This week I’m focusing on a passion that makes its way into the pages of my fiction; live theater. I’ve acted, ushered, worked on costumes, and fundraised, but my favorite job–probably for the sheer creativity and challenge–was as props mistress and set decorator.

So let’s go backstage!

Even if you’ve never worked “in the back in the black,” as it’s called, you know if there wasn’t someone with serious intestinal fortitude, patience and organization in charge from the get-go, chaos would ensue.

I find the daring individuals who choose to captain the ship of production to be fascinating, and inspiring. Usually in the face of insurmountable odds, thin budgets, challenging scripts, (dare I mention emotional actors?),  a theater director must plan, coordinate, budget, audition, cast, rehearse, design…well, you get it.

That said, I’d like to introduce you to Jeremy Scott Lapp, a gifted director on the cusp of a brilliant career, with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with on several shows. And yes, he has the stuff, has already proven himself in regional theater, and most recently on Broadway.

I’ve asked Jeremy to tell us what it takes to be a director, and how he chose the career…or did the career choose him?

Jeremy Scott Lapp

Jeremy is a recipient of Noel Craig, Inland Theatre League, Patté, National Youth Theatre, Billy and Director’s Choice awards. When not directing, he runs a freelance graphic design business specializing in theatrical design and advertising.

An alumnus of the 2009 Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab West, Jeremy is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) and earned a 2011 selection as a SDC Emerging Artist. Recent projects include Assistant Director on the World Premiere Musical, A Room With A View at the Old Globe in San Diego, and a workshop of the new musical, Secondhand Lions! He also directed a workshop of a new musical based on Peter Pan that was selected to be part of the ASCAP/Dreamworks Musical Theatre Workshop with Stephen Schwartz. 

From a recent review: ”When Director J. Scott Lapp takes the helm of a theater production, audiences had best grab their tickets early and quickly. After such local directorial successes as ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ and ‘RENT’, it is a near certainty that Lapp will find a way to enchant and entertain theater-goers.” - Kerri Mabee / Southwest Riverside News

Fresh Start Stories: Welcome, Jeremy!

Jeremy Scott Lapp: Thanks, Bev!

FSS: How did you originally get involved in theater?

JSL: I grew up in a very musically appreciative family. My mom taught fun and fitness at my preschool, and included music in her curriculum. I would bring buckets of costumes from home and direct my fellow preschoolers in shows that we would perform for open house. My grandparents were huge musical theatre aficionados, and had season tickets to the Starlight Bowl every summer where they started taking me when I was one and a half years old. My grandpa built a miniature stage for me, and I would re-enact the shows I would see at Starlight with my Playmobil ™  people. My mom signed me up for a theatre summer camp when I was 5 years old, and from there I started taking classes and doing shows. I guess you could say it was meant to be.

 FSS: Besides every show we ever worked on together >cough< what has been your favorite?

JSL: Every show I work on is different and has a special set of circumstances and a new group of people. That’s what so amazing about this profession; you get to create a new family every two to three months when starting a new project! And it’s hard to say goodbye at the end, because during the process of creating together you grow close like a family.

That being said, two of my most favorite projects were Bonnie & Clyde and 13. I began working on Bonnie & Clyde 4 years ago in a small rehearsal studio in New York where we were doing a workshop of the show. From there, we premiered the show at the La Jolla Playhouse (www.lajollaplayhouse.org) in the fall of 2008, then took the show to the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida and finally landed on Broadway in December of 2011. It was such a special experience because of how close we all got working on the show! The entire artistic team and many of the leads remained with the show from the beginning. 13 was another favorite of mine. It’s a show about teenagers and the aches and pain of growing up and dealing with peer pressure and first kisses. We had an all-star cast working on that show, every single person was so dedicated and it was just a pleasure to work on! We even had Jason Robert Brown who wrote the music & lyrics, and Robert Horn who wrote the book (the story part) come down to the closing performance of the show! They came backstage after the show and met with the cast.

FSS:  How did you decide to make the transition to director?

