Grandfather and his Chimney Rock

After a long hiatus, here's a blog about an old man smoking a rock. I'm teasing. Grandfather and Chimney Rock are mountains in the Blue Ridge Range of the Southern Appalachians, which is where I was over the long weekend (and week) in May.

Every Memorial Day weekend, we get itchy feet. Spring semester's almost at an end. Winter's over even in Seattle, though wet gray days won't be over until after the Fourth of July. So we flee to warmer, sunnier climes. Along with the natural beauty, Charlotte and Blue Ridge promised a chance to meet dear friends from college and a dear, dear friend I would be meeting for the first time.

First the mountains...

Grandfather has the distinction of being home to a privately-owned biosphere and a swinging bridge that's more than a mile above sea level. Imagine yourself standing on swaying, creaking wooden slats, like a boat at sea, with spaces in between the slats and merely two horizontal bars on the sides. Now, imagine the bridge suspended between two rocks. Finally, imagine looking down and seeing the tops of fir trees 100 feet below. The experience is surreal, as is the view of the slate gray-blue lines of the Blue Ridge mountain range. For 65 years old (if one human year is akin to one million mountain years), Grandfather sure is a spry host. Sixteen different natural communities, seventy rare and endangered species, 200 types of birds, and 12 miles of backcountry trails ensure that visitors are suitably entertained.

Chimney Rock was privately-held by the Morse family until two years ago. "Chimney Top," "Groundhog Slide," "Inspiration Point," Nature's Showerbath," and "Exclamation Point" are some of the places along the Skyline Cliff Trail that you would recognize, if you'd seen Daniel Day Lewis (ooh!) in The Last of the Mohicans. First, we had a chance to ride in a 26-story elevator blasted through the center of a solid granite mountain. Then we stumbled from rock to rock, panted over steep steps, and squeezed through the Wild Cat Trap. Phew! for ice-cream that turns your tongue electric blue.

Sierra Club founder John Muir wrote to his daughter Helen about his summit climb of Grandfather: "I couldn't hold in, and began to jump about and sing and glory in it all." Fear of starting an avalanche kept me from acting in kind though I sure wanted to.

[Chimney Rock, NC Hwy 64 Exit 71-A, www.chimneyrockpark.com
Grandfather Mountain, NC Hwy 221 & Blue Ridge Pkwy, www.grandfather.com]

Now on to the reason for this post...

Our heroes and heroines always have friends. It's through these friends that, as readers and writers, we get to know our main characters better. In doing so, we also explore the nature of friendships and their essential importance to our very being.

I enjoy corresponding with friends, be it hand-written letters, postcards, blogging, texting, or twittering. My first pen-pal (a rather anachronistic word, isn't it?) is now a 27-year-old friendship. I'm still in e-mail contact with my kindergarten friends. I'm just (ouch, Diane) so not a phone person!

I have made some of the most wonderful friends in the romance community since my first entrée via Squawk Radio in 2005-ish. Most of these people I haven't even met yet.

So, when a chance came up to meet one such amazing friend in person on our trip to Charlotte, I jumped at it. She's PJ. She drove across state lines. She hand-crafted chocolate that's far superior to Godiva's and brought it with her. And the three hours that I spent in her company were over in an instant. I have missed her ever since...

Historical Conference 2008

[Edited 7/17: I replaced the former tentative schedule of June 26, with the newly released one of July 16.

Edited 7/18: Kalen Hughes is leading a museum tour to Lacis Textile Musem.]

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Lacis Textile Museum outing on Friday, Aug 1. Kalen Hughes says, "Meet in the lobby of the hotel after the Connie Brockway luncheon. We will walk up to the train (BART), buy tickets ($6.60 round trip), and head over to Berkeley's Ashby Station. The shop/museum is right across the street. Note: This place is amazing. If you like books or do needlework of any kind, be prepared to take a hit in the pocket book (the museum is free though)."

