Hi all,
Can any war be called civil? I'm not questioning reasons for going to war, but the idea of calling any war a civil war.
I'm into research on my WIP, working title ... THE QUAKER AND THE CONFEDERATE ... and so, understandably, I'm into research of the Civil War, 1860-65. In particular, I'm interested in what happened in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This is a far more complicated task than I imagined, but the most interesting thing to date is that I'm learning how much I don't know about the Civil War in the very state where I was born!
The devil is ever in the details, is it not? In historical romance, to me your book stands or falls on the details. So ... the details have to be as close to perfect as you can get! Well, because both the Union and the Confederacy marched their troops back and forth over Virginia soil countless times, and because many Virginians refused to secede and separated into the state of West Virginia ... allegiance is often blurred in matters of war. I'm "here to learn" and so I shall ever try, try, try ... to get it all right.
My head and heart this morning, as I'm reading letters written by Confederate soldiers to their families, et al, are bent on the idea of any war being called a Civil War, much less OUR CIVIL WAR! In reading the pained details of the daily lives of the soldiers ... not just how they tried to survive battle, but how horrific their daily lives actually were ... rife with measles, mumps, sore throats, blisters, hunger, thirst, exposure to elements, et al ... not to mention seeing your friend's arm and shoulder point blown off or passing ill, fallen, lagging-behind soldiers along the roadways ... I'm struck by the reality that the life of a soldier during the Civil War was not at all civil. Their daily lives were a struggle and a hardship, even before the enemy was met. Brother fought against brother in some instances, friend against friend.
While the purpose for which each side fought was often known only to the individual soldier, the frey into which they all marched was the most uncivil time in our nation's still-young history. There was one civil moment ... when Lincoln, for political & economic purpose perhaps ... signed the Emancipation Proclamation ... and later the 13th amendment passed ... marking the official end of slavery. That was a civil act, indeed, in a most uncivil war.
Even now in our country we're engaged in yet another battle where friend disagrees with friend, and brother disagrees with brother. Our country is in a great divide. It is a difficult time. I'm once again reminded that war is anything but civil.
Until next time ...
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
http://www.joannesundell.com/
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
Meggie's Remains, 7/09
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesdays with Joanne - "March Madness, in more ways than one!"
Hi all,
March Madness, for us Colorado mountain folk, means skiers at every turn on the slopes, at every restaurant in town, and in every car next to you in traffic! Yes, we actually have "traffic" here in the Fraser Valley, come ski-and-fun-in-the-sun season!
March Madness also means that everyone's a bit on edge, mad at the mud all round! That, too, is ... "on the slopes, at every restaurant in town, and in every car next to you in traffic!"
March Madness, to writers ... in particular, moi`... means 2008 is actually here and best make out that "to do" list regarding any books coming out! All of a sudden, nominees are being chosen for this award or that award, editors are sending you your manuscript for a final copy-edit run-through, libraries are setting up their summer appearance schedules, marketing needs to be set in place for bookstore signings, et al! Whew ... March Madness means that once again, I'm in the throws of the MARKETING SWEATS!
On a less anxious note, wonderful writer and editor, Alice Duncan, is mentioned in a new tome on romance, ROMANCE TODAY - AN A-Z GUIDE TO CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ROMANCE WRITERS, Greenhaven Press, 2007. I've had the good fortune of Alice's editoral guide on all four of my books sold to Five Star-Gale, a part of Cengage Learning. She's the best!
Marching all the way into April,
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
author@joannesundell.com
A...My Name's Amelia, LP 8/08
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
Meggie's Remains, 7/09
March Madness, for us Colorado mountain folk, means skiers at every turn on the slopes, at every restaurant in town, and in every car next to you in traffic! Yes, we actually have "traffic" here in the Fraser Valley, come ski-and-fun-in-the-sun season!
March Madness also means that everyone's a bit on edge, mad at the mud all round! That, too, is ... "on the slopes, at every restaurant in town, and in every car next to you in traffic!"
