iPod Essentials #38: "Georgy Girl"--The New Seekers

I was thrilled when iTunes finally released this song. It's the theme song to one of my favorites movies, Georgy Girl. It's also the name of my five-year-old Siberian husky. When I adopted her last year, the rescue facility had named her Peanut, of all things. I looked at her, and the line, "There's another Georgy down deep inside" kept running through my mind.

Sure enough, Georgy has proven herself to be a great dog, though she has a couple of odd quirks about toys. She's so happy and strong. Not a Peanut.

This song is inspirational and tells the story of the film in two minutes.

Resolutions

Shame on me. It's been over a month since my last posting. English teachers don't have lives during their semesters due to papers, papers, exams, more papers, and final grades.

In 2008, I resolve to find a small publisher or a literary agent for my latest Quinn manuscript, which is floating around in Agentspace. I will complete and market my newest manscript (almost done). I will find a better-paying B Job. Part-time community college teaching is just not working out anymore since life in So Cal is now too damn expensive, and this country is heading toward a recession.

On the personal front, I will reach my goal weight with Weight Watchers. (The program does work as long as you track your points.) I will stay healthy and strong with exercise and stress reduction. I will go to Peru for ten days in July. (My passport and I haven't been out of the country in two years!) Despite life's challenges, I will try to remain positive.

Oh, yeah, I also resolve to blog more frequently.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

iPod Essentials #37: "Love Comes Quickly"--Pet Shop Boys

Ahhh, every time I hear this selection I picture myself in my bedroom thinking about my senior year in college and the guy I couldn't have. A moody but hopeful song, the lyrics and synthesizer gelled in a way that I remained hopeful that one day I could change his mind about me. It never happened. I wonder what he's doing now.

What's Wrong With GENERAL HOSPITAL

Sigh...I have watched GH since its glory days in the 80's. GH had it all: great acting, exciting stories, mystery and intrigue, and hot romances.

But this week...I'm not sure if I will be tuning in much longer.

I'm beginning to believe that the suits on the show and its writers hate women. This "Spook Island" storyline, with Nicolas's uncontrollable mental state and the umpteenth mob war, is ridiculous. The death of Emily Quartermaine, Nicolas's beloved, was horrific, even for daytime standards. (Hey, I write mysteries, so I'm no stranger to bloodshed or corpses.) You heard Emily being strangled, and it was graphic. I'm having trouble shaking it.

Why are ratings down? First, get Sonny and Jason out of the mob business. Give women characters lives other than pining for men they can't be with (i.e. Jason and Elizabeth). Bring back the romance and adventure. Bring back the veterans (like Genie Francis), and get rid of the NIGHT SHIFT crew. Writers should be required to study videotapes of the 1980-1990 period and learn how to tell a story.

Heartbreak

Imagine coming home to something that is no longer there. That is happening to over 2,000 families in the southern California area right now, the wildfire victims. They are now forced to grieve, deal with the idiots at FEMA and insurance companies, and rebuild their lives and homes. Not an easy thing to do at all.

Some people, like moronic commentation Glenn Beck, believe that these people are facing this loss since they have "anti-Christian" or "liberal" beliefs. There is no logical reasoning behind this.

Tragedies occur at will. I don't think God plans them or that people deserve them. They just happen. It's our responsibility to support our fellow Californians.

iPod Essentials #36: "Every Day Is Like Halloween"--Ministry

Before they turned Industrial and angry in the early 90's, Ministry was a great mid 80's New Wave dance band. "Halloween" does maintain an air of anti-establishment and pro-individuality; however, it is so danceable. You have to move your feet and your bodies. A great thing to do on this Halloween week!

iPod Essentials #35: "Lowdown"--Boz Scaggs

An oldie, but a killer song from a killer pop album. I love the blue in Scagg's voice, regardless of whether or not he's singing a dance tune, like "Lowdown" or a ballad. He's lived, and it shows in his music. Scaggs also has range. He can easily reach high notes. Nice, tight song.

Fall From Gold

As a alumus of Thousand Oaks High School, I am dismayed about the truth from Marion Jones, who was a star athlete. What compelled her to use steroids? (I don't buy the typical athlete's excuse that he or she was taking flaxseed oil from a trainer. Athletes prize their bodies, so they know everything they put into them.) Didn't she believe enough in her talent?

