Remembering Sandy Hook... "20 Little Luminaries"

20 Little Luminaries
by Lia Mack

 

In the darkest hour
In the darkest night
20 little luminaries
Fill up with light

20 little lives
So innocent, so sweet
20 little smiles
We wish we could greet

Although quiet as snowflakes
Glistening in the sun
40 little hands
Still hold onto the fun

That living gave them
All the love and the joy
That they enjoyed in their short time
All those 20 little girls and boys

And in the twilight
Feel their love near
As 20 little hearts
Hold you close and dear

Remembering the good times
Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall
That you gave to them wholeheartedly
Mommy and Daddy and all

And look at those 3 each
On the left and the right
Doing their best
To protect with all of their might

On both sides of them now
Standing strong, standing tall
6 tall luminaries
For the adults who too did fall

Angels on Earth
To their rescue did come
To protect them and guide them
With life's wonderful love

Together they go
Together they stay
6 tall and 20 small
Toward Heaven's sweet rays

So stand close to your loved ones
On this cold winter night
3 tall, 20 small, 3 tall
Will you please light

And there they will glow
With life's fire light
As those 20 sweet little lives
Take heavenly flight

As you remember those you've loved and lost this year -
especially the 26 lives taken away from us that unforgettable fall morning
12.14.12
- please light the night with your own luminary in their remembrance.

Interview & Giveaway with guest author Yona Zeldis McDonough, author of "TWO OF A KIND"

Welcome to this week's BB Writers Retreat!

Please let me introduce you to our guest, Yona Zeldis McDonough, author of "Two of a Kind".

After the interview (below) Yona is giving away a signed copy of her book, so be sure to enter to win!

 

Yona Zeldis McDonough, author of "Two of a Kind"

Yona Zeldis McDonough is also the author of many more publications, including:

and for children: (Partial list)

Lia Mack: Yona, thank you so very much for joining us today for our BB Writers Retreat. 

As always, I like to jump right in with the ultimate question...Why do you write?

Yona Zeldis McDonough: I write to keep myself sane, balanced, hopeful and happy.  I write to make sense of my experience, and my perceptions. I write because I have to, pure and simple. I feel I did not choose writing; writing chose me.

Lia Mack: That's a precise way to put it - "writing chose me." 

Can you describe a bit how your venture into writing looked like?

Yona Zeldis McDonough: I was enrolled in a graduate program in art history at Columbia University and I was NOT a happy camper. I did not like anything about it and was not sure what to do next.  I was allowed to take other courses in the university—for free—and on a lark, took a fiction writing class. I was instantly hooked and decided that fiction, not art history, was what I wanted to do with my time on earth. I left the program shortly after that and began writing—first stories, then novels—always with the same goal in mind: becoming a full-fledged, published author. It took many years before this happened.  But it did and I have not looked back.

Lia Mack: That's wonderful. 

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Yona Zeldis McDonough: It’s a second-chance-at-love-story. Ten years after losing her husband, Christina Connelly has worked through the pain, focusing on raising her teenage daughter and managing her small decorating business. But her romantic life has never quite recovered. Still, it’s irksome to be set up with arrogant, if handsome, OB/GYN Andy Stern at her friend’s wedding. If he wasn’t also a potential client, needing his Upper East Side apartment redesigned, she would write him off.

This is never going to work, Andy thinks. Still grieving his wife and struggling with a troubled son, he’s not looking for a woman, and certainly not someone as frosty and reserved as Christina. Their relationship will be strictly business. Yet to everyone’s surprise–including their own–these two find themselves falling in love. But if reconciling with their pasts is difficult, blending their lives and children to create a new family is nearly impossible. They’ve been given a second chance…can they overcome all the obstacles in the way of happily ever after?

Lia Mack: What was the most challenging aspect of writing this particular story? 

Yona Zeldis McDonough: The novel is told from several points of view and all of them came easily to me—except Christina Connelly’s—and she was the protagonist! I don’t know why, but she was a very tough nut to crack and it took a long time before I was able to find my way into her head and heart so I could tell her story.

Lia Mack: Don't you just love those illusive characters ;)

What are you working on now?

