Simpler Thoughts

For those of you who need something simple and plain to think about today, here's a little flashback to a quainter subject.  A couple of years ago I was involved in a platform boosting campaign that did, surely, boost my readership.  I posted the piece below as part of that.  I find this list of ten things about me to be interesting in that they are still ten things I would list if someone really wanted to know about me.

But what would really be interesting to me is if you, my readers, would tell me some things about you!  Drop me a comment, stop by the website listed below, friend me on Facebook.  My writer's mind is so curious to know your story!


So, dear reader, tell me ten things about you!


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Well, this whole campaign and reading what everyone else is writing has done wonders for my motivation.  That's a fact.  Those of you who know me will find this list redundant.  Those new friends I have connected with, may find it a bit eclectic.

But since Kelly lured me into this and Kelly has just posted ten things about her, I thought I'd see if I can find ten things about me to say.  Not sure how this will go....

1.  I was raised in foster care.  That's an important fact about me.  It says how I view relationships, money, time, responsibility and family.  Please don't assume any negatives from my experience.  There are so many more positives that they far outweigh what might have been.  I had amazingly good foster parents.  I hope my life honors their memory.

2.  I love to read.  All kinds of books.  Always have.  L'Amour to Paul to Tolstoy to Fitzgerald to Castle.  Biographies are my favorites, but I read all sorts of random things.

3.  I hate guns.  It's my right as a patriotic American to hate guns.  Think what you will.  Tell me again that guns don't kill people..... I hate guns.  Hunting rifles used to feed your family, that's different.  I mean handguns and machine guns.  The kind of weapons only used to take life.  They only brings sadness - whether they kill someone or not.

4.  I love Jesus.  I am an outspoken born-again believer in the name of Jesus.  True story.  I try to follow His teachings and live to please Him.  I don't know if I'm a very good Christian, but I try.

5.  I have four official angelbabies and many, many more extras.  Angelbabies are grandchildren.  They call me Bapka (Polish for Grandmother according to Google translations).  They make me smile constantly.

6.  I love kids.  I have two sons and one daughter-in-law, but have been adopted by a wide range of kids - some barely younger enough to be my children.  They are all colors of the rainbow and come from many cultures.  I love them each individually and am proud to be owned by them.

7.  This is getting tougher....  Let's see.... I am a writer.  I suppose you already know that.  It took me a long time to believe my 7th grade English teacher who first labeled me.  I think I was 40 when I started to call myself a writer.  I was 44 when I published my first book.

8.  I am divorced.  That's hard for me to remember, too.  I know I'm not married, but it's hard to remember why sometimes.  Mental block, I suppose.  It's an important fact about me, but I don't always advertise it.

9.  My bucket list has a lot of traveling on it.  I love to go places and meet new people.  I like to see the world through their eyes and experience their lifestyle.  Such an amazing diversity in our world.

10.  My house decorating theme is "My Stuff."  Strewn about the walls and bookshelves and floor and cabinets are stories collected from people who have crossed my path.  Grandma's PianoOrgan, books from friends long gone, Angelbaby toys, gifts from my sons who were once little boys, pictures of my sister and I.  It's my stuff.  It's not much, but it tells the story of me.

There!  I did it!  Ten things about me.  Well, if you are still reading, thanks!  Now.... tell me about you.  At least tell me where you are from and how you found this writer's words.

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To order a copy of A Book of Pages About Crossing Bridges or a Friend Named Jesus,

 please visit my website:  Writer's Pages

Facebook:  Author Kris A. Newman

And the Award for Versatile Blogger Goes to.....

.... ME!  *smile*

One of the advantages of the Platform Builder Campaign is meeting so many, many new writers.  Another is the awards we share.  Through a Writer's Eyes has just received a Versatile Blogger Award. 

Thanks to Elizabeth Anne at http://elizabethannewrites.com/2011/09/13/im-a-versatile-blogger/ for expanding my borders.  She is a successful author of children's books who shares her experiences through her blog.  These are the kind of connections I treasure.

The rules for accepting the award are as follows:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass this Award along to 15 recently discovered blogs and let them know about it.

Since I just did a list about me, I'm going to limit the 7 things to 7 types of books/writing that I like the best.  

1.     All time favorite book is The Outsiders.  Still cry when Dally is shot....

2.     One of my favorite authors is Tolstoy - and I have been to his house in Moscow!

3.     I love to read biographies.  Nicolas Sparks, Tolstoy, and James Dean all live in my memories because of their biographies.

4.    Poetry makes me introspective.  I have been lost in Thoreau for days. I don't memorize it, so don't ask for a quote.  I just dawdle over the phrases and luxuriate in their turns.

5.     Light fiction and romance novels are not my favorite types of reading.  They bore me and make me think, "someone got paid to write that....."

