Doree Anderson

Sizing up the he/she in your novel. When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. Character is a caricature. –Ernest Hemingway In my thoughts, I know a soul and with my eyes I see him standing there. But, without the words to paint for you, his acquaintance you’ll never share. –Doree Anderson 1) Setting up the interview. a) Allow plenty of uninterrupted time. You need to concentrate, observe and document constantly. b) The setting or meeting place should be comfortable. 1) the couch, kitchen table, the park or the lounge chair on the back porch. 2) supply ambiance with background music and candles. c) Offer refreshments Who are you? Who, who are you? –Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey 2) Getting a glimpse into their mind. a) It’s not just the words they use. b) hear the passion and tone of voice. 1) does he/she put emphasis on certain words in a sentence, use their hands to highlight their point. 2) are slang words utilized often? The creations

Hey, yeah! I think I do remember you. Aren't you the oldest son to my mother's youngest sister? So what, you're twenty, twenty one? 40! No way, why I remember just a few years ago that you like... Do you remember me? Cause, evidently, I don't remember you-. I spent this past weekend in Henderson at my Aunt's "Celebration of Life" and thought about all the interesting faces that I reacquainted my self with. Cousins that I haven't seen or spoken to since the death of my Grandmother about fifteen years ago have changed. Go Figure! They grew up, got married, had children, oh my! They went on about their lives without me. And here I stood, realizing that I had done the same. My daughter and grandson were with me and were strangers to a lot of them. We say this is a small world yet we let time speed by before we reaquaint ourselves with family so how can we say that we stay in contact with friends? We don't. I mailed out somewhere around sixty five Chris

NANO time again! Writers: get ready, get set and go. For the month of November, hundreds, maybe thousands of writers will put themselves to the test and write a 50,000 word novel. That's right! 30 days of story telling through the fingers and tracked, each word at a time. It's fun. Write! You don't edit, that's for next month. You don't worry about spelling, let the machine underline it and we'll get back to that next month as well. This month is just for the opportunity to test your self and your ability to capture a story in one month. So, during the month of October, I spent time interviewing and getting to know the characters that will be brought to life in my novel. Screening places and ideas for story boards and putting it all together so that when November 1st comes around, I'll be ready... Well, here it is and so far, I'm having a blast. The kids are enjoying themselves as they tentatively get to know each other and will eventually fall in love.

URWA Conference turned out to be absolutely wonderful. The attendance was fantastic, the workshops were top nosh and the networking was phenomenal. An enjoyment to the very end. Christine Witthohn from Book Cents Literary Agency and Amanda Bergeron from Avon/Harper Collins were a lot of fun. (the picture to the left is taken in Park City. br. Me and Mary Martinez, fr is Kim Finnegin, Christine Witthohn, Amanda Bergeron and Lisa Williams-Cox in front of the miner's statue). The pitches went down and some excellent results followed. I, for one, am happy with the request that I received and the valuable information that Christine gave me. Hook? Oh yeah, the hook. We'll lets just say that the hook was asked for and not given. Yet, Christine still gave a request and I couldn't be happier than a bear with a new roll of Charmin. Since then I've been polishing up my synopsis and getting ready to send it out with my first three chapters. My fingers are crossed and my hopes are

Hey, Howdy, Hiya, Posting on our first night here at Deer Valley, Utah's The Lodges. Where Utah's Chapter of RWA's (Romance Writers of America) conference for 2009 starts...now. Holly heaven, Batman, this place is class. We're talking ala beautiful place. Everything is so gorgeous, done in huge white pine logs, fireplaces, full kitchens, laundry closets in each suite. The suite that we are in is a two bedroom, 3 bathrooms, full sized living room and kitchen with a large 6 person dinning table. Absolutely beautiful. Flip a switch and you have a nice and cozy gas fire in the fireplace, the chairs are big and comfy. Wonderful. The weather is perfect, crisp fall foliage, the golds, yellows, oranges and reds, a slight nip in the air and traces of a recent snowfall on the ground. Sweater and thick jackets seem to be the appropriate attire. Of course, our cute Mary is wearing flip flops :-) Our first course of action today was assisting Kelli Ann with the gift bags for the co

