Hello!! I was so happy to be invited to guest blog on fabulous author Joanne Guidoccio’s webpage. I wrote about the challenges of the second act–whether you plan for them, or it happens to you. Here’s a snippet from that blog.
***
When you read another person’s story, and it doesn’t sound exactly like yours, perhaps you will find encouragement that change can be good no matter what the circumstances. Maybe you’ve already made a change (planned or unplanned). Another person’s story might give you the reassurance that you will be “okay.” The most important thing is this: have trust and faith in yourself!
“In my day,” a woman’s career options were a bit limited. That’s an understatement. Honestly, there were very few choices. Wife and mother (in tandem), nurse, airline stewardess, secretary, teacher. All worthy paths, yes. But even with a professional degree, many women quit the job after they got married. In my case, I got married, but I did not stop working. In fact, except for a few in-between-job periods, I worked full time until I retired in 2014.
I followed the teacher track and taught K-6 for several years. But then my husband’s job took us to a university town where teaching jobs were non-existent. Why? Because all the male grad students’ wives were teachers supporting their husbands. Does this sound familiar?
So, what’s a girl to do? Reinvention!
***
What came next? Check out the full guest blog. What I hoped to convey is this: you are unique! Your life story is unique. And to paraphrase my yoga studio motto–no matter what, keep showing up and shining out!
After you read the full blog about my many challenges of the second act, I hope you’ll hop over and join my private readers’ group on my Facebook (open to everyone) and let’s chat.
Again, thank you Joanne Guidoccio for the opportunity to guest blog for you!
Years ago, my husband and I were talked into training for a 26.2-mile marathon. I was a plodding runner—well, walk-runner. So, guess which one we decided to do first? London! I know. Crazy, right? Yes, it was. We finished but looking back now, I have no idea how. We started in Greenwich, a town in southeast London. The race goes over Tower Bridge and finishes at Buckingham Palace. Amazing experience, but would I do it again? Nope. Am I proud of my finishers’ medal? Yep!
One of her questions really got me thinking, especially this one: “If you could write yourself into any TV show, which would you choose, and why?”
During quarantine, we binge-watched a ton of television (mostly cable and subscription services). It would have to be one of the British shows. It doesn’t matter that they are really old. Classy writing and acting are timeless. And you never know what actors might show up as their younger selves. VERY young Sam Heughan and Tobias Menzies were both on Midsomer Murders. Tom Ellis had a starring role in Miranda. And that’s just for starters.
But how to narrow down where I’d write myself into the show? Gack! So hard.
I love Doc Martin. I could be a teacher in Louisa’s school. Or an investigator on the edgy series Line of Duty. With my quirky sense of humor, I’d fit right in on the absolutely hysterical show called Miranda. (“What fun!”). The ensemble acting team in Death in Paradise is terrific. I could live on Saint Marie and work in Catherine’s Bar in a heartbeat. Father Brown is charming, though the plot is predictable. I could be a great asset in his crime-solving escapades. Vera is another clever detective show where I think I’d be a good fit.
But who wins? It has to be Midsomer Murders! How can such a lovely place as Causton have so many gruesome and wicked murders? Hence, DCI Barnaby needs an industrious, savvy, intelligent, never-say-die associate! I’d be perfect. The only itsy problem is that I don’t know how to drive on the road’s left side. Hey, if I’m writing myself into the story, I can simply add that skill set.
So, tell me, what TV show would you pick? What role would you play?
Glazed periwinkle blue, a clay jar sits alone on the window sill. Loosened, the cork stopper no longer shields my stash from daylight’s glare.
Single file my words escape to the floor, sidle past the sleeping cat, and bow to those who lie in repose on bits of crumpled paper.
The motley parade scrambles onto the blank page and jostles for a position like misbehaving schoolchildren; jabbing ribs, batting heads, and pulling shirts.
With self-satisfied smiles, they whisper. Take the pen, give us life, or else we die.
I take pity and write till my hand goes numb and my knuckles crack.
When the ink runs dry, they still come.
The little bastards never utter a single thank you.
Played like a fool by my own words, I reseal the jar to quiet the others.
Almost too late, I realize their plan to exchange my life for theirs.
Photo from https://www.pexels.com/@lanophotography
They retired it years ago. Did you even know they retired badges? I didn’t. Today, there are badges for things I would never have dreamed.
GEOCACHING? COMPUTER CODING? CYBERSECURITY?
I loved being a Brownie and a Girl Scout. Fun times and great memories.
For the record, and full disclosure, I’m still a dabbler. Whew. It felt good to admit that. Along with my writing, I dabble in cooking (not really my strong suit unless it’s something I can throw in a crockpot!).
And rock painting. And yoga. And Tai Chi. And line dancing. And journal making. And leathercraft. And jimbe drumming.
