Jimmy Buffett and Margaritaville

Photo by Eric Stephens

Jimmy Buffet sings, talks about his creativity: writing, music. His books have been at the top of the New York Times bestseller list in both fiction and non-fiction. We all know his music...how can one forget Margaritaville? His business ventures have been very successful with his restaurants.

He sounds good, looks good. I like his humor....

~Linda

Nicholas Sparks, Novelist

Nicholas Sparks happens to be my favorite author of recent time, at least since his first novel The Notebook was published.

One Sunday in 1996 I was watching C-Span 2 on books and Larry Kirshbaum, Chairman and CEO of Time-Warner Books was speaking about a novel he had paid one million dollars for. I had met Larry previously so he did have my attention but it was the million dollar advance against royalties that really caught my attention! The novel was The Notebook written by Nicholas Sparks. Larry said he knew the book would be successful and it was already on the best seller list.

As soon as the television program was over I drove to my local small bookstore in downtown Sedona and bought the book because I had to see what it was about Nicholas Spark’s book that deserved such a big advance.

I spent the evening reading The Notebook, loving every word of it, and by the time I reached the last two chapters I had a box of tissues beside me. For me, that has become a standard procedure anytime I read a Nicholas Sparks’ novel. I suggest to have a box of tissues ready at least three chapters before the end of his books.

What I like about Sparks’ novels is the simple yet dramatic flow of his writing, and always a mixture of the ups and downs, the love and sadness of loss, and all the reality of life.

Of course, as it turned out, Kirshbaum was correct in believing in the book. It spent over a year on the hardcover best seller list. And the movie followed. Nicholas has now written fourteen novels and four have been made into movies and apparently another one coming before long.

Here is a short interview with Nicholas Sparks about his writing process. Even though I write myself, I am always curious about the process of other writers.

~Linda

Publishing with Kindle

Recently I have been reading blogs of several authors who have taken the leap into publishing for the Kindle Reader at amazon.com

For some authors, it has been books never before published and for others it is their unpublished works.

So with enough on my plate as always, I decided I needed an added challenge! So I have published three books with Kindle this past week.

The first one I decided to do was my novella, The Masquerading Cowboy, a short I wrote some time back and won a writing contest with it. I decided I would try formatting it myself for the Kindle and I was having problems with the formatting such as putting in a cover graphic within the text, and feeling uneasy. So I contacted Joshua at Kindle Formatting and in a few days he had my book formatted and ready for me to upload at Kindle.

But one book did not satisfy me so I did a second one, a nonfiction, A Meeting of the Minds: 19th Century Poet-Philosophers Explore Spirituality, and formatted it myself with some trial and error. I know a little about html coding and actually was able to read the html and correct a few little flaws. It took a few uploads and going through the preview of it a few times, but I finally got it!

So my success with formatting led me to publish a third one, Exclusive Interview With Richard S. Prather, Author of the Best-Selling Shell Scott Mystery Series.

I also began to thinking about my other books and putting them into Kindle editions. So I decided to do two of my published novels and The Dawning and Roulette will be Kindle editions in the coming weeks. I decided not to tackle the formatting on those myself but left it up to my publisher to do so.

I work with my web designer, Judy on my book covers. I give her the idea of what I want and she comes up with it. So if anyone needs a cover for a Kindle book, an ebook, or a POD, visit her website.

One day I may have to break down and buy a Kindle Reader. I only know one person with a Kindle and she really likes it.

I don’t know where publishing is going as the economy has definitely affected the business and in turn all of us authors. Many authors are looking at alternative choices such as self publishing, PODs, ebooks, and Kindle editions. There are pros and cons in moving away from traditional publishing, the main thing being distribution and ending up with only online bookstores and not in brick and mortar stores. Some people will always want the physical book in their hands, not a reading device. But it appears over these last years or so people are very willing to read downloaded books on their reading devices or computer screens. And this young generation is exposed to computer technology at such a early age, sometimes pre-school, they may always prefer to use a computer or reader instead of a paper book. After all, many of them do text or tweet all the time from their handheld devices.

