Snow, again

Travis' school has ski week (originating years ago when our school district's attendance went way down in Feb, so the school board decided we'd have a ski week) and we're in the mountains, about six hours north of Orange Co., in the Eastern Sierra. Mammoth is an active volcano and an earthquake fault runs under the town, but we'll not talk about that here. Instead, here are some photos of snow, and us, and Trav's cousins, requested by a few friends.

The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was important to them: there ought to be as many for love.- Margaret Atwood

In the wintertime, in the snow country, citrus fruit was so rare, and if you got one, it was better than ambrosia.
James Earl Jones

Pen on Fire Salon with Lisa Fugard and Tatjana Soli

An Evening with Novelists Tatjana Soli and Lisa Fugard

Join us on Tuesday evening, March 15, for a conversation with two brilliant novelists hosted by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett. The authors will be in conversation with Marrie Stone, co-host of "Writers on Writing," the radio show Barbara launched 13 years ago next month.

Tatjana Soli is a novelist and short story writer. Born in Salzburg, Austria, she attended Stanford University and the Warren Wilson MFA Program. Her debut novel, The Lotus Eaters, was a New York Times Bestseller and 2010 New York Times Notable Book. Her short stories have appeared in The Sun, StoryQuarterly, Confrontation, Gulf Coast, Other Voices, Third Coast, Sonora Review and North Dakota Quarterly among other publications. Her work has been twice listed in the 100 Distinguished Stories in Best American Short Stories and nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She lives with her husband in Orange County, California.


Lisa Fugard was born in South Africa and came to the United States in 1980. After working in the theater, performing in New York, London and South Africa, she turned her attention to writing. Her short fiction has been published in Story, Outside and literary magazines. Her many travel articles, essays and book reviews have been published in the New York Times. Skinner’s Drift her first novel has been published in the USA, UK, and South Africa. Named a notable book of 2006 by the New York Times, Skinner’s Drift was also a finalist for the LA Times Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction and the runner-up for the 2007 Dayton Literary Peace Prize. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly lauded that, "Fugard captivates with this searing personal portrayal of the legacy of apartheid.” The Los Angeles Times Book Review called it a, "frighteningly good novel (that) looks at this historic turmoil without wincing or turning away.” She lives in Southern California and is at work on a second novel.

For more information, or to register, click here.

Lyanda Lynn Haupt and Stacy Schiff

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness and Marrie Stone interviews Stacy Schiff, author of the biography, Cleopatra: A Life.

Download Audio.

(Broadcast Date: January 2011)

Rosalind Wiseman and Kim Edwards

Greetings!

Join Marrie Stone as she interviews internationally recognized author and educator Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabes and her debut young adult novel Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Materials, and Kim Edwards, author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter and The Lake of Dreams.

Download Audio.

Thanks for listening!

Today's show: Allison Brennan and Alisa Bowman

This morning on "Writers on Writing," my guests will be suspense writer Allison Brennan ("Love Me to Death") and nonfiction author, Alisa Bowman ("Happily Ever After: Saving Your Marriage When the Fairytale Falters").

Tune in at 9 a.m. PT at 88.9 FM KUCI in Orange Co., CA, or listen to KUCI online at iTunes, News/Talk radio.

(The show will be podcast at a later date. Subscribe at iTunes and the show will download for you at that time.)

Arthur Plotnik and Mark SaFranko

Marrie Stone interviews Arthur Plotnik, author of Spunk and Bite and the forthcoming Better Than Great: A Plenitudinous Compendium of Wallopingly Fresh Superlatives and Mark SaFranko, author of Hating Olivia: A Love Story.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: December, 2010)

3rd annual reading this coming Sunday Laguna Beach Books

If you're in South Orange County (CA) on Sunday, come hear my students and me read at Laguna Beach Books, 4 p.m. The Literary Posse and Writers Block Party and I will do our 3rd annual reading at the store. No charge! And a great way to spend your late Sunday afternoon, bathed in the late day light as you listen to great writing amongst your tribe.

On Writers on Writing, Linda Gray Sexton and Jill Bialosky

Join co-host Marrie Stone as she interviews two authors on the subject suicide in memoir.  Marrie will be in conversation with Jill Bialosky, author of History of a Suicide: My Sister's Unfinished Life (Atria, February 2011) and Pulitzer-Prize winning poet Anne Sexton's daughter, Linda Gray Sexton, author of Half in Love: Surviving the Legacy of Suicide.  

Tune in this morning at 9:00 a.m. (PT) on 88.9FM, Irvine, or listen through our live audio stream at www.kuci.org.  You can always download our podcasts at iTunes (talk/news) or right here!

Thanks for listening!