Here are a few of my dabble-examples.
I’d love to hear about your dabbling. Leave a comment and let’s start the discussion!
Every author’s process is different. Let me share how I developed one character from my Nocturne Falls Universe falcon-shifter series. I started with a semi-structured idea of the story and where it will go. But the writing process took off when like a film director, I visualized the first scene.
In the first book in the series, THE FALCON FINDS HIS MATE, scene one takes place on the wrap-around porch of a two-story Pepto-Bismol pink Victorian house. Way before I wrote the first sentences, I had a firm idea of what the place looked like based on a collection of pictures I added to a Pinterest album. For me, it’s critical to over collect photos of places, people, and things even if only a few details make it into the book. By the way, the house is an important character, too.
If you’ve read my Nocturne Falls falcon stories, does this look familiar?
It’s the Carpe Diem
Once I had the house, I started asking questions. Who lives here? Why here? What sets this place apart from others? I decided the house belongs to Echo Stargazer (a made up name). Since Nocturne Falls is an extraordinary town, it needs an extraordinary person. I did an Internet casting call and decided who else could play Echo but the late Iris Apfel.
How did little gravely-voiced Echo come to live in a house like this? Magical people are drawn to Nocturne Falls. That’s when the fun begins and I can make up ‘stuff’!
Echo’s ancestry dates back to Colonial America. Her great-great-greats were persecuted for their psychic gifts, escaped and migrated to the Carolinas. There gifts passed through the generations. Echo is a clairsentient who blocks the noise when she has to by wearing a special bracelet. With it off, she reads minds.
Widowed years ago, Echo came to Nocturne Falls to raise her son and daughter. To earn a living, she converted the first floor of this house to a gift and tchotchke shop she called the Carpe Diem. Town tourists love what she sells in the front of the store. In the back and with complete privacy, locals can purchase supplies for spells, cleansings, charms, rituals, and the like.
Upstairs is the living quarters where Echo supplements her income by giving readings with her special cards. The cards aren’t Tarot or Oracle. They are black as onyx, and only the client sees the images on them.
This photo is of Iris Apfel’s apartment in NYC. It inspired Echo’s dining room-card reading area. In the story, Echo’s house was crammed with her preciously-pink chintzy décor. Just like Iris’s place.
And doesn’t this look like Echo’s kitchen?
Finally, there’s Crealde, Echo’s nineteen-pound bundle of contentment. Never! Either he’s “hangry” or he’s not around. Curious, nosy, demanding, vociferous, and a howl that can wake the dead. But loveable and cuddly, only on his terms.
Once I have the location and characters, I create a story bible with facts, fables and details. It also has timelines, peripheral characters, places and events. The bible is ongoing, especially in a series. Echo has a role in each of my Nocturne Falls stories. It’s easy to forget details. If I do mess up, my dear readers will let me know!
When that’s all done, I’m on to the plot, character arcs, and the juicy stuff! That’s best left for another discussion. Hope it gave you a small insight into
Goodness knows the world can use more kindness. It doesn’t take a boatload of money to offer someone a smile. Or let the person with a fussy child go ahead of you in the checkout line. Or give up your seat on a bus or subway car to someone who looks more tired than you.
Or let that person who is stuck in the parking lot, exit into your traffic lane, even if it means waiting a second time for the signal to change.
Whatever we do, we should do it with no expectation of getting something in return. I believe in the ripple effect, and the good you do for someone will be passed on. Sadly, the opposite is true, too. And we see this much too often today.
There are some fun ways to accomplish Random Acts of Kindness otherwise known as RAK. Something I’ve gotten hooked on is painting rocks to hide around the community. You might already be a part of one of the hundreds of rock painting Facebook groups.
You don’t need extraordinary artistic ability to paint and hide a rock. Trust me as I’m no artist! But there are some incredibly talented people who create mini-masterpieces.
How do you start?
If you’re on Facebook, check out some of the group sites. I’ve only listed four of the dozens in the Tampa Bay area. I’ll wager there are groups in your area.
YouTube has many free rock painting tutorials that guide you step-by-step.
Get some rocks, paint and brushes. And paint! You don’t have to spend a lot of money. Get kids involved, too. They love it.
Once your rocks are prepped and ready, find some fun places to hide them. Parks, libraries, stores, hospitals…you name it.
So, what happens if you find a painted rock?
You can keep it or rehide it. I’ve done both. If there’s a group name on the back, take a photo of the front and back then find the group online. Usually you need request to join the group before posting your photos. The creator is always “tickled” to see their rock appear as that doesn’t happen very often. Joining a group doesn’t mean you have to paint rocks, so no worries!
I was excited a couple of weeks ago when a simple little rock I painted ended up in Sweden.