March Madness, to writers ... in particular, moi`... means 2008 is actually here and best make out that "to do" list regarding any books coming out! All of a sudden, nominees are being chosen for this award or that award, editors are sending you your manuscript for a final copy-edit run-through, libraries are setting up their summer appearance schedules, marketing needs to be set in place for bookstore signings, et al! Whew ... March Madness means that once again, I'm in the throws of the MARKETING SWEATS!
On a less anxious note, wonderful writer and editor, Alice Duncan, is mentioned in a new tome on romance, ROMANCE TODAY - AN A-Z GUIDE TO CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ROMANCE WRITERS, Greenhaven Press, 2007. I've had the good fortune of Alice's editoral guide on all four of my books sold to Five Star-Gale, a part of Cengage Learning. She's the best!
Marching all the way into April,
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
author@joannesundell.com
A...My Name's Amelia, LP 8/08
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
Meggie's Remains, 7/09
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesdays with Joanne - Networking Decisions Made!
Hi All,
Sorry, I've been an "absent blogger" for the past weeks. But hey, "I'm back ..." (geez, not as in Polterguist, I hope!)
Already listed on the prestigious romancingtheblog.com, as a author link, I hope to be a guest blogger one of these days. Now that I have four books from Five Star, maybe they'll give me a listen. We'll see.
In future, I want to become a part of romancejunkies.com, to be listed as one of their authors, and hopefully a featured author, one of these days. We'll see on that one, too.
I'm still not wanting to go on MySpace because of the whole thing where you get a lot of "friends" that you might not want. I know it's a great way to get your name out there, but I'm still pondering this one.
As for being on squidoo.com, I'm still a participant, but I'm not really sure what you need to do to stay an active, high-on-their-involvement-scale participant. Don't know if these folks want to read about you, buy your books, or just chat it up with you re what you do, et al? I do know that you have to stay "active," I'm just not sure how do to that. Best investigate.
I've not blogged on WomenWritingTheWest, but should. This is a great writing organization, as is Colorado Romance Writers, and Romance Writers of America. My first allegiance is to Five Star, an imprint of Gale, a part of Cengage Learning! We're all in the Big Bad Writing Network, somewhere!!!
Back at ya soon ...
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
A...My Name's Amelia, LP summer/08
Meggie's Remains, 7/09
Sorry, I've been an "absent blogger" for the past weeks. But hey, "I'm back ..." (geez, not as in Polterguist, I hope!)
Already listed on the prestigious romancingtheblog.com, as a author link, I hope to be a guest blogger one of these days. Now that I have four books from Five Star, maybe they'll give me a listen. We'll see.
In future, I want to become a part of romancejunkies.com, to be listed as one of their authors, and hopefully a featured author, one of these days. We'll see on that one, too.
I'm still not wanting to go on MySpace because of the whole thing where you get a lot of "friends" that you might not want. I know it's a great way to get your name out there, but I'm still pondering this one.
As for being on squidoo.com, I'm still a participant, but I'm not really sure what you need to do to stay an active, high-on-their-involvement-scale participant. Don't know if these folks want to read about you, buy your books, or just chat it up with you re what you do, et al? I do know that you have to stay "active," I'm just not sure how do to that. Best investigate.
I've not blogged on WomenWritingTheWest, but should. This is a great writing organization, as is Colorado Romance Writers, and Romance Writers of America. My first allegiance is to Five Star, an imprint of Gale, a part of Cengage Learning! We're all in the Big Bad Writing Network, somewhere!!!
Back at ya soon ...
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
A...My Name's Amelia, LP summer/08
Meggie's Remains, 7/09
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Wednesdays with Joanne - "The End of the World ... or it's Beginning?"
Hi all,
If any of you ever have the notion or the opportunity to visit the White Continent, you must!
As a reader, writer, romantic-at-heart, naturalist, Audobon Society member, scientist, or otherwise interested party ... Antarctica will change your life; oh, maybe not movement of tectonic plates or anything, but a change nonetheless.
