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
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
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
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Wednesdays with Joanne - "On the day after Christmas, my true love gave to me..."
...tickets to Antarctica!
Yep, I get to March With The Penguins soon, on Happy Feet, I can only hope. Nothing literary in all of this, or maybe there is.
I've been passionate about animals all of my life, wanting to be a veterinarian, ending up being a nurse. Same passion, just a different type of animal. We've been called worse in this life, right? Who here is not rivited to the tele when shows such as Deadliest Catch (filmed in and around Dutch Harbor, Alaska) or Everest, Beyond The Limit (filmed at 29,000 feet and holding) come on? I sure am! Of course I've also been rivited to the tele in days of old when Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom came on. If I'm not mistaken, Wild Kingdom was the first long-standing animal show on television. Mesmerizing, all of it!
And so, with passions stirred re all animals both wild and domestic, human and otherwise, I look forward to crossing the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula and find out for myself, what is really going on down there. How much has the potential rise is sea temperatures affected the Chinstrap penguins or the Gentoo? How much has their food source depleted? Surely the guides on board my Zodiac will share all the hard facts, first hand. I'll be going the end of January.
When I return I plan to "put passion to my pen" and tell all!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Jo(anne)
http://www.joannesundell.com/
www.squido.com/historicalromancewriter
Yep, I get to March With The Penguins soon, on Happy Feet, I can only hope. Nothing literary in all of this, or maybe there is.
I've been passionate about animals all of my life, wanting to be a veterinarian, ending up being a nurse. Same passion, just a different type of animal. We've been called worse in this life, right? Who here is not rivited to the tele when shows such as Deadliest Catch (filmed in and around Dutch Harbor, Alaska) or Everest, Beyond The Limit (filmed at 29,000 feet and holding) come on? I sure am! Of course I've also been rivited to the tele in days of old when Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom came on. If I'm not mistaken, Wild Kingdom was the first long-standing animal show on television. Mesmerizing, all of it!
And so, with passions stirred re all animals both wild and domestic, human and otherwise, I look forward to crossing the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula and find out for myself, what is really going on down there. How much has the potential rise is sea temperatures affected the Chinstrap penguins or the Gentoo? How much has their food source depleted? Surely the guides on board my Zodiac will share all the hard facts, first hand. I'll be going the end of January.
When I return I plan to "put passion to my pen" and tell all!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Jo(anne)
http://www.joannesundell.com/
www.squido.com/historicalromancewriter
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wednesdays with Joanne - "Go East, young man! Go East!"
All right,
I know the pioneer cry was to Go West, but I'm thinking it's time for this pioneer to Go East ... on the historical romance page, that is.
To date I've written books set in the 19th century west and for good reason. I moved west over 35 years ago, to Colorado to be precise. After 5 years in the lowlands, I moved to the highlands, and have been a mountain woman ever since. It's on my outings with my trusted huskies where I refuel to "write another day." No better place for inspiration to write historical romance set in the West, than to walk where the pioneers walked, and trod the same path as the Native Americans, this being their home long before ours.
In thinking about future projects, I've turned east now, to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where I was born. I'm not leaving my love of All Things 19th Century behind, however. My next book will be set in Civil War, Virginia. I grew up on battlefields, with Lee and Grant charging across my front yard, camping near my favorite swimming hole, and setting up pup tents nearby our traditional family picnic area at Bull Run. Even before I could spell I knew about the battles of Manassas, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Brandy Station and on and on and on. Gettysburg is not alone in its hallowed ground. It's for another day, for me to wax on re my next project. Suffice is to say, I'm ...
GOING EAST!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ONE AND ALL!
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
www.historicalromancewriter.com
I know the pioneer cry was to Go West, but I'm thinking it's time for this pioneer to Go East ... on the historical romance page, that is.
To date I've written books set in the 19th century west and for good reason. I moved west over 35 years ago, to Colorado to be precise. After 5 years in the lowlands, I moved to the highlands, and have been a mountain woman ever since. It's on my outings with my trusted huskies where I refuel to "write another day." No better place for inspiration to write historical romance set in the West, than to walk where the pioneers walked, and trod the same path as the Native Americans, this being their home long before ours.
In thinking about future projects, I've turned east now, to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where I was born. I'm not leaving my love of All Things 19th Century behind, however. My next book will be set in Civil War, Virginia. I grew up on battlefields, with Lee and Grant charging across my front yard, camping near my favorite swimming hole, and setting up pup tents nearby our traditional family picnic area at Bull Run. Even before I could spell I knew about the battles of Manassas, Chancellorsville, Wilderness, Brandy Station and on and on and on. Gettysburg is not alone in its hallowed ground. It's for another day, for me to wax on re my next project. Suffice is to say, I'm ...
GOING EAST!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ONE AND ALL!
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
www.historicalromancewriter.com
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesdays with Joanne - "Bird by Bird"
Whoops! Just like my last blog entry, it's NOT Wednesday today! Sorry folks. I'd blame it on the spiked eggnog if I weren't Jewish. Hmmm, I'll blame it on too many latkes!!!
This is not a piece about Anne Lamott's signature book on writing, Bird by Bird, but about my step-by-step process in meeting my goals to get things done. I do things little-by-little because if I worried about everything all at once, ie manuscript writing, selling to publishers, marketing, networking, et al ... I'd never get anything done. Never!
