Tra Lala, Tra Lala

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Ann Roth

Tonight I’m headed for the Seattle Opera, to see Tosca, one of my all-time favorite operas.

I wasn’t always an opera lover, although my mother was. She studied voice in college, but didn’t have a strong enough voice to make it as a singer. Saturdays, she listened to the Metropolitan Opera on the radio. Sometimes she cajoled me into listening, too. But I never appreciated it.

As an adult, I attended a few operas with my husband, who was equally non-wowed. Then, a good 15 years ago, I found out that one of my writing friends was crazy for opera. At her urging, my husband and I joined her and a few other friends for monthly “opera night.” An evening we now look eagerly forward to. We take turns hosting these nights, which include a DVD of an opera and the synopsis which is read before each act, plus a main course provided by the host, with the appetizers, drinks, salad and dessert contributed by the other members of the group.

During the performance, we often pause the action in order to get seconds on food and drink, laugh, answer questions, discuss the intricacies of the story and plot, learn about the composer or the conductor, and so on.

I have become a true opera fan. The beautiful music, exquisite voices! Between the melodrama, hatred, true love, passion, loyalty, betrayal, murder, heroism, tears and laughter, what’s not to love? It’s all the stuff of drama, fiction and reality. The stuff of life.

Until next time,

Ann

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Best. Listener. Ever.

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Ann Roth

“Are you talking to me or yourself?” my husband has been known to ask. That way, he knows whether to listen or not. Smart man.

The thing is, I talk to myself a lot. When I’m in the process of making a decision. When I think through a plot idea for a book or cook or search for a recipe in one of my many recipe boxes. When I decide what to wear to an event or pack for a trip. Occasionally, even when I read. Because, face it, I really pay attention to myself. 🙂

Sure, there are times I grab a pen and notebook (or scrap of paper–whatever I can find), and scribble my thoughts on paper instead. That works, too.

I don’t know where or how the habit of talking to myself started. I’ve tried to stop it, but sooner or later, it always creeps back.

I try not to do it in public. I don’t want people thinking I’m nuts or something. 🙂 But from time to time, it does happen. If someone is within hearing or seeing distance, I make a joke about talking to myself because know I’m truly listening. People usually smile. Some admit that they to it, too.

I’m pretty sure there lots of folks out there who do the same thing. Why else would the comic above be so popular?

Until next time,

Ann

Hello, Monday

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Ann Roth

I like Mondays. New week, new beginnings! Even if I am in the middle of revising my current rough draft. It’s part a new series I’m writing, and I’m loving it.

More later– I’m eager to get back to work!!

Until next time,

Ann

No Rest …

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Ann Roth

TGIF!!!!

All set for the weekend?

I’m a writer. I usually work on Saturdays and Sundays. But I do take time off. If I want my creative well so stay full and work properly, relaxing and getting away from the job are must-do’s.

Which is why I have scheduled several weekend play dates–one with my husband and one with a girlfriend.

Don’t forget to do the same.

Until next time, and have a rollicking fun weekend,

Ann

Behind Every Successful Woman…

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Ann Roth

Remember this when you need a pick-me-up. Sure, females face gender gaps, biases against women (sometimes perpetuated by ourselves!), and a whole host of challenges.

This happens even among those who should know better. Recently, I was at a medical facility, where there are lots of talented female physicians (my daughter is one of them). And yet, I heard both a doctor and a nurse refer to a physician they didn’t know as “he”.

“Dr. xxx is a woman,” I gently corrected.

They took it in stride. But I shook my head and wondered when these longtime biases will change. I have no idea, but sooner or later, that change will occur.

In the meantime, don’t let the naysayers get you down. With a positive attitude, hard work, grit and support from our brothers and sisters everywhere, we can soar.

Think about it.

Until next time,

Ann

Until next time,

Ann

I Am Writer

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Ann Roth

One of my favorite things about creating stories to share with you is the magic that seemingly springs out of the blue.

So I’m writing away, working from a synopsis, which is like a road map that tells me where I should go in order to reach that optimistic ending that is the payoff for all the suffering I put my characters through. Oh, yeah, I so enjoy making them suffer. :- )

As I labor to bring the story in my head to life on the page, suddenly the plot takes a turn I never planned for. Always an enjoyable surprise. Or the characters take charge and speak or act in totally unexpected and unanticipated ways. I love when this happens! Mind you, I don’t let them veer off on tangents too far removed from their story. Otherwise, you readers tend get frustrated–and so do I.

But when I trust them enough to give them free rein, amazing things happen. For that, I am beyond grateful.

I love my job, and it’s time I got back to it and let the magic unfold.

Wishing you magic, and until next time,

Ann

Don’t Forget Your Common Sense

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Ann Roth

The experts say to follow your heart. I agree… As long as common sense play some part.

In my experience, relying only on my rational brain and ignoring what my heart wants takes me in the wrong direction. So does following my heart without some degree of mental processing. Not too much mental stuff, though, or I just might talk myself out of what really is best for my happiness and well-being.

A combination of both usually leads me down the right path.

How do I know how much of each to listen to? For that, I rely on instinct, aka that good old gut feeling. Does whatever I’m considering feel “right” in my gut, or do I feel queasy, tense or ill-at-ease? I don’t always pay enough attention to those gut feelings, and when I ignore them, I often end up in trouble.

Food for thought, for sure.

Until next time,

Ann

Winter Solstice is almost here!

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Ann Roth

This year, Winter Solstice, aka the shortest day of the year and the first day of winter, officially begins Sunday at 5:03 pm (not sure in which time zone).

At our house, well be ushering it in a day early, with a Winter Solstice party. We do this to mark the return of longer days (which seem a little slow on the uptake, but they are coming). I’m not exactly sure what year we started this tradition, but it’s been happening for close to a decade now.

Friends and family join us for a festive evening of food, drink, laughter and conversation around a crackling fire in the living room. If the living room gets too crowded, and it often does, there are other places to congregate–around the laden dining room table or in the kitchen or the family room or a hallway.

Everyone seems to enjoy this brief break from the Christmas frenzy, and we love the chance to catch up with people we haven’t seen in a while.

Thanks for letting me share one of our traditions, and take heart–the light is returning,

Ann

My Holiday Newsletter has gone out, but if you haven’t signed up for my newsletter and you’d like a copy of the latest one, complete with a delicious recipe for chocolate mint brownies, contact me through my website at www.annroth.net . I’ll send you a copy.

Allow Me to Vent…

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Ann Roth

Just thought I’d share this with you.

One of my pet peeves: bad grammar. Not that we writers don’t break the rules sometimes. After all, we have to be true to our characters. That means letting them speak and think in ways natural to them. Like most of us, characters, too, use less-than-correct grammar on a daily basis.

There are times when oral grammar bugs me, too. Examples that come to mind: “Me and him went to the store.” “Her and I talked on the phone.”

Back to the written word. When I read a letter or email, an article in a paper or magazine, or one of those badly written self-published books, and the grammar is off… I forget the message and instead, focus on the mistakes. I am sure this is not what the writer intends.

So please, folks, correct your grammar. If you don’t know grammar, take a course. There are many out there. Or look on line for help. Also check your spelling and watch for typos, and make this particular, fussy writer happy.

Thanks for letting me vent. Climbing down from my high horse now…

Until next time,

Ann

Ah, Modern Technology

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Ann Roth

A friend turned me on to sharing a song via email. (Yeah, I know, I’m woefully behind…) Simply drag the song you want to share from iTunes into your email message. Have you done this? Am testing with one of my all-time favorite songs from an old Bob James album called, Rameau: Harpsichord. Years ago, when we had parakeets, those sweet birds loved, loved, loved this album and often chirped along. Although there are no Christmas tunes on the album, the music puts me in a holiday frame of mind… but that’s just me.

Until next time,

Ann

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