5 Books To Read Before You, well, Die

My private library is appallingly scanty. It’s not what you think. I didn’t disregard all printed works in favor of the more practical devices touted about these days. The feel and the smell of books remain a constant source of joy, but due to their sheer numbers, I surrendered most to charity drives, interested family and friends and future academics in the guise of my nieces and nephews. Books are friends to the friendless, and on this note, I’d like to invite you to pick up five of my favorites, though nowhere near the only.

Long Walk to Freedom – Nelson Mandela

The former South Africa president is the epitome of inspiration. Whenever despair and self-pity pay me a visit, culminating in a depressive state that can stretch the course of weeks, I revisit this great man’s trials, in both thought and the book itself, reminded that if he can endure 27 years in prison under appalling conditions and emerge sane, then what do I have to feel sorry about? Bitterness and the desire for revenge may plague him in private, but there is no hint of it in this humbling work.

War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy can tell a tale, and a long one at that. Not that I minded the 510,000 words constituting this epic. The plot primarily revolves around aristocratic lives and the French invasion of Russia and its aftermath, dividing critics on the matter of classification. Is it a poem or a historical chronicle? What they can’t dispute is the realism of the era in question nor the authenticity of the characters. You be the judge.  

The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou

It’s taken me years to warm up to poetry, on account of my limited affinity to sentiment, but I credit this collection to accelerating the process. Ms. Angelou’s unconventional prose runs along distinct themes, the most dominant being challenging stereotypes in the arena of race and gender, and she does it beautifully. Poetry may be her forte, but this wordsmith has an autobiography spanning seven volumes that transports readers through her triumphs and trials, as well as her travels.  I recommend them all.

Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill

This is not only a manifesto on how to achieve financial freedom, but an apt serving of reality. I first read this book when I turned fifteen and it was the first time I truly grasped the concept of thoughts manifesting into actions. If I think I’m depressed, then, true to form, moments later I will be. If I think this is the day I’ll pen the greatest work ever read, the enthusiasm sets in to pound at the keys, mapping and remapping plotlines. Hill is blunt and often mean, but hey, if you desire to accomplish anything in this life, persistence will carry the day.

The Bible – The King James Version

It’s everything, really. It’s the answer to every question, comfort to the grieving, hope to the despairing, peace to those in turmoil and the cadence of the happy. It’s our Creator lending us the grace to know Him before life ends.

Great Bite?

Lentil soup served with thick slices of freshly baked rye bread. Very medieval, but what could it hurt?    

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12 Words To Look Out For While Editing

How many drafts does a manuscript require to make it submission ready? I’ll say, lots. I’m embarrassed at my eagerness to source for a publisher after two drafts when I penned my first novel. Standard spelling and grammar check after its completion, then off it went in search of a home. I was genuinely baffled by the flood of rejections that came my way. Lesson learned.

No matter how perfect you think your work is, it never quite is. So I, like many writers, have devised a system to, at least, attempt to present a clean manuscript. In what is the first of a series of quick tips, here are some words that fly under the radar despite the best intentions.

Any time / Anytime

Some time / Sometime

Every day / Everyday

On to / Onto

Weather / Weather

Bust / Burst

March / Match

Bets / Best

Through / though

Filed / Filled

Hang / Hung

Teas / Tears

           

It’s advisable to let your work sit for a while before commencing on another edit. It helps open your eyes to errors overlooked in your last read-through.

Have more words to add to the list above? Do share!

Great Bite?

Caramel fudge sundae. It’s the weather, I tell you.   

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5 Things That Made My Week!

Unfortunately, my funk rolled over to another week. So instead of mulling over the reasons why I’m struggling to get my mojo back, I decided to pick out the things that dented my melancholy, however mildly.

1} Stumbling on this article

http://www.forbes.com/sites/keldjensen/2012/04/12/intelligence-is-overrated-what-you-really-need-to-succeed/

And this one as well

http://reallifespirituality.com/review-how-ordinary-people-became-millionaires/

2} Baking a perfect batch of caramel cookies. Practice does indeed make perfect, 4 years after I first took on the challenge. Straight to my hips they went! No apologies!

