Wyatt to the Rescue

Little baby Wyatt has yet to be born, but already he is a legend.  He is scheduled to join his family in September; his parents are very anxious to meet their healthy baby boy.  At this point in the pregnancy, their nerves are shot, thousands of prayers have been offered, and all they can do is wait.  So what’s so special about Wyatt?  Well, he will be the second child; although, he’s the first born.  Last year his mother was pregnant, but that time it was with a little girl.

 It was an uneventful pregnancy. Preparations were made.  Names were under consideration. The six month ultrasound check-up was scheduled, and the young couple was excited about seeing their first baby.  During the ultrasound, the attendant flatly announced, “Your baby is dead.  I’ll go get the doctor.”  How do you respond when a woman robotically delivers such dreadful news?  The doctor comes in and confirms that their baby girl is stillborn.  Phone calls are placed; tears are cried; people are praying.  The doctor gives the mother a shot to induce labor; soon she will hold her baby.  The little girl is delivered.  The family circles around the bed to find that she is not quite formed, but she is still beautiful.  The hospital creates a memory box of the little girl’s handprints and footprints.  It will be kept for when the parents are ready to remember, rather than mourn.

One year later and little Wyatt is currently in production.  The baby shower is held and the turnout is grand.  The young mother reports that this pregnancy has been different.  She feels good.  Then, one week passes and phone calls are made — again. She is in the hospital with severe pains.  Her pancreas is inflamed, which is rare with pregnant women.  Prayers are offered again– this time more earnestly, to ensure God hears them.  Please don’t let history repeat itself, God. Two days later, the mother is doing better and little Wyatt seems fine.  Only two more months and little Wyatt will be here to rescue us.

 

Book Proposals are Not for the Weary

I recently created a book proposal for my class.  The concept had to be original, marketable, and plausible.  I wracked my brain and finally settled on the subject of censorship.  I researched the censorship of children’s literature first, but quickly found a plethora of books that were already available on the subject.  I then researched the censorship of classic literature and was met with similar results.  The American Library Association (ALA) ended up being a wealth of information; they sponsor an annual Banned Books Week which focuses on banned classic and contemporary books.  I settled on an idea about an anthology of censured high school classics; a field that had not been tapped, at least not in the way I intended.

 The process of creating a detailed book proposal borders on being painful, but the experience of executing this twenty-one page document was priceless.   I now have a new respect for the hundreds of thousands of books that line the shelves of libraries, bookstores, and schools.  If everyone had to create just one book proposal, the quest for censorship might be swayed.  Most, if not all, banned and challenged authors do not set out to be controversial or offensive.  They are merely creating the best books they can, while attempting to find answers for the many questions of life.  I can guarantee that any book that I would take the time to propose, write, and revise, would be done with the intent to last.

 

I Know a Berea College Graduate

Lewin, Tamar. “With No Frills or Tuition, a College Draws Notice.” The New York Times. 21 July 2008.

 

A recent article in The New York Times featured Berea College because the institution offers a tuition-free degree due to the college’s extensive billion dollar endowment.  As I was reading the article, it dawned on me that I know a Berea College graduate.  Mr. David Miller of Sinks Grove, West Virginia.  Mr. Miller has been a family friend for many years.  He lives with his sister on the family’s homestead; neither of them has ever married.  Mr. Miller is a simple man who enjoys simple pleasures: watching a new calf frolic in the fields, discovering a cost-effective way to feed his herd, helping neighbors put up their hay, and visiting the Parkes’ every Thanksgiving.  He is soft-spoken and methodical, which some people attribute to being “slow”, but the truth could not be more contrary.  Mr. Miller is many things, but he is not “slow”.  He is a shy man, a very intelligent man, and a millionaire.  Mr. Miller was also supposed to be the valedictorian of his graduating class at Berea College.

