Hi guys,
P is for Plotting and I'm looking for the P Spot now with my work in progress, THE QUAKER AND THE CONFEDERATE. Now that I've begun to organize my research, I've got to map out my plotting. This time I might have a two-book series, which I've never tackled before. Each title must be stand alone, yet be connected. All of this will be a bit tricky for moi`. I'm still a newbie in historical romance writing and darn it ... "I'm trying to get it right."
Unlike other stories I've plotted, this one has more conflicts, particularly external. I mean, it's the Civil War! Ah, but which directions to take amid all the conflicts during the war between the states. Each one might be a sticky wicket indeed, as today some of the same "conflicts" are still raw.
My best tact has to be to follow the love story. Geez, that's why I started this story set in Civil War, Virginia in the first place. In developing the storyline and love story for my hero and heroine, they will dictate what I include or not. By taking this route (instead of trying to re-write stories aready told) the unique experiences of my main characters will tell a new story, one that I hope readers will find heartening. That's what it's always about for me ... from one heart to another ... Heart 2 Heart. This is, after all, romance.
I love historicals, which is why I attempt them in the first place. I just need to find out which external conflicts will be played out in THE QUAKER AND THE CONFEDERATE. Understand, I'm not complaining here. I just have a bit of trepidation when it comes to writing about such a time as the Civil War. It's all hallowed ground, for both sides, and for everyone touched by the horrors of such a fight. My cause is to do justice to all.
Thus, I'm looking for the P Spot! Plotting and Planning!
Until next time ...
Jo(annd) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
www.myspace.com/joannesundell
A...MY NAME'S AMELIA, LP 8/08
THE PARLOR HOUSE DAUGHTER, 12/08
MEGGIE'S REMAINS, 7/09
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
HEART 2 HEART ~ "If you blog it," will they come?
...not necessairly...
Hi all,
You guessed it. I'm angsting, yet again, over bringing traffic to this, my humble historical-romance-writing blog. I hope you don't mind the departure from my previous series of blogs on researching our novels. Perhaps some of you out there in Internet Land, can relate to what I'm about to say.
Can we talk, Heart 2 Heart?
First off, why blog? For me, a writer, it's imperative in this day and age, I believe. Everyone who writes does their utmost (or gives that impression anyway) to promote their latest project in print, in bookstores, in libraries, and/or on the Net. It's called "networking," I'm told. (heh heh) Sounds like a simple thing, does it not, to just get your website up and running, then link to related sites and authors, then start your blog. Easily done? Uh, NO!
NO, if you're part of the baby boomer generation where computers were not so handy around the house.
NO, if you don't have the computer-savy gene.
NO, if you've already had your career (I'm a nurse), raised your kids, and are supposed to have nothing more serious on your mind than the latest Book Club selection on Oprah.
NO, if the computer, with all of its wonders, scares the daylights out of you.
NO, if you haven't taken a computer class, on-line or off! (my own fault here, I realize)
NO, if many other writers can surf the Net with one hand tied behind their backs, while you wring both of your hands together in utter stress.
NO, if you don't have the luxury of living near a pool of writers' critique groups.
NO, if you're stuck in Computer 101, Linking 101, and Blogging 101!
So ... what to do?
I know that blogging is necessary today, necessary that is, if you want to reach other authors, readers, and well ... someone other than my friends here in the Colorado mountain hinterlands! I love living rural (as opposed to living large), but it doesn't always get me to my Writing Groups on time. I'm blaming this on our wonderful ski weather! But the roads, guys, sometimes they are the Roads Less Travelled, for good reason. (Pardon me, dear Robert Frost ... my FAVORITE POET.)
I have writing buds who have rhetorical blogs, where there's no opportunity to comment back and no expectation that many are visiting anyway. That's all well and good but, I realize now, that just won't do if you're a romance writer and want to invite readers to share what they like and don't like, not just about my writing, but about the romance genre as a whole. What are we without our readers? What are we without writers, editors, agents, and all others interested in the romance-writing industry ... finding our blog? In a room alone, I'd say.
So ... I DO have a blogspot. I DO have a link to it on my website. I DO have a newsletter from my website, inviting folks to visit my blog. I DO have a MySpace page, where I cut and paste my latest blog. I can subscribe to other MySpace blog groups.
What I DON'T have as yet are other groups subscribing to my blog, and good traffic to my existing blog. I DON'T have help in getting my blog advertised out there on the Big Bad Net. I recently discovered BlogBurst and have applied to them, to be a part of their network system. I'm hoping they'll accept my blog and know that if they do ...
"If I blog it," they WILL come!"
Until next time ...
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
www.myspace.com/joannesundell
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
* * * * *
A...My Name's Amelia, LP 8/08
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
Meggie's Remains, 7/09
Hi all,
You guessed it. I'm angsting, yet again, over bringing traffic to this, my humble historical-romance-writing blog. I hope you don't mind the departure from my previous series of blogs on researching our novels. Perhaps some of you out there in Internet Land, can relate to what I'm about to say.
Can we talk, Heart 2 Heart?
First off, why blog? For me, a writer, it's imperative in this day and age, I believe. Everyone who writes does their utmost (or gives that impression anyway) to promote their latest project in print, in bookstores, in libraries, and/or on the Net. It's called "networking," I'm told. (heh heh) Sounds like a simple thing, does it not, to just get your website up and running, then link to related sites and authors, then start your blog. Easily done? Uh, NO!
NO, if you're part of the baby boomer generation where computers were not so handy around the house.
NO, if you don't have the computer-savy gene.