3} Outlining, and with clarity, half the plotline of an upcoming romance novel. Title still unseen.

4} Watching 7 successive sunrises courtesy of my insomnia. I have to say, the experience was humbling. The problems of the world seemed so mundane in light of the miracle that is a new day.

5} Shaving three thousand, yes, three thousand words from the fantasy fiction I’m currently editing. Life was so simple back then when you think about it. Roles definitively defined.

Great Bite?

Lemon sole served with paprika toasted potato wedges and steamed kale. Healthy! 

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Some Links To Amp Your Mood!

Had your fill of a lousy week? Yeah? Me, too! Here are some links to help restore your perspectives.

http://getbusylivingblog.com/a-letter-to-those-who-feel-hopeless-about-life/

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/8-habits-of-remarkably-successful-people.html?nav=pop

And…

http://www.embracepossibility.com/blog/qualities-highly-successful-people/

On food…

http://emmamcquiston.com/

Great Bite?

Gourmet sandwiches.  

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TV Shows That Will Chase Your Writing Blues Away

William Zinsser is quoted as saying writing is thinking on paper. This simple notion doesn’t often play out in reality. I admire anyone with the ability to consistently pen exceptional work despite the changing tides of both their immediate environment and life in general. Whether you’re musing over new material or smack in the middle of one, writer’s block is one unforgiving {fill in your choice word here}.

One of the reasons behind this creativity purgatory is confidence. Or lack thereof. For example, if you’ve had the privilege of recurring success, pressure to sustain your momentum is inevitable. Waning inspiration is another reason why some authors will confess to going days, weeks and even years without writing a single word.

You may have abided to certain rules such as keeping a writing schedule, managing, at least, 300 words a day no matter what rubbish it sums up to, and even subjected your body to a series of uncomfortable angles in the belief that it will fend off the negativity, but if you still can’t shake off this depressing sensation, then I advocate for television watching. There’s nothing like venturing into another dimension to escape reality, or even better, provide a reprieve for the one you’re attempting to create. Here are 3 shows that never fail to live up to my need for escape.

La Femme Nikita

Not the CW offshoot, but the original, Canadian version, which ran for 5 seasons. The cast are stellar in their portrayal of members of a secret agency. The set is futuristic, the technology impressive and the blatant callousness of the leading antagonists, namely Section and Madeline, send shivers down my spine. On the question of chemistry, the relationship between Nikita and Roy Dupuis’s character is yet to be outdone by anything I’ve seen since. Josephine?  

Prison Break

What’s more entertaining than two attractive brothers fleeing prison and spending 4 seasons trying to clear their names? I caught this massive FOX hit in the middle of the third season, and I was immediately hooked.  I am now the proud owner of the entire DVD box set. The twists and turns, and the loyalty between the characters is nothing if not endearing. Who needs to write when you have a government conspiracy to solve?  

Scandal

Yu-mmie! This is, by far, Shonda Rhimes’s best work. The ABC must-see is not only scorchingly sexy, it’s smart. I’ve wasted precious hours immersing myself in political thrillers, regardless of medium, but I haven’t been this entertained in a long while. My verdict? 10/10!

Well, those are my guilty pleasures, though a mere handful! What about you? What TV shows help you through your rut?    

Great Bite?

Orange candied popcorn. TV food with a twist!

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The Implication Of Leaning In, Sheryl Sandberg’s Style

Condoleezza Rice is a constant source of intrigue. Did you know she was an assistant professor at Stanford by the age of 27? Or that she is a born-again Christian? Her documented achievements notwithstanding, women of her ilk are as rare as a bottle of Rudesheimer Apostelwein. That brings me to Sheryl Sandberg, and the furor her memoir/manifesto, Lean In: Women, Work And The Will To Lead, has evoked, which is both puzzling and comprehensible.

Success is subject to the will of the individual. If your desire is to scale the ranks and earn the accolades as a distinguished author, CEO, or whatever field your talent steers you toward, then your passion will determine not only your speed in achieving your goals, but the outcome of your input as well. Sow mediocrity, and expect to reap mediocrity. And that goes for both men and women.