6.     The Bible is the richest piece of literature I have ever explored and I never tire of it.

7.      I collect old books and have found them to be the best forms of mental escape.

Now, passing the award along to 15 recently discovered blogs.  I have included some who I regularly follow to open up their readership and some I have recently discovered.  There are some greater writers out there of so many different genres.  Stop around their pages and let me know if you find a new one to follow.

 

1.            Mark Showalter’s Blog – Always Seeking to Know God More – Life lessons and perspectives taught in a transparent, simple way.  My favorite “teaching” blog.  You can find it here:  http://mshowalter.wordpress.com

 

2.            Ninetyandnine.com – The first writing gig, the first blog invite, the place to connect with other readers and writers:  http://ninetyandnineword.blogspot.com/

3.            Seth Boyte – One of my favorite musicians is also one of my favorite writers.  His blog is here:  http://sethboyte.blogspot.com/2011/08/piano-student-christians.html

4.            Rachel is a writer who connects writers.  She is a great example of all that’s right in the writer community.  Her blog is here:  http://rachaelharrie.blogspot.com/

5.            Courtney Pearson writes when not parenting, although I’m guessing a lot of her writing comes from her parenting. She is in the process of publication.  You would enjoy her stuff.  Here is where to find her:  http://cortneypearson.blogspot.com

6.            K.T. Hanna writes about writing, freestyling the process to share the hows and dos and pains and glories of writing.  It’s a great connection that makes you feel like you (and she) know what you’re doing and it’s going to be great!  She is found here:  http://www.kthanna.com

 

7.            A fellow fan of Natasha Bedingfield, Amanda shares “twisted truth” which seems to me funner more than twisted.  Judge for yourself:   http://amandastwistedtruths.blogspot.com

8.            Gary Gauthier explores literature in a fascinating way.  Find out how here:  http://garygauthier.blogspot.com

9.            Kelly is my long lost friend who started the whole Writer Platform Builder Campaign stage of my life and so her blog must be included here.  Her work is full of real life and you will LOVE it.  Promise.  Find it here:  http://clickerbug.wordpress.com

10.            Diane lets us follow her through many of the places she has been.  He work is full of the patient dreaming of her heart.  Find it here:  http://thepatientdreamer.wordpress.com

11.         Sharon is a great friend who writes about the season of life she is in.  She transplanted to Florida to help her elderly parents and tells of their trials and smiles along the way.  Find her experiences here:  http://oldpeopleandme-sharon.blogspot.com

12.         Sometimes people need to speak their onions!  To get the courage to say what you’re thinking, check out Kristin’s blog here:  http://moosateleven.blogspot.com

Three more?  I think this is where I’m going to break the rules.  Not only am I not going to come up with three more (since there really are not three more I have found that I am ready to recommend - I don't take this lightly, you know), I’m also not going to require recipients to post the same.  If you have a list of blogs you read, please do share them.  If you prefer not to, that’s ok.  I will love you the same.  

I will ask you to do the list.  *smile*  AND I will ask you check out the blogs above.  I think you’ll like them.  A lot.  I do.  I love hearing what’s happening in other places and how people relate to the world.  My world is very small right now and so I love this avenue of learning and sharing.  

So that’s it.   A long, superfluous post!  Happy Thursday!

Writer's Platform Building Campaign

Just a quick note to let you know you may see some changes around here. 

No, nothing major.  I'm not moving to NYC and I haven't gotten the "call" from a publishing house.  Not yet today anyway....

But I have joined a campaign which will link me to many other writers.  I hope they leave comments and I hope you enjoy the new friendships we are about to make.  I know they will help me hone this skill God has given me. 

I have also added a couple of things to our main page.  If you scroll down the right a bit you'll see some of your favorite posts.  Well, they are someone's favorite.  They are the things that people have read the most.  I thought adding them there might make them easier to find if you suggest them to someone else to read.  I've also added a gadget which shows the all-time page hits to our page.  You will know you aren't alone in reading my ramblings. 

Drop me a note.  Let me know what you think.  After all, as a writer I must write, but as a blogger, it's good to know there are readers.

Happy Wednesday, Friends!  Carpe Diem!

Angels Who Taught Me

"Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose." (Proverbs 18:21 - The Message)

Sometimes the simplest string of letters can have long lasting impact.

I was reminded recently about a couple of teachers from middle school. Now, you have to realize that middle school was a long, long time ago.

And middle school was its own cataclysmic hotbed of change for me. Not only because of the normal hormones and strangeness that everyone goes through, but my Grandpa - my foster father, one of the centers of my universe - was very ill and passed away when I was in middle school. His illness and passing were some of the most traumatic events of my life.

I was not a very nice kid in middle school. I didn’t know how to deal with the emotions that surfaced at that time. Anger, resentment, jealousy, fear and failure churned in my heart. I think I started to wear black in middle school, but then it wasn’t just because it was easier in my professional world. I wanted to disappear.