The way the story was told to me — toward the end of Mr. Miller’s senior year at Berea College, he was approached by a faculty member about his pending valedictorian address.  Being the top if his class was no surprise because he had always worked hard to learn everything he could, but having to give a speech was new to him.  The thought of speaking to a small group of people usually unnerved Mr. Miller, so the thought of speaking to the entire graduating class and their families was out of the question.  He tried to convince the school to allow someone else to speak, but they would not agree.  His role as valedictorian was an honor and he should be proud of his accomplishments.  Faced with this dreadful task, Mr. Miller did the only thing he could — he threw all of his grades during his final semester.   Logically, or at least according to Mr. Miller’s way of thinking, there would be no need for him to deliver a valedictorian address if he wasn’t the valedictorian.  This may seem extreme to some; but if you know Mr. Miller, have a sense of his gentle spirit, have enjoyed his dry sense of humor, then you understand.

The immense endowment at Berea College comes from men and women, like Mr. Miller, who have willed their entire life’s earnings to the college in order to ensure that future generations are able to earn an education.  To me, Mr. Miller is a silent hero– someone who will never be noticed for his contributions to society.  But then again, that’s the way he would want it.

 

Going Home

In a short story class I took this summer, we read Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” ; this is my attempt to emulate the style of her story.

 

Start loading the car with the dog in tow; dog should be last, but insists on being first – she doesn’t want to be left behind; fine, stay in the hot car and loose brain cells; start the car with the a/c on high; finish loading the car without the dog in tow; gotta hurry, the dog is already panting; car is taking too long to cool down; car finally packed with nearly everything I own; sit in the driver’s seat; elbow hits a puddle of slobber; push dog off the console to get napkins from within; dog is annoyed I have interrupted her stance; wipe the dog’s slobber from the console; yelling ensues because dog is a pain; car in reverse; seat belt hooked; take a deep breath; grab dog’s muzzle; kiss and make up; car in drive; look to the left; look to the right; back to the left; pull on to 45; we are on our way home; dog moves to the back seat after only three miles; three more hours on the road; past Lynchburg; past Roanoke; dog only stirs when food appears; more drooling – at least not on me this time; one more hour down I81; exit 89A; turn on to Kirby Drive; dog pops up; bounds to the front seat; sniffs the air vents; up the driveway; dog begins to whine; hello horses, glad to see you’re well; car in park; dog on lap, insists on being first; door open; dog bounds out; home sweet home.

 

The Mystery of the Mills

The Daily Times, December 1997

 ”Urvin and Virgie Mills of White Oak will celebrate their 70^th wedding anniversary on December 29^th.  The couple was married December 29, 1927 at Bellpoint,” the local West Virginia newspaper reported.  For more than a decade I have carried the Mill’s anniversary announcement in my wallet. It may seem strange to possess something like this especially when I have never met this couple, but seventy years is quite an accomplishment!  A feat such as this is something to be celebrated, honored, remembered.

 It was their photo that drew me in – she with a kerchief tied under her chin with her plain black coat buttoned up to her neck, he with his hat set squarely above his stern wrinkled face.  Although they stand closely, it seems done out of either duty, habit, or photographic need.  His face is worn by his 92 years, his eyes blacked by his life in the coal mines, his smile lost from fathering six daughters and zero sons.  Her face is weathered by her 89 years, her stance hunched by seven decades of household duties, her expression sullen by years of making ends meet with six daughters and zero sons.

 What does it take to be married for seventy years?  Did their membership at the First Baptist Church help?  Was he a loving husband?  Was she a tender wife?  How many times did he come home late?  How often did she burn his dinner?  Did he ever cheat?  Did she hold a grudge?  Were they high school sweethearts?  Did they even finish school?  At what point did they fail to remember life prior to marriage?  Would they marry again if given a second chance?  Did they make it to their 75^th anniversary? 

 My queries will never be answered, but the appeal of the Mills remains.  The mystery of their marital longevity lives on.

