Everyone Should Read It

You might say I was raised on Dale Carnegie, or at least in close proximity.   My Dad was a big Dale Carnegie fan.  How to Win Friends and Influence People was his favorite book.  I’d like to think some of it rubbed off on me.

When my parents died, we found an impressive stack of Dale Carnegie books and tapes.  I thought lovingly of their influence on my dad, and went on with my sorting.  I had never read any of it.

I brought home a lot of treasures from my parents’ home, but Dale Carnegie wasn’t among them.  Outdated, I thought.   How to Win Friends and Influence People is old—older than me.  I was born in the fifties.  How to win Friends was published in the thirties—1937 to be exact.

A few years later, a fellow piano teacher told me excitedly of a book she was reading.  It had changed her thinking, and it was changing the way she taught piano.  I was eager to hear about this book.  I wanted to improve my teaching too.

The book?  You guessed it.  How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.  I was stunned.  How had I missed this treasure, once at my fingertips.  Maybe it wasn’t outdated.

I checked it out from the library and begin listening to it in my car.  I couldn’t believe how relevant it was.  I listened to it several times, and tried to absorb it.  The messages in the book were powerful.

Fast forward several years.  Friend-husband and I just returned from a trip with our youngest son and his wife.  There was a lot of driving involved and our son had brought some CD’s to listen to in the car.  The book was familiar.  The author was Dale Carnegie.  I was eager to hear How to Win Friends and Influence People again. 

Though I knew what to expect this time, the material sounded brand new.  It was meaty and fresh.  I tried to absorb it, but there was so much.  I need this information in my life.  I need it all the time.

I think I’m good with people, but not this good.  I’ve had a lot of disappointing experiences in the last few years.  People let you down sometimes.  If I had been better at some of the principles taught in that book, could I have turned some of those experiences around?

I’ll never know, but I can try again. 

I decided to put it to the test.  I tried some of the ideas out on two sticky little people problems.  It made a difference.  Those two problems evaporated.  I’m a believer, but old habits die hard.  I need to hear this stuff every day.

Here’s a snippet from an Amazon review:  “This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated.”

Warren Buffet said it changed his life.

Maybe everyone should read it.

Linda Garner

 

Check out Writer's of the Future

When you get a minute, check out Writer’s of the Future.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/LRonHubbard/Writersofthefuture/prweb10866206.htm

This is a great read available on Amazon. Check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CE2CC30/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00CE2CC30&linkCode=as2&tag=davidfarnet-20

Happy summer reading.

My picture book, Love, Hugs, and Hope When Scary Things Happen will be out in hard copy September 1^st, 2013.

My women’s self help book, Becoming Free, A Woman’s Guide to Internal Strength, comes out for the Nook, Kindle and iPad September 1^st, 2-13.

...and so is the Opportunity

He wanted to learn to play the violin.  We couldn't afford it, so I put him off. 

Later, I was touched by a beautiful cello performance at a free concert. How could I deny my son this amazing gift.  I got serious.  Maybe I could find a way.

My sister had an old violin that no one was using.  My niece had studied the violin.  Soon the arrangements were made and it didn't cost us anything. 

My son enjoyed the violin, but like most kids he needed encouragement.  He practice some, but not as much as we would have liked.  Eventually, we began paying for the lessons.

When my son outgrew the violin we began shopping for another.  I watched the ads in the paper for used instruments.  If the price was right, we went to see it.  I always took my niece, because I knew nothing about violins. 

I wanted an instrument with good sound.  My son was concerned about the appearance of the violin.  We saw violins which sounded good but looked hammered.  We saw violins which were pretty, but lacked tone. 

Finally we found the perfect violin.  I liked the price.  It was beautiful, had a nice case, and two bows.  I couldn't tell what my niece was thinking.  She was quiet.  "I think it's worth the price," she said softly, without a trace of a smile on her face.  We paid the woman and left.

Back in the car, my niece squealed with delight.  "What a deal!" she added.  "This is your lucky day."  It was a fine violin at a price we could afford.  It would last my son a long time. 

My son played for several years, and then he lost interest.  When he was married with children, I noticed the violin stored unceremoniously in the garage.

I was a little offended.  "That violin does not belong in the garage," I said. 

"You're mad because I don't play it anymore," said my son.

"Not at all," I replied.  "We gave you the opportunity.  The rest is up to you.  You don't need to play the violin to make me happy," "...or to make me love you more," I added.  I meant it. 

