There was a small corner grocery store when I was growing up where the owner would run a tab for folks when they couldn’t afford to pay for the essentials. And there was a gas station in town whose owner would come out, pump the gas and wash the windows or chat while the tank filled. At the local bank, the banker would sit down and do almost anything to help keep you from losing your home.
The bank is still there, but it’s been bought by a bigger bank and all loans and options have to go out to the corporate office for approval. The grocery store and gas station sit empty and have for years. They couldn’t compete with the large corporate companies who offered better deals and prettier stores to shop in.
What, you ask, does this have to do with Borders? Well, a few things. I admit, when I first heard the news of Borders financial struggles I was disappointed for them, for the publishers who weren’t getting paid and for the readers, who undoubtedly would lose a place to buy their books.
But then I though about all the small, local bookstores, the ones who’ve survived anyway, that are owned by people who love what they do. At these bookstores, you are likely to find the owner running the cash register, stocking shelves and talking with the customer. Yes, they need and want to make a profit, don’t we all, but they manage their business in a way that allows them to keep their doors open, continue to do what they love and serve the communities they live in.
Do you think those who manage the 2nd largest bookstore chain in the U.S. love books? Maybe they do and maybe they love their corporate jobs, but it’s obvious someone didn’t manage the business right. If they had loved owning a bookstore and cared about the communities they put them in, they would have managed their business in away to keep their doors open.
I realize I’m leaving out a possible big player in Border’s troubles – the e-reader world we live in. There are big names dominating this market, too, and I understand they have their value. But folks, we have a say in how we are dominated and we do that by being aware there is more than one company selling books and e-books.
Small publishers sell their author’s books online. You can down load them to your e-reader or order a paperback version. There are small independents bookstores all around us and it doesn’t stop there. Look around your community. I bet you’ll find a lot of independent local shops who would love to have your business. And believe me, they haven’t forgotten what customer service is all about.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
A Happy 2010 Ending
When 2010 began I had a feeling things were going to happen for me with my writing. I knew an actual book wouldn’t get published in 2010, but I believed I would get my break. Little did I know it wouldn’t come until the very end. Even as the days ticked away and the end drew near, the feeling never left.
There’s a lot that happened in 2010, but December 20th will stand out like no other, the day I received a publishing contract offer for my novel TWO BROTHERS. It was the culmination of what I had been working toward for the last four years, since writing the first chapter of TWO BROTHERS while sitting in the San Diego airport. The stories inside my head hadn't found their way to written form in years, but this story hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm not even sure what flipped on the switch inside my head, but I wrote the first draft of TWO BROTHERS in four months. It started me on a path that led to this opportunity to get published. The story has changed a bunch since that fist draft and in the three years since, I’ve written four more books hopeful of seeing publication. But to have the first story be the first book published is a thrill I can’t begin to describe, even as a writer.
There’s a lot to do between now and the books release about a year from now. It sounds so far in the future, but I’m sure it will go quicker than I think. One can hope, anyway. To help things along, my single resolution is to blog on a regular basis. I invite you to join me here and take the journey to publication with me.
Whether you have a single New Years resolution or several, tell me what it is and how you plan to achieve them.
There’s a lot that happened in 2010, but December 20th will stand out like no other, the day I received a publishing contract offer for my novel TWO BROTHERS. It was the culmination of what I had been working toward for the last four years, since writing the first chapter of TWO BROTHERS while sitting in the San Diego airport. The stories inside my head hadn't found their way to written form in years, but this story hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm not even sure what flipped on the switch inside my head, but I wrote the first draft of TWO BROTHERS in four months. It started me on a path that led to this opportunity to get published. The story has changed a bunch since that fist draft and in the three years since, I’ve written four more books hopeful of seeing publication. But to have the first story be the first book published is a thrill I can’t begin to describe, even as a writer.
There’s a lot to do between now and the books release about a year from now. It sounds so far in the future, but I’m sure it will go quicker than I think. One can hope, anyway. To help things along, my single resolution is to blog on a regular basis. I invite you to join me here and take the journey to publication with me.
Whether you have a single New Years resolution or several, tell me what it is and how you plan to achieve them.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Twas the Night Before Christmas - Romance Style
By: Christina Wolfer
Twas the night before Christmas with a silk teddy draped over the chair
She put on the last of her makeup and ran her fingers through her hair.
The stockings were snapped to the garter with care,
In hopes that her hero soon would be there.
Into the teddy, she slid with delight,
And checking the mirror knew it looked just right.
