tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60826797725013081372024-03-12T19:43:29.333-07:00ROMANCE: the male POVThis blog is for educational purposes (although I feel like I learn just as much from your comments). Dig into the male POV (point of view) for hero and supporting cast, for good guys, bad and inbetween. Find gems or alternate ways of writing male POV.
This blog has changed. I will be writing about what I fancy.RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.comBlogger486125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-67561948724609921002024-02-25T13:48:00.000-08:002024-02-25T13:48:50.457-08:00<p> I'm writing today to thank my fellow roses. I say roses referring to all authors who write for the traditional publisher, The Wild Rose Press. I asked them to tell me about their book and offer as a sample for this Blog on a first come first serve basis with a limit on submissions. What you'll check out is a wonderful sample of the quality of The Wild Rose Press authors.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquKH2LwTNhIrmTPm2DMQ_kWs-iLNuCbJMaagH4AkSMdWNAbhBt__gbbT1c6EZoas5s8iGZg5C0eH-TYS4HIHoZu7j8bfvqB3Jvx4NZPj8-9P2DVyMunttrnmygpEbI5-CTRibtMRe8lVRMKKcJP71fyiDrnOQNrByeYeqE0ftg-YNtQhuC7jrZXdQ2io/s375/BlueberrySwirlWaltz%20Cover750%5B144831%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquKH2LwTNhIrmTPm2DMQ_kWs-iLNuCbJMaagH4AkSMdWNAbhBt__gbbT1c6EZoas5s8iGZg5C0eH-TYS4HIHoZu7j8bfvqB3Jvx4NZPj8-9P2DVyMunttrnmygpEbI5-CTRibtMRe8lVRMKKcJP71fyiDrnOQNrByeYeqE0ftg-YNtQhuC7jrZXdQ2io/s320/BlueberrySwirlWaltz%20Cover750%5B144831%5D.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p>After a family crisis, Katie Hathaway must return home to help out in the
family's ice cream shop. She leaves behind her dream job of teaching ballroom
dance to spend her summer scooping ice cream and mixing milkshakes. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Chaz Hollander, Katie's high school crush, has also returned to town to work
in his family's business. After Katie treats him to a blueberry swirl sundae,
he invites her to the town's upcoming dance. The only problem is he has two
left feet. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>When Katie starts giving Chaz dance lessons, their chemistry ignites, and
the postponement of her dream doesn't seem as ominous. But financial woes and a
suspicious business deal cast a shadow on their budding relationship.<o:p></o:p></p><p>******************</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcPFmnUopaL-F9yJbEvypdUPgv5WxawXLiBQdAHZ3idfrKPYZTxo3oVHm1l3jq03iUBsQfeESvZAff1eXmogtaHJyfSwjHiw_UVUL9gubFOZTwtbWw-XziZrsiNOJm9GJ1ywFVrYfLRGsg5zqLjTWlI6IS6uQiFpUPqjRuCPDiah0lVhKGjl4IjRtGXE/s466/aaa%20yenta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcPFmnUopaL-F9yJbEvypdUPgv5WxawXLiBQdAHZ3idfrKPYZTxo3oVHm1l3jq03iUBsQfeESvZAff1eXmogtaHJyfSwjHiw_UVUL9gubFOZTwtbWw-XziZrsiNOJm9GJ1ywFVrYfLRGsg5zqLjTWlI6IS6uQiFpUPqjRuCPDiah0lVhKGjl4IjRtGXE/s320/aaa%20yenta.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; outline: none;">Do killers, stock manipulators, and kidnappers stalk the Temple?</span><br clear="none" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;" /><br clear="none" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;" /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; outline: none;">After the body of Roberto Gomez is discovered in Temple Israel's parking lot, Patricia Weiss, nee Reilly, exchanges her suburban-mom sneakers for gumshoes to investigate the supposed hit-and-run.</span><br clear="none" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;" /><br clear="none" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; outline: none;" /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; outline: none;">Inspired by her police detective dad, Patricia feels compelled to uncover who killed the hardworking custodian and why. Before she can progress with her investigation or work on problems in her difficult marriage to a busy cardiologist, and his controlling Jewish mother, she is plunged into the Temple's troubles. Her mentor Rabbi Deborah, who has guided Patricia through her own recent conversion to Judaism, disappears after delivering a controversial sermon in support of interfaith marriage. Despite her husband's concerns, Patricia joins forces with her buddy Brenda. Designating themselves The Yenta Patrol, they unravel the mysteries.</span></span></p><p>******************</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZDVNpSpoUDivW-SmXOqM3b0sAsP5kT0yZY3rPl6vd__J_k3F4ZfNVWu6l66yJ7i8LqcSSmYdBGsa0pKmU9XfR2P7nxNF-CgUQH86YEXT2y2vfeAHabtJy366ypJGGrjzgxoHvtz23lvjDBU09OuftaTr6hykzAwvTHWv1cXhi2R070hyphenhyphen-c4Llfw6kxI/s1832/hayes-cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1832" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZDVNpSpoUDivW-SmXOqM3b0sAsP5kT0yZY3rPl6vd__J_k3F4ZfNVWu6l66yJ7i8LqcSSmYdBGsa0pKmU9XfR2P7nxNF-CgUQH86YEXT2y2vfeAHabtJy366ypJGGrjzgxoHvtz23lvjDBU09OuftaTr6hykzAwvTHWv1cXhi2R070hyphenhyphen-c4Llfw6kxI/s320/hayes-cover.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><p><span face="-apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", roboto, helvetica, arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 18px;">A young widow’s world turns sideways when her daughter’s new coach is the hot contractor who years earlier took her heart, and her innocence. On the cusp of relaxing the walls she has constructed, Hayes discovers that the real deceptions came from unexpected sources. Can her new passion stand the exposure of long held secrets?</span></p><p>******************</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-g_SiF8xobkmm4IYSQiN0aN-BCpO3w7Qlk4RwwWCH6KlKUOH60R12vsForpp13uzD60Pu5kMqG-ewxbhFDpekArn7SlERbU6ceT_os2vz2z0ajLCuak1PeJ5ogHqOXdzUyuP1z6qmGdlMf4NfRw2Ot2jdSJBnjuhz7aisHKjAsnzzG9h-fdJMWoiIko/s218/iris%20rainbow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="136" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-g_SiF8xobkmm4IYSQiN0aN-BCpO3w7Qlk4RwwWCH6KlKUOH60R12vsForpp13uzD60Pu5kMqG-ewxbhFDpekArn7SlERbU6ceT_os2vz2z0ajLCuak1PeJ5ogHqOXdzUyuP1z6qmGdlMf4NfRw2Ot2jdSJBnjuhz7aisHKjAsnzzG9h-fdJMWoiIko/w192-h308/iris%20rainbow.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></p>Rebellious teen Teri Darden comes of age in the Summer of Love, 1967, falling hard for Tim Olson, who plays bass guitar in a soon-to-be-famous rock band called Virgin Ram. When the band goes on a lengthy tour, Tim and Teri not only lose touch with each other but the lies of his spiteful ex-girlfriend push Teri into the dark side of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll in the San Francisco of the 1960s.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">As his year-long tour comes to a close, Tim realizes how much he has missed Teri, but his efforts to find her again are futile. He goes from one bad marriage to another yet is always searching for Teri, until they meet again thirty years later.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Neither could quite forget the other, but can they rekindle what was lost?