New Year, New Ventures
If it’s true that one is never too old or too entrenched inside their comfort zone to make a change, then I’m ready to begin a new endeavor: this blog! However, I must give a large portion of credit to my cousin, John, and his son, Chris, for dragging me, sometimes kicking and screaming, into this new world. Without their encouragement and hours of working on the new sites and pulling me along, I never would have attempted such a thing.
In the days/weeks/months ahead, I plan to post some new stories on the redbudgrove.com site, stories that are not in the first Starlight book, but should have been. So many readers have expressed regret that the series ended, so we will just take a retro look back at Sissy’s old world, when it was still new to her.
There will be yet another site. I think John has titled it “The Best of BEC,” or something similar. When it’s ready, I will post other stories and probably some poetry, perhaps even a lesson or two on the process of writing, possibly even oil painting. John’s ambitions are worthy of a CEO’s!
We writers are strange creatures, many might even say weird, which is probably true. In the beginning, we are sure that we have written the world’s greatest novel, the world’s most sensitive poetry, the most creative, enthralling short stories. In reality, most of the stuff we write as brand new writers is pitiful. I am embarrassed when I look at the stack of typewritten sheets of paper that comprise my first novel. It’s over 200 pages of embarrassment! I tell myself that one day I will rescue it and make something readable of it. In truth, my children will probably have to toss it out one day, hopefully before they read it!
I hope to accomplish something else with this blog. I have met many wonderful, talented writers online during the past few years, most of them not nearly as recognized as they should be. Occasionally, with their permission, I will introduce one and feature some of their work.
Currently, I’m working sporadically on four novels, none of them like the Starlight books, although many of the same subjects are included in them, such as: mysteries, romance, drama, fear, all the human foibles and frailties to which we are not strangers. In the meantime, I’m working on another “memoirs,” this one for the man who brought radio to Salem, Illinois, when I was a teenager. I hope to have it finished to the gentleman’s satisfaction before summer.
As I become more comfortable with the mechanics of the blog, I hope to insert many, many photos, including pictures of the places that inspired the Starlight series, as well as people and places that are important to me now and in the past. It’s my intention to make this blog as interesting, informative, even as entertaining as possible. Please introduce it to your friends, your online family and people who like to read. There is a world of people out there I want to meet, friends I don’t yet know. I can’t wait to meet them!
Until next time,
Barbara
www.barbaraelliottcarpenter.com
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Posted on January 14th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Barbara! I am so impressed with your blog as well as your other sites and all of the changes that have been made. The graphics made me feel so peaceful and you know how I can always use that. LOL
I’ll be adding your links to my site as soon as I get my new “index” page up and running. I’m doing some re-decorating, too…but time is my enemy right now. Hopefully I can finish it up within the next week.
Can hardly wait to see what you do with the blog – I can’t imagine such an undertaking but I know you’ll be terrific – just like you are in all that you do.
Love,
Kathy
Posted on January 22nd, 2010 at 11:28 am
Great picture to start off with, but part of it is difficult to see well because of the black background. I suggest a lighter colored background. I’m no expert so ask others before you change it.
It is a good start and I like it. I also like the encouragement it implies to others who would write. (Kathe Campbell hates the word “Would,” but I think it it is okay here.)
Keep it coming. I alsolearned of a couple of other websites I didn’t know about and will check them out when I get time.
Fred Wickert
Posted on August 5th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Hi Barbara! I just wanted to stop in and let you know I finally did it. My book, Defiance Rising, is now live on Amazon to be downloaded. Thanks for all the encouragement you gave me at our writers meetings. I really miss seeing you. Hope you’ll be back soon!