Last night it rained and the wind gusted. This afternoon, on the way back to Wells, ME from Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME we veered off and took a drive through York and then Ogunquit. The ocean was the way I love to see it- fierce, relentless waves crashing against the rocks and pounding the shore. The tide was still high, close to the road in places with spray coming over low sea walls and rocks to splash the road and sidewalks.
It was windy and cold (low forties dropping to upper 30's with the wind making it feel bitterly cold) but I jumped out of the car to take pictures with the only camera I had with me this vacation, my cellphone cam. I'm happy with the pictures I got, but wish I had the 35mm digital camera with me. It just got left off the to pack list this time.
I did get some good pictures of rollers coming in. I like it when they rise up exposing veins of foam before they begin to curl and then crash. I like to get shots of waves slamming into the rocks and the resulting spray it creates.
What was happening as the waves crested today was that the wind was lifting up a phantom like misty spray along the top of the cresting wave. I managed to capture a few shots of this.
We went up to Nubble Light. A lot of people were there taking pictures of the angry sea. I got some pictures of waves crashing against rocks to the left of the lighthouse. I only took one picture of the lighthouse itself. The surf was my primary focus today.
After taking pictures at Nubble Light my hands were frozen! It was at this point that John realized that he hadn't packed a jacket for this kind of weather. We stopped at the condo so I could have a cup of coffee and thaw out a little then ran to Sanford to the Tractor Supply store there so he could get a Schmidt fleece lined sweatshirt jacket like mine (I'd been wearing just a heavy cardigan but switched to the warmer Schmidt jacket at the beach in Ogunquit.)
Overall, a nice day. Heading home tomorrow...heard the cats miss us!
Meanwhile...some progress made on the NaNo novel with the word count now at 59,116 words.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Monday, November 5, 2018
Day 5 NaNo progress report
Last night, at the end of day 4 of NaNoWriMo, I hit 42,663 words.
Today...zero so far, although I have some time between now (9:30PM) and when I go to bed (about 11:30PM) to pound out a few thousand words today.
At breakfast this morning I printed out pages and did some reading to catch myself up on the story so far. When I write crazy fast I'm really not even aware of what I'm throwing down on the page. But, reading it through this morning and finishing it tonight, I'm amazed at how well it's evolving.
Tomorrow starts my vacation. I have a couple of appointments, then the water department is scheduled to replace the water meter in the afternoon, so I'll have some time to write.
On October 31st I didn't think I had it in me this year to write a novel in 30 days...but, I'm happy to report that my muse is alive and kicking and being his (yes, my muse is a male) typical verbose self, telling another action packed fantasy/magic/realism/romance with some paranormal elements thrown in.
Curiously enough, I just saw an article on cross genre writing taking hold, that we'll be seeing more of this blending of genres in the future. Ha! I've been writing cross genre for years! Glad the industry has finally caught up to this "new" trend!! (I've always had difficulty trying to shoehorn my novels into the restrictive traditional genre categories.)
Well, this isn't getting my word count plumped up for the Day Five's word count update!
Remember, remember the fifth of November!
Today...zero so far, although I have some time between now (9:30PM) and when I go to bed (about 11:30PM) to pound out a few thousand words today.
At breakfast this morning I printed out pages and did some reading to catch myself up on the story so far. When I write crazy fast I'm really not even aware of what I'm throwing down on the page. But, reading it through this morning and finishing it tonight, I'm amazed at how well it's evolving.
Tomorrow starts my vacation. I have a couple of appointments, then the water department is scheduled to replace the water meter in the afternoon, so I'll have some time to write.
On October 31st I didn't think I had it in me this year to write a novel in 30 days...but, I'm happy to report that my muse is alive and kicking and being his (yes, my muse is a male) typical verbose self, telling another action packed fantasy/magic/realism/romance with some paranormal elements thrown in.
Curiously enough, I just saw an article on cross genre writing taking hold, that we'll be seeing more of this blending of genres in the future. Ha! I've been writing cross genre for years! Glad the industry has finally caught up to this "new" trend!! (I've always had difficulty trying to shoehorn my novels into the restrictive traditional genre categories.)
