The fairy-tale dream of Susan Boyle

 

Susan Boyle inspired the world with her ordinary appearance, her extraordinary talent and her ambitious dreams

I dreamed a dream -

The fairy-tale launching of Susan Boyle

by Janet Lane

 

 

Who hasn’t heard of Susan Boyle, the homely woman with the angelic voice who inspired the world? She stood before the Britain’s Got Talent judges, enduring their eye-rolling and other visible expressions of dismissal. Patient and gracious, she answered their questions, revealing her age (good grief, 47!), the fact she’d never been given a chance with her singing, and most of all her dream, to sing with the likes of Elaine Paige, a famous English singer. That brought another round of cruel eye-rolls from judges and the audience as well.

Then she sang, and the rest truly is history. Her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables gave me goosebumps, and I didn’t hear it live – like hundreds of millions of other people, I saw this remarkable audition on YouTube.

 

I needed to hear more. I listened to her Cry Me a River, and I saw her second performance on Britain’s Got Talent when she sang Memories from Cats, one of my lifetime favorite songs. More goosebumps. Her voice is, quite simply, fantastic, but it’s also her interpretation of the songs, the life and passion she gives them. She delivers, and she delivers with a straightforward honesty I’d almost forgotten.

Contrast her performance with the current video pop star kings and queens. Always aware of where the camera is, they “act” their way through songs, delivering carefully rehearsed expressions and movements meant to convince you that their songs are filled with the passion of the lyrics and essence of the song.  We know it’s not passion.  It’s contrived.

Not so with Boyle. She simply sings.

In addition to her unaffected delivery and her angelic voice, she represents hope for anyone who possesses a special talent and strives to succeed. It’s a tale as old as time itself, embraced more passionately in the United States than anywhere else in the world: Cinderella. Rags to Riches.  Or Rocky Balboa, from downtrodden to triumphant.

Susan Boyle touches all singers who have hope in their hearts, all singers who have a dream. By extension, she touches all people who possess artistic talent. She shows us that Cinderella can win. J. K. Rowling did much the same thing with Harry Potter, climbing from welfare-supported obscurity to dizzying fame and success.

Boyle is exceptional. Youngest of four brothers and six sisters, she never left home. She stayed long after her siblings left, sacrificing her own pursuits by taking care of her 91-year-old mother until her death in 2007. Boyle tried to do honor to her talent, learning from a voice coach, attending Edinburgh Acting School, and spending her entire savings to produce a professional demo tape which she distributed to record companies, radio talent competition and local and national TV. She endured such mocking in 1995 at a local talent competition called My Kind of People that she almost backed out of her audition with Britain’s Got Talent.

Hard to imagine now, isn’t it?  She came this close to not doing it. She was too old. Not pretty enough. Had tried and tried and failed. Why subject herself to more public humiliation?

Her mother believed in her, that’s why. When it came down to something balancing on those scales we use to make our decisions, her mother’s faith in her, her mother’s urging her to try Britain’s Got Talent, tipped the scales and made her keep that audition date.

There are many fascinating aspects of Susan Boyle’s meteoric rise to fame. As writers and artists, this is her biggest gift to us, a message. A reminder:  Thank the person who steadfastly believes in your dream. At times when your faith falters, trust that person’s faith, as Susan Boyle did.

You have a dream.

Keep it.

Success – are you a tortoise or a hare?

Control your expectations to avoid excessive frustrations on your writer's journey. Sketch courtesy of Sarah Mensinga.

Hold onto the joy
by Janet Lane

I’m always delighted to learn of a good friend who lands their first book contract. If you’re one of them, I’m thrilled for you.  If you’re from the other group, hovering on the brink of selling,  I wish you steady faith and continued diligence.  Keep writing, keep trying.

Focus on your writer’s journey, and try to avoid comparing your work to others.  Frustration can produce jealousies and bitter thoughts that serve only to weigh you down and strip the joy from your writing.
Yeah, easy for her to say, you might think.  But I do know.  Let me demonstrate …

Dumb luck, that’s what it is.

She networked her way into it, and she just got lucky.  She knows all those published authors and made the right connections at the right time.

Or … She sold herself out.  She changed genres and wrote a historical (or erotica, or vampire, or horror or whatever) novel because they’re so hot.  She’s not following her heart with her writing like I am.  Oh, well, at least I have my dignity.

Or … He stole that idea from me.  I was writing that exact same novel.  I shouldn’t have shared my stuff.  Someone told him, and he took it.

Or … What drivel!  There isn’t a multisyllabic word in her whole book.  She’s writing down to fifth graders.  If that’s what it takes I’ll pass.

Or … he’s tall and good looking/she’s beautiful, that’s why it was so easy for him/her.  Once they see how young/old/short/fat/skinny I am, they won’t want to buy my novel.

Or simply …  Why her and not me?  It’s just not fair.

Nothing’s more frustrating than watching months turn into years, than reading dozens and dozens of rejection letters that say nothing, then seeing all the people around you (or so it seems) get published.  Keep in mind that because it takes several months to write a novel, that writer might have started his novel when that genre was not hot.  Timing of the completed novel is critical.

Regarding luck, networking increases your odds for success, i.e., luck, and from what I’ve heard from editors and agents, it’s the book.  Yes, they get excited about young, incredibly talented writers who write good books, but they also get excited about incredibly talented writers who write good books, period.  It really is all about the book.  No one ever asked my age or appearance before they rejected or bought my work.

Rather than dismiss another writer’s success, try looking closer to see what they did right.
A negative view: he sold out and wrote a (whatever genre) book.
A positive view: he learned what the market wanted, and he provided it.

And, was it an overnight success?  Romance Writers of America includes useful information with their “Just Published” announcements.  They list the new author’s name and book title, then they list how many years they’ve been writing and how many manuscripts they’ve completed.  You’ll see the occasional “rabbit” writer who’s connected early in his or her journey and this is their first novel after writing only months, but most often, you’ll see “tortoise” writers who have been working at their craft for years and have several novels completed.

If you approach your writer’s journey with the expectation of a tortoise’s pace, your frustration level will be lower, you’ll keep more joy in your writing and, should you turn out to be a rabbit-in-disguise, it will be a pleasant surprise if you get published quickly.

The joy of writing is what enchanted us from the beginning.  However you approach and execute your journey, however long it takes and however much success you realize, I wish you much joy.
———————————————————-

My debut novel, Tabor’s Trinket, and the second in the series, Emerald Silk, both made the Denver best seller’s list.  I had been writing for eight years and had seven completed novels when I received my first contract.  Both books are available through amazon.com

Murder mystery dinner made fun birthday surprise

A murder mystery dinner made John's birthday a fun event in the mountains, with friends

I planned a surprise birthday party this past weekend for my husband, John, at Brook Forest Inn, a glorious inn drenched in mountain sunshine and rich with history.  The theme: Lords and Ladies, a nice nod to our wedding at Colorado’s Renaissance Festival in Larkspur almost 24 years ago.

Linda, our master planner, created a devious, twisting plot, and we were joined by some close friends who caught the spirit and came dressed for medieval fun.

Who was the murderer?  The victim, Lord Littledagger, could not speak the name.  Death tends to limit one that way.  The Gypsies were mischievous, devious and … assassinous?  Duchess Mora of More concealed much in her purse, and the Countess of Cleavage, did she have secrets stored in her plunging neckline?  There were many moments of mystery, confusion and hilarity as we toured the inn, gathering clues and daggers.

Historic Brook Forest Inn is set in a lush mountain forest not far from Denver

The Inn, a romantic Victorian bed and breakfast, dates back to 1913 and is set in the midst of a lush forest not far from Denver. The lobby, bar, dining and guest rooms are all beautifully decorated, reflecting lacy Victorian opulence and charm.

The romantic in me would love to rent one of the captivating suites for a summer getaway.  The writer in me would enjoy hosting my critique partners for an inspirational weekend writing retreat, taking full advantage of all those outdoor decks and benches.

The mischievous Gypsies stole all the daggers and potion

The mother in me thinks this would be a great place for a wedding for one of our daughters.  Above all, the wife in me is delighted to have found such an entertaining way to surprise my husband on his special day.

Learn more about the murder mystery dinners at http://www.thebrookforestinn.com

“Safe sex” with tiny URLs – know where you’re clicking

A small, easy-to-take precaution will protect you from phishing schemes

Have you heard about the danger of clicking tiny URLs?  Tiny URLs are great when using Twitter, Facebook and other networking sites because of the 140-characters-or-less message limitations.  Tiny URLs are generally about 25 characters long, while many URLs can run 50 to 75 characters in length.

THE DANGER – without employing an easy-to-access feature of tinyurl.com, tiny URLs can’t be verified.  If you don’t know who’s including the tiny URL in their Tweet or e-mail message, you could be clicking on a phishing site and end up like my husband, wading through 400 messages every day just to find his “real” messages.

EASY FIX – EASY AS 1, 2, 3
1.  Go to http://tinyurl.com
2.  Enable the Preview Option Feature
3.  After you’ve enabled this feature, every time you click on a tiny URL, you will receive an automatic preview of the web site you’ll go to if you click the “Proceed to this site” prompt.

It’s just a small extra layer that takes just a moment, a moment well spent if you’ve received the invitation from someone you don’t know – a potential phishing fiend.

Thanks to Michael Kassner for his post on URL shortening – you may read more about this and other IT security issues at this site.  I’ll forego the tinyURL and list the full link for you:

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p

Mother’s Day Poem for Mother-in-law

Is your mother-in-law a gem? My poem may be perfect for you, and for for her.

I posted a Mother’s Day poem yesterday, and I’ve received requests for a mother-in-law Mother’s Day poem.  I adore my mother-in-law, Dot, so it was a pleasure to sit back and reflect on the many wonderful memories we’ve shared since I first met her. With the spirit and energy of beagles, she and I have tracked garage sales, mall sales and auctions. We’ve savored