With tiny lace straps and in the color of red,
Instead of waiting by the fireplace she chose to wait on the bed.
Soft candle light flickered as her internal flame burned.
Every nerve ending pulsed and her stomach churned.
He was all that she wanted and wished for tonight.
She had only this moment to get everything right.
And then to her wondering eyes he did appear
She could see by the look, his desire was clear.
Oh, how handsome, tall, dark and rough,
She knew in a moment, one night would not be enough.
He strode to the bed, trailed a finger down her face,
Then continued on down to touch the silk and the lace.
He said not a word as he let his hands roam.
She drew in a breath and let it out on a moan.
He lay down beside her, so lively and quick,
He took her to heaven, for he knew every trick.
More rapid than eagles, he too then came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called her by name!
She lay quietly beside him, waiting to hear,
The words “I love you”, she waited in fear.
For every good romance must have a great plot.
And in the tangled story the heroin got caught.
For in the beginning, she thought what a jerk,
But as the story moved forward, his charm it did work.
They worked through the conflict, both internal and out.
And then, in a twinkling, she fell in love no doubt.
But now at the end, as Christmas morning drew near
Only one thing remained she needed made clear.
And she pondered and wondered as she stared at the wall,
Did he feel the same thing or nothing at all?
She started to speak, but he stopped her in stride
His eyes – how they twinkled – his mirth he could not hide.
He kissed her mouth roughly, then kissed her once more
As he reached for his pants that lie on the floor.
And out of his pocket, our hero did take,
A shiny, bright diamond and it wasn’t a fake.
He held it out for the heroine, who smiled with glee
For all of her wishes this Christmas had come to be.
“I love you,” he said as his sexy lips drew up like a bow.
Outside in the beautiful Christmas morn, it began to snow.
And all was complete, wrapped up neat and tight
They heard in the distance “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
Twas the night before Christmas with a silk teddy draped over the chair
She put on the last of her makeup and ran her fingers through her hair.
The stockings were snapped to the garter with care,
In hopes that her hero soon would be there.
Into the teddy, she slid with delight,
And checking the mirror knew it looked just right.
With tiny lace straps and in the color of red,
Instead of waiting by the fireplace she chose to wait on the bed.
Soft candle light flickered as her internal flame burned.
Every nerve ending pulsed and her stomach churned.
He was all that she wanted and wished for tonight.
She had only this moment to get everything right.
And then to her wondering eyes he did appear
She could see by the look, his desire was clear.
Oh, how handsome, tall, dark and rough,
She knew in a moment, one night would not be enough.
He strode to the bed, trailed a finger down her face,
Then continued on down to touch the silk and the lace.
He said not a word as he let his hands roam.
She drew in a breath and let it out on a moan.
He lay down beside her, so lively and quick,
He took her to heaven, for he knew every trick.
More rapid than eagles, he too then came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called her by name!
She lay quietly beside him, waiting to hear,
The words “I love you”, she waited in fear.
For every good romance must have a great plot.
And in the tangled story the heroin got caught.
For in the beginning, she thought what a jerk,
But as the story moved forward, his charm it did work.
They worked through the conflict, both internal and out.
And then, in a twinkling, she fell in love no doubt.
But now at the end, as Christmas morning drew near
Only one thing remained she needed made clear.
And she pondered and wondered as she stared at the wall,
Did he feel the same thing or nothing at all?
She started to speak, but he stopped her in stride
His eyes – how they twinkled – his mirth he could not hide.
He kissed her mouth roughly, then kissed her once more
As he reached for his pants that lie on the floor.
And out of his pocket, our hero did take,
A shiny, bright diamond and it wasn’t a fake.
He held it out for the heroine, who smiled with glee
For all of her wishes this Christmas had come to be.
“I love you,” he said as his sexy lips drew up like a bow.
Outside in the beautiful Christmas morn, it began to snow.
And all was complete, wrapped up neat and tight
They heard in the distance “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Family You Choose
You've probably heard it before. It’s the new slogan used by American Family Insurance and a slogan we can all relate to. We all have the family we’re born into and in which we have no choice. But then there are those we’ve chosen to have a part of our family – the family we choose.
But before I get to the family I choose, I have to talk about the one I didn’t. Of course, I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. I love them dearly, count on them endlessly. My mom and my niece are two of my best friends. I didn’t choose them, thankfully I didn’t have to, but I’m thankful for their presence in my life.
Realistically, there is some choosing when it comes to the family we had no choice in because we choose how much they are a part of our lives. And some of us may have family members we choose to have no connection with at all.
