Her eyes never leaving the draped canvas, Regina slumped on the barstool in her attic studio.  She'd started this painting the week of Tilly's diagnosis, showing it to no one.  The swirls of bright color reminded her of Tilly.  The somber colors emphasized her mood.

With the exception of the cat Ms. Pickles, Regina was alone.

Life sucked and if Regina had ever doubted, she sure as the devil didn't now. 

Ms. Pickles step-hopped around the canvases lining the floor.  The cat halted before each one, staring and sniffing, giving nods of approval to some, sneezes of disfavor to others.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were a connoisseur of art."  An amused smile crossed Regina's face as she regarded her feline art critic.

My first real writing teacher and mentor, Emily Hanlon shared an incredible video with me and I am eager to share it with you. 

"A friend of mine just passed this on to me and I found it so fascinating, I am passing it on to you! The video is for anyone interested in the inner journey and the mystery of life, as well as the relationship between the right and left sides of the brain.

Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding -- she studied and remembered every moment. This is a powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another."

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229

Emily Hanlon
The Fiction Writers Journey

I thought it might be fun to share my first book with you in little pieces and see what you think.  I've since rewritten it and changed it in many ways, so even the title has changed.  Let me know what you think of my story about two cranky old cousins who are polar opposites in nearly every way.  Wealthy and statuesque Regina cringes when her frumpy cousin, Annabelle appears on the doorstep covered in bruises carrying all she owns in a tattered Pullman.  Their friend and roommate, Tilly, tries to referee but the recurrence of cancer puts a crimp in her sassy style.  Somehow the cousins have to repair a lifetime of prejudices and find their way back to being family.

Excerpt: 

    Finding escape in the attic, Regina slashed her brush across the canvas, using the color of her emotions, cadmium red, yellow ochre, and ebony.  In between brush strokes she paced, baptizing herself in a wreath of smoke.

Discussion?

BD

Some friends sent me this wave file and I laughed so hard my sides ached.
Enjoy.
BD
Why people need a dog.

dogs.wmv
File Size:	2652 kb
File Type:	wmv

Download File

---