The entryway to Antarctica is via Ushuaia, Argentina, the southern-most city in the world. In fact, this entryway is known as The End of the World, but I believe it is The Beginning. For to visit Antarctica is to go back in time millions of years, before man. You step into a world you couldn't even imagine before and know it is a gift, that you're there. The animals are curious about us red aliens (the parka, you know) but that is all. You wait, you let the penguins ... whether gentoo, adelie, or chinstrap, pass ... you watch as the new-born chicks struggle to survive, hoping the rain will stop since they've no protection from it or from predators ever-waiting to snatch them from their mother ... you sit very still in your zodiac while humpback whales play all around you ... you make no loud noises or threatening moves that might annoy a leopard seal lounging on a floating iceberg, so close you can see her mouth and know how her teeth can tear ... you study the ice, in awe of the greens and blues, the shapes, the sizes, the magic ... you see the albatross and petrals overhead, knowing the great seabirds stay out at sea years at a time ... you marvel at all of the animal life, all of the beauty, all of the secrets of life hidden deep beneath the ice ... hallowed ice, indeed.
Stops at some of the international research stations give evidence to the fact that Antarctica belongs to the world, no one country lays claim to any of it. Scientists and researchers come together from all over the world to help preserve Antarctica and to protect its vital surrounding waters. Krill is the basis for life in Antarctica. To lose the krill will mean the beginning of the food chain will be gone, and all else will follow. This is a tremendous threat to Antarctica now. It's not just illegal fisheries, but others, too, that take the krill to turn into fish meal to sell to fish hatcheries all over the world. I will never buy farm-fed fish again, suffice is to say. The best is always to buy Certified Fish where you can. Be mindful, too, of Chilean seabass, since ... in the catching of the bass ... many petrals and albatross will die going for the baited long-line hooks, never to return home to the waiting chicks, who will now starve and die.
It's in the ice ... the secrets of life ... hidden there ... waiting for discovery ... ways to protect our planet and preserve life for all mankind. I returned from Antarctica aware of problems, yes, but more aware of how strong our planet is, how vast, how intact it is in many ways. Antarctica is bigger than all of us ... chunks of ice are gone ... but I have a feeling that others are forming, just round the next turn of our zodiac. Life is hard and harsh at the South Pole. Endurance and survival is the order of the day, every day.
I returned from the White Continent, believing I am watching The Beginning of Life, and not its End.
Until next time ...
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
If any of you ever have the notion or the opportunity to visit the White Continent, you must!
As a reader, writer, romantic-at-heart, naturalist, Audobon Society member, scientist, or otherwise interested party ... Antarctica will change your life; oh, maybe not movement of tectonic plates or anything, but a change nonetheless.
The entryway to Antarctica is via Ushuaia, Argentina, the southern-most city in the world. In fact, this entryway is known as The End of the World, but I believe it is The Beginning. For to visit Antarctica is to go back in time millions of years, before man. You step into a world you couldn't even imagine before and know it is a gift, that you're there. The animals are curious about us red aliens (the parka, you know) but that is all. You wait, you let the penguins ... whether gentoo, adelie, or chinstrap, pass ... you watch as the new-born chicks struggle to survive, hoping the rain will stop since they've no protection from it or from predators ever-waiting to snatch them from their mother ... you sit very still in your zodiac while humpback whales play all around you ... you make no loud noises or threatening moves that might annoy a leopard seal lounging on a floating iceberg, so close you can see her mouth and know how her teeth can tear ... you study the ice, in awe of the greens and blues, the shapes, the sizes, the magic ... you see the albatross and petrals overhead, knowing the great seabirds stay out at sea years at a time ... you marvel at all of the animal life, all of the beauty, all of the secrets of life hidden deep beneath the ice ... hallowed ice, indeed.
Stops at some of the international research stations give evidence to the fact that Antarctica belongs to the world, no one country lays claim to any of it. Scientists and researchers come together from all over the world to help preserve Antarctica and to protect its vital surrounding waters. Krill is the basis for life in Antarctica. To lose the krill will mean the beginning of the food chain will be gone, and all else will follow. This is a tremendous threat to Antarctica now. It's not just illegal fisheries, but others, too, that take the krill to turn into fish meal to sell to fish hatcheries all over the world. I will never buy farm-fed fish again, suffice is to say. The best is always to buy Certified Fish where you can. Be mindful, too, of Chilean seabass, since ... in the catching of the bass ... many petrals and albatross will die going for the baited long-line hooks, never to return home to the waiting chicks, who will now starve and die.
It's in the ice ... the secrets of life ... hidden there ... waiting for discovery ... ways to protect our planet and preserve life for all mankind. I returned from Antarctica aware of problems, yes, but more aware of how strong our planet is, how vast, how intact it is in many ways. Antarctica is bigger than all of us ... chunks of ice are gone ... but I have a feeling that others are forming, just round the next turn of our zodiac. Life is hard and harsh at the South Pole. Endurance and survival is the order of the day, every day.
I returned from the White Continent, believing I am watching The Beginning of Life, and not its End.
Until next time ...
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Wednesdays with Joanne - "Of whales, penguins, and seals!"
Hi guys,
This weekend I'm heading to the South Pole, via South America, then the Drake Passage. I'm very excited about this trip, ever loving all things remote, and more remote! As for the daily temperature in Antarctica in the summer (currently), it's supposed to be around 32 degrees F. As for the daily temperature ... today in the Colorado Rockies ... it's 0 degrees at the moment! Hmmm...at least I'm going from really cold to not so cold. Interesting, is it not?
I'll let you know any and all that I learn about animal life, human and otherwise, on the Antarctic Peninsula upon my return. I'm keen on hearing "up close and personal" exactly what's happening at the pole.
I'm in the middle of research for my next book, set in Civil War, Virginia, but I'm not averse to digging down in the ice and uncovering a new story. Maybe I'll find a long lost couple, stranded centuries ago, buried now, still hand-in-hand, forever bound to the frozen continent.
Until next time ...
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
This weekend I'm heading to the South Pole, via South America, then the Drake Passage. I'm very excited about this trip, ever loving all things remote, and more remote! As for the daily temperature in Antarctica in the summer (currently), it's supposed to be around 32 degrees F. As for the daily temperature ... today in the Colorado Rockies ... it's 0 degrees at the moment! Hmmm...at least I'm going from really cold to not so cold. Interesting, is it not?
I'll let you know any and all that I learn about animal life, human and otherwise, on the Antarctic Peninsula upon my return. I'm keen on hearing "up close and personal" exactly what's happening at the pole.
I'm in the middle of research for my next book, set in Civil War, Virginia, but I'm not averse to digging down in the ice and uncovering a new story. Maybe I'll find a long lost couple, stranded centuries ago, buried now, still hand-in-hand, forever bound to the frozen continent.
Until next time ...
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Wednesdays with Joanne - "Country-writing vs City-writing"
Hi all,
I'm a country-writer.
To me there's a big difference between country-writing and city-writing. The difference relates, not to what we write, but to our networking ability. It's hard to "reach out and touch other writers" and have associations and involvements in writing organizations, et al, when you live in the country rather than the city. When I attend writing conferences, I'm quite envious of all the connections other writers have with their critique groups and their chapter groups. Most folks seem to gather on a regular basis and have that comraderie that is so special, so necessary, and so helpful in this tough business. It's great if you can embrace these wonderful associations, but if you cannot ...
I call it the Hermit Crab Syndrome. We all know much of writing is a singular, solitary experience. We climb into our shells and get to work, unfettered by the outside world. Both country-writers and city-writers develop Hermit Crab Syndrome, of course. It's a welcome ailment to say the least. City-writers, however, have the added benefit of other hermit crabs being in the same "hood." Country-writers are often the lone crab on the beach.
Ah, but it's my choice, is it not, to be the lone crab?
