Tag Archive for: Debra H. Goldstein

Coming Back by Debra H. Goldstein

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I’ve always been good at
multi-tasking, enhanced by good organizational skills, the ability to
prioritize, and being a fast reader. Mixing those skills and luck, my
to-do-list usually ends up checked off. Recently though, my life has been a
perfect example of John Lennon’s famous comment: “Life is what happens when
you’re busy making other plans.”

As most of you know, I spent six
wonderful months on the road promoting Should
Have Played Poker. During that time, I didn’t write much. I tried, but
juggling everything pretty much limited me to finishing and revising a new
book; keeping up with my personal and Stiletto blogs, as well as the numerous
ones I wrote as part of my promotional activities; and turning out a few short
stories. I figured I would get serious about my word count when life slowed down.

Unfortunately, everything came to an
abrupt halt when I ruptured two tendons in my foot and had to undergo
reconstructive surgery. Six screws, a plate, and two tendon transplants later,
the only thing I was capable of was lying around in la la land with my foot
elevated. My big accomplishment, while keeping my foot above my heart
twenty-two out of twenty-four hours, was counting down my totally non-weight
bearing time – two weeks in a splint and ace bandages because the swelling was
too much for a cast, two weeks in a purple cast, and two weeks in a bright
green cast. During this period, my ability to focus on much of anything was
compromised.

I finally regained my ability to lie
around with the television on. Four seasons of House of Cards, two of Grace and Frankie, ten episodes of The Crown, and a sampling of three or
four other shows, and I started getting bored. Although I continued to have to
elevate my foot, the introduction of physical therapy and limited
weight-bearing in a boot added a spice of variety. Sadly, I still lacked the
ability to string words together. And then, one day, a flash story, A Garden for Adonis, came together. It
was published last week in SEEDS (http://conta.cc/2igTGS0).

Although I’d like to tell you I
wrote non-stop after that, it would be a lie. Returning to writing came slowly.
The ideas were there, but my ability to sustain my attention was not. It took
several weeks to write and submit one short story. I had planned to write three
pieces during the same time period, but life didn’t work out that way. I don’t
know if the story, A Golden Eclipse,
will ever be published (I like it, so I hope it will), but I know one thing for
sure. I’m back!

The Merits of Spider Solitaire and Writing

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The Merits of Spider
Solitaire and Writing by Debra H. Goldstein

When my writing isn’t
going well or I’m simply bored, I play Spider Solitaire.  In the old days, before I bought my latest
computers, my game of choice was Solitaire. 
Occasionally, even now, I’ll play a hand of Solitaire, but usually I
devote my energies to Spider Solitaire. I find it more of a challenge, plus it
wastes more time.

Let me be a bit more
specific. The merits of the game are simple – it is a challenge (I’m still at
the mid-level of play), it’s fun, and more important it distracts me from the
project at hand for 3-5 minutes.  If I
play enough games of Spider Solitaire, an hour can easily fly by.  That’s something that doesn’t always happen
with my writing.  When I’m drawing a
blank or the words coming out can best be defined as trash, time moves
slowly.  In fact, it crawls at a pace
that the fastest thing I can do is hit delete and realize the dead feeling I
have is despair.

That’s not the case when I
play Spider Solitaire.  The hand may not
work out, but a message flashes that lets me know I played a good game.  I smile and begin another game.  There is no gap thinking I’ll never find my
way.  A click and I’m there.  Not bad, but not good, either.  Because instinctively, I know that if I click
away all the hours, in the end I’ll feel worse for not having tried to find a
way to communicate my thoughts. 

I write to express myself.
I play Spider Solitaire as a means of avoidance.  Both have a complimentary place – the key is
to find a balance between the two.  Those
who do, write.  Those who don’t, mourn
what could have been.

Playing the Glad Game

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Playing the Glad Game by Debra H.
Goldstein

I was thinking about having a pity party.  After months of constant travel promoting
Should Have Played Poker: a Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery
(Five Star, a div. of Cengage – 2016), it seemed ironic that when my schedule
allowed for two-three months of personal time hanging out doing whatever I
pleased, I’m now on enforced downtime.  My
posterior tendon deteriorated causing my arch to collapse, the tendon to shred,
and the ligaments to loosen. The remedy – what ended up being a more extensive
surgery than originally planned to rebuild the arch.  It included moving my heel, breaking a bone
in the top of my foot, transferring a tendon, and debriding the damaged
tendons. 


