Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde has a new home, which you can find here. This older version of my blog will remain but will no longer be updated.
Thank you!
Lindsey
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It’s That Time Of Year Again! 9th Annual Gateway To Writing Workshop
I participated in this workshop in years past and can’t begin to tell you all I gained as a result. It is put on by a local writing group, of which I’m now a member. If you live in mid-Michigan and are interested in writing, check it out. I always come away learning something. I will be there!
Saturday, September 28th
Northeast Arts Council Building, 3233 Grove Street Rd., Standish, MI 48658
9:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Cost — $25.00 (lunch and materials included)
Keynote Speaker: Marla Kay Houghteling
Keynote Address: Writing Close to the Bone:
Transforming Personal Experiences into Written Language
Workshop Session with Marla Kay Houghteling:
Rules of Writing That Can Be Broken
Workshop Session with Angela Cook-Hoekwater:
Flash Fiction: The Essence of the Short, Short Story
Roundtable Discussion – Come with ideas on writing process,
groups, contacts, publishing outlets, reading suggestions
Sponsored by Mid-Michigan Writers, Inc., and Northeast Michigan Arts Council
For more information call: 989.846.8211 or 989.846.6546 or 989.482.9005
BlogHer Challenge 2013: Roots
BlogHer Challenge | The Black Tortoise
Last night as I was thinking about how I want to revive and update this blog, I realized just how much I miss my blogger friends. One of the nicest is Adela from The Black Tortoise and Once A Little Girl. As it just so happens, I read her new post today about the BlogHer Challenge. Now I am signing up myself. I’m disappointed that I didn’t participate in the April A to Z Blogging Challenge after having so much fun with it last year.
So, here it goes. Watch for a new post every day this June. The theme is perfect for me and my blog: Roots. So check out Adela’s first entry – BlogHer Challenge | The Black Tortoise – which is very sweet, as always, and stay tuned for mine!
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Book Review: “The Return Of Catesby” By Bob O’Connor
It isn’t every day that I come across a book that inspires me on several levels. The Return Of Catesby by Bob O’Connor did just that. The rest of my review will explain how and why. If you enjoy historical fiction, I can’t recommend The Return Of Catesby enough.
Over the last few days I’ve spent some time thinking about how The Return Of Catesby inspired me. First, I have to admit the style in which the book is written is one of my favorites. I love journals and believe this technique is particularly suited for this type of historical fiction. As a reader, I am always looking for my next book. After learning a little about Bob O’Connor’s work, I knew I wanted to read more. The Return Of Catesby serves well as a sequel to Catesby: Eyewitness To Civil War, as well as a stand-alone read. While I don’t feel the need to read Catesby: Eyewitness To Civil War to fully appreciate The Return Of Catesby, I am now compelled to read the first book due to Catesby’s experiences discussed in the sequel. All other content aside, the topic, genre, and organization of the book would’ve been enough to draw me in. But there is so much more. I simply don’t remember the last time I read a work of historical fiction with such heart.
Why The Return Of Catesby inspires me is an easy question to answer. There is, of course, the character of Catesby himself, a fictionalized version of a real blacksmith who lived during the Civil War era. In the book, he comes across as the most authentic, inspiring teacher imaginable, despite having never stepped foot in a classroom prior to his first day of teaching. His wife, Marcia, truly comes into her own at the end of the book and is Catesby’s constant helpmate in every sense of the word. Perhaps most inspiring of all is the insatiable appetite for learning exhibited by some of Catesby’s students. They simply couldn’t get enough, despite the fact that the town of Harpers Ferry wasn’t exactly welcoming. I envy the community created around the school. They truly cared for one another and even sought to learn the history of the tension between the community of Harpers Ferry and the school.
Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia
The Return Of Catesby by Bob O’Connor will stay with me for some time. I am honored to have hosted an interview with him and to have had the opportunity to review the book today. If you have any interest in historical fiction at all, I highly recommend The Return Of Catesby. Do not be surprised if I review more of Bob O’Connor’s work in the future.
Antietam National Batllefield
Related articles
- Author Interview: Bob O’Connor, Author Of “The Return Of The Catesby” (russelllindsey1980.wordpress.com)
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Author Interview: Bob O’Connor, Author Of “The Return Of Catesby”
Today we learn a little more about Bob O’Connor, author of The Return of Catesby, in this author interview. Bob is currently on tour with Walker Author Tours. Enjoy, and pick up your copy of the book at http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/product.aspx?ISBN=0-7414-8206-1.
How did you get started on your writing career?
My writing career officially started in 7th grade when an article I wrote got published in the Illinois Historical Society’s student magazine.
If you could describe yourself in five words, what would they be? Focused, determined, believable, creative, imaginative.
Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction to read? To write?
I read both. I write both. But I prefer to write historical fiction because I can be much more creative.
How do you build your character world?
I keep a notebook. I observe people in the grocery store, in church, etc, and try to pick up interesting behaviors I can incorporate into a character.
Tell us about your favorite character you have written and why.
Catesby is by far my favorite character and is the subject of two of my books. He is a fighter, having overcome so many troubles to find freedom. I admire his courage and “stick-to-it” spirit, his observations and his “never give up” attitude.
Do you think that the future is ebook or print?