</span><p></p><p>******************</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPTcAwICZqAPCEzl7s8jgnIhO-4xrOhV3fMUuNUaXr9zhBLV9Ic_JeS6UWVnETXw3MnI_8ETgkaGIFVOtF0jbJq87IqHWdC6koBDPKPXnOy9IBC_8IqDWVWN0k2dNbcyi3g860QvIPOr4YQGqrekKCLnMzvEILIWpwNFbeG7xyoMjvrP8X7ghyphenhyphenQMvnqQ/s466/route%2066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="291" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPTcAwICZqAPCEzl7s8jgnIhO-4xrOhV3fMUuNUaXr9zhBLV9Ic_JeS6UWVnETXw3MnI_8ETgkaGIFVOtF0jbJq87IqHWdC6koBDPKPXnOy9IBC_8IqDWVWN0k2dNbcyi3g860QvIPOr4YQGqrekKCLnMzvEILIWpwNFbeG7xyoMjvrP8X7ghyphenhyphenQMvnqQ/s320/route%2066.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div>When Joel Tyler drove away from the factory to pick up the load of his rejected creation, the last thing he expected to see was a hitchhiking bride. He didn't have time for this. Besides, he had enough troubles of his own without picking up more. But he couldn't leave her on the side of the road.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Maddy Hayden was exhausted. She'd run away from a terrible situation without a plan or a destination. Hitchhiking was a bad idea. Worse was getting in a truck with a man traveling alone. He was probably a serial killer. Whatever. It was a suitable end to this day.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">When two people who are having the worst day of their lives meet, they can either crash and burn, or save each other.</span></span><br /><p>******************</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe8DAjObhJ8udKzucX298lE-B0JmNWI5BOJAhe-p3gqI9sPm24xSFGhTgmBAzSqmQcR9_38YufwnIXNqaxVCxpC79lLDT2U7D7UYmvuZ9A7tOtf58jucWKWqYNlRgQHCCv88w7Zr5uzVrvNX3llg4mePXyoMqVlCLDb87HmK8JLikmKGGxdWGMoJVmuc/s218/horse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="136" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe8DAjObhJ8udKzucX298lE-B0JmNWI5BOJAhe-p3gqI9sPm24xSFGhTgmBAzSqmQcR9_38YufwnIXNqaxVCxpC79lLDT2U7D7UYmvuZ9A7tOtf58jucWKWqYNlRgQHCCv88w7Zr5uzVrvNX3llg4mePXyoMqVlCLDb87HmK8JLikmKGGxdWGMoJVmuc/w178-h285/horse.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><br /><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When stable owner Cheyenne Modine meets vet Jack Carter, it's hate at first sight. He may look like the sexiest man alive but his arrogance tells her he's a privileged member of the elite Lexington, Kentucky, Thoroughbred world. Cheyenne Modine is exactly Jack's type-a smoking hot woman who loves horses-but her slurred speech calls up childhood memories of living with an alcoholic father, and Jack isn't about to travel that road again. After several chance encounters, the fireworks between them become a contest to see who touches who first. Can Jack and Cheyenne overcome their mistaken first impressions or will their gallop to the finish line end in murder by horseshoe?</span></span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: medium;">########################################################</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You can see why I love my fellow roses and there are many more. All accomplished, all great reads. All great friends...</span></p><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; outline: none;"><br /></span></div>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-82596215658188621492024-02-25T12:39:00.000-08:002024-02-25T12:39:10.856-08:00I'm back<p> After COVID and looking at the number of followers, I put the Blog on hiatus. But with the publishing of The Meet_Cute and its high demand, I took well-wishers' advice to start the Blog again. So I am writing today to say hi and will soon have another Blog entry.</p><p>Bob</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-65434662350695466122024-02-25T12:35:00.000-08:002024-02-25T12:35:18.935-08:00The ethics of ChatGPT<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I was thinking about the ethics surrounding ChatGPT and the like. Let's step back. We go to a critique group. Others suggest changes based on their experience as writers. We incorporate them. Is this unethical? Next, perhaps, we give our book to a line editor and maybe a content editor. Next, we hire or request ordinary people read it and give feedback. Feedback! Are these actions, ethical? Nobody questions this. But should we? No man is an island. To be human is to not only be an individual but part of a group, with all the benefits the group has to offer. </span></p><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><br style="outline: none !important;" /></div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">I say these things, not to argue a point but to cause reflection on ethics.</div>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-11250760089421890292022-11-13T17:12:00.006-08:002022-11-13T17:12:42.801-08:00the undefinable life of a romance writer<p> Once upon a time, I was an engineer. My wife came from the Philippines. While dating, I discovered, much to my liking, that she loved basketball, as most Filipinos/as do. I took her to a Sixers game she was in heaven. As we settled into married life, she became curious about that rough sport I was watching all day Sunday. NFL football.</p><p>Things changed when I started writing. I didn't have the time to sit through a whole game, let alone all day. And let's not forget Monday and Thursday. I wrote. She watched. I kept her company for periods, but I was damn close to being a football widower, lol.</p><p>As a side note, she watches baseball and soccer as well. Two sports I hardly paid attention to, but do enjoy these now given that I made many interruptions for writing.</p><p>I wouldn't say roles were reversed. It's just time and love.</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-1658562240016074112022-11-06T09:39:00.010-08:002022-11-06T10:49:25.595-08:00revisiting show don't tell<p>The real purpose of showing is to keep the reader hooked. When your story raises more<span> questions than it answers, the reader wants to read on.</span> </p><p>So when the novel starts, try not to explain why the characters are the way they are. Try not to spend too much time describing the surroundings. Try not to hand out resumes for each character.</p><p>The reader will glean from little tidbits dropped in conversation pieces of who these people are and why they do or say what they say.</p><p>Readers like to be engaged. They want to solve problems like a detective.</p><p>Try it.</p><p>Here's the first draft of the beginning of my novel <i>The Cute-Meeter</i> as an example.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Your slave is
smoking hot.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Come on, Sam. I
can’t; it’s against university policy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Maybe the Dean could
make an exception for a love-sick puppy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I am not.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“True, you don’t
have four legs.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Christopher spit
out just a bit of beer as a small laugh escaped him. “Your joke,” he shook his head,
“so lame.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Stick to the
point. You love her, don’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I plead the
fifth.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Justine, our
bartender, wiped up the beer and said in her usual flirty way. “If I had known
you were a dribbler, I would have taken you to the Knicks game instead of, you
know, Chrissy baby.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">She dribbled her
fine derriere to another customer, turned, and winked. <i>Oh, I got trouble</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I can’t believe what
just happened. Justine’s not your type. What have you been?...” Justine reached
for Dewar’s Scotch, well within earshot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">He shooshed Sam
and lowered his voice. “Either you’re a snob, or you don’t know her.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I’m not a snob.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I know. You were
my best man and still are. Although you might drop down to second place behind my
dog. Justine has a kid at home and is trying to finish her master’s too.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“But what’s with
the beckoning behind?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Back to me: I'm sure you'll notice that I don't supply the two men's full names or exactly what they do. I don't mention directly where this scene is located (NYC). I use a save-the-cat moment in describing the waitress, thereby showing Christopher's humanity.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">A little later, the subject gets back to Christopher's Ph.D. candidate:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“You’re meeting her
tomorrow, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Yep, she
still has that crazy idea for her thesis.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“My personal
opinion?…” Sam let his head lean, and his eyes roll.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Go ahead, Sam.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sam picked up a
slew of peanuts and stuffed his mouth. “I’m thin kun yous,” he wiped his mouth
and downed some beer. “I think yes, her idea is far-fetched, but it is legitimate enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh, come on.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“No, you come on.
You’re letting your old-school teaching methods get in the way. Give her a break.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The fifth.” He
patted Sam’s shoulder and pointed at the WyborowaVodka.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Back to me: Does the reader wonder what the woman's crazy idea is? Yes, and that's good because the reader will continue. The problem all writers have is maintaining these little mysteries throughout the entire story.</span></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-62393040615080154532022-10-23T07:59:00.003-07:002022-10-23T16:06:15.408-07:00Why haven't I been blogging<p>I was sincerely disappointed when I found out my publisher didn't do novels about a young girl who becomes a World Chess Champion. So I published it myself. I believe I sold around twenty copies. This either highlights the strength of the publisher (I sold hundreds of Cinnamon & Sugar), or I wrote a lousy story. OR...</p><p>There were other factors. I received three crazy & poor reviews:</p><p>This novel should have been for teenagers. [I stated that it was. I guess the guy didn't read the promo material... and was more interested in puffing himself up.]</p><p>This novel had racial signals. [Whatever that is. I deliberately left race out of the story except where absolutely necessary to understand the story. There were no signals. What I think is that a racist wanted to knock me. The way I write there is only pone race, the human race.] Do I hear an amen?]</p><p>This novel had sex in it. [It did not. Yes, when the protagonist is growing up she asks questions addressed to her big sister to satisfy her curiosity. I ask, who growing up doesn't exhibit curiosity? The reviewer asked me to write out the "sex" in the story. What turnup did she grow up under? Apparently, the Iranian morality police wrote this review. If you don't tell a realistic story...]</p><p>So, you see, I got turned off and could not write. Well, now that I let out a little steam. I'll be writing again. Perhaps my publisher will have me back. And yes, I'll probably blog much more often.</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-69268965647912424052022-07-24T11:05:00.000-07:002022-07-24T11:05:22.814-07:00The value of a compliment<p> Tread lightly here. Women are often turned off by a guy complimenting them. "Oh, it's a line. "He's a dog."</p><p>We are cautioned about sexual harassment, abuse, and using one's Job (position) to gain favors. All true and to be respected.</p><p>BUT: In romance movies and hopefully in books there comes an appropriate time where the two protagonists complement each other (or one does and it is appreciated). So what's the difference? They're either on a level playing field or recognize the remark as sincere. But there's magic here. They feel the same way. Yep, that's how romance works on one level, mutual attraction. So actually saying that you are attracted becomes an affirmation to the other that they are loved or at least desired by someone they desire too.</p><p>There may not be a better natural feeling than knowing that the other appreciates you as much as they appreciate them. This assumes a lot of info has been collected to jump to the conclusion in a romance that you are truly loved. When this happens picture fireworks, because that's the ball game.</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-30724989470464050622022-07-17T12:49:00.000-07:002022-07-17T12:49:41.594-07:00Rachel and Gabby: predictions based on no knowledge, lol<p>Okay, this is for the eyes of the ABC Bachelor fans only. Others can read that novel you've put off because life interrupts.</p><p>Gabby and Rachel are co-bachelorettes. They have become such great friends I just know they'll work well together.</p><p>BUT, in the previews you see some guys choosing which lady they like. So they refuse a rose from the 'wrong' bachelorette for them.</p><p>Although Gabby and Rachel question this, I think it best to clarify and I predict they'll like it more and more. I mean who wants a mate who doesn't want them, lol?</p><p>Gabby and Rachel are completely different in their personalities (and looks). So, it would be natural to quickly declare oneself team Gabby or Rachel. But who will and who will not? And there's always the possibility that a guy could change his mind, especially when he thinks he has no or little chance with the one he chose. BUT, how good a fit would it end up being? Ah, the complexities. I'm a chess master so I gravitate to this sort of intricacy in a story (or two stories).</p><p>There are many stories. There were 32 men but three were sent home on night one, last week. Who are they? The best place to see the cast is on various internet sites, probably ABC.</p><p>I'll have three columns in the future. Men for Gabby. Men for Rachel. The undecideds. And probably two more. Who Gabby likes and who Rachel likes. It's a bear.</p><p>The three sent home were predictable. Joey & Justin (twins) seemed (there are edits) to talk about their relationship with each other (too much). Where's the empathy, guys? Roby seemed only interested in showing off card tricks. Is this a one-way street? If so, tell the DMV.</p><p>Rachel Recchia is a gorgeous 26 yr old pilot and flight instructor with a sweet personality.</p><p>Gabby Windey, with eye-catching and unusual looks, is 31 and a ICU nurse and a former cheerleader for the Denver Broncos. She's very witty and down-to-earth. Both ladies have complementary hearts.