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What’s your favorite part of summer?

by Kristen James

A brilliant orange sunset filled the stormy sky last night as I drove into town, and the air was saturated with the smell of blackberries, sweet grass and rain. The mix of beauty and smells turned my thoughts to all the things I love about summer, especially in August when the garden is producing and blackberries are ripe, but we sometimes get thunderstorms, like last night, that hint at autumn. It’s summer with excitement about back to school and apple pies, hot apple cider and fun fall time activities.

But back to summer… I love swimming in the river in August because the water is at its warmest here. (Which isn’t actually very warm compared to some other states.) I enjoy this time of year when we can throw on shorts and tank tops and not worry about keeping warm or stay dry. Summer is more simple.

I don’t think summer is my writing season, though. There is so much to do outside, and it’s light until 9 in the beginning of summer. It’s time to go out, have friends over, float the river and play outside. We also swim almost every day that it’s over 80 degrees. I have been hard at work with freelance writing through the summer, but I haven’t worked on a novel since spring. However, I wrote Book Promoting 101 and A Miraculous Fate during the last school year and published those two along with More Than Memories. That’s one reason why I look forward to those long winter nights. I’m able to focus and write after putting the kids to bed.

Of course summer also means the kids are home, and I’ve actually been working on a children’s picture book with my middle child. He wanted something to do over the summer and loves art. I printed out a couple of stories I’d written and let him pick one to illustrate. Both my sons are talented at drawing and artwork. I’ve focused my creativity on writing, but I’ve also drawn and painted in the past. He’s finished four pages so far that look very nice! I can’t wait to share with people, but we’re waiting until the book is almost done. We hoped to finish it over the summer, but once again, we had so many fun, outdoor activities! But sometime soon he’ll have his very own published book to take for show-and-tell and send to family.

What is summer to you? Camping and traveling, or parties in the city? Like many people, I cherish family gatherings, special memories with the kids and the special magic of the season.

Life’s About The Journey

by Kristen James

I heard a great joke recently. An 85 year old man goes to the doctor, concerned about how long he’ll live. The doctor asked him, “Well, do you drink?”

“No, not a sip.”

“Do you play golf or swim out in the sun?”

“No, of course not.”

The list went on with all the normal questions, to which the man replied he stayed on the straight and narrow path.

“Well then,” the doctor finally said, “Then why do you care how long you’ll live?”

Funny jokes like that remind me about the important things like time spent with loved ones, and making fun memories. There’s a few things I think everyone should try at least once, like:

Riding a motorbike. Some people want to drive, others are content riding on back. I love being the passenger so I can watch all the scenery.

Visiting a foreign country and immersing yourself in the culture, the “differentness” and soaking up a different pace of life. (Probably some language and lots of new experiences!)

Getting out on the water in a canoe, kayak or raft. You really feel a part of nature as you glide over the water. There’s something for riding a speed boat, ferry or even bigger boat too. Any kind of boat is a good experience!

Riding a bicycle through the jungle, in the dark, after a few beers. Well, maybe that one isn’t for everyone, but it sure makes you laugh when you reach your hotel and realize the tiger didn’t get you.

I’m sure we could write a book about things to try, so feel free to comment!

Thank You Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry

by Kristen James

I’m sure we all reach points where we think we could be on the wrong path, or we can’t make things happen no matter how badly we want them. Maybe the dream isn’t worth it, or it’s too hard, or it just won’t happen in time. Here and there I wonder what life could be if I wasn’t a writer, if I had a desire to do anything else. Then I remember my dream. Sometimes it only takes a connection with someone else to feel revived and ready to run forward. Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry have both given me that connection with a song.

These two entertainers don’t have a lot in common, and neither writes motivating songs per se. Yet each singer has one song unlike their others.

“It’s The Climb” by Miley Cyrus

Cyrus starts with, “I can almost see it, that dream I’m dreaming…” Do you ever feel the realization of your dream is right around the corner? I feel the song mirrors my writing journey, especially when she sings, “There’s always gonna be another mountain. I’m always gonna wanna make it move.” If you’ve chased a big dream for most of your life, like me, you know this feeling well. It’s nice knowing others are climbing their own mountains, and it’s also nice hearing “It ain’t about how fast I get there, ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.” It’s the journey. We’ve all heard that a hundred times, and each time it’s more true. “It’s The Climb” reminds me to enjoy life as I live it, not waiting for happiness when I reach the end of the road. What’s the point in that? I write because I love it and enjoy it, but I still need that lesson.

