May 4, 2018 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . : That One Time a Fox Joined the Team and Tied Everything Together
It’s not that I haven’t been doing anything. I just haven’t been doing anything on the blog. At least, not as much as I used to. You see, I’ve been working behind the scenes lately, editing NOLA, working some freelance projects, crafting my upcoming newsletter. (Now, everyone, nod your heads in sympathetic busyness understanding. Thank you.)
Lemmetellya, it’s a bit of a challenge. I wanna get it just.right for y’all, and well, for me. People say “write for yourself” and while that’s a good way to remain happy, it ain’t always gonna bring in the readers. So I am happily crafting my message for you, my beloved Swarm.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : An Object in Motion . . .
And as promised, since it’s a new month, there’s a new Media Menagerie over at New Inklings Press. Did you miss the big reveal on Instagram? It was a live video, my Nippers’s first actually. And of course he (okay, I) forgot to save it for posterity. So while I introduced you to the current members of our #MediaMenagerie, Nippers also asked what our May member should be. And the next day he whispered his answer in my ear.
Ladies, gentlemen, Southern Belles and Yankee Gents, I give you May’s Media Menagerie Member, Gypsy Skylark Walton.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Say Hello to Gypsy Skylark Walton
Gypsy is a fox. Foxes are crafty. They’re quick. They’re stealth-like (hmm, maybe like a ninja?). They’re beautiful. Foxes are smart, too. Problem solvers. What, think I’m wrong? Read Aesop’s Fables. People call them sly and crazy. (the foxes, not the fables).
Now, how did Gypsy get his name? Well, first, from the beautiful Johnny Mercer song, Skylark. Y’all know This Girl’s favorite inspirational movie is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. And my favorite song from the soundtrack is Skylark. There’s a line in the chorus, “sad as a gypsy,” and it just gets me every time. It’s such a beautiful visual.
“Gypsy” can mean so many things. Romanian descent. Fortune tellers. But for me, it’s the wanderer, the free spirit, that my Bohemian self relates to. It’s like that old toy, Spirograph. You set your pen in a stencil and draw as it bumps you along the edges. A few ink color and shape changes, and in the end, your wandering pen has created something uniquely beautiful. You can’t have that without the wandering. As a creative soul, there’s nothing more effusing than to be able to just be who I am. Gypsies get that. It could also be that I’m currently addicted to Hallmark Channel’s The Good Witch series. Who doesn’t love a little good magic now and then?
And Walton? Well, that’s two-fold. John-Boy Walton was a writer. Sure, he was a fictional TV character in the 70’s and early 80’s. But still. What self-respecting aspiring writer girl back then didn’t have a crush on him? It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized my fancy for the man was due in great part to his wordsmithing. Let’s not forget that greatest of all goodbyes, “Good night, John-Boy!” I say it often, mostly when signing off social media for the night. Which has led to others calling me Mary-Ellen. (Yah, I’m talking about you, Del and Caleb!). Which now brings me to Caleb. Affectionately known to me and my peeps as JB. Because his last name is Walton. And he’s from the South. And he grew up watching The Waltons and we still talk about our favorite episodes. Oh, and of course, JB (my “little big brother”, not the TV guy) is a writer. So there’s that.
Oh, but wait! There’s more. In chatting with JB recently (again, my JB, not the TV guy) [but if you’re out there, Richard Thomas, and feel like saying “hi,” I wouldn’t mind having you over for coffee!] and sharing Gypsy’s adoption, I realize his initial’s are GSW. Which, in NCIS world, stands for gun shot wound. Okay, not the Southern romantic history y’all were hoping for. But it’s NCIS. Which is another commonality I have with JB (and, well, about 13 billion other humans). And NCIS had the arc about Le Granouille (“The Frog”) which inspired my daughter and I to adopt the shaggy little frog now known as Nippers. And NCIS has a spin-off I may have mentioned once or twice. NCIS: New Orleans. Which is the location for my first City Series novel. Yup. We’ve come full circle.