</p><p>The men range in age from 23 to 36.</p><p>Mario Vassall, 31, personal trainer, got Gabby's first impression rose. Mario is a ball of energy who wants a family.</p><p>Tino Franco, 28, a general contractor, received Rachel's 1st rose. He is a go-with-the-flow type of guy who loves spending time with his family, friends, and dog.</p><p>That's all for now.</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-59053132064387027062022-07-17T10:46:00.007-07:002022-07-17T10:46:52.215-07:00Voice in novels clarified<p> I often wonder why most authors don't address a character's voice. They do pay attention to the author's voice, the story's voice, or the point of view.</p><p>Maybe when writing they don't think about it. So, one must describe some of the characters' voices, please.</p><p>Is he/she throaty, (like Marilyn Monroe), chirpy, halting, stuttery, high-pitched, low-low (like Scotty McCreery), staccato, flighty, deep (like the cookie monster, lol), have an accent (like Sean Connery)?</p><p>Enrich your story with characters' voices.</p><p><br /></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-13390396223971516292022-07-03T08:30:00.002-07:002022-07-03T08:30:18.237-07:00endless universe<p> As a physicist, I have always thought it not rational that the universe is limited in space and has a shape. There are many scientists that believe in multiple universes. Or that the one we can measure goes on forever. Just as there are gaps between galaxies so should there be gaps between so-called universes and our gap gives us a misimpression, since we can't see beyond it.</p><p>If there is infinite matter there has to be infinite life. And if there is infinite life one never has to worry about existence!</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-75430020953971983572022-03-06T09:38:00.001-08:002022-03-06T11:40:30.508-08:00Love is Blind<p>I found a show on Netflix called Love is Blind.</p><p>I enjoyed it from a philosophical point of view. If in meeting someone you are overpowered by physical attraction, do you not, at least for a while, ignore or fail to observe their compatibility with you? Some carry this on to marriage and wake up after it is too late. They get divorced, a messy and expensive enterprise that rips hearts.</p><p>On a minor note the show's producers must have encouraged the participants to toss around four-letter words like they were going out of style. i sincerely doubt that this represents the way people talk to each other.</p><p>The way it works: a bunch of men and women go on numerous dates in pods, separate rooms. They can't see each other. They only have words. Needless to say, this forces the two people in the pods to ask more serious questions than "my place or yours."</p><p>IMO, love is not blind but the technic brings people together who might not have given a second thought to the other upon meeting. They would have never talked except for courtesies like how are you, isn't the weather wonderful, got to love those (name a team). This doesn't circumvent natural selection because it is natural. Everything humans do is natural. And secondly, they have a chance to run for the hills if they are not physically attracted to their opposite (or even for other reasons).</p><p>Modern life is often shallow and fast-paced. It's our duty to slow down to appreciate the beauty in all things. Anyway, some of the proposals that come out of the show actually result in solid marriages. 2 out of 5. But that's not the point. The show is simply asking us to dig deeper before saying we are falling head over heals with someone. Falling implies losing control. Never diminish your ability to make kind-hearted and rational decisions. Then devote yourselves to that special someone.</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-59704083114709250432022-03-06T09:17:00.000-08:002022-03-06T09:17:34.198-08:00Seven Types of love displayed in a romance novel<p>The ancient Greeks had a thing for love. in fact, they intellectualized everything. This made for amazing advances in civilization.</p><p>They categorized love:</p><p>1. Eros, sensual passion</p><p>2. Ludus, playful love</p><p>3. Philautia, self-love</p><p>4. Storge, parental love</p><p>5. Philia, deep friendship</p><p>6. Agape, love for everyone</p><p>7. Pragma, committed love</p><p>8. Minia, obsessive love</p><p>It's those Greeks again. Many scholars water this down to Eros, Agape, and Philos. For the purpose of writing any romance story, I believe that all three types must show up in the novel to make it a meaningful success.</p><p>Eros: erotic love or intimate love but according to Plato: Eros is the natural desire to seek beauty. He wrote, "he who loves the beautiful is called a lover because he partakes of it." Okay, this could be an excuse for jumping from bed to bed. But I see a man or woman feeling close or one to become part of that beauty.</p><p>Philia: Ideal love or brotherly love. (Philadelphia). Aristotle said that pone must feel love for themselves before they can love others. Plato theorized that the best philia blossoms out of eros. (your mate is your best friend.)</p><p>Agape: Universal love. A good current example are the strangers in Poland that are taking into their homes, Ukranians. Agape is something inside us that has love for all living things. There are those who hate ass a way of life. This is not only defective and destructive but a denial of purpose of life.</p><p>So what does this have to do with writing romance novels. It's the arcs or growth as human beings that your characters travel through that make your story complete. A story that only focuses on Eros is written in a vacuum. Like a true artist you may paint a picture of how your characters interact in this world and how these goals to be better at life change the way they are. And how about that prospective mate who requests change or challenges to bring out the best in both. And what of their friends? How do they react to events around them together or apart?</p><p>Today, it is not sufficient, IMO, to not show them reacting and pro-acting in this world.</p><p><br /></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-87847065234544111222022-02-13T12:40:00.001-08:002022-02-13T12:47:00.566-08:00The Cute-Meeter<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
Cute-Meeter<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">At
Pennsylvania University, the head of the graduate department, Joseph Blough,
called in his favorite TA, Candice Striper.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I
perused your proposal. You have got to be kidding, you can’t earn your PhD on such
drivel.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“But
Professor Blough, it's ground never covered before. Think about the advance in
human psychology, the breaking of myths. It could put PU on the map.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Blough
was somewhat swayed by the idea of trading integrity for economic gain. But
Candice was all wrong on two counts. She shouldn’t become the subject of her
own experiment and with her figure-skating figure, and being gorgeous, <i>God
forbid my wife would hear my thoughts</i>, Chinese face, and silky raven hair
down to her fine derriere. <i>I have to stop.<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“So,
Candice, because of your beauty, I hope you don’t mind me stating the obvious,