Yona Zeldis McDonough: I just sold a new manuscript to my publisher, New American Library.  It’s called YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME and is about a 35 year old single woman who finds a newborn infant on a subway platform and decides to adopt her.  Then the baby’s biological father shows up…The novel will be out in October 2014 and I am beyond excited!

Lia Mack:  That IS exciting! Can't wait for October :)

What does your typical writing day look like?

Yona Zeldis McDonough: Now that my children are older, I am more the mistress of my own time. I like to write first thing, so that I know I have that done no matter what else happens during the day.  I work in my upstairs office, usually with one or more of my two dogs (Pomeranians, small and yappy) nearby.  I put in a few hours and break for lunch.  Sometimes I work in the afternoon too; otherwise that’s the time for appointments, errands, meetings etc.  Gym late in the day or early evening.  If I am really deep into a book/project, I’ll write again late at night, sometimes into the wee hours.  It’s NOT good for my sleep—gets me all pumped—but those quiet night hours can be very productive.

Lia Mack: That sounds like a dream schedule, although I know how distracting dogs can be... Can you share a photo of what your writing space looks like?

(see below!)

Yona Zeldis McDonough: I work in a small room on the second floor of my house. I face the backyard (also small!) and I painted the room light blue so it feels like the outside comes streaming in. I have all sorts of beloved objects around me and on the wall above my desk is a poster of a ballerina named Paloma Herrera. Her pose—head tilted back, arms extended, leg reaching up to the sky—is so beautiful it makes me gasp a little every time I see it, and she is an inspiration to me every day of my life.

Lia Mack: What a fantastic muse in an idyllic setting.

On to business... What are your thoughts on authors needing to build a platform?

Yona Zeldis McDonough: I confess I resisted at first. I thought, Platform? Why does an author need a platform? But now I see the importance and the value. There are so many books and writers out there, so much competition.  You need a way to distinguish yourself and bring attention to what you do.  You can’t beat the system, so you have to join it. 

Lia Mack: This is true. Perfect advice for writers everywhere.

Speaking of writers and advice, if you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself if you could speak to the aspiring writer you once were?

Yona Zeldis McDonough: I turned down a couple of juicy magazine jobs in my youth and I really do regret it now. I think it would have been great training and an opportunity to make great contacts.  So I would go back and tell myself, “Honey, you say yes to that job—pronto!”

Lia Mack: Indeed! :)

Yona, thank you so much for being our guest author today. 

Where can BB readers go online to find you and your work?

Yona Zeldis McDonough: I hope you’ll visit my website, which is www.yonazeldismcdonough.com and friend me on Facebook!
 

Yona Zeldis McDonough's writing space

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Writing Tip Tuesday... Just Write.

Well, it's Tuesday and school is out for snow. As always I can't wait to see what Mother Earth has done while we've been asleep to call for such an occasion. To the window I crept to take a peek and...

Nothing. No snow.

Got to love east coast living.

The storm is coming and supposed to drop 4-6 inches. As someone who used to walk to school - no, not uphill both ways - but still, WALK to school carrying my backpack and saxophone in 1-3 feet of snow in Colorado when I was younger, you can see why this is funny to me.

I mean really. This side of the country - Mid Atlantic region and south - shuts down for snow. Even just an inch. They even close the malls around here! When it's ice, I can see why they shut everything down. But snow? The white fluffy fun stuff?

I remember the first snowfall I spent here. I was driving my parents full-size van. Not minivan, mind you. A full-size Econoline Ford 350. Love of my life at the time. It was a beast.

Driving up the highway toward Baltimore I saw it. My first snowflake since leaving Colorado. My family had been stationed overseas in Italy for 3 years and it had flurried one day while we were there, but it never snowed. So I was thirsty for the white stuff. And when I saw that first big white fluffy snowflake fly toward me as I zoomed down the darkened highway at night, I went HAPPY! aka, berserk in a good way ;)

And then more came. And more! A real life snowfall! I sang my Lia Is Happy Again song and continued on down the road to Baltimore with all the other fellow happy it's snowing people of this new interesting State of Maryland. Or so they had been on the road. One by one, they all pulled off to the side of the highway. Blinkers going mad, skid marks as if the end of the world had come. Cruse on through the snow I did - it was only flaking, not accumulating, not even sticking to the concrete. Just fluffy white against my headlights in the dark.