Statistics reveal that the number of women graduating from college supersedes men, and although we have proven to be their academic peers, somewhere along the way, we deviate from the course and fail to inhabit the pinnacles of many an arena. From company stewards to slots in government, across the globe, women consistently feature on the lower teens in the percentile spectrum.

Ms. Sandberg’s solution to this seeming crisis is to change the balance of power, specifically in the corporate front. She aims to empower women by providing simple tools to get them back in line, allowing them to qualify for more opportunities. She blames external and apparently internal factors for restraining women from breaking tradition and achieving their full potential, pointing out that they are indeed their own worst enemies.

It begs the question. Despite these supposed roadblocks, exactly how many women seek to soar the heights of their respective professions? Crave it like men? I’ll use the example of my siblings. They will not speak to me for a while after reading this, but it’s my observation that their drive slackened following the arrival of their children. In their strive to manage the work/life balance, they grew disillusioned in their respective professions, leaning out more and more.

It is precisely this observation that Ms. Sandberg has attracted all this flack for. Comments on the issue have been sniggering to say the least. From the dailymail,

“For Sandberg to invent the excuse that women are holding back their true potential is a theory based on conjecture {sic}”

“She is so condescending, it’s not even funny. Women can do anything they want and don’t need some idiotic life plan on how to do things {sic}”

And on and on it goes.

Critics, none other than women, have summed her advice as this: women have to become more like men to succeed, and the notion is insulting. But we forget that Ms. Sandberg is in a unique position to voice her concerns in light of her managerial posts in Google, and currently Facebook. It’s not women’s fault passé, she’s quick to add, but it’s her view that they are not contributing as much and as frequently as their male counterparts. She uses a number of studies as proof, one of which declares that women, in their natural capacity as nurtures and peacemakers, prefer to be liked than to be considered aggressive. If you haven’t noticed, ascending the corporate ladder inspires ruthless tendencies and they in turn deplete likeability, especially from fellow women.    

Some commentators have observed that she comes off as bitter and unhappy, despite her achievements.  She has managed to miff others in her failure to include single mothers in her stratagem for success. The criticism has even spanned to her body language on the Time Magazine cover. To add to the pile, several point out that many women are gratified to remain in the home and raise their families and that not everyone bears the ambition of running a corporation to feel a sense of worth, or equality to men. On the subject of men, another points out that perhaps they are to blame for women’s shortcomings, as many continue to hold on to the belief that women are not up to snuff when it comes to critical thinking.

An educated peer states that another reason why women fail to inhabit powerful positions is because the skills they need to get them there–aggression, ego and the willingness to exploit the vulnerabilities of others–are not typical traits found in our DNA, and that many of us do not, in fact, harbor the desire to acquire them. She concludes that it’s time women stopped adapting to a man’s world to earn a seat at the proverbial table and exploit our own advantages instead to get there.

At the core of the debate is a forgotten fact that as women, we don’t have the luxury of the in-between option. We either give it up to raise our families or have it all. Former Lehman’s CFO, Erin Callan, blames her job for missing out on key milestones in her life. Now at 47, and in her second marriage, she is trying for a baby, quick to warn admirers that the C-suit is not worth the sacrifices. The flip side of those sacrifices for those who are not swayed include beating men at their own game, media notoriety, more than enough money put away for a rainy day, and a coveted slot in Forbes, Fortune and other revered ranks of powerful women. It is a rare woman who can happily declare that she has succeeded in conquering the balance. Ms. Sandberg happens to be one of them.

My take? Life is too short to compromise on excellence. Why do we, then, continue to apologize for our ambition, whether it’s limited to the home or the workplace? One comment could not have stated it better: “People are people, some want to achieve some do not. Real freedom is doing what you want with your life {sic}”

Great Bite?

A shot of reality, that’s what!

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A Treat For All Seasons: Ice Cream Cake!

This past weekend, my siblings and I got together to celebrate my nephew’s birthday. It was a culmination of an exhausting week of debates involving decorations and a suitable guest list, never mind the fact that the birthday boy is only three… Anyway, the temperature-tapering argument that took the cake, was, well, the cake!