Please...for me! This week, I am saying goodbye to my Aunt. A courageous woman who has fought a long, painful struggle with cancer. Twelve years ago, she went in for her annual mammogram and was told everything looked good. But, they made her another mammogram for six months. One of those, 'just in case' appointments. We'll refer to that as the 'something is there but frankly I have a waiting room full of women and a lunch date, so I'll just cover my butt.' Six months later, she goes in to have her follow-up mammogram and low and behold, what's this? A lump. You say you mentioned it six months ago. Are you sure? Because, the tech had to have surely seen it and requested an ultra-sound. Hummm. Well, lets do an ultra-sound now. I'm sure there is nothing to worry about. And the verdict is two, not one now, but two suspicious masses in the left breast. The soonest we'll be able to do that biopsy is.... three weeks. But, no need to worry, it's probab

Here is the price of a huge mansion on a private island question: Why does one editor request your full manuscript and another one reject it? I was asked by a specific person to send them my manuscript, unfortunately I could only submit it to the submissions e-mail address (give you their actual e-mail address, please) but I made SURE to indicate that this specific person requested it. Almost four months later, I receive a rejection. That's fine. I can cowboy up with the best of them. Except who is this other person who sends me back "Thank you for your submission but your manuscript isn't what we are looking for" generic form? Maybe the editor who requested it was fired. No. Maybe the editor who requested it left for another company. No. Maybe the editor who requested it got ran over by a truck. No. (But if the editor did, be darn glad that someone was nice enough to get back to you) This is my work, my job: Writing. I enjoy writing. Putting plots together, giving ch

HAPPY Independence Day! My brother celebrates his birthday on the fourth. Four days later, I celebrate mine...but I don't get all the fancy fireworks. Nobody sets of bombs to celebrate the passing of my youth. And, I say that's good. I'd rather cry alone anyway! Congratulations to my Niece, she had a little girl on the 3rd of July. Welcome to the world Macie. I just hope it goes from bad to good before it matters to you. I look at my grandkids and want to cry - look at the crap their getting. It's a damn shame. I still think there are several greedy pigs out there that should be shot in a firing squad for stealing money. Instead our lovely government is turning a blind eye and letting them keep it. Well, where in the hell is my 50 million dollar bonus. I deserve it too!!!! Oh wait, I don't know who I should be screwing to get it. Everyone I know has already be screwed. The end of the year is quickly approaching. Christmas in July starts the snowball down the hill

Tired? Now you see it, now you don't. Yes, they'll do it, then they won't. Will there be a school next year or not. They formed a board, they spoke at district meetings, they pleaded for the opportunity to educate or to learn and yet... Granite High School is closing their doors for the second time. But not to the general public. This time it is closing the educational rights of the destitute student who would never get ahead in a larger school. It is closing to foreigners who have just arrived and speak little to no English. It is closing to the students who are being cared for through foster homes and state custody. It is closing to students that want an education but have a hard time competing with the large volume of students who's parents can afford the football, dance, baseball, cheerleading registration costs. It kind of makes me mad. Now that there is this 'Everyone has a right to an education' act, those who really want to learn are crammed into classr

For Tiffinie: I give you 'Scout'. On your travels to Alaska and the Bering Sea, for months of fishing, waves and missing me, I present the next best thing; Scout The Warrior. Scout'll hold those critters at bay for you; growling, barking, as a new member of your crew. Now, he may be young and kind of small but through the years he'll grow mean and tall. Battle plans are in his dreams, ferocious, sturdy, a real killing machine. Delusions are in a big bear's mind, to even think lil' Scout can't tow the line. Precious as a pup can be, I know that Scout will keep you free. To work those nets of fish and more, you'll need your strength to do the chore. So fit your foot inside your boot, leave the critters to this cute Malamute. Have a grand old time with fun abound, family and friends know you're safe with Scout around. 'Red skies at night, sailor's delight. Red skies in the morning, sailor's take warning.' Have a good time with your brot

Yes, Ladies, if the shoe fits, wear it. Enjoy it. Dance in it. Because, you get one whole day to be celebrated for it. Child birth. That moment in time when you endure 2, 12, 24, 38 hours of mind numbing, body tearing, gut wrenching pain. But, it is all worth it when on May 10, 2009, your child gives you a day to sit back, relax, and enjoy your efforts. Congratulations! I didn't mind my 2 hours and 43 minutes of labor. Of course the epideral hadn't taken effect before they wheeled me into the delivery room. How were they to know that she was in a flippin' hurray? They didn't. Each delivery is different, unique; just as the child is. Text books are for throwing out the window. Some are quick and easy, as the child is during their years of growth. Then there are the 36 hours of acid burning agony and the next 21 years of shear terror to follow. But we love them anyway. So Moms of the world, enjoy. Drink a glass of wine and sit back. Let them finally, make the meal, do th

