Running on at the Ink

Random Acts of Poetry & Art!

2012-02-07T17:38:00.008-05:00

An Art and Poetry Pay-it-Forward Movement

RANDOM ACTS OF POETRY & ART!

Spread Inspiration on February 20th, 2012

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

What if you could change someone’s outlook or mood in an instant? What if we all brought art and kindness to others on the same day? Random Acts of Poetry & Art on February 20, 2012 is an international day of inspiration. It is an artistic pay-it-forward movement, with the purpose of spreading light and the pure joy of artistic creation. Wherever you are on this day, please join us in sharing your poems and visual art for all to enjoy!

SOME IDEAS:

*Write a poem on a napkin or a piece of paper, with a special thank you, and leave it behind with your monetary tip at a restaurant or café.

*Print off copies of a beautiful photo of a sunset and leave it behind on the tables of your local coffeehouse with the simple message, “Enjoy!”

*If you have time. Do some preparation. Have some of your poetry or art printed on postcards, or print them yourself at home, and leave them at local libraries, bookstores, galleries, community bulletin boards, community centers and cafes.

*Draw an inspiring design or an impromptu sketch of a scene in your local town and leave it on a park bench. Maybe you will inspire someone else to leave behind some beauty and hope for the next person to find!

It’s up to you what you do! Create, be inspired and share photos of your Random Acts of Poetry & Art on our Facebook event page for our world community to enjoy as well.

Who knows? You could change someone’s day … in an instant of art and poetry!

Yours sincerely,
The Random Acts Inspiration Crew
Cristina Raskopf Norcross, Sonya Shanti Sinha and Shannon Elizabeth Hardwick

A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves. ~Amelia Earhart

Visit us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Random-Acts-of-Poetry-and-Art/383933244955442

"Fall in Love with the Arts" at the Delafield Arts Center on Saturday, February 11, 2012 (11am-5pm)

2012-01-24T14:36:00.006-05:00

POETRY* ART* DANCE* MUSIC

Come "Fall in Love with the Arts" at the Delafield Arts Center on Saturday, February 11, 2012 (11am-5pm) for a special Open House event.

In addition to a dance performance by To the Pointe Performing Arts and a concert by Hartland School of Music, there will be a special poetry reading at 12:30pm featuring poets:

Kimberly Blanchette
Paul Scot August
Cristina Norcross
Liz Rhodebeck
Ed Werstein
Khristian Kay

For more information about events and exhibits at the Delafield Arts Center visit: http://www.delafieldartscenter.org/

"You Are Loved" ~ What If You Could Change Someone's Day Just by Offering a Kind Word?

2012-01-20T10:04:00.000-05:00

What if you could make someone smile and feel better about themselves by reminding them how special they are?

This poem that I wrote for a project I was working on a few years ago, became that poem for me, and it has become my "go-to" poem that I give out randomly, when I think the world needs a little more love.

I was invited to give a talk about poetry a couple of years ago for a school in Milwaukee, but was unable to attend, so I sent a box of these "You Are Loved" poems in my place, to let the students know that ~ they are loved.

This poetry postcard also goes out to any new member who joins the National Endometriosis Association. The Endometriosis Association provides support, information and educational materials about treatment for women who have been diagnosed with a painful reproductive condition called Endometriosis. I have had this illness since I was 18 and have had several surgeries over the years. I donated a box of these cards to help other women feel cared for and nurtured at a time when facing a chronic medical condition can be quite scary.

I hope you enjoy this poem too. We are all LOVE. We are all sacred. Be the Light that brings light to others.

YOU ARE LOVED

You are exquisitely made.
With a splash of deep purple at the edges,
and a vibrant center –
you shine.

Like the many layered hues
of a rhododendron
with blushing petals,
you have innate gifts –
both seen and unseen.

The wind whistles a melody,
encouraging the dance of galaxies.
In unison, all of nature
follows the same, beautifully orchestrated score,
and we float forward together.

In another time
you see the outline of this day
in all of its divinity.
You smile a perfect smile,
knowing that –
you are loved.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008

NOTE: If you know of a non-profit organization that would like to have some poetry, I will be happy to send out these free poetry postcards for their members who need a little love and care. Find my "contact me" page at my website: www.FirkinFiction.com

Poetry Writing Workshops at the Delafield Arts Center with Author Cristina M. R. Norcross

2012-01-12T13:13:00.000-05:00

REGISTER EARLY for Poetry Writing Workshops at the Delafield Arts Center with Author Cristina M. R. Norcross. One-day classes for elementary, middle school and high school age students.

Cristina M. R. Norcross, author of Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art, The Red Drum and Unsung Love Songs will be offering 3, one-day poetry writing workshops at the Delafield Arts Center (803 Genesee St., Delafield) in March, April and May 2012 for elementary, middle school and high school age students. If you have a young, aspiring writer in your household who is looking for inspiration and hands-on writing exercises to hone their skills, these classes are a perfect choice. Each workshop provides positive feedback, a supportive educational environment and an atmosphere of nurtured creativity. This is a unique, literary opportunity to work with a published writer and ask questions about both the writing process and the world of publishing.

Poetry Writing Workshops @ the Delafield Arts Center
w/ author Cristina M. R. Norcross

Brainstorm Poetry
Sat. March 10, 2012 / 1:00-2:30pm, ages 10-13

Word Paint: Writing about Art
Sat., April 21, 2012 / 1:00-3:00pm, ages 13-16

Multi Media Poetry
Sat. May 19, 2012 / 1:00-3:00pm, ages 16+

For more information and to register, please visit the Delafield Arts Center website:
www.delafieldartscenter.org or phone 262.303.4865.

To learn more about the writing of Cristina M. R. Norcross, please visit her author website: www.FirkinFiction.com.

NOTE: please register early to reserve your spot, as class sizes are limited.

Patience, Prudence: Sometimes Writers Need to Learn the Art of Waiting

2012-01-09T14:48:00.000-05:00

Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
The wind is low, the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes?
~The Beatles

Dear Prudence,

You are always full of grace, when it comes to most things. So why is it that you lack patience on this point? Dear Prudence, sometimes you have to wait.

******************************************************************************

So you’ve spent several months polishing a short story, and you feel good about this, as you should. You even carefully researched just the right literary journal to send your precious new offering to, and now you must wait. If you are submitting a short story, poem or prose piece to a typical magazine, it can take 2-4 months to receive a response (3-6 months for a book publisher). Having to wait is hard. It just is. If you are sending out simultaneous submissions, you might not have to wait as long to hear about the future of your story or poem. Many magazines don’t allow this though, and to be honest, it makes life much easier, if you simply send one work of writing to one journal at a time. You can send out many different works for consideration, just don't send the same work to more than one magazine.

Some magazines don’t even send you a “no” letter, they simply don’t respond. Waiting is something we must all face. My personal record for hearing back from an editor is 6 hours. (Don’t get excited, this is not the norm.) It was a non-fiction article for a magazine that I submitted on-line, and they were probably close to their deadline and had space to fill. Needless to say, I was doing my writer’s happy dance when that e-mail came through.

The honest truth is … if you feel yourself getting antsy; train yourself to take a breath. Listen to The Beatles sing about the Prudence you should be – the one who opens her eyes and looks around at the world – and sit tight. A letter of some kind will eventually come. I can’t promise it will be the letter you want, but it will give you the news you need to either celebrate by buying some new pens and blank moleskin notebooks (maybe a nice bottle of something deep red?) or to send this story out to another place. Feel free to have a Beatles break during this article, to find that calm center we all need while waiting. Every time you see the word, Prudence, it is a link to a You Tube video of The Beatles singing, “Dear Prudence.”

What you need to know in your heart and deep in your gut is that your story, article, poem or book WILL find a home. Have the confidence to know this with every fiber of your obsessive, passionate, can-stop-scribbling-ideas-down soul of a writer that you have. I believe in you! You need to believe in yourself too. This blog post is your literary cheerleader, to give you the boost you need to keep going!

I love the article in MORE Magazine, which features The Help author, Kathryn Stockett. She received 60 rejections before finally receiving the “yes” letter that led to her book becoming a best seller and eventually a film. She had to live through 60 editors and publishers saying, “no, this book isn’t for us.”

It takes submitting and re-submitting. It takes realizing that maybe you need to go back and edit that manuscript, yet again, to make it more publishable. Perhaps you are targeting the wrong publisher? Don’t submit a book of short stories about a women’s knitting club to a publisher that mostly comes out with thrillers. Investigate your target venue and find the best fit.

If you believe in your book, others will too. It just might not happen today, so brace yourself for an empty mailbox or inbox.

Besides, while waiting to hear back from a magazine or publisher, you should be spending those precious days creating something new. What is your next project? Map it out – now! Start working on what comes next AFTER you get the current work out there into the world. It might sound like writer’s ADHD, but I always have 3 writing projects going on at the same time. Depending on the day or week, different projects appeal to me. If the poetry collection is leaving me blank one day, I’ll switch to a short story, or writing something on this blog (I promise, that I don’t just come here when I’m bored and can’t think of anything to write about.)

Writer Commandments:

1. Write every day.
2. Keep sending out submissions.
3. Your first draft is never your last draft. Edit and polish your work.
4. Expect to wait, wait and wait some more to hear back from editors.
5. While you’re waiting, keep writing new things and fine tuning your craft as a writer.
6. Never stop writing, just because you’re not receiving the feedback or recognition you crave.
7. Have patience with yourself and your progress. This is not a race.
8. You have to live in order to write. Have experiences – write about them!
9. A writer writes every day, because he or she can’t imagine a time when they would ever stop writing.
10. Writing is a way of life. Whether you have had huge success with being published or your slips of paper with words are stowed in a drawer, like Emily Dickinson, never doubt that you are a writer. If you are reading this blog post, connect with its message and regularly keep a journal to write in, then you are a writer.

OK, now stop reading this blog and just write! What are you waiting for?

One last thing ... Dear Prudence, I believe in you!

Peace & poetry,
Cristina M. R. Norcross

Poetry Writing Workshops @ the Delafield Arts Center w/ author Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-12-27T17:30:00.006-05:00

Poetry Writing Workshops @ the Delafield Arts Center
w/ author Cristina M. R. Norcross
Brainstorm Poetry
Sat. March 10, 2012 / 1:00-2:30pm, ages 10-13
Word Paint: Writing about Art
Sat., April 21, 2012 / 1:00-3:00pm, ages 13-16
Multi Media Poetry
Sat. May 19, 2012 / 1:00-3:00pm, ages 16+
To register visit:
http://www.delafieldartscenter.org/
OR phone: 262.303.4865
List of classes also HERE

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Brainstorm Poetry (ages 10-13)
Hands-on, in-class exercises will include: emotion poems, partner interview poems, mystery word box exercises and “where I am from” poems. We will share our brainstorm poems in a circle, encouraging supportive comments and thoughts. There will be no formal feedback for this younger age group, but each person will be asked to say one thing about a student’s poem that they liked. We will explore poetry by “doing” poetry, so that the students will come away feeling capable of creating in an art form genre that is often mystified.

Word Paint: poetry writing about art (ages 13-16)
We will cover the basic definition of ekphrastic poetry (poetry inspired by art), I will provide both visual and poetry examples in the form of handouts, as well as real artwork viewed throughout the gallery, as we take an “art stroll.” We will have 2 “sprint” poetry exercises, 2 longer writing prompts, as well as an ekphrastic poem exercise where the students will choose a piece of artwork at the Delafield Arts Center to write about. There will be a roundtable feedback discussion after each writing session. The focus of feedback will be to provide positive discussions.

Multi Media Poetry (ages 16+)
Explore the world of visual poetry. Do you have a story to tell that moves, speaks and jumps off the page? This is the poetry class that will make your words sing in unique and innovative ways! The nature of poetry is changing. You can be at the forefront of a new age! In this workshop, we will view and discuss multi-media poetry on the web, including examples of Prezi, Wordle and kinetic text mini films. Students will have hands-on instruction on how to create visual art through words on the web and should bring at least one finished, original poem with them to work with in class.

"We Are Love" - poetry & photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-12-20T13:01:00.000-05:00

We Are Love

We are all sacred.
We are all love.
See through the veils
which you and others
hang in the doorway
and walk through.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
www.FirkinFiction.com

"You Are Free" poetry & photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-12-19T14:09:00.000-05:00

You Are Free

The only limits that bind us
are self-created shackles
of fear, apathy and ego.
Untie your hands –
you are always free.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
www.FirkinFiction.com

Poetry/Photography Postcards by Cristina M. R. Norcross NOW AVAILABLE at Books & Co.

2011-12-15T16:35:00.000-05:00

Pastoral and lake scenes of Lake Country, WI

Poetry and photography by local author Cristina M. R. Norcross

Large Cards $1 each / Small Cards $0.75
Packets of 10: Large Cards $7 / Small Cards $6

AVAILABLE AT BOOKS & CO.
An independently-owned community-based bookstore serving the Oconomowoc Lake Country and Waukesha area since 1983

1039 Summit Avenue Oconomowoc, WI 53066-4457
(262) 567-0106

Learn more about this author:
www.FirkinFiction.com

"Be the Breath" - poetry and photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-12-11T10:31:00.000-05:00

Be the Breath

The breath connects to the beat –
the sway and swoon of the body
moves to this rhythm also.
Look how you breathe
without thinking.

Feel how the heart beats
without instruction.
You are trying too hard.
Be the breath.
Be the beat.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
www.FirkinFiction.com

Loving Your Skin, A Meditation

2011-12-08T13:39:00.000-05:00

Loving Your Skin, A Meditation

You are taken by the wind
when the strings begin to play –
like a lover’s attentive touch to every inch of skin.
Wave upon wave of sound reverberates
and refreshes your eyes, mind and muscles,
because you are exactly where you need to be.

You are the pearl with glowing curves
rolling toward an open hand.
Every length and depth of you is beautiful –
from the rising of your shoulders in sleep
to the tender arch of your foot,
held with care by softened leather sandals.

Your divine purpose reaches across every golden field
and every pebbled road to meet the beginning of you.
For you are the world,
and the world exists in you –
in beauty and in acceptance.

Behold, you are the sheen and honeyed glow of your skin.
Know that you are this fullness –
this rich delight.
Whole and healed –
you are the gift.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

Poetic Captured Reflections Contest Giveaway!

2011-12-06T12:13:00.000-05:00

Win a FREE Poetic Captured Reflections fine art/poetry giclee by artist Holly Kallie and author Cristina M. R. Norcross. Simply click HERE to read Holly Kallie's giveaway blog, leave a comment, and you will automatically be entered in the contest to win a print!

Each Monday, Holly Kallie "will be offering a different canvas print from our Poetic Captured Reflections collection. Each giclee is gallery wrapped and ready to hang. They are also signed by each of us and come with a certificate of authenticity. It is our way of celebrating the gift of life, creativity, our families and friends and these beautiful holidays."

This week's giveaway is "Finding Her Treasure." Please enjoy viewing an image of the giclee below and read the poem.

Finding Her Treasure
(Inspired by the painting by Holly Kallie)

A pilgrim’s journey
of overlapping, ever increasing circles of light –
you step into the caress of summer’s awakening,
with foam surf and crystallized grains of sand.

One furtive step follows another,
until only tracings remain –
fading footprints on the beach.

You carry a collection, a treasure trove –
overflowing like the hungry tide
that washes the land clean in crescent brushstrokes.

Hidden within your heart –
the fear that nothing can contain your precious gems.
Set them free today.
Like flowers with wings,
these gifts are Love’s Light to be shared.
They take flight towards the grand horizon,
just beyond our sight.

You are the treasure,
Dear One.
You are the Light.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008

Author's Note: I was fortunate enough to meet my dear friend, artist Holly Kallie when I moved to Wisconsin 4 years ago. I feel very blessed to collaborate with Holly on our art/poetry collection. Her beautiful images of water, nature, women and children have inspired me to write many poems. Each poem provides me with an opportunity to connect with my higher self creatively. How blessed I feel to share my path with a kindred spirit of Light. I hope you will enjoy our Poetic Captured Reflections collection. ~Cristina M. R. Norcross 12/6/11

"You Were Meant for More" poetry & photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-11-28T11:23:00.000-05:00

YOU WERE MEANT FOR MORE

Seek your passion,
play it out –
hold it in your hand
like the delicate bird
that it is,
and then let your soul’s
free flight dictate
where you will go next.

Sitting on the branch
is your regret,
your lack of courage,
your last try
that didn’t quite work.

But this is not you –
this is not the you
that was meant to flourish
and drink up the sun.

You were meant for greater things
than atrophy –
than ennui.
You were meant for life!

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

"Conversations with an Angel" - poetry & photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-11-11T14:44:00.004-05:00

Conversations with an Angel

A shock of light
permeates the air –
each breath
welcomes you home –
closer to your truth.
Listen –
this is all you need to know.

Soft, silken tones –
these are words of grace.
Flowing like a fountain,
caressing the mind
with water whispers –
forgiveness carries you.
You have everything you need.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
www.firkinfiction.com

"Water Stories" - photography & poetry, Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-11-10T13:20:00.000-05:00

Water Stories

I am the afterglow -
wild roots that keep growing.
I am the words looking for song.

I am the tall reeds amidst the wind –
my need for story,
written upon the bluest, open sky.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

"Remember the Joy" - Poetry & Photography, Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-11-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

Remember the Joy

Observe this happiness you dwell in,
and never forget.
Remember this day
like the first light of summer sun -
the first kiss,
the last dance,
the first sip,
the longest look -
the only thing your body remembers
and sings about.
Remember this joy
on the down days.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

"Searching for Miracles" Poetry & Photography by Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-11-08T11:46:00.000-05:00

Searching for Miracles

There is a holy tree inside you
where leaves blanket the earth –
where silken petals fly and hover
around your thoughts,
traveling like perfume
on the wind.
This is where you should pray.

A golden, threaded, light source beams
from roots –
to the tip of your violet head.
Eyes seeing for the first time
that this is who you are.
Here – now –
this is who you are.
Why have you come?
What are you waiting for?

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

YOUR DIVINE PURPOSE SHINES

2011-10-31T13:21:00.003-04:00

Your divine purpose reaches across every golden field
and every pebbled road to meet the beginning of you.
For you are the world,
and the world exists in you –
in beauty and in acceptance.

~C. Norcross (From the poem, "Loving Your Skin")

When we open up our hearts to discovering and honoring our divine purpose, light pours forth and guides us in directions we are meant to go. When we are walking on our true path, doors open, we are met with welcome smiles and all is well in our earthly world. When we find ourselves pushing a rock up a hill, no matter how hard we persist, if the direction is not in alignment with our higher purpose, that rock is going to fall ... on our heads!

