It's Literary Thursday. But I Guess You Knew That.

I don't want to shock anyone, but I have a little secret.  Sometimes when I sit down here to write a blog post (with a TAB and some BIG Cheez-It's, of course) I don't always have what you might call a plan.

I KNOW.  Just breathe deeply and stick your head down between your knees if you need to.

I don't consider myself a writer.  I'm a blogger, plain and simple.  My son Ben is a writer.  A real legitimate literary person.  I asked him one time what he would call my "style" of writing.  

"Well Mom, he said with a polite smile, I believe I'd call it "stream of consciousness". 

Now, I don't think I have to tell most of you that when your 22 year old son (at the time) says anything to you with a polite smile, you're most likely not getting the whole story.  But I didn't question him about it, mainly because I was THRILLED TO DEATH to know that there was a term to describe this little activity of mine.

I thought for a while that I might even start signing my name with SOC after my signature, but figured that people might mistake me for some sort of special osteopathic chiropractor or something and ask me a question about their sciatic nerve or tell me how they needed their shoulder "manipulated", and well we all know how I would have probably responded to such information as I am prone to an easy faint.

So, as much as I would like to think I might one day win a Pulitzer or Emmy or Heisman or something, I am completely aware that I am missing what you might be correct in calling "any kind of proper writing knowledge".  I mean, I made A's in High School English - I did, really.  Probably because I was always nice to the teachers and did what I was told and tried not to disrupt the class too often with excessive talking.  Unless Kendra was in my class.

K, you know it's true.

And in college I breezed right through all the required English classes with a B or maybe once a C.  But that professor was just a scary, mean man.

Chances are, therefore, that I will never write a book, publish a poem, or compose a sonnet.  Can one still compose a sonnet, or are they all already done?  I will Google it.

I'm pleased to tell you though, that I know someone (besides Ben) who is a real-life wonderful, published author.

Bev Nault was a High School classmate of mine, and is now a cherished  friend.

She does know how to turn a phrase, develop a character, plot a story and rustle up some action.  She has all the skills to touch your heart, make you cry, roll your eyes, and double you over with laughter.

You see, she's written this book

  

And although I don't feature just anything in the same picture with my beloveds,

I feel like it deserves a solo shot...

The book is Fresh Start Summer,  The Seasons of Cherryvale:  Book 1

Which makes me so excited, because I believe that hints at a 2! and maybe a 3!

You'll love the book, the characters, the story, the meaning behind  it all.  If you're like me (I saw you cringe...) you'll see yourself in the characters.  The good and the bad. You'll recognize your friends and your relatives and you'll ponder what community and family really means.

You'll be glad you read it.  I promise.



When you visit her website, you can check out her OTHER BOOK - two in the same year!  She is the co-author of  Lessons from the Mountain, What I Learned from Erin Walton.
The book describes Mary McDonough's memories playing Erin on the award winning television drama, "The Waltons."  And although I haven't read that one yet - I can't wait to crack open my copy!

Please visit Bev at her website (just click on her name in green earlier in this post)  and tell her I said Hey!


Happy Literary Thursday to you!

Lu