When I was a child, one of my favorite movies was Pollyanna.
Stealing from the movie/book, I’ve decided to play the “Glad Game” rather than
having my pity party.  So, here goes:

1)    I’m
glad I am in the hands of a skilled surgeon.

2)    I’m
glad I turned my ankle in June (the straw that broke the camel’s back) or I
would probably have been at a stage where a return to normal couldn’t have been
achieved.

3)    I’m
glad because I will be non-weight bearing for six weeks followed by months of
extensive therapy that I can use a scooter or a walker as an alternative to
crutches, which I absolutely can’t use. 

4)    I’m
glad I have a loving and supportive husband.

5)    I’m
glad I have children who love and care for me so much that all offered to alter
their schedules to be there in any way I need.

6)    I’m
glad that besides my husband and children, we have been helped by a wonderful
system of caregivers.

7)    I’m
glad I have friends who sat in the hospital with my husband, helped him get me
home, lent us medical equipment, offered to help with my mundane chores, and
set up a schedule to bring dinners for the next few weeks.

8)    I’m
glad that I will have an opportunity to clear my head and concentrate on my
writing and my personal reading.

9)    I’m
glad that in two weeks, when I finish wearing a splint wrapped in an ace
bandage that accommodates swelling, I will be able to honor my youngest
grand-daughter’s wish by picking a purple cast.

Finally, I am glad to have you in my
life reading my books, enjoying my short stories, following my Stiletto Gag and
It’s Not Always a Mystery blogs, being a friend on my author Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/DebraHGoldsteinAuthor/
) and regularly checking my website (www.DebraHGoldstein.com).
My cup runneth over with gratitude — what are you glad for?

A Weekend in Atlanta Talking Short Stories

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by Paula Gail Benson

Robert Mangeot, Fran Stewart, and PGB (Photo by Charlie Burton)


My
membership in Sisters in Crime has afforded me many benefits, including
information, encouragement, and camaraderie. I’m particularly grateful to have had
the opportunity to participate in a recent short story workshop sponsored by
the Atlanta Chapter and organized by its President Lisa Malice and Debra
Goldstein. The event took place at the Decatur Public Library, a marvelous
facility with well-equipped auditorium and a patio where those attending could
have lunch and talk with the presenters. It was a true privilege for me to be
on the program with three short story writers I greatly admire, Debra, Kaye
George, and Robert Mangeot.

We
set an ambitious goal to provide a comprehensive overview of the short story craft
and submission process. While we concentrated on mysteries, we were delighted
to have writers of literary fiction and other genres participating.

Debra Goldstein (Photo by Robert Mangeot)

Debra
got us started with a description of the short story and an extremely effective
analysis of how to develop conflict through phrasing and action. Robert brilliantly
covered setting, character, and dialogue in a single segment that incorporated the
use of Gone with the Wind to
illustrate his points. Kaye and I took on the challenge of jointly teaching plotting
strategies and discovered that our approaches and preferred structural models offered
some interesting alternatives for putting together a story.

After
lunch, Kaye explained how revision and editing were essential in developing a
marketable manuscript. I followed up with some exercises to get the creative
juices flowing. I’m pleased to report that the group left with almost everyone
having written a six-word story a la
Ernest Hemingway’s “For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.” Robert finished up the
day with a wonderful method for pursuing publication and left us all with the
inspirational question: “What is your dream?” By telling us about his own
writing journey and encouraging us to consider what we truly wished to achieve,
he sent us forth excited about the possibilities.
PGB and Kaye George (Photo by Robert Mangeot)

Our
participants were so enthusiastic, it became infectious. We exchanged a lot of very
helpful information.

I am
particularly grateful to Lisa Malice and her husband Lou for their generous
hospitality. Kaye and I were fortunate enough to stay with them for the
weekend. Not only did we get to enjoy Lisa and Lou’s lovely home, fabulous
food, and great conversations, but also we had a terrific time practicing our
presentation and catching up.

Thank you to the
Atlanta Chapter for taking the time to focus on the short story. I appreciate
my fellow presenters so very much. I always learn from each of you and I value
our friendships. Finally, many thanks to all those who attended. May you find
the success in writing that you are seeking!