Have you ever felt as though you were repeating the same mistakes, faced with a series of "no" letters, or as if life was just not moving? This feeling of metaphysical mourning for not yet realized goals, is merely a teaching tool - a stepping stone to something beautiful in your life. Listen to and observe the day, the situation, as if it were a wise teacher. The path exists in you, you just haven't found the entrance yet. Or perhaps, you've lost the light leading you down the right path, and you need to find it again.

Set aside time each day to listen to your inner guide. This knowing, nurturing self is always there for you, waiting for you to start a conversation about the present and the future, if you choose. Listening is a very important tool. It opens us up to the beautiful possibilities in our lives, even when things feel "stuck" or without momentum.

I remember feeling stuck at different times in my life, because I wasn't doing what my soul truly wanted to do. Whether it be a job that doesn't quite fit, a group project that doesn't quite resonate or a relationship that feels out of alignment with the holiness of self, sit with your inner teacher and listen. Answers will be revealed in the most stunning ways. New people may enter your life and provide a creative spark. Doors will open and opportunities will suddenly appear, if you are willing to be open to your best self waiting in the wings.

Promise yourself that you are worth it ~ that you were meant for more than dissatisfaction or "just enough."

This is not you –
this is not the you
that was meant to flourish
and drink up the sun.

You were meant for greater things
than atrophy –
than ennui.
You were meant for life!

~C. Norcross (From the poem, "You Were Meant for More")

One Vision - Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center at 7pm

2011-10-20T12:53:00.005-04:00

The Pewaukee Area Arts Council proudly sponsors the third year of "One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country," bringing together 8 pairs of artists and poets, as well as the new element of interpretive dance this year, in partnership with To the Pointe Performing Arts (Hartland, WI). Please join us at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center (641 E Forest Street, Oconomowoc, WI) for a fine art exhibit, poetry reading and dance performance. Our artists, poets and dancers will be unveiling the final results of a summer-long collaboration. A reception with live music and refreshments will also be part of the evening's event. Our special musical guest this year will be local musician and composer Chip Cruz (www.myspace.com/chipcruz). This performance is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a preview and meeting with the artists, poets and dancers.

Artists participating in this year's project are: Anne Raskopf, Albin Erhart, Melissa Schoechert, Judith Reidy, Dara Chappie, Dint Sweitzer, Heidi Hallett and Susan Foley. Poets participating are: Mary Jo Balistreri, Khristian Kay, Cristina Norcross, Anjie Kokan, Fred Kreutz, Liz Rhodebeck, Janet Leahy, Paula Schulz and Judy Wucherer. Co-editors Liz Rhodebeck and Cristina Norcross are coordinating the project with the assistance of Art Advisor Dint Sweitzer and Dance Choreographer Nina Gaydos-Fedak.

This year's project funded in part by the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin through a grant from the Arts Waukesha Fund.
For more information, visit www.pewaukeearts.org.

To watch a preview of the One Vision show, please visit the You Tube link HERE and enjoy a slide show of artwork and poetry.

The One Vision exhibit is FREE to the public and will be on display through November 20, 2011 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center.

"Holding the Rope" (This is NOT a Cancer Poem)

2011-10-19T20:48:00.000-04:00

Holding the Rope

Blue gowns sitting in lounge chair rows –
one woman taps her foot furiously –
a nervous rhythm,
while she waits for her name to be called.
I wish she would tap somewhere else.
Out-of-date magazines
collect on side tables,
while three wide screen TV’s
drone on with home improvement shows.
Hardwood floors and bathroom tile choices
seem even more trivial today.

The machine presses and folds.
It pushes on the skin like a hard kiss –
taking a picture at five different angles.
I hold my breath and pray.

The woman next to me taps her foot again.
I sip apple juice,
wondering why none of us speak.
Then my name is called
for the next room –
the next test.
I drift off to a semi-dream state.
Allowed to lie down,
I stop guessing –
stop craning my neck to see the screen.

The last table is the coldest –
so is the needle,
until it burns.
Then there is a tidal wave of tugging
and pulling.
My eyes wide to the ceiling –
I try to see how many tiny holes I can count
in the white squares above me.

Kind nurses bandage the skin.
They cover me with warm blankets.
Ice – rest – ice – repeat.
You’ve been to the wars,
said my friend Ali in England,
after my first surgery 15 years ago.
I hope this is the last body battle.
I’m done now.

The car keeps moving forward.
I see cornfields and gold turned trees
on the way home.
Behind the clouds
shines the faintest autumn light.
I follow that ray
and try to hold the rope.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
(This is NOT a cancer poem, because I received the good news today, that my biopsy came back negative. Feeling thankful. God is good. 10/19/11)

Review Quotes: Unsung Love Songs

2011-09-04T12:04:00.000-04:00

Quotes From a Book Review of Unsung Love Songs
Reviewed by Kathleen Serley

(July 2011 Issue of Verse Wisconsin Online)

“But it is her descriptions of love in those everyday moments that draw us in.”

“One of the strengths of Norcross’s love poems is the imagery she creates to capture the depth of the love she feels.”

“Each poem in this collection has a special appeal, but “These Things Matter” captures the essence of this collection. We reach for love and must remind ourselves to find it in ordinary moments as they come to us in our imperfect lives. We make love happen in the everyday events of our lives.”

“How fortunate to know such love to inspire her poems. Unsung Love Songs by Cristina M.R. Norcross is worth remembering.”

*Read the full review in Verse Wisconsin Online (July 2011)

IF I WERE A DOLL

2011-08-30T17:10:00.006-04:00

If I Were a Doll

If I were a doll,
my shoes would light up,
and there would be
a button that would play music.
I think everyone should have
a soundtrack to their lives.

Today my personal power song
would be Moon River,
because it feels like it’s 2am
all the time,
and the window ledge is
probably the safest, quietest place
in my house, right now.

If I were a doll,
I would have a twistable scalp,
just like the Tuesday Taylor doll
from the 70’s.
One day I would be blonde –
the next day, brunette.
It’s called hair fashion bi-polar disorder,
but the Mattel toy company
will never admit to that.

If I were a doll,
the downside would be
not being able to taste fried calamari
or cheesy quesadillas with sour cream.
I wouldn’t be able to feel my limbs stretch
and crack
after sleeping in late
under a down comforter.
I wouldn’t even be able
to feel Ken kiss me,
because Ken is just a doll too,
and I would be made of plastic and rubber,
so …
I guess I don’t want to be a doll after all.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

(Beloved "Blue Mommy" doll belonging to the poet many decades ago)

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MY REAL LIFE ...

2011-08-24T10:52:00.003-04:00

Every night before bedtime, I tell my young sons a story. Each story starts the same way - Once Upon a Time, in My Real Life. As you can see, my sons prefer real stories to made up ones. My memory of the past isn’t always quite accurate, so sometimes there is a mixture of what I can remember and creative non-fiction. Last night, as I was recounting the latest chapter from my mommy memoir, I realized that we are doing something very important here – something my own father did for me growing up. We are preserving the Raskopf-Norcross family history through oral tradition. I don’t read the stories off of a computer or from a journal. It all comes from the deep recesses of my mind and the scents, images and touchstone experiences that make me who I am. My family is part of who I am.

Regardless of how independent I felt striking out on my own, that first day of freshman orientation in college, I am still the result of many generations of Hassells, Schreppels, Della Cortes and Raskopfs. My sons will have Norcross family stories to share with their own children, but the generations who came before them offer up a smoke signal of life – of child rearing, careers, voyages, aspirations and family meals.

My greatest memories arise from the meaty, zesty, steamy scents coming from the kitchen. When I was expecting my first child, I embarked on the journey of thumbing through all of my Grandma Josie’s recipe cards, slips of paper stuffed into books and the The Joy of Cooking with little notes scribbled in the side margins. This compilation of recipes and memories became the book, Promise Me Anything … But Give Me Kartoffelklösse, Remembering the Recipes of Josephine Schreppel Raskopf. There are recipes for butter cookies, chocolate cake, fish chowder and of course, Kartoffelklösse (dumplings). I recently dug up my copy of this book (published about six years ago) in a moment of comfort seeking, and realized that the memories came flooding back just from seeing my grandmother’s face and her recipe for almond horn cookies. I was back in my grandparents’ dining room with the mahogany china cabinet where chocolates were secretly stashed away in a crystal bowl at the back. I was looking at the painted pottery along the high shelves near the ceiling. I was feeling the rug fibers beneath my feet. My arms were resting on the big armchair in the corner. I was home.

Last night when sharing another installment of Once Upon a Time in My Real Life, I started off with a memory of buying bagels with my brother at the bakery down the road in Great Neck, and was then transported to my grandmother’s living room again. She was sitting in her chair with the side table lamp. Next to her was a cup of steaming, Tetley tea with lemon only. No milk, no sugar - just lemon in hot tea. My son looked up and said, “that was a nice story mommy.”

Yes, that was a nice story, a nice time, and now he will remember that scene. The family he never knew is sitting beside him, having a cup of tea and watching him grow. I know that my grandparents would have loved seeing my boys grow up, play soccer and practice guitar. I know now that with each bedtime story – they will appear.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
2011

Promise Me Anything ... can be found at the Blurb website (listed under Cristina Raskopf Norcross).
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/20175

Don't Be Afraid to be UN-lovely

2011-08-19T10:11:00.000-04:00

When we create from the source, not from a place of accepted rules, we are truly being authentic.

Has someone ever told you that your poem or painting is “just lovely,” when clearly you know that, by convention, it is most certainly NOT lovely, or pretty or pleasing? Did you think to yourself, this person just does not understand my creative aesthetic?

I recently shared a poem with friends that was accepted for publication. It was a different kind of journal to be sure, and I chose a poem from my repertoire that I knew would be a good match for the themes they usually publish. After sending out the poem, I received kind words of congratulation, as well as a few neutral comments: “I liked your poem,” and “it was interesting.” Then there was the “it was lovely” comment. This is someone I’ve only been friends with for a couple of years, and she isn’t a writer or an artist. This doesn’t mean that non-creatives are unable to be open-minded. I know plenty of creative engineers. OK, I know one creative engineer who writes music. That’s another blog entry.

I wrote back to this friend, who is truly nice and kind, to tell her that no, my poem was not lovely, but the magazine liked it enough to publish it, and it captured a moment. I think I need to sit down over a cup of coffee with her and explain that writers and artists sometimes capture a moment of intense emotion through art, and then that moment is gone. It doesn’t mean that you live in that moment ~ that anguish is your permanent emotional state. Of course, maybe it is, in some cases. I enjoy exploring human emotion and placing my fictional speakers in different situations to see what happens.

When I start the journey of a poem, I don’t always know where I’m going. I might start with an image, a state of mind, a setting, or a first line that came to me just as I was falling asleep. If I were writing a novel, I would probably map things out a bit with bubble ideas and mind maps, but for my poetry, I like to glide on a thought and ride it out like a wave. I have no surfer training, mind you, and I might get tumbled in the waves, with gritty sand in my bathing suit that itches for days. Nice image, huh? You could write a poem about that!

Do not back away from the uncomfortable. Live with it – breathe in the awkward moment, the painful, the bitter ~ the bittersweet chocolate of life. If you can’t be fearless in your art, where can you be? The path not taken will lead to people who tell you in a rather mild voice, “that poem was lovely,” with a glance to the sky that says they don’t quite know what to say. Brush it off, pull up your sleeves and dig in, because the hard work, the real work of creation, has just begun. You need to go under in order to reach up. Light and dark live side by side, and your angel’s wings poem will have even more VERITAS if you know how to explore shadows as well.

The next time someone says “lovely” in reference to your poem, sculpture, canvas or song lyrics about why grief feels like “a wet, woolen mitten that constricts and pulls you down to empty caverns,” nod your head demurely, say thank you, and then keep creating. Keep them guessing. Keep them thinking. Someone has to wade through otherness with a smile. Let it be you!

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

Unsung Love Songs Reviewed in Verse Wisconsin!

2011-07-22T11:01:00.008-04:00

The poetry collection, Unsung Love Songs, by Cristina M. R. Norcross is reviewed by Kathleen Serley in the current online issue of Verse Wisconsin.

Read the full book review in VW Online, Issue 106 / July 2011 by clicking
HERE

Unsung Love Songs (Lulu, 2010) is available to order from Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, barnesandnoble.com, lulu.com, and at select independent bookstores.

Please visit my author website for more details.

One Vision 2011 - An Evening of Fine Art, Poetry and Dance at the Oconomowoc Arts Center on Saturday, October 22, 2011

2011-07-17T16:42:00.000-04:00

One Vision: A Fusion of Art & Poetry in Lake Country / 2011

The Pewaukee Area Arts Council (www.pewaukeearts.org) proudly sponsors the third year of “One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country,” bringing together 8 pairs of artists and poets, as well as the new element of interpretive dance this year, in partnership with To the Pointe Dance Studio in Hartland, WI (www.tothepointe.com). Please join us at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center (641 E Forest Street, Oconomowoc, WI) for a fine art exhibit, poetry reading and dance performance. Our artists, poets and dancers will be unveiling the final results of a summer-long collaboration. A reception with live music and refreshments will also be part of the evening’s event. Our special musical guest this year will be local musician and composer Chip Cruz (www.myspace.com/chipcruz). This performance is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with music for a preview and meeting with the artists, poets and dancers.

Called “ekphrastic” (that is, art or poetry inspired by other creative mediums), the project’s goal is for the artists and poets to interact with each other to create a new expression of art or poetry from that experience. Poets and artists will spend the summer viewing/reading each other’s work as they got to know each other and how the creative process works in each of their respective mediums. From this exploration, a poet could write a new poem to a piece of artwork, the artist create a new piece inspired by a poem, or the two could craft a whole new expression of art and poetry. This year we have the exciting new element of interpretive dance to add an extra layer of creativity. Dances will be choreographed for select pairs.

“Working toward a creative vision that incorporates many different genres and sources of inspiration has been so fulfilling for our participants,” says Cristina Norcross, co-editor of the project.

Sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council, this is the third year for the program, which had a successful debut in 2009 at the The Raven Gallery in Pewaukee and an expanded show in 2010 at the Oconomowoc Arts Center. One Vision continues to give many area artists and poets the opportunity to participate, and to bring awareness of the diversity of the arts to the community as part of PAAC’s ongoing mission.

"Adding the element of dance brings a new dimension to the project," says co-editor Liz Rhodebeck. "We can't wait to see the results of this collaboration."

Artists participating in this year’s project are: Anne Raskopf, Albin Erhart, Melissa Schoechert, Judith Reidy, Dara Chappie, Angel Troyer, Heidi Hallett and Susan Foley. Poets participating are: Mary Jo Balistreri, Khristian Kay, Anjie Kokan, Fred Kreutz, Janet Leahy, Katy Phillips, Paula Schulz and Judy Wucherer. Co-editors Liz Rhodebeck and Cristina Norcross are coordinating the project with the assistance of Art Advisor Dint Sweitzer and Dance Choreographer Nina Gaydos-Fedak.

An outgrowth of the project has been the production of limited edition notecards featuring the artwork and accompanying poem of each pair; sets will be available for purchase the evening of the reception. All profit from the sale of the notecards will support PAAC’s programs and outreach in the community.

Both the artwork and poetry will be on exhibition to the public at the OAC (www.oasd.k12.wi.us/page.cfm?p=96) through November 20, 2011. There are plans for winter 2012 exhibits at local libraries and other venues.

Please visit and join our One Vision Facebook group page for more updates: www.facebook.com/home.php#!/home.php?sk=group_105325084866.

One Vision is sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council and funded in part by a grant from Arts Waukesha.

For more information, visit www.pewaukeearts.org or contact co-editors Liz Rhodebeck (262-695-2761) or Cristina Norcross (Bookndz@yahoo.com).

Things I’ve Learned Before My 40th Birthday

2011-06-13T15:02:00.000-04:00

Things I’ve Learned Before My 40th Birthday

I’ve learned that slow and steady wins the race,
and I’ve learned that it’s not a race at all.

I’ve learned that I am the only one keeping count
of what I’ve done, and what I haven’t done yet.

I’ve learned that it all goes by too fast,
like a summer vacation that you take for granted –
grains of sand slipping through in a dusty whisper.

I’ve learned that if I can’t hold on,
I’ll just let go.
This threadbare bag of expectations
hangs on a hook –
full and reproachful.

I’ve learned that I feel most beautiful
when my heart is full.
It has nothing to do with the size of my jeans.

I’ve learned that on some days,
inspiration leads me by the hand,
and on other days, I sit and wait a very long time.

I am thankful to be 40.
If I’ve learned nothing else,
I’ve learned that seeing my youngest son
in a superman cape
supersedes any other happiness.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011
(June 11, 2011)
*The photo above is of my youngest son who loves to inspire his mother with his many super man talents.)

"The Shower Prayer" by Cristina M. R. Norcross

2011-05-28T13:11:00.000-04:00

The Shower Prayer

The hot rain of the shower
comes down.
Walls blurred
from early morning vision –
I leave the high hot setting
and simply stand in the moment of daybreak.

Calendar unmarked,
computer untouched –
this day is thankfully unspoken for.
For now,
I am just falling water –
and this is enough.

Slow movements become a prayer
of self care –
lathering curves to the music of raindrop rhythms
and the scent of almond, vanilla and ginger.
I use every bottle,
lengthening the morning ritual
to match the continuous, blowing hum of the fan –
spinning my day into circles that meet and overlap
but never end.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

"STAR WOMAN" ~ A Tribute Poem for Teacher and Astronaut, Christa McAuliffe

2011-01-30T15:13:00.002-05:00

STAR WOMAN
(Christa McAuliffe ~ 1948-1986)

Fly me to the moon –
weightless and astonished.

I
am
history.

Teaching –
connecting worlds –
I wave through the window.

An ordinary life
made extraordinary by chance –
one letter out of eleven thousand.
Touching comets from my desk –
I see galaxies.

Ship of stars
edging closer to the sky.
Galactic plans,
explorer dreams –
lifting off,
then ending.
Seven memories –
still in flight.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2011

This week marked the 25-year anniversary of the crash of the space shuttle, Challenger. I wanted to honor the memory of the only teacher on that flight, Christa McAuliffe with this poem.