But these Marylanders. They were scattered to the sides of the road to wait out the "storm".

But I digress...

You see what I just did there? I took an idea an spilled it all out.

I just WROTE whatever came to mind.

Practice. That's all we writers need to do to be Writers. WRITE!

And that's the Writing Tip for this Tuesday... JUST WRITE. You'll see that advice from published authors over and over again. Stephen King. Anne Rice. Carolyn R Parsons. Sharon Short. Gale Deitch. They all say it as their biggest advice to aspiring authors.

WRITE!

And so, do it. Easy as pie. That's why I started my blog back in 2008. As a means to write every day. The perfect practice to get into in order to prepare myself with the ultimate challenge of writing a novel.

And it worked.

Just like running, writing is a drug. The more you do it, the more you WANT to do it. And the more you want to do it, the more you will crave it. Dream about it. Talk about it. Soon, you'll become a writer all because you just wrote.

Pretty cool, huh? ;)

Well, I'm glad for the Marylander's fear of the fluffy white stuff. Schools are closed and I get a whole day to spend with my kiddos. Hopefully by noon we'll be playing in the snow :)

Just have to find their snow boots first. Didn't snow last year (growl) so I think I put them in the attic... my kid's will be thrilled with that search and rescue adventure. They love the attic...

;)

Snowball Fight! Making the most of small snowfalls ;)

We had a quick snow last night here on the east coast. Big beautiful snowflakes all day long accumulating to about an inch. Not much to write home about - or blog about, lol - but it was still quite blissful to see everything start to be covered in white.

And then, in typical Maryland style, it turned to ice just in time for a drive home from the DC area. It's amazing how few people have cars in this area that can drive this seasonal weather. Happens every year folks! Ice all the time! As someone who grew up in Colorado and skied in the Alps, yes. I get a little bent this time of year.

I mean really. I miss my mountains... and real snow...

But I digress...

When we got home it had started to snow again and would you know? Snow+ice+snow makes for some mean snowballs! The hubby and kids built a huge snowman (not picture perfect with it's leaf and grass covered body, but big nonetheless) which turned into a 4-way snowball fight by the time ol'mom got outside with the scarf and carrot.

Let me tell you how happy I am I can throw snowballs at my kids now that they're getting bigger... ;)

It was a great time.

The yard is a mud puddle today, but "Snowy" the snowman is still standing, albeit a little melted from today's rain.

I wonder if I should buy snow boots this year? Last year is snowed NADA. They say this year we're supposed to get the most snow we've had in ages.

Ha... One can only hope...

Making the most of Maryland weather, I'm Lia Mack, forever lamenting my Rockies...

lol...

Breakfast & Giveaway with Best-Selling Author Michelle Cruz Rosado :)

Breakfast is served! Author Michelle Rosado's favorite smoothie!

Good morning, writers!

Yesterday we had special guest author Michelle Rosado talk with us about her book PURSUING YOUR DESTINY. It was a pleasure to interview Michelle and as a thank you for being our featured guest author this week, she is giving away a SIGNED COPY of her book, so be sure to enter to win :)

Today at the BB Writers Retreat, she's serving up for us her favorite breakfast smoothie recipe!

To make it vegan, Michelle skips the yogurt and adds a dash of almonds and flax seed.

Strawberry Spinach Smoothies

Ingredients:
1 cup mango juice (Orange Juice also works well)
1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 lb  fresh or frozen strawberries, halved or quartered
1/2 lb fresh or frozen blueberries
1 banana
1 cup packed fresh spinach
Drizzle of honey (about 1 Tbsp)

How to:
1. Add the liquid ingredients first: 1 cup mango (or orange) juice, 1/2 cup yogurt.
2. Add in the 1/2 lb strawberries, 1/2 lb blueberries, 1 banana (broken into a few sections). Blend until smooth.
3. Add in the 1 cup fresh spinach and drizzle with honey to taste. Blend until smooth and serve to the folks eagerly waiting in line.

Recipe from Natasha's Kitchen.

Interview & Giveaway with Best-Selling Author and Mentor Michelle Cruz Rosado, author of "PURSUING YOUR DESTINY"

For this week's BB Writers Retreat, I thought it would be a wonderful idea to invite Inspirational Speaker, Best-Selling Author and Mentor Michelle Cruz Rosado, co-author of PURSUING YOUR DESTINY.  