 

In Ten Years…

When I consider where I will be in ten years and where my writing may take me, I struggle between reality and my dream world.  Realistically speaking, I will probably still be in education, preferably teaching college level courses or training adults in some manner.  I used to work for Piedmont Airlines/U.S. Airways Express while I was obtaining my undergraduate degree and it extended into a career for a while after I graduated.  I eventually was trained by the company to become an airline dispatcher and subsequently worked in Salisbury, MD for three years.  I have thought many times about returning to that world in a training capacity in order to allow me to utilize both my airman’s licensure and my teaching certification.  Those thoughts usually surface on really bad days at the high school where I currently teach, but it remains a consideration.  My future master’s in creative writing would allow me to execute new training programs – ones that I would be able to write as well as teach. 

As boring as that may sound, it is a possibility for my future, but it wouldn’t necessarily lend itself to fulfilling my dream of becoming a published author.  For the past fifteen or so years, I have always thought how awesome it would be to walk into a bookstore and to see my brightly colored children’s book on the shelf (face out of course).  I imagined I would eventually trip into becoming a children’s fiction writer somehow, some way.  Recently I did trip, but it wasn’t into becoming published; it was right into Mary Carroll-Hackett’s (the head of Longwood University’s creative writing program) pathway.  She recruited me to “join her world” and now I don’t know if children’s literature is the path that I will necessarily follow.  Upon reading a limited sample of my work (because that is all there was), Mary proclaimed that I was a creative non-fiction writer and explained to me that she was going to help me to develop my voice.  To be honest, I was taken aback by her proclamation because she seemed so confident in her diagnosis and I was stunned at my fortune of meeting her.

My Aunt Jinny who is a strong Christian woman is always telling me to claim what the desires of my heart and God will bless my prayers.  I’ve never wanted to be that demanding with God or else too scared, but if I were to claim my writing dream, it would be to become a writer of creative non-fiction or fiction.  My work will be as truthful as I am able to make it without harming those I love while still creating a work that will inspire, educate, challenge, motivate, enrich, or comfort someone.  I see my work being published as children’s books, in young adult magazines, women’s magazines, literary journals, and educational journals.  Of course if a book offer became available, I’m not crazy, I would definitely pursue that with everything I had, but I don’t necessarily think my style of writing lends itself to an entire book.  Keep in mind, this is all subject to change after I begin my first workshop this Fall which is where I expect everything I think I know to be obliterated since so much of what I have learned already is more than I ever imagined took place in the literary world.

The professor of The Business of Creative Writing, Ms. Stinson, had already helped to remove the binders from my eyes.  I now know that writing is more than an inspiration; it is hard, grueling work that can take decades to pay off.  It is not for the weak of spirit or those interested in instant fame.  It is an embracing of rejection, criticism, revision, and perseverance.  It is my life.

 

A Bookstore Fieldtrip

It has been many years since I have been on a fieldtrip and I wasn’t the teacher in charge.  Last Friday, my Business of Creative Writing class at Longwood University took a small fieldtrip to Baine’s Books & Coffee, a small independent bookstore located in Appomattox, VA and Barnes & Noble in Farmville, VA.  Now, I have been in hundreds of bookstores in my lifetime, but I have to say that this experience was eye opening. 

While at the bookstores, we looked at how the books were displayed, those that warranted a face-out display and those that were situated with the binding out; face-out is prime.  We learned the names of certain displays such as: end caps, which are bookshelves that are located at the end of the rows; steps, which are the store-owned metal displays used to feature certain books; the feature tables, which are typically located at the front of the store in order to catch your eye; spinners, which do exactly what their name indicates, they hold books in a space-saving carousel; and the “dumps,” which are the temporary cardboard displays that are used to feature a particular book, usually a new release.  I had always noticed the differences in the styles of display, but I never thought about the reasoning behind them nor the cost that is attached to each.  Interestingly, publishing houses will pay the bookstore for the opportunity to place their “dumps” in the store’s facility, or they will purchase a space on a feature table.  We also assessed the use of subject headers and signs to indicate to a consumer where they can find a particular book.  It was awesome to finally realize the logic behind the store’s set-up and to analyze the differences and similarities in the choices made by independent and chain bookstores.