"Seven astronauts died Jan. 28, 1986, when Challenger was destroyed just after liftoff. It was NASA's first in-flight calamity, and it dealt an especially severe blow to the millions of teachers and students watching on TV to see Christa McAuliffe, a civilian high school teacher from New Hampshire, become NASA's first Teacher in Space." ~Clara Moskowitz (Full article here - http://www.space.com/10708-shuttle-challenger-anniversary-nasa-lessons.html)

One Vision, Art and Poetry Winter 2011 Library Exhibits

2011-01-18T14:29:00.000-05:00

PRESS RELEASE

One Vision, Art and Poetry Winter 2011 Exhibits

The project One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country, sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council, will feature a sampling of collaborative artwork and poetry at various Lake Country public library locations in winter 2011. As an arts opportunity for the community, members of the public who missed seeing the poetry reading and art exhibit, hosted by the Oconomowoc Arts Center in October 2010, will be able to enjoy viewing the works of local artists and writers at the following venues: Pewaukee Public Library (starting mid-January), Kettle Moraine High School (starting mid-January), Delafield Public Library (starting February) and Town Hall Library in North Lake (starting March). Artists and poets collaborated to create ekphrastic work, which is a dialogue between two mediums of creative art. The conversation continues with readers and viewers who have the unique opportunity to enjoy this exhibit.

An inspiring experience of art and poetry is at your local public library. For more information about One Vision, please visit the Pewaukee Area Arts Council website: www.pewaukeearts.org.

GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION TO WRITE

2010-12-09T19:25:00.000-05:00

Finding Time to Write:
Feeling Overscheduled?
Give yourself permission to say, “No”

Our calendars are filled to the brim with bells, reminders, things underlined or highlighted in orange – a neon banner of endless obligations. Some of these appointments and tasks are necessities. Others are tasks that we have either foisted upon ourselves, or that we have unwittingly agreed to do, simply because we feel obligated or guilty. But what about the times we feel drawn to do something that would benefit others? Yes, this is definitely a good thing, but not when our own calendar is so filled that we haven’t left enough time for our own lives, our family or our spirit. Put your “dedicated writing time” into that category called spirit. If you are a creative type, then your writing time is vital to your spiritual well being. Don’t allow everything else to come first. You will ultimately regret it.

My family is primary, then my daily responsibilities, projects, poetry readings, hosting literary events and volunteer work. My writing is stuck in there, when I can fit it in time-wise. I try to schedule writing time late at night or for those 2 precious hours per day, when both of my children are in school at the same, overlapping time. I am a happier mother and wife, when I have the right balance between “everyone else” time and “me” time. Writing makes me whole. It helps me to have vision. My heart relies on writing time to function. Having uninterrupted time to create, based on how I am currently processing life experiences and the world is vital for me to feel centered. I can breathe easier when I get things down on paper. Poetry might not solve everything, but it gets the images and thoughts out of my head and productively down on paper in a hopefully coherent, sometimes beautiful way.

Being able to say “No” releases the Girl Scout in you (I quit after Brownies. I’m not really a “joiner”). It’s freeing to put yourself first for once. We writers should do it more often. How am I ever going to write another book and get it out there into the world, if I don’t sit down and write? Sorry, that was meant to be rhetorical. It's empowering! Now, say it to yourself. How am I ever going to finish X,Y,Z … writing project, if I don’t just put bum to chair, fingers to keyboard and write?

Just DO IT!

Think of this blog entry as your personal writing cheerleader. Read it when you need to give yourself permission to create from the heart without stopping!

Cheerfully yours,
Your fellow wordsmith

"Calling Forth the Dream" by Cristina M. R. Norcross - A Tribute Poem for The Dreamers Center for Creative Arts in Delafield, WI

2010-12-02T17:50:00.000-05:00

My poem, "Calling Forth the Dream," appears on The Dreamers Center for Creative Arts website, as a tribute to their goal of:

... inspiring hearts and minds through the experience of the visual, performing and literary arts.

The Dreamers Center for Creative Arts is located in Delafield, WI.

Read the poem "Calling Forth the Dream" HERE at The Dreamers Center official website.

IN THE FLOW

2010-11-14T10:49:00.001-05:00

Eckhart Tolle writes:

It seems that you are torn sometimes between the outward movement into form, and the inward return movement to the Source where it all started. The Source that was never really lost, it is always there because it is timeless, and it is within you. You feel drawn back to that, and that is the pull toward spirituality, peace, Stillness.

Every day life seems to be all about form. We buy groceries, feeling the weight of them, as we lift brown bags into large SUV’s. We make concrete lists of what we need to do that day ~ go to a dental appt., pick up the dry cleaning or go to the post office to mail off a package. Things surround us ~ our closets full of clothes, our bursting racks of DVD’s and the piles of shoes in the mudroom.

When do we escape form then, melting into the universal moment of presence and flow? It is our creation time, our Zen moments, that allow us to transcend the material world, even if it is just for the length of a 3-minute song on the radio. We are flowing into the Great Mystery of Being in these moments. We lose track of time ~ we float on high, reaching a state of awareness that provides both clarity and an endorphin-producing spiritual high, because we are shedding form for spirit.

I am not a runner, but I can see the beatific smiles on the faces of runners in my neighborhood. There is a good deal of sweat and exertion going on as well, but you can see that they are somewhere else entirely while on that run. This is why reflective gear and bright orange jackets are a very good idea! If your head is in the clouds, then drivers need to be able to see the part of you that should to stay safely on the side of the road.

My running Zen is writing, making jewelry, reading, riding my bike, walking by the lake and listening to music. Often all of these blissful activities inspire and inform one another. I’ll be taking a walk or stringing a new necklace, gazing at the way the trees are swaying in the breeze or how the red and blue stones make a pleasing pattern, when the first line of a poem will appear in my head. I won’t get the whole poem, but that first line, fully formed, will come to me like a gentle deer. I run to the page, capture that first thought and keep going ~ passionately in flow. Time will pass, and I will still be in that dream-like state of creation, not caring whether my form is cold, hungry or late for an appointment. Form ceases to matter ~ for those two hours of creation.

Eventually, I will have to return to buying rolls of toilet paper and taking the garbage out, but my spirit will be lighter, closer to the heavenly realm than ever before. I will be complete, full, still ~ for now.

Staying in the flow means accepting the now and embracing where that first line leads you.

CMRN

Why Do We Write?

2010-11-06T21:36:00.012-04:00

This is a question I ask myself almost daily, because I genuinely want to know why I am compelled to write, even if I don't know what I am going to write about that day. The magical poetry sprites whisper in my ear that they have a message for the world, and that I am their trusted scribe. No - not really. It does feel at times as though something larger than myself is at work though. I think all artists and creative minds work this way. There is so much energy swirling around in the universe. We are meant to reach out and grab it - to share it. I once watched a "TED Talks" podcast where the presenter spoke of a poet whose technique was to pull in a new poem from the ethers, as if pulling in a kite from the sky. If she didn't run home right away and capture the poem, it would be lost to her - dancing across the sky until finding another poet to write down the words.

C.S. Lewis wrote, "We read to know we are not alone." I believe that we write to know we are not alone as well. Connecting with the consciousness of others gives us the comfort of knowing that we are all having an earthly experience together. We are all feeling pain, loss and suffering - alongside love, joy and fulfillment. If someone else writes about the joys and challenges of parenthood - the same, exhausting months of sleep deprivation as well as the heart warming moments of first giggles and first steps, then we know that there is hope for tomorrow and the day after that.

Nothing is more frightening than an empty page and not knowing how to fill it. If we clear the mind of what we think is the sublime poem or the ultimate narrative, then we might just stumble upon the engaging story that everyone can relate to, so that none of us will ever feel alone.

Why do we write? I write because there isn't a single day that goes by when I don't feel my hands reach out for the keyboard with passion. I write because I would be quite miserable if I did not throw the contents of my brain into a Word document at least once per day. I write because everyone else in my household would be miserable too, if I did not write. It calms me the way classical music soothes the baby that will not go to sleep. Writing allows the restless part of me to find peace. Once in a while, when I write a really good poem, someone tells me that it made a difference in their day to read it, and this makes me feel like I've given something back to this sweet, sweet world.

CMRN

"A Prayer for the Waters" Fine Art/Poetry Giclee by Artist Holly Kallie & Author Cristina M. R. Norcross to Benefit the National Wildlife Federation

2010-09-03T09:05:00.012-04:00

ARTISTS HAVE IMPACT!

With this fine art/poetry giclée, “A Prayer for the Waters,” artist Holly Kallie (www.hollykallie.com) and poet, Cristina M. R. Norcross (www.FirkinFiction.com) hope to raise awareness for the needs of the environment. Through the beauty of visual art and poetry, we propose to inspire others to answer the call to action, by purchasing these giclées. After covering basic production costs, all profits will go directly to The National Wildlife Federation.

What can we do as individuals, if we feel helpless to help? We can donate what we can afford, we can raise awareness in others, encouraging them to donate as well, and in the process we can aid research efforts. Recovering the natural environment’s delicate balance for birds, fish and other wildlife is a healing process. As artists, we hope to inspire, encourage, and raise the white banner of peace in the name of charity.

For more information about “A Prayer for the Waters” giclées and how to place an order, please contact artist Holly Kallie (hollyjkal@yahoo.com) or visit her website.

Visit and join "A Prayer for the Waters" group page on facebook today, to start helping the cause!

A Prayer for the Waters
(Inspired by the painting by Holly Kallie)

We are being called.
From the depths of indigo pain,
springs the glowing chakra of re-birth.

We have muddied the waters
with our disrespect –
our muddled minds.

With golden feather reverence,
create a new philosophy
by healing the now.

Leading the way of undisturbed skies,
eagles watch and wait.
Elders live in quiet hope.

Our arms hold the reflection –
a surface of untouched light.
Roots in waters reach.
We truly see ourselves and weep.

With this prayer for the waters,
raise your voice and be heard.
Lift up life with life –
spirit is healing.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2010

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT! Poetry Reading and Art Exhibition at the Oconomowoc Arts Center on Saturday, October 16, 2010

2010-06-26T10:42:00.010-04:00

One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country
(Sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council)
Co-editors and Co-hosts: Cristina Norcross and Liz Rhodebeck

Poetry Reading and Art Exhibition at the Oconomowoc Arts Center

Saturday, October 16, 2010 / 7pm Poetry Reading and Art Show

6:30pm LIVE MUSIC

6pm DOORS OPEN

(Special Note: One Vision logo designed by visual artist Anne Raskopf. Anne was one of the ten artists on last year's project.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! Calling All Artists and Poets in Lake Country, WI

2010-02-16T12:38:00.006-05:00

Call for Submissions
(February 15 – April 15, 2010)

One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country

We are seeking to help promote the creative works of visual artists and writers in the Lake Country community by creating a project of collaborative, ekphrastic art (Ekphrasis: poetry inspired by art - the conversation between two mediums of art). We will organize visual artists and poets into 15 compatible pairs. Each creative pair will have 2-3 months to work together to create 1 visual artwork and 1 poem. The artist and poet can come up with a theme together, the artist may offer up an original work for the poet to write about, or the poet may have a poem they wish to offer for inspiration to the artist.

There is a two-part scope to the project, One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country, which is sponsored by PAAC (The Pewaukee Area Arts Council). Last year’s first project show (2009) at The Raven Gallery in Pewaukee was a wonderful success. This year there will be a combined art show and poetry reading at the Oconomowoc Arts Center on October 16, 2010, featuring the completed ekphrastic works of each artistic team. For each year, we will produce sets of fine art/poetry note cards to be sold as a fundraiser for PAAC. There is also a proposed anthology of Lake Country artists and poets after the 3rd project year (publication date to be determined), offering the opportunity for wide exposure for all contributors.

Liz Rhodebeck and Cristina Norcross will be co-editors of the book project and judges for the poetry submissions. Dint Sweitzer will be this year’s guest art advisor for art submissions.

Call for Submissions: February 15 – April 15, 2010

Editorial Reading Period: all candidates will be notified by June 1, 2010 about final selections for the project.

For a complete list of submission guidelines, where to send sample works and to download an official application form, please go to the PAAC (Pewaukee Area Arts Council) website:

http://www.pewaukeearts.org/

For examples of ekphrastic poetry, some helpful websites are: www.poets.org and www.puddinghouse.com

Eligibility
Those who either live or work in Lake Country are welcome to submit. Lake Country is defined by communities which feed into the following high school districts:

Arrowhead HS
Kettle Moraine HS
Pewaukee HS
Oconomowoc HS

(NOTE: This year we have expanded eligibility to include a limited number of applicants from outside the Lake Country area. However, other applicants must be residents of or work in Waukesha County.)

Taking Poetry to the Next Level ~ Multi-Media: Listen to and Watch My Latest Poems

2010-01-10T18:19:00.009-05:00

Watch a multi-media film featuring my poem, "Why I Love You," from the book Unsung Love Songs. This film was created by artist, Jennifer S. Peña, and provides the viewer with a voice recording of my poem, a musical background and images that float across the screen.

Check it out by clicking HERE.

Why I Love You … in 35 Words

Breath, beyond which my hands extend,
is where you live.

Only you are safe,
when my moods mingle with cloudbursts.

Your acoustic guitar fills the house with music,
leaving no corner without joy’s pure sound.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
(from the book Unsung Love Songs, Feb. 2010)
Copyright 2009
*****

Listen to my poem "Waiting to Swim" right now! Click HERE

Waiting to Swim

The hotel room is empty,
save for our mess of clothes.
You are already deep in conference.
I can no longer keep the cleaning ladies at bay,
so I gather up solo essentials
and take my place by the concrete pool.

The days are hot and open in The Bahamas –
spread out like white flames on wheat.
I imagine your pen scratching paper,
while I read –
adjusting my shades
and this unforgiving bathing suit.

There is no escaping the floor to ceiling fish tank.
Marine life follows me through the lobby –
my pacing in time with aquatic circles.
Night settles with quiet steps.
The door opens,
and our solitary days join
into a jagged puzzle
of business and vacation.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com
Unsung Love Songs (Forthcoming, Feb. 2010)
*****

Watch words bounce and glide as meaning finds its focus in the short visual clip featuring my poem "The Red Drum" from the book of the same title. Film created by John Norcross.

Click HERE

The Red Drum
(Inspired by the writing of Stanley Kunitz)

Your heart – a red drum.
Taut leather bound
to the infinite shape of a circle,
seeks the music of other beating hearts.

Sound changes,
when a strong wind blows,
when the leather is rain-soaked,
when the sun makes the circle
jump into the light.

“I made this,”
says the drum.
Dreams take shape in the air,
with each, bellowing note.
“Now change it by living,”
says the drum’s stick.
Sing a new song.
“Truth –
Of thee I sing.”

Many more layers of change
bring syncopated rhythms,
ballads of longing,
and newly discovered voices.

Your heart is a red drum –
now crimson with passion,
tomorrow the sun makes it pink –
a tender, summer rose.
Sing your transformation to the world.
Beat the drum.
Beat the drum.
Beat the drum.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008
The Red Drum (Nov. 2008)

January 16th Book Signing at Books & Co., Oconomowoc, WI

2009-12-26T15:21:00.007-05:00

Here is the article from the Living Lake Country Website about the Books & Co. local author event. I will be there on Sat. Jan. 16, 2010 to sign copies of my books: Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007), The Red Drum (2008) and my latest book Unsung Love Songs (2010).

***

Local Authors Gather for Book Signing
Writers network, Discuss Their Latest Endeavors

By REBECCA SEYMOUR

Posted: Dec. 16, 2009

If spending more time curling up with a good book or two is one of your New Year's resolutions, then stopping by Books & Company in Oconomowoc between 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, is a good first step to achieving that goal. The independent bookstore will host seven or more local writers for a book signing, refreshments and a chance to visit with the authors and discuss their works.

Co-owner of Books & Company Lisa Baudoin said the store tries to offer this type of event at least twice a year. "We have a lot of requests by local authors to do book signings and we thought if we grouped them all together they would attract a larger crowd," said Baudoin. "It's also nice because the event gives the authors a chance to network with each other."

Participating writers include Ilona Fridl, author of the book, "Silver Screen Heroes," Mary S. Hanson, author of the non-fiction book, "A Moment In Time," and Ted Iverson, author of the sci-fi novel, "Mission to the Stars."

Jeanette Michalets, author of "Vera Textiles: Add Color to Everyday Fashion" and "Christmas Household Textiles" will also be on hand to discuss her works, along with ekphrastic poet and author Cristina Norcross, who will share her books of poetry, "Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art," "The Red Drum," and advanced copies of "Unsung Love Songs," which will be released in February.

Freelance writer and poet, Liz Rhodebeck whose writings are included in the anthology "Keeping Time: 150 Years of Journal Writing," and Jill Vento, author of the parenting book, "What To Do and How To Do It" will round out the group.

Books & Company is located at 1039 Summit Ave. in Oconomowoc. For more information, call (262) 567-0106 or visit the store's Web site, www.booksco.com.

http://www.livinglakecountry.com/oconomowocfocus/news/79435457.html

On March 11, 2010, I will be teaching a poetry workshop at The Lakes Gallery in North Lake, WI. Come join us!

2009-12-23T18:26:00.008-05:00

Ekphrastic Poetry 101
with Cristina M.R. Norcross
Thurs., March 11, 2010 from 7 - 9:30 PM
Workshop with group discussion, writing prompt exercises & feedback sessions.
$20 per person. Registration required @ Lakes Gallery of Fine Art at (262) 966-1804

http://www.lakesfineart.com/classes___events

Ekphrastic poetry is the conversation between two pieces of art. The writer interprets a work of visual art and then creates a narrative in verse form that represents his or her reaction to that painting, photograph, sculpture or other artistic creation.

Cristina resides in the U.S., dividing her time between Wisconsin & New England. She graduated with a B.A. Honors Degree in English Literature from the University of Ottawa, Canada. Cristina lived in London, England for 5 years where she worked in publishing & taught high school level English. She also taught creative writing & language skills at a youth organization & is the author of a grammar usage manual. Ms. Norcross has had over 50 short stories, poems & articles published in literary magazines in England, Wales, The United States, Canada & Algeria. Published books: Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007), The Red Drum (2008), Unsung Love Songs (2010). Visit Ms. Norcross @ www.FirkinFiction.com

***

***Hope to see you there for interesting discussions with other poets, inspiring exercises and positive feedback in a supportive, literary environment.

Unsung Love Songs by Cristina M. R. Norcross * Book Launch Party * February 6th, 2010

2009-12-14T22:51:00.010-05:00

Book Launch Party and Poetry Open Mic at Artavina Gallery for local author Cristina Norcross. Celebrate Unsung Love Songs on Sat., Feb. 6th from 7-9pm!

Local author Cristina Norcross of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin has her third book, Unsung Love Songs, coming out in February 2010. Come join us on Sat., February 6th from 7-9pm at The Artavina Gallery, managed by artist Kathy Boritzke, 378 Main St. in Waukesha, WI. We will be showcasing an evening of poetry, art and live music in an innovative, eclectic gallery setting. We will kick off the evening with live music by Nick Scholz and Shino Ishioka. Intermission will feature the ukulele stylings of special guest, Eric Raskopf. Cristina Norcross will give a reading from her new book, Unsung Love Songs, with a poetry open mic to follow. All are welcome. Get your name on the list to share your love poems. We will also have a fine wine and gourmet chocolate tasting at intermission, so come with eager ears for poetry and taste buds at the ready! To bring greater awareness to heart health this Valentine’s Day, we will be collecting donations for the American Heart Association at this event. ALL proceeds from book sales of Unsung Love Songs at this event will go directly to the AHA. Please come with a heart full of enthusiasm and support.