The Class of 1945, some are still alive... This is a picture of South High's Class of 45. How did they survive? They began High School at the start of WWII. Following the devastation of the Depression and then celebrated their graduation with the ending of the war. They had sports, but the football helmet was made of leather and padding. Not fiberglass and metal. They had school dances with balloons and streamers, slow music followed with a little bebop. Class rings and Letterman's jackets, poverty and death, basket ball champion banners and discrimination, very few jobs but they all worked with pride. That was in 1945. For the most part, this class of students have witnessed a lot! They watched the bombing of Pearl Harbor, retribution in Japan, Korean War, Tani min Square, Kent State riots, the assassination of Kennedy, Watergate and the impeachment of Nixon, landing on the moon, the great floods of the mid-west, the gas wars, terrorism, Gulf war, the fall of the Twin Towers

I'm so excited...my erotica novel placed second in the Great Expectations contest and the publisher has requested my full manuscript. YEAH. With everything that a writer has to go through, the request of a manuscript is wonderful. It is like being a small mouse and waiting until the time that the big cat actually puts its paws around in a welcoming embrace instead of playing you like a toy. Tomorrow is April Fools day. What will I do? What will I do. Well, I have plans and they are going to be scrumptious, yummy and filling. And if I win at Bunco, well, that's just all the more better. A little pocket money to see me through the week will be the topping on the whip cream of my life. As we move into the month of April, I am especially looking forward to Spring. Not this...now you see it, now you don't garbage, but the real, leave your winter coat in the closet deal. We gotten a test, but I ready for the whole meal. Just like last year, we get out and do a little work in our

The Pain of Grand Parenting I think the world of my four grandchildren. They are absolutely the love of my life. And, after one day with them, they still are. Two days is pushing it. I don't know if they get on my nerves or if I am one great big nerve to them. My daughter brought the darlings over on Friday, at 2:00 p.m. I am a saint. I know because I had them through to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. The two older kids are at the 'now you see them, now you don't' ages of 9 and 7. They love their video games and the internet. Okay so, they're easy. The other two are 3 and 2. Both boys, both out to drive grandma insane. They want, they don't want, they need, they have to have, please, please gammy, please. Can we go outside? Ten minutes later, one or the other, or both are crying. Why. He pushed him or he took my... Can we watch a movie? Can we go outside? can we... Night one, all is well. They go to bed. Those cute little darlings. So sweet. Look at them. One sucks his f

Here it is: SPRING HAS ARRIVED! So, How are we spending the first day of spring? We are cleaning out the birds cages. Yes, birds. We have three of the cutest Cockatiels that we enjoy, well, most of the time. But they do not follow orders worth a tink. I have asked them on several occasions to pick up after themselves. But, do they do it? No. There are seeds all over the place. I talk, they don't listen. I show them how it's done, to no avail. Our oldest is thirteen, a male white face. As cute as a bug this boy is. Although, as will almost all small creatures, he is dilutional. Spike believes that he is an eagle (we've shown him pictures but until we can actually place him face to face, it irrelevant. Gilligan is his little buddy.(Yellow or Pied, eleven years old) Sad to find out thought, that she was a she. This birds takes the meaning of 'bird brain' to life. Gilly will stand on top of a mug of coffee, lean down, take a sip, yipe because it is hot, and go in for se

"People on the outside think there's something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn't like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that's all there is to it"...Harlan Ellison Writers write because we can, we need to, we have to. Or, because, why not? When I write, I try and envision what my goal is as I set up my characters and their GMC; Novella, novel, short story or just putting ink to paper and doodling. But, it is what I see that goes down. Not what someone tells me to write. Example: Write a story about the Botanical Gardens in Arizona. No. Why not? Because, I've never been to the Botanical Gardens in Arizona and therefore I can't pretend and frankly, the only words I'd be able to supply are:"It's probably a very pretty place with lots of colors and smells." Now...talk about wri

Care to take a trip? Picture yourself at the entrance to Hannibal, Missouri. That's right, beneath the statue of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Take a picture - it's worth it. Now continue walking down the hill to the Mississippi River. Have a seat, yes, on the ground, and look out at the tree filled island east of where you're at. Okay, if you're going to whine about the mud, move south down the shoreline to the marina where they load and unload the riverboat. Pull up a chair. It is late May, the humidity is climbing but tolerable. It's a warm 86 degrees, the sky is clear and there is a gentle breeze. (the tornado isn't due for at least another two days, and it looks like it will be south of us - feel better? Good, lets continue) Now, remember...you're sights are on the tree cover island. Huck is mumbling on about Indian Joe and all you can think about is getting a solid five skips on a rock across the calm river. No worries about the decline in the market, the