Clicking Our Heels – Our Summer Reading and What We Read Again and Again

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The Stiletto
Gang are all writers, but we also enjoy a good read. In fact, we have
summer reads and books we simply enjoy reading again and again. We thought you
might be interested in both our summer and comfort reading.
Marilyn Meredith: I love to read
anything by William Kent Krueger any time of the year – but there are so many
others, especially female mystery authors. I’ve read Gone With the Wind several times – though I must admit I skipped
over some of the parts about the Civil War. At my age, I can reread about
anything and it seems new.
Paffi Flood: Stephen King. It’s great
to read horror stories late into the night, because the sun is out J.
I was amazed how timeless Salem’s Lot
by Stephen King was. Although it was originally released in 1975, when I
re-read it in 2014, the cadence, the language seemed so contemporary. Of
course, there were the references to 8-track tapes and car carburetors, and
some things from the ‘70s.
Jennae M. Phillippe: I find favorites
so hard to pick! I have more reading time in summer and usually catch up on the
recommendations my friends have sent me over the year. Recent ones that stand
out are Gail Carriger (Steampunk fantasy action romance), Anne Mendel (humorous
post-apocalyptic), and James S.A. Corey (Science fiction). If you have
recommendations, send them my way! I love to revisit my old favorites,
particularly the ones from my childhood, like the entire The Song of the Lioness series from Tamora Pierce, or the Anne of Green Gables books from L.M.
Montgomery. There is something about reading books from your childhood that
makes you feel like a kid again.
Dru Ann Love: I don’t have seasonal
authors. I read all year round and whoever I’m reading at the time becomes a
favorite, especially if their book is part of a series. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb is the only book that I have re-read
multiple times and each time I discover something I missed the first go-round
and fall in love with Eve and Roark all over again.
Sparkle Abbey: Some of our favorite
summer reads are Laura Levine, Carolyn Hart, and when we’re looking for
something a little darker, Lisa Gardner. We’ve both re-read Laura Levine books
occasionally simply because they’re such great escapes. And sometimes you need
to escape! LOL.
Linda Rodriguez: I re-read many books. I’ve
read Shakespeare, the King James Bible,
most of Dickens, Austen, Trollope, and Virginia Woolf many times. I re-read
many favorite poets again and again. I’ve re-read everything Agatha Christie
and Dorothy Sayers (at least, her mysteries) so many times I couldn’t begin to
count.
Bethany Maines: I usually try and read
something fluffy in the summer. I’ll re-read a Terry Pratchett (British humor)
or pick up an L.J. Wilson (sexy romance). The
Blue Castle by LM Montgomery – I loved it as a teenager and even more as an
adult. The idea of casting aside inhibitions to pursue the life you want is a
message that is always good to hear.
Juliana Aragon Fatula: Manuel Ramos,
Mario Acevado, and High Times Marijuana
for Everybody by Elise McDonough, Denise Chavez. The first time I read Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie, I tore
through it with vigor because I wanted to know who did it. The second time I
went through, took notes, marked pages to review, and savored the writing. It
was once for pleasure and twice for writing style. I re-read it because I
switched genres from poetry to mystery.
Kay Kendall: There is no seasonal
difference in my reading habits. For me it is mysteries, every day, all the
time. Or whatever the broadest term is that includes suspense, spy novels, and
the occasional thriller. I am not fond of police procedurals or books featuring
serial killers. Jane Eyre by
Charlotte Bronte. It has everything. Historic sweep, feisty heroine, suspense,
a touch of Gothic horror, and Mr. Rochester. Each time I have reread Jane Eyre, I marvel at its depth. It
holds up very well. I first read it as a young teen so of course I understand
some of its underpinnings better now.

Debra H. Goldstein: Summers are meant
for catching up on light mysteries, biographies, and literature. This summer’s
books ranged from The Nightingale to
Sisters in Law (Ruth Bader Ginsburg
and Sandra Day O’Connor) to the new Harry
Potter. I’m not a big re-reader but there are a few I often refer to for
style or concept like Edna Ferber’s
Giant, Agatha Christie’s books, or anything I think might incorporate a
style or an idea I’m thinking about.