I used a lot of drugs and drank a lot in an effort to self-medicate.

I spent a lot of time alone listening to The Doors and wishing I would just fade away.

I read voraciously – sometimes a book a day. All kinds of books, but mostly biographies. I was curious to know how other people lived, the real story behind their fame. I thought, perhaps, I would be famous someday and do something great.

If I could make it through middle school.

Mostly, I didn’t cry. I held those tears in and promised myself I would be tougher, better, stronger than anyone else. I was hard on the outside and made sure everyone knew I was fine. I didn’t need any help or any babying or any attention.

That’s why the teachers who come to mind impress me ever the more. I was a good student, a smart kid, but the surly wall around me was meant to keep them away. If you don’t care for anyone, you can’t lose them, right? That was my philosophy in middle school.

Mr. Campanelli, Mrs. Wendlendt and Mrs. Marks weren’t daunted by my attitude. They saw right through it.

Now, the women I might understand. They were, after all, English teachers and even then English was my easy subject. If anything could get me to discuss coursework, an English lesson could.

But Mr. C? He was a math teacher! I don’t know that anyone ever worked harder to try to help me understand math. He made me want to try to concentrate and follow his rules. More than his teaching, Mr. C. impressed me with his compassion. He is the one teacher who stopped me in the hall the day after the funeral and asked me how I was. He told me if I needed anything to let him know. I can see him there, standing with compassion and sympathy in his eyes. He understood. And he took the risk to reach beyond my anger to tell me so. He didn’t buy the “I’m fine” line.

Mrs. Wendlendt’s classroom was right next to Mr. C. She intrigued me because she was cut from such a completely different cloth from anyone I had ever known. Kind of like Maria von Trapp live and in person. She had been a nun and left to get married and teach. Her hair was short, her clothes were plain, but her face was so amazingly full of expression and life! She loved to tell stories and would read all kinds of things to us.

I don’t remember what the assignment was, but I vividly remember sitting in the back of the classroom with her. In her hand was something I had written with notes along the side in her broad, sweeping penmanship.

“You’re a natural writer, you know,“ She stated the fact as though I, of course, knew this from birth.

“I read a lot so I probably write better.”

“No, that’s not why.” She stretched across my self-deprecation and built a confident bridge, “You have a special talent. You are a writer. I love reading the way you put words together. Someday your words will be read by many people.”

That phrase is etched in my soul and lends itself to my identity.

I think she may have talked to Mrs. Marks, because when I got into her 8th grade English class, she expected me to write. She gave me freedom to expand my writing beyond the assignments and took extra time to read, correct, edit and push me to expound my thoughts. She called me a writer, too.

I had other teachers I will likely write about at another time, but today these are the three angels who come to mind. They believed in me when others looked over me. They reinforced what I learned at home – all people have value, even if they don’t see it in themselves.

I hope a teacher somewhere reads these words today and realizes the ability they have to build, to create, to enforce, to impact the future. I hope whoever reads this today realizes that we are all teachers with the ability to kill or give life to dreams through our words.

You never know who the punk under that black is going to be someday: literary honor student, author.

Readers and Writer

I have to apologize to my readers, wherever you are. I haven’t been in the mood to write much lately. Maybe it’s the way people have reacted to the book that’s made me reticent. I feel almost third-person-ish talking about this Author Kris Newman who spills her guts to the world.

I know the transparency of my words give honesty and purpose to my experiences. That’s why I write about them.

Some have been angry with me. Misunderstanding my need to express, they think perhaps I’m trying to justify myself, my actions, my life. I’m not. Some of my writing is, indeed, cathartic. Most is the result of prayer, contemplation and reader reaction.

On one level, my writing is a ministry. It’s a way of helping others to deal with the difficulties of life that I have dealt with. Not because I have become some perfect specimen of grace and forgiveness; but, in my human reactions to the events of my life I have found Someone to give me grace and forgiveness. The answer to my life’s complications doesn’t come from within my own strength, but in the strength I get from God.

Say what you may, but that’s how I see it.

I see my writing as an expression of that, a way to connect others to God who has helped me so He can help them.

Some readers of the book are surprised to learn how similar we all are. At least, that’s how I perceive their response. Perhaps it is I who is surprised to learn how similar they are to me. Some pieces I expect people to like and they don’t. Some pieces I expect them to find shallow or foolish, and they love them.

Readers, I have decided, are an unpredictable lot.

The one piece which seems to garner the strongest reaction is the one I enjoyed writing the most: A Night at the Theater. Some readers have begged to know who is the mysterious woman, what is the relationship between the two, and is there a sequel! All are unanswered questions which make my heart smile to no end.

I’m a little afraid to see my words in print because I know I can’t take them back and hide them anymore. I think that’s why I haven’t written.

