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Monday, March 2, 2015

First Love, Woman on the Verge of Paradise

Writing a book is like running a marathon in Death Valley. You keep seeing the finish line, only to realize it was a just a mirage. -self quote, said now.

I'm sorry to be a tease about my upcoming novel, Woman on the Verge of Paradise. It's been done for a while. I can't tell you when it's coming out. I'm trying - very selectively - for traditional publication first. I want to put it out yesterday. For now, though, here's a scene.

This takes you into my third grade classroom, during art time. I'd just competed against Joseph in hand ball. Flushed with puppy-crush energy, I quickly let him win and ran to the back of the line to await my next turn, hoping the bell would ring first.~~~
   “Robyn, dear, come on over here,” Mrs. Siegal said.
   Gulp. What’s going on? I walked to the back of the classroom, where my teacher sat holding a picture to her chest, her face gushing with exciting news. Joseph stood next to her and donned a  very proud smile.
   “Look what Joseph drew.” Mrs. Siegal flipped the paper over to display Joseph’s artwork.
   I studied the picture, a crayon drawing of me in the blue and green checkered dress I was wearing, with my yellow socks, brown buckle shoes, and spirals of curly brown hair. A big red u-shaped curve centered my face.  My nose, a black L. My eyes, cobalt blue, and my eyelashes, long and pretty. Above me, huge letters spelled out: “I Love Rodyn.”
   I stood frozen—scared, overwhelmed, unworthy.
   “I feel sick,” I told Mom the next morning. “I think I need to stay home from school today.”
   “Okay, honey.”
   Wait, how could it be so easy? You didn’t feel my forehead, shove a thermometer under my tongue, ask what’s wrong or spoil me with tapioca pudding? A bit disappointed and highly remorseful, I kept quiet while viewing a day’s worth of television.
   Upon returning to Room 8, the flame between me and Joseph extinguished. I eyed my shoes whenever he strolled by. As far as I can remember, we never talked again; I’m not sure if we’d ever spoken in the first place. Nobody else breathed a word about our short and sweet love.
   It’s as if it never happened. ~~~~ 
Be well, and have a great first week of March.!


62 comments:

  1. I heard he recently changed his name to George...

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  2. You guys are silly. Thanks.
    Have a great week.

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  3. I remember that scene!
    It's easy to grow impatient. But you want to do it right. Then it will be truly awesome when it's released.
    And thanks for featuring my book in your sidebar. You rock!

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    1. Thanks, Alex. Your words help a lot.
      And of course; it's an awesome cover for an undoubtedly exciting book. I'm sure I'll enjoy the read.

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  4. Drop-kick to the butt, especially after what I posted up today. Wow!

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    1. This stuff is always hard and awkward. Isn't it?

      Smiles.

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    2. I hate to say that I was more upset, because I left the last piece of chocolate cake!

      Dang.

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    3. Dangit, that really sucks, Dixie. And she was still upset?! Sounds like a very high maintenance friend to me.

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  5. Aw, he had a little crush on you. And you quickly crushed it - LOL.

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    1. Yeah, he's my one that got away. Dagnabbit!

      Thanks for dropping by, Spunk.

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  6. Congrats on the book!!! Oh and green and yellow huh? You were quite preppy in the third grade!

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    1. OMG, it's so embarrassing looking at photos. I can't believe Mom dressed me and/or I dressed myself the way I did. Those socks were mustard yellow, and they clashed with everything I wore.

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  7. That is so sweet, so innocent. Wouldn't life be grand if it stayed so.

    Congratulations on finishing the book. I applaud you for trying to go the traditional publishing way first. I will keep you in my chats with the publishing gods… not that I'm in tight or anything but hey, another voice in the mix can't hurt!

    Cheers, Jenny
    PearsonReport
    Write Brain Challenge

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    1. You're very thoughtful, Jenny. Thank you, and thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it.

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  8. Another congratulations on finishing your book. It will be exciting watching you bring it to market.

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  9. You killed all his hopes and dreams in one day. Probably scarred him for life lol

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    1. Well, dang, Pat. I was already feeling crappy that I simultaneously let him get away and rejected him. Thanks. Yeah, thanks a lot. LOL.

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  10. Awwwwww Wonder whatever became of him?

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    1. JoJo, I can't for the life of me remember his last name, else I'd look him up.

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  11. Huge congratulations. And I am lusting after your book. Rather a lot.
    Poor Joseph. Poor, poor Joseph. (Love Michael's comment.)

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    1. I know, 40 years later, and I still feel guilty.

      Thanks, EC.

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  12. Replies
    1. Haha. I'm at a loss because B and D are the only letters you can flip and exchange like that.

      I love you Lanie and Pickleode. Who are Rodan and Mothra?

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    2. Thanks for clarifying, Janie. I thought I was missing out on some outlandish Pickleodeon Von Pickleodeon secret.

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  13. Oh, exciting times, Robyn! You go, girl. Can't wait to hear more about this book adventure.