Cristina Norcross is a freelance writer and poet living in Lake Country with her husband and their two sons. She has had numerous works published in literary magazines in the United States, England, Wales, Canada and Algeria. Ms. Norcross is the author of Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007) and The Red Drum (2008). She is the co-editor of The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets. This latest collection, Unsung Love Songs, celebrates the quiet, every day moments of love and how the recognition of this deep, abiding calmness can be the heart’s biggest flourish of all.
For more information about this author, please visit her website: www.FirkinFiction.com.

Where’s the love? Bring your poems with the theme of love found, love lost, love regained – love in all of its varied, wondrous forms. Please RSVP to Cristina Norcross at author@firkinfiction.com to get your name on the poetry open mic list in advance. The order will be based on the earliest e-mails received, so reserve your spot today!

For more information about this event, please contact Kathy Boritzke at the Artavina Gallery in Waukesha, WI: 328 W Main St.

"Frames" - new poetry by Cristina M. R. Norcross

2009-11-03T11:58:00.004-05:00

Even a house of mortar and brick can have spirit. What would happen if that new house you bought could speak to you? What secrets would it reveal? What stories could the painting you inherited years ago share with you?

Let's see ...

FRAMES

Seeing out from a cave of light,
a cresting spirit rests on all four corners
and waits.

This day cannot contain thriving,
wanting, or persistence.
It ends with a hovering full moon –
low and yellow.

I hang on the wall you never look at,
slightly tilted,
wanting to be touched –
just left of the center that will not hold.

Trace and retrace the hairline fractures on the ceiling.
Someone lived here before.
Shadows of being remain,
as you fill the space with aura and light.

Once this living room swelled with post-dinner conversations,
meandering, bubbling outbursts of shared humor –
shared loss.
Memory thick with images floated high in the air
and lined the walls with a viscosity,
that one person sitting in the corner
just could not bear.

This is your dwelling now.
Fill it.
Shape it.
Stop hiding behind your frame –
so contained.
These eyes are your eyes.
Use them.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
(from the collection, Still Life Stories, with Jennifer Peña)

Poetic Captured Reflections at The Griffin Gallery

2009-10-23T19:43:00.005-04:00

Gallery Night in Oconomowoc Begins with an Elegant Splash of Fine Art and Poetry

The Poetic Captured Reflections Gallery Show, with paintings by Holly Kallie and poetry by Cristina M. R. Norcross will be on display at The Griffin Gallery of Fine Art (www.griffingalleryfineartllc.com) in  Oconomowoc, WI on Friday, November 6th from 5-9pm. This exhibition begins on Gallery Night and will be on display through the end of Dec. 2009.

Poetic Captured Reflections are comprised of hand-signed, fine art, poetry giclées, created from original artwork by Hollie Kallie and original verse by Cristina M. R. Norcross. Each scene of beauty and form reveals a life beyond our earthly borders, inspiring poetic stories of the soul’s journey. Each giclée is unique, invoking the reader to live more fully in the present moment, by incorporating rich colors, evocative images and poetic narratives.

Holly Kallie (www.HollyKallie.com), a founding member of The Griffin Gallery of Fine Art in Oconomowoc, WI, is a self-taught artist who has been drawing and painting all of her life. Her favorite subjects are women and children in settings that include area lakes or the seashore. Ms. Kallie’s artistic intention is to show the similarity and connection between feminine energy and the flowing, reflective surface and depths of the water surrounding them.

Cristina M. R. Norcross (www.FirkinFiction.com) is a freelance writer and poet living in Wisconsin with her husband and their two sons. She has had over 50 works published in literary magazines in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Algeria. Ms. Norcross is the author of two published books - Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007) and The Red Drum (2008), both available on Amazon.com. Ms. Norcross is the co-editor of The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets.

Holly Kallie and Cristina Norcross have collaborated on this unique collection for the past year to create a beautiful array of soothing images and words. Please join us for a special reception on Nov. 6th to meet the artist and the poet in an elegant, gallery setting.

For more information about this event, please visit the Griffin Gallery website: http://www.griffingalleryfineartllc.com.

Lake Country Reporter Feature Article

2009-09-30T14:44:00.004-04:00

I am the co-editor of The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets. We will be having our gallery show and poetry reading event at The Raven Gallery in Pewaukee, WI on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 @ 7pm.

I am pleased to include a link here on this site to the feature article about our project and show, printed in the Sept. 29, 2009 edition of The Lake Country Reporter and The Oconomowoc Focus, as well as the Living Lake Country website:

Ten artists, ten poets - one vision
Lake Country project uncovers talent in our own backyard
By REBECCA SEYMOUR

http://www.livinglakecountry.com/lakecountryreporter/news/62332932.html

We hope you will join us for this exciting evening of music, art and poetry!

Best Wishes,
Cristina M. R. Norcross
www.FirkinFiction.com
Co-editor, The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets

The Lake Country Project Art Show & Poetry Reading at The Raven Gallery on Sat. October 17th @7pm

2009-08-30T21:02:00.007-04:00

Sat. October 17th, 2009 at 7pm - The Lake Country Project Ekphrastic Art Show & Poetry Reading

The Raven Gallery

690 Westfield Way • Pewaukee, WI 53072

10 Artists + 10 Poets = One Vision

On Saturday, October 17th, 2009 at 7pm, The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets will have its first, fine art show and poetry reading at The Raven Gallery, owned by artist and editor Troy Tatlock, 690 Westfield Way, Pewaukee, WI 53072. We will kick off the evening with live music performed by Nick Scholz and Shino Ishioka, followed by a poetry reading with an intermission. Audience members will have the opportunity to meet our artists and poets to learn more about their work. Our artists include: Barbara Reinhart, Toby Colton, Holly Kallie, Orel Rooney, Anne Raskopf, Heidi Hallett, Dint Sweitzer, Luke Wein, Troy Tatlock, and Judith Reidy. Our poets include: Cristina Norcross, Liz Rhodebeck, Paula Anderson, Khristian Kay, Betty Rose, Sue Huebner, Mike Lane, Fred Kreutz, Abby Lorenz, and Kathleen Carlson. For more information about this event, please direct questions to either Cristina Norcross (Bookndz@yahoo.com) or Liz Rhodebeck (262-695-2761).

Upcoming Poetry Readings - Cristina M. R. Norcross

2009-08-29T18:37:00.012-04:00

*UPCOMING POETRY READINGS*

Sat. Sept. 12th, 2009 at 10:15am / The Women's Center, Jeri Phillips Charity Walk and Poetry Reading (Waukesha, WI)

http://www.twcwaukesha.org/

Sat. Sept. 19th, 2009 at 6:30pm / Waukesha Food Pantry Poetry Reading at Martha Merrell's Bookstore (Waukesha, WI)

http://www.foodpantryofwaukeshacounty.org/
http://www.marthambooks.com/

Sponsored by the Wasteland Poets
http://www.wastelandpoets.com

Sat. October 17th, 2009 at 7pm / The Lake Country Project Art Show & Poetry Reading at The Raven Gallery (Pewaukee, WI)

10 artists + 10 poets = 1 Vision

http://www.ravengalleryandframing.com/

Singer/Songwriter Meaghan Owens will perform LIVE at the Poetry Open Mic Night at Whelan's Coffee

2009-07-07T23:09:00.007-04:00

Meaghan Owens will perform LIVE at the Poetry Open Mic Night at Whelan's Coffee, Sat. July 25th at 7pm, Oconomowoc, WI. (http://whelanscoffeeandcream.net)

Meaghan Owens is an Americana songwriter from Wisconsin. Meaghan has released one cd with favorable reviews and airplay in American College/ Indie Radio and European radio. She splits her time between Nashville, Wisconsin, and touring. She is currently co-producing her second cd with Sigmund Snopek III. Meaghan's new album will feature the best Milwaukee and Nashville players including members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Meaghan tours nationally and regularly performs in Songwriter Festivals. Most recently, her song, "Copper Pennies" written for the Steel Bridge Songwriter Festival in Sturgeon Bay, was selected for the festival headquarters website. You can hear her newest song at http://www.myspace.com/holidaymusicmotel or go to her myspace to see a complete list of shows: http://www.myspace.com/meaghanowensmusic.

Poetry Open Mic Night at Whelan's Coffee in Oconomowoc, WI

2009-06-23T19:26:00.012-04:00

Hello Fellow Lake Country Poets!

Here are the details for the upcoming Poetry Open Mic Night, Sat. July 25th from 7-9pm, at Whelan's Coffee House in Oconomowoc, to benefit the Oconomowoc Food Pantry!

We will have LIVE music to kick off our evening with the talented musician and songwriter, Meg Owen. The Lake Country Poets will have a featured reading from 7-8pm and the open mic will be from 8-9pm. The open mic is open to all local writers and those who feel the calling of the poetic muse! Come on out and share your verse!

All attending are asked to bring 1 non-perishable/canned food item to donate to the Oconomowoc Food Pantry. Poetry with a purpose!

Poetry Open Mic Night
Saturday, July 25th / 7-9pm

Whelan's Coffee
165 East Wisconsin Ave.
Oconomowoc
262-560-1678

Please feel free to let friends, family and other writers know about this event!

Promoting Your Poetry!

2009-06-20T17:22:00.007-04:00

Hello Fellow Poets!

I wanted to share a recent poem called "What the Sea Brings". I wrote this poem while vacationing on Martha's Vineyard and plan to save it for a later collection of water-themed poems. I came up with an idea to create free poetry postcards and spread them around at local bookstores, libraries and coffeehouses as well as to give them out at poetry readings. I thought I would share this poet promo idea with the other writers here, because it's such a great way to get your work out there and in the hands of potential readers. Vista Print has a good deal on oversized postcards that you can customize with designs and your poem on the back! Make sure you list your name, copyright date, and your writer's website address (if you have one) or an e-mail address where readers can contact you. Give it a try!

Spread poetry widely and often!

What the Sea Brings

Water secrets,
spread from depths of salty blue -
the sea washes clean
sandy edges and pebbled worlds.

Each wave laps
against the shore with pause -
the heartbeat of the land -
a reminder of stillness.

Boats in the harbor exchange glances,
conversing over sails -
voyages to the center of time.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Author of:
Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2006, 2007)
The Red Drum (Pub. Date Nov. 2008)

Website: http://www.firkinfiction.com

Regular guest appearing on "The Sound of Ink" at The SpeakEasy Cafe on Blog Talk Radio:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/speakeasycafe/2009/06/18/The-SpeakEasy-Cafes-Sound-of-Ink-Open-mic-Poetry-show
Thursdays @ 6pm Central/ 7pm Eastern

A Father's Day Poem

2009-06-18T15:15:00.006-04:00

FOR MY FATHER

I am a storyteller because of your stories.
Sharing with me the fabric of our family,
characters come to life.
I imagine my grandfather and great grandfather
teaching you how to build train layouts
or how to play stick ball.
A rich history unfolds with each re-telling
of tradition and anecdote.

I may pretend to know each line,
but secretly I want to hear how the story ends
over and over,
until I commit my ancestors to memory –
the kind of knowing that comes
from faces being painted on a wall.

The mystery of life is happening right now,
in this swirl within a salt pond, you said.
We knelt by the edge of this tiny, aquatic universe
and shared a moment of awe for what God creates –
for how small we are in comparison
to the expansiveness of nature.

As I look at my sons,
I wonder what stories I will tell them about you,
to ensure that memory holds the key
to the wonder that is you –
my father.

You take pride in your projects,
regardless of the outcome.
You show me the miracle of small things every day.
Your eyes light up when you see me,
and you still pat me on the head.
I remember how you used to call me,
Little Person.
I still beam and glow.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com

Listen Up & Tune In to The SpeakEasy Cafe Open Mic Poetry Show - "Sound of Ink"

2009-05-14T22:03:00.008-04:00

If you love to write/hear poetry, check out The SpeakEasy Cafe's "Sound of Ink" Open Mic Poetry night on Blog Talk Radio every Thursday Night at 6pm Central Time / 7pm Eastern Time:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/speakeasycafe

I plan on becoming a regular contributor to this poetry open mic on the radio!

This week was my first appearance. If you missed the show, just download the free podcast from iTunes for Thursday, May 14th, 2009!

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?i=54941669&id=299192853

If you fast forward to approx. 8 min. 30 sec., I chat with the show's host and read my poem "One Story" (inspired by the film Synecdoche, New York by Charlie Kaufman) until minute 12:12.

Thank you for reading and listening!

Here is the poem, "One Story"

One Story

There are nearly thirteen million people in the world. None of those people is an extra. They're all the leads of their own stories.

~Charlie Kaufman, from his film, Synecdoche, New York

Playing the lead in a haystack,
existing side-by-side in our solitary lives,
solace comes when we join these needles together –
the thread of life.

Jumping into character,
taking leave of the present world –
who wears your clothes when you sleep?

I am just a forgotten pebble –
a spark of granite daring to glint.
You see me walking down the street –
out of focus lines of arms and legs –
a disappearing narrative.

The screens keep getting wider –
a stage full of leading ladies and leading men.
They all spin in circles –
red curtains flying.

The cleaner, unheard,
leaves all untouched except the dust.
The man attached to his phone,
alone on the airport walkway –
his family waits.
The actress learns her lines on a threadbare couch,
sitting on hope.
We are all One Story.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com

A Mother's Day Poem - PASS IT ON!

2009-05-01T14:23:00.007-04:00

Mother’s Day
(for my mother)

Anticipating needs,
in tune with moods –
even from across the ocean.
The road to home begins
with the memory of a mother’s welcome.

When you walked with unstable gait,
she held one finger for reassurance –
two fingers for balance.

With blue spotlights shining
on a stage of dancers in pink tulle,
her applause filled the room –
her pride lifting your arms even higher.

The science project that refused to spin,
sent her on a late night, craft store expedition.
The satin ribbon still sits in a box of reflection.

Walking down the aisle, you notice perfection –
a mother’s precise planning.
Smiles appear –
framed by white flowers and ribbons on pews.
Platters arrive with culinary concoctions for every palate.
Boxes and boutique bags are whisked away and stored,
as your car travels to the first night’s chateau –
a trip with your honey to the moon.

On this day of mothers,
all standing in a row of love,
let the thank you from your lips
reach the patient ears
of the woman listening
for all of these years.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2009
www.FirkinFiction.com

FREE POEMS! I will be giving away free, signed copies of this Mother's Day poem, printed on parchment paper at the upcoming Aprons in the Wind show, Sat. May 9th, 2009 at The Lakes Gallery in North Lake, Wisconsin. Local businesses will also have copies to give out Mother's Day week-end, as a special promotion to give poetry as a gift! The two fine art/poetry giclee collections in collaboration with artists Anne Wall and Holly Kallie will be on exhibit (May 1- June 2) at The Lakes Gallery as well! www.lakesfineart.com

Distribute Widely! If you would like to have this special poem to give to your mother, just e-mail me, and I will send you a copy to print out! I will also have this poem on the Home Page of my website. Pass on the link!

GIVE THE GIFT OF WORDS!

An Exhibition of Art and Poetry

2009-04-18T17:45:00.032-04:00

"She Slept Like a Log" Painting by Holly Kallie, Copyright 2008

The water’s current is a lullaby.
The air brushes her hair in sleep.
The wood’s grain welcomes floating dreams ~
exquisite balance.

Excerpted from “All is in Balance”
Cristina M. R. Norcross, Copyright 2008

"Awaken the Senses" Painting by Anne Wall, Copyright 2005

Petals of self unfurl,
like a rose uncovering the world.
Senses find space to roam
in a cavernous mind.

Excerpted from “Awaken the Senses”
Cristina M. R. Norcross, Copyright 2008

An Exhibition of Art and Poetry to be Featured at the Upcoming Aprons in the Wind Show at The Lakes Gallery, North Lake, WI

Lovingly woven within intricate stitching, the history of steamy kitchens and bubbling pots evokes the scene of hearth and home that a mother creates. The symbol of an apron waving in the wind brings back memories of nurturance floating in the air. In honor of Mother's Day (May 10th) and National Wear Your Apron Day (May 11th), artist Teri Peterson, owner of the The Lakes Gallery (www.lakesfineart.com) in North Lake, Wisconsin will be hosting Aprons in the Wind (May 8th-11th), an apron event of vast fabric proportions, as a tribute to women everywhere.

The Lakes Gallery of Fine Art LLC is housed within an historic 1906 Garden Tudor home set against an idyllic, pastoral setting. The Lakes Gallery is also home to Teri Peterson’s new business, Revival Consignment (www.revivalconsign.com). The gallery features 3 rooms of artwork from over 20 artists and intermingles with consigned women's clothing and accessories, as well as artisan jewelry and handmade clothing.

Aprons in the Wind invites you to dedicate a fabric apron to your mother, grandmother, sister, or any special woman in your life. In tribute, these colorful aprons will be displayed on a clothes line that will span the outdoor property of the gallery on Mother's Day weekend and the following Monday (May 8th -11th). The Aprons in the Wind exhibit will be on display sunrise to sunset. The aprons will become a permanent part of the exhibit, displayed every Mother's Day weekend. There is no limit to the number of aprons for dedication.

For more information, as well as the mailing address where aprons can be sent for the event, please visit The Lakes Gallery website: www.lakesfineart.com. You will even find a link to a pattern for how to sew your very own apron out of 1 yard of fabric!

As an added feature, The Lakes Gallery will be presenting a special, limited engagement exhibition (May 1st – June 1st) of the collaborative, ekphrastic works of artists Holly Kallie and Anne Wall with poet Cristina M. R. Norcross. The two collections, Poetic Captured Reflections and Soulful Inspirations, are comprised of hand-signed, fine art, poetry giclées, created from original artwork by each artist and original verse by the author. Each scene of beauty and form reveals a life beyond our earthly borders, inspiring poetic stories of the soul’s journey. Each giclée is unique, invoking the reader to live more fully in the present moment, by incorporating rich colors, evocative images and poetic narratives. These giclées are available for purchase through The Lakes Gallery and make a wonderfully thoughtful Mother’s Day gift to be cherished and appreciated.

Anne Wall and Holly Kallie are both members of The Griffin Gallery in Oconomowoc, WI (www.griffingalleryfineartllc.com).