Barbara

Pen on Fire Salon with T. Jefferson Parker

T. Jefferson Parker was the featured author at the writers salon the other night here at Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar, and it was another stellar evening with great talk and great guests. Jeff was here to talk about his new book, The Border Lords, which received a five star review in the Los Angeles Times yesterday (1/19/11). Here are some photos from the evening, taken by writer C.J. Bahnsen, who gratefully serves as a doorperson, along with his significant other, writer Debra Cross. (They're there in the bottom photo, along with me and Marrie Stone, writer and co-host on Writers on Writing.) Mystery Ink, Debbie Mitsch's fabulous bookstore in Huntington Beach, was on hand selling books. Our next salon will be March 15. Details to come!

Valerie Trueblood and Caroline Fraser

Marrie Stone interviews Valerie Trueblood, author of Marry or Burn: Stories and Caroline Fraser, author of Rewilding the World: Dispatches from the Conservation Revolution.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: December 22, 2010)

Julia Glass

Julia Glass, author of I See You Everywhere.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: December 10, 2008)

Happy New Year!

We're back from Mammoth. Our last day there was sunny, brisk, and always bittersweet: I want to stay, but I want to get home.

I also have a Pavlovian response to the last day of the year: I automatically reflect on the past year and consider resolutions. It's always a bittersweet holiday season--my mom died Dec. 26, 2001. Around this time in 2001, the three of us were back east, attending the funeral, dealing with the airline's extremely tight--and sometimes stupid--security measures. Travis was very short then--seven years old--and his name was picked for a personal security check. He had to empty his backpack. Whoa--stuffed animals! Games! Books! Years later he said he was worried the airlines would want to keep him.

The fact that we're vaulting into a new decade is just so strange to me. Wasn't it just 2000? This past year was good enough, but did I accomplish enough? Probably not. I meant to finish my novel, Crazy for You, based on my noir short story that was published in April, but did I? Oy. And I hoped my agent would sell my memoir, but it was not to be--not yet, anyhoo.

I did sign up with WeightWatchers online, and lost almost 14 pounds (15 was my goal, oh woe).

I tried to be a better companion to Brian, a better mother to Travis, a better friend, a better teacher.

But why is it that at the end of the year, we always feel we fell short in some way? Or maybe it's just me...

So next year--tomorrow!--I plan to become better organized, lose that last pound at least, accomplish my writing goals, become an even better friend, relative, wife, mother ... all that.

What about you--any goals for 2011?

I wish for you everything you hope for in the New Year, and hope our paths cross real soon.

A leisurely afternoon walk in a blizzard. Great fun, actually, making a memory...

Snow, again.

I love the snow, as my loyal blog readers know. And we're here once again, at Mammoth, and the snow is sublime. Fortunately Mammoth knows how to deal with snow. Last night more than a foot fell.

And I will admit to you right here and now, the only work with words that I've done is the editing I do for The ASJA Monthly. No working on my book, no writing. And sometimes not writing is exactly what's called for. So much of my life is taken up with words, and like you, sometimes I need a break. So I've been enjoying the snow with my son and in-laws, and knitting. My son calls me obsessed, and it's true.

So below you will see this morning's snowfall, and you'll also see the rubber ducky socks I just finished.

What do you do to take a break from writing--or do you never take a break?

New Year's Resolutions, anyone?

I don't tend to make resolutions--although last Jan. 3 I signed up for Weight Watchers online and have so far lost 14 pounds (one more to go to reach my goal).

But I've been pondering a way to get my Internet use under control. Does anyone use Anti-Social or Freedom? Just read this in today's LA Times.

Pen on Fire Speaker Series: Merrill Markoe

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett welcomes Merrill Markoe, author of Nose Down, Eyes Up: A Novel, to the Pen on Fire Speaker Series at the Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar.

Download audio.

Edwidge Dandicat

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Edwidge Dandicat, author of Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: October 20, 2010)

Betsy Lerner and Susan Straight

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews literary agent and writer Betsy Lerner, author of The Forest for the Trees (Revised and Updated): An Editor's Advice to Writers and Susan Straight, author of Take One Candle Light a Room.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: October 27, 2010)

Sharon Dogar and Roy P. Clarke

Marrie Stone interviews Sharon Dogar, author of Annexed and Roy P. Clark, author of The Glamour of Grammar.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: October 13, 2010)

Nicole Krauss

Marrie Stone interviews Nicole Krauss, author of Great House: A Novel.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: November 17, 2010)

Piper Kerman

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Piper Kerman, author of Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison.

Download Audio.

(Broadcast Date: December 8, 2010)

Christmas cards clarification

I've been receiving private emails from dear friends about Christmas cards and my blog post from the other day, and feel that maybe some clarification is called for.

First, the only cards I truly object to are those mass emailed holiday greetings that present a simple greeting. The images tend to be washed out, the words hard to read. And the fact that they've gone out to a hundred--maybe a thousand--of the sender's closest friends and colleagues does not inspire the Christmas spirit, at least not in me.

I do enjoy emailed cards that contain lots of photos or images. Yes, they've gone out to a bunch of people, but the sender has also put some time into the creation of the card.