The other side of any bookstore experience is the ambiance of the place.  When it comes to assessing this, it’s hard not to be drawn to a smaller independent bookstore.  While both Baine’s Books and Coffee and Barnes & Noble offered extras like music selections, school supplies, novelty items, food and drinks, Baine’s had a quaintness about it that was inviting and homey.   The store even hosts evening events featuring local musicians, singers, and the occasional poet or author.  In the speed in which life moves, it is often impossible to move beyond the convenience of bookstores like Barnes & Noble (and they are convenient) or the instant availability of its book selection, but when time allows and you are able to steal away, I would challenge you to find your own little spot in the back of a local bookstore and soak in the comforts it offers. 

 

A few hours with Bob Gray

On Thursday, July 24, 2008, my Business of Creative Writing class had the distinct honor of conducting a telephone interview with Mr. Bob Gray. For those of you who are not familiar with Mr. Gray, he is a small legend within the literary world through his roles as: Fresh Eyes Now LLC founder, Shelf Awareness contributing editor, part-time bookseller at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT (named first Master Bookseller in 2000), community college professor, Bennington College’s MFA residency coordinator, and published writer. The fact that Mr. Gray took time out of his immensely busy schedule to speak with us is a testament to his generous and helpful nature.

From the point of view of an unpublished writer, the opportunity to speak with Mr. Gray was inspiring. He was able to take a huge, impersonal industry and make it seem approachable and friendly. Through his services at Fresh Eyes Now, Mr. Gray has helped many writers by giving them a voice, which consequently, gave them a chance. He stated he has a bookseller database that is 1,100 strong from which he chooses matches for the books he finds. Although he is careful to not guarantee anything to an author, he is thorough in his services by offering a mailing list, a promotional letter, and strategic consultation services. He even personally follows-up on everything with phone calls. Interestingly, he offered an analogy of a card counter in Vegas to what his role is in the book business. Basically, he cannot tell the author what the next “card” that will be turned over will be; but he can tell him/her what it won’t be.

Mr. Gray also advocated the use of bookseller picks for both readers and writers alike. If you want to discover a trend in writing or learn what a good read is, it is important to find a bookseller that you can relate with. This is possible by either visiting a bookstore in person or online, but keep in mind, the connection may be easier to establish if you begin with an independent bookseller since they have more control over what is featured in his/her store. Once you have made this connection, you will quickly discover a world of books beyond the best sellers list. Book clubs are also a great way to broaden your reading choices, as well as, a great way for a new writer to get free publicity.

For those of you out there who are aspiring writers like me, Mr. Gray advised to leave no stone unturned. If you are trying to get your book read, then it is time for you to start pounding the pavement and establish some new friends within the booksellers’ world. Mr. Gray offers great services, but he is only one man who can work with only a few authors a month. The responsibility is yours and mine. Mr. Gray also stated that rules within the publishing industry are broken everyday to varying degrees of success or failure, and that no set routine of promotion works for everyone. It is important to find someone, like Mr. Gray, who is passionate about books and getting them read.

I highly encourage any writer, publisher, agent, or reader to visit Mr. Gray’s website at www.fresheyesnow.com for a fresh look at the business of books.

 

My E-Book Experience

As a high school English teacher in the 21^st Century, I am fully aware of the advances in technology.  The school system I work for created a partnership with Dell computers a few years ago; now every student grades 9^th-12^th has an individual laptop to take with them anywhere throughout the school year.  The students are well-versed in how to conduct internet research, download files (and music), create power points, utilize Movie Maker, and format papers.  What I have not witnessed students doing, save a few, is accessing electronic books.  Now, maybe because I, as an educator, do not utilize E-Books in my classroom the students do not have a full comprehension of the accessibility of literature.  Or, maybe, electronic literature carries the same stigma of traditional paper literature – you have to read.  Interestingly, one of the assignments for a summer graduate class was to investigate and read an E-Book, and this is what I discovered.