A sunset is, after all, a natural astronomical phenomenon. Scattered gas molecules and changing light waves.
Not a big deal, right?
Something that happens every day when our little rock (sorry, I’m not a flat-earther) sails around the monster gas ball we call the Sun in a solar system that is an infinitesimal blip in one of a billion galaxies.
Sometimes we witness the sunset, sometimes it’s cloudy or rainy and we can’t. The precise time is a mathematical calculation. Even my smartphone can tell me what time it will happen.
Ancient cultures to modern times have revered the sun and its daily trek across the sky, even to the point of worshiping the sun as a god.
And we still love sunsets. Some studies suggest why.
Relieves stress
Boosts well-being
Increases life satisfaction
Elevates mood
Helps us live in the moment
Turns everything into beauty
Considering the fifty dozen sunset photos I’ve saved in the cloud, I love them. What is the attraction for me? It might sound a little out there, but for me, the setting sun is a reminder of nature’s unconditional love and assurance that we did everything we could to make the most of today. And a reminder that if we are lucky, we’ll get another shot at making tomorrow even better.
Ryan Ford is the hero in my Nocturne Falls Universe paranormal novella, “The Falcon Finds His Mate.“ Oh. I should mention Ryan is a shape-shifting Peregrine falcon–one of the fastest birds on Earth.
Though the shape-shifters in my story are imaginary, falcons are real!
I’ve fallen in love with these creatures. Until I researched falcons for this story, I had no idea there were different members of this family.
In one scene, Ryan–in human form, is a contestant in a charity benefit for the local animal sanctuary and models with a North American Kestrel Falconon his gloved hand.
Ryan chose the small and mighty Kestrel, because anything larger might frighten the unsuspecting humans in the audience. (Hey, it’s fiction–remember?)
Sometimes called a sparrow hawk, the adult Kestrel weighs between 5-6 ounces; the approximate size of a mourning dove or a robin. The female is slightly larger than the male.
Though their larger cousins like Ryan (the Peregrine Falcon shifter) are faster, these little ‘race cars of the sky’ hold their own. Long wings and tail allow them to maneuver and kite in the air, and fly at speeds of up to thirty-nine miles per hour.
This photo is an adult female. Note her rust-colored wings and back. Her tale bands are narrower than the male. Those distinctive ‘sideburns’ and ‘mustache’ are found in both the female and male. If you look closely at the nape of her neck, you’ll see two dark patches that resemble eyes. These are thought to be deterrents to a predator approaching from behind. These faux eyes appear on both the male and female. (Photo courtesy Chris Mayne)
Speaking of sight, the Kestrel has incredible vision. They see in the UV light range so they can track prey at night, though they do most of their hunting during the day. Their coloration is camouflage for their own survival and for confusing their prey. (Photo courtesy D. Allen Martin)
The adult male has slate-blue on the head and wings, but when perched, a black-spotted rusty mantle and scapulars predominate.
Depending on the gender, the adult wingspan can be up to 24 inches. The photo to the right is a male. Note the large dark band at the tip of his tale feathers.
Though they can spot prey from a perch, Kestrels prefer to hunt by hovering over the ground then swooping down when they see a tasty target, moving so fast their prey doesn’t see them coming.
Ready for your quiz?
Male or Female?
#1
#2
#3
#1 = Female #2 = Female #3 = Male
(The above six photos courtesy Gerald Friesen)
The Kestrel’s yummy gourmet menu includes lizards, insects, snakes, rodents and small birds.
And eat like a bird? I wish! Kestrels eat up to 21% of their body weight each day. If I did that I’d have to consume…well, you don’t need to know everything!
They store food they don’t need in crevices in trees, utility pole boxes, rocks; wherever they can. Never know when you’ll need a quick bite when you’re out and about.
The bad news? The predator is also prey for larger hawks, crows, dogs and cats. The good news? This keeps the Kestrel on guard and alert. (Photo courtesy Linda Simmons)
Even though it’s small, the Kestrel is used in sport falconry, sometimes as the beginner bird. If captive for sport, the falconer must be mindful of the Kestrel’s weight as even a small weight loss (we’re talking ounces!) could be fatal.
During courting, the pair often gifts each other with food. The Kestrel mates for life and often returns to the same nesting site year after year.
By the way, the male chooses the nesting site, but the female has the final word before they move in. Umm…that sounds familiar, yes? (These two photos courtesy Chris Mayne)
Finally, all of us have a bad feather day now and again. But not everyone looks as darn cute as a Kestrel!! (Photo courtesy Gerald Friesen)
Hope you enjoyed this mini-lesson and that I’ve piqued your interest in reading “The Falcon Finds His Mate.”
One more “shout out” to these awesome photographers for permission to use their photos:
