Hello Everyone!
The year 2013 will find 'Grandpa's Grapevine' with a contract from a book publisher, proposals for movie-rights and hopefully a contract for the second story in the trilogy- 'Mama's Bookends'. I will be writing the last story in the trilogy, 'Walking with Angels', this summer.
Please stay in touch via my website for the latest news and information regarding book sales and how to purchase. I will be making a few changes to my website in the coming months and adding a facebook page, as well as some other 'goodies' to stay in touch and provide some give-aways! Please do not purchase 'Grandpa's Grapevine' now, as this version is not the updated/revised edition from the present publisher. 'Grandpa's Grapevine' will be available in the spring. I will let you know as soon as I do when it is available for purchase.
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Acts of Kindness
Just a thought... make your New Year Resolution to complete one act of kindness every week!
Some suggestions:
1. Call a family member or friend you haven't heard from in a while.
2. Write someone a letter- not an e-mail or text, but a real hand-written letter!
3. Help a neighbor with their yard work- shovel their walk or buy a plant for their yard.
4. Say good morning to every co-worker...even the cranky one!
5. Speak nicely to the telemarketer when they call during dinner.
6. Leave a generous tip for the waiter/waitress and tell the manager about the great service!
7. Compliment the mother who is brave enough to take three kids to the grocery store.
8. If you notice a service member at a restaurant, pay for their meal.
9. Surprise your family and come home early from work- they're worth it!
Some suggestions:
1. Call a family member or friend you haven't heard from in a while.
2. Write someone a letter- not an e-mail or text, but a real hand-written letter!
3. Help a neighbor with their yard work- shovel their walk or buy a plant for their yard.
4. Say good morning to every co-worker...even the cranky one!
5. Speak nicely to the telemarketer when they call during dinner.
6. Leave a generous tip for the waiter/waitress and tell the manager about the great service!
7. Compliment the mother who is brave enough to take three kids to the grocery store.
8. If you notice a service member at a restaurant, pay for their meal.
9. Surprise your family and come home early from work- they're worth it!
Favorite Quotes
It's often a quote that inspires a short story or creates a character. Here are some of my favorite quotes- Enjoy!
'One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.' Lucille Ball
'I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.' Anne Frank
'I'm a slow walker, but I never walk back.' Abraham Lincoln
'Most folks are about as happy as the make up their minds to be.' Abraham Lincoln
'Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life, I find.'
John F. Kennedy
'The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.' Saint Augustine of Hippo
'Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindness.' Mark Twain
'The writer must write what he has to say, not speak it.' Ernest Hemingway
'One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.' Lucille Ball
'I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.' Anne Frank
'I'm a slow walker, but I never walk back.' Abraham Lincoln
'Most folks are about as happy as the make up their minds to be.' Abraham Lincoln
'Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life, I find.'
John F. Kennedy
'The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.' Saint Augustine of Hippo
'Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindness.' Mark Twain
'The writer must write what he has to say, not speak it.' Ernest Hemingway
Friday, November 30, 2012
When Opportunity Knocks...
"It takes a lot of courage to accept who you are and what you believe in, but it takes even greater courage when you remain true to yourself when surrounded by those who do not share your values...that is a person I hope to always be, and the only type of person I would call a friend!" ...yeah, that's what my Grandpa Frank would say! Some people might say I got lucky and wasn't it a fortunate coincidence that Katy decided to attend the Apple Harvest and meet my parents. I say it has nothing to do with luck...it's just preparing every day so you are ready when the opportunity to take the next step in fulfilling your dreams comes knocking! (from Grandpa's Grapevine by L.Massucci)
Do you have a friend or coworker who is always complaining that nothing ever 'goes their way' or they are 'stuck in a rut' and try to make everyone else around them miserable, too? Why not ask this person- 'What have you done today to prepare yourself for all the good fortunes that await you?' You prepare for vacation. You prepare for retirement. Why not prepare for opportunity? I believe a dream will always remain a dream unless you prepare...and it's a lot of work! Preparing to get published means writing when you have 'writer's block', receiving rejection letters and telling yourself it's just one person's opinion, and blogging while asking yourself- 'is anybody reading this?'
The first story in the trilogy 'Family' is called 'Grandpa's Grapevine'. It will be published by Trestle Press in 2013. I started preparing for 'Grandpa's Grapevine' in 2006. I started writing 'Grandpa's Grapevine' in 2007. I completed the story in 2008. I was signed with Hartline Agency in 2009 and started writing the second story of the trilogy, 'Mama's Bookends'. I began to write 'Mama's Bookends' before my agent found a publisher for 'Grandpa's Grapevine'. Why? Because you prepare for opportunity! Now, after the publishing of 'Grandpa's Grapevine', Trestle Press will also publish 'Mama's Bookends'. Some may say- 'How lucky to find a publisher that likes two of my stories.' I say, 'How fortunate I was to be prepared for the opportunity!'
