Ode to the Pterodactyl

Truths by Ruth

Last week the Sisterhood, (Jan Morrill, Linda Apple, and I) held a writing retreat at Spider Creek Resort just outside Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The place was beautiful. Our cabin was better than some hotel rooms I’ve stayed in. On Saturday morning the three of us went “walk-about” with our pens and paper tucked in with our cell phones. The exercise that morning was to observe things we could later write about.
For those of you not familiar with this area, it is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Beaver Dam. Years ago Dinosaur World was a huge attraction for people going to the dam. Today, however, Dinosaur World is gone. But. The ghosts of ancient prehistoric ones still roam. This is what I saw that morning and what I wrote:

Ode to the Pterodactyl

In the golden hour when day is neither dawn nor dusk,
They ruled the…

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Behind the Scenes

Truths by Ruth

My new novel, Daughter of the Howling Moon is out! Available from both Amazon and Pen-L Publishing. So, what’s next? My book launch of course.

Not to ruin or give away secrets, but I’m busy rehearsing my presentation for the book launch. Right now I’m doubting. I’m sure everything will come off easy and smooth, but what my friends and coworkers won’t know is how many hours I spend making this happen.

First, I had to write down everything I want to say, which is quite a lot. I usually outline the process. I learned how to outline in Junior High. I liked it. Was good at it. Most of my school mates hated outlines but for some unknown reason, an outline clicked for me. Quite a few writers outline their books. I don’t go this far. I’m a seat-of-pants kind of writer. But when it comes to presentations and…

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Yea God!

Truths by Ruth

On my way to lunch the other day I cut down a back street to avoid traffic. The sun was shining. A soft breeze blew. It was one of those magical fall days that I love so well. Perfect weather. Not too hot. Not too cold. Just right. I glanced over into a manicured yard and saw a huge tree dressed in its best fall coat of brilliant red. The sun hit the leaves and the whole tree dazzled in fire. Totally awesome. I stopped the car in the middle of the street, sat there, and drank in the beauty. It was one of those, stop and smell the roses, moment.

I asked God some questions: Did you really plan all of this when you made the world? How and why did you determine, “well in summer my trees will be green but in the fall I’ll change them into…

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Doobies and Bumper Cars

Truths by Ruth

Often I get together with my ex for dinner and a movie. He always watches the news, something I try to avoid at all costs. I refuse to listen and watch all the murders, rapes, war, politics, and all the other destructive energy being reported. No wonder the world sucks. Twenty-four hours a day we are bombarded with this negativity. I can’t control what the news reports, but I can me, therefore I don’t watch. However it’s my ex’s house and TV so I sat on the couch and shook my head at the nonsense mankind wallows in. That’s when it hit me.

I turned to my ex and said, “I think the world would be a far better place if everyone was stoned.”

He laughed.

I continued.

“Think about it,” I said. “There would be no more war. No murders. No rapes. Everyone would be in eternal peace and…

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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PIG HAS FLOWN!

After YEARS of writing, I finally have a novel coming out! I’m an author!

No . . . wait . . . I’ve been an author for a long time. An author is one who originated or gave existence to any written work, Hey, I’ve been doing that for at least eighteen years. I’ll admit that in the early years most of what I wrote wasn’t publishable. However, with time and great mentors, I did get published.

If you are writing, you are an author. Don’t be discouraged by the jubilant announcements of your fellow writers that they’ve been accepted, gotten an agent, or sold an article. Rejoice with them! Your day WILL COME. I know. I used to say that the day I sell a novel, pigs will fly. Well, September 19, 2014 is the world-wide release date for my novel, Women of Washington Avenue, published by Wild Rose Press. It is the first book in my Moonlight Mississippi series.

So watch your heads, THE PIGS ARE FLYING. And they will for you too if you keep writing and submitting.

For more information about Women of Washingtone Avenue visit my site: lindaapple.com

Louisiana Swamp Smackdown

Truths by Ruth

Here is my fourth picture from my new book, Daughter of the Howling Moon. I call it Lousianna Swamp Smackdown.

According to Lady Tabitha, “Evil often times takes the shape of a dragon.” A fact that Benjamin Sol knows only too well. Tricked by the devil, Benjamin is lured into the shadow land between the dead and living. Attacked by the Beast of Revelation, desperate, alone, fighting for his life and soul, Benjamin cries out to the angels.

Angels always answer the call for help. But not all have halos and wings.

Some have fangs and claws and own the night as a black jaguar.

Deep in the swamps of Louisiana a mighty evil walks. It’s the age ol’ battle between good and evil. Which be the more powerful?

Daughter of the Howling Moon. Coming soon from RH Burkett and Pen-L Publishing.

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Painting My Words

Truths by Ruth

I’m sure all you writers out there have heard the old saying, “writing is painting with words.” How true. I even teach this in my presentation, “Adding Bling.” I love to take plain sentences and dress them up. For example: Plain: It was a full moon. Dressed up: The moon hung like a giant sugar cookie in the inky sky. Get the idea? And the more outside the box I can get, the better.

I just signed a contract with Pen-L Publishing for my third book, Daughter of the Howling Moon. Book covers are my passion. I believe a great book cover is the most important selling tool for any novel, and I’m really picky on what I want. So this time around I decided I would paint my own book cover. I mean, how hard could it be? Mama was a commercial artist and worked for Hallmark Cards…

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Ode to the Howling Moon

Truths by Ruth

What is it about the moon that holds me so?
Sparks my innards and touches the soul?
Deep in the wilds as a jaguar I did growl
And ran with wind, free to howl.

I feel kinship to this silver orb shining in the inky sky.
It boils the blood and makes me itch to fly
On backs of dragons. Or Unicorns. Or broomsticks
As a black cat on the end who hisses and spits.

Orange, with purple and red swirls.
Heavenly light so close to the earth.
This be my calling. My purpose for birth.
For a Howling Moon its been said
Frees the spirits and redeems the dead.

A Howling Moon so beautiful it bubbles the blood
Makes me stand in its magic light so full.
So powerful, I surrender to its pull
To draw the circle, cast the spell
And write the story that only I, Bethany…

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Conversation Around a Camp Fire

Character development is a great deal of the fun of writing.

Pamela Foster, Author and Speaker

Creation myths reveal the original culture of a people. Oh, we shift and grow and turn to the left and the right over thousands of years, but still our view of this life is colored with how our ancestors explained their existence on this earth.
In The Long Journey Home series, between narrow escapes and the killing of those that need killing, Jeremiah and Montego spend time chewing the fat around a campfire. Part of the fun of writing these novels is the conversations these two men have while sitting under the stars.

Jeremiah, a haunted confederate soldier in the 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment, is an educated, well-read man. Montego, an Osage who also knows the burden of fighting hard and losing a war, was educated by Jesuits. Both men learned much of what they know of the world in battle.
So, sitting around a fire under the stars, gnawing…

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Why a Western?

Pamela Foster, Author and Speaker

Ridgeline is my fifth published book. None of my previous works are westerns.
So then why, at this stage of my career, would I choose to write in a genre that is, according the geniuses in New York, writhing in its death throes? Well, first of all, it’s been a good many years since I’ve given much credence to the opinions of strangers.

Secondly Jeremiah Jones, the main character in Ridgeline, appeared to me, and like most cowboys, the man is as stubborn as a dang Missouri mule. He simply refused to leave until I told the story. Finally, in an attempt to rid myself of the man, I sat down to write a short story.
Ah, huh. Every writer out there knows how THAT goes. I’m now 50,000 words into The Rainmaker, the sequel for Ridgeline, with another two or three books in the series bouncing…

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