Wednesday, June 4, 2014

A Hunger in the Heart (for Reading and Writing!)

Well, today has been a writing day.  I've been at it for about four hours straight now, and I thought I'd take a very brief break to send my two cents out into the blogosphere.

So...here's what I look like today: I look so much like this calm, beautiful gentlewoman whose pen is poised mid-thought.
I WISH!

Sad to say, there is not a vase filled with fresh roses by my side when I'm writing.  Just the cold dregs of my hours-old coffee and a protein bar wrapper.  (No artist in his right mind would want to immortalize the scene here at my dining room table in oil paints.)

I'm not dressed in a ball gown like this lovely lady here, either; I'm still in my flannel nightgown at 1:30 in the afternoon (oh the shame!).  My hair isn't done up neatly and tied with a silk ribbon; it's a scraggly mess (and full disclosure, it's greasy, too, because I haven't gotten around to showering yet).  My expression is not nearly as serene as this Austen-esque writer's (and if you don't believe me, I'm going to take a selfie and post it, I warn you!).  I have been poring over my hastily scribbled notes and highlighted print-outs, along with the iPhone photos I took of some old documents I found in our local library during my three-hour research session yesterday.  I think my face looks a tad more...haggard, let's say, than this lovely Victorian-era maiden's.  (Or is she a Regency-era maiden--I just don't have time for any more research right now!)  But I hope my face looks happy and excited, too, because this has been a pretty productive day in the old salt mines.

And though I'm not reading books these days (for fear that they will take my focus off the task at hand), I did finish reading a great one not long ago, for which I recently posted a very brief five-star review on Goodreads.  It's a terrific novel called A Hunger in the Heart by Catholic author Kaye Park Hinkley.
Really, it's SOOOO good!

Now head on over to Jessica's for more recommendations and reviews!

11 comments:

  1. I will have to check this one out. And I think you should do an oil painting of your work surface. Some day, many years from now, your great-great-great-grandkids will be able to show it to their friends and explain that you wrote a book in a space like that. (Or more, who knows? You're young still!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so nice, Madeline. (And I'm not that young...but hopefully young enough. :))

      Delete
  2. Excited to hear more about your new writing gig!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kate! Hey, for some reason I haven't been able to comment on your blog lately, but I've been enjoying it. (I loved the post about your mom, and the way she passed on the idea of having a healthy self-image. Every girl needs a mom like that.)

      Delete
    2. Please let me know if I can help with that. I know you and Disqus have never gotten along! :) So sorry for the trouble. I double-checked and things seem to be working on my end, so I wonder what it could be...

      Delete
  3. I wouldn't need roses if i were on a writing roll as you are! Attagirl !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope I can stay on this roll...I'm praying I'll get the job done right. Thanks for the encouragement!

      Delete
  4. There's something indescribably wonderful about Southern novels. Good luck with your muse!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally agree. Southern novels always stay with me long after I finish them. And thanks--I need lots of luck!

      Delete
  5. Loved this post too. I loved the her and you juxtaposition in your writing. Fun.

    I'm off to go read your review on Ms. Hinkley's novel.

    Happy writing..........
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'll love the book! She's a wonderful writer.

      Thanks for stopping by, Brenda!

      Delete