THE PACK HORSE LIBRARY

 

My article titled, "THE PACK HORSE LIBRARY PROGRAM OF DEPRESSION ERA KENTUCKY" is featured in the February issue of the Elks magazine.

Women living in rural communities were hired to bring books to schools and homes in extremely hard to reach communities under terrible conditions. They brought education, entertainment and a bit of knowledge of the outside world with them. After FDR became President, he set up the WPA--which brought jobs to young men and veterans. I hope that through urban renewal and the construction of bridges and tunnels will soon bring jobs and a better economy to our country.

Scene Stealer is available wherever Ebooks are sold.

Bests,

Elise

JACKIE

    
     I'd like to introduce you to my toy poodle. Gone a number of years now, she still lives on in my heart and was the focus along with her friends--three other toy poodles, a sheltie and a Pekingese--of one of the first articles I wrote that was published. She was also the inspiration for  a short story that won a prize in an AKC fiction contest.
     Jackie and her friends joined us while we were touring with the national company of a Broadway musical. Part of the tour was what is called a "Bus and Truck," and when we descended the steps of our bus for a rest break and walks for the dogs, people would think we were a dog show. Jackie could easily jump from the left side of the bus to the right--if a ballet were ever written for dogs she would have been a star.
     She didn't like dog coats or snow boots (even thought the boots I bought for her came from Bloomingdales) and once she hid the coats so well I coouldn't find them for a week. She couldn't stand bows put on her ears by the groomer and insisted they be removed but she didn't mind the attention paid to her by handsome dogs--she did have good taste in men.
     Her favorite people foods after steak and ice cream were baked beans and rice pudding. Though shy, she had a big bark--taught to her by my husband--and if the doorbell rang employed it. When I looked through the peephole, the vendor would be standing far back. He had no way of knowing that Jackie was now hiding under the bed--although she always left room for me. I miss her.

Bests,

Elise

TRAVEL BUG

    
     I'm hooked on travel. It's a bug, it's a virus, it's something I look forward too. Travel to distant lands, short excursions to a nearby spot, I've somehow missed--museums, parks, city streets, unexpected adventures and meeting with new friends. Traveling has led to articles about places, food and people and short stories when something I've seen or heard about invades my thoughts and won't leave until I find an ending that leaves me satisfied.

     On a wall in my living room are paintings from my travels--one from Pompeii, several from Sydney, Melbourne, NY's Greenwich Village, Florence, Italy, London, Paris, all places I love and can never get enough of. Stirring up images that he;p me in my writing.

What stirs your imagination?

Bests,

Elise

EDITORS LOVED LOST REMEMBERED

Photo by Fairoesh Nan I Dreamstime.com

    

     I believe every writer has an editor they’ve been extremely fond of. The one that you key in with, who thinks your piece is perfect for his/her publication. Who can communicate quickly and with ease what changes, cuts or additions he would like.

     Alas, in our world today, Editors often move on to other publications, their magazine or newspaper may close and their new job may not allow them to use the type of material you write. You have to go on the hunt and search for another magazine, another editor but you think—she was so perfect who can possibly take her place?

     The first article I ever wrote and submitted was rejected by the editor but he took the time to encourage me to send it out again. I did and it was accepted. I often think of him.

     I wrote freelance pieces for an international company beginning with on-line travel squibs and soon longer travel articles were accepted for their print magazines. The editor became a favorite of mine but eventually the magazine was sold to another company and immediately their articles all related to selling property. My editor (I tend to be possesive) moved on to a technical magazine. Every once in awhile, I write something and catch myself thinking wouldn’t this be perfect for...then I remember...the magazine is gone.

     The search begins again and I think of an editor who addresses me as Miss--our relationship is formal-- but she purchases most of my submissions and encourages me to send more. I'm extremely fond of her. A new magazine (for me) recently published another piece of mine--after we were hit by Sandy, she wrote and asked how I was.

     Now these are editors I love and would happily write for any time they wish. Are there editors you feel the same way about?

Bests,

Elise 

YOU CAME TO ME FROM OUT OF NOWHERE

Photo by Ed Isaacs Dreamstime.com     
     Sometimes I awake in the middle of the night with an idea for a short story, a novel or an article that cries out to be written. I reach for the pad and pen on my bedside table while trying not to wake my husband and--in the dark--scrawl down the idea in what will turn out to be partially unreadable. In the  morning, it will either be torn out off the pad or, if the thought holds up in the light of day, carried to my computer
     Then, sometimes, an image of the school bully may appear--and she's perfect for the antagonist in a novel I'm planning to write. A photograph of my grandmother inspires the elderly lady in a short story. Art and sculpture in theMetropolitan Museum of Art lets me travel back in time to another place and other beliefs. Travel frees my mind and opens it to the world's pleasures and pain. Discussions and disagreements make me think and sometimes change and broaden my opinions and misconceptions leading to another piece, another story, another novel.

Where do you discover and mine your ideas?

Bests,
Elise

CAREER

A new year and I woke up and thought about how lucky I am--actually how lucky every person that chooses a career he or she loves will be. Most authors will never make a financil killing but we're happy to make a living. I know we all remember the first short story or article we've had published and the first one we received a check for. I ran around my apartment yelling, "I'm a writer. Someone actually paid for my writing." Buried in a box of momentos is a magazine with my first story published (a fictionalized story about memories and my family) and a photocopy of the first check I received (for an article on tent theatre in Pennsylvania.) A supportive rejection from the editor of a well-known theatre magazine--who took the time to write me--encouraged me to send the article to another magazine. Blessings on his head, I think of him often. I offer a cyber-toast to all writers. A prolific and happy 2012 to all. Do you remember your first published piece?

Bests,

Elise

My first cozy mystery titled, Scene Stealer is available at Barnes&Noble, Amazon, Carina Press and wherever eBooks are sold. An audio version has been produced by Audible.com

EDITORS

Editors I have loved--platonically--and lost leave a gap in my life and I imagine in the lives of my fellow writers. The world of magazines has changed along with paper and print. There are three editors I miss in particular. One edited for an on-line publication that sold property in Europe and Asia but used short pieces about travel destinations, restaurants and museums within those countries. Once an article that I wrote was accepted, I wrote a good deal about travel for them. They also had several print publications that paid larger fees and several of my longer pieces appeared in those. I enjoyed working with the two editors as they published the types of pieces I enjoyed writing and they clearly defined the publication's needs.

After a few years the publication was sold and one editor left for a technical magazine--I don't know what became of the other but I wish them both exciting and fulfilling futures.

The third editor worked on a historical e-magazine and I don't know why but the articles I wrote never reached her desk until--one day--my contact went on vacation and the editor found the first piece I had written. It was published and led to two more and a third requested. Unfortunately--the magazine went under.

I guess I've been fortunate in finding editors that are so good at what they do that I not only miss writing for their publications but I miss both their corrections, humor and dedication.

Do you miss special editors and publications?

Bests,

Elise

My cozy mystery titled Scene Strealer is available at Amazon, Barnesand Noble, Carina Press and wherever eBooks are sold. An audio version has been produced by audible.com