In 2002 I wrote an article about ebooks versus print books and quoted N.Y. agent, Richard Curtis, a well known New York Literary Agent and president of E-reads, an electronic publishing company. He had this to say, January 7, 2002, in a "Publishers Weekly Magazine" article: "How long are we going to endure skeptics telling us that nobody wants to read on screen, when thousands are paying do so every day?" He also stated in response to critics, "Those of us making money in e-books, delivering thousands of downloads every month, paying royalties to authors and publishers, have to wonder what planet these pundits are on." I agreed with Curtis then, and still do.

Will it replace library bookshelves? Probably not, but it may in time drastically change the book market. After all, the world is changing. And probably most of us are using technology now that we never dreamed of a few years ago. Isn’t that right?

Linda Pendleton at Kindle Store

~Linda

Change Through Thinking Minds

The world we have created is a product of our thinking;

it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.

~ Albert Einstein

In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
~ Buddha

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. ~ Albert Einstein

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. ~ George Bernard Shaw

People's minds are changed through observation and not through argument. ~ Will Rogers

Let us train our minds to desire what the situation demands. ~ Seneca

...And from the mind of a young boy, Mattie Stepanek, a poet, philosopher, and author who, in his nearly fourteen years of living, always had the unique ability to see life and death and our world with the wisdom of an old soul.

Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved. ~ Mattie J.T. Stepanek

~Linda

Inspiration and Peace Through Music

“Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes.” ~Bob Marley

Peace Through Music, Playing for Change. A coming together through music created by Mark Johnson and developed by Mark and Jonathan Wells over the last four years with incredible talents from all over the world.

During the month of August the new DVD movie of Playing for Change is featured on the PBS channels. Check your listings for it. And visit the website Playing for Change.

This was recorded live at the Starbucks Leadership Conference in New Orleans featuring Grandpa Elliot of New Orleans and Clarence Bakker of Amsterdam, Netherlands and currently Spain, singing the late Sam Cooke’s incredible song, A Change is Gonna Come.

Some time ago I blogged about their song One Love. And on my other blog I posted today their song, Stand by Me.

~Linda

Barry Eisler, Author of Thriller Novels

Barry Eisler, Author

Photo from his website

I’m intrigued by this Northern California best selling and award winning author, Barry Eisler. He writes fiction, thrillers, based around his imagination and research, and possibly influenced by his career choices: his time in a covert position with the CIA’s Directorate of Operations; graduate of Cornell Law School; technology attorney in an international law firm; counsel in Japan at Matusushita Electric; and a Silicon Valley technology start-up executive. He has a black belt in Judo.

He’s written a series of six books featuring his character, Japanese American assassin John Rain. His latest book, Fault Line features new characters: brothers Ben and Alex Treven, estranged and embittered by a family tragedy, find themselves forced to rely on each other, and their very different talents, to escape a deadly conspiracy.

Barry has written an interesting article, Dead Trees is a Dead Model, about his views on ebooks and the effects on the publishing industry now and in the future as a guest blogger on MJ Roses’ Buzz, Balls & Hype.

I read his blog also. It is not about writing (you can find that at this website) but is about his insightful look at politics and news items.

This interview of Barry Eisler is informative and inspirational for any writer or aspiring writer, or just a fan of his books and/or the art of writing.












~Linda

It Should Have Been Jeffrey Saad as Food Network Star

I was disappointed tonight that Jeffrey Saad did not win the Next Food Network Star. I would have watched his show and I’m afraid I have no interest in watching Melissa’s show. I find her draining, and not interesting. Maybe it’s because I’m not a young housewife.

I have enjoyed Jeffrey and he would have brought a freshness to the shows, some of which I am bored with. Hopefully he can find another place to have a TV cooking show, because he’s good at it.

~Linda

Big Brother named Jeff?