Well, this isn't getting my word count plumped up for the Day Five's word count update!
Remember, remember the fifth of November!
Holy Moly Kelly's On A Roll!
Day Five of Nano and Kelly has hit 10,019 words! This is a record for her! I think she's really enjoying writing a fantasy story this year!
I'm so proud of her! (In the past she's struggled to reach the minimum daily word count toward the 50,000 word goal.) She's smiling and laughing a lot while writing, so that's a good sign.
Go, Kelly!
I'm so proud of her! (In the past she's struggled to reach the minimum daily word count toward the 50,000 word goal.) She's smiling and laughing a lot while writing, so that's a good sign.
Go, Kelly!
Sunday, November 4, 2018
NaNo Writing Progress-Day 4
I'd been kicking around the plot lines of book three in the Black King White Queen series for over a year but didn't feel motivated to get it started. During the Articulture cultural arts event here in town this past April, several followers asked about another sequel to Black King Takes White Queen, when it would be released. I confessed that I'd thought about a sequel, but didn't have anything concrete yet. I told them that maybe I would write the sequel they were anticipating in November, during NaNoWriMo month. Black Knight, White Rook was my 2016 NaNo novel, so I was due to write a sequel since people like this series set in a fictional town in the northwestern most corner of Massachusetts.
Day 1 was slow for me with only a little over 5000 words written. Day 2 was a bit better with over 6000 words written to bring me up to 11,969 words in two days. Yesterday, it being a weekend day with no work and not much else to do, I pounded the keyboard relentlessly, the story picking up momentum seemingly of its own volition. I ended the night with 31,132 words written. Not bad at all for three days of writing. I honestly don't know if it's a personal best for me, but it was exhilarating to sit down and write like that, taking breaks to eat and play a few levels of Charm King before going right back to the story.
Kelly had a 2-hour write-in at Dunks on the north side of town this morning. I was only able to stay and write for an hour as I had household chores to do. I had gotten up early and run to WalMart so I was able to accompany her to Dunks for 9AM. I was home shortly after 10Am to meet John and put away groceries he brought home, and start the first of three loads of laundry. I wrote for an additional hour this morning. This afternoon, after lunch I ran to the pharmacy and then to the store to pick up a few more things, folded clothes, did some housecleaning, and have been writing for the rest of the afternoon. I have 5,882 words written so far today, far less than yesterday, but I hope to hit 7 or 8 thousand words before falling into bed tonight.
So far, I'm satisfied with the way the story is unfolding. We'll see if I can maintain the momentum over the next few weeks and get a novel I'm happy with out of it.
By the way, Kelly is on target with her story so far. She was amusing me last night trying to waltz alone in the kitchen after looking up the steps online so she could describe her character dancing the waltz for the first time in her novel!
Day 1 was slow for me with only a little over 5000 words written. Day 2 was a bit better with over 6000 words written to bring me up to 11,969 words in two days. Yesterday, it being a weekend day with no work and not much else to do, I pounded the keyboard relentlessly, the story picking up momentum seemingly of its own volition. I ended the night with 31,132 words written. Not bad at all for three days of writing. I honestly don't know if it's a personal best for me, but it was exhilarating to sit down and write like that, taking breaks to eat and play a few levels of Charm King before going right back to the story.
Kelly had a 2-hour write-in at Dunks on the north side of town this morning. I was only able to stay and write for an hour as I had household chores to do. I had gotten up early and run to WalMart so I was able to accompany her to Dunks for 9AM. I was home shortly after 10Am to meet John and put away groceries he brought home, and start the first of three loads of laundry. I wrote for an additional hour this morning. This afternoon, after lunch I ran to the pharmacy and then to the store to pick up a few more things, folded clothes, did some housecleaning, and have been writing for the rest of the afternoon. I have 5,882 words written so far today, far less than yesterday, but I hope to hit 7 or 8 thousand words before falling into bed tonight.