When her first husband, shotputter C.J. Hunter, was banned from the 2000 Sydney games for testing positive for a banned substance, I was suspicious of her accomplishments, especially when she would cross finish lines far ahead of everyone else on the track. I wanted to believe that she trained hard, and her victories were because of this reason.

I shouldn't be so naive anymore. We live in a society of cheats and liars. I feel sorry for young kids. Between doping athletes and drug-addicted, no-talented celebrities, who can they believe in? I guess Mom and Dad. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad.

iPod Essentials #34: "Peter Gunn"--Art of Noise

This Essential is a recent download to my Pod. It's one of those songs that you forget about until you hear it playing on the radio (which is seldom). It's a jazzy, techno remake of the classic theme of the 60's TV show, written by the late great Henry Mancini, I believe. It's sexy, great when you're thinking about writing those gun-wielding scenes in your manuscript.

Join Together

Writers groups are invaluable inspiration to learn about the craft, network with others, and motivate yourself to finish your work. I find whenever I attend at MWA So Cal or a SinC/LA meeting, I take my manuscripts and myself more seriously. It's a domino effect: one person finishes a work, another gets something else published, and so forth. If they can do it, so will I.

If you're new to writing, or if you've been struggling to complete a work, join a writer's group or an organization. Join now.

iPod Essentials #33: "New Toy"--Lene Lovitch

This Essentials is dedicated to my new desktop computer, which I will begin installing tomorrow. (I've heard bad things about Vista, so I'm a bit nervous.). My new computer is a Dell, like usual, but this time it was a One Time Only value on QVC. I saved about $700, even though it has a lot of bells and whistles.

"New Toy" is a silly song about casual flings. Though I don't like replacing big-ticket items until they begin to give me problems, some things and flings can be light.

Wish me luck...

iPod Essentials #32: "Dreamin'"--Cliff Richard

Today's Essential is dedicated to the Mega Millions jackpot I did not win last night. (But hey, I got one number on my ticket.)

Cliff Richard has been a pop institution in Britain since the 60's. He's turned out some good songs, like "Devil Woman." I like this song because it's light and breezy, great for dreaming about lottery jackpots and quitting day jobs (Bye, bye teaching!) and taking long vacations to faraway places (Botswana, anyone? India? Tuscany?) and lifelong private Pilates sessions and my own Paint horse and...

Well, you get the picture. I think I'll pick up a Superlotto ticket today for tonight's jackpot.

iPod Essentials #31: "You're My Best Friend"--Queen

Ahhhh. The summer of '76...

Queen was a great band (Godspeed, Freddie!). This is one of my favorites. It's a simple song at a simple time. The joys of love and the preteen freedom of summer...

When the Plot Hits a Spot

I'm in the middle of the third draft of my new mystery series, and the plot has hit a spot. I'm not sure if my killer should be my killer anymore; his motivation in carrying out the dastardly deeds of two murders and one abduction seems weak. My heroine needs to be the one to figure things out, but I'm not sure if she can at this point.

When your plot hits a spot, step back and retool, as I'm about to do. Dramatica Pro is an excellent tool for this. Although pricey, the software program offers writers ways to examine their characters and stories. All of its features can be overwhelming, but it allows me to talk out the novel's problems and find a solution to them.

Revise, revise, revise.

Revision

Revision is my favorite part of the writing process. By the third draft of most of my novels, characters appear more developed, plot is more intricate, and language seems richer than in the previous drafts.

With the third draft, I am able to relax, to breathe, to let the writing come naturally.

I don't understand some writers who falsely believe their work is done after the second draft. Revision makes writing that much more worthwhile to agents, editors, readers, and ultimately, yourself.

iPod Essentials #30: "In the Year 2525"--Zaeger & Evans

Some of you may have never heard of this song, which was released in 1969. It was one of the first 45 singles I owned, and even though I was too young to understand its implications at the time, I believed it was worth listening to over and over again.

The song's lyrics about the perils of humanity and the fate of our existance belies its upbeat tempo: "In the year 2525, if man is still alive, if woman can survive, they may thrive."