"What's dangerous is not to evolve." ~Jeff Bezos, Founder, CEO Amazon.com

Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard (HP) office, Palo Alto, CA, 1939,

CA State Historic Landmark and the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley."

For some it felt like a home invasion when Amazon.com removed paid for copies of George Orville’s 1984 and Animal Farm from their Kindle Readers the other day. Amazon also had removed the books from the Kindle store and in emails told customers that the books were illegal copies given to amazon.com by a publisher. Many customers were shocked and outraged by Amazon’s invasive action. Of courses they refunded customers the previous charges for the books.

Not long ago at Amazon a number of gay and lesbian books had sales ranking information removed from the online catalog that also caused a bit of uproar. Amazon said it was a “glitch,” and quickly corrected it.

Here is what Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO has posted at his Amazon Kindle Store:

“This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle. Our "solution" to the problem was stupid, thoughtless, and painfully out of line with our principles. It is wholly self-inflicted, and we deserve the criticism we've received. We will use the scar tissue from this painful mistake to help make better decisions going forward, ones that match our mission.”

“With deep apology to our customers,

Jeff Bezos
Founder & CEO
Amazon.com”

But hey, I buy most all my books (and other things) at Amazon and have for many years now even though some of Amazon’s actions have not always made authors happy. But I like Jeff Bezos. I love his humor. He always makes me laugh when I see him interviewed, and I really do admire what he has done with his company. He is such a visionary. He proved you didn’t need bricks and mortar to build a gigantic bookstore. It’s amazing what people can do starting out in their bedrooms or their garages.

~Linda

Women's Rights, Yesterday and Today

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)

“A journey of a thousand steps must begin with a single step.”
~ Lao-Tzu (c. 604-531 B.C.)

The first Women’s Rights Convention was held July 19 and 20, 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York for the purpose of discussing the civil, social, and religious conditions and rights of woman. It was the beginning of the women’s rights movement in the United States.

On July 9, 1848 several women, Jane Hunt, Mary Ann M’Clintock, Martha Wright, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton met in Waterloo, New York and discussed the social position of women and then decided to hold the First Women’s Rights Convention in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York. They were joined by abolitionists Frederick Douglass, Amy Post, and James Mott, husband of Lucretia Mott. Mary Ann M’Clintock and Jane Hunt were also involved with the Underground Railroad.

Many at the Convention were progressive Quakers (Society of Friends) who believed that men and women were equal in the eyes of God and should listen to their "inner light" or conscience to guide their spiritual connection with God and the Bible.

Many Quakers believed that they were to follow four main tenets: Simplicity, Truth, Equality, and Community. Their dedication and commitment to equality and community led many Quakers to become social activists.

On July 20th they presented a Declaration of Sentiments and it was signed by 68 women and endorsed by 32 men who were present and in favor of the new movement.

In the 1830s Quaker, Lucretia Mott advocated the radical idea that slavery was sinful and must be abolished. She was one of several American delegates to the 1840 World's Anti-Slavery Convention in London. American delegates Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, like the British women at the World Anti-Slavery Convention, were refused permission to speak at the meeting. Stanton later recalled: "We resolved to hold a convention as soon as we returned home, and form a society to advocate the rights of women."

“Never will the nations of the earth be well governed until both sexes, as well as all parties, are fully represented, and have an influence, a voice, and a hand in the enactment and administration of the laws.” ~Anne Knight (1786-1862) English social reformer, Quaker. From Anne Knight’s women's suffrage leaflet published in 1847


These were the women, and the men, who led the way not only to property rights for women, divorce laws and years later, the right for women to vote, and in more recent time, the fight for equal pay. Although we as women have gained equality in some areas, it is still not a perfect country here in the United States (and I don’t even want to think about situations in some foreign countries).