your little experiment will be ruined the moment you start.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Thank
you, professor. That’s just it, the prettier I am the more likely this experiment
will work.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“That’s
the problem.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I’ve
tried hard to get somebody, anybody to help me.”<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Try
again.”<o:p></o:p></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-29428050628343621142022-02-06T09:25:00.008-08:002022-02-06T09:25:55.944-08:00I've reached the end of the internet<p> I may be changing direction in my writing. I have written award-winning romance novels and yet haven't sold that much. I don't care for the reasons why. It could be talent, marketing, whatever. I'm moving on.</p><p>My first novel Neanderthals and the Garden of Eden sold a ton (approx. 5000 copies) but the romances didn't get close. In spite of that the publisher <i>The Wild Rose Press</i> took me in and I wrote an important novel about racial hatred, <i>Cinnamon & Sugar</i>. It sold less than 500. BTW, there's only one race, the human race. The Nazis would like you to believe there are more than one. Don't buy into their propaganda.</p><p>I'm not giving up on writing. It's more like a hobby than a profession. But I have decided to write what I want no matter what it is instead of writing romance because I think it will sell.</p><p>So here's my projects that I have yet to pen or had abandoned:</p><p><i>The Girl With Seven Boyfriends </i>(one for each day of the week). I'm on page 85. This one is too sexy for words. And I hesitate to put certain things my bad girl does into words. Perhaps I'll use a non de plume.</p><p>A children's book (my idea is top-secret). This should be fun and short. You know it takes way too long to write a novel.</p><p>I have an idea for a short story or novella. Anyway I'm not sure which project to do first.</p><p>.......................</p><p>On another subject, I believe we are near the end of the pandemic and I want to say one thing about the foundation of many religions. The golden rule. This means that one should treat everybody with the love you would hope they would show you. In short, those who refuse masks are saying I don't care about you. Those who don't get vaccinated, much the same.</p><p>I know priests that say the same but oddly some priests seem to promote the opposite. I just listen to what Jesus said and follow it.</p><p>The good news is we may all soon go back to a world in which masks are not needed in general and vaccines become a matter of personal choice (just like the flu vaccine).</p><p>I know when I write these thoughts s I may lose readers but I never had that many to start with, lol.</p><p><br /></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-53263494868051371272022-01-10T11:35:00.002-08:002022-01-11T14:25:07.472-08:00My new book<p> I have been in a funk and not blogging because my new book, The Chess Master, has to date only sold 5 copies. One reason is that I don't like marketing, but at least I should blog about it.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-shWGUV7W0kM/YdyJDg_qkII/AAAAAAAAAlw/D4vlg8pSG5UGc638TRAVr7TzjBeekF8fACNcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="145" height="512" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-shWGUV7W0kM/YdyJDg_qkII/AAAAAAAAAlw/D4vlg8pSG5UGc638TRAVr7TzjBeekF8fACNcBGAsYHQ/w341-h512/image.png" width="341" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Click below to go to Amazon</div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chess-Master-Robert-W-Richard-ebook/dp/B09NP89LQL/ref=sr_1_3?crid=4913YVZWB4HL&keywords=the+chess+master&qid=1641842809&s=digital-text&sprefix=the+chess+master%2Cdigital-text%2C268&sr=1-3"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Chess Master</span></b></a><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>REVIEWS:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cy Lakdawala</b>, international master and at latest
count author of 53 books on chess, wrote. “<i>The Chess Master</i> manages to
capture the hearts, minds, and souls of chess players of all ratings. This is
perhaps the best book of fiction on the subject of chess. I give it five stars.
It should be in everybody’s library.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Dr. Leroy Dubeck</b>, former USCF President, and current
USCF master, wrote. “<i>The Chess Master</i> reminds me of The Queen’s Gambit
in that it follows the life of a genius girl, but that’s where it stops. It’s
contemporary, more intense regarding chess (the author is a USCF master), and
it doesn’t cut the story short. You will see how talent and inspired work lands
the protagonist at the age of seventeen in a match for the world championship,
and you will know who wins. This is a must-buy chess book.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Story:</b> Tayshia is turning six, but her daddy
isn’t there to celebrate, and he never will be. At least she has her two
sisters, brother, and mom. Yet, she’s not happy. Her daddy used to play chess
with her, which she remembers for the many happy hours and his love. Like many
six-year-olds, she enters a fantasy world with her daddy as her chess and life
mentor. She’s brilliant and obsessed with making her daddy proud by becoming
the best chess player she can be. Along the way, we see the family struggle
without a father, husband. We also see Tayshia mature into a phenomenal chess
player worthy of a match for the world chess championship. And you'll be with her
when she plays that match.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>A NOTE FROM THE AUTHORS<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sami Robinson</b>, author of Broken Toy: “Bob, never
having been a little black girl from a run-down neighborhood, needed my help.
What we both didn’t count on was Tayshia’s genius being so overwhelming. But my
friend had that down pat. You are going to love this girl.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Robert W Richard</b> (Bob) also writes as RW Richard and
won an award for the best romance of the year with Autumn Breeze. “Only chess
players know how all-consuming the game is. In college, I spent most of my time
at the chess club. Later in life and married, I sacrificed chess for my family
life and a career as an engineer. No regrets, because now in semi-retirement, I
get to live the life of a great player vicariously.”<o:p></o:p></p><p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The authors would appreciate your reviews. The