NO, if you've already had your career (I'm a nurse), raised your kids, and are supposed to have nothing more serious on your mind than the latest Book Club selection on Oprah.
NO, if the computer, with all of its wonders, scares the daylights out of you.
NO, if you haven't taken a computer class, on-line or off! (my own fault here, I realize)
NO, if many other writers can surf the Net with one hand tied behind their backs, while you wring both of your hands together in utter stress.
NO, if you don't have the luxury of living near a pool of writers' critique groups.
NO, if you're stuck in Computer 101, Linking 101, and Blogging 101!
So ... what to do?
I know that blogging is necessary today, necessary that is, if you want to reach other authors, readers, and well ... someone other than my friends here in the Colorado mountain hinterlands! I love living rural (as opposed to living large), but it doesn't always get me to my Writing Groups on time. I'm blaming this on our wonderful ski weather! But the roads, guys, sometimes they are the Roads Less Travelled, for good reason. (Pardon me, dear Robert Frost ... my FAVORITE POET.)
I have writing buds who have rhetorical blogs, where there's no opportunity to comment back and no expectation that many are visiting anyway. That's all well and good but, I realize now, that just won't do if you're a romance writer and want to invite readers to share what they like and don't like, not just about my writing, but about the romance genre as a whole. What are we without our readers? What are we without writers, editors, agents, and all others interested in the romance-writing industry ... finding our blog? In a room alone, I'd say.
So ... I DO have a blogspot. I DO have a link to it on my website. I DO have a newsletter from my website, inviting folks to visit my blog. I DO have a MySpace page, where I cut and paste my latest blog. I can subscribe to other MySpace blog groups.
What I DON'T have as yet are other groups subscribing to my blog, and good traffic to my existing blog. I DON'T have help in getting my blog advertised out there on the Big Bad Net. I recently discovered BlogBurst and have applied to them, to be a part of their network system. I'm hoping they'll accept my blog and know that if they do ...
"If I blog it," they WILL come!"
Until next time ...
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
www.joannesundell.com
www.myspace.com/joannesundell
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
* * * * *
A...My Name's Amelia, LP 8/08
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
Meggie's Remains, 7/09
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Wednesdays with Joanne - "Research for our novels - when is enough, enough?"
Hi All,
Hoping to soon RIP (Research In Peace), I'm still at war so to speak, with the amount of research necessary to begin my current Civil War romance, set in Virginia. At times it's overwhelming ... I mean come on ... it's the Civil War! I mentioned before that I grew up in Virginia, at the heart of the war between the states, but I'd no idea of the hallowed ground on which I trod as a youngun`.
I'm finding that "I'd no idea" about a lot of things. Each discovery leads me to yet another one, learning facts key to my story ... key to unlocking the truth of Civil War Virginia ... what happened to Confederates, to Yankees, to African-Americans, both slave and free, to women, to families torn apart ... to make the ground indeed hallow. Getting down to the truth of it all isn't so easy, as some historical accounts have proven inaccurate. Some accounts leave important information out, depending on their opinion of the war I suppose. In any event, I'm having to gather far more information for this novel than any before. I may have to turn this into a two-book affair, as there's so much vital information that I want to put in my story ... to make it real, to make it right.
So, when is enough, enough? Interesting to ponder, is it not? I guess we, each of us, have to answer this for ourselves. Those of us who write historicals, whether romance or general fiction, must come to that point where we know ... we know we have enough information under our belts to allow our characters to walk and talk on credible ground, allowing them choices needed for their story to unfold and come alive on the printed page.
I'd love to know how you research your novels. Please comment if you like. I think it would be fun, not to mention fascinating, to see how we all conduct our research.
Love you, mean it ...
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
http://www.joannesundell.com/
www.joannesundell.blogspot.com
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
A...My Name's Amelia, LP 8/08
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
Meggie's Remains, 7/09
Hoping to soon RIP (Research In Peace), I'm still at war so to speak, with the amount of research necessary to begin my current Civil War romance, set in Virginia. At times it's overwhelming ... I mean come on ... it's the Civil War! I mentioned before that I grew up in Virginia, at the heart of the war between the states, but I'd no idea of the hallowed ground on which I trod as a youngun`.
I'm finding that "I'd no idea" about a lot of things. Each discovery leads me to yet another one, learning facts key to my story ... key to unlocking the truth of Civil War Virginia ... what happened to Confederates, to Yankees, to African-Americans, both slave and free, to women, to families torn apart ... to make the ground indeed hallow. Getting down to the truth of it all isn't so easy, as some historical accounts have proven inaccurate. Some accounts leave important information out, depending on their opinion of the war I suppose. In any event, I'm having to gather far more information for this novel than any before. I may have to turn this into a two-book affair, as there's so much vital information that I want to put in my story ... to make it real, to make it right.
So, when is enough, enough? Interesting to ponder, is it not? I guess we, each of us, have to answer this for ourselves. Those of us who write historicals, whether romance or general fiction, must come to that point where we know ... we know we have enough information under our belts to allow our characters to walk and talk on credible ground, allowing them choices needed for their story to unfold and come alive on the printed page.
I'd love to know how you research your novels. Please comment if you like. I think it would be fun, not to mention fascinating, to see how we all conduct our research.
Love you, mean it ...
Jo(anne) Gregg Sundell
http://www.joannesundell.com/
www.joannesundell.blogspot.com
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
A...My Name's Amelia, LP 8/08
The Parlor House Daughter, 12/08
Meggie's Remains, 7/09
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Wednesdays with Joanne - "Civil War, indeed!"
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
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, 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
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