Obviously the trend is e-books. But the industry encourages us “little guys” to give away our e-books in hope that people will buy or next one. I am not convinced that is a good idea. I actually think people who give away thousands of e-books will find that the person reading them will seek someone else’s free e-book the next day. It is also discouraging that although we (authors) make 70 percent on e-book sales, the price of e-books keeps going downward. I hope they never figure out how authors can autograph e-books. I am a HUGE fan of books that are printed and hope they never go away.
Where have you had the most success in selling your work?
It is always easier to sell books when I have given a talk. But I am also successful anywhere there are large crowds of people including at fairs, festivals, Civil War reenactments and the like.
Tell us about your book.
My book is the continuing story of Catesby – a real colored blacksmith who lived originally in Charlestown, VA as a slave to Colonel Lewis Washington, a descendant of George Washington. In the first book Catesby struggles to find his freedom. He runs away from the operation of a blacksmith shop under a cruel owner who permanently cripples him. He flees on the Underground Railroad to Pennsylvania.
This book follows Catesby’s new adventures leading up to his teaching position at Storer College, a new school to teach newly freed blacks to become teachers. Ironically, the students’ first day in the classroom was Catesby’s first day too, because he had been taught at home by his mother. Catesby’s vast experience is helpful in encouraging his students and helping them believe that if Catesby, a man with a bad leg who had been a slave could accomplish greatness, they could too.
Where can we find out more about you and buy your book? On my website at http://boboconnorbooks.com/synopsis.cfm#Return
Interested readers may purchase the book here.
An Update …
No, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth. No, I have not given up blogging. Early in February my Grandma was admitted to the critical care unit of the local hospital. To be blunt, for a while it did not look good at all. Fortunately she is doing much better and was transferred to the skilled nursing area of the hospital. Watching everything unfold with my Grandma has only reconfirmed my belief that my Grandma is quite possibly the strongest woman I know – and one of the most giving. I’m sharing this because I’ve been dividing my time between work and the hospital, as well as spending time with family, running errands, and gearing up for the camping/canoeing season.
I miss writing, I miss blogging, and I just need to do it. Unfortunately I tend to over-think anything I write here. That needs to change. There is much going on in my life that I would like to share here. Moving back to my hometown after living elsewhere for well over a decade continues to amuse me. Each day I am more grateful than the last for the wonderful childhood I had. Much more soon.
Lindsey
Why I Write: Every Life Has A Story
Let’s start at the very beginning: Why Write At All? « The Collaborative Writer
As of late I’ve come across some great material that got me thinking about why I write in the first place. The article above from The Collaborative Writer gets it exactly right. I admit it: I am my own worst enemy. I tend to over-think everything and spend too much time planning what I’d like to do when I really should be writing. I. Just. Need. To. Write. Why is that so difficult in practice?
The thing is that I truly believe everyone has a story. No one has a perfect life. Everyone is struggling with something and conflict is the heart of any great story. Not only does that simple premise – everyone has a story – get to the heart of why I write, it is also the reason why I love to read. I am drawn to biographies and autobiographies or any good plot driven by realistic conflicts dealt with by well-rounded characters.
Again, I keep going back to asking myself why it has to be so hard. I love to create. I know what I like to write. I always feel more myself when I write. Why don’t I write more? I think we all need to ditch the excuses.
The video included below I came across as part of training for my position as a clerk. I love the message of the video. It is all too easy to forget that everyone is struggling with something.
Related articles
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Welcome September
I’m hoping to make some decisions regarding my writing soon. I need a fresh start. I have all these wonderful ideas, and then they just fall away because I don’t make the time to follow through. I can do so much better.
Happy Sunday ~
Happy Sunday everyone!
I’m just glad that the rain quit here for a while. Lots of great posts coming up today. I know I’ve featured this particular Beatles video here several times, but still gives me goosebumps. It just seems to foreshadow the music and videos I grew up with in the mid-1990s, mainstream “alternative” rock ~ i.e. Oasis, Green Day, the White Stripes, and many more.
Facebook, Twitter, and GoodReads ~ Oh My
Lately I’ve been spending my time filling out the Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde Facebook page, which you can find here. I’m hoping to eventually create a community there that wants to have in depth conversations. Right now, as I’ve just set up the discussion boards, I’m having a conversation with myself! I visualize it as a place for readers to plug their blogs, discuss what books they just finished, and share ideas as to what they’d like to see here. I want to make Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde truly interactive. Currently I have 50 members, myself included. There is always room for one more.
In addition to finally fleshing out the Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde facebook page, I’ve also spent some time developing my Twitter account, @russelllindsey. If you take the time to follow me, I follow you back. Currently Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde, each and every post, is broadcast to 162 Twitter followers.
Twitter and Facebook aside, I’ve also gone through my GoodReads account. You can find me on Goodreads here. While I don’t have the details right now, a conversation or two I had on GoodReads may have a huge impact on the future of Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde. Stay tuned!
Even though it has taken me a lot longer than I would’ve liked, I’m glad I’m finally starting to truly use social media to promote Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde. So, I’m curious – to all those writers out there: What social media sites are you using? How often do you use it? How do you create an audience for your work? I’d love to hear about all of your experiences. Good, Bad, and Ugly.
Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde 