Well I did it,  I wrote a Sci-fi story.  It looks like it has potential to become a serial, as there is a lot of ground left to cover.  Take a read and let me know what you think.

I haven't finished my story for this week, but I have almost got a grip on one.  It is a science fiction story, and I will explain in a bit why that genre gives me difficulty, despite the fact that I love to read it.  To provide some context, I think it would help to share my thoughts on a recent on-line phenomena.  

Over the past week a number of my Facebook friends have posted the top 10 (sometimes 15) books which have shaped their lives.  I have been duly impressed by their lists and have even read (and enjoyed) some of the books on them.  I will readily admit that there are some that I have never heard of and some that I have tried to read and stopped.  Most are pretty heady stuff.

Observing their exercise made me realize that my own list is not nearly as impressive.  The first book that I love is David McPhail's "The Magical Drawings of Mooney B. Finch".  Yep, it is a children's book.  I find that most of the books on my list of books that have shaped my life are children's books, for most of who I am now is directly due to my childhood.  

And despite my mom's best efforts to get me to read the heady stuff, I was drawn to fantasy and science fiction.  Nothing against Hemingway and Fitzgerald, I think they are fine fellows, I just didn't make their acquaintance until well into my twenties.  The people who shaped my childhood are Piers Anthony and his never ending stream of Xanth novels, Madeline L'Engle and her "A Wrinkle in Time" series, C.S. Lewis and the magic of his wardrobe,  David Eddings (The Belgariad), R.A. Salvatore (Drizzt Do'Urden), Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time); my list of fantasy authors is as exhaustive as Anthony's Xanth novels it seems.

Science fiction came a little later with writers such as Isaac Asimov (I, Robot), Larry Niven (Ringworld), and Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles).  These powerhouses of sci-fi made their worlds seem so real.  The truly fantastic sci-fi writers have a firm grip on physics and the science of what makes their future work.  Add in the mix Michael Crichton, who I think did a great job with near future stuff such as cloning (Jurassic Park) and nanotechnology (Prey), and one can find the source of my anxiety in writing sci-fi.

I feel pretty good about this short story.  I got the idea for it from listening to a story on NPR, "The Splendid Table", about the Stockholm Pie Company.  The lady on that show gets so into the food that it always makes me laugh, as if the food itself has some mystical power.  Perhaps it does.  Let me know what you think.

This is a short story I wrote recently.  I don't know what possessed me to write it from the perspective of a teenage girl (a foul mouthed one at that), but I did.  I started thinking on it as I watched my little daughter watching me get ready for work.  It has some strong language, so if you are offended by such, you probably shouldn't read on.

For right now, I believe this is going to serve as the prologue to the second book in the Lifestream Trilogy.  It takes the reader back to a time before Book 1 even starts, but provides a new perspective that will set the tone for Book 2.  

I can tell you sincerely that I never believed I would ever have a blog.  Historically I never had any kind of diary or journal.  I tried a few times, when I was younger and convinced that I could be a fantastic writer, but quickly gave it up each time.  I was deathly afraid that someone would find what I wrote and mock me mercilessly.

It seems I have overcome that fear.  I have found a handful of kindred spirits who encourage me to write and write often.  They do offer criticism as well, but they have yet to mock me, and the criticism is usually constructive.  I started a writing group with said friends, I joined the Northern Colorado Writers, and I self published a book.  So of course I am starting a blog.

I now carry a little notebook on my person at all times in which to jot down interesting factoids, names, bits of conversation, poems regarding the horrors of goat cheese, or fanciful ideas that hit me as I wait in line at the sandwich shop.  

Of course, my name appears no where in said notebook, and I am sure that I would disavow any knowledge of it if it fell into the wrong hands.  Anyway, I plan to post some short stories and what not here for those who are interested.  So check it out from time to time, and don't forget to let me know if you are reading.  Even if it is to poke some fun at me.   

JBL