—————

The Beau Monde and Hearts Through History chapters are holding a joint conference on Wednesday, July 30, a day before National 2008 swings into full gear in San Francisco.

Schedule of Events

7:45 – 9:00AM
Breakfast & Registration & Annual Meeting
Golden Gate A2-A3

9:00 – 9:40
Keynote Speaker: Jocelyn Kelley (aka Jo Ann Ferguson): The Quest for the Holy Sale
Golden Gate A2-A3

9:45 – 10:40
Workshop Session One

10:45 – 11:10
Break

11:15 – 12:10
Workshop Session Two

12:15 – 1:15
Lunch
Golden Gate A2-A3

1:15 – 2:15
Workshop Session Three

2:15 – 2:25
Break

2:30 – 3:25
Workshop Session Four

3:30 – 4:30
Tea and Silent Auction
Golden Gate A2-A3

8:45 – 11PM
Soiree with Dancemaster
Golden Gate B2-B3

Workshop Session One
9:45 – 10:40

Sierra F
Medieval, Tudor and Elizabethan Clothing
with Jessica Cohen and Cathie Berte
With over 70 years of re-enacting experience between them, these ladies know their stuff. Join them for an interactive clothing demonstration and discussion of just how the clothing of these eras worked.

Sierra E
My Lady's Boudoir
with Candice Hern
Join author Candice Hern for a show and tell with her collection of fabulous Georgian-era antiques.

Sierra C
Women of Ancient Rome
with Judy Ridgley
What was it like to be a woman in Ancient Rome? Judy Ridgley will take you on a trip through the sisterhood of Roman wives, mothers, daughters, and priestesses.

Sierra G
Black Powder Weapons Through the Ages
with black powder expert Gordon Frye
Re-enactor and film consultant Gordon Frye with share his expertise on the history of black powder weapons, and he'll be bringing in actual guns and swords so you can see how they worked!

Sierra H
Sell that Historical
with Kensington editor Hilary Sares
& Michelle Buonfiglio from Romance: B(u)y the Book
Where the genre is and where it's going! If anyone knows, it's these two women. So if you're looking to sell or interested in what is selling, this is the workshop for you.

Sierra I
Women's Property Rights in England (~1770-1900)
with Courtney Milan
Is the will your plot hinges upon legal? Explore this important and obscure topic with the Beau Monde's resident legal eagle (and bring along your own scenarios for vetting!).

Workshop Session Two
11:15 – 12:10

Sierra F
Georgian and Regency Clothing
with Kalen Hughes
Join author Kalen Hughes for a live demonstration of clothing of the 18th and early 19th centuries (if we're very lucky she'll even have a male model in full regimentals!). "Officers!!!" Kitty and Lydia vibrated with excitement in P&P.

Sierra E
Characters of the Wild West
with Paty Jager
Meet exciting characters of the West: The Rancher, The Soiled Dove, The Lawmen, The Gunfighter, The Entrepreneur.

Sierra C
Historical Medicine and Illnesses
with Scott Moore
Join medical historian Scott Moore for his presentation on all things medical, and how to research this topic for yourself.

Sierra G
Medieval and Renaissance Food
with Cherylyn Crill
Join re-enactor Cherylyn Crill for a tasting workshop of period foods (must be pre-registered).

Sierra H
Life as a Roman Centurion
with Robert Garbisch
See the empire through the eyes of a citizen. Re-enactor Robert Garbisch will share with you his unique perspective of life in the Roman Empire as a centurion.

Sierra I
Another Time, Another Place: Transporting the Reader with Your Historical Romance
with Terry Irene Blain
Historical romances should transport the reader to another time and another place. This workshop will cover a discussion of all the elements that make a historical romance historical, including research and how to integrate your information in to the frame work of you story.

Workshop Session Three
1:15-2:15

Sierra F
Victorian Clothing
with Moira Knowlan
A live demonstration of Victorian clothing (with and emphasis on understanding the layers and undergarments).