JSL: I’m not sure growing up that I ever had the desire to become a Director. Although, I think my parents might tell you differently, and now looking back many years later, there were some hints that you could definitely point to. I grew up as a performer, singing and dancing in shows from the time I was 5 to 18. I did over a hundred shows all over Southern California with various theatre companies, sang and danced in multiple sing-along videos, and performed at different theme parks across the U.S. It wasn’t until I got the opportunity to direct my first show that I started to think about becoming a director. I even ended up going to school for graphic design, while I continued to direct on the side. In the spring of 2007, I made the decision to really pursue directing musical theatre as a career and I haven’t looked back since.

FSS: Do you prefer directing straight theater or musicals? What’s the difference?

JSL: In a drama, there is no singing and dancing, and the spoken word takes the lead in setting the dramatic action of the story. In a musical, once the dialogue gets to a certain point, and the actor can no longer talk, they sing. More and more though, the line between what makes a musical, and a drama is being blurred. There are plays currently on Broadway that have singing in them. I worked on a show last fall at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego (www.oldglobe.org), called Somewhere that had music and dancing woven throughout the piece. I prefer working and directing musicals, but I would love to work on more straights as well.

FSS: How would you suggest someone who has never experienced live theater decide which type is for them, and how would they go about finding local performances?

JSL: Just go. Don’t worry about deciding which type. Get out and support live theatre. There is nothing like it, because for those two hours, you are experiencing something that will never be reproduced the same way.  Sure there will be another performance the next evening, but for those two hours with those 1,000 people, it’s an experience unlike anything else. And don’t be concerned that theatre is too expensive for you, there are tons of deals and websites that sell discounted tickets! Most theatre companies sell rush tickets, or student priced seating. And then there are websites like (www.goldstar.com/TheaterTickets) and (www.sdartstix.com) that sell discounted tickets to theatre shows! To see upcoming shows, check the arts section in your local newspaper or on their websites!

The billboard for Bonnie & Clyde in Times Square. Opened on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, December 1, 2011.

FSS: How can an audience member get the best experience possible?

JSL: Theater is different for everyone, that’s why there is so much variation. You can go to New York and on Broadway alone, you can see up to 30 different shows at a time. And that doesn’t include the Off-Broadway scene where that number jumps to over 200 different theatrical productions. To get the best experience possible, do your research and know what the show is about. Google it, YouTube it. In this age of technology, you can go online and find out almost anything about a show. As an active theatregoer myself, I attend multiple shows every week. Going that often, you see various levels of quality and you begin to learn what you do and don’t like.

FSS: Besides taking the story from page to stage, what do you hope to do when you envision a show?

JSL: When I begin work on a show, I always try and put myself in the shoes of the audience. As a director, you HAVE to learn how to read a room, listen to it breathe, and know when and how to make the hard decisions. You have to learn how to entertain, keep the audience’s attention, and know when and how to move on. I always try and think as an audience member. What is distracting, where do I lose interest, what could be changed to be more interesting to watch. All of these factors come into play when directing a show.

FSS: How does your faith inform your profession?

JSL: My faith plays a huge importance not only in my daily life but also in my work. I have spoken with and met many artists over the years and the thing I constantly hear, is how hard it is to go thru this business where you have to find your own way and constantly take criticism at every turn. I can’t fathom working in this industry without my faith and the knowledge that there is something bigger and more important guiding my way. Having that “someone” on your side, who always has your best interests at heart and is guiding you is the best possible agent I could ever ask for. We live in a big world with so much diversity.

As a Christian working in the business, you can’t isolate yourself in a Christian bubble. We are going to have to deal with all kinds of situations and people if we don’t have an open heart, how can we ever expect to know how to help others in their time of need? The best testimony I can be is to live and act with that knowledge, and let others notice that there is something different about me.

The Design board and building plans for the Bonnie & Clyde set at the La Jolla Playhouse.

FSS: You have meticulous show notes going into production. But you also allow your creative team freedom to make suggestions. How do you determine what goes, and what stays?

JSL: Well, that’s the best part about this business. The collaboration. I’ll spend months working on a show before meeting with the other members of the team, meticulously plotting out every little detail and how certain scenes will be staged. Then you get to the first day of rehearsal and you meet (depending on the size of the show) 10-30 more collaborators. And the thing I always say in that first rehearsal is that “I like to think of the rehearsal room as a playground. We are all here in this room to play, try things out and love and support each other as we do.” In the rehearsal room, the best idea always wins. I am looking to present the material in the most truthful and entertaining way, and quite often, an actor will have an insight to their own character that I never thought of. Or if I had, I make it seem like they thought of it first.