"Then what's the problem?" asked my son.

"This is a valuable instrument.  It was given to you at some sacrifice.  It doesn't deserve to be stored in a garage."

Some time later, my son's interest in the violin was rekindled.  He began practicing.  He found a teacher.  Occasionally he performed in church and family settings.  Then coming home from a funeral where he had performed, the violin was damaged by careless hands at the airport. 

My son took the violin to be repaired.  The violin technician was impressed with my son's instrument.  Quite impressed.  He offered to buy it from him.

My son called.  "Did you know my violin is valuable?"  he asked.

"Yes,  I knew."

Because the technician couldn't guarantee that the repair would be satisfactory, my son opted for a new violin.  The technician seemed pleased.  I think I know why.

My son didn't understand the value of the violin which we gave to him.  Of course the violin was only part of the gift. 

Now my son is passing the gift on to his three daughters.  He can afford three violins.  He can afford lessons.  However, the gift of his time is priceless.

...and so is the opportunity.

Linda Garner

Don't Show, Don't Tell, Make

I love Dave Farland’s Daily Kick in the Pants. Those of you who are writers, if you haven’t signed up to receive the posts, do it. Every entry is great. I learn something new every time I read his essays.

The post on July 11^th was about Showing, Telling and Making. His premise is that young writers are always given the advice to ‘show, don’t tell’ when vague descriptions are written.

He says this kicks writers into the mode of writing cinematically as if one were looking through the eyes of the camera. He says that when we do this, we lose sight of the viewpoint character. We are writing about actions only so we don’t get their feelings.

He proposes that we need to bring our manuscripts to life by bringing the reader into the illusion we have created—by making the experience real for the reader—with smells and tastes and feelings in the scene. Can we write so that the reader is experiencing the illusion right along with the protagonist?

So we as writers don’t need to show; we don’t need to tell’ we need to make the experience real for the reader.

My picture book, Love, Hugs, and Hope When Scary Things Happen will be out in hard copy September 1^st, 2013.

My women’s self help book, Becoming Free, A Woman’s Guide to Internal Strength, comes out for the Nook, Kindle and iPad September 1^st, 2-13.

I Never Met a Newberry I Didn't Love

I've been disappointed in a couple of my latest reading downloads.  Free downloads are not always a good investment.  After the latest disappointment, Friend-husband handed me a book and said, try this.

It's a Newberry Award winner--one I've never read.  The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.  Appropriate, since we are on our way to Salem, Massachusetts. 

I can scarcely put it down.  What an engaging and well written book. So refreshing.  I think it is my new best friend.  It's an old book--written in the fifties.  Our copy is old too, tattered, and well worn.  I can see why.

I've been reading a lot of new books lately, but they have nothing over these old favorites. 

I've never met a Newberry I didn't love.  How about you.

Linda Garner

Similes

I’ve just finished reading Geraldine Brooks New York Time’s bestseller, Caleb’s Crossing. Her People of the Book is also an excellent read.

There are many reasons I enjoy her writing, but one that I’d like to mention is her use of figures of speech. Her similes, which likens one thing to a dissimilar thing, are wonderful.

Bethia, the protagonist, says of her mother:

“She was like a butterfly, full of color and vibrancy when she chose to open her wings, yet hardly visible when she closed them.”

“Her modesty was like a cloak that she put on. . .”

Bethia describes her father:

“Father picked up the thread of his thought as if it were a tangled skein that he worried at.”

Bethia, who is forbidden further lessons in schooling, says of herself when she can answer the questions better than her older brother:

“At first when I gave out a Latin declension, father was amused and laughed. . . . [but] Father’s pleasures were of a fleeting kind—the reactions one might have if a cat were to walk about upon its hind legs. You smile at the oddity but find the gait ungainly and not especially attractive.”

What a gift she has. I do enjoy her books. Read and enjoy.

I’ve just finished reading Geraldine Brooks New York Time’s bestseller, Caleb’s Crossing. Her People of the Book is also an excellent read.

There are many reasons I enjoy her writing, but one that I’d like to mention is her use of figures of speech. Her similes, which likens one thing to a dissimilar thing, are wonderful.

Bethia, the protagonist, says of her mother:

“She was like a butterfly, full of color and vibrancy when she chose to open her wings, yet hardly visible when she closed them.”

“Her modesty was like a cloak that she put on. . .”

Bethia describes her father:

“Father picked up the thread of his thought as if it were a tangled skein that he worried at.”

