Here's the cover of the December 2006 cover I love it. I'll have an excerpt soon. The holidays are just around the corner so order Holiday Wishes for someone you love. To go to Amazonclick here
Mary on 09.14.06 @ 12:13 PM PST [link]
Saturday, September 9th
Fall Is Just Around the Corner
I'm almost finished with THE BEST PLACE TO BE! One more read through for small changes and it's on its way. One of the best feelings is to finish a manuscript and be proud of it--and I am.
Janet Fitch has a new book out, PAINT IT BLACK. It's a starred review in P.W. I ordered it this afternoon after I read an interview about her writing life. She comments about writers "knowing" things: "How can we imagine something that turns out to be true? How can we know things we couldn't possibly know? It makes me wonder about the existence of collective unconscious...we are all connected. Perhaps that's why we can move into others' lives." I think most writers would believe this statement. How do we know what we know? I've written ideas without researching, then gone back and done the "backward" research and found out that I guessed right! That is a a very weird feeling. But then again, life is sometimes very strange. Till next time.
Mary on 09.09.06 @ 07:58 PM PST [link]
Monday, August 7th
Summer Love
Ever wonder where the saying "Dog Days of Summer" came from? To find out click here . As I've said before, I love summer, shorts, flip-flops and icy drinks, however, by August I'm dreaming a little of Christmas. Yet when summer ends I'm sad. My best times have taken place in the summer: ocean swimming, the desert heat, a summer love. Why is romance best in the summer? Any ideas? Is it because the nights are so beautiful? On the writing front I went to a writers' conference in Atlanta last week, and in the mornings I wrote and wrote and wrote. There is something so wonderful about a quiet, cool room at the end of July. Until next time.
Mary on 08.07.06 @ 07:59 PM PST [link]
Friday, July 7th
Best Books for The Summer
Great reads for the last days of summer:
Off Her Rocker Jennifer Archer
Learning to Hula Lisa Childs
The Cotton Queen Pamela Morsi
What Remains Carole Radziwell This book is amazing. If you don't have two days off to read it, you'll call in sick because you won't be able to put it down. I was enthralled with the non-fiction lyrical voice.
Mary on 07.07.06 @ 10:39 AM PST [link] [10 Comments]
Tuesday, July 4th
Welcome July
I've made a few changes to my website . . . finally! I've replaced recipes with reviews. And I'll be posting here with news about my life, when I have one. This month I'm working on my newest book, THE BEST PLACE TO BE. I love it when I start a new project and characters begin to develop, surprise me. That's the best part of writing.
Two weeks ago my daughter, two friends and I went to a Shakesperean festival. What fun! We saw "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and "Antony and Cleopatra". Both were marvelous--the costumes, the language, even parts I didn't know what the heck they were talking about :-). At the festival I reconnected with a friend I hadn't seen in years. It's strange how there are people in my life who I'll always have a connection with even if I don't see them for years. Certain people make such an impression . . . well I'll never forget them. Happy Summer!
Mary on 07.04.06 @ 04:02 PM PST [link] [4 Comments]
Sunday, May 21st
What's a Keeper?
Here's a picture of some of my high school friends taken at the reunion, "The Last Dance" in the old (and I mean old) cafeteria of the school. I'm still thinking about the reunion, all the people I saw, ones I still don't remember and ones who didn't remember me. I threw away my high school year books years ago so I can't look anyone up. Do you still have your high school yearbooks? It amazes me what people decide to keep and what they throw away. I didn't miss my yearbooks until the reunion, now I wish I had them. I'm one of those people who can't stand clutter so I get rid of all sorts of things, and then years later, I'm sitting here wishing I hadn't tossed them in the trash. Something I would never ever throw away--any of my daughter's baby pictures. Is there something you could never part with?
Mary on 05.21.06 @ 05:49 PM PST [link] [4 Comments]
Sunday, May 14th
The Last Dance: Things Will Never Be The Same Again
A few weeks or months--they all run together when you’re a writer--I posted about my all year high school reunion “The Last Dance.” Well, this weekend was the “The Last Dance.” Tah-Da!! The reunion consisted of an Ice Breaker Friday night, a long talk with a wonderful classmate who I didn’t really know well in high school, and then the actual reunion “The Last Dance” on Saturday.
Of course I went because I love watching people, love new experiences, weird experiences, experiences in general. But this morning I wondered if I went for another reason, too. And lo and behold I got my answer through the radio.
As I was pondering reunion attending, and as synchronicity would have it, the Michael McDonald song, “I Keep Forgetting We’re Not in Love Anymore” began playing. And suddenly I came to the realization that maybe we attend reunions because it’s a human quality to forget that “things will never be the same again.”
Even though the reunion was fun, it was sadly nostalgic. It was fun to see people I haven’t seen in years, realize they still have the same cute mannerisms, same great senses of humor and lust for life. However--and the howevers are usually the sadly nostalgic--some things stay the same, yet my ability to tolerate the silly little games I once was willing to put up with "will never be the same again." At 16 I thought I could fix people who were dishonest, who don’t follow through and/or are rude. Now I know I can't, and I don't want to. Drama Mamas just aren’t fascinating to me! What liberation!
So I pose the question to you: Do we go reunions because we want to reconnect, or do we go because subconsciously we know that “things will never be the same again” and at reunions we learn how to move forward?
