Personal Best

Each year in the autumn, I take a little time to review my achievements for the year and set goals for the coming year. Sounds a little bit like what most people do on January 1, doesn’t it?

The reason I choose to tackle this in the fall is because my birthday is in November, and I’ve always done my personal performance evaluations around then. It is my personal new year, after all.

I’ve already met several goals. This resulted in a personal best. I’ve gotten 12 short stories written and circulating to various publishers. Of those, three have been published. Two of the stories appear in national anthologies, and one was published in an online literary magazine. This shows great improvement for me because previously, I was writing much less fiction and publishing one story every couple of years.These short stories are parts of two collections I’m working on now, so that’s an added bonus. And, a couple of the stories have led me into writing two novels.

That I created a dozen short stories was no lucky break. I set that goal last year and met it by writing most mornings and setting aside time once each week to submit the stories to publishers. One story was drafted while I waited for my husband during his appointment at the dentist’s office.

I also continued writing nonfiction and had four pieces published in periodicals, with another forthcoming.

In addition to writing, I completed an online copy editing certificate course and was fortunate enough to obtain a position as an editor with a worthwhile and important project. Editing is a double win for me because it improves my writing skills while allowing me to press forward in a related field.

Now, as I move ahead on my personal journey, I’ll set my goals for the next year and see what I can do to continue to improve my work.

Youthful Companions

When I was attending elementary school in western Nebraska, I read a book about a boy from Hawaii.  This story included information about a volcano, of course, and that was such a different landscape from the wheat fields and cattle pastures I saw where I lived at the time.  The book came due, and I returned it–reluctantly. I remember handing it back to the librarian and wishing that I could keep the book for my very own.

Many years later, I visited Hawaii with an aunt.  As we flew over the islands, I thought about Madame Pele, the goddess of legend who controls the volcanic eruptions, and the book that I read as a child.  What a thrilling feeling it was to actually visit the place I learned about all those years before.  Once again, I yearned for the book to be mine, but I didn’t remember the title.  I vaguely remembered the main character’s name, but I didn’t know if my memory was correct.  Sadly, I couldn’t remember the author’s name. In those pre-internet days, I didn’t take time to search for the book.  I remained grateful for having had the chance to have read it, though.

It’s been more than 20 years now since I traveled to Hawaii.  I mentioned this favorite childhood book to my writing coach, Kathie Giorgio, one day.  While we were talking, she looked up the words I spoke on the internet.  Main character was Kimo, I thought, and the book did include Madame Pele.   She found the title:  Kimo and Madame Pele by Virginia Nielsen.  The date of publication was in the right time frame.

I ordered a used copy on the internet, and when I received the book, I immediately recognized the cover.  Just holding this beloved companion of my youth made me weep.  The book is shelved in a place of honor in my personal library.  If you’ve ever read a book and loved it so, I hope that you have been able to keep it near you, or that you will take the time to find it and renew your friendship.

Until next time,

Lori

 

Bird Watching

Yesterday, while I was seated at the picnic table in my front yard, I was treated to a special concert:  Canada geese honking as they flew to a nearby pond, the songs of robins fluttering between branches of the cottonwood, and the thrumming of a hummingbird’s wings as it dipped its beak in my pink portulaca and geraniums.  What a lovely beginning for a beautiful summer day.

Until next time,

Lori

Greetings from Wyoming

It’s a lovely summer day here near Saratoga, and I spent the morning writing at the picnic table in my front yard.  As my blog name suggests, I’ll be including some of the high notes from my life:  writing and publication successes as well as any of my vocal and flute gigs that fill my days.  In addition to my freelance writing and copy editing work, I am a singer, and I perform classical music on my flute in duets with my friend, trombonist Robby Follum.

Recent writing successes include short stories accepted for publication.  “The Brandt Street Bandit,” a western historical suspense, appears in the new anthology, How the West Was Wicked, from Pill Hill Press.  Another short story, “Sign of the Times,” will be published soon in Another Wild West, also from Pill Hill.  You can find them at http://www.pillhillpress.com

Until next time,

Lori