Anne Wall (Soulful Inspirations) (marketingnav@aol.com) is an artist, athlete and sports marketing consultant known internationally for her work in brand protection. She holds a BS in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin and an MS in Integrated Marketing Communications from Medill at Northwestern University. While traveling and participating in a variety of sports, Wall has captured the spirit of outdoor adventures and the beauty of nature through her enduring works of art.

Holly Kallie (Poetic Captured Reflections) (www.hollykallie.com), a founding member of The Griffin Gallery of Fine Art in Oconomowoc, WI, is a self-taught artist who has been drawing and painting all of her life. Her favorite subjects are women and children in settings that include area lakes or the seashore. Ms. Kallie’s artistic intention is to show the similarity and connection between feminine energy and the flowing, reflective surface and depths of the water surrounding them.

Cristina M. R. Norcross (www.FirkinFiction.com) is a freelance writer and poet living in Wisconsin with over 50 published works in literary magazines in the United States, England, Wales, Canada and Algeria. Ms. Norcross is the author of two published books - Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2007) and The Red Drum (2008), both available on Amazon.com. She is currently the co-editor for The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets, and her upcoming book, Living Nature’s Moments, is in collaboration with Fine Art photographer Pat Bashford.

Within the many-layered hues of an image, lives a hidden world of story and verse. Likewise, vivid memories can come to life by examining a single thread. Aprons, art and poetry align together to create a special weekend. Please join us for an exciting event and a unique exhibit celebrating the human spirit. What better way to honor Mother’s Day than to attend a show of loving tributes at the Aprons in the Wind event, exclusively at The Lakes Gallery in North Lake.

Contact details: Teri Peterson, The Lakes Gallery of Fine Art, N76 W31428 County Road, V.V. Hartland, WI 53029, Tel. (262) 966-1804, Website: www.lakesfineart.com.

Where else can you find this beautiful artwork and poetry on display?

The Soulful Inspirations and Poetic Captured Reflections collections are currently on display as part of a special engagement at The Ommani Center for Integrative Medicine (http://www.ommanicenter.com) located at 1166 Quail Court, Suite 210, Pewaukee, WI 53072, Tel. 262 695 9744.

The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

2009-02-27T14:44:00.007-05:00

The Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets
(Wisconsin)

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!

We are seeking to help promote the creative works of visual artists and writers in the Lake Country community by creating a project of collaborative, ekphrastic art (Ekphrasis: poetry inspired by art - the conversation between two mediums of art). We will organize visual artists and poets into compatible pairs. Each creative pair will have 2-3 months to work together to create 1 painting and 1 poem. The artist and poet can come up with a theme together, the painter may offer up an original work for the poet to write about, or the poet may have a poem they wish to offer for inspiration to the artist.

There is a two-part scope to the Lake Country Project for Artists and Poets, which will be co-facilitated in partnership with PAAC (The Pewaukee Area Arts Council). There will be art shows and poetry readings at several venues, starting fall 2009, featuring the completed ekphrastic works of each artistic team. There is also a proposed anthology of Lake Country Artists and Poets (publication date still to be determined) offering the opportunity for wide exposure for all contributors.

Liz Rhodebeck and Cristina Norcross will be co-editors of the book project and judges for the poetry submissions. Troy Tatlock will be the art advisor for judging art submissions.

Call for Submissions: January 12th – March 23, 2009

Editorial Reading Period: all candidates will be notified by May 1st, 2009 about final selections for the project.

Those who either live or work in Lake Country are welcome to submit. Lake Country is defined by communities which feed into the following high school districts:

Arrowhead HS
Kettle Moraine HS
Pewaukee HS
Oconomowoc HS

Visit the PAAC website for full details and guidelines: http://www.pewaukeearts.org/project.htm

The 15th Annual Poetry Marathon at Woodland Pattern Book Center

2009-02-01T09:34:00.005-05:00

I had the great honor of participating in the 15th Annual Poetry Marathon at Woodland Pattern Book Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this past Saturday, January 31, 2009. The poetry readings ran from 10am until 1am the next day. This was truly a wonderful, literary experience. I want to thank our hosts at Woodland Pattern, the people who sponsored my time slot of 11am-12noon, as well as the local businesses who sponsored each hour of the marathon. This was my first time reading at this event. I explained to the audience that I was a recent transplant from New Hampshire. I felt very welcome in this supportive environment of very talented writers and appreciative listeners. What a wonderful crowd! I only wish I could have stayed to listen to all of the hours of performances. In the evening, they even had an hour devoted to songwriters and musicians who took turns with poets, and I think they had some collaborative efforts between writers and musicians.

The talent in that room was mind blowing! Each poet read an average of 4 poems, some just had one long spectacular poem to share. I was one of only two female poets during this hour. The rest were male poets who were all so clever and humorous in their styles. Our last poet even used props. The applause in that one room sounded like hundreds, because of the sincere appreciation of the audience. I felt very lucky to be surrounded by such fine writers. There is so much creative, synergistic energy when a group of poets get together.

Thank you to Woodland Pattern and thank you to my fellow poets for a wonderful day! I hope to return next year with a new set of poetic offerings to share.

If you happen to be in Milwaukee, Woodland Pattern Book Center now carries several copies of my latest poetry book, The Red Drum. Go in and have a browse at this amazing independent bookstore. You will find yourself gazing at the shelves in wonder at their thoughtful selections.

Thank you to Woodland Pattern for supporting local writers!

Keep Reading!
Cristina M. R. Norcross
www.FirkinFiction.com

A Reminder for Writers to be in the Flow

2009-01-25T14:43:00.013-05:00

There is no greater feeling as a writer than to be in the flow of the creative process. It is that time when the clock on the wall (or the digital time in the upper right hand corner of your computer) no longer exists. You are so focused on your passionate journey through the worlds of fiction, that it is as if you are swimming underwater for miles and miles without ever needing to come up for air.

Sometimes, we need to warm up our brains and hearts to get to this desired entry to the flow of writing, but once we are there nothing short of being short-listed for the Orange Prize for Fiction will cause us to take our eyes off the page. What takes the writer’s intensity away from the act of writing after a project is complete, and necessarily so, is the need to market, publicize and sell the book that took two years to write. Finding balance between selling books and writing books can be quite frustrating, and it can cause a certain literary malaise to fall like a curtain.

I have yet to find the balance between promoting books and the process of writing a new poetry collection. To be honest, I find it difficult to find the juggler’s balance between being a writer, mother, wife, chauffeur, cleaner, cook, folder of laundry, events organizer, editor, and daydreamer. What makes me think I can fulfill the roles within the scope of being an author too?

While it may take me the rest of my life to figure out this question that many women writers before me have faced and which all writers endure, one thing remains certain – with an eye for creation, a vision firmly set on the new world created through the interplay of words, I can help others heal, find joy, and reflect on this wondrous life. This is the reason why I write – to be a light for my own dreams and to shine a halo of inspiration over the many journeys my readers take every day. If I can stay true to this purpose, I will never lose sight of why I write in the first place – not to sell books, but to create them. (Of course, feel free to buy my books, like The Red Drum that just came out in November!!! Excuse the plug – it was a moment of weakness.) I write because I cannot imagine a life without writing and the surprise of the discovered, beautiful expression that ensues from playing with the roll of words on the tongue.

Keep writing and reading. Stay in the flow and your heart will lead you to yet another undiscovered land, where life holds truth in the center of an outstretched palm.

Peace & Poetry,
Cristina M. R. Norcross
www.FirkinFiction.com
Author of: Land & Sea (2007) AND The Red Drum (2008)

"Kindred spirits mix mediums to celebrate life"

2009-01-13T13:32:00.007-05:00

The Paintings & Poetry Event made front page news!

Check out this wonderful article by Living Lake Country reporter Paige Smaga! Click on the headline below:

Kindred spirits mix mediums to celebrate life

And don't forget to come out to this exciting, fun charity event featuring the oil paintings of Anne Raskopf, poetry by Cristina M. R. Norcross, Liz Rhodebeck, Mary Jo Balistreri and Charles P. Ries at The Lakes Gallery of Fine Art in North Lake, WI.

TWO SHOWS!
January 17th 2009 / at The Lakes Gallery of Fine Art
2:30-4:00pm
4:30-7:00pm

Free Event!
Door Prizes!
Refreshments!

Donations collected for The American Heart Association and the rebuilding of The Merton Town Hall Library

Paintings and Poetry for a good cause!

Paintings & Poetry Event at The Lakes Gallery!

2008-12-10T22:56:00.019-05:00

Paintings and Poetry
 Saturday, January 17, 2009  

Oil Paintings by Anne Raskopf 

Poetry by Cristina M. R. Norcross, Liz Rhodebeck, Mary Jo Balistreri, Charles P. Ries and other guest poets who will present an evening of poetry.

Free Event!

Due to limited seating, there will be 2 performances.  
Please call to reserve seating (262) 966-1804. 

Door prizes with each performance!  

Donations will be accepted for the American Heart Association and the Merton Town Hall Library  

Matinee: 2:30 - 4 PM / Main Performance: 4:30 - 7 PM

The Lakes Gallery of Fine Art
N76 W31428 County Rd. V. V.  North Lake

The Secrets of Dawn

2008-11-29T21:20:00.007-05:00

The Breeze at Dawn Has Something to Tell You

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. 
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want. 
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill, 
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open. 
Don’t go back to sleep.

~Rumi - Sufi, Mystic Poet (1207-73)

I heard this poem spoken to me in thought and images, but I only recognized it when doing a search for poems by my favorite mystic poet, Rumi, this evening. I woke up with my 2-year-old son at 6am, and the view from the bedroom window caused me to stop breathing – stop thinking, until I could take in the full beauty of the sunrise. A salmon pink, with hues of peach at the center, painted the sky in a wide ribbon. My mind wanted so much to label this, to intellectualize the experience. My spirit would not let this happen. I simply gazed at the emerging light at the horizon and allowed all other thoughts to evaporate into the quiet calmness of the room. Outside that window was the sound of stillness – the grace with which we are born and the dignity with which we cross over. It is the pure beauty of nature’s humble grandeur. No other sight can make us feel as complete as the majesty of this earth and the heavenly glimpses we are gifted with at dawn.

I hope that you create with this same sense of awe today, when you raise your pen to write or bring your strong fingers to the keyboard. I hope your heart sings with the spirit of truth with each word on the page, so that your readers may experience the joy of first light and the brightness of being we are all capable of shining.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008
www.FirkinFiction.com

A Gallery Display of Poetry & Art - The Griffin Gallery (Oconomowoc, Wisconsin)

2008-11-15T22:05:00.015-05:00

Poetry & Art - On Display at The Griffin Gallery

In collaboration with two very talented, fine art painters, Holly Kallie and Anne Wall, ten of my recent ekphrastic poems are on display at The Griffin Gallery in Oconomwoc, WI. These poems appear alongside beautiful oils and pastels in the form of fine art giclées. Each fine art, poetry giclée inspires and engages the reader to live more fully in the present moment, by incorporating rich colors, evocative images and poetic narratives.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES:

HOLLY KALLIE is a self-taught artist who has been drawing and painting all of her life. She has always been fascinated by the human figure, mainly women and children. Having spent much time as a child on area lakes, Holly developed a close affinity to water, and as a result, most of her subjects are placed in this type of setting. Her intention is to show the emotional connection between feminine energy and the flowing, reflective surface and depths of the water surrounding them. She has shown and sold her work in exhibits and galleries for many years, is a founding member of Griffin Gallery Fine Art in Oconomowoc, WI where her work is on permanent display and has many fine art giclée reproductions of her paintings. Her work is held in private collections throughout the United States. To view her beautiful collection of oil paintings, "Captured Reflections", Please visit her website: http://www.hollykallie.com.

ANNE WALL resides in Wisconsin, where she trains as an athlete, maintains an art studio and runs a sports marketing business. Through fine art, Ms. Wall expresses her passion for outdoor sports and love of nature by capturing light and movement on form in a variety of mediums. Art and sport bring about intense concentration and a sense of calm in harmony with one’s surroundings. Through this experiential state of enlightenment and self-discovery, the conscious mind transcends the physical state, so one can live in the moment. By creating enduring works of art, which capture the spirit of outdoor sports, adventure, and the beauty of nature, Anne inspires others. Educated at Northwestern University, Wall received her Master of Science Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin. She is known internationally for her work as brand protection advisor to well known sports organizations and multinational businesses that sponsor sporting events. Anne’s articles about intellectual property protection have been published in academic journals and business manuals distributed domestically and abroad. Traveling overseas and meeting with delegates from nations around the world, Anne’s work puts her in touch with many different cultures.

To read samples from the collections I have written, inspired by each artist, please visit the "Firkin Works" page on my website: www.FirkinFiction.com.

To view and/or purchase these rare poetry/art giclées in person, please visit:

THE GRIFFIN GALLERY OF FINE ART

133 E Wisconsin Ave
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
(262) 567-1826

http://griffingalleryfineartllc.com/

Art and poetry - a beautiful collaboration of images and words.

Enjoy the beauty of ekphrastic poetry and visual art.

To view a sample fine art/poetry giclée, click HERE to see "All is in Balance" on Holly Kallie's site.

Keep Reading!
Blessings,
Cristina M. R. Norcross

AUTHOR OF:
Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art, paintings by Irene Ruddock (2007) available on Amazon.com, BN.com and RevolutionBooksellers.com

The Red Drum (2008) available at Lulu.com and Amazon.com

November Release of: THE RED DRUM! - my new poetry book!

2008-10-15T23:47:00.013-04:00

Dear Readers:

I am thrilled to share the news that my new poetry book THE RED DRUM will be released in November 2008 and will be available to purchase on-line. I will have a separate webpage through the publisher. Readers will be allowed to browse through the first few poems and will be able to see the front and back cover, featuring a beautiful, stained glass window from a bell tower at a church in Western Canada.

Here is a preview of the book's description:

THE RED DRUM is a collection of poetry celebrating the joyfulness of living in the presence of authentic moments, creating a dream-like, poetic form that captures the leaves of thought that fall from the sky. AUTHOR'S BIOGRAPHY: Cristina M.R. Norcross resides in Wisconsin with her husband and their two sons. She has had over 50 works published in literary magazines in the U.K., the U.S., Canada and Algeria. The author’s latest book is Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art (2006). To learn more about the writing of Cristina M. R. Norcross, please visit her website: http://www.firkinfiction.com.

Stop by again in 2 weeks for more ordering details, press release information, as well as future dates for poetry readings!

Happy Reading!
Cristina M. R. Norcross
http://www.FirkinFiction.com

Honoring Wholeness

2008-07-06T21:48:00.004-04:00

“Whatever ceases to honor the wholeness of your spirit ~ release it to the wind.”

~Cristina M. R. Norcross

Try saying these words either aloud or quietly within. Now choose a clean, white page in your journal and write this mantra at the very top, before you begin your writing session for the day. The world will open up inside of you, as you realize that anything is possible on the page.

You are whole. Breathe this mantra into your lungs and exhale the exquisite thoughts that come sweeping into your mind like a tornado. Let them have life. Set your spirit free and see where the wind takes you. If your words find a home in a poem or a story, then the world will be that much more glorious for your gift of sharing.

Write something wonderfully open, honest, engaging, fearless … and then share it with other readers and writers.

Now go ~ write!

Cristina M. R. Norcross
www.firkinfiction.com

(Just in case you need a cheering section for motivational purposes today, before you take that leap onto the page, these words should be a literary rocket booster. Happy Writing.)

NEW POETRY: "Thank You, for this Day"

2008-06-27T21:05:00.004-04:00

Thank you, for this Day

Instead of thinking,
I made it through another day –
I should be saying,
thank you, for this day.

The soul appreciates its progress
when each moment is savored.
The struggle comes
when we believe in the transitory –
when we honor the self’s sense of comfort.

True growth,
stems from an understanding
of our connections with others.
Golden threads appear
when hearts reach out,
forming a loving grid
of our human existence.

Today I saw a circle of pure gold
floating just above my eyes.
Everywhere I turned,
this loving globe attentively followed,
until I examined my thoughts,
and walked towards my higher consciousness.

I gently bowed my head in agreement,
eager to hear the whispers
of my gracious guide.
All she said was,
lead the way …

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008

Visit The Ninth Moon ~ Must-Have Gifts for Writers!

2008-06-18T14:32:00.008-04:00

"I only plug what I love!"

I would like to take the opportunity to support a business owned and run by the writer Laron Glover. The Ninth Moon is a fabulous site that provides wonderful books on the writing process, gifts for literary inspiration, and all sorts of writerly goodies for yourself, a friend, or anyone you know who has a passion for the written word!

The birthday presents my husband ordered for me were beautifully wrapped and presented. Each item in the Writer Mamma Kit was perfectly chosen and lovingly prepared. I truly appreciated all of the professional care with which everything was labelled, right down to the gold seals and ribbon! When I ordered myself a copy of Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way, and the exquisite Artist's quote pendant, everything arrived with the same creative flair. The pendant will be a lovely reminder to create from the heart ~ from the source of energy that inspires all good work.

Have a browse and see for yourself!: The Ninth Moon

http://www.ninthmoon.com/

They have something for every writer and every gift is heart-inspired!

On a final note. I will share with you the quote on my new pendant, which I plan on wearing at my next series of book signing events for my upcoming book with photographer Pat Bashford, Living Nature's Moments.

"Artistic success is not measured by what you get - but what you give: whispers of truth, captured on paper, dispatched from the heart."

Enjoy and Happy Writing!
Critina M. R. Norcross

New Poetry: "Your Clear Will"

2008-06-12T23:53:00.001-04:00

Your Clear Will

Let go of what you cling to.
Release it to the wind,
a mighty throw –
grief swallowed by the night sky.
You will be whole once again –
in the morning,
when the grass is new,
when the hills are bare,
except for the sun
and your clear will.

Skin prickles with light touches,
portending what is to come.
A new life –
a new place for your hands to work,
a kinder resting place for your limbs at night.
This land will change –
transformations of a higher calling.
It is the calling of the wind,
the chimes,
that send out Celtic melodies
from the porch by starlight.

Place your heart in my sight.
I will see you shining brighter
than ever before,
when you surrender
to your best life –
the life you chose to begin,
when your bare feet
first touched this rich soil.

Begin again …

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008

RIVER WALK: Poetry Inspired by Music

2008-05-09T19:39:00.007-04:00

RIVER WALK
(Inspired by the music of Craig Werth, “Slow River”)

Finding my depth
in this new, slow river.
It carries me along
in its daily patterns and rhythms.
I hear the hum of town activity,
as the flow of rippling pathways
takes me past an old willow tree,
brushing the water’s surface
with broad strokes.
An oriole sits,
impossibly perched,
on the tip of a reed.
In perfect balance
he flashes me a glimpse of red and yellow,
like a flag guiding me in for a landing.