Mary on 05.14.06 @ 06:30 PM PST [link] [6 Comments]
Sunday, May 7th
Perking Along
Blogging is a very weird occupation. There are days when there are lots of things to blog about, and then others when my mind draws a complete blank. Lately I haven’t had any trouble coming up with blogging topics, which I think is a good sign that my life is full and as my grandmother used to say, “Perking right along.”
Last week I visited with a book club group who read WHAT TO KEEP. They were so gracious and complimentary of my writing. It is always interesting to me to talk to readers and hear their takes on my characters, especially when they rave! But I like to hear the more complicated interpretations of my characters, too. Last week a woman told me she didn’t connect with the protagonist, however, she loved the secondary characters Tildy and Charlotte. At the last book club I attended another reader told me she loved the protagonist, but didn’t connect with Charlotte. Isn’t it interesting what readers come away with? I guess characters are like people we meet, some we feel we’ve know forever, some . . . well who knows.
Also last week someone asked me what I thought helped my writing more than anything. I thought for a moment, then replied, “Time, if I have time.” More on that next week. Have a great week.
Mary on 05.07.06 @ 03:27 PM PST [link]
Sunday, April 30th
Heaven Happiness
Just as I finished up my Christmas novella manuscript, I got a call from the best editor in the world (that would be my editor.) A month ago I sent a proposal to her. I knew the proposal was good, and I was biting at the bit to write it, but sometimes I can be fooled. Anyway, the best editor in the world offered me a contract and the rest of week has been a blur because I am overwhelmed with happiness.
However, I was coherent enough to realize summer has found us with 90-degree weather. My husband and I went to a barbeque yesterday afternoon then a play right after. I love this time of year when it’s just hot enough to wear summer clothes but not so hot that everything in sight is sweaty. The play was excellent—a musical—written by a neighbor. It was funny, moving and snappy. . .and tickets were only five dollars—my husband was happy, too.
Mary on 04.30.06 @ 07:29 AM PST [link]
Sunday, April 23rd
Review Day
FALLING OUT OF BED comes out next week and here are two reviews I found:
“In this highly emotional, often sad story, Melinda's father, Stanley, is expected to die of cancer. At first, Melinda can't believe that her father is so sick, and she takes him back to her house to care for him. Mary Schramski shows how Melinda's husband reacts and changes during this time, and how Stanley's friends and ex-wife react to the news in realistic ways that aren't always nice. Falling Out of Bed (4.5 out of 5) is an effective look at how a fatal illness affects different people. Faith and belief are examined, and this story's heartbreaking qualities are offset by messages of hope and possibilities. This story probably will produce a good, satisfying cry.”
"A reviewer, April 20, 2006, A complex family drama --5 stars (Out of 5) Her father Stanley has always been a healthy workaholic horse until now. At seventy-two Stanley has cancer so his daughter Melinda, though in denial, brings him to live with her. Melinda who already quit her job as a schoolteacher since her spouse David has been successful plans to care for her ailing dad.-------------- David resents Melinda’s attention given to Stanley and is upset that they never really spoke about this. Melinda’s mother, divorced from Stanley, has mixed feelings about her ex’s health. However Melinda and her dad forge a strong relationship and she begins to realize that you live only once so don’t waste it snoozing, but the cost of her lesson could prove great.------------------- FALLING OUT OF BED is a complex family drama that focuses on the impact of a debilitating lethal illness on the prime caretaker and indirectly on others in her inner circle. Melinda struggles with seeing how helpless and hopeless her father has fallen while David feels guilt in spite of logically understanding why he still resents the attention his wife gives to his father-in-law. The other support cast members seem real as they, like Melinda and David, can get frustrated with Stanley. Yet interestingly with the struggles to decide what is right for everyone in a situation with no chance for win-win, this tale contains a brilliant underlying message of hope and faith that aging boomers will appreciate.------------"- Harriet Klausner
Life This Week: I talked to a book group who read WHAT TO KEEP. There were about 30 in attendance, and I spoke for 20 minutes then the members asked me questions. Meeting with book groups is one of my favorite things to do. It’s inspiring to me when people ask questions about my characters, plotting points, setting and how I get my ideas. I have another book group meeting on May 1 and again I’m looking forward to it.
I attended my first official book group meeting where I’m actually a member! What fun. We met from 7pm till 9pm and talked about what BLESS ME, ULTIMA meant to each of us. Our next book to read is BLUES LESSONS: A NOVEL. Here’s what Publisher’s Weekly has to say about it: "A young man growing up in the Midwest during the '50s comes to terms with the problematic legacy of his first love in Hellenga's heartfelt, provocative third novel. Martin Dijksterhuis is the high school student who is forced to grow up in a hurry when his attraction for an African-American girl named Cory Williams leads to the birth of their child. He is willing to marry Cory and settle into a life of working the family's idyllic orchards in tiny Appleton, Mich., but both Cory's and Martin's mothers have other plans." Sounds interesting! See you next week.
I'm almost finished with THE BEST PLACE TO BE! One more read through for small changes and it's on its way. One of the best feelings is to finish a manuscript and be proud of it--and I am.
Look for reviews and news here later.
I'm still thinking about the reunion, all the people I saw, ones I still don't remember and ones who didn't remember me. I threw away my high school year books years ago so I can't look anyone up. Do you still have your high school yearbooks? It amazes me what people decide to keep and what they throw away. I didn't miss my yearbooks until the reunion, now I wish I had them. I'm one of those people who can't stand clutter so I get rid of all sorts of things, and then years later, I'm sitting here wishing I hadn't tossed them in the trash. Something I would never ever throw away--any of my daughter's baby pictures. Is there something you could never part with?