“Firework” by Katy Perry

“Firework” is a faster song with an energetic message. Perry begins with, “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind?” Later she says, “Do you know there’s still a chance for you? Cause there’s a spark in you. You just gotta ignite…the light…and let it shine.” She encourages us to “own the night like the 4th of July.” I love the imagery here. (I’m not sure what my college professors would think of a paper on the imagery and literary devices in these songs, but heck, both songs are beautiful.)

Two great lines from this song say, “You’re original, cannot be replaced. If you only knew what the future holds…” One of the best encouragements to a writer is realizing each of us has our own, completely unique, world view.

When I listen to “It’s The Climb,” I remember to…well, enjoy the climb. When I hear “Firework,” I feel excited (ignited!) to light up the night. Imagine if these two singers didn’t record these songs. I reflect on that and my own life and think, even if my novels aren’t changing the world, they might affect a life.

In The Beginning Was A Story

by Kristen James

In the beginning of the world, was the word. In the beginning for me and writing, there was a story. It was 4th grade and I had Mrs. Straight. I went into the year scared because of the rumors, mostly from the older kids. They were right, she was loud and firm. But soon I discovered she shared about herself and cared about us kids. When we read The Trupeter Swam (think that’s the right title) we made posters by cutting and gluing on construction paper. I decided to make a 3-D picture and glued “grass” to stick up around a a nest. I think the mother swan was swimming in the water in 3-D too. Mrs. Straight loved it. She took it down to display in the school library, and I think that’s the first time I remember thinking my teacher was proud of me.

I think it was spring when we worked on writing short stories. I wrote about a young girl playing in the woods and finding a unicorn. Mrs. Straight loved that too, and picked me to read my story at the school assembly. It was held in the evening with all the parents, and I also got to be in the mime show. I remember reading my story and feeling my white mime paint running off my face. Afterward I found out it hadn’t, really. It just felt like it.

I remember getting excited when I heard art or story assignments. The teacher presented an idea and we could fill it in, expand it or change it. But the assignment would always spark all kinds of ideas. I’d have several before the teacher finished giving instructions, and it seemed to be the one time that was okay.

Mrs. Straight left school before the year ended. She told us about finding a lump and needing surgery. I remember sitting behind the school with my friends on reward day – we got an ice cream if we hadn’t gotten in trouble that quarter. I think I had a fudgebar, although that might be my corrective memory. Still, I clearly remember what it tasted like, and how sad I was while eating it. I can’t tell you if that was the day we found out she had to leave, or if it was the day we found out she died. Whichever day it was, it was the day I knew I wouldn’t see her again. I do remember what it felt like to have someone like my writing for the very first time, and having a teacher that inspired me.

The Scenery of my Life

by Kristen James

The road is a fairytale lane filled with sunshine. At least it was today when I drove through on my way home from the small nearby town. Light purple blooms huddle all over a tree on the left while white blossoms cover the trees on the right. Smaller bushes sport pink flowers too. Color everywhere, from the tender new blooms to the newly grown bright green grass covering all the surrounding hills and mountains beyond. There had been a rainstorm here in the valley last night that left snow capped mountains to frame our world.

The country road curves through the trees and then straightens out into farmland. The river runs wildly over on the other side of the pasture, which is filled with hundreds of lambs right now. They lay in cuddle piles of white fluffiness or run about after their mothers. On the other side of the road, the pasture holds calves. They’re smaller than you’d think, than you’d expect of a cow.

This is the scenery I drive through. At home, daffodils decorate the bottom of all the tree trunks. Each flower clump is a slightly different color. Some have bright orange centers, others peach, and still others a rich yellow. Bluebells bloom close to the house in blue, pink and a beautiful purple. I suspect another bird family has moved into the Rhoddies. Last year a scrub jaw nested there in a half foot wide nest of sticks. These birds are smaller and orange, and that’s all I’ve notice as they fly away when I walk by.

Some days I write 10 or 20 pages on a book project or get a book formatted for publication. Today it was hard to focus on getting much done, so I did little things like adding this blog to my website. Writing can focus my mind when it wands to run in all directions. Taking a drive and then writing about the beauty out here calmed my thoughts today.