Sierra E
Great Estates of Britain, Part I: Roman to Elizabethan
with Victoria Hinshaw
Have trouble picturing just what your hero's estate looks like? Join author Victoria Hinshaw for a tour of the great estates of Britain.

Sierra C
Sex Through History
with Delilah Marvelle
Join debut author Delilah Marvelle for the a frank discussion of the naughty side of history from the Middle Ages to the Edwardian era.

Sierra G
A Gentleman's Tipple: Georgian, Regency and Victorian Beverages
with Kalen Hughes
What's the difference between Whiskey and whisky? Sherry and sack? What does Raspberry Shrub taste like? Join author Kalen Hughes and find out (must be pre-registered).

Sierra H
Q&A about Ancient Rome
with the Members of Legio X Fretenis
Have a question about Ancient Rome that nobody seems to know the answer to? Now is your chance to ask the experts. Members from Legio X Fretenis.

Sierra I
Arms and Armor
with Steve Moffat
Join re-enactor and professional armorer Steve Moffat for a reprise of the armor workshop he gave to DreamWorks for Shrek III. Steve will be bringing along example of armor from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. What to know just what happen when your hero falls wearing full plate? Here's your chance!

Workshop Session Four
2:30 – 3:25

Sierra F
Paranormal Historicals: How to Make Them Work
with Traci Hall
Join author Traci Hall for a look at the ways Christianity absorbed Pagan beliefs as a way to draw the people into the `new' religion.

Sierra E
Great Estates of Britain, Part II: Jacobean to 20th Century
With Victoria Hinshaw
Have trouble picturing just what your hero's estate looks like? Join author Victoria Hinshaw for a tour of the great estates of Britain.

Sierra C
Panel on Historical Horsemanship
with Sophia Nash, Shannon Donnelly, Kathrynn Dennis & Gordon Frye
Join our panel of experienced riders, authors, equine veterinarians and historical cavalry consultants for a bit of lecture and a lot of Q&A on this important topic.

Sierra G
Kickshaws: Regency & Victorian Refreshments
with Kalen Hughes
Quaking Pudding and Blanc'mange ahoy! Join author Kalen Hughes for a taste of Regency and Victorian era refreshments (must be pre-registered).

Sierra H
Roman Hand-to-Hand Combat
with the Members of Legio X Fretenis
Members of Legion X will take you through hand to hand combat and answer questions about what works and what doesn't when describing close-in fighting.

Sierra I
Making Your Historical Characters Come Alive
with Megan Frampton, Amanda McCabe & Andrea Pickens
Just because you're writing in a distant time period doesn't mean your characters should be distant to your readers. Make your characters come alive through dialogue, attitudes, description and actions, while still remaining true to the period.

Workshop Tracks

Ancient Rome
Medieval/Tudor/Elizabethan
Regency/Georgian
Victorian
Time Line
An Overflow Track

Please note this is a work in progress and is still open to changes. If you have questions, please email The Beau Monde president kalen (at) kalenhughes (dot) com.

Scriptscene RWA Conference

Scriptscene RWA presents a Mini-Conference

Wednesday, July 30, 2008
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the San Francisco Marriott (the RWA conference hotel)

DON'T miss this special opportunity to meet and learn from Hollywood professionals. Register now, seats are limited! Three incredible speakers will share their experiences from many years in the Hollywood trenches.

10 a.m.
Registration & networking

10:30 a.m.
Welcome

10:40 - 11:10
Annual Chapter Meeting

11:15
Workshop Session One

Leighanne Haddock will present "From Script to Screen: The Art of Bringing Your Script to Life." Set Decorator Ms. Haddock studied Interior Design at Southwest Texas State University. Since moving to LA, she's worked as a Production Designer/Set Decorator in the Art Department for indie projects, and as a Buyer in Set Decorating for big budget companies such as Dreamworks, Columbia Pictures, and Warner Entertainment. Her film and TV credits include Alias, Bones, Invasion, Disturbia, Kite Runner, and Enchanted.