 

Locating an E-Book is relatively easy as long as you aren’t looking for a particular title.  I simply Googled the phrase “free e-book” and an entire list of websites appeared.  The more difficult part of the task was finding a book I actually wanted to read that was not a PDF file, which was part of the assignment.  I chose to go to the first website, www.free-ebooks.net, to see what they had to offer.  The website was easy to maneuver around; there was a list of subjects of interest ranging from “advertising to youth” that ran down the left side of the site.  I chose to view some mystery/horror stories since those are some of my favorites.  I didn’t recognize any of the titles or authors and most of the “books” were .exe files which I couldn’t download on a university computer due to the filters.  Upon further research, I learned that most viruses that are sent to a computer are sent on .exe files, so those are typically blocked.  (Just a little FYI.)

 

Once I got home and conducted some more research on other sites, I was starting to get frustrated because although many of them advertised that they were free I could only access the first half of the story or only the download of the book was free, not the book itself.  Better yet, some of the websites would have me click to download Macbeth and the next thing I knew I was looking at an advertisement.  So, out of frustration and a lack of time, I returned to www.free-ebooks.net and found a short story to read.  I downloaded “An Old Woman’s Tale” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  The process was relatively easy since I didn’t need a particular e-book reader; I just had to become a free-ebooks.net member in order to proceed.

 

The set-up of the title page was pretty generic.  I had also downloaded The Bat by Mary Roberts Rinehart which was in the horror section.  Both works were formatted in the same manner. Both title pages shared the same colors, format, and style, and there was no way to tell the length of the book without first clicking on the title.  The actual reading of “An Old Woman’s Tale” was a bit awkward.  The text was easy to read except when I had to scroll the page down because I would loose my place each time and have to search for where I left off.  I found myself being thankful that I chose to read a short story instead of Ms. Rinehart’s twenty-one chapter book because by the end of Mr. Hawthorne’s third page, I was irritated.

 

I also went to a few book publishers’ websites and found some telling things about the popularity of electronic books.  At Random House, E-Books are not located on the home page although they do advertise that you can “browse and search more than 10,000 books”.  If you “search” for E-Books, then a list of books become available, but the cost of those books is equal to the printed version.  When I accessed St. Martin’s Press website (Macmillan), I wasn’t able to find any E-Books although they did offer a unique option of being able to listen to excerpts of some of the featured books instead of just reading them.  In contrast, Simon & Schuster Inc. at www.simonsays.com did have an E-Book tab on their homepage.  There was a limited number of books offered in this format, but they were a dollar or so cheaper than the printed versions.

 

All in all, I would have to say that after this internet fieldtrip that I am not swayed toward E-Books, but I do acknowledge that it is definitely a growing field.  I just like being able to pick up a book and feel like I’m entering another world.  Sitting at my computer and clicking through a book just doesn’t equal the same experience for me.

 

Transitions and Growth

Today has been an interesting day, one of relaxation and ease for the most part until I had a conversation with my mom. Now keep in mind that I am nearing forty and my mother is in her mid-sixties so I’m not really clear on when this transition occurred but it hit me pretty hard today. I am becoming the parent. The adviser. The conscience and memory of the team, and it’s weird!

I knew that it would happen, so this shift doesn’t come as a complete surprise. I just didn’t expect it to happen this soon. My mother is spry and self-confident. She and my father live very active lives and I don’t think most people would guess them to be as old as they are. But, changes they are a-coming! Without going into the conversation too much, I will reveal that my mom was having a negative reaction to some things that are going on with my sister’s upcoming wedding. The new in-laws are quite different from our family and even though there is a state between all parties in question, the differences are beginning to show.

The crux of the conversation I felt led to have with my mom consisted of reminding her of the conflicts that existed between her mother (Gram) and my father throughout the years. I attempted to very tactfully remind my mom that Gram was no picnic at times although we loved her very much. Once the cobwebs had been carefully removed from my mother’s memory, she seemed to relax a bit.

I, on the other hand, was not relaxed. I don’t know why or even how the shift in roles began, but I’m not sure I am a fan of the process. While my mother seemed to benefit from the conversation, I left the process drained and a little bewildered. Intellectually I know that transitions and growth are needed; spiritually, I need a SLOW transition. Maybe you aren’t to this stage in your life yet. My advice is to get prepared. If you are at this crossroads, I ask that you join me in a collective sigh.