Here is an example of inequality that came to my attention this past week. Publishers Weekly Magazine, July 13, 2009 issue, did a survey of the publishing industry and guess what? There is a gender gap in pay between men and women, although they both received about the same raise last year. The median salary gap of $30,600 was somewhat smaller than the gap of $39,080 in 2007 but a women’s average pay was $66,000 while men’s average pay was $96,000 a year!

So although the fight for equality began more than one hundred sixty years ago, we ain’t made it yet baby!

Will it take generations, when maybe our own great-great granddaughters will be equal to the opposite sex, or will it ever happen?

~Linda

World's Oldest Publisher

Although King Henry VIII of England was a controversial figure of the 16th Century with his six wives, numerous mistresses, beheadings, during his 55 years one good thing he did was granting a royal charter to Cambridge University Press in 1534 to print “all manner of books.”

This month Cambridge University Press, the oldest publisher in the world, celebrates 425 years of printing and publishing.

~Linda

Hummingbirds and Pineapple

I was watching Iron Chef tonight on Food Network and the food for the challenge was fresh pineapples. The host, Alton Brown mentioned that hummingbirds are not allowed in Hawaii because with the growing of pineapple, pollination is not wanted. If the flower pollinates then seeds will develop and that is not desirable in fruit for the market. So there is a Hawaiian State law that hummingbirds cannot be brought into Hawaii.

And apparently hummingbirds (Family Trochilidae) do not migrate to the Islands from the Americas. I was surprised to learn this. I’ve not been to Hawaii but I would have thought the hummingbird would have such a ball there with all the tropical flowers.

These are recent photos by Ted Grussing of a hummingbird nest near his home in Sedona Arizona. The nest started out with two eggs, two babies, but one was apparently kicked out of the nest or left the nest early. There is hardly room for two birds in the tiny nest. A few days ago the second one left the nest.

Hummingbirds are so much fun to watch in the yard or at a feeder.

If you like bird photographs check out Abe Lincoln's Bird Blog. Abe has some great photographs of various birds and a few animals.

And for more of Ted Grussing's Photography visit his website.

Photographs © Copyright 2009 by Ted Grussing. Used with permission.


~Linda

Bill Moyers and Insurance Industry...Michael Moore and Sicko

"I thought that he hit the nail on the head with his movie." – Wendell Potter, former Head of Corporate Communications at CIGNA referring to Michael Moore and his documentary, SICKO

Bill Moyers (Friday, June 10th, PBS) interviews former health insurance industry executive Wendell Potter, who left his position at Cigna Insurance after almost 20 years in the industry to become a health reform advocate.

Potter admits that Michael Moore was right on with his documentary SICKO and the industry went to great lengths to discredit Moore and insurance lobbyist used their skills to intimidate Congress. They had done the same thing to kill the Clinton plan in the early 1990s.

How well I identify with Cigna as they insured me for nearly five years under a group plan through the Authors Guild at the cost of nearly $15,000 a year (one person) and then I was constantly battling with them over minor coverage.

Luckily, I went on Medicare and AARP supplemental in 2007, one month before I had serious medical problems, two serious surgeries, skilled nursing facility for three months and 14 months of paid physical therapy and it cost me $185 dollars. Yes, that is all (other than the Medicare premium and AARP premium which was nothing compared to private insurance premiums). I was told I would not have had the good care: 100 days of skilled nursing facility, 6 days a week of physical therapy, usually 3-4 hours, and then out patient therapy (2 or 3 times a week) for another 11 months. I also did not have an HMO so I had my choice of doctors and I found a top surgeon.

Listen to what Wendell Potter has to say....

And if you’ve not seen SICKO you might want to consider doing so. It is well done, and should be an eye-opener for everyone as we face this ongoing medical insurance crisis.

Linda

Bookstore Event

I attended a Cheese-Wine Reception at a used/new bookstore for the Two Year Anniversary celebration today from 5 to 8, with a few other local authors. It was enjoyable talking with the other authors and sharing ideas, and speaking with people who wanted to know more about writing and publishing, or who are in the process of writing books themselves. My friend Anne went with me and spent an hour or so there, which was nice, as bookstore signings can be a little uncomfortable if no one shows up. LOL

Some of the people were interested in self-publishing, Print on Demand, E-books and the Kindle was mentioned.