When I worked with children's theater, I carried a rubber chicken to demonstrate what a hand-carried prop was. Eventually, it became my mascot, and the coolest directors would find a place for him onstage. Sometimes the audience could even see him!

FSS: You mean like the rubber chicken I always tried to get onstage?

JSL: >laughs< Yeah, Bev. Like that.

FSS: Will we ever see you auditioning and performing again?

JSL: I’m not sure if I’ll ever get back onstage again. I love the creative process so much, and building a world where others can shine, I haven’t really missed the performing side of theatre. I suppose if the right part came up at the right time in my life, I would consider doing a show again. But for now, you’ll find me in the back of the theatre watching the audience enjoy the performances.

FSS: What’s your favorite moment in the process of putting together a production? 

JSL: I have two favorite moments, and they just happen to bookend the entire process of putting on a show. The first part is those initial weeks leading up to auditions where you get to sit with the script and create and design a world for the action to take place in. The options are endless and it’s so incredibly fun to dream big and imagine the possibilities.

My other favorite part of the process is tech, near the end of the rehearsal process where you move into the theatre for the first time and start to integrate costume, sets and lights. It tends to be a very stressful part of the process, but it’s so gratifying to see everything start to come together. The ideas and drawings from late night meetings in a coffee shop are now in front of you in a fully realized way. I am very blessed to be working in my dream job.

FSS: Live theater has become more widespread, with more communities offering decent productions at higher and better quality. Why do you think we’re seeing increased interest?

JSL: I think with all the negativity in the news and how hard things are right now, people are just looking for an escape. And I think live performances allow people to get away and just enjoy themselves for a couple hours. Sure musicals can be silly when people talking to one another stop in the middle of a sentence and begin to sing. But musicals are meant to entertain, to enlighten and provoke discussion, and yeah, sometimes they are a little ridiculous, but I guarantee you’re gonna walk away smiling a little!

FSS: Are you thinking of writing a musical yourself? If so, can we know what it’s about?

JSL: It’s funny that you ask, I am currently in the process of collaborating on a couple of brand new projects. There’s something extremely satisfying and ultimately terrifying about building a show from scratch. Luckily, I have teamed up with some talented writers and we are playing around with some ideas. I can’t say much about them at this point in their development, but we are working on them and will start doing some developmental workshops in the near future. There might even be one that pops up later this year in a workshop out in New York.

FSS: Tell us about your current projects.

JSL: I am currently producing and directing a new Cabaret project. I have teamed up with Jordan Beck, a Producer/Lyricist from Riverside, California and we have just signed a yearlong contract to produce Cabaret at The Merc. The last Sunday of every month we will be bringing the very best of Broadway to beautiful Old Town Temecula. We are excited to present ‘Sondheim Unplugged’ a completely original, acoustic journey through the musical of Sondheim for our first month! The exciting thing about this show is, it’s starting in Riverside at the Caffeinated Cabaret on Sunday, May 20 then moving down to Cabaret at The Merc on Sunday, May 27 and finally landing in Hollywood at The Coterie at the Hollywood Renaissance on June 2! We have a great team working on the show, and a great line-up of Broadway and Professional talent! You can buy tickets for the Temecula performance by following the link (http://tickets.temeculatheater.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=602)

FSS: What’s next?

JSL: After the final performance of Sondheim Unplugged in June, I will leave immediately for the great Northwest, where I am directing a production of Footloose this summer. The show goes up in the middle of August and I am looking forward to collaborating with my sister (www.chelseanicolelapp.com) again. She recently won an Inland Theatre League Award for her choreography in our production of Fine Art Network’s 13. After Footloose, there are a number of other projects in the works.

(Pictured: Jeff Calhoun (Director) and J.S.L at the cast recording of the Original Broadway Cast Album of Bonnie & Clyde. Jeff was recently nominated for Best Direction at the Tony Awards for his work on the new Disney musical Newsies.)

FSS: How do we follow your career?

JSL: There are a number of ways. The best is to check out my website www.jeremylapp.com, there you can see upcoming projects and galleries of images from past shows, even some video. Facebook is another great way to keep track of things, and you can follow me at (www.facebook.com/J.scottlapp.director) or if you tweet, follow me @JScottLapp for updates of 140 characters or less! Ha

FSS: Any parting comments?