I now own a stuffed fox named Gypsy because I wanted to be a writer with a frog. I know . . . It’s hard to be in my head sometimes. That’s okay. I know my thoughts. You just have to enjoy the outcome.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Say Hello to Gypsy Skylark Walton
Now I want to hear from you: How do you express your creative soul?
With a compass and a spirograph,
Happy wanderings.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Oh, PS: If you haven’t yet taken my survey, and/or want to be added to my email lists for this blog, and/or Firsts in Fiction Newsletter, and/or Molly Jo Realy: Author, Etc. . . . just click on this photo to sign up. BONUS: You’ll get to tell me how you like your coffee. Thanks! (And super-shout out to my über professional graphic artist brother who worked with me to create this awesome visual.)
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Author, Etc . . .
Sep 25, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
I know, y’all just had an update not too long ago. Thing is, things are getting good. They’re getting done. They’re getting, well, you know. Out there.
So, earlier today I had a tiny emo moment on the FB NOLA Swarm Group page. It went something like this:
“Feeling a bit stressed as I sit to write today. Wrenched my back earlier which makes sitting . . . or standing . . . or walking . . . or breathing . . . uncomfortable. It’s the third time in a month this has happened, so I know today isn’t debilitating. But it surely is distracting.
I’ve been taking my mind off things by watching my NOLA-based shows: Nightwatch, NCIS, Double Jeopardy, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. (Big surprise on that last one, right?). I’ve been thinking about my proposal and the compare/contrast section. Been thinking about my new day job and the budget and traveling to see family and friends next year.
Does it even make sense to anyone-ANYONE-that right now I want to box NOLA up and tuck it into a dark corner of the farthest away closet I can find?
What if it’s not as good as I think it is? What if I didn’t just miss the mark, but missed the entire target? What if the end doesn’t justify the means?
What if all this soul bleeding means nothing in the end except over five years of wasted time and attention and energy?
So I hope you understand when I say as wonderful as this is, being so close to finished, today I just want to crawl back into bed and cry. Getting ready to say goodbye to my baby is so hard.
But here’s the thing about writing: I can’t *not* do it. I can’t have NOLA sit around, going nowhere. Do I want it to stop? No. But there’s another journey for NOLA when the first draft is done. I call it the firefly aspect. It’s where I let my little larvae grow wings and glow its way to my alpha readers, my editor, and my agent; then, hopefully, into the hearts of others like you and so many more.
And then I’ll talk all y’all with me to CENTRAL, where you’ll meet Nick and Serenity. And then to KEYS with Anastasia and Littleman. And then FLINT, and HI, and PORT, and STRIP, and TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES. And more.
But know this: no matter how much I write, how many cities are in this series, NOLA will always be my first, and greatest love.
And, I hope, yours too.
I love you all for being on this journey with me and keeping me grounded.
With much adoration and appreciation,
~Molly Jo”
But after that, I hunkered down, said a few prayers, and started. I took my little Post-It notes, my little scraps of paper, and I processed. Every. Single. One.
And I closed out the day with 2,131 new words. I have less than 8,000 to go to my desired word goal. And I have a plan.
In addition to writing end material, I’ve been adding clues throughout. Hints of this and that. Why does this character do these things? If it’s important, they need to do it often. If not, they need to do it less. What about the weather? Yes, I’m from California. The desert, no less. But really. If you’re reading a book set in New Orleans, how often can I mention the humidity before y’all are rolling your eyes and saying, “Okay, we get it!”?
And I’m keeping notes. On the manuscript. On paper. Because I’m also writing what comes next. I can’t wait to write those two words when it’s finished. Nope, I’m not even gonna write them here. Because when I’m ready, like really ready, I want them to be authentic. Official. Not practiced, not sampled, not automatic.
Those two final words at the end of the first draft . . . They’re coming, my friend.
Stay tuned.
Oh, and here’s a new meme to get all y’all’s attention.
