Friday, January 28, 2022

BOOK: Blue Lake by Carol Ann Kauffman

Blue Lake is the first novel I wrote. That was back in 2010 and 2011. When I finished it, I immediately started Belterra, the prequel in a way. The writing went smooth and easy. These were the days my husband was still working while I was already retired. Long expanses of us disturbed writing were very conducive to churning out long novels. 

Marketing, however, was a completely different animal. Those were the days of sending query letters by mail to the big publishing houses with a short sample. And waiting. And waiting. Sometimes somebody asked for more. A few asked for the whole book. Months and months would pass before they finally got around to saying, “I loved the story and the connection between Richard and Nicole, but …”

I even framed two of the letters, one from Elizabeth Barrett and one from Loretta Banks, telling me they loved my work, not to give up, they were sure I would find an agent, and so forth and so on. 

I wasn’t getting any younger in the meantime. Then I found Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. Now you can say what you want about Amazon, but their view for kindle was fantastic. Put all the books ever written in one place, make them reasonably priced, and digital so storage is not a problem, and make them available to everybody who wants to buy them. As a person who made four piles of books four feet high and put a tablecloth and a vase of flowers on top, this appealed to me.

Over the last ten years and thirty books, I have published books through smaller publishing houses. At the time, it was a giant, thrilling experience. But  if you want control over your work, if you want to okay the artwork for the cover, then Kindle Direct Publishing is the way to go.

You will still need to find a good editor that you are comfortable with, and a cover artist who doesn’t get her feelings hurt when you want to change something.



Blue Lake is the story of a young, British actor who falls in love with an older American widow while working on a film at an Albuquerque, New Mexico studio. 

“The love Nicole and Richard share is strong and has survived many lifetimes, but never without sacrifice and heartache. Some call it reincarnation. Some call it fate. But whatever it is, it keeps them apart until they're ready to jump in and help each other on this amazing journey called life.

This time Fate rubs her hands together with glee and laughs as she plays a cruel joke on them by placing them on different continents, twenty years apart.

Nicole was born in Ohio. She doesn't remember her past life. She had a career, got married, and was later widowed. Richard entered life twenty years later in the UK and became an actor. But fate cannot keep them apart. What they have is more than love, more than attraction, or devotion. They are eternal soulmates.

When they finally do meet in Albuquerque, they remember their love and feel overwhelming joy, but the twenty-year age difference plants the painful thorns of doubt, worry, and fear. Their unlikely but undeniable love pulls them closer and closer, while careers, family, and other relationships push them farther and farther apart.

The ten-year period they spend together in this lifetime takes them on many exciting adventures from beautiful New Mexico, across the Atlantic to England, Ireland, Italy, and Aruba. Nicole and Richard have an incredibly strong connection, but they must face not only happiness and joy but the dark side of life and love as well.

Come. Start the adventure with Richard and Nicole, where everything changes, but love remains the same.
Are you ready? Jump!”











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Thursday, January 27, 2022

ENTERTAINMENT: Being the Ricardos Amazon Prime)


Like everyone else in the 50's, I loved Lucy. More than that, I loved Lucille Ball. I remember seeing old movies on TV where Lucille starred in supporting roles as a blonde. She was an excellent serious actress. She was also an outstanding dancer. 

I was pleasantly surprised by Being the Ricardos. There were times in the film I forgot Nicole Kidman was playing the role of Lucille. She had the tone and delivery spot on. It showed Lucy as not only an outstanding actress, a smart businesswoman, and a woman in love with her husband.

As a child, their divorce shocked and disappointed me to the core.  It was up there with no Santa. I thought there were perfect together. This film brought home the funny lady's heartache.



  





 

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

INTERVIEW: Nonfiction Author Claudia Clark


Claudia Clark
Berlin, Germany


 

Good morning, Claudia, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the site 

for Art and Authors. Can you tell us a little about what you've written? 

Dear Barack: The extraordinary partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel

 

What is your favorite genre to write? 

Nonfiction

 

Favorite food. 

Pizza

 

Tea or coffee? 

Coffee

 

Pizza or ice cream? 

Pizza

 

Wine or beer or soda or what? 

Coke

 

Where would you like to visit? 

Australia

 

Favorite musical artist. 

Beatles

 

Do you listen to music when you write?  What? 

In my spare time,  I play flute/piccolo in community bands. My ambition to be a successful musician outweighed my talent, so I listen to the music of James Galway or Jean-Pierre Rampal for inspiration when I write.



What makes you laugh? 

I like older comedy shows like I Love Lucy, and the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. 

                                                                                                 


Me, too. I love those old comedies.

This is an ART and AUTHOR blog, so I am obligated to ask :Favorite work of art or sculpture. 

Claude Monet’s : Beach in Pourville



How old were you when you started writing? 

11 or 12


 

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write? 

Outlines


 

Describe your perfect evening. 

Dinner at a nice restaurant with my husband and another couple followed by a night at the theater, musicals are my favorite.


 

Where do you get your inspiration? 

Hiking in the mountains.


 

What do you do when you get a writer's block? 

I put the writing aside and focus on something else for a while—find a new hobby or take a new class.


 

Who is your favorite author? 

Toni Morrison


 

Best book you ever read. 

Poisonwood Bible

 


Last book you read.

The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel by Kati Matron.

 


What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 

I absolutely love animals, so I would probably do something working with them—maybe in the capacity such as Jane Goodall with her work with chimpanzees, or a wildlife refuge in Australia working with koalas or kangaroos. 


 

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 

My mother—she influenced me to write from a very age. She read my stories, took me to writing conferences –even when she could barely pay the fees, and encouraged me.



If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 

Marie Curie. I have prided myself as a feminist since I was five years old. Unfortunately, I am absolutely horrible in math and science, and that has created turmoil—I advocate women can do anything, but I, personally hate math and science.  Nevertheless, I have nothing but respect for women trailblazers—especially in those fields. I would love to get a first hand account of all her experiences and obstacles she faced.


                                                                                      



What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? 

To have a tough skin, and a lot of patience. Writing is a very tough business and rejection is par of the course, but if you have faith in your skill and passion, to keep at it, and your break will come.

 


Do you have some links for us to follow you?


Website: https://www.claudiaclarkauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Claudia-Clark-Author-2185350048200575

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CClarkAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudiaclarkauthor73/

Linked IN https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-clark-7682492/








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Tuesday, January 25, 2022

BOOK REVIEW: Holmes in America by Karen Vaughan




Holmes in America by Karen Vaughan is one of those hard-to-put-down, high energy, suspenseful books you dream of finding. This Canadian police procedural had great characters, a smooth flowing plot, and tons of excitement. I highly recommend.







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Sunday, January 23, 2022

SCHEDULE: Jan. 24 - 28, 2022


 
Mon., Jan. 24 - ART: 
Parker's Celebrity Ladies
by Texas Collage Artist Parker Kaufman
Tues., Jan. 25 - BOOK REVIEW:
Holmes in America 
by Karen Vaughan
Wed., Jan. 26 - INTERVIEW:
Non-Fiction Author Claudia Clark
Thurs., Jan/ 27 - ENTERTAINMENT:
Being the Ricardos
(Amazon Prime)
Fri., Jan. 28 - BOOK:
Blue Lake
by Carol Ann Kauffman








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Note:

Vision and Verse does not store any personal information like email addresses, home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.