JSL: Thanks for taking the time to read, and a special thanks to Beverly Nault for reaching out to me for this interview! Support live theatre, go see a show!

FSS: You’re quite welcome, and thanks for your time, Jeremy. Break a leg!

True to the theme we celebrate here, that of starting over, I highly recommend Mother Road, by Jennifer AlLee. (Cool punctuation, right?)

In the story, part women’s lit, part romance, Natalie finds herself facing a new chapter in her life, and sets out on a road trip with a younger sibling, Lindsay, with whom she’s lost that sisterly connection.

The trip takes place along historic Route 66, wigwams, diners, quirky characters and all. I enjoyed AlLee’s voice, the challenges Natalie and her sister face, and think you will too.

Here’s what my friend, Ane Mulligan at Novel Rocket says:

“Relationships are the backbone of The Mother Road, and AlLee gives us real ones, conflicted and complicated. I alternated between cheering Natalie and wanting to smack her upside the head. Not that her younger sister is perfect. Not by a long shot. But I fell in love with these characters and wished the road trip hadn’t ended so soon. Novel Rocket and I give it a very high recommendation. It’s a must read.”

From the publisher: Within the course of a week, Natalie is dumped by her husband, receives an urgent call home from her father, and discovers her estranged sister is pregnant.

A road trip on Route 66 may not help, but it sure couldn’t hurt. Or so Natalie thinks, until Lindsay’s boyfriend starts stalking them. Will their trip down the Mother Road bring the two sisters closer together or turn out to be the biggest wrong turn yet?

Happy Reading!

Readers have asked me about Grace’s muffin recipes. Full disclosure, Grace is the expert muffin baker. I am not. Remind me to tell you a funny story about that later.

Anywhoo…I was recently working on Autumn Changes. What’s that, Bev? Why, thanks for asking. It’s the next full-length novel in the series, dropping autumn 2012, Lord willing.

Since Grace is always trying new recipes, she’s trying to come up with her own version of a gluten-free muffin. To icky results. (yep. I can relate. Okay, before you judge me, did you know all The Beach Boys don’t actually surf? But they still sing some pretty gnarly songs about it.) 

Sidebar: I’m lactose intolerant, “and I’m not taking it anymore!” Sorry, old joke. Being so has made me sympathetic to anyone with food allergies/sensitivities. (Gary is sensitive to flour. Not a true celiac, but you can see how we make a fun couple, especially while you wait for us to find something to eat in an Italian restaurant.)

I consider myself lucky. At least dairy is fairly easy to avoid, and I can carry OTC remedies. (They are not always 100% effective and sometimes the cure’s worse…ahem, you get where I’m going.)

Back to Grace, always trying to evolve her recipe, and in that spirit, her latest quest is to develop her own gluten-free muffin. In her honor, and because I would only muff them if I tried (see story below), here are some links for gluten-free baked goods, other yummy dishes, and more resources, including a memoir that looks like good reading for anyone who’s affected by celiac.

Now you mention it, I suppose I should share the recipes with Grace. But then I’d have to re-write the scene, and…sorry, a writer’s mind often wanders.

Here’s the list.

Celiac.com This will take you directly to their muffin page, but the entire site is chock full of great information.

Gluten-free Girl This is a pretty site. I like pretty. Oh, and she talks about what it’s like to live with celiac, and by the way, she’s written a best selling book/memoir, on you guessed it, living gluten-free. Gluten-Free Girl:How I Found the Foods that Loves Me Back and How You Can Too Shauna also has a page of great links. You may recognize her since she was a child actor. You know I have a soft heart for child actors.

Restaurant Guide - obvious.

KidCeliac - again, you can tell what this one’s about.

And here’s my painful muffin baking story. When I was writing Fresh Start Summer, and dreaming some day it might be deemed worthy of publication, I promised myself that if it ever did, I would bake a batch, and present a basket of muffins, Grace-fashion, to the long-suffering critique group who had read said manuscript since its infancy at Rebecca’s kitchen table.

