I'm a Pulpwood Queen and for those of you unversed in the ways of the piney woods of Texas that is a female bookclub reader. (Men are Lumberjacks, I think). An international bookclub, the Lake Charles chapter is reading for its August selection a good book called, Heart of Lies by M. L. Malcolm. (It may be a REALLY good book, but I'm only halfway through.)

A compeling story and page-turner, it has something for everyone. Set between WWI and WWII, it is a high intrige love story, traversing several continents. Interesting writing from a writer's point of view, as Malcolm changes voice within the scenes. Something I was told was a NO NO, but it works for her. It's published (Harpercollins), and was previously published under the name Silent Lies by Longstreet Press.

Ms. Malcom will be visiting the Lake Area in August for the monthly Pulpwood Queen's meeting, Aug. 25. To honor Malcolm and promote book sales, the PWQ's are hosting a meet and greet at Central Library in Lake Charles, LA starting at 5pm. You're invited. Refreshements will be served and a great time will be had as we Queens rock.

Irony of Death

It's strange how the only thing in life we are absolutely sure of is death, yet when the life of a loved one is eclipsed, especially a young person, we feel it unfair. Paul writes in the Bible that "to die is gain." Another irony I'd rather not feel.

Life around us moves on as nothing has happened; and we must move too, even while our life has stopped - paused in mid-breath.

Newtonian Principle

Back from vacation, my fingers were itching to get to the keyboard. I have spent the last two days happily honing my current novel, Miller's Tale. For breaks I wade through the inbox of my e-mail. Geek Heaven. Catching up on old posts on the BWG blog, I saw a theme. We writers are all possessed by an invisible force, yet to be tested and named. We are all drawn (or driven) to see our thoughts in print. I believe this is more than just a self-centered ego scratch, but a mystical force that allows the unseen to be birthed. Babies that need our constant attention, crying silently until we relent and give the page its due. Admittedly, it's a weird relationship that non-writers can't fathom. Like gravity, we are pulled to the page.

Thomas a Kempis

This is my favorite prayer from Thomas a Kempis:

O God, most loving Comforter,

I pray that you will always turn what is evil into good,

and what is good into what is better.

Turn my mourning into joy,

my wandering feet into the right path,

my ignorance into knowledge of your truth,

my lukewarmness into zeal,

my fear into love, all my material goods into a spiritual gift,

all my earthly desires into heavenly desires,

all that is transient into what lasts forever,

everything human into what is divine,

everything created and finite into that sovereign and

immeasurable good which you yourself are,

O my God and Savior. Amen

What happened to June? This summer solstice thing is a lie, just like global warming. My theory is the days are shorter, time is speeding up, and the ice caps are melting because the earth is spinning faster. Hey why not? Thank goodness I'm not in charge of the universe. Father Time and I have always been on a different schedule.