I am still a newcomer,
a stranger floating down
a lazy river.
The earth vibrates
just under my feet
on this solitary river walk,
where I will later bring my family.
Carved stones mark a place of memory
for town heroes.
Each monument is a breath of reverence
on a white bridge over water.

Follow the river to find
the soul of this day.
The sound of rushing water
has a hypnotic pull
for one who is stepping into a new life.
Stroll along the water’s edge
to hear the ebb and flow
of the future that meets you where you stand.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Copyright 2008

For more information about Craig Werth and to hear samples of his music please visit: www.craigwerth.com - better yet, go see him on tour with David Francey!

A Magical Evening of Music with David Francey and Craig Werth at the Wil Mar Center / Madison,WI

2008-05-04T10:15:00.019-04:00

Storytelling brings the audience back to the beginning of love and renews memory, so that the girl in that song getting married is you. The father going off on a trip who misses his 5-year-old son is you. The 80-year-old mother who hears a bird singing and knows that this is the spirit of her dear departed husband is your mother.

I had the great pleasure last night of hearing David Francey and Craig Werth perform at the Wil Mar Center in Madison, WI. Sponsored by the Madison Folk Music Society, the intimate setting of the concert provided the perfect backdrop to an evening of beautifully written and superbly performed songs. The very talented Craig Werth opened the show with a few samples from his new instrumental album, SIDEVIEW. “Slow River” was a particularly engaging piece that brought me into the dream world rhythm and flow of water. I first met Craig while attending the Poets and Songwriters Retreat on Star Island off of Rye, NH last September. Star Island is a magical place to create and meet other like-minded souls. At the group share sessions we had late at night in one of the cottages on the island, I was mesmerized by Craig’s soulful melodies and the warm, dulcet tones of his voice. His vocal/guitar album LOOSE GEMS is a collection that I highly recommend to any avid folk listener and the title song itself "Loose Gems" is one of my favorites! I play this song when I'm missing the ocean and all of the precious friends I met while living in New Hampshire.

David Francey's songwriting is richly layered and affecting. It was truly a blessing to have the opportunity to hear David’s beautiful Scottish accent permeate every note. His stories of living in both Scotland and Canada were steeped in the loves and losses of life itself. I picked up a copy of his latest CD, RITE OF PASSAGE, from which he played songs at the concert. We played the CD on the way home as a way of revisiting our moving, musical evening. As a writer, what I enjoyed most was hearing David tell the story behind the songs before performing each of them. While listening to one of David’s songs,"Their Wedding Day," which he wrote for friends, my husband and I held hands and gazed at each other in remembrance of our own September wedding day. David’s song brought me back in time to my own celebration. Another song that touched my husband’s heart quite deeply was "Ballad of Bowser MacRae", as he reflected on hearing our own son ask the question, “when are you coming home, Dad” (from one of his business trips). From a writer’s perspective, I wholeheartedly identified with a song David wrote about sitting in his friend’s backyard in Portland, Oregon called "Under the Portland Weather". He shared with the audience that this spot is where he always has success writing songs. I find this to be true when writing poetry on Martha’s Vineyard, sitting at one of the beaches near the ferry landing in Vineyard Haven. Hearing David speak of places that foster creativity caused me to reflect on the spark of the muses in art, and how messages are often whispered to us to share with others. The whole evening was a musical journey of spirit that I felt quite honored to attend.

For more information on both David Franey and Craig Werth and to hear samples of their music please visit:

David Francey – www.davidfrancey.com

Craig Werth – www.craigwerth.com

I only recommend artists who hold a candle in my heart. Check out these amazing songwriters and enter their worlds of enchantment.

~Cristina M. R. Norcross

"Once You Were Dreaming of a Future That is Now Your Present"

2008-05-01T23:22:00.010-04:00

Sometimes I feel like I am desperately trying to learn how to live. Is working hard the path to fulfillment? Is achievement going to fill the void of the soul? Should I be more self-sacrificing and gain happiness only from taking care of others? Do I need to slow down more and pay attention to each act of living in a loving way, regardless of the end result? Aha! This is the sentence to pay attention to - right now.

Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now / A New Earth / Stillness Speaks) writes about living in the now, fully appreciating each experience as it is lived. Living in the past has never been one of my problems, but I do struggle with living with an eager eye towards the future and how much happier I will be “when” I can have more time to write, “when” my husband and I can have more time together again, “when” life will feel more balanced as a mother whose actions and thoughts are constantly interrupted by small (adorable) children.

My mother and I had a discussion recently about this concept of always wishing for the life you see just down the road. This is the golden kernel that stayed with me from that conversation. “Once you were dreaming of a future that is now your present.” I just did not know that those dreams would happen, and that I would wish for other things - for a different future to take shape.

I think this insight can be valuable to the soul of a writer too when the ever-too-present restlessness, that we all feel as artists, starts to gnaw away at one’s peace of mind. There is waste in discontentment. It takes far too much energy to analyze why life could be better three years down the road: if only that magazine would publish your story that you have been submitting everywhere, or how you will only feel complete when you write a full length novel, or that there is never enough personal time in a day to finish all of your beloved writing projects. Engage in your present with fervor. Be thankful for what you are able to write, knowing that it is a gift to bring inspiring ideas together on the page. If others enjoy what you send out into the world of writing, then this is a blessing too, but it is not the goal. It is a pleasant side effect. Making connections in spirit with others through writing may never bring recognition, but it will make a difference in the life of the reader who engages more fully with their own world, because you have shown them one of life’s golden keys.

Keep sharing – keep writing. Don’t look back on your past with angst or regret. Don’t look ahead to your future life with longing. Bring to the page what you are meant to create – right now.

This is the most fruitful moment and tomorrow’s moment will be just as ripe.

Keep writing!

Writing is Essential to Life!

2008-04-12T12:22:00.010-04:00

When did it happen? Somewhere along the way, the desire to write turned into the necessity to write. My body actually has a physical reaction to not writing for a day or more. I feel edgy or anxious, as if I have missed an important appointment. If I haven’t made time for myself to connect with my world of writing - I have. I have missed an appointment with myself, and unless I put some words on a page fast, I know that I will be miserable. My husband can attest to this strange force that takes hold. The winds outside seem to blow harder, the air in the house is heavy, canned goods jump off the shelves (no, not really) – all because I NEED to write! My husband will say, “Just go. Take yourself out with your laptop. We’ll see you in 2 or 3 hours, and you’ll be a new person.” It’s true. I am much easier to live with, when I have had my writing fix.

Literature brings meaning to the writer and the reader. For the writer, it brings both meaning and an extraordinary purpose in life. Being able to describe your world in detail and create something that represents that experience of life with all of the joys, sorrows and every day occurrences is a great gift. Writers, painters, photographers, musicians, dancers, actors and all those in the various creative arts fields, all have the precious opportunity to observe and comment on the human experience in a way that the viewer or reader can identify with, find meaning in and draw comfort from, as we all travel on this path together. Artists have the gift of expressing how it feels to be alive on a deep and primal level. Without this space to create and express, most of us would just have too much creative energy bubbling up to the surface with no outlet. Thank goodness for the blank canvas, the blank screen or paper, the stage, and the raw materials of art.

Writing is essential to life. What a gift to know that this is your path.

Write on!

Circling the Poem

2008-04-12T11:41:00.008-04:00

I always write around a poem before zeroing in on the right words. It’s kind of like the ritual of a cat who walks in circles over and over on a comfy couch, or your favorite soft sweater, before eventually lying down in a mound of purring fur. If a runner or dancer needs to warm up their muscles before setting the body to work, and if a singer must first vocalize before performing the long runs and high notes of an aria, then a writer must also limber up the mind before writing that much awaited, ever elusive, literary masterpiece.

To go back a step further, I always read good writing before attempting to write something worthy of reading. Either a novel by an author I admire or a book about the writing process serves to prepare my mind for the work ahead. Elizabeth Berg wrote an inspiring book about writing called: Escaping Into the Open: The Art of Writing True. I highly recommend all of her books and this book on writing is a must read for writers. At the end of each chapter, Berg even includes practical writing exercises, which can really jump-start your writing session.

Once I am ready to put the books down, I like to write what I call “starter” pieces before diving into my current project. Whether it be starter prose or starter poetry, the initial flexing of one’s writer’s muscles is essential to getting to the gem phrases or the sparkling thoughts that people will be touched by and inspired by when reading your work. I might find one sentence that stands out. I will then use that sentence as a starting point, or even use it as the title of the next poem I write, and a new, evolved poem will take shape. Sometimes a phrase will take me in a new direction – the direction I am meant to take - and I will write a completely different poem than I first set out to create. When everything comes together and the magic of that final poem or paragraph appears, the one you were meant to write, you will feel the energy of the words come through and you will know that this is why you write. This moment of knowing that you have found a way to bring life to words in a way that reveals a greater truth or an inspiring story that will touch the lives of others – this is the moment when you are “in flow”. Keep going. Stay with the flow for as long as you can, until you naturally need to take a break or in my case until the babysitting session is over, and you must return to fetching sippy cups of water and bowls of goldfish for eager, smiling toddler faces.

This writing life that sweeps you up in a frenzy of ideas and words is a magical, compelling activity. It is a way of life. It is “The Pull of the Moon” - To use the title of one of Elizabeth Berg’s novels. This topic requires its own blog entry, so read on, as I allow my Running on at the Ink blog to run …

A Writer's Geography

2008-04-09T16:22:00.003-04:00

We recently moved our family from the seacoast of New England to the lake country of the Midwest. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how place can inform, inspire and provide a foundation for one’s writing. At least I still have bodies of water around me – although I will miss the salty taste of the wind on my lips from being near the ocean.

I am a writer in transition. I am still surrounded by boxes, I still refer to NH as “back home” and I haven’t even registered with a dentist yet. We are settling in though, making this house a home, and letting our feet land on the ground of this new town. Did I mention that they have chosen this year to dig up the streets of the entire downtown area, so that you have to take a 5-mile detour to get to the good grocery store? I am still adjusting.

Author Natalie Goldberg wrote about how sad she was to leave Taos, which was a very fertile place for her writing. She was given sage advice from her meditation teacher who told her not to grow too attached to a geographical place, that her writing would flourish anywhere. It is akin to having a personal crisis if you cannot find your lucky pen before sitting down to a writing session. I was sad to leave New England too. My writing flourished there, and I had just found a wonderful community of writers who all met regularly at open mic nights to share their love of poetry. By the way, I also have several "lucky" pens. I know that the pen does not hold the magic though. It is the writer who holds all of the cards – all of those bent, scribbled index cards with ideas and character descriptions. The love for a story grows within the heart and the essence of that story finds you - wherever you are. You can be in a car driving to a family reunion. You can be in the shower thinking only about how much conditioner to use. The opening lines of a story will be whispered in your ear, like an overheard conversation. You can even be in the unfamiliar finished basement of your new house, with a half finished office set up and every book you own stacked onto ten bookcases against every wall. You are waiting – waiting for the writing to return – and it will. It does. That favorite coffee house with the atmosphere that makes your words sing? You will find another cozy java spot. That inlet by the beach where the waves crash 20 feet high against the rocks after a storm and which is your lucky spot to write? You will find a quiet patch of grass by the lake that will open up a wellspring of words.

A writer’s geography is in the mind. You are always “on location”. A treasured place can be reassuring – it can spark a flow of words that introduces you to new worlds. Never forget that there is a universe of creativity in your writer’s soul. Take it with you.

Comfort for the Writer's Soul

2008-04-08T15:28:00.015-04:00

Who wouldn't want some comfort along the way on the soul's journey? When that warmth and encouragement comes from the thoughts and experiences of other writers, there is no resisting for the avid scribbler. In this short blog entry, I wanted to recommend my latest late night read and the anthology that I often dip into before a writing session. A Cup of Comfort for Writers is a wonderful collection of personal essays written by established writers who entertain us and inform us about: the inner workings of the rough draft stage, the compulsion and addiction that submitting work to magazines and publishers becomes, favorite teachers who recognize the talent of an early student writer, the characters who beat a path to your door until you write down their story, and the always enthralling - sometimes frustrating - process that writing can be.

If you are looking for inspiration, a welcome break from a paragraph, or the kind words of a fellow writer who understands your world like no other, then this is a book you should pick up!

A Cup of Comfort for Writers: Inspirational Stories That Celebrate the Literary Life
by Colleen Sell

Land & Sea Fordham University Bookstore Event

2007-12-16T14:57:00.000-05:00

Land & Sea Event at Fordham/Lincoln Center - Saturday December 15, 2007

Event Diary Notes:

I had the great pleasure of being in Manhattan this past week-end for a book signing event for Land & Sea. The event was hosted by the very welcoming Barnes & Noble Bookstore on the Fordham University campus at Lincoln Center. It was a lovely event from 11-2 that included a poetry reading session, followed by an informal Q&A and book signing with myself as well as the artist, Irene Ruddock.

This was my last book event before the holidays, and it couldn't have been a more delightful day. I had family and friends from both NY and NJ who were able to come, so my poetry turned into a great excuse to give hugs and kisses to dear ones I had not seen for months, or in some cases - years!

Thank you to all who honored me with their presence and support. Land & Sea was a privilege to write and it is an even greater privilege, as well as a humbling experience, to see how many people continue to enjoy the images and words on the pages of this magical project.

You never know where you will journey to in this world, but in your imagination, you can sail to distant lands and always be assured of a safe landing on shore with loved ones in sight, who are on the same, beautiful adventure.

CMRN

Thank You to The Harvard Coop!

2007-12-13T11:40:00.000-05:00

Harvard Coop Poetry Reading and Book Signing Event / December 9, 2007

Book Event Diary Notes:

The Harvard Coop provided a festive setting for the poetry reading/book signing event for Land & Sea on December 9, 2007. The staff did a wonderful job with the display for Land & Sea, complete with a beautiful, big poster in the window and sample copies of the book. As I walked through the front doors, I was greeted by the sound of Christmas carolers on the 2nd floor. It was a magical atmosphere for all shoppers, students, folks sipping coffee in the café, and of course, me!

With podium, book lamp and microphone at the ready, I had everything I needed for a successful reading. As per usual, the first ten minutes required patience on my part as listeners began to arrive. By the time I got to my 5th poem, every seat was filled and a few people were standing. My fellow poetry/art lovers enjoyed viewing each painting, as I read the accompanying ekphrastic poems. I had some interesting questions from readers, causing me to reflect on the inspiration for Land & Sea and to do a bit of additional research on my new favorite genre of ekphrastic poetry (which I predict will be considered a groundbreaking artform in years to come!).

Ekphrasis (n.) comes from the Greek ek (= out) and phrasis (=speak). Ekphrasis literally means to "speak out", which I think is a fantastic description of this artform. As a writer, not only are you describing what you see visually and interpreting the meaning or narrative of a piece of art, but you are speaking out with your writing - giving the painting, photograph or sculpture a voice.

Enough of my poetry reading notes ...

I would like to extend a Big, Blog Thank You to the Harvard Coop and to my friend Michele Albion who brought along another reader to the event! Michele is a wonderful, historical writer who has a book coming out soon! Watch this space for publicity blogging. I am always eager to support my fellow writers.

Happy reading and writing out there. I may have a poetry reading and signing event for Land & Sea, or for one of my future books, in a town near you! Come on out and join the literary party!

The Dream Editor

2007-12-05T20:49:00.001-05:00

We've all heard of sleep walking and sleep talking, but have you ever heard of "sleep writing"? Whenever I finish writing a poem or a story, the first thing I do before editing my work is to sleep on it. That's right, the first arduous task after completing a masterpiece is to catch some zzzz's. The reason for this is that you might be tempted to submit that jewel of literature right then and there with an impulsive click of the submit button on a literary magazine's website, because you truly believe that this is the very best thing you've ever written. If this were Mrs. McClusky's 8th Grade Language Arts class, you would get an A+ for sure. In the hard, early morning light of day you will realize that this isn't the best piece of writing in your portfolio, but it has potential if tweaked and prodded a bit. Also, your level headed daytime self will notice the need for deleting all of those extra exclamation points and words translated into French for effect. Everything starts and ends as a great idea. It's all good; don't worry. Just sleep on it first, and your subconscious mind will make it better for you.

That's right, inside every writer there is a dreamland editor just waiting to get out and into your computer files. As luck would have it, your mind has all of those chapters and stanzas filed away in brain cells, so that when you sleep, you are actually working very hard at your writing. It almost justifies having a cat nap during the day, doesn't it? Or perhaps just a daydream for inspiration. I should have a poster made for my office door that reads: "Caution: Writer at Work - Do Not Startle if in a Trance or Awaken if in a Sleeping Position on the Couch".

As silly as this theory might sound, I find it to hold true in most writer's block situations. I am currently working on a new poem for my latest writing project. Just 2 more poems, and I will have half of a completed manuscript, so the pressure is on my dreamtime self to be in top form. I wrote this poem a week ago, but I am not satisfied enough to call it done. I am just not happy with the last two lines. The message is right, but the lines don't fit the mood or style of the rest of the poem. I have slept on this poem for a number of nights and it is still not coming together. My experiment tonight, after doing more editing, will be to read through the entire poem one more time before my head hits the pillow. I will program myself to dream about a resolution for the poem. With the muses and my subconscious on my side, the answer to my poetic puzzle will present itself by the morning (if I can get to my computer before my 4-year-old demands Cheerios). Wish me luck. Also, if anyone happens to cross creative wires with me and receives the answer to my poem's ending (it's about a marshland in New England - that's all I'm revealing), then feel free to e-mail me your words of editorial wisdom.

Funny stories aside, I do believe in allowing ideas for writing projects to percolate and then allowing the creative subconscious to work out what the waking mind often makes too complicated. Our dreams can be amazing teachers. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back, because it's all you! You are both the talented writer and the skillful editor wrapped up into one, literary powerhouse package.

Write to dream - then dream about writing, so that the words come to life on the page for all to be inspired!

CMRN

Poet Ingrid Goff Maidoff Encourages Joyful Living - 5 Stars!

2007-11-15T09:59:00.000-05:00

Eternal Song, Honey Sutras, Happiness, The Abundance of Grace ... These are just a few of the wonderful titles offered by poet and bookbinder Ingrid Goff Maidoff on her website, now on Amazon.com and at artisan fairs on Martha's Vineyard.

www.ingridgoffmaidoff.com

It is the joy and meaning we bring to the lives of readers that matters most. Poet and artisan bookbinder Ingrid Goff-Maidoff knows this more than any other writer I've met and read! Her books are thoughtfully and carefully bound, using beautiful paper with delicate patterns and textures. Her words gracefully held within the pages are just as much of a blessing for the reader. Ingrid has an instinctive talent for bringing poetic words of wisdom with a spiritual tone to her work. You feel as though your soul is nourished when reading her poems.