Then there’s the spouse, and this is probably the biggest decision any of us will make when it comes to family. And in choosing a spouse, you usually get other family members – the in-laws. For me, it included a step-son that I would proudly call a son and having been raised with all brothers, it also included a couple of sister-in-laws that I’d gladly call sister.
But I think what the theme really refers to is those people who aren’t always a daily part of your life, but people you know will be there when you need them – just like your family. These are the people who bend over backwards to lend a helping hand, whether its physical help or emotional support.
Family, both the chosen and not chosen, is about a support system and most of us have more than one support system.
My first experience with the “family you choose” came when I was sixteen and I helped a classmate with a problem after a prom dance. Helping this person turned into a friendship that has lasted twenty-five years. Even after that first meeting, if it hadn’t been for Keri’s outgoing personality, we would never have become such good friends. But she sought me out in school the next week and we’ve stuck together ever since. We’ve been through so much together. For me she is the sister I never had, she is family and I feel that I am a part of her family.
More recently the family circle has begun to expand to a group of ladies whose support is invaluable. While these ladies are fairly new to me, it’s amazing how quickly you connect with people when they share the same passion, when they understand, like no one can, what it means to complete a manuscript, to have a story run away with you, to fall in love with your characters, to get the request and the rejection. For a writer, even our characters become the family we choose for a short time, maybe some even stick with us forever.
The absence of any one person above could have easily changed the direction of my life. Some in major ways, others in small, but ultimately changed.
Tell me about the “family you choose”.
But before I get to the family I choose, I have to talk about the one I didn’t. Of course, I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. I love them dearly, count on them endlessly. My mom and my niece are two of my best friends. I didn’t choose them, thankfully I didn’t have to, but I’m thankful for their presence in my life.
Realistically, there is some choosing when it comes to the family we had no choice in because we choose how much they are a part of our lives. And some of us may have family members we choose to have no connection with at all.
Then there’s the spouse, and this is probably the biggest decision any of us will make when it comes to family. And in choosing a spouse, you usually get other family members – the in-laws. For me, it included a step-son that I would proudly call a son and having been raised with all brothers, it also included a couple of sister-in-laws that I’d gladly call sister.
But I think what the theme really refers to is those people who aren’t always a daily part of your life, but people you know will be there when you need them – just like your family. These are the people who bend over backwards to lend a helping hand, whether its physical help or emotional support.
Family, both the chosen and not chosen, is about a support system and most of us have more than one support system.
My first experience with the “family you choose” came when I was sixteen and I helped a classmate with a problem after a prom dance. Helping this person turned into a friendship that has lasted twenty-five years. Even after that first meeting, if it hadn’t been for Keri’s outgoing personality, we would never have become such good friends. But she sought me out in school the next week and we’ve stuck together ever since. We’ve been through so much together. For me she is the sister I never had, she is family and I feel that I am a part of her family.
More recently the family circle has begun to expand to a group of ladies whose support is invaluable. While these ladies are fairly new to me, it’s amazing how quickly you connect with people when they share the same passion, when they understand, like no one can, what it means to complete a manuscript, to have a story run away with you, to fall in love with your characters, to get the request and the rejection. For a writer, even our characters become the family we choose for a short time, maybe some even stick with us forever.
The absence of any one person above could have easily changed the direction of my life. Some in major ways, others in small, but ultimately changed.
Tell me about the “family you choose”.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Superior Scribbler Award
Thank you, Becke Martin aka Becke Davis, for honoring me with the Superior Scribbler Award. You can visit Becke at http://the-garden-muse.blogspot.com/ or http://www.beckemartin.com/.
Want to find out more about the Superior Scribbler Award visit http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com/.
There are rules for accepting this award and they are as follows:
1. Pass the award on to 5 other authors/bloggers.
2. Link to the author & name of the person/blog from who you received the award from.
3. Display the award on your blog and link to http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com/2008/10/200-this-blings-for-you.html, which explains the award.
Want to find out more about the Superior Scribbler Award visit http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com/.
There are rules for accepting this award and they are as follows:
1. Pass the award on to 5 other authors/bloggers.
2. Link to the author & name of the person/blog from who you received the award from.
3. Display the award on your blog and link to http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com/2008/10/200-this-blings-for-you.html, which explains the award.
4. Each winner of the award must visit the above link and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky list.
5. Each winner must post these rules on his/her post.
Unfortunately, Becke gave this award to most of the bloggers I know, so I only have one winner to name:
Christine Glover
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