Flash forward. The week after the editor from Lamp Post called offering a contract, which had resulted in the proverbial happy dance and apparently some brain numbing, I remembered my plan. With barely a couple hours until critique group, I dusted off my mixer, thumbed through the actual Boston Cooking School cookbook, that Grace used.

Time: 3:00 in the afternoon. No prob. Crit group’s at 7:00.

First attempt=gum. Not the recipe’s fault, I got distracted and let the mixer go too long. Ru-roh, the cupboard is bare, need more flour.

4:00 P.M. Quick trip to store and a quick calculation. By the time I get back home, shower, and drive to critique group…I will not have enough time to bake from scratch.

Solution? Packaged muffin mix. (Grace would FREAK OUT. Do not tell her!)

5:00 P.M. Back home, stir in egg, water, into oven, voila! Find basket, line with lovely dishtowel, and then upstairs to bathe.

Result? Hard rock-like boulders suitable for lining your garden path. 

6:00 Still need to dress, and print out critique sample. Grab basket, drive back to store.

6:30 Hunt for bakery muffins. They are nowhere. Completely sold out of the lovely, professionally baked ones.

Last resort? The boxed kind, stocked in cold breads. (That’s the actual grocery store term, y’all. I cannot bake, but I can lingo with the best of ‘em.)

Thank you, Sara Lee. (At this point, Grace would unfriend me on every social network.)

So the cook behind the curtain… is a fake.

But what was real was how happy I, and my critique group, was that I’d sold my first fiction manuscript. (And they were grateful I did not serve them anything I cooked to celebrate…and because they knew they’d never have to see that manuscript again! A trifecta of happiness)

Oh, and the individually cello-wrapped Sara Lee’s were enjoyed by all.

Do you surf? Have a kitchen fiasco story? If you suffer from celiac, or another troubling dietary challenge, God bless you. But I’m not cooking for you. And for that you can be grateful. 

SUMMARY OF BE STILL MY SOUL- Lonnie Sawyer is pretty, sweet, and innocent; an ideal target for the talented bluegrass musician, Gideon O’Riley. Her world turns upside down when Lonnie’s alcoholic father sees the arrogant Gideon stealing a kiss, and hastily forces her to marry him to save her honor.

The harsh realities of life soon bring out Gideon’s anger, attracting the intervention of an elderly couple. Under their gentle instruction, the newlyweds seem to have a chance, and Gideon tries to start over as a new man. While Lonnie settles in to create a comfortable home, a new challenge appears on their horizon. Will their tenuous love be enough to hold together this rocky relationship?

Set in Appalachia over a hundred years ago, you’ll experience mountain life as it was in a simpler time. Tap your toes to the mandolin, and smell the fresh apple pies lovingly baked by women who toiled from dawn to dusk for their men working the land to provide homes for their families. You’ll be touched, inspired and transported by all three books in The Cadence of Grace series.

And now, the author, Joanne Bischof. 

Joanne

Married to her first sweetheart, Joanne keeps busy making messes with their home schooled children living in the mountains of Southern California. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, being a writer, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life at Heartfelt Fiction. 

Q&A with Joanne

What aspect of your book was the most fun to research? Well, setting up the moonshine still in my backyard was pretty fun. Just kidding! Seriously, the best part  was doing lots of hands on activities like soap making, rug braiding, butter churning, etc. Some experiences turned out better than others, but I include them on my blog in the Adventures of Country Living, and am always looking for more projects to immerse myself in.

How do you choose your character’s names? For historical fiction, I always strive to find a name that would have been around in a particular time or place. For this series, I took it one step further and researched names specific to the Appalachian region. It was tons of fun reading through records of names like Erwin and Floyd. When I stumbled upon the name, Lonnie, I knew it was the perfect name for my heroine.

Aside from your hero and heroine, who was your favorite character to write? It’s a tough one to choose, but I would probably have to say Jebediah. There’s something about channeling one’s inner 65 year old man. Jebediah is as kind as they come but with enough spunk to push Gideon around a bit. Nothing was more fun than making my hero squirm.

You handle some delicate subjects in your book. Do you ever worry about offending someone? I think many writers worry about offending readers at one point or another, but with some of the touchy topics in this story, I hope to shed light on the freedom that can come in Christ. I think we can express a difficult situation without bringing glory to it. Shedding light on it for what it is—sin. I feel strangely amazed and blessed to watch these characters grow. As the chaff falls away, the refinement process is truly aweing. Something that can only be accomplished through Christ!