My mother gave me one of Ingrid's books called "Wonderful You" as a gift about 7 years ago. I fell in love with the uplifting quotes and sentiments and have always kept it on the bookcase next to my bedside, to dip into when my spirit hears the call. I had the great pleasure of meeting Ingrid at an artisan fair this past summer on Martha's Vineyard, and I instantly recognized her style of writing and book binding techniques. I was overjoyed to have found more of her work and quickly snapped up several books to give friends and family as gifts. Recently I ordered a lovely book of quotes about courage for a friend. Not only did I receive this beautiful book, but Ingrid thoughtfully included a single sachet of jasmine tea and a little scroll with lovely, positive thoughts on living in a state of pure joy!

For more information about Ingrid and to see all of her beautiful books, please visit her website: www.ingridgoffmaidoff.com

Your heart and soul will thank you!

With Blessings,
Cristina

A Writer's Daily Reflections on Thankfulness

2007-11-12T09:08:00.000-05:00

Every day when I wake up, I give thanks. I am thankful for my family, for the wonderful people in my life, for the love I am blessed with, and I am thankful for the opportunity to do what inspires me, what feeds my soul – write fiction!

I believe it is important to say thank you, not only to our loved ones, but to all those with whom we interact. Saying thank you can be one of the greatest gifts for both the giver and the receiver. A few years ago, I wrote an article for Edge Life Magazine called “The Power of Saying Thank You”. In that article one of the topics I wrote about was the sheer wonder I have for my husband and all of the helpful things he does for our household and family. Saying thank you to your spouse is an essential way to encourage a loving and caring partnership.

I find myself in a similar position of being incredibly thankful to the universe for bringing me a fulfilling project like Land & Sea, created in collaboration with the very talented NY artist Irene Ruddock. This week I would like to pay tribute to all of the Land & Sea readers who have come out to book signings, who have bought the book and who have written to say how much this collection of paintings and poetry has meant to them. Some readers have even taken the time to write thoughtful, insightful book reviews on Amazon.com! This is a supreme gift – to know that something you have written has touched the lives of others. Knowing that every poem has a reader is thrilling. Knowing that readers will take time to reflect on what brings them peace in their own lives after reading a poem is a true blessing.

I am thankful for the generous, gracious feedback from all of our readers. Thank you for sharing your joy and for taking the journey of peace and reflection that is Land & Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art.

With Gratitude,
Cristina M. R. Norcross

Too Busy to Blog?

2007-10-03T15:54:00.000-04:00

I have been informed that I have not posted a blog entry since September. Oh my, this is serious! I owe my e-readers an explanation ...

If I am too busy to blog, then it must be for a very very good reason, right? Well, I am pleased to say that I have been working hard to gain greater exposure for the 2nd Edition of my book Land & Sea, co-authored by the accomplished NY artist Irene Ruddock.

Here are the fruits of my labor:

BARNES & NOBLE COLLEGE DIVISION BOOKSTORE SIGNINGS:

Tufts University: November 10th
Harvard University Coop: December 9th
Fordham University Bookstore (Lincoln Center): December 15th (10-2)
Johnson & Wales Bookstore: January 16th (10-2)

OTHER UPCOMING SIGNINGS:

BORDERS Bookstore - Corcord, NH: 2008 (date coming soon!)
The Wingate Salon & Spa - Stratham, NH: 2007/08 (date coming soon!)
The Urban Muse - Denville, NJ: 2007/08 (date coming soon!)

RETAIL OUTLETS CURRENTLY SELLING LAND & SEA:

Cow Harbor (1214 North Country Road (25A), Stony Brook, NY, 11790) http://www.cowharborhome.com

The Stony Brook Gift Shop (135 Main St., Stony Brook, NY 11790) http://www.stonybrookvillagegiftshop.com

The Urban Muse (82 Broadway, Denville, NJ 07834) http://www.theurbanmuse.com

RiverRun Bookstore (20 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801) http://www.riverrunbookstore.com

The Water Street Bookstore (125 Water Street, Exeter, NH, 03833) http://waterstreet.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp

Gibson's Bookstore (27 South Main Street, Concord, NH, 03301) http://www.gibsonsbookstore.com/

The Wingate Salon and Spa (139 Portsmouth Avenue
Stratham, NH, 03885) http://www.wingatespa.com

Jabberwocky Bookstore (The Tannery, 50 Water St., #22, Newburyport, MA, 01950) http://jabberwocky.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp;jsessionid=abcmRLtzWbm-x6lFGuIvr

The Book Rack (52 State St., Newburyport, MA, 01950)
http://bookrackbookstore.com/index.html

Borders Bookstore
(76 Fort Eddy Rd.
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.1255)
http://www.bordersstores.com/stores/store_pg.jsp?storeID=340

***Keep watching this space. More book news, more inspiration for writing, and more thoughts on the literary muse coming soon!

More Thoughts on the Muse ...

2007-09-03T07:32:00.000-04:00

MUSES

An image appears after staring out the window for too long, and I scramble to catch it in my wordsmith's net. I write it down like a kite that has been brought back in from the clutches of a fierce wind.

Whispered words sometimes form next to my waiting, patient ear. I am enthralled with the idea of writing dialogue from the ethers. A whole poem has not shown itself yet to be a fully formed gift, but perhaps that would be asking too much of my muses. The first stanza sometimes comes to me swiftly and this is the greatest, beribboned present, as if I am being given spoken pearls, dreamtime treasures, or open palms ready to embrace my eager brain with a healing touch.

An artist's muse can be a frequent visitor or the spirit of a land you visit just once. A muse may walk beside you unannounced or uninvited. If you welcome this creative guest into your house of words, there will be fresh surprises, probing questions, new roads and in roads to the soul that you must seek to understand for yourself, regardless of how pleasant the company may be.

A muse may inspire, but the writer must do the hard slog of getting it all down on paper and making it shine. Three cheers for the company we have along the way, helping us to make those words and images shimmer in the light!

Writing Retreats and Workshops: Star Island, NH

2007-08-21T15:34:00.000-04:00

Writing workshops and retreats are a great way for writers, who normally have a rather solitary work experience in front of their computers and blank journals, to meet with other like-minded souls. It gives you the opportunity to share your creative process (and various drafts that you are itching to have someone else read). Solitude is a pre-requisite for a writer, if you want to actually get any writing done, but venturing out into the world and hearing what others have put down on the page can be a wonderful way to share the joy of this artform.

While lliving on Martha's Vineyard, I was a member of The Winter Writers Series at The Featherstone Meeting House for the Arts. It ran from October until March, and I think it only cost $35 at the time. We met once a week, had guest speakers (published writers who encouraged us and shared pearls of wisdom), read from our own work and gave support/feedback to each other. It was inspiring to listen to other writers read their words, carefully crafted and lovingly typed. We all had this shared bond of pride in our work. It was thrilling to think that we all had a future. We were cheering each other on every step of the way. One guest writer said to me: "You have found your inner compass". This statement stayed with me. Writers have the opportunity to make a difference in the life of another aspiring writer. One day, I need to seek out this particular wordsmith on Martha's Vineyard and say, "Thank you for helping me to believe in myself". The thank you is just as important as the compliment.

With this blog entry, I am joyously plugging a writing retreat that I am about to go on - The Star Island Retreat off the coast of NH.

Here is the website link to the retreat with all of the details:

http://www.witrhome.org/retreat.html

Happy writing and sharing to all!

A Must-See Documentary about Writers

2007-07-20T14:51:00.000-04:00

MONDAYS AT SKIMMILK: 30 YEARS OF WRITERS AT WORK
Ken Browne Productions

http://www.kbprods.com

This wonderfully insightful documentary features the famous NH writing workshop held every Monday in the summer at Skimmilk Farm. I recently ordered a copy, and I will treasure this film for years to come. It features former Poet Laureate of Portsmouth writers Marie Harris (Poet Laureate, 1999-2004) and Mimi White (Poet Laureate, 2005-2007), as well other very talented New England poets. Jean Pedrick herself, who founded the workshop, was a published poet. This group of talented writers shared their writing and their love of the artistic process at these meetings. Jean Pedrick passed away in 2006 and will be missed by all those who knew her or who were touched by her artistry as readers of her work. Her legacy of writing and mentorship will indeed live on.

Ken Browne does a very professional and touching portrait of these writers who engaged in meaningful discussions about their artform in order to evolve as artists of the written word. I was entranced by the energy that these writers shared and put forth, simply by discussing their drafts and reciting their words aloud to the group.

I think what I love most about the Skimmilk Workshops is that Jean Pedrick didn't charge any of the writers a tuition fee. All they had to bring was their writing and something homemade to share for lunch. What a wonderful exchange of sustenance ~ poetry and food. Of course, poetry IS food for the soul!

Mondays at Skimmilk aired on New Hampshire Public Television as part of National Poetry Month. To order a copy of this must-see documentary, please visit the website listed above for Ken Browne Productions. You will be rewarded with a rich viewing experience!

So when do you get to call yourself a writer anyway?!

2007-07-12T20:32:00.000-04:00

If your fingers get fidgety and your whole body gets a literary rash that itches all over, until you put words down on the page – then you are a writer.

If you wake up in the middle of the night with part of a dream still fresh in your head, and you think it would make a great beginning to a story – then you are a writer.

If you feel your breath coming to you at a slower, more relaxed pace after writing just one paragraph that excites you, because something has been joyously released from your soul – then you are a writer.

If you go for a nature walk (OK a walk in your neighborhood with your iPod on shuffle, grooving to the tunes) and after hearing a red-winged blackbird sing, you decide that you absolutely must power walk home, as quickly as your chicken legs will take you, so that you can write about the way that bird's call mimics a pool cue being chalked up before a game in your journal (one of the many that I keep telling you to scatter about your house like pixie dust) – then you are a writer (of very long, run-on sentences!).

If you read every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine, and the articles about writing are inked up or highlighted beyond recognition – then congratulations, you are a writer just like me, who is a little kooky but your family loves you.

OK, I’m running out of IF’s …

So, my final bit of writer cheerleading is a serious note:

Being published isn’t the definition of being a writer. It may give you temporary affirmation that you are a writerly person, and some people out there in Barnes & Noble Land may read and enjoy your books. The truth is that you are a writer simply because you regularly make the effort to put pen to paper. It is something that you MUST do; otherwise, you wouldn’t be YOU!

Congratulations! (I thought of one more IF) – if you love to write, and nothing else quite makes you feel as alive, as connected to the universe, then you are a writer indeed.

Happy Writing!

CMRN
7/12/07

don't be afraid to MAKE mIsTaKeS!@

2007-06-29T09:10:00.000-04:00

As the title suggests, you really need to just write down what the wild mind dictates in a rough draft. Natalie Goldberg talks about this all the time in her books (I just love her. She's my writing guru!). There will be plenty of time to tidy things up in the various editing stages that you go through as a writer. To begin with you want the muse to sit on your shoulder, unfettered by that annoying little voice that says, "Oooh, do you really want to write that? I think you missed a comma. That's just sloppy!" At this point you need to give your inner critic a sleeping pill or something, just to get some peace and quiet while you work. Let your mind roam the great expanses of time and creative space. Punctuation and spelling is something you can fix later. It is the straightened tie within an already well turned out ensemble.

You will also be amazed by what you can come up with, when you open new doors in the mind without the fear that you shouldn't go there. Nothing is sacred (except writing about that bully who stepped on your foot in the 3rd grade and using his real name. Sure it would be fun to embarrass him now and divulge his current street address, but I wouldn't recommend it and neither would a lawyer.) These are your own caverns to explore. Whether you are writing memoir, fiction or non-fiction - the emotional source of the self has a lot to say. Ignore the inner critic who will tell you that your ears are too big and that the opening sentence is clearly just a boring cliché, and listen to the inner thinker who ponders things for hours while you sleep. This creative type will be happy to take you on a trip to the realm of the fanciful and the infinitely more interesting world of fiction.

In Francine Prose's riveting book, Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those who Want to Write Them, she quotes a passage from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In one of the opening chapters called "Words", she deals with this notion of freeing oneself of being incorrect, in order to find the perfect image that you want to convey to your reader. (Gee, this book is perfect for practically every writer I know. I think I'll buy 10 copies and send them out next year as Christmas gifts! - seriously).

"There are at least two places in which words are, as with deferential palms, used in ways that seem surprising, even incorrect, but absolutely right. It's not exactly a 'shadow' that the wind casts over the sea, or the breeze over the rug, but we know what the writer means; there's no better way to describe it. Nor is there a more vivid way to create the image than the seeming improbability of the two women slowly ballooning back to earth without ever having left their couch." (p.28)

Freeing yourself of the fear of being wrong or incorrect, allows for more freedom in the writing itself. You can wander into places without restraint; you can keep running until the last image is captured. Then you can go back and insert all of the missed commas and upper case letters. Part of correcting awkward language is allowing yourself to feel awkward in the first place. Then you can let your characters stand tall in the fields of correct grammar. Another tip for these writing practice sessions is to have a very fast, free flowing pen. Let it rip!

CMRN
June 29, 2007

The Blank Page

2007-06-28T10:07:00.000-04:00

Where to begin? As a writer do you ever feel like you know how to write a story, or is it the first time every time?

I always feel a kind of jittery tension under my skin when I haven't written for a couple of days. This artistic angst - creativity that needs to go somewhere - keeps pestering me until I put some words down on paper. The very talented author Shannon Hale (Austenland) expresses it best on her blog (http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html) when she writes:

"And I know that when I’m not writing, I’m not happy, and the unwritten stories start to haunt me and tug on my sleeves and demand words on a page, and I cease to be the functioning kind of sane and start swatting at invisible characters. Mamas need our creative output, too. My finger painting is books."

After finishing a poem or short story, I will think to myself, "There - I have cracked the code. I know what I'm doing now." And then the shiny surface fades from the newness of success, and I am left there with a new project calling out for a source of help. Assistance always arrives, after much hair pulling and web surfing procrastination on my part, while also munching on Big Wheat Thins (Not the regular ones. You have to buy the Big ones because they are crunchier and will distract you even more from your writer's quandry). A scene will appear, or a phrase will repeat itself over and over again in my head sometimes when I am taking a shower. I will quickly dry off and write down the gist of things on a notepad by my bed. Sometimes a character will take me by the hand and point me in the right direction. "No, over here. You're going the wrong way! This is my story. Now write it!" Noisy, demanding, little tykes these characters are, aren't they? Like something out of Gulliver's Travels, these Lilliputians have a will of their own. But I graciously accept their help, as they spin yarns and offer up inspiring pearls of wisdom.

Enough said, the little people have spoken. Time for a new story ...

CMRN
June 28, 2007

What Can You Deliver Today?

2007-06-21T09:39:00.000-04:00

Underneath it all, we are all the UPS truck for someone. As we pick up the phone, ring a doorbell, or send off a card with a few kind words, someone is on the other end of our communication, waiting for that word – for the package of life-affirming connection to be delivered. The truck stops. We look out the window and know that this is a good day, because a brown van is parked on the side of the lawn that has a permanent dent in it from the snowplow. There is power in a word, a smile, or a touch on the shoulder. You never know how much of a difference in someone’s world you can make, until you choose to reach out and cut the ribbon.

Snip.

“I am in your yard now. How are you? This is my life today. How is your world spinning?”

These are simple questions that can shorten the distance between my hand and yours. It can also shorten the dreaded length of a day by inspiring good will and a shared experience. An impromptu meeting of minds can also lengthen a moment, so that a single drop of rain can be the most fascinating, rewarding moment to stand in awe of as a witness. We are the captivated audience to our own lives. Why not let someone else take center stage, and see how good it feels.

Each Time You Read a Book, You Are a New Person

2007-05-28T10:30:00.000-04:00

Each time you read a book, you are a different person. The cells in your body have replaced themselves, so that your skin has a sheen and newness unlike your former self. Each word written on the page has a different shape. It will affect your soul in an entirely new way, because just as you have transformed, this book you are choosing to re-read is a new narrative in the context of this day – now.

I am a big fan of Margaret Atwood. Ever since transferring to a Canadian University in my sophomore year of college and studying Canadian authors for the first time, I have been an avid reader of Atwood’s fiction. I remember studying a multitude of American and British writers in high school, but there was a distinct lack of Canadian representation in the curriculum. This is something I would like to see change. Perhaps it has since 1989.

I have read every novel Ms. Atwood has written, thus far, except Oryx and Crake. (For some reason I just had a hard time submersing myself in that one – perhaps it was the apocalyptic vision of the future offered in the narrative.) One of my favorite novels is Lady Oracle. I used to adhere to a personal tradition of re-reading this novel every year, usually in September. I loved the journey this novel took me on, and it was different every time. The protagonist is a writer who takes a trip to Italy by herself after faking her own death. She rents an apartment in order to finish her novel with no distractions. She tells no one of her travel plans (of course). She vanishes from her own life in order to go on a journey from within for the first time, while she writes this book. As a result, she launches herself on a quest of self-discovery.

By re-reading one of Margaret Atwood’s books every year for five years, I was embarking on a journey of the soul – a writer’s soul. I was searching for myself right along with the main character and was never disappointed. Getting to know one’s self is a life-long journey, and so too is the journey to becoming a good reader, or a skilled writer. Never stop searching for truths – whether they are universal or personal.

You Have to Live First, if You Want to Write

2007-05-20T20:17:00.000-04:00

When you are feeling blocked, empty, or frustrated with your writing ... in other words things just aren't flowing, you need to do what writer Anne Lamott refers to as "filling up". In Lamott's very helpful, enlightening and just plain funny book on writing called Bird by Bird, she discusses in one of her chapters the need for writers to fill up their cup with life experiences.

By this I don't mean that you should necessarily take up sky diving, because you think your life is boring. Whatever you do, don't walk down Main Street in your town naked, just because you need something juicy or daring to write about. Just live as if this present moment is a gift. Live as if the corny hand towels with that quote, "live every day as if it were your last," were true. You will find that your mind will be much more attentive to every detail in your life - every buttercup that you see on your lawn.

Yesterday I saw a very rare and captivating bird, the Baltimore Oriole. I was intoxicated by the orange, red and yellow colors that lit up this bird's feathered wings like a majestic flag. It was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen - apart from my own children - and it was only two feet away from me outside my friend's kitchen window. When it flew off, I initially felt bereft. "Take me with you," I thought. "Don't go. Let me paint a picture of you in my mind." So that is what I am doing here in this blog entry. I am capturing the splendor and beauty of that moment when I let everything else in my life stand still, including the blank page of my journal, so that I could live a shared moment with this Baltimore Oriole.

You have to live before you can write. When you do write for great lengths of time, give yourself permission and time to live in the present. Take a breather. Your writing will flow again like never before.