12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch Break (on your own)

1:30 - 2:45
Workshop Session Two

James Dalessandro is an author and veteran screenwriter. Since its publication in April, 2004, James Dalessandro’s 1906, an epic novel of the great San Francisco earthquake and fire, has become “a publishing sensation,” appearing regularly on Northern California Best Seller Lists for nine months. Mr. Dalessandro has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, The Ronn Owensradio show on KGO radio, and twelve regional television stations. Warner Brother’s Films began production in 2005 on a20$150 million film version of 1906, from a script also written by James Dalessandro. He'll talk about, "Novels, Romance, Hollywood: ADAPTING YOUR IDEAS TO FILM (And Surviving Hollywood)."

2:45
Break

3:00 - 3:15
Share the Dream Contest Winners Announced

3:15 - 4:30
Workshop Session Three

Marilyn R. Atlas is an award-winning producer and personal manager. Her topic, "How to Fall=2 0in Love with a Feisty, Voluptuous Dame: A survey of the spunky women in screwball romantic comedies from the 30's... to today's wan, pliant size-2 rom-com heroines" will provide an analysis of the transformations required of the men who win their heroines’ hearts --and how these values are a reflection of the zeitgeist. Also covered in this discussion of the devolution of the rom-com are: the changing prospects of Movies-of-the-Week, the names that greenlight rom-coms, general advice to writers about their relationships with their agent/manager, and what writers’ creative, networking and business responsibilities are.

And if that isn't enough, we have two sponsors for this exciting event. The Writer's Store is our main sponsor, and Final Draft is our co-sponsor — AND both are offering door prizes, discount certificates and more!

The price of admission is:

$10.00 Scriptscene members
$20.00 RWA members (non-Scriptscene)
$25.00 to join Scriptscene AND attend the mini-conference.

Victoria M. Johnson is the mini-conference coordinator. For more information, visit http://www.scriptscene.org

Please forward to RWA loops.

Sneaky Presidential Candidate Bears Watching...

My nomination as presidential wanna-be has worn out its welcome on this blog. So I'm taking the video off. I know, I know. It was über cool while it lasted. But how about something a little more on-topic now?

My Photo

Here's my photo so folks can recognize me at National.



[Edited 7/9: Added one more...]

Rebounding from Defeat

This is a short follow-up to Monday's Write and Write, and then Write Some More. Thanks to Krista Mercer who forward me the article from Wall Street Journal that talks about perseverance in the face of rejection.

Here are some classic examples: "In her new autobiography, Home, Julie Andrews tells of taking a screen test for MGM studios when she was 12 years old. 'They needed to gussy me up a bit because I was so exceedingly plain,' she writes. 'The final determination was: She's not photogenic enough for film.'

J.K. Rowling's book about a boy wizard was rejected by 12 publishers before a small London house picked up Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Decca Records turned down a contract with the Beatles, saying, 'We don't like their sound.' Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor who said he 'lacked imagination.' Michael Jordan was cut from his high-school varsity basketball team sophomore year. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were rebuffed by Atari Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. when they tried to sell an early Apple computer. It took Thomas Edison 1,000 tries before he invented the light bulb."

"What makes some people rebound from defeat and go on to greatness, while others throw in the towel? Psychologists call it self-efficacy, the unshakeable belief some people have that they have what it takes to succeed. Self-efficacy differs from self-esteem in that it's a judgment of specific capabilities rather than a general feeling of self-worth. 'People need to learn how to manage failure so it's informational and not demoralizing,' says Stanford University psychologist Albert Bandura. 'I've failed over and over and over again in my life. That's why I succeed,' Michael Jordan has said."

Read more about resiliency, determination, and optimism.