In light of the global warming epidemic and the uncertainty of the world around us, this song now scares me. Sometimes while I'm listening to my Pod and it starts playing, I will skip to the next song. I've heard the lyrics too often, but little is being done nowadays to change the message.

iPod Essentials #29: "Dream on"--Aerosmith

A rock classic, full of angst and hope. Steven Tyler's vocals for this song along with Joe Perry's guitar wail with conviction.

Ends

And so, with a bit of sadness, I finished the last Harry Potter novel a couple of days ago. (Yes, I read the bulk of it in one day. I had to see how the novel ended.)

A few weeks earlier, I had sent my newest Quinn McKay manuscript off to a prospective agent. End of long writing process. I won't hear from Quinn until I begin working on another McKay mystery. (Right now I'm working on a new series.)

As writers, we must face ends: the end of a writing process, the end of a character, the end of a story. Often, these ends are painful. I cried after the completion of my first novel, GOTHIC DOO-WOP.

To grow as writers, we must find ends to our works at some point. We can stay with the same manuscript for twenty years.

iPod Essentials #28: "The Love Parade"--The Dream Academy

I had forgotten about this song until I was driving around town one day, and it started playing on XM's Fred channel (Thank God for XM. I will never return to regular radio!).

The song is like a spring shower, full of gentle synthesizers and harmonies. Its theme is that love blossoms and parades itself through the months of June through September.

'Tis the season.

Boobs

Why has some of entertainment become so stupid? Is it because we've gotten stupider and lazier?

Case in point, previews for a new show on VH1, featuring Bret Michaels, the lead singer of the band, Poison. He's looking for love with all the wrong women. Most of the women are blonde and unnaturally buxom. One idot, in particular, shouldn't be allowed to ever reproduce: "Maybe if we rub our boobs together, we can think better." Perhaps her plastic surgeon has replaced her brain matter with silicone during her breast enhancement surgery.

And then, there's Scott Baio and his new show, Scott Baio Is 45 and Single. Since Tiger Beat posters of him were spread across my bedroom walls when I was in the eighth grade, I was curious to see what age has done to him. He's actually 45 going on 15. He wonders why he can't committ to a relationship, why he is unhappy. He tells his life coach that his idea of a perfect woman is "blonde, big breasts, nice body, good ass.[or words to that effect]." Maybe he's had silicone brain replacement surgery, too.

iPod Essentials #27: "What About Love"--'Til Tuesday

I've always thought 'Til Tuesday was an underrated band. Aimee Mann's smooth alto and complex lyrics were a change of pace in the mid 80's. This song details how hard unrequited love can be to the person whose emotions cannot ever be returned.

I wonder why this great song was never a hit. Sometimes it's hard to figure out the minds of the American listening public.

iPod Essentials #26: "Atomic"--Blondie

Killer dance tune. An oldie but still a goodie. My Pod and I love it. It gets my heart racing at the gym!

iPod Essentials #25: "Wichita Lineman"--Glen Campbell

In honor of the finally completed manuscript (next installment in my Quinn McKay series) that I sent off to an interested agent on Friday, I will select "Wichita Lineman" for this next Essentials blog. The song is featured in a key scene in the manuscript.

I've always liked this song a lot since Glen Campbell's vocals capture the loneliness of the song's persona, how his job keeps him away from love and a normal life. Quinn is a lot like this persona; his job as a PI keeps him from a normal existance of herding sheep and living away from the violence his job won't allow him to escape.

iPod Essentials #24: "Save a Prayer"--Duran Duran

Ahhh...this is my favorite DD song. The band is at its peak with lyrics, music, and performance. This mellow song is a shout-out to reaching out and connecting with that special someone or someone who could be special. In short, seize the lover's day.

Conference, Take 2

In my previous blog, I briefly described the Sisters in Crime Los Angeles conference. Conferences are vital for writers because they allow us to keep the faith in our work and in ourselves. We meet likeminded people who are creating stories and spending a long time doing so.

We also meet professionals who can offer us tips on making our work the best it can be, making ourselves proud of our accomplishments.

That is why all writers need these conferences. They inform and inspire.

SinC Into a Good Mystery--SinC/LA Conference on 6/10/07

As writers, we tend to be solitary creatures. That's why it is so vital for us all to attend and/or participate in writers conferences.