My friend Michele has a Kindle and she loves it. She finds it handy while traveling or even all the time and does not have to worry about filled bookshelves. Maybe she has a point. Those of us who love books around, whether we read them or not, can have overflowing bookshelves and it can be hard to clear out books. I had to do that when I moved, and some books are hard to let go.

I read earlier today that Amazon.com has come out with the new Kindle: Amazon's 6" Wireless Reading Device for $299.00. It holds 1500 books, and with a selection of over 300,000 books and magazines and newspapers to buy and download in less than a minute.

Maybe one of these days I will get one.

~Linda

Michael Jackson

“Michael saw everything with his heart.” ~Brooke Shields

In watching the Michael Jackson Tribute today I was most moved by his friend Brooke Shields and all she said about Michael. It brought tears.

I thought the tribute was very nice and I was amazed that it was put together so quickly.






Charlie Chaplin, Smile

~Linda

Meatloaf, Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

AI Steak Sauce

I was writing my novel most of the day and I had the Food Network on TV. Several times I would hear Meatloaf. Not the food, but Meatloaf the singer, actor. He is doing a commercial for AI Steak Sauce. Every time I heard him sing on the commercial I was reminded of a song he sang that I really liked.

The song, “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad,” was written by Jim Steinman, who also wrote Meatloaf’s “Bat Out of Hell,” and “I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," among others.




Brace yourself for this one! This is with Patty Russo. They are amazing on this one.
“Couldn’t Have Said It Better Myself.” Written by James Michael and Nikki Sixx.

Meatloaf really entertains, puts his all into his songs!

~Linda

Last Chance Harvey, Dustin Hoffman

I watched the movie, Last Chance Harvey few days ago and I loved it. Dustin Hoffman happens to be one of my very favorite actors. I find him so attractive, sexy, and he has always had a special charisma. And he still has all that at 71 years of age. He’s so talented and his movies and numerous acting awards over the years have shown us that. The Graduate is at the top of my list of favorite movies. His humor always makes me smile and laugh. And that is what I did throughout this movie. I really enjoyed the interaction between Dustin and Emma Thompson. It is a good screenplay written by Joel Hopkins. It was perfect.

I felt so good after it was over, and even now thinking about some of the scenes in it makes me smile. Heck, I’m just a romantic. Give me a good love story with great actors and I’m happy.

The movie was really about going on with your life, finding joy, taking risks. Something I suppose we all need to do—lighten up, laugh a lot, and have fun.

Do you have a favorite Dustin Hoffman movie?

~Linda

Essence of Dalai Lama's Beliefs

"We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves."

~ Dalai Lama

"Dalai Lama Renaissance" is a documentary film featuring the Dalai Lama, narrated by actor Harrison Ford.

The film features well-known Western innovative thinkers interacting with the Dalai Lama, including Quantum Physicists and best-selling authors Fred Alan Wolf and Amit Goswami. Other notable figures in the film include renowned and Social Scientist Jean Houston, and AGAPE International Spiritual Center founder Michael Bernard Beckwith, and many others.

Short Trailer:

Interivew of Dalai Lama by Charlie Rose (I love Charlie Rose's interviews with people).





Part Two:






~Linda

Michael Jackson, "Final Curtain Call"

Artistic expression begins as inspiration. Michael Jackson’s creative genius flowed into art and in his magical art he reached out to the world with love and healing in an incredible creative expression.

Michael Jackson peered beyond the finite into the infinite with a holistic view that apparently saw not only the big picture but many of the infinitesimal forces behind it.

I recall the 1993 exclusive interview Oprah did with Michael Jackson when she asked what he felt his purpose was and he said, “To give, in the best way I can, through song, through dance, and through music. I am committed to my art. I believe that all art has as its ultimate goal the union between the material and the spiritual, the human and the divine. I believe that to be the reason for the very existence of art and I feel I was chosen as an instrument to just give music and love and harmony to the world—children of all ages, adults and teenagers.”