I'm happy for each and every small achievement, as over time they do have a way of adding up and building up, bird-by-bird. I'm ever surprised that I finish writing a book, much less sell a book, then actually get myself scheduled for book signings in libraries and bookstores. A marvel, indeed for someone who never dreamed of writing romance until I'd worked in nursing, married, and raised my children. I'm ever grateful for such good fortune. No, I'm not a NYTimes bestseller but I'm happy in my writing shoes.
With three books sold in the Five Star Expressions line, I do (of course) hope to keep Tekno/Five Star interested, and write more for them. In the meanwhile I tend to marketing as best I can, with lots to learn, no question. Step-by-step I try to build on what success I've had with readers, happy over every single person who takes the time to read anything I write. A writer is only as good as the readers who check out or buy their books! Whenever a New User registers for my newletter on my website, I'm over the moon. Very, very nice.
Of late, my bird-by-bird has grown a few unexpected feathers, a pleasant surprise, indeed. Colorado Country Life Magazine selected A...My Name's Amelia as one of their dozen favorite books in their 10th annual book review issue. A piece about me will appear in the next Grand County Relocation Guide, an 80-page resource guide to mountain living. Both the Arapahoe Library District and Weld, have petitioned me to schedule presentations on my books at their libraries in the coming year.
During this wonderful holiday time, I know it's better to give than to receive ... but it is ever so nice to be on the receiving end, is it not! I appreciate the aformentioned overtures re my work.
Thank you to "one and all, and to all a good night!" Hey, in my case I suppose I should say, "and to all a good latke ... or a nice piece of brisket ... a little gelt ... you shoud eat something!"
Shalom,
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
This is not a piece about Anne Lamott's signature book on writing, Bird by Bird, but about my step-by-step process in meeting my goals to get things done. I do things little-by-little because if I worried about everything all at once, ie manuscript writing, selling to publishers, marketing, networking, et al ... I'd never get anything done. Never!
I'm happy for each and every small achievement, as over time they do have a way of adding up and building up, bird-by-bird. I'm ever surprised that I finish writing a book, much less sell a book, then actually get myself scheduled for book signings in libraries and bookstores. A marvel, indeed for someone who never dreamed of writing romance until I'd worked in nursing, married, and raised my children. I'm ever grateful for such good fortune. No, I'm not a NYTimes bestseller but I'm happy in my writing shoes.
With three books sold in the Five Star Expressions line, I do (of course) hope to keep Tekno/Five Star interested, and write more for them. In the meanwhile I tend to marketing as best I can, with lots to learn, no question. Step-by-step I try to build on what success I've had with readers, happy over every single person who takes the time to read anything I write. A writer is only as good as the readers who check out or buy their books! Whenever a New User registers for my newletter on my website, I'm over the moon. Very, very nice.
Of late, my bird-by-bird has grown a few unexpected feathers, a pleasant surprise, indeed. Colorado Country Life Magazine selected A...My Name's Amelia as one of their dozen favorite books in their 10th annual book review issue. A piece about me will appear in the next Grand County Relocation Guide, an 80-page resource guide to mountain living. Both the Arapahoe Library District and Weld, have petitioned me to schedule presentations on my books at their libraries in the coming year.
During this wonderful holiday time, I know it's better to give than to receive ... but it is ever so nice to be on the receiving end, is it not! I appreciate the aformentioned overtures re my work.
Thank you to "one and all, and to all a good night!" Hey, in my case I suppose I should say, "and to all a good latke ... or a nice piece of brisket ... a little gelt ... you shoud eat something!"
Shalom,
Jo(anne)
www.joannesundell.com
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
Friday, December 7, 2007
Wednesday's With Joanne - HAPPY HANUKKAH!
Hi all,
I realize it's not Wednesday, but Friday. I just returned from the west coast, and then the east ... from the fires of California to the snows of Virginia. If only the two could meet, the left coast and the right ... perhaps then, all would be well.
Before the holidays come and go I wanted to wish one and all a Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas! I live in the Colorado Rockies and oy vey ... do we have snow today. It's beautiful but cuts into fun shopping trips to Denver for sure! Geez, maybe I'll have to bake gifts this year which means they won't be too well received. Where's Paula Dean when I need her?
I want to thank everyone who's signed up for my newletter this year, come to my signings, stopped for a chat, and actually bought my books. You guys are all the best. We all have romance in us, don't we?
I love you all a-latke! Ho Ho Ho!
Jo(anne)
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
I realize it's not Wednesday, but Friday. I just returned from the west coast, and then the east ... from the fires of California to the snows of Virginia. If only the two could meet, the left coast and the right ... perhaps then, all would be well.
Before the holidays come and go I wanted to wish one and all a Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas! I live in the Colorado Rockies and oy vey ... do we have snow today. It's beautiful but cuts into fun shopping trips to Denver for sure! Geez, maybe I'll have to bake gifts this year which means they won't be too well received. Where's Paula Dean when I need her?
I want to thank everyone who's signed up for my newletter this year, come to my signings, stopped for a chat, and actually bought my books. You guys are all the best. We all have romance in us, don't we?
I love you all a-latke! Ho Ho Ho!
Jo(anne)
www.squidoo.com/historicalromancewriter
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