NOLA by Molly Jo Realy
TWEET THIS: #NOLA Update: September 25, 2017. @RealMojo68 #amwriting
With a finish line and a finishing line,
Happy Reading!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Jul 6, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Why DVDs are Still Important
Okay, y’all. I admit. There’s a lot to be said about streaming videos. No extra clutter on the nightstand or when traveling. No storage issues (well, at least not at the house). And super bonus: no “ohmagosh where I did put that?” Or super-super bonus: no breakage.
But there’s something to be said for getting your entertainment the semi-old school way. And it comes with its own bonus.
Now, I enjoy Netflix as much as the next person. I mean, how many of you already know when Stranger Things Season Two is available? [Here’s a hint: Come home early from Trick-or-Treating this year.]
I love instant access to all the episodes of Fuller House. I’m watching my way through all eleven seasons of FRASIER this month. Last month it was FRIENDS, but you knew that.
But, see, I also love my DVDs and Blu-Rays for one very important reason: Behind the Scenes.
I love picking up a season of NCIS or ER [or the newest hottie I mean, hero, Avengers movie] and having access to bonus features.
Hearing Aaron Sorkin talk about why he wrote a certain episode of the West Wing, or picking up on Iron Man’s special effects . . . Those aren’t things you can get through online streaming.
And I don’t know about you, but I hope *fingers crossed* I’m not the only one who likes the rewind button. I mean, seriously. I’m talking laugh-out-loud or “what the heck was that?!” moments when you just have to experience it again now without waiting for the feed to reload. In writers terms, we call that taking the reader out of the story. That’s no way to keep the momentum!
Sure, you can’t take everything with you. But when you’re going on a trip, you don’t pack the kitchen sink, do you?
And here’s one more reason to love DVDs and Blue-Rays: Sometimes your shows aren’t available.
Okay? Who else cried when Netflix took down FLASHPOINT? And why is Pet Sematary only available around Halloween?
These things are important, people!
Oh, wait. One more awesome reason: I’m told by more than few to prepare for that foretold horror, the worldwide EMP. You know, that moment when the internet and all things attached go down. I know, I know. Let’s for a moment forget the correlation that in such an event my DVD and Smart TV will also most likely definitely not work. Let’s just stick to the streaming video for this conversation. Thanks.
So. What’s This Girl gonna do when I can no longer access my Netflix? I think I’ll survive.
I may have to learn how to churn butter . . . But in the event of an emergency, I can string my discs together and find a laywoman’s way to harness the power of the sun.
You can’t get a tan from Hulu. Just sayin’.
Why DVDs are Still Important
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . Why DVDs are Still Important @RealMojo68 #DVD #EMP #netflix
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . When streaming videos doesn’t give you full access. @RealMojo68 #netflix #streaming #DVD
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Oct 3, 2014 |
Five Things Friday at Frankly, My Dear…
When I was young, peacocks were, in my mind, nearly mythical creatures. Their elegant strutting, colorful plumage, and resounding cries were what stories were made of.
Not having any peacocks of my own or in the neighborhood, they were also elusive. A yearly trip to the state zoo often satisfied my curiosity yet left me wondering what it must be like to be so majestic.
The older I grew, the less I went to the zoo. And now, here I am, at least two decades removed from my last up-close animal encounter of any good consequence, with the exception of the rarely spotted coyote or roadrunner.
Without their presence to remind me, I’d forgotten much about peacocks. Until recently. Here then, in homage to these extraordinary creatures, is today’s FIVE THINGS FRIDAY: Peacocks.
1. Mystery and Manners by Flannery O’Connor. A Southern writer, Ms. O’Connor deflates the notion that all writers are the same. There is something exquisitely different and compelling not only about the Southern writer, but of the stories they tell. This book is teaching me to not be afraid of telling the stories that only I can tell.
Mystery and Manners: The King of the Birds
2. King. Imagine my surprise that the very first chapter of Mystery and Manners is titled “The King of the Birds.” This is the catalyst for my resurfaced love. Ms. O’Connor wrote of the many peacocks she owned, their behaviors and antics. How beautiful to read of the differences between peacocks and peahens. Not only have I learned more about the craft of writing, I discovered more about peacocks than I previously knew. With all their afore-mentioned qualities and more, they most certainly deserve this title. And here’s another tie-in to New Orleans (are you surprised?)—one of the main characters of my new favorite TV show (NCIS: New Orleans, of course!) is nicknamed “King.”