On June 10, 2007, I worked registration, along with other duties, at the Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles conference in Arcadia, California. Being a board member, I was required to help out, but that was fine since I enjoy the company of my fellow Boardies very much.

The conference was terrific. Judge for yourself as I post the smiling faces of those of us who worked so hard to make sure all the attendees could learn and make the most of this inspiring day.

iPod Essentials #23: "Who Loves You"--Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

A surprise? Somewhat. But in honor of the JERSEY BOYS tickets, I ordered this morning, this song has made the list.

This semi-disco song is my second fave of the group. My first is "Can't Take My Eyes off of You." The boys in the band are older in "Who." Their voices have matured and solidified into a more harmonious blend. Besides, Valli's falsetto can get on my nerves at times, but it's downplayed here.

Besides, it's hard not to move while you listen to the groove.

iPod Essentials #22: "Bad Time"--Grand Funk

Hello, again--

My rotator cuff is not healing as quickly as my doctor and I had hoped, so I still have to limit my typing. Since I'm a writer with two manuscripts underway, I have to concentrate on those rather than my blogging.

But here I am with another installment of Essentials. Although "Bad Time" came out in 1974, it's still a great song. It's a nostalgic pining for an unrequited love. Harmonies abound. They just don't produce 'em like this anymore.

iPod Essentials #21: "The Air That I Breathe"--The Hollies

A beautiful song, full of love. Every chord, every note is perfect. The sincere vocals shine through the plaintive strums of an acoustic guitar.

"Air" is featured prominently in the film, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES. The whole soundtrack is worthwhile, but no song on it comes close to matching the beauty of this one.

IPod Essentials #20: "Wish You Were Here"--Pink Floyd

This Essential is decidated to those people who are no longer with us, either physically or emotionally.

This song is one of Floyd's finest. It's purposeful and plaintive. This is one song that should never be remade by a band or artist. It's a weeping ballad of loss. David Gilmour's vocals convey this fact so well: "We're just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl/Year after year."

Why?

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of the horrible events on the Virginia Tech campus yesterday. It will take a very long time to recover, and I hope that everyone will remember that the grieving process is different for everyone. Patience, support, and understanding will be crucial for those involved.

We'll probably never understand why a psychopath decided to murder 32 people and injure (both physically and mentally) thousands more.

As I pulled into the parking lot of my college this morning and headed to teach my first class of the day, I wondered if my campus was prepared to handle a dire emergency. In the six years I've been teaching there, officials have never held an emergency drill, not even a fire drill. Community colleges have small law-enforcement staff members, most of whom are not armed. Why isn't it mandatory that all schools--including colleges and university--have disaster preparedness drills? Don't tell me it's due to lack of funding or manpower. Is it laziness or the belief that all is rosy on the campus? Even after an incident involving an escaped convict last year, officials at Virginia Tech did nothing to enhance security for its students and staff.

We need to wake up and prepare for events that I hope to God will never happen again. But since we live is troubled times, it will. Will we be ready, or will we make wishes and cross our fingers that everything will be just fine?

iPod Essentials #19: "Big Log"--Robert Plant

Sorry for the delay in blogging. My rotator cuff injury has been very slow in healing.

In honor of my trip last week to the Southwest, I dedicate Robert Plant's "Big Log" to the barren landscape of Arizona, with its cacti, yuccas, and abundance of dust. This song reminds me of such sparseness in one's physical as well as emotional landscape. Cool video, too--it features an empty pool at an abandoned hotel.

Plant's best vocals post Zeppelin.

iPod Essentials #18: "Flood--Jars of Clay

It may seem strange that a good, solid rock song is the brainchild of a Christian rock band, but "Flood" is a keeper. The song deals with redemption and healing, with strong vocals and a catchy refrain: "Lift me up." I haven't heard any other songs from this band, and I should. They deserve to be more than a one-hit wonder.

iPod Essentials #17: "Why Can't We Live Together"--Timmy Thomas

Please forgive the prolonged absense. I've been sidelined with a nasty rotator cuff injury, and typing and recovery have been very painful.

In honor of my friend Jean, this selection is for her. She just returned from a photo safari in Botswana. Her pix are incredible. Hopefully, mine will be just as inspiring when I go to South Africa next summer.