CMRN
MAy 20, 2007

In Praise of Adrienne Rich

2007-05-13T21:02:00.000-04:00

If you are a creative woman in need of space and time to produce your works, whether they be novels, songs, sculptures, photography, jewelry, murals, poetry, paintings, or even a rose out of a radish ... you MUST read Adrienne Rich's perfectly sized volume of essays and conversations, Arts of the Possible.

I will discuss several essays from this collection on this blog to give each the attention it deserves. For today's entry, here are a few thoughts on Rich's landmark essay, "When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Revision". As a mother and a writer, I know all too well the conflict between meeting the needs of the little people in the house on an every 5 minute basis, and trying helplessly to meet one's own basic needs, like eating a meal or taking a shower. How is a writer supposed to be able to fulfill the larger need of finding time to write, when having privacy in the restroom is a luxury? First I was a writer, then I became a mother, and realized that I had wasted valuable time by not racing towards my goals sooner. Why is it that motherhood creates a vacuum from which all time to create and be productive in one's individual pursuits is sucked away like a mighty wind? I realize there is no answer to that question. It is a fact that spare time dwindles when you become a parent. It is an honor to be given a precious life to nurture and care for, and my heart expands every day when I gaze upon my beautiful boys. I still need to write though. It is a fact. If I want to write books, I need to sit down and write - preferably without interruption. I have a sinking feeling that this is not going to happen until both boys are in college.

In Adrienne Rich's essay, "When We Dead Awaken," she breathes life into this notion that women deserve time and space to create. She even goes so far as to plainly state that without time to focus and delve into a subject or scene, the flow of writing becomes stilted and stifled:

"And a certain freedom of mind is needed - freedom to press on, to enter the currents of your thought like a glider pilot, knowing that your motion can be sustained, that the buoyancy of your attention will not be suddenly snatched away."

Amen, Adrienne Rich. You know what my writer's heart needs to hear.

More to follow. This is enough bark to chew on for now.

CMRN
May 13, 2007
Mother's Day

Zen and Now

2007-04-29T21:02:00.000-04:00

One of the many books decorating my end table this week is called The Zen of Creativity: Cultivating Your Artistic Life: by John Daido Loori. A photographer and a Buddhist teacher, author John Daido Loori is also the founder and abbot of New York State's Zen Mountain Monastery. Loori's book offers many useful insights into meditation as a starting point for the act of creation. I highly recommend this text to any artist who seeks to broaden his or her craft by delving deeper into the psyche of the artist as a seeker of "first thoughts" - as Natalie Goldberg might phrase it (author of Writing Down the Bones). Loori brings to the forefront the need to center yourself as a photographer or writer, and then approach your subject matter by letting the subject "speak" to you, even if the subject happens to be a rock or a tree. He suggests that if you honor the subject by sitting with the ocean or the sky, and wait for the right moment or light of day to capture an aspect of the subject's essence, then you will be creating from a different level than you would otherwise. This is truly an inspiring book and one which has changed my current writing practice. I always sink into a state of intense focus when writing, so this philosophy makes sense to me. I have found that the technique of finding a connection with the subject first, before diving into the act of creation can result in the Muse knowingly and willingly stepping into your frame and lending a hand. Give it a try and better yet, read this book!

The Musical Landscape of our Lives

2007-04-10T17:08:00.000-04:00

A more apt title for this blog entry would be "The Soundtrack of Our Lives". I am about to plug another artist - a musical one - because I think all art forms inform one another. Music inspires dancing which can inspire sculpture, which can inspire photography, which can inspire film ... and all of these mediums inspire writing. For me these past two weeks of fiction writing has been accompanied by a backdrop of celtic folk music by singer/songwriter Kate Rusby.

http://www.katerusby.com/

She has an amazing voice. Kate Rusby is lyrical, angelic, poetic - a true artist in sync with her muse. Perhaps listening to her dulcet tones will inspire you to write or create in another artistic medium. Listen to a few songs and see where your spirit takes you.

CMRN

I Am Having a Love Affair ... with WORDS!

2007-03-21T21:06:00.000-04:00

After reading Natalie Goldberg’s essay “How Poetry Saved My Life”, in which she reveals her first flush of love with words and the art of poetry, I realized that I too have been having a clandestine romance with the English language (shhhhh … don’t tell my husband ;-D ). It has left me breathless many a night over a blank journal.

I hear words or phrases in my head. Sometimes, if I am lucky, a whole first stanza will appear. Who knows what gracious muse bestows this gift to me on these nights, but I am thankful nonetheless. After writing and re-writing a passage, typing it in and making “each word shine” (Emily Dickinson’s choice words, not mine – isn’t she brilliant?!), I will read the poem, short story, or chapter from a novel out loud. I let each word fall from my mouth and take up the whole room, so that the rhythm brushes my skin with heat and the chiming of syllables falls like rain all around me. I close my eyes sometimes to see, really see, where my characters live. Some live in a one-bedroom apartment where the grotty linoleum needs a good scrubbing. Others don’t seem to live anywhere – they walk the streets for the duration of the story. Their history takes up the space that a home normally would ~ great, big spaces of melancholy and grace.

Words are like music when you listen attentively. They can lull you to sleep on a restless night. Phrases can soothe you with their surprising tenderness like a warm bath doused with lavender and bergamot oils. Whole paragraphs that move in a single motion like a smooth flowing river can be so soft. You will want to wrap them around your shoulders, your knees, and your gorgeous toes that get cold at night. The warmth will energize and inspire you to write more, so that an entire afghan blanket appears to shelter your dreams.

So dream about words, bathe yourself in syllables, let each image that takes shape lead you down the literary path. May you have many sweet dreams filled with words.

CMRN
3/21/07

Warming up the Ink

2007-03-10T09:52:00.000-05:00

I think the "warm-up" principle for any activity is important. You wouldn't run a marathon or perform an arabesque in Swan Lake without stretching your muscles first, would you? So why would you sit down at the computer to write a story without getting your brain and finger tips ready for some serious writing?

For writing sessions out of the house, I usually pack a copy of Elizabeth Berg's book, Escaping into the Open: the Art of Writing True, whatever current novel I am reading, a blank journal and my laptop. That's a lot of gear! I start by reading someone else's good writing for inspiration. I often think that maybe by osmosis, talent will seep into my pores. A good read should be accompanied by a nice steaming cup of something delightfully aromatic and flavorful, whether for you that means a cup of Earl Grey tea or an indulgent Cinnamon Dolce Latte. My next step is to dip into Elizabeth Berg's book on writing in which she has wonderful writing exercises to get you going. It doesn't have to be a thesis. Even a paragraph or two in which you practice your descriptive language or dialogue can be helpful. That just leaves your empty notebook or computer screen to be filled. It depends on the day, but I am usually old-fashioned about writing things in long hand first, and then typing it up during the editing stage. There is something about scratching things out, writing little notes to yourself in the margins, perhaps doodles, that appeals to me. Also it doesn't hurt to have a beautiful pen to write with for inspiration. For Valentine's Day my husband gave me a gorgeous, purple "True Writer" pen from Levenger. I'm not trying to plug www.Levenger.com here, but I am addicted to all of their elegant paper and pen goods!

Given the fact that I only book about 2 hours of writing time, so that I can get back to my little boys and relieve Daddy, these steps can take as little or as much time as you have. If you feel you need practice, then just work on the writing exercises. Whatever suits you is best. There is no right way to write after all. I am just sharing one of my routines for getting inside of what Natalie Goldberg refers to as the "wild mind" of the writer. So - read, brainstorm, write, edit, write some more (look out the window at spring blooms, because life is too short) ... and remember to enjoy that coffee house java!

Happy Writing!
CMRN

When you can't write - edit ...

2007-03-05T20:54:00.000-05:00

... and when you don't have the inspiration to write or edit your work from that day, then blog about writing. It's still writing, even if you might be avoiding adding new content to your current project. So what am I avoiding writing tonight that would cause me to blog? I actually had a very productive week-end where the stars were aligned, I "booked" an hour to write while my hubby watched the kids, plus the baby took two long naps in his crib instead of on my shoulder, so I had another two hours of writing time. I feel I can afford to be a slacker tonight with my glass of milk, a sugar cookie and the laptop. This is when it is very dangerous to contemplate buying yet another fleece pull-over from L.L.Bean, because you have given yourself permission to browse their on-line catalog, instead of choosing to be productive by writing.

Another theory that I read in an article, from one of the many writing magazines that I thumb through when I am avoiding work, is that it is necessary to allow ideas and written work to "percolate". Kind of like a good cup of coffee, the author of the article suggests that you keep a file for ideas that you want to explore through writing and let the ideas percolate. You should add to this file for several days or weeks before even starting a project. Then he suggests that after you have written an article or story, you should allow your psyche to rest a bit and then re-visit the work with a fresh, clear mind. I have to agree on that last point. I always "sleep on it" after I have written a poem or a short story. The next day I will do more editing and the cuts and changes I make are swift, without sentimentality for the preciousness of the work that we as writers all feel at some point. Our writing is so fragile, because we put ourselves on the line for all to read. By the next day (after a good breakfast) you can plow through the sentences that lack grace, cut unnecessary phrases with your delete button or red pen, and free yourself of many clichés that are begging to be given the 'ole Heave Ho!

On that note of bad phrasing, I shall close for tonight. Perhaps I will write after all. A good warm up always encourages a good work out. I hear my notebook calling.

CMRN
9pm

Keep a notebook everywhere!

2007-02-25T19:24:00.000-05:00

Keep a notebook everywhere you sit, read, think, sleep ... EVERYWHERE! I keep blank journals all over my house: in table drawers, next to my bed, on every desk available, in my coat pocket, in my purse, even in the glove compartment of my car! You never know when inspiration is going to hit. Even if it's just an idea for a title or a persistent image, you need to get it down on paper, especially if those precious diamonds filter into your mind just before sleep. The other night I was too tired to start a new poem for my NH Seacoast collection that I'm working on, but as I was drifting to sleep, the title appeared in my head along with the first two lines. I genuinely wanted to sleep after running around after my 3-year-old and 10-month-old boys, but I dragged myself out of bed, pulled out my Alice in Wonderland themed notebook and one of about 10 pens in my night table. I switched the light on in the bathroom, so I could scribble a few words down while leaning next to the sink. I shut the door, so I wouldn't wake up my husband with the light, and squinted my eyes against the glare. The next day I deciphered my late night handwriting and started work on the new poem. Today, I did my edits and it's almost finished. Had I not listened to my dreamy state mind, I would have lost the train of thought. Perhaps it would have become a different poem entirely from the one intended by my muses. Who knows? I only know that I would have been kicking myself while staring at a blank page, if hadn't listened attentively to the poem calling out to me.

CMRN

Inspirational Writing Quote of the Day

2007-02-17T11:16:00.000-05:00

Well, this is my spur of the moment inspirational quote for today. I may scatter these postings here and there. I should have chosen the title "Occasional Writing Quote on a Random Saturday Because I Feel Like It".

I am a new fan of New England writer May Sarton who wrote many journals and collections of poetry as well as novels. In this quote she captures the philosophy that there is a teacher in every poem we write.

"This is where poetry is so mysterious, the work more mature than the writer of it, always the messenger of growth. So perhaps we write toward what we will become from where we are."

~May Sarton
from Journal of a Solitude

What do you wear to a book signing?

2007-02-17T10:57:00.000-05:00

It's like planning for a prom, only without the meringue-like poofy dress. Hair up or down? Will glasses instead of contacts make you look and feel more intelligent? These are the superficial questions that I find myself asking the "inner girl" in me, as I prepare for my first two book signings coming up this Spring/Summer. As the mom of two little boys under the age of 3 1/2 yrs., my no nonsense uniform of jeans/black khakis and a fleece pull-over (with sweet potato and drool stains, compliments of my 9 month-old) probably isn't the best look for a book event. On a serious note, it is the writing and how my future readers will identify with the ideas expressed that matters to me most. Oh, but what will my hair look like, when I read one of the poems? Just kidding. I have the perfect excuse to go shopping for "grown up" clothes if I can get some time to myself.

Getting started on the next writing venture weighs more heavily on my mind than fashion after completing a project. I already have several other collections of poems in the works. Depending on what subject or genre inspires me that particular day, I open up a new blank journal to match that inspiration and begin to open new worlds with words. Each story holds a mystery for me. It is only when I reach the last line, that I fully understand the message that I am being taught.

Procrastination and the Clock

2007-02-15T22:13:00.000-05:00

Instead of procrastinating writing, I am delaying bedtime in much the same fashion that my 3 year old will whine to me saying, "But I'm not tired. I will not go to bed". This line is of course straight out of his favorite book and British children's series "Charlie and Lola". I am looking at the clock, as I fiddle with the new template and background color for this blog, and notice that the later it gets, the less inclined I am to go to bed. I have typed in and edited a poem for one of my new ekphrastic poetry collections, and I am feeling productive. So, I think, "I am not tired, and I will not go to bed". This of course is a foolish and misguided choice, as either one or both of my little sons will be waking me up tonight, so I'd better toddle off to bed myself. I will take my leave. I will awaken to write another day! CMRN

Who is writing the words anyway?

2007-01-06T12:55:00.000-05:00

Do you believe in artistic muses?

My novels don't magically appear in my psyche (wouldn't that be efficient?), but ideas and images do. Sometimes dialogue for characters will start playing out like a movie in my head, and I will try to quickly capture it on paper.

Poetry is where I have the most success with my muse collaborations. The first lines of a poem or even an entire first stanza will make itself known to be by repeating in my internal notebook over and over until I finally write it down. There really is a muse, (or muses) I believe, who kind of nudges me and insists that I write something. That is why I never procrastinate with poetry. Novel writing yes. I will clean the entire house or reorganize my CD collection before sitting down to write a new chapter. It's annoying, but it takes care of my To Do list.

As an example, last night the words "I choose you" and "the enchantment is complete" kept appearing for me. I ended up writing an entire poem with those lines as the starting point. It is based on a painting by RC Gorman. As soon as I do my final edits, I'll include that poem in a later posting to this blog. Who knows? This could be the start of another poetry collection. It is always a surprise to me how my writing projects begin. I start small with an interest in a theme or genre, and then 25 poems later there is a real work there taking form. It's all organic - the process. That is what is so exciting to me - not knowing where the story will end, but enjoying the creative journey. Bite-sized pieces of inspiration are less intimidating too!

CMRN

When does inspiration hit?

2007-01-04T22:24:00.000-05:00

When does inspiration strike for writing? I will leave that question out there. Feel free to add your ideas. Anyone, anyone? Bueller? For me inspiration seems to hit at inconvenient times when I do not have or can not reach my pen and paper or computer keys. Typically when my brain is given a siesta from taxing tasks like in the shower, waiting in line at the grocery store, or when I'm nursing my baby. Inspiration also hits when it is supposed to, when I am sitting before a blank screen or page, but the big ideas are allowed to play out in my imagination much more fluidly, when the space in my head floats between planes. That is why dreaming can provide such fertile ground for writers. The internal editor isn't giving a critique on why your hair-brained idea is unrealistic - and I don't mean your freshman English teacher with the bifocals. It's that internal naysayer who can make great ideas vanish into thin air. Be confident, think big, let your mind wander into the caverns of the unreal. We are writing fiction after all. Time to write from a destination unknown. I think I will program myself to dream about a story and let the story find me. I'll let you know who I meet along the way. There is a character waiting to be born on my screen.

CMRN

Long time no blog ...

2007-01-04T22:01:00.000-05:00

No, I haven't had writer's block, but I guess I've had blogger's block, because in looking at my last entry I haven't left a message here since the summer. I have been busy with a new bouncing baby boy and have also "birthed" a book. Due to be released soon is an art/poetry book called Land and Sea: Poetry Inspired by Art which I collaborated on with artist Irene Ruddock. We started working on it a year ago and it has materialized into a full-fledged book! For more information about the book's release, please visit my website: http://www.firkinfiction.com and to learn more about Irene Ruddock's beautiful paintings, you can visit her website: http://www.ireneruddock.com.

Now that my shameless self-promotion is done with, I can reflect on what really matters - writing, ideas for writing, the art of writing, why I write, why I don't write, why I take up space here writing really long sentences because I can. I think this is what I love most about a blog - as a writer I can be informal and share what really goes on inside a writer's head. I think one of the most honest portrayals of a writer's insecurities and obesessions is when Nicholas Cage's character in the film Adaptation has his monologue at the beginning. I'm sure imdb.com has the whole speech written out (but don't hold me to that). Nicholas Cage talks about his dream for being the fit, well-travelled, nobel-prize winning, attractive, accomplished, philanthropist writer and how this will make him a happier, better person somehow. He sits before a blank screen and daydreams about all of the things he should be doing or could be doing. In reality, he should be putting fingers to keys, but instead he beats himself up over all of the qualities he is lacking.

OK, I couldn't help but do a search on IMDB for that opening sequence. For all of the writers reading this, you will laugh and identify with these thoughts I'm sure!

FROM THE FILM: ADAPTATION (2002)
Directed by
Spike Jonze

Writing credits (WGA)
Susan Orlean (book)
Charlie Kaufman (screenplay)

first lines]
Charlie Kaufman: [voiceover] "Do I have an original thought in my head? My bald head. Maybe if I were happier my hair wouldn't be falling out. Life is short. I need to make the most of it. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'm a walking cliché. I really need to go to the doctor and have my leg checked. There's something wrong. A bump. The dentist called again. I'm way overdue. If I stop putting things off I would be happier. All I do is sit on my fat ass. If my ass wasn't fat I would be happier. I wouldn't have to wear these shirts with the tails out all the time. Like that's fooling anyone. Fat ass. I should start jogging again. Five miles a day. Really do it this time. Maybe rock climbing. I need to turn my life around. What do I need to do? I need to fall in love. I need to have a girlfriend. I need to read more and prove myself. What if I learned Russian or something, or took up an instrument. I could speak Chinese. I'd be the screenwriter who speaks Chinese and plays the oboe. That would be cool. I should get my hair cut short. Stop trying to fool myself and everyone else into thinking I have a full head of hair. How pathetic is that. Just be real. Confident. Isn't that what women are attracted to? Men don't have to be attractive. But that's not true. Especially these days. Almost as much pressure on men as there is on women these days. Why should I be made to feel I have to apologize for my existence? Maybe it's my brain chemistry. Maybe that's what's wrong with me. Bad chemistry. All my problems and anxiety can be reduced to a chemical imbalance or some kind of misfiring synapses. I need to get help for that. But I'll still be ugly though. Nothing's going to change that."

Well, I will close with those thoughts for now. I do not have writer's block, but I do have two small children under the age of 3 who seem to eat away at any time I might have to write. So why am I here contemplating my writer's navel when I should be churning out some polished firkin fiction. Well, that will have to wait for another entry.

CMRN