Michelle Cruz Rosado, co-author of PURSUING YOUR DESTINY

Michelle Cruz Rosado has devoted herself to teaching and mentoring around the world through words of love, hope and perseverance. Rosado's story has been featured on CNN, NBC Nightly News, FOX and BBC.

Lia Mack:  Michelle, thank you so much for speaking with us today. 

Please start us off by telling us why you write.

Michelle Cruz Rosado: I write to communicate from spirit in ways that my mind finds distracting. Writing gives me the opportunity to express myself solely from the depths of my heart and not by the demands of others. I write to inspire others, and in turn inspire themselves.

Writing has been a passion of mine since my early years in high school. My English teachers were extremely supportive of my work and encouraged me to be a writer. I began my writing journey with poetry, then on to articles for the school newspaper.
After the tragedy of September 11 however, I wrote an article entitled, "Will I Recover", a personal account of my escape from Tower 2 when the first plane crashed into Tower 1. The article was released on October 6, 2001 was followed by "The Recovery", in September of 2006. Both articles became the foundation for my co-authored book, "Pursuing Your Destiny" and has motivated me to continue writing through my blog.

Lia Mack:  Can you tell us a little about your book? 

Michelle Cruz Rosado: "Pursuing Your Destiny" is a story of survival and forgiveness. It first describes my experience on September 11, 2001 and takes the reader back in time as two children growing up in different parts of New York. Through the journey, I also describe my spiritual awakening and share ways of how to overcome any adversity one faces.

Lia Mack:  What was the most challenging aspect of writing this particular story? 

Michelle Cruz Rosado: Through weeks of contemplation I decided to share very personal stories of my childhood and as a survivor of domestic abuse. When I realized the book was not about the authors but about the reader, the fear and resistance subsided. It's important for everyone to know that they are never alone, and each of us has the ability to heal.

Lia Mack:  What are you working on now? 

Michelle Cruz Rosado: I'm currently working on a piece for a New York City publication which will be released in December 2013, as well as working on my mentoring/consulting business.

Lia Mack:  What does your typical writing day look like? 

Michelle Cruz Rosado: A typical writing day is in between the emails, calls and research. I always have a Word document open to type whatever comes to me. I could find myself writing from 7:00am to 9:00pm at times, if I'm truly inspired.

Lia Mack:  Can you share a photo of what your writing space looks like? 

Michelle Cruz Rosado: Below :-)

Lia Mack:  Do you read while you write? What are you reading now? 

Michelle Cruz Rosado: If something sways my attention I'll take the time to read it while I'm writing. I'm currently reading Dale Carnegie's classic, "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living." It's helping me calm my inner critic and confidently move forward in my writing.

Lia Mack:  If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself if you could speak to the aspiring writer you once were? 

Michelle Cruz Rosado: Nothing can stop you from expressing what you feel, whether it pertains to a traumatic experience or the happiest moment of your life. You have the right to write.
 
Lia Mack:  I like that! "You have the right to write."

Thank you so much for being our guest author today. Where can BB readers go online to find you and your work? 

Michelle Cruz Rosado: My book, speaking, consulting and mentoring services can all be found on my official site, www.MichelleRosado.com.

Michelle Rosado's writing space :)

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Writing Prompt Wednesday #2...

Prompt
Inspired by the photo above, write something. Anything. The beginning of a story. The middle. A scene. Some dialogue. Anything!

Share if you Dare!
Brave? Share in the comments section below.

Go!

:)

Good Monday, Y'all!.. Five Pin Monday

Well, it's Monday and I felt like doing a little show and share of some of my favorite PINS from over the weekend.(Pintrest is evil, by the way. You can spend way too much time looking at all the pretty pictures and, before you know it, hours have passed and it feels like you were only on there for 5 minutes...)

Kind of the like the hotel in Las Vegas that Thalia found herself trapped in with Nico... Can you guess which book I'm reading to my kids? ;)

Five Pin Monday...

Well, there you have it. I think for a Monday, a little show and share is fun. Maybe I'll do it every Monday... who knows? ;)

Have a great week!!

:)