Clicking Our Heels – What We Hate Most About Computers

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Clicking Our Heels –
What We Hate Most About Computers

I’ve had that kind
of day! (Debra speaking) My computer
ate my words written for the day before deciding frozen was the position it
would like to be in. Even though I normally love computers, today, I asked my
fellow Stiletto Gang members “What they
hate most about computers?” Here’s what they said:
Dru Ann Love: The
updates and how it messes with my settings.
Bethany Maines:
The thing I hate most about computers is that I can’t punch them. I want to
start a business selling nerf computer replicas that come with their own
baseball bat.
Juliana Aragon Fatula:
They aren’t faithful. I have a relationship with a new computer on average
about once a year and they are unfaithful and I have to move on and go with a
younger, newer model. Sometimes I hate the fact that they make me want to pick
them p and throw them out the window or at the very least take a stiletto to
the screen.

Kay Kendall: Just
when I get used to and comfy with a program, the company that produces it
changes it radically, then all the PCs move to favoring that, and then I have
to learn the new program. It is invariably trickier and just does more things
that I don’t really need. Annoying!


Jennae M. Phillippe:
The update cycle. I’ll be fresh and excited to start working on a project, turn
on the computer, and have to wait like 20 minutes for the thing to update. Or
worse, I’ll be in mid-project which it does one of those mandatory shut down
thingies. Totally throws me off.


Linda Rodriguez:
I hate that some programs (I’m looking straight at you, Microsoft Word) try to
make decisions for me that I want to make for myself.
Paffi Flood:
Nothing, now that I have an Apple J.


Paula Benson: That computers understand so many things intuitively, except how to fulfill my needs.
Marilyn Meredith:
What I hate most about computers is what I have to learn how to do something
new – which seems to happen too often.

Sparkle Abbey: We
don’t know what we do without computers. We work on them, we write on them and
we use them to keep in touch with each other. We both think we’re pretty
computer savvy, but there have been a couple of times when the computer has
eaten a work in progress or not saved it correctly. That’s frustrating!

Where’s Should Have Played Poker?

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Where’s Should Have Played Poker? by Debra H. Goldstein
One month down since Should Have
Played Poker was published and while marketing, pr, and everything that goes
into launching a book has killed my writing time, I’m still standing.  Better yet, people are reading the book and
telling others they should read it, too. 
There are many different strategies and schemes for marketing a novel,
but nothing goes to the credibility of a written work more than word of mouth
satisfaction.

The success of Anita Diamant’s The
Red Tent is an excellent example of a novel owing its success to readers
finding it and telling others about it.  Another
that comes to mind is The Celestine Prophecy. When it was published, no one
predicted the book James Redfield was selling from his car’s trunk would be a
bestseller.  Now, I’m not saying Should
Have Played Poker will end up in the same class as these books, but in today’s
day of social media, I’ll bet I can point to something neither of these authors
had: postings of where my book is being read. Similar to the Where’s Waldo
game, people have been playing Where’s Should Have Played Poker.  Here are some of the places it has turned up:
Don’t Ask 
Airport Travels
Between Hands in Asheville
Hawaii
What do you think about word of mouth?  If you happen to read or see a copy of Should Have Played Poker, feel free to join the fun by posting your picture on my facebook author page (and like it, too:)) – https://www.facebook.com/DebraHGoldsteinAuthor/ .

When Life Happens by Debra H. Goldstein

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When Life Happens by Debra H. Goldstein
Did you ever notice how much your day varies from your to-do
list? That, as John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you are busy
making other plans.”

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately especially when I
look at the stacks on my desk, credenza, and the floors of my office and
bedroom. They annoy me, but at the same time, I don’t care. I’m sure there will
come a point when I have to stop and clean things up, but what I realize
looking at my clutter is that it represents flexibility and being alive.

The pile to the right of my chair represents materials from
board meetings attended last week that I haven’t filed away yet. That’s okay,
it was more important that I showed up at the meetings, contributed, and then
came home to work on responses for blog interviews scheduled for next month’s
release of Should Have Played Poker: a
Carrie Martin and the Mah Jongg Players Mystery.

The stack right of my desk are bills I paid, notated with check
numbers or online confirmations, but haven’t thrown in the keep these bills
envelope. That’s okay, it was important that I wrote checks for the mortgage,
utilities, internet, and the plane tickets for the family wedding that’s coming
up in a few months.