But don’t think for a minute that the words have left me. They push me along on the whims of their way. As long as I’m alive, I’m sure, I’ll be writing something.

And as long as I know you’re reading, I’ll keep writing. Please forgive the time between when I simply must catch my breath and determine if I really am strong enough to throw my heart out there.

I know not everyone will like everything that I write. I know not everyone will understand everything. Writing isn’t a popularity contest or a test of my ability. It’s only expression.

And so, my readers, please forgive my reticence. And thank you, so very much, for stopping by to chat with me.



If you would like more information about The Book of Pages About Crossing Bridges, please visit my website at:  Krisanewman.webs.com   Grab a cuppa java and visit awhile!
 

The EStore is Open for Business!

IF you were one of those people who said they wanted to order a copy of my first self-published work,

THEN here is the place you want to go to place your order:  createspace.com

A couple of people have already ordered their copies and it seems to be a pretty smooth transaction.  Let me know, please, if you have any difficulties.  I can also order copies for you, but it's a longer process since you have to send me the money and then I have to place the order, receive the shipment and then send it out to you.  Going through the link above cuts me out of the process.

I really am humbled by the support I've received, and the encouragement.  I don't understand why you want to read my ramblings.  I am not all together sure I make any sense at all and I surely don't have anything deep or profound to say that will shift your paradigms.

But, maybe, just in the transparent honesty of looking into the world through my eyes you can see something just a little differently.  Maybe it's yourself that looks new.  Maybe it's someone you work with, or live with.

I pray for you, my readers, that God will use my words to bless you.  And I thank Him, too, for your friendship.

You can also access the link through my website:  Writer's Pages 

Let me know you stopped by!

If by chance you would like to host a book signing, please let me know.  I'm sure we can arrange something.  I would love the opportunity to share with you and your friends what God has done.

Blessings galore!
Kris

So, yeah, where you from?

Looking at my stats, it appears there are readers reading this blog from all over the world.  India.  Thailand.  China.  Ireland.  England.  Chile.  Mexico.  Alaska.  And everywhere in between.

But only a few of you have made yourselves known.

I wonder who you are.  I wonder what you like about what you read here, if you like anything.  I wonder how you found this blog.  I wonder if you'll come back again or if you came here by mistake like someone who opened a door unintentionally.   I wonder what we have in common.

You're welcome to come back.

You're welcome to tell me about you.

You're welcome to share the common ground we're walking.

Writers write because we can't not let the words have their way.  Readers, on the other hand, stop hither and yon by their own will power. 

Writers are always trying to figure out what makes a reader read.

Are you from France?  Thailand?  Mexico?  Are you raising a family in Singapore?  Are you a missionary kid in India?  A student in Ireland?  A truckdriver in Alaska?

My writer's mind places you in all sorts of adventerous roles. 

Add a comment. Jot a note.  Join the website at krisanewman.webs.com and tell me more about yourself there.

Or, just follow along in the same invisible way and see if I don't some day write your life through my writer's eyes.

Presenting . . . The Book of Pages

Well, your friend the writer is considering taking a leap to cross the chasm between writer and author. What’s the difference? Publication.

I have fearfully looked over this chasm with its plethora of unknowns for many years. How does one find a publisher? Are all agents the same? Can I afford to self-publish? And is there any point in that? How can I sell my own stuff? Who cares?

If you know me at all, you know I'm terrified of heights.  Someone with great patience will have to walk with me over this bridge....

Along comes Lulu.com and, for the moment, I think I may have solved the publisher problem. I can self-publish an e-book which can be converted to hardcover by personal order for a pretty small sum.

I am going to start the process. I think. If I don’t back down.

I mean… what if I go to the trouble and throw my heart out there on a string and it doesn’t make it to the other side, but crashes splintering into the abyss? What if no one cares that I have a book out there that could be read?

But see, then there’s the other “what if.” What if people would like it, would grow from it, would glean something of value from my meanderings? God gave me this talent to use for some purpose. What if by not sharing it, I’m failing Him?

That’s scarier than failing, to be honest with you.

Therefore, hereby I do declare I will at some point in the nearer, rather than later, future put together the Book of Pages – Musings and Meanderings of a New Single Woman.

If in the past at some point you have read something -whether on this blog or through various other Kris NewMan sharing events -you remember, please let me know. It may make the final cut and you’ll know it was at your suggestion.

Similarly, if you have ever read something of mine that was really, really bad . . . please, please tell me! I wouldn’t let you walk out of the restaurant with lettuce in your teeth. Don’t let me put something in my first attempt at authordom which stinks.

I’m kind of excited about this. I don’t expect I’ll make any bestseller list and I don’t guess Oprah will call me, but perhaps there is someone who will be blessed.

Now you know how a writer looks at becoming an author. We’re terrified.