authors rate this book good for general audiences P<b>G</b>.</span></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Okay fans and friends. I feel better now...</span></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-44427910897383042292021-11-28T19:31:00.002-08:002021-11-30T11:50:32.328-08:00 1. Men nurtured by their moms<p><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">I wonder what constitutes a fatal flaw. We’re writing. We’re told to introduce a fatal flaw. Well, don’t take that too literally unless you’re writing a tragedy or some fatalistic or nihilistic fare. No room for a romance with a happily ever after, right?</span></p><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-size: 15.4px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">A man not loved and nurtured by his mother is nearly ruined IMO. If you have a situation like that, you’ll walk a minefield with at least two deep arcs. One arc over his mom and the other over being able to love someone in a mature way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">This problem is a great excuse to read case histories and studies on this subject. When done, try a man without a father figure or a father who didn’t love or nurture. The same goes for heroines.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s a rare child who can see he or she isn’t loved and decides he or she is of value and will grow up normally and be able to love. Because without examples, how will they be able to figure it out? Maybe Sponge Bob has something to say. No seriously, kids could learn from some TV character or later from some book or some great teacher how love works. Somewhere along the line, they’ll need to experience it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">Men, nurtured and loved by their moms, make better heroes or at least ones who are a little easier to write. There are plenty of other demons lurking to give your hero ‘fatal flaws.’ Try to save mom, she'd appreciate it.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">No more wire hangers.</span></div></span>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-9859495575533298902021-11-14T11:31:00.001-08:002021-11-14T11:31:51.717-08:00Do men like Tomboys?<p> All of us have attributes of both sexes in varying degrees. A Tomboy is often labeled as competitive, especially in sports. Or they might like to fix cars, lift weights, take to hammer and nails, etc.</p><p>I can only speak for myself this time because every man has a different opinion of who they are attracted, and why. I like women who are competitive in whatever they want to do. I don't find attractive heavy weight lifting by a woman because I find myself more attracted to the waif or athletic type.</p><p>I do want a woman to challenge and I firmly believe that men and women are equals.</p><p>This is why this season of The Bachelorette (ABC) intrigues me.</p><p>Michelle Young is the bachelorette and she's a Tomboy. In high school, she finished in second place all-state basketball. This is where her urge to excel manifests itself. She was a kindergarten teacher and now teaches fifth-grade. She, at first, refused ABC's gig, because she didn't want to abandon her 'kids.' ABC rearranged the schedule to accommodate her.</p><p>She's not the kind of Tomboy who always wants to top a male, is in Doris Day's portrayal in Annie Get Your Gun. No, Michelle understands that collaboration should lead to love but don't challenge her in basketball.</p><p>In the second episode, she had her men seated in small schoolroom desks and quizzed them. Some were god awful in arithmetic, lol, and her kid helpers weren't afraid to point it out.</p><p>Michelle's fear is not being seen [as a person or as a woman]. She grew up the only bi-racial girl and didn't get asked out on dates. [Sometimes missing a part of oneself can lead to excellence in another area as compensation, hence basketball.]</p><p>Michelle is lovely and loving and would make any man a good partner.</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-35817307924443971862021-11-07T13:56:00.004-08:002021-11-07T13:56:26.140-08:00Nesting<p> Often neglected as a technique in a romance novel is showing an adult male nesting. If he's excited to prepare a room for a new baby, a mother-in-law, lol, or more to the point the lady who is about to move in and needs an office, the writer has another opportunity to enrich the story and make the characters more real. One thing I see often is the male running around trying to straighten up. Not quite the same flavor, but he gets points and the reader will wonder if he'll just backslide back into slobbery.</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-24966986319665376022021-10-31T11:04:00.008-07:002021-10-31T11:04:51.668-07:00Getting back to self-publishing<p> I thought I had it made being picked up by The Wild Rose Press for my New Adult, Romance, <i>Cinnamon & Sugar.</i> I did do much better sales-wise than I did with my previous books which I self-published.</p><p>After enjoying The Queen's Gambit, both as a novel and limited Netflix series I decided to write a story with chess as the theme. Since I'm also a chess master it should be easy to show the real world of tournament and match chess. It was, but when I presented it to The Wild Rose Press they turned it down because they objected to me using real chess players' names in the body of the work and it the ms. also has a small period of time in which Covid influences the story.</p><p>So I sent out queries and so far not positive responses. I'm antsy to get this story about a young black girl in a poor neighborhood, who lost her daddy and remembers the chess they shared out to the public.</p><p>So back at square one, I bought ISBN's from Bowker, found suitable front and back cover shots, and got my copyright.</p><p>Next, I decided to submit to both Amazon and IngramSpark to do my print on Demand services. IngramSpark gets the book into bookstores and Libraries as well as everywhere else and Amazon has a strong hold on the online sales via Kindle. Of course, I'll reach out to Barnes & Noble via Nook as well.</p><p>I write all this to save you time if you are thinking about self-publishing. I have chosen the best paths. You can email me anytime if you want to discuss this. I'm at rwrichard@ymail.com.</p><p>p.s. Since I am having the story professionally edited (highly recommended) I will try a small number of literary agents before I self-publish. Yes, all that I wrote cost money but if you believe in your story and think it has merit to the readers then at the very least, satisfaction will come from knowing you didn't cut corners. Next stop marketing and more spending...</p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-71694888073255278042021-10-17T12:56:00.000-07:002021-10-17T12:56:00.384-07:00The new Bachelorette<p>ABC writes:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After joining Matt James' season as a [very] late arrival,
Michelle [Young] immediately stole The Bachelor's attention, along with the
hearts of millions of Americans who fell in love with her captivating smile and
charming sense of humor. A former Division 1 basketball player from Minnesota,
the 28-year-old kindergarten [4<sup>th</sup> & 5<sup>th</sup> now] teacher
now focuses on preparing her students to be the next generation of community
leaders.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michelle has big dreams for the future and says she wants a
man by her side that is supportive and driven to make the world a better place
[and treats her as a complete equal]. She is looking for the Superman to her
Superwoman and is ready to find a love with whom she can start a family of her
own.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bob writes: Yes, and Michelle finished as runner up in Matt’s
season. The moment she arrived on Matt’s season I told everyone she was my
favorite. Not because she was the most beautiful. No, maybe she’s a 7 or 8 out
of 10 (although her eyes are amazing.] It was her big heart that blew me away.