And when he spoke of nature, “I find in animals the same thing that I find so wonderful in children—that purity, that honesty where they don’t judge you, where they don’t want anything from you, just to be your friend—and I think that’s so sweet.”

When asked how he felt about standing on stage and feeling all the love from the audience he replied, “I feel lots of love and I feel blessed and honored to be able to be an instrument of nature that was chosen to give them that—what I give them—very honored and happy about that.”

It was during late 1992 when I read the book, Ryan White, My Own Story and was moved by Ryan’s story of his battle with AIDS (from a blood transfusion) and was especially struck by the friendship between Michael Jackson and Ryan and his family. The bond was strong and it appears both Michael and Ryan gained much from their friendship. Ryan White became a leader for gaining greater understanding and compassion for those with the deadly disease of AIDS. Ryan inspired Elton John to create the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Ryan died in April 1990.

Michael Jackson’s song, Gone Too Soon, written by songwriters, Larry Grossman and Alan Kohan, is dedicated here to Ryan White. This video performance was before President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton at the 1993 Presidential Inaugural Gala in January 1993, where AIDS research was highlighted.





Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race





It was also sad today that actress Farrah Fawcett passed after a courageous fight.

~Linda

Author, Elmore Leonard on Writing and His Career

“My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: when you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.” Elmore Leonard, Author

I don’t know if you’ve read Elmore Leonard’s books but if not, you’ve probably seen one or more of his movies.

He is one of the best writers when it comes to dialogue. His dialogue is so real, street-smart, down and dirty. He’s very talented. His writing over the years has covered various genres: Westerns, crime novels, thrillers, mysteries, short stories and screenplays. Elmore Leonard was recipient of the 2008 F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Award (videos below)

I had the honor of meeting him several years ago at the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference where he had spoken. It was either 1983 or 1984. A little while after his talk he was sitting in the lobby quietly autographing a box of books. I had three of his books to be autographed and he invited me to join him, and we had a nice conversation. He was very laid-back, soft spoken, and modest. I liked him very much.

This month’s AARP Magazine has an article “Making it Up as I Go Along” by Elmore Leonard about his writing career. As a writer I really identified with it.

“At the time I begin writing a novel, the last thing I want to do is follow a plot outline. To know too much at the start takes the pleasure out of discovering what the book is about.”

“I think of characters who will carry a story. The plot comes out of the characters, their attitudes. How they talk describes who they are. Dialogue, in fact, is the element that keeps the story moving. Characters are judged as they appear. Anyone who can't hold up his or her end of a conversation is liable to be shelved, or maybe shot.”

Leonard writes with pen and paper, and then types it when it is what he wants. He does not use a word processor. Although I do identify with that as I once wrote that way, I cannot imagine going back to a typewriter.

He commented on how the characters let him know where the story is going next. How true that is. I love it when the characters take over the story and tell it their way.

I had commented on that to a friend the other day in wrapping up my new novel. Yes, I finished writing my Civil War period novel. It turned out bigger than I thought it might because those characters still had more to say. I have not yet gone into postpartum depression but that may come in the near future after I come down from cloud nine! I am very happy with the book. It is damn good, even if me and my characters wrote it—and say so. LOL.

Sometimes I swear I am channeling those people from the past. At least I wasn’t around the Civil War in this lifetime.

Previous life? I think so.




Interview Part One



Interview Part 2:




For more Leonard Interview videos

~Linda

First Lady Michelle Obama on Volunteering

I sure like our First Lady Michelle Obama...
I must admit she is the first, First Lady I have ever really liked in my memory. She’s so down to earth, so real.

United We Serve:
“The President has said that the challenges America faces are unprecedented, and that we need to build a new foundation for economic growth in America.”

http://serve.gov/




~Linda