NOLA_Writers. I want this job.
3. My daughter. She should be a peacock. She’s stunning. She’s gentle yet strong. She doesn’t worry about what others think when she’s doing her thing. And she’s extremely talented. Earlier this week I asked her to paint me a peacock. This is her work in progress:
Dot’s Peacock
4. Home. Just recently I started a home-improvement kick that has snowballed into the desire to repaint nearly every room in the house. It’s my intention to brighten up my bedroom with a lighter, softer palette. I’ve decided on a pale peacock theme. Can you imagine a retreat in those cozy colors? Just check out this idea I found through Lowe’s Pinterest board (used by permission.)
5. NOLA. Let’s be real—everything in my life right now leads back to New Orleans. How did I not see before this month that the peacock holds the colors prevalent in Mardi Gras and The Big Easy? Glorious purples, blues, greens and gold. When I get to New Orleans, I want to wear a peacock Mardi Gras mask and hat, and strut about the streets without a care in the world. NOLA is more than a book to me. It infuses every part of me. It’s my book, my characters. I live, eat, breathe, and sleep NOLA. The peacock has become my personal symbol of that creativity and success, as well as freedom and individuality.
BONUS: Without realizing it, I’ve already started turning into a peacock. My wardrobe is more colorful than it used to be. There’s a feather in my bedroom. I’m more attracted to blues and purples than I used to be. Dot bought me these earrings for my birthday last spring. While they’re not peacock feathers, they certainly remind me of them. As you can imagine, they’re now my favorite and I wear them more than any other except my pennies.
Peacock Earrings
How fun might it be to own a real peacock? I’ll keep that in mind for Bedford Manor.
Now it’s your turn: What beautiful creatures influence your life? Leave your Five Things Friday in the comments below.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
FIVE THINGS FRIDAY: #DoingTheWriteThing
FIVE THINGS FRIDAY: The Experience
Five Years and a Party
Jan 16, 2012 |
I’m rediscovering my love for Le Grenouille.
This is him:
Handsome little guy, isn’t he? I also call him “Nippers”.
He just wanted to hop on over and see what this blog is all about.
He cuts quite the profile, doesn’t he?
He’ll be making appearances now and then, with and without his friend, Will Power.
Right now, he just wanted to introduce himself and say hi. Well, actually, he says “Ribbit!” and let’s me interpret for him.
‘Le Grenouille’ is French for ‘The Frog’. I come from a diverse ethnic background… on my father’s side. From my mother, it’s just French. A little Canadian thrown in, but the French kind. So I don’t think it counts. Her brother, my favorite uncle, also had a love of words and writing. He let me live with him during my college years and introduced me to the term Le Grenouille.
Many years later (hey! Not that many!), NCIS ran an arc through Season 4 that involved a French arms dealer nicknamed Le Grenouille. I was so excited. I explained to Dot what it meant.
Now, my daughter has all the ethnicity I have and then some. But she loves her French heritage. While I’m only about 0.05% Italian, you’d think I’m 100%. It’s how I decorate, cook, talk with my hands, love. My daughter is 100% French. No matter what other countries run in her blood.
So having a personal link to a character nickname on NCIS was just a fun little treat for her. And me. Shortly after the first few episodes, we went out and bought a Webkin and named him Le Grenouille.
But as we moved and she grew older, Le Grenouille found himself buried in boxes and bins. Through this weekend’s spring cleaning, he’s been rediscovered and just in time.
Because I need a frog for my mascot. And this little guy just jumped at the chance!
He’ll be playing a much more important role in days to come, and we’ll be more than willing to share those stories as they come along.
But now it’s time to hop off to bed and get a good night’s sleep. We’ve got some flies to catch tomorrow.
“Ribbit!”
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