I guess I’m a sucker for an elementary school teacher. So I await the premiere
of The Bachelorette on ABC Tuesday, the 19<sup>th</sup>, 2021. And I’ll go so
far as to say she will be my favorite bachelorette. That’s saying a lot with
the likes of Tayshia Adams, Ashley Hebert, and others as fond memories. I say
others because I tend to forget particulars.<o:p></o:p></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-6815779944241044052021-10-10T10:57:00.004-07:002021-10-10T10:57:49.298-07:00Call me a sap<p>I had a simple thought, and there are many where that came
from. I walk with my wife everyday, and yesterday I observed the beauty of the
trees and how they offer shelter to the birds. The birds in turn go about
spreading seeds. Every living thing has a job(s) to do and all the jobs are
about helping themselves and the other, be it animal, human, or vegetation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And why? Imo, we are heading to perfection. We may never get
there but things are evolving. We may fail but there are other planets. It is
as if surely this experiment called life that the Creator started an infinite
time ago must completely glorify and justify the purpose. It seems that on this
planet only humans can consciously think these thoughts or alternative
explanations. Why fight it? It sure beats nothingness. This striving toward
perfection will, IMO, ceaselessly be strived to and in one form or another we
will always witness and help. Call it heaven or reincarnation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So do your part. Be a sap or sapling.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, how to turn this into romance writing? It’s a job and a
way of giving back the talents the Creator gave us. You are selected by yourself and currently powers beyond your full understanding to spread the seed. Love is the seed that helps all living things progress.<o:p></o:p></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-67366103380687170842021-10-03T08:28:00.002-07:002021-10-03T08:28:35.645-07:00Erotica versus romance<p>A friend of mine sent a New York Times article on an Erotica (An Erotica Pioneer Goes from Hero to villain for dozens of authors) author who was having legal trouble with her publisher. I wrote back:</p><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr">Apparently, I have reached the limit of free articles and I haven't even started yet (of maybe a long time ago)... Anyway, I found the article under PressNewsAgency. Also NYT was there too but I dare not go there, lol. I read it, yay.</div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><br /></div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr">Now for my critique. First of all, thank you for this article. The reporter got most of it right. Naturally when you don't really know the industries a good reporter gathers disparate facts and at some point moves on because it's his/her job to continue onto another assignment. So, first off Erotica has a different purpose and shouldn't be lumped in with romance. Romance is about love. Erotica is about sex. They're separate genres. Also the reporter lumped all small, medium and independent presses into one category. A category of scammers. I got published through the Wild Rose Press a highly respected and 100% ethical publisher. They were attracted to my interracial story, which I mostly write.</div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><br /></div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr">Lately I have veered from romance. My latest, The Chess Master, is a story about a little girl who lost her daddy and struggles with reality, as she 'talks' to him every night. I might try a mystery, magical realism, or sci fi. I just don't know yet. How about you? what are you doing with the written word?</div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><br /></div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr">BTW, RWA (Romance Writers of America) is sort of imploding thanks to lingering Trumpists (IMO) who bring their virulent form of racism to the forums. They toasted me about Cinnamon & Sugar, really a sweet story. The RWA has tried to fix this problem but it struggles on. So I'm probably not going to renew in 2022, not necessarily because of their struggles but because I may be moving on to other genres as mentioned..</div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr"><br /></div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr">I hope all is well with you,</div><div data-setdir="false" dir="ltr">Bob</div><div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /></div>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-12454473591384141062021-09-28T12:30:00.003-07:002021-10-03T08:15:57.708-07:00Top Pop song year by year of the twentieth century<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Music is on my mind. I had a little time so I compiled the top pop song each year from 1901 to 2000. I used Playback.fm mostly as my source. IMO, for some reason, Rhapsody in Blue became the top pop song. It is so much more than that. To me it is not only the greatest 'song' of the twentieth century, it's the best piece of music ever written and performed. As you go thru this you may say why didn't my song take number one. Sometimes things were happening in the nation that pushed a otherwise good song over a great one like Respect by Aretha Franklin considered by many to be the greatest hit. What you see below is unfiltered.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I see is the growth of the nation in these songs, many reflect the year in which they made number one.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1901: Stars &
Stripes Forever, John Philip Sousa<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1902: Tell Me
Pretty Maiden, Jimmy Davis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1903: In the Good
Old Summertime, Haydn Quartet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1904: Uncle Josh
& the Insurance Company, Cal Stewart* Comedy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1905: The Preacher
and the Bear, George Fairman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1906: Nobody, Bert
Williams<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1907: Vesti La
Giubba, Enrico Caruso<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1908: Take Me out
to the Ball Game, Billy Murray<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1909: Swing Low,
Sweet Chariot, Fisk University Jubilee Quartet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1910: Let Me Call
You Sweetheart, Peerless Quartet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1911: Some of
These Days, Sophie Tucker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1912: That
Haunting Melody, Al Jolson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1913: When Irish
Eyes Are Smiling, Chauncy Olcott<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1914: By the
Beautiful Sea, Heidelberg Quintet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1915: Hello,
Frisco! Olive Kline & Reinald Werrenrath<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1916: Somewhere a
Voice is Calling,</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">John
McCormack<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1917: Over There,</span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nora Bayes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1918: Tiger Rag,
Original Dixieland Jazz Band<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1919: After You've
Gone, Marion Harris<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1920: Swanee, Al
Jolson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1921: I Ain't Got
Nobody,</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Marion
Harris<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1922: My Man,
Fanny Brice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1923: Down Hearted
Blues, Bessie Smith<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1924: Rhapsody in
Blue, George Gershwin* much more than a song<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1925: Sweet
Georgia Brown, Ben Bernie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1926: Bye Bye,
Blackbird, Gene Austin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1927: Stardust,
Hoagy Carmichael<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1928: T For Texas
(Blue Yodel No 1), Jimmie Rodgers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1929: Makin'
Whoopee, Eddie Cantor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1930: Happy Days
Are Here Again, Ben Selvin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1931: Minnie the
Moocher Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1932: Night &
Day, Fred Astaire & Leo Reisman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1933: Stormy
Weather,</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ethel
Waters<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1934: Moon Glow,
Benny Goodman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1935: Cheek to
Cheek, Fred Astaire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1936: Pennies From
Heaven, Bing Crosby<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1937: Sing, Sing,
Sing (With A Swing), Benny Goodman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1938: Begin the
Beguine, Artie Shaw<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1939: Over the
Rainbow, Judy Garland<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1940: In the Mood,
Glenn Miller<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1941: Chattanooga
Choo Choo, Glenn Miller<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1942: White
Christmas, Bing Crosby<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1943: Paper Doll,
The Mills Brothers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1944: Swinging On
a Star, Bing Crosby<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1945: Sentimental
Journey Les Brown & Doris Day<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1946: Prisoner of
Love, Perry Como<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1947: Near You,
Francis Craig<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1948: Buttons
& Bows, Dinah Shore<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1949: Riders in
the Sky, Vaughn Monroe<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1950: Mona Lisa,
Nat King Cole<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1951: Too Young,
Nat King Cole<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1952: You Belong
to Me, Jo Stafford<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1953: Vaya Con
Dios, Les Paul & Mary Ford<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1954: Mister
Sandman, The Chordettes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1955: Rock Around
the Clock, Bill Haley & his Comets<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1956: Que sera sera,
Doris Day<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1957: Jailhouse
Rock, Elvis Presley<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1958: Tom Dooley,
The Kingston Trio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1959: Mack the
Knife, Bobby Darin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1960: Are You
Lonesome Tonight?, Elvis Presley<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1961: Let's Twist