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  14. I'm excited for you. I hope your selective process finding a publisher pays off. Don't forget us early fans in your slow moving rocket to fame and fortune.

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    1. I appreciate it, Pickleope Von Pickleope. You're unforgettable, so don't worry. If this process lands me at fame, fortune, or the ability to buy a new pair of socks, it will have been worth it. (I need new socks.)

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  15. I'm a big fan of drawing the ones I love. My crayon skills are a little rusty, but I think I could still slap together some macaroni artwork in a pinch.

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    1. I'm fully confident you'd produce a masterpiece with bowtie, curvy, and swirly pasta, BnB.

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  16. Enchanting account. He drew his best for you. Ah, too early. My first kiss was from a classmate named Donald. We were 5 years old --I had to tell him I was going to marry Dale Evans.

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    1. Love that story, Geo. Ah, Dale Evans was your first crush? Very sweet. I hope Donald wasn't too upset.

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  17. How sweet. :) Young, puppy love is sometimes the best. :) I'm so excited for your book to come out!!

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    1. Thank you, my dear. I'm equally excited for you to return to home, sweet home. =)

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  18. Oh, what might have been, eh? In love as in life, timing is everything. Wishing you the best of publishing success!

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    1. Yep, in fact I started the chapter by talking about "the one that got away." It's probably for the best. He's probably in prison or still focused on Hooked on Phonics.

      Thanks, Debra.

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  19. That's what he gets for not spelling your name correctly.
    Unless it was a typo.
    I haet tpyos.
    ;-)
    I know how you feel about wanting to go traditional publishing, but I couldn't wait to get "It's Not Just A Job" out there to the millions who wanted it.
    Sigh...
    Traditional publishing may be the way to go for the next one.

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    1. Oh Al, those big-wig publishers have...big wigs. I bet. Wouldn't that be a hoot? They don't catch our typoes. They just more money than $1.71. That's the only reason I'm trying this first. You're a damn good author. So don't forget it. What do they millions know, anyway? They liked 50 Shades.

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  20. You never forget your first love or the embarrassment and humiliation it often caused.
    I couldn't help myself, but I had a thought about bringing a woman to the verge of paradise and holding her there for a moment before... never mind. Just from reading your title. Whew!

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    1. Oh, Mr. Jono, I hope you had a long (no sexual innuendo intended) cold, enjoyable - but not too enjoyable- shower. Wink.

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  21. He's probably blogging somewhere about you...or explaining to his therapist how he once put his her on his sleeve and got crushed. By the teacher! What the heck was she thinking? Was she trying to get the boy humiliated?

    I'm still reading. I'm so slow. I make the turtle look like a speed demon.

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    1. She's was very warm hearted. We all loved her, yet she knew I was shy as hell. I don't know what she was thinking.

      No worries. It's long. I'm a very slow reader myself. And you're had quite a few big, exciting things on your plate. Thanks, doll.

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    2. "you've" had. Damn typos. They sneak in there all the time.

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  22. Poor fellow! I wonder what would have happened if he'd just kissed you instead of trying to impress you with his art. You don't need to worry about mis-spelling a girl's name if you cut to the chase!

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    1. That's an astute point, GB. You can cut to the chase without even knowing a gal's name.

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  23. very cute and no doubt you set his attitude toward women forever. I do wonder where he's at now....I think we've all had that similar situation. Oh the crush and crushed.

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    1. Yes, and that's why it's called the crush.
      Thank you, Joanne.

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  24. Congrats on the completion of your book!

    I think the love picture is sweet at that age. I got one when I was in 9th grade from a big, hairy beast of a boy that wasn't quite so sweet. I think my reaction was the same as yours with the averted eyes every time he came near.

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    1. Oh, I'm sorry, Theresa. That sounds much more traumatic than my scenario.

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  25. I wonder if poor Joseph is one of those lost souls trying to find true love on the online dating sites now. :D

    Exciting that you have your book finished. Congratulations! Best of luck to you in finding a publisher!

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    1. That's a viable possibility, Daisy. Perhaps I've already humiliated Joseph a second time by posting his dating ad.

      Thank you for the well wishes.

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  26. That teacher deserved to sit on a tac! If you find out he is now a millionaire who helps the animals of the world and looks like the man of your dreams, then you need to find that teacher and bitch slap her:) Very nicely written and how we can all relate

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    1. Thanks for the laughs, Birgit. I hear the teacher now walks with a cane. Karma?

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  27. Little did you know that Joseph's misspelling of your name would be a foreshadowing of things to come. Actually, it's pretty common for kids to write "b's" like "d's" and vice versa. You must have been more advanced in third grade than I was, as my mom preferred to roll me over for a more accurate thermometer reading! I can't wait to read your book, Robyn!

    Julie

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    1. Thankfully, Mom never turned me over to check my temperature, Julie.

      Thanks for your cheer.

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  28. How could you crush him like that? He could have been your forever man.

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  29. You are made of sterner stuff than I. I haven't come close to coming close to getting anywhere near to finishing anything.
    Sort of...

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