I enjoy holiday letters. Yes, they're a recap of the year, but so what? The only thing I don't like about them is when they're written in the third person. Someone in the family: Take ownership! Make it your letter and write about you and everyone else in the family.

What about the paper waste? Well, yeah, there's that, and I don't mean to minimize it. But I've a feeling that those who are complaining about paper waste also happily take cardboard cups from their local cafe, will order take out (which is boxed), use paper napkins, use paper and plastic sacks from the market rather than bring a cloth bag, and use all sorts of other paper. The "waste" comment doesn't hold up for me.

The main thing is this: It's the one time all year that you make it a point to send holiday wishes. So why not make them count? Put some time into creating a card at Smilebox.com or another online site. Who wouldn't love that? I do.

Opinionated post...beware....

I haven't made a personal post here in quite some time and I maybe shouldn't right now as I'm feeling a tad under the weather, but because it's timely, and I'm not feeling all that great, I should just let it spill, right?

It has to do with Christmas cards. Does anyone else dislike emailed Christmas cards as much as I do? Perhaps my dislike is out of range. I should just appreciate any communique a person sends, right, whether of the paper sort or email?

But I don't. I receive a card via email and I feel offended, not appreciated. Okay, I'm old school, I admit: I like the personal attention you have to give to writing someone's name on an envelope--or even printing out a sheet of address labels, writing your name (a preprinted card will do) and affixing a stamp. We only do this once a year, right? No one sends out Valentines Day cards anymore, or Easter, or Halloween or Thanksgiving. So how much trouble can it be?

Now, if you don't have someone's address and you want them to know they're in your thoughts, that's different. And of course I want everyone to have a great holiday.

But if someone has my address and still sends me an email card, I hit delete. I don't think, how sweet, how nice, how thoughtful. I think: Well, that was easy. I hope they feel good because I feel worse. I don't feel appreciated at all. Rather, I feel minimized.

At this point, I should delete this post because I know I will offend some of my friends and colleagues who send email cards. In advance, I apologize. My sore throat and general lousy feeling made me hit "publish post."

I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this. Am I being too cranky?

Linda Sue Park and Christian Lander

Marrie Stone interviews children and young adult writer Linda Sue Park, author of A Long Walk to Water and Christian Lander, author of Whiter Shades of Pale: Stuff White People Like, Coast to Coast, from Seattle's Sweaters to Maine's Microbrews.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: November 10, 2010)

Debra Ginsberg

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Debra Ginsberg, author of The Neighbors Are Watching.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: Nov 24, 2010)

Literary Agent Betsy Lerner

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone take listeners' questions for author, former editor and literary agent Betsy Lerner, author of The Forest for the Trees (Revised and Updated): An Editor's Advice to Writers.

Download Audio.

(Broadcast Date: December 1, 2010)

Today's show: Jo-Ann Mapson & Debra Ginsberg

On today's show, my guests will be Jo-Ann Mapson, author of Solomon's Oak (Bloomsbury) and Debra Ginsberg, author of The Neighbors are Watching (Shaye Areheart Books). Tune in at 9 a.m. PT at 88.9 KUCI-FM in Southern California, or listen online at www.KUCI.org or at iTunes, news/talk radio.

.........
And a little about quotations. I love quotes. Quotes immortalize writers--perhaps even more than our books do. That's a scary thought. But I love them. Here are a few that I especially relate to, today, as I work my way though my work in progress:

Plot from the murderer's point of view and write from the detective's point of view.
~Erle Stanley Gardner, mystery writer

Layers don't come from subplots, but from additional problems in the protagonist's life.
~Donald Maass, editor and writer

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
~Jack London

Thanks to Mystery Writers Ink. More here.

Pen on Fire Salon with Susan Straight and Andrew Winer

Last Tuesday night at Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar, we had another sell out event with authors extraordinaire, Susan Straight, Take One Candle Light A Room, and Andrew Winer, The Marriage Artist. Here are some photos of the event, thanks to C.J. Bahnsen.

Our next event is Jan. 18, 2011, with T. Jefferson Parker and his new book, The Border Lords. More here.

Amy Bloom and Hilary Davidson

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone interview Amy Bloom, author of Where the God of Love Hangs Out: Stories and Hilary Davidson, author of The Damage Done.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: October 2010)

2nd Annual Agents Night - Pen on Fire Writers Salon

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett hosts literary agents Jill Marr, Jamie Weiss Chilton, and Sally van Haitsma at the Pen on Fire Writers Salon.

Download audio.

(Event date: July 13, 2010)

Dennis Palumbo and Daniel Pyne -- Pen on Fire Writers Salon

The Pen on Fire Writers Salon presents Dennis Palumbo, author of Mirror Image and Daniel Pyne, author of TwentyNine Palms.

Download audio.

(Event date: September 14, 2010)

Kim Dower and Kate Gale

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Kim Dower, literary agent and author of Air Kissing on Mars and Kate Gale, managing editor of Red Hen Press, poet, and a recent two-term president of PEN USA.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: November 3, 2010)