Monthly Archives: August 2009

The Aroma of Coffee, The Plumage of a Bird

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Marion

I’m writing an action adventure novel set in the future. It’s not too far in the future, only about 70 years, but there have been some geopolitical and socioeconomic changes in that time. My main character is meeting with someone … Continue reading →

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Procrastination

Posted on August 22, 2009 by Marion

When you’re thrashing around in the dark water of an early draft with both hands clenched around the neck of a serpentine swirl of recalcitrant prose—in other words, deep in rewrite—suddenly doing things like blogging, or checking Facebook, seem terribly … Continue reading →

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All for One

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Marion

The highest praise for a stage villain is when the audience still hisses during his or her final bow. Bronwen Shears, who plays the devil-in-a-ballgown, Milady, in the Sonoma County Rep’s production of The Three Musketeers, accepted this accolade with … Continue reading →

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Girl With Guitar

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Marion

This is Amy.  I met her in the Jughandle State Reserve on the way home from vacation, where I was going for a walk and she was writing a song.  Her voice reminded me of the Waifs.  That’s a compliment.  … Continue reading →

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Theater Appreciation Night

Posted on August 15, 2009 by Marion

Suspense! Plot twists! Glamorous women in lovely costumes! Duels! Mysterious characters entering from the audience to make audacious pronouncements! And that was just the live auction. One key to fund-raising success seems to be free-flowing alcohol. The Rep’s Theater Appreciation … Continue reading →

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Quote of the Week

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Marion

But let’s face it, now is the hard part — because the history is clear — every time we come close to passing health insurance reform, the special interests fight back with everything they’ve got. They use their influence. They … Continue reading →

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Fun Health Insurance Facts

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Marion

Some fun facts about health insurance companies, courtesy of The Rachel Maddow Show. In 2000, the profit for health insurers was $2.4 billion annually. In 2007, it was $12.7 billion annually. Between 2000 and 2007, the number of uninsured Americans … Continue reading →

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Harry Potter and the Half-Baked Plot

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Marion

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton 2009, Directed by David Yates “It was Snape. It was always Snape.” Harry Potter CAUTION: May Contain Spoilers Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is about … Continue reading →

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Fort Bragg; Five Fun Places

Posted on August 8, 2009 by Marion

Fort Bragg gets overlooked in comparison to its cousin Mendocino, a picturesque village about ten miles to the south. Mendocino benefits from a dramatic approach. Heading north , the visitor swings around a curve in Highway 1 and sees, across … Continue reading →

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The Art of the Blog

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Marion

The last day of the Mendocino Coast Writers Conference, Denise Wakeman gave a presentation on the use of social networking tools for marketing. This presentation was held Sunday morning, and many participants had already gotten on the road, but at … Continue reading →

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