The cards and invitations centered at the top of my desk are
for gifts I need to buy for upcoming showers and weddings or birthday cards
from those who kindly took me to different birthday dinners and lunches this
month. That’s okay, I wish we can’t accept every invitation, I want to
acknowledge these lift cycle events. I am happy to report that the thank you notes
were written for the birthday festivities as they occurred but some of the
cards are so hilarious that I want to read them again. It wasn’t a special
birthday, but celebrating for an entire month has been fun.

In the near center of my desk are printed copies of two
stories I submitted this month. Submission guidelines for other calls I’d like
to address are near some pads on the left. That’s okay, I didn’t think I could
come up with an idea for the stories, but things worked out before the
deadlines passed and the others still have promise so long as I keep them in my
sight lines.

I was supposed to have this blog ready and scheduled before
I went to California last weekend, but getting the two stories, PR, and
spending time with family and friends took precedent. That’s okay, it’s written.
It’s going to be set up a day early. And best of all, it reflects the most
important thing any of us can embrace: Life is what happens when we go with it
rather than trying to force square pegs into round holes.

Hopefully, all of your distractions have been good; but if
not, here’s hoping you’ve been able to let go of enough to survive and come out
on the other end.

What I Want to Do Next

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What I Want to Do Next by Debra H. Goldstein

For years, I wondered what I would be when I grew up. I
finally answered that question by deciding that Peter Pan had it right – I’m
never going to grow up. Perhaps the body will appear older on the outside (I
haven’t mastered all of Peter’s tricks yet…I’m still working on flying), but
inside, I will always retain the kid in me.

When it came to a career, I also faced uncertainty. At one
point, I thought I would be a doctor, but I don’t enjoy science. Other rejected
ideas included comedian (I’m still a Carol Burnett fan), singer (only singing
four notes on key and those not being in successive order made that one
difficult), and journalist. Instead I opted, at different times, for salesgirl,
teaching assistant, teacher, editorial assistant, lawyer, judge and now writer.

A number of these jobs require discipline and attention to
details. No problem there, but lately, I’ve had an urge to do something
different. I want to take a short term mental vacation. The way I see it, a
fire in the fireplace would be nice, but not mandatory. The same with a fuzzy
soft blanket. Being at the beach would be divine, but again not required. No,
the only thing necessary would be a good light, a comfortable chair, and part
of the stack of books that are piled on my dresser or in the bookcase in my
closet to be read. My TBR pile takes up almost as much space as my clothing. It’s
time to do something about that. So, what I want and will do next is take some
fun time to read for me. Some of the books will be mindless, some more intense,
but none will be required reading for any project, panel, review, or other
task. What fun!

I’ll report back in the near future how my reading week(s)
go, but in the meantime, what is it that you want to do next?

Words of Death by Debra H. Goldstein

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Words of Death by Debra H. Goldstein
When I was a child and read book titles like A Death in the Family, Death of a Salesman, Death Be Not Proud, they didn’t have much impact except to foreshadow an event that would probably impact the author’s story.  It wasn’t a big deal that so much of literature includes scenes of death.  Rather, death created drama or conflict – something important in good storytelling.

Now that I am older, I realize there was more than conflict or sappy sentiment being expressed by the writers.  For the most part, each author had reached a point in life where friends and relatives die, where chronic illness and pills are standard fare for many, and where mortality is a topic thought about and just as quickly avoided. 

The problem is that whether one stares death down or pretends it doesn’t exist, death eventually has the final say.  During the past weeks, friends have lost parents, children and spouses. The funeral tributes have been lovely and varied, but all share the inevitable fact that the person now is but a memory.

We build upon the shoulders of those who came before us, but the memory of those individuals is only as good as how much we share our memories of them. A single heart and mind can retain the essence of someone for a lifetime, while a community, through named donations like a statute, park, or scholarship can help perpetuate an individual’s name for longer.  It is the author who can remember a friend, a lover, a child into perpetuity. 

The writer uses words to catch the meaning of one’s life, the individual’s characteristics, the smell of one’s cologne, and all the little details that comprise the person.  These written word descriptions long bring to life Jay Follet, Willy Loman and Johnny Gunther as new generations meet them for the first time.  Thank goodness.