I know your inspiration for this novel came partly from bluegrass music. Do you play any instruments? I play the mandolin. Of course my dad plays it about five times better than I do, but I love the instrument. It’s near and dear to my heart, and writing that into Gideon’s character was really fun. Every time he plays in the books, I can feel the fondness for the mandolin that he feels and I hope that comes across to readers.

Thanks, Joanne, and God’s blessing on your writing, and this series. Thanks for having me.

You can find Joanne on Facebook, Twitter and her bog, Heartfelt Fiction, where you can sign up to receive her twice-a-year newsletter. Don’t miss another post about soapmaking, churning butter and lopping off chicken heads. JK. I think.

Paperback and Kindle

When I reached “The End” of  Fresh Start Summer, I thought about the promise Grace made to take Maggie pony trekking.

I’d already outlined Autumn Changes (due out Autumn 2012), and knew it wouldn’t fit, so I had a quick production meeting with myself. “Self,” I said, “this would make a perfect novella.” So the short story, Grace & Maggie Across the Pond, was born.

I enjoyed developing the characters, Emma and Fiona, and reliving our years in England while Gary was in the Air Force.

Like the Brits, we frequented our own local, The Barley Mow, where we’d tip a few with our mates after a long day of riding, or flying, or what not. I usually tipped a few ice waters, which, by the way, I personally taught the barkeep how to make. Gary gamely attempted to develop a taste for bitters.

But mostly we enjoyed the custom of noshing with our neighbors, discussing politics (they love to discuss American politics and know A LOT), and the Royals (we were there for Charles and Diana’s wedding) but learning not to disparage the queen in any way. Ahem. (But seriously, what does she carry in that handbag?)

Our local pub in Witnesham, Suffolk.

And, yep, that’s me on the horse. That’s actually a mare I rode before moving to England where I was a working student in a British riding school, Newton Hall. I was pursuing the prestigious British Horse Society levels qualifying as an instructor.

Think “The Army meets Horse Camp.” Without people shooting at you.

Correction, there were barbs, not bullets flying. But all in your best interest, designed to make you the best rider possible. Or else.

Under the headmistress’ strict tutelage, I earned my level 2 out of 4 possible levels before Gary’s orders moved us back to the States. The experience riding there was priceless.

And I might have picked up a bit of an accent. So much that my “clients,” as the day riders were called, thought I was a Brit.

I hope you’ll enjoy riding along with Grace & Maggie, who find their unique friendship inspires another fresh start across the pond in the place I once called home.

This gracious home is exactly how I imagined "Sunnyside Laurels."

Grace & Maggie Across the Pond, now in Kindle and Paperback 

The hubby and I recently took a much needed break (well, he needed one more than I, but a wife does what she can) to Kaua’i.

In my zeal to ensure we took full advantage of this lovely vaca, I may have started a few weeks early by singing out, “in six weeks we’ll be on the beach in Hawaii” or “just think, we will be watching the sunset from our condo in three weeks…” when he’d get home from a long day at work.

Not sure if it helped, but I adore the islands.

And I may or may not like to tease.

So I thought I’d share some of the highlights of our trip with you.

We tried paddling. (“We” in the sense that Gary tried paddle boarding.) But that’s for another post. As soon as I can write without maniacal laughter.

“Whoa.”

 ”I got this…”

“I’m ok!”

>maniacal laughter<

Pull yourself together Bev.

Ahem.

And we relaxed.

And drove around the islands. This is in Lihue.

  We ate well.

…and “we” relaxed. 

Me: “Honey, do you want to try paddle boarding again?”

Him: “Mmft”

What did you do besides take pictures and lead everyone on the beach in laughing and pointing, Bev?

Why, thanks for asking!

I joined in a death-defying zipping experience over former sugar plantations infested with man eating crocodiles. (Not. Actually the most dangerous part is walking from one launch to the next. Watch out for that pebble!)

But you are up really high. Just sayin’.

The only downside to Kaua’i, and mind you I’m not complaining, are the chickens. (All right, I’m complaining a little.)

Oh boy, the legends, stories and myths abound about how they got to be such a fixture. But here’s the bottom line. Chickens + no natural enemies = waytoomany. (Didn’t know there would be math involved, did you?)