So far, I'm satisfied with the way the story is unfolding. We'll see if I can maintain the momentum over the next few weeks and get a novel I'm happy with out of it.
By the way, Kelly is on target with her story so far. She was amusing me last night trying to waltz alone in the kitchen after looking up the steps online so she could describe her character dancing the waltz for the first time in her novel!
Thursday, November 1, 2018
New Page Added- Art!
I write a lot of books and stories and have done so all of my life, but there's another creative side of me that far fewer people are aware of and that's art. I first drew in pencil, tried pastels but that was a disaster...I smudged everything. I tried painting with acrylics when my older sister Lynnmarie was painting with oils, but I stunk at painting. I wasn't until high school when found my true medium- india ink! The pen holder and nibs just spoke to the 1800's girl in my heart. sometime in the early 1970's I went to Johnson's Bookstore in Springfield and found a Speedball Calligraphy and drawing set with A, B, C, and D nibs, ink, pen cleaner, and several Hunt tips and a holder...it was as if the gates of Heaven were flung open!
In 1976 when I went off to college, I hauled a good supply of my pen and ink drawing along with me and hung them on the walls. When life got busy with working full time, managing a house, raising a child my drawing slowed down. Rheumatoid arthritis plagued and still does, but the worst of it is in my left thumb. Fortunately, I'm right-handed!
I began drawing Westfield's black squirrels in early September of this year and hid two originals in frames on Art Drop Day, September 4th. The response to my drawings was rather overwhelming. People were messaging me for additional clues or just flat out where the squirrels had been dropped. So, I drew some more, and then some more. Eighteen or so different squirrels emerged from the pen nib, some with touches of color.
The squirrels will be available in my home town at events. Several have found their way into Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA, and I have been talking with my former employer for whom I assisted in creating the black squirrel silhouette (again a pen and ink drawing) that graces his line of The Black Squirrel, Westfield Massachusetts merchandise. He may add several of my art prints to his website- theblacksquirrel.com
Anyway, Kelly was kind enough to create an Art page for this blog, so feel free to go and play among the squirrels. I'm also going to do some chipmunks, and other wildlife in the future. I drew a vampire bat for Halloween, of course. I'll also put up the draped funeral urns (a series of 14) after NaNoWriMo. Kelly got the squirrels up this evening then dashed to her laptop to begin work on her NaNo novel. That's what I'm supposed to be doing right now...so, excuse me as I dash off to be a good author and get some words put down before bedtime!
If any of the squirrels catch your fancy you can email me at sebuffum415@gmail.com. The prints are $10 each direct from me at this time, and there would be some postage if you're not local.
In 1976 when I went off to college, I hauled a good supply of my pen and ink drawing along with me and hung them on the walls. When life got busy with working full time, managing a house, raising a child my drawing slowed down. Rheumatoid arthritis plagued and still does, but the worst of it is in my left thumb. Fortunately, I'm right-handed!
I began drawing Westfield's black squirrels in early September of this year and hid two originals in frames on Art Drop Day, September 4th. The response to my drawings was rather overwhelming. People were messaging me for additional clues or just flat out where the squirrels had been dropped. So, I drew some more, and then some more. Eighteen or so different squirrels emerged from the pen nib, some with touches of color.
The squirrels will be available in my home town at events. Several have found their way into Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA, and I have been talking with my former employer for whom I assisted in creating the black squirrel silhouette (again a pen and ink drawing) that graces his line of The Black Squirrel, Westfield Massachusetts merchandise. He may add several of my art prints to his website- theblacksquirrel.com
Anyway, Kelly was kind enough to create an Art page for this blog, so feel free to go and play among the squirrels. I'm also going to do some chipmunks, and other wildlife in the future. I drew a vampire bat for Halloween, of course. I'll also put up the draped funeral urns (a series of 14) after NaNoWriMo. Kelly got the squirrels up this evening then dashed to her laptop to begin work on her NaNo novel. That's what I'm supposed to be doing right now...so, excuse me as I dash off to be a good author and get some words put down before bedtime!