I strongly advocated for carrot cake, my absolute favorite, only because I’m convinced of its health benefits! Other varieties tossed into the ring were the basic fruitcake, the boring white cake, chocolate cake to please the children and a red velvet cake to add a touch of class.

To simmer tantrums, we compromised on a cake-tasting trip to our favorite bakery. For some reason, the mention of ice cream cake makes my teeth wince. All that sugar! To my, and our pleasant surprise, this delicious, melting piece of heaven immediately stole our hearts, dental health be damned. I can’t believe I waited this long to be a fan! I immediately solicited the good baker for a recipe and although he chose to withhold his secret ingredients, what he contributed continues to water my mouth. This is me, generously sharing a simple creation of the same. Try it. I definitely have no regrets!

Ingredients

A box of your favorite cake mix.

1 ltr. {1 quart or 1/2 a gallon} of your favorite ice cream flavor.

Frosting, topping or cold whip of your choice.

Directions

Follow the instructions on the cake mix box and bake the cake in a 9x13 silicone pan, separating the batter according to the number of layers you wish to have. Allow the cake to cool completely once done.

Place the first cake layer on a metal or marble tray, or any other, as long as the cake remains cool.

Use a spatula to spread the ice cream between each cake layer until you’re all out of layers.

Cover the cake with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 2 hours to set.

Remove, then paste the cake with the frosting of your choice.

Cover with plastic wrap again, then freeze for 3 hours {or more, it’s up to you} before serving.

Tips

Wrap the cake layers with foil while they cool to prevent them from drying out.

For the ice cream to be spreadable {if that’s even a word}, let it sit out for 30 minutes. If you’re impatient, microwave the tub for no more than 15 seconds.

Add crushed candy bars, nuts, cookies and even marshmallows to the ice cream before layering to enhance the yum factor!

To effortlessly cut the cake, either take it out of the freezer an hour before serving or use a heated knife.

Substitute the ice cream with sorbet or sherbet.

The role of the plastic wrap during freezing is to prevent the cake from absorbing other food scents present in the freezer.

Switch up the recipe by spreading a layer of ice cream on a pan and freezing it. Place these sheets of frozen ice cream between your cooled cake layers, sheath with topping, freeze again, then serve.

Great Bite?

Multiple glasses of water with cucumber slices to cleanse your system after indulging in the above, why else?

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Some Encouraging Quotes For a Despairing Writer {or anyone for that matter!}

Phew! I’ve just put to bed another work, and by that I mean completed a fourth read-through of a crime novel, keenly aware from previous experiences that two more linger in the horizon {don’t judge!}! A work is never truly complete and self-editing is an arduous process when you take it in perspective. Spell checks, grammar checks, sentence structures, ellipse usage, contractions… It all gets to be too much sometimes.

Like most writers, I have a system of editing my work, and the predictability of that system has its drawbacks on the enthusiasm scale.  If you’ve been there, tempted to hit delete in the throes of frustration, don’t despair. Help is near.

I amass quotes to help me cope with life’s burdens, and the few I’ve listed below have helped my sanity tremendously. I’ve left out the names responsible for these great words, and take no credit for them, but I hope they reel you back from the brink as often as they have done for me. Here goes!

Never be satisfied with the first draft. In fact, never be satisfied with your own stuff at all, until you’re certain it’s as good as your finite powers can enable it to be.

The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.

Be ambitious for the work and not for the reward.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

Finish what you start.

Remember, writing doesn’t love you. It doesn’t care. Nevertheless, it can behave with remarkable generosity. Speak well of it, encourage others, pass it on.

Only bad writers think that their work is good.

Don’t wait for inspiration. Discipline is key.

Finish what you’re writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it!

Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.

Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.

Be without fear. This is impossible, but let the small fears drive your rewriting and set aside the large ones until they behave – then use them, maybe even write them. Too much fear and all you’ll get is silence.

Now shrug off your melancholy and get cracking on whatever it is that needs done to transport you to a higher plane of excellence.

Great Bite?