Any time I think of Africa, I am also reminded of their strong unique forms of percussion, and this one-hit wonder from the early 70's has a great percussion section. The song itself deals with overcoming bigotry, which unfortunately, still lingers today.

iPod Essentials #16: "Layla"--Derek and the Dominoes

Classic, classic rock. "Layla" is a complicated song to play on the guitar. The lyrical piano part is also difficult. Still, this is a song of unbridled passion and lust (not that horrible acoustic version from 1994 or thereabouts). The guitars in the song scream with passion almost as ferociously as Eric Clapton's vocals.

Ahhh, love you can't have. Perfect for Valentine's Day.

The War for What?

Yesterday Thousand Oaks, California, where I live, buried its first casualty of the Iraq War: Lance Corporal Anthony Mejia. He was twenty, a graduate of my alma matter (Thousand Oaks High), and a seemingly great kid.

And now he's gone.

As I drove along Moorpark Road, looking at the flag-holding residents, I couldn't help but wonder what Anthony's life might have been if he hadn't enlisted in the Marines. He'd be in college, gaining knowledge from classes and from life's experiences.

This somber scene has played itself out in too many cities for too many families, nearly three thousand times. It will continue to hurt each time. So many lives wasted in a war for what.

iPod Essentials #15: "These Eyes"--The Guess Who

An oldie but definitely a goodie. This song reminds me of someone I loved a long time ago, but he chose another woman over me. I keep this song on my Pod as a way of remembering him. With Burton Cummings' passionate vocals, the hurt still materializes, but I can deal with it now.

iPod Essentials #14: "Lay Your Hands on Me"--Thompson Twins

Sorry, I'm a day late, but not a dollar short!

"Lay Your Hands on Me" is one of my faves from the 80's. I like the Carribean-based percussion--the marimba and the hand percussion--it gives the song a breezy feeling.

The subject of the song, however, is not so breezy. The persona is giving up, tired of life. Yet by the end of the tune, he feels empowered, rejuvenated, all from the mysterious, redemptive power of love. This song never fails to lift my spirits.

In Praise of You Tube

Since its boom in popularity, You Tube continues to grow by the day. Its videos often make the news (i.e. the Michael Richard racial tirade). I log onto You Tube, not because of watching people doing stupid things in their videos, but because of its helpfulness in research for my newest novel. Without giving too much away about the new novel, I have learned a lot by watching old, old videos, courtesy of MTV and VH1, when they were still good channels.

Too many of us believe that research is only done in libraries. The Internet has changed that. However, much of what is on the Internet is bogus, so writer beware.

iPod Essentials #13: "For What It's Worth"--Buffalo Springfield

A political choice for today in light of George Bush's impending (and disasterous) troop increase in Iraq. It's a shame the current Administration does not stop to listen to the pulse of the American public, which is aptly reflected in much of the music of the late 60's. This classic Buffalo Springfield song always sends a chill down my spine when I hear it.

But is anyone really listening?

A Long Winter's Rest

Last night I just finished the first draft of my newest novel. What do I do now?

Give it a month's rest. I will work on another project during this time.

When I resume the next draft in another month, I will be able to see what's working, what's not working, and what needs further development or massive changes. A month's rest gives writers time to divorce themselves from their characters, even if we dearly love them, and allows us to evaluate our writing in fresh terms.

Try it.

iPod Esstentials #12: "Money"--Pink Floyd

I will never forgive MTV for their shabby treatment of Pink Floyd during Live 8 in 2005.

This song ironically details the pitfalls and absurdities of the almighty dollar. Money is a blessing and a curse.

A great blues riff echoes throughout the song. Even more interesting is that the time signature changes midway through the song, going from typical 4/4 time to 6/8 and back to 4/4 again. Daring and it works.

What a gas.

iPod Essentials #11: "More Than This"--Roxy Music

Ahhhhh, this poetic but cynical song is perfect for a cloudy, rainy day, such as this one. This is off of AVALON, my favorite CD of all time. The CD is lyrical, synthesized, romantic yet moody--it's perfect.

This is my favorite song on the recording since it reminds me of someone from my past back in college. Every time I hear it, I still feel as though he's in the room with me. Like me, he's a hurt romantic. I haven't seen him in almost twenty years. I wonder if he's still this way.

This song also shows Bryan Ferry and the band at their vulnerable best.