, as Captain Jean Luc Picard used to say. All is my responsibility (at least in my immediate family), and I do not have the right to consider it onerous. Nor do I have to be happy about it. It is what it is.

“Somewhat Improved” is not something, it seems, I’m going to hear about anything, anytime soon. The virus tapers off, but it continues. The war continues. The Earth’s tipping point looms. And doctors’ diagnoses (at least in my husband’s case) are still “best guess”, and not one of them has found a solution in the last three or four years.

Yet we continue to plod on. And plodding it is. There has been little forward progress in quite a while, and the year is one-fourth gone already. Spring has barely come upon us, and I am little refreshed.

So, we push things back. We wait...  for what, I’m not sure. The end of the pandemic? There is no end in sight. The end of the war? Not on the horizon anytime soon. A breath of fresh air? That would be lovely, but so far only ill-winds are blowing everywhere.

So, I have decided to just do what I can – remembering Yoda’s famous words: “Do! There is no try.” And the old Nike slogan: “Just Do It!” (when that was not mired in controversy)

So, I will go about my daily chores, pay my bills, and write my chapters. But there is little joy in any of it, except maybe in writing my chapters. I will nap as I am able and expend what energy I can garner to improve my little corner of the world.

I am so happy to have you, my loyal friends, in my little corner of the world that I will do my best to make is a brighter corner. Even if that means more murder and mayhem from Marie Delacroix’s ravens (my Sam Rock sequel) and exposing Dhavin’s true origins in my Acqueria prequel.

Those will be still brighter than what’s happening out there in reality.

By the way, it’s a sad thing when the news of war is overshadowed (but for the briefest moment) by the slap seen ‘round the world. And I stand with Will Smith. Okay, he shouldn’t have done that, but I understand why he did it.

And so, I leave you now with this shortest of blogs to delve into another world where I can actually make things happen just by scratching my pen across the page (until the ink runs out and there are no more legible scratchings).

If you need some sweet relief from the the realities that confront us daily, check out my selection on Amazon. There may be something there you have not read yet.

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 really recover from the woes that plague us, and the following month will find us enjoying a more beautiful, peaceful Spring in anticipation of a stunningly brilliant Summer.

 

 

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.