Again, Chubby Checker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1962: I Can't Stop
Loving You, Ray Charles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1963: Devil in
Disguise, Elvis Presley<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1964: Oh, Pretty
Woman, Roy Orbison<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1965: (I Can't Get
No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1966: Strangers in
the Night, Frank Sinatra<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1967: A Whiter
Shade of Pale, Procol Harum<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1968: Hey Jude,
The Beatles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1969: Get Back,
The Beatles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1970: Let It Be,
The Beatles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1971: My Sweet
Lord, George Harrison<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1972:</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">American Pie, Don
McLean<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1973: Angie, The
Rolling Stones<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1974:</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Kung Fu Fighting,
Carl Douglas<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1975: I Can Help,
Billy Swan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1976: Dancing
Queen, Abba<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1977: Hotel
California, Eagles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1978: Stayin'
Alive, Bee Gees<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1979: Heart of
Glass, Blondie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1980: Another
Brick in the Wall, Pink Floyd<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1981: Bette Davis
Eyes, Kim Carnes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1982: Eye of the
Tiger, Survivor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1983: Flashdance
What a Feeling, Irene Cara<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1984: Careless
Whisper, George Michael<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1985: We Are the
World, USA For Africa<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1986: Take My
Breath Away, Berlin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1987: I Wanna
Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), Whitney Houston<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1988: A Groovy
Kind of Love, Phil Collins<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1989: Like a
Prayer, Madonna<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1990: Nothing
Compares 2 U, Sinead O'Connor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1991: (Everything
I Do) I Do it For You, Bryan Adams<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1992: I Will
Always Love You, Whitney Houston<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1993: I Can't Help
Falling in Love With You, UB40<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1994: The Sign,
Ace of Base<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1995: Gangsta's
Paradise, Coolio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1996: Macarena,
Los Del Rio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1997:</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Candle in the Wind
'97, Elton John<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1998:</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My Heart Will Go
On, Celine Dion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1999: Baby One
More Time, Britney Spears<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">2000: Music,
Madonna<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><p></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-53305527400187130372021-09-26T12:54:00.003-07:002021-09-26T12:54:24.380-07:00Writing eulogies<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Eulogy writing 101</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">At weddings, at
funerals many stand up and repeat the </span>Pablum<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> of often said things about the
couple or dearly departed. They do this because sharing unique things about the
subject injects the speaker into the speech. The speaker often thinks speaking
that way will look like an ego trip.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nonsense.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The listener wants
to know more about the couple, the departed. They want to enrich their memories
and if you are the only person to do it--do it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s a shortened
version of my eulogy for my, which I feared would not be well received but
found out afterwards that people loved it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Mom’s Eulogy:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">INTRO (welcome,
and names)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But first, so you know,
for the last fifteen years mom from age 80 to 95 struggled with Alzheimer’s and
she did it with grace. Not once did she get angry. Quite the reverse, she always
smiled, handed out kisses. She was known for many phrases but the best one is: “All
I know is that I love you.” That’s about all she knew during her struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">About five years
ago at the Christmas Party put on by my sister, Chris, my sisters and I commiserated
over mom’s disease. I blurted out, “I want my mommy back,” without realizing
what I just said. Mimi then said, “you just said mommy.” Her eyebrows went up. I
surprised myself. I hadn’t been drinking. I hadn’t been crying. I didn’t eat
that many of Chris’s cookies. After tears did come to my eyes, I marveled over
what I just said trying to understand. I thought about the complex psychology
that goes into being human. I wondered if there was a little boy inside me that
never left.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Since that time, I
thought a lot about it and I began remembering things that led to trapping the
boy inside a man. So what I’m about to share with you has never been spoken of before.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Basically, Mom and
I were alone for my first five years and because Bill was a baby let’s make
that seven years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So what did mom do
to make me who I am today?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Since it was just mom
and I when dad went to work, she taught me many things, most of them spiritual,
plus she threw in a copious amount of hugs, encouraging words, and later lunch bag
notes. I had no pre-K, just mom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">First of all, and most
important, she taught me to pray with her the rosary every day. Is it any
wonder I became an altar boy or when finishing St. Joe’s College, toyed with becoming
a priest? She even took me over to Saint Cecilia’s to join the choir. That didn’t
go well, but I tried for her sake because to her I could sing on American Bandstand.
I wish. Move over Little Richard for a littler Richard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most fun of all, her
girlfriends would come over some days and they and mom took turns teaching me
to jitterbug, waltz, and whatever I could do without falling down. They’d take my
hand and twirl me around. But I fell more times than Chevy Chase. I wish I retained
those lessons. Now I dance like Big Bird. As remedial learning, I usually snuck
down the basement’s steps to watch the couples dance on Saturday night. My mom
and dad, always in love, danced on and on. No wonder I’m an incurable romantic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you, mom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was getting an
allowance that I don’t think dad knew about. Mom knew I was interested in the
chess set sold for a dollar at the Rexall across from Saint Cecilia’s because I
stopped buying nickel candies and I told her I thought the game was cool. Some how
my five weeks of five nickels turned into twenty nickels in one day. I never
questioned it. It was not a miracle, it was a miracle named mom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you, mom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She always told us
that we had a purpose, which was to love our neighbor and that all people are
neighbors and to love God. Every day she would take me aside and talk about faith
and love. I thought I was living with a nun but I knew she was my mom and she danced
way too much to be a nun. Besides, there was this guy who came home every night
and after a while a whole bunch of kids. No matter the number of kids, mom
always showed love for each of us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She also taught us
that love is an action word. Just saying I love you means nothing if you can’t
put energy into it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you, Mom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">She even had a
ruler with the golden rule written across it. Which she playfully chased us
around with when we did something naughty. But really, I was never naughty. Why
would I be with super mom always near?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My mom, with one
baby on her hip always said we had two choices, both of them hers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I told her I was
shy with girls and she taught me that everybody wants to be treated with kindness
and that I should just talk to them and listen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m listening, Mom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you so much
for celebrating with us the greatest woman any of us had the blessed providence
to call, mommy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We miss you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you, Mom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082679772501308137.post-86910288122800756332021-09-19T12:57:00.000-07:002021-09-19T12:57:03.592-07:00The Kiss<p>The Kiss</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps the most intimate way of sharing and showing love.
The Kiss shows affection, that you care. You could kiss your dog, friend, lover,
even a tree. It’s all about recognizing that we are not alone and want to celebrate
the beauty of life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A romance novel without showing any given kiss is sorely
lacking, IMO. Some writers become hyper aware of the altered state brought on
by sex but forget that the kiss is the perfect glue that holds elements of all
the emotions swirling around intimacy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a scene with a kiss, we must show not tell, because it is
that important (especially in a romance novel). Kisses can be life changing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps you have met in your life’s travels a person who
harbors a secret crush. In greeting they seem unsure if they should go for your
lips but you head for her/his cheek. There’s drama there that most people are
unaware of. This is the stuff of story arcs and character development.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On a lighter note I have seen people kiss a bear bottle and
isn’t there a candy called a kiss?<o:p></o:p></p>RW Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08473786472219141232noreply@blogger.com0