I love the mountains and welcome the isolation. Give me a quiet morning walk with my huskies in fresh mountain snow, any day, over a dash to Starbucks before I get a ticket for parking illegally! Give me free reign at my computer in my pj's, coffee "of my own brewing" in hand, my cats lolling about ever watching for what comes next in their purrrfectly wonderful world, my doggies not-so-patiently waiting to go walkies yet again, sighting fresh tracks from fox, deer, coyotes, ptarmington and ??? when we do, most often watching white-tailed deer ... watch us, over the sights and sounds of the city any day. Not that I don't love Denver. I do! It's wonderful to come down over the high mountain passes into the Queen City of the West.
Ah, but it's my choice, is it not, to choose country-writing over city-writing!
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
I'm a country-writer.
To me there's a big difference between country-writing and city-writing. The difference relates, not to what we write, but to our networking ability. It's hard to "reach out and touch other writers" and have associations and involvements in writing organizations, et al, when you live in the country rather than the city. When I attend writing conferences, I'm quite envious of all the connections other writers have with their critique groups and their chapter groups. Most folks seem to gather on a regular basis and have that comraderie that is so special, so necessary, and so helpful in this tough business. It's great if you can embrace these wonderful associations, but if you cannot ...
I call it the Hermit Crab Syndrome. We all know much of writing is a singular, solitary experience. We climb into our shells and get to work, unfettered by the outside world. Both country-writers and city-writers develop Hermit Crab Syndrome, of course. It's a welcome ailment to say the least. City-writers, however, have the added benefit of other hermit crabs being in the same "hood." Country-writers are often the lone crab on the beach.
Ah, but it's my choice, is it not, to be the lone crab?
I love the mountains and welcome the isolation. Give me a quiet morning walk with my huskies in fresh mountain snow, any day, over a dash to Starbucks before I get a ticket for parking illegally! Give me free reign at my computer in my pj's, coffee "of my own brewing" in hand, my cats lolling about ever watching for what comes next in their purrrfectly wonderful world, my doggies not-so-patiently waiting to go walkies yet again, sighting fresh tracks from fox, deer, coyotes, ptarmington and ??? when we do, most often watching white-tailed deer ... watch us, over the sights and sounds of the city any day. Not that I don't love Denver. I do! It's wonderful to come down over the high mountain passes into the Queen City of the West.
Ah, but it's my choice, is it not, to choose country-writing over city-writing!
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Wednesdays with Joanne - "Lincoln Logs and Linking Blogs!"
Happy 2008!
It did feel like Lincoln Log cabin days around here this past week in the Colorado mountains. Snow and blowing snow kept most of us shut-in, even from the ski slopes! Of course it was because of avalanche danger and poor driving visibility but ... welcome to Colorado Ski Country!
I did want to raise the issue of Linking Blogs today, having reached the epiphany that you can blog and blog all you want but if you're not linked you're blogging alone. Not that I haven't appreciated it when any of you have answered my blog, it's just that I realize that I need to be "linked" to others to reach a broader readership. I say this because I am very interested, and always am, in what readers have to say about my writing, their writing, or anyone else's!
Without critical feedback, a writer is just a writer. With critical feedback, a writer is a lucky writer, indeed!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Jo(anne)
http://www.joannesundell.com/
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
It did feel like Lincoln Log cabin days around here this past week in the Colorado mountains. Snow and blowing snow kept most of us shut-in, even from the ski slopes! Of course it was because of avalanche danger and poor driving visibility but ... welcome to Colorado Ski Country!
I did want to raise the issue of Linking Blogs today, having reached the epiphany that you can blog and blog all you want but if you're not linked you're blogging alone. Not that I haven't appreciated it when any of you have answered my blog, it's just that I realize that I need to be "linked" to others to reach a broader readership. I say this because I am very interested, and always am, in what readers have to say about my writing, their writing, or anyone else's!
Without critical feedback, a writer is just a writer. With critical feedback, a writer is a lucky writer, indeed!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Jo(anne)
http://www.joannesundell.com/
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
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