If any of the squirrels catch your fancy you can email me at sebuffum415@gmail.com. The prints are $10 each direct from me at this time, and there would be some postage if you're not local.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Sunday, October 28, 2018
NaNoWriMo Prep Time
Municipal Leader, Kelly Buffum, is hosting a NaNoWriMo kickoff party at Panera in Hadley, MA tomorrow evening, Monday, October 29th at 6:30PM. She'll have stickers. Look for the table sign.
I have committed to writing the third in the Romney and Ivy, Black King, White Queen series. I promised readers back in April who asked when that novel would be written that I would write it this year. I've been reviewing Black King Takes White Queen and Black Knight, White Rook to make sure there is continuity between these two novels and the new one to be written. The tentative title for this new novel is White Bishop Among the Pawns, but it's not written in stone yet.
I'll be doing some writing at Dunks on Route 202 (North Rad) at the intersection of County Road, Route 202, and East Mountain Road just over the line from Holyoke as you approach Hampton Ponds in Westfield (across from Fini's Farmstand that is closed for the season) on Sunday, November 4th from 9AM to 11AM. Please feel free to join us if you can.
Later in November I'll be doing some writing in Maine while taking a few days break from the hectic pace of my life. Then I'll be back for a church bazaar in Agawam (Congregational Church on Main Street) on November 17th where I'll be selling my 3 Christmas novellas and 4 Christmas story collections from 9AM-2PM before rushing back to Westfield for a 3-5 meeting of the WhipCity Wordsmiths. Then on November 24th I'll be at Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA selling BicycleCity Black Squirrels pen & ink art prints of black squirrels (quite abundant here in Westfield) and maybe a few other critters- a fox kit and a chipmunk or two. It depends on what I can get done in time. I'm also doing something with the draped funeral urns- maybe a book and art print combo deal...it's still rolling around in my head at the moment, but I have The Girl With the Ivy Tattoo set in a funeral home, and Miss Peculiar's Haunting Tales, The Hanging Man and Other Stories, 13, Miss Peculiar's Ghost Stories, Volume 1, and who knows what else. I might also have a few copies of the new novel The Worth of a Woman in combo with Kip the fox kit pen & ink print. We'll see...depends on how much energy I have with writing the NaNo novel and these events and work...and life in general!
I have committed to writing the third in the Romney and Ivy, Black King, White Queen series. I promised readers back in April who asked when that novel would be written that I would write it this year. I've been reviewing Black King Takes White Queen and Black Knight, White Rook to make sure there is continuity between these two novels and the new one to be written. The tentative title for this new novel is White Bishop Among the Pawns, but it's not written in stone yet.
I'll be doing some writing at Dunks on Route 202 (North Rad) at the intersection of County Road, Route 202, and East Mountain Road just over the line from Holyoke as you approach Hampton Ponds in Westfield (across from Fini's Farmstand that is closed for the season) on Sunday, November 4th from 9AM to 11AM. Please feel free to join us if you can.
Later in November I'll be doing some writing in Maine while taking a few days break from the hectic pace of my life. Then I'll be back for a church bazaar in Agawam (Congregational Church on Main Street) on November 17th where I'll be selling my 3 Christmas novellas and 4 Christmas story collections from 9AM-2PM before rushing back to Westfield for a 3-5 meeting of the WhipCity Wordsmiths. Then on November 24th I'll be at Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA selling BicycleCity Black Squirrels pen & ink art prints of black squirrels (quite abundant here in Westfield) and maybe a few other critters- a fox kit and a chipmunk or two. It depends on what I can get done in time. I'm also doing something with the draped funeral urns- maybe a book and art print combo deal...it's still rolling around in my head at the moment, but I have The Girl With the Ivy Tattoo set in a funeral home, and Miss Peculiar's Haunting Tales, The Hanging Man and Other Stories, 13, Miss Peculiar's Ghost Stories, Volume 1, and who knows what else. I might also have a few copies of the new novel The Worth of a Woman in combo with Kip the fox kit pen & ink print. We'll see...depends on how much energy I have with writing the NaNo novel and these events and work...and life in general!
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