They are by no means endangered, trust me, but they are protected to a degree in that all “wild fowl” are, so the feral ones cannot be caught and served up in a luau or at the local KFC. Unless they roam onto your property… according to some sources. (Warning: they’re quite tough and gamey. One resident told me this, but he didn’t say how he knew.)

  Seriously, there are TOO many. Especially the incredibly loud, and extremely close-to-your-windows-left-wide-open so you can enjoy the sound of the surf as you sleep ones.

Oh, boohoo, Bev. Right?

They really are becoming a problem. They wander everywhere, get hit by cars (I think it’s becoming a reverse frogger game by islanders). I have to imagine they compete with other, ahem, more attractive, birds for food.

Nor are they sacred, as one tourist sagely advised.

Give me a break. No one’s worshiping them.

How did there get to be so many, and why protected? That’s where the legends and myths come in.

Apparently, many years ago some species of wild chicken was introduced on the island, and after the barnyard fowl were released, possibly during a hurricane, they mixed and mingled, and now it’s impossible to tell which ones carry the DNA of the more exotic birds and which are just, well, chickens.

They’ve become part of the fabric of Kaua’i.

And alas, a part of our memories, because now we’re back on the mainland, recalling them, and everything else, with fondness. Well, everything else.

Me: “Remember how two weeks ago we were watching the sunset on the beach?”

Him: “Mmft.”

It never gets old.

Author Tsh Oxenreider had me at “clutter-free.” She makes SO many good points, practical and wise, about making a reality of the old advice, “don’t let your possessions own you.”

But it’s so much more than that. She teaches to be intentional. To make life simpler, better, for you and your family.

Now I’m not a hoarder, or a big shopper…really I’m not! Ahem.

But one of my favorite possessions (we are allowed a few, right?), is a label maker. And I crave organization. Why do my spices need another label, you ask?  

Because I’m lazy. No pesky lifting and searching for that tarragon. (When’s the last time that spice was used?) One of Tsh’s most inspiring bits of advice. Labeling simplifies. Forces me to answer the question: where does this belong; is it useful?

Let me back up. Following Tsh’s advise when cleaning clutter, I’m scrutinizing everything with, “Is it beautiful?” or “Is it useful?”

To put intention to action, I started with a china cabinet. Mostly inherited items, all beautiful, but rarely used. Off to eBay, garage sales, to someone who may find more value in items that have been dust gathering, forgotten.

Consider this beautiful pitcher, never used by my mother-in-law, or by us. Still in the box. 

These heirlooms are easy to part with since they don’t hold much sentiment beyond the shared monograms. Okay, I might hold on to the lovely silver bowl inscribed with an “N.” (Until I have to polish it a few times.)

Next I’ll move to a cabinet or closet that may be more difficult to work through. But I’m inspired to let go when necessary.

Beyond physical items, Tsh describes the value of evaluating activities for their value. Relationships. Even work situations. Time for a new job? Are your friendships meaningful, honest, or detrimental? Is your spiritual life worthy?

As you know, I’m all about fresh starts. (Shameless plug for my book.)

Maybe it’s time for you to begin again in some of these areas.

Thanks to my friend, BethAnne, at Thrifty Living, for alerting me to Organized Simplicity and many other great thoughts on intentional living in her blog.

In closing, here’s one of my favorite Tsh quotes:

“Put a stake in the ground as an ebenezer of remembrance that today, you are choosing to say no to unrealistic cultural expectations, and yes to the best life for your family.” (Kindle, location 1436)

Now I need to find out what tarragon’s useful for. Pretty sure it’s not beautiful.

I know you’ve been patiently waiting, so here’s my looong answer:

TRS 80, Model III

So I married a geek. When I married him, I knew what I was getting into, because we had one of these displayed prominently among the new china and pottery. Yeah, that’s a computer, kids. Notice the two floppy drives. Very industry forward in 1980.

I know. Not a toy. At least at the time it wasn’t.

I’ll make the connection, bear with me.

So around here, we’re uber interested in what’s coming out at the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas this week. Seeing as how we’ve always been “early adopters.”

I didn’t realize I’d always been somewhat of an early adopter. Even before I married a geek.

I was looking through some of the stuff at CES and ran across the MakerBot Replicator. Now under $2000! Say what? A 3-D printer kit, y’all. What every household needs.

I had a 3-D kit way back…ahem. Several years ago. Early adopter? Oh, yeah.

"Make your own toys, boys and girls!"

Who remembers the Vac-u-Form?

I’m surprised now I didn’t seriously burn myself. Or the house down.

Because you placed a metal cast (it came with little cars, various shapes) in that square window, laid a plastic sheet across, (that green square is one) plugged it in, then when the plastic got warm and started to droop…you really had to pay attention to make sure you waited until it got soft, but not so long it melted down inside and you had to get your mom to clean the goo out and she put it away for a month. Or two.

Anywhoo, at just the right moment, you pumped a little lever to suck the warm plastic down over the little mold.

Hold on. Do they really send old toys to run free on a farm in the country? Huh.

Before it disappeared and I never saw it again… you were supposed to then glue together the pieces into toys and gifts to “amaze your family, surprise your friends!”

But I usually just melted, pumped and dumped, that was the funnest part.

Whenever I smell hot plastic to this day I remember that thing. And now I realize I was into 3D toy making. Back in the day.

I think I’ll check eBay, I’ll bet Vac-u-Forms are quite a bit cheaper than that replicator-thingy.

And I can once again amaze my family, make gifts for my friends. Put in your order now for a sportscar. Or…well, I can’t recall what the other molds made. I’ll have to surprise you.

Maybe you were one of those Creepy Crawlers “Thingmaker” owners. 

I admit I envied those. But Mom was not a fan.

Wonder why? I could have saved us a ton on gifts.

What’s your favorite retro toy?

Got your eye on anything coming out at the CES?

]]> http://beverlynault.com/2012/01/12/2012-toys-with-retro-roots/feed/ 1 http://beverlynault.com/2012/01/09/finding-your-next-perfect-read-its-complicated-part-i/ http://beverlynault.com/2012/01/09/finding-your-next-perfect-read-its-complicated-part-i/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:28:37 +0000 Bev http://beverlynault.com/?p=230 Continue reading →]]>

Sorting through all the books in the world can be like isolating a single droplet of water from a flood.

Recently my good friend, Danny, asked what it takes to become a published author.

What does that have to do with finding the perfect read you say?

Because in order for a reader to find a good book, the nugget of the idea leading to that book has been in process for…well, millennia. By an author who pictures who the audience will be.

Let’s jump ahead a bit. Hold on, you’ll see where I’m going.

First, you already know there are many good books out there. And many millions more waiting to be published. Imagine you’re standing at the bottom of the waterfall in the photo. Yeah.  Millions pouring onto the market every year.

Millions, Bev?

U-yeah. With the advent of computers, it’s estimated there are over a million unpublished manuscripts. Just waiting to be discovered, published and read.

And that’s why Danny’s question made me think of readers. Because to write, to be published, a writer should first know something about his reader.

And if a writer does his homework (besides learning the craft, clicking out a great story) you, the reader, have to work to find your favorite genre, new authors in the style you enjoy, to compare similar books, read reviews, download samples…whew.

More complicated than walking into your corner bookstore or library? Yes, but it is getting easier than ever to find your next great read. Or is it?

So before I address Danny’s question, I have one for you, the reader.

Where do you find trustworthy recommendations? What’s your favorite way to find your next great read? Have you learned new ways to explore the world of books for new authors, new genres?

If so, do you share your discoveries on Facebook, at the water cooler…erm, coffee shop?

I’ll start, here are some links I follow.

http://www.goodreads.com/ Authors and readers connect, you can fill up your shelves, follow other readers and writers, and join groups with people who enjoy reading the same things you do.

Library Thing Similar to Goodreads, I’m just learning how to navigate this powerful site.

Real Simple, both the magazine and online community. Besides the book club, they do an excellent job of compiling lists, getting reader input, and letting you know what’s hot. Full disclosure, my novel, FRESH START SUMMER, made their 21 Hot Summer Reads of 2011. Booyah!

For more about the author to reader connection, I found Anne Trubek‘s blog in the New York Times, erm…eloquent. (You may have to subscribe, but when I signed in, it was free.)

In Part II, we’ll talk more about Danny’s actual question.