Sweet and sour pork rinds. Yum yum!

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Asthma and 5 Remedies Geared to End its Impingement on Your Writing!

I’m asthmatic, and I have been for two decades. I’ve enjoyed years without an attack and endured minutes of uncertainty over my next breath. You haven’t lived until you’re wheezing up a storm at the expense of a looming deadline. Several triggers rile up an attack, from stress to dust and pollen exposure, but as a writer, I can vouch for the disease’s nuisance in my need for prolonged concentration.

Prescribed medication such as bronchodilators offer an immediate reprieve, but they’re ineffectual in the long-term. I’m actually immune to most, and according to an insightful article titled, The Depressive Spectrum, it’s time I completely weaned myself off them.  

I trod the organic route for one reason. To end the heart palpitations the steroid-based pills I consume inspire. The blister packs aren’t exactly candid with this information, nor do they decisively warn you about high blood pressure and the all too familiar mood swings. It doesn’t end there, but I’m deviating.

After a series of experiments, the following five effectively fend off the claustrophobic sensation that characterizes my attacks.

Coffee

Some experts urge stimulant avoidance, I say what do they know? This is MY experience, so when an attack arises, fill your favorite mug with water and add two heaped teaspoons of instant coffee {Kenyan seems to work better than anything from South America, for some reason}. No cream or sugar, please. Heat in the microwave for a minute, then drink slowly and voila! You will be mucous and constriction free in ten minutes.

Honey & Cinnamon

I have to admit that my love affair with cinnamon faded thanks to this concoction, but it works. You need to, however, consume this at least twice a day, every day, if you want to suppress your symptoms.  Mix a teaspoon of each in hot water and drink.

Ginger & Garlic

Both of these herbs are natural anti-histamines. Translation? They counteract the body’s reaction to allergens. Crush garlic and ginger and boil in tealeaves for fifteen minutes. Sieve and sip at least twice a day, preferably as the first drink at dawn and the last at dusk. If the taste is too much for you, a teaspoon of honey will soothe your gag reflex.   

Ground Turmeric

The very whiff of turmeric powder always has me hankering for Indian food, but back to the remedy. Add a teaspoon to a glass of water and drink three times a day. Hot, cold, it doesn’t matter. Alternate the water for milk {I don’t!}. Consume it every day for the best results. Turmeric aids in phlegm reduction.  

Yoghurt

This viscous treat is rich in vitamin B12, which, amongst its litany of benefits, fortifies the body’s immune system. The irony here is that asthmatics are generally advised to avoid milk products, as they facilitate mucous production in the body. Yet yoghurt is a tried and true remedy against asthma attacks. One cup a day should do it, and I strongly recommend the forest fruits flavor!

I’m useless when an asthma attack descends, especially at night, which is when I prefer to write, but if you’re like me, or you know someone like me, do share the above. Life is wasted in breathes, not minutes.

Great Bite?

Yoghurt. Naturally!

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Hello, World!

A number of aspects of contemporary existence will happily tag me a novice, but today is a momentous occasion. I belong to another age technology-wise {I approach all gadgets with fear and trepidation}, and setting up this blog, well, is quite the achievement! What’s more relieving is that I’m not alone!

Anyway, I was recently researching material for a new novel and from what I unraveled, I’d like to dedicate this post to those enmeshed in despair. I came across a site, one of many sadly, that dispenses elaborate techniques on how to leave this life. Yes. I’m referring to suicide.

Comments offered to those interested ranged from ridiculing the failed attempts of the attempter to foolproof methods of succeeding and inflicting maximum hurt to those they plan to leave behind. Pleas feature as well, desperate words that hope to change the mind of the person in question, but most are unswayable. They are determined to die.

Life was intended to mold character, but these tests are unfortunately easier for some than they are for others. So for those who can’t seem to take the next breath, leave alone the next step, I want you to know that I’m thinking about you. Praying for you. Can relate to how you’re feeling because I’ve been there.

It’s worth it, life, and you’ll discover that it’s in the simple and little things that this truth heralds itself. 

Great Bite?

Vanilla Ice cream with toffee shavings. Enough said.  

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