Bethia, who is forbidden further lessons in schooling, says of herself when she can answer the questions better than her older brother:

“At first when I gave out a Latin declension, father was amused and laughed. . . . [but] Father’s pleasures were of a fleeting kind—the reactions one might have if a cat were to walk about upon its hind legs. You smile at the oddity but find the gait ungainly and not especially attractive.”

What a gift she has. I do enjoy her books. Read and enjoy.

Staring Over

At least that's what it feels like when you take a long, long break.

But I'm finally back and writing my next novel.

Since I've been gone so long, tell me how you are doing? How's the writing? Hopefully I can find you all on my new blog feed. If not, leave a comment so I can track you down. ;)

Writing Tip for the week: Did you know that eight percent of the population think they can write a book? It's true! How many actually finish? Only two percent. So finish that book!

Penumbras

Conner Dell didn’t mean to blow up

the school bus. Or the bathrooms. In fact, he only wanted to go to sleep and possibly

dream about Melanie Stephens.

But explosions had a funny way of happening when Conner and his friends were around.

The twins, Conner and Lexa find themselves in a battle with the darkness. Conner, surrounded by shadows, thinks he has become a Darkhand, The struggle he faces between the light and the dark may just kill him.

Lexa is jealous that Conner likes her best friend Melanie. Will the three of them work their problems out?

Lexa has her own set of troubles when her teacher and mentor, Dr. Timberi doesn’t choose her for the lead in the school musical. In fact, she thinks it may be her fault that Dr. Timberi dies—or does he?

Bell’s characters come alive in this fast-paced middle grade fantasy. It’s a fun read for kids and grandkids. Begin with the first book, The Kindling, and give your family a fun read to close out the summer.

I highly recommend Bell’s writing and these two books. Enjoy, Enjoy.

http://www.bradenbell.com/penumbras.html

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https://www.facebook.com/christymonsonauthor

Like the author page and enter the rafflecopter. Good Luck!

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Taking Off the Mask

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend an evening at girls camp with the girls in my neighborhood.  Girls camp is different from boys camp.  First of all it’s noisier.  Girls are chatty.  Girls sing.  Girls laugh.

Girls have a certain softness about them, even when they’re camping.  Not that they can’t be mean, they definitely can be mean.  Girls can be really nice too, especially at camp, but more than that, they have a certain feminine softness, even when their blue jeans are dirty.

There is something different about girls when they’re camping out, especially on day three or four.  They have been without their cell phones for a few days.  They’ve left the t.v. and internet behind.  Their best friends are probably not with them.   They’re not trying to impress anyone.  They’re not so worried about fitting in.

And then, a wonderful thing happens.  They begin to open their souls to each other.  Just a crack at first.  They become close in a way that they weren’t close before.  They are warmer and they begin to share feelings and thoughts that are personal and sometimes spiritual.

There is a special warmth around a campfire.   The thoughts that are shared in the flickering shadows are meaningful and sweet.  It’s magic.  I’ve tried to understand it. 

I think it’s the masks.  There in the mountains, or the forest, for a few hours they take off their masks, and they show each other who they really are.  They aren’t afraid of looking strange, of sounding weird, or being different.  They can be friends with everyone.  They like themselves.  They like each other.

They can be themselves.

I love it.  I wish we all could gather around a campfire every once in a while.  I wish we could take off our masks and be ourselves much more often. 

I’d like to be friends.

Linda Garner

 

Final Manuscript Edits

The past two weeks have been crazy for me. My mom has  been ill, and I've had to do the final edits on  my Becoming Free manuscript. I've had a wonderful editor that went through the entire manuscript, helping me revise and tighten and cut--all those good things.

It was a great experience, but I found myself being kind of anal about it. When she would send me a section to rewrite, I had to do it right away. I couldn't let myself rest until I had it completed. What was that all about? I felt rather compulsive.

I guess you are never really through finding out new things about yourself, and consequently, growing and changing for the better.

I've always tried to please others. I like to make sure everyone is happy. So here I was killing myself when my mom was sick to get all this work done ahead of schedule. Maybe it was the pressure of my mom's  illness. Maybe it was a need to please. And maybe it was just a love of writing--wanting to get it right and having a good time doing it. I don't know. Shall I go for a combination of all three?

I'd love you to critique my ideas. Tell me your thoughts.

You can read the book September 1st when it comes out. Maybe it will  give you some insight into my weird personality.

Thanks for listening, Christy