When opportunity knocks, will you be ready?
Do you have a friend or coworker who is always complaining that nothing ever 'goes their way' or they are 'stuck in a rut' and try to make everyone else around them miserable, too? Why not ask this person- 'What have you done today to prepare yourself for all the good fortunes that await you?' You prepare for vacation. You prepare for retirement. Why not prepare for opportunity? I believe a dream will always remain a dream unless you prepare...and it's a lot of work! Preparing to get published means writing when you have 'writer's block', receiving rejection letters and telling yourself it's just one person's opinion, and blogging while asking yourself- 'is anybody reading this?'
The first story in the trilogy 'Family' is called 'Grandpa's Grapevine'. It will be published by Trestle Press in 2013. I started preparing for 'Grandpa's Grapevine' in 2006. I started writing 'Grandpa's Grapevine' in 2007. I completed the story in 2008. I was signed with Hartline Agency in 2009 and started writing the second story of the trilogy, 'Mama's Bookends'. I began to write 'Mama's Bookends' before my agent found a publisher for 'Grandpa's Grapevine'. Why? Because you prepare for opportunity! Now, after the publishing of 'Grandpa's Grapevine', Trestle Press will also publish 'Mama's Bookends'. Some may say- 'How lucky to find a publisher that likes two of my stories.' I say, 'How fortunate I was to be prepared for the opportunity!'
When opportunity knocks, will you be ready?
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Resiliency
What makes some people say they are going to write a novel and others actually do it? Resiliency. When faced with a blank piece of paper or computer screen, the task can seem overwhelming and next to impossible. Add to that, you may complete the all-time best written piece in the history of the publishing world (in your opinion) and still never see it published. There is also the task of convincing an agent to believe in your work, accept 'helpful critiques' from publishers as to why they don't like your work and always answering, with a smile, the redundant question from family & friends: Did you get that book published yet?
'Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges' by Southwick & Charney state ten factors to 'bouncing back' effectively. They are optimism, flexibility, core value system, faith, positive role models, social support, physical fitness, cognitive strength, facing fears and finding meaning in struggles. Always remember to remain optimistic...even after the 100th rejection letter. Pessimism is contagious, but remaining optimistic just may see your name in print!
'Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges' by Southwick & Charney state ten factors to 'bouncing back' effectively. They are optimism, flexibility, core value system, faith, positive role models, social support, physical fitness, cognitive strength, facing fears and finding meaning in struggles. Always remember to remain optimistic...even after the 100th rejection letter. Pessimism is contagious, but remaining optimistic just may see your name in print!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
When Is It Good Enough?
How do you know when it's time to click save and send your novel to your agent? If I had the answer, I would be a millionaire! I think every writer asks him/herself- Is this book good enough? Should I add one more flashback? Do I delete anything? Should I re-read it one more time?
When you're writing a novel, the thoughts can flow so rapidly, it may be difficult to get them on paper fast enough...and you may be trying to just get everything written. When it's time to edit- you, and those lucky people who get to read all your mistakes, may ask: Why did I ever include this event? It's okay to delete your work. The secret may be to not take ownership of every word. After all, it's the character's words, not yours. Ask yourself- Would the character really say this? Does it need to be said to help the reader visualize the moment or want to turn to the next page?
Upon completing your novel, step away from it for a while. Maybe even try to forget about the characters you just spent months giving your weekends and early morning hours to developing. When some time has passed, read the book as if you just picked it up on a shelf in the library. As you read, take note of when you become lost in the book....and when you may want to skip a page or two from boredom.
It is hard to be your own critic, but be honest! If you can't- don't worry, the publisher always will!
When you're writing a novel, the thoughts can flow so rapidly, it may be difficult to get them on paper fast enough...and you may be trying to just get everything written. When it's time to edit- you, and those lucky people who get to read all your mistakes, may ask: Why did I ever include this event? It's okay to delete your work. The secret may be to not take ownership of every word. After all, it's the character's words, not yours. Ask yourself- Would the character really say this? Does it need to be said to help the reader visualize the moment or want to turn to the next page?
Upon completing your novel, step away from it for a while. Maybe even try to forget about the characters you just spent months giving your weekends and early morning hours to developing. When some time has passed, read the book as if you just picked it up on a shelf in the library. As you read, take note of when you become lost in the book....and when you may want to skip a page or two from boredom.
It is hard to be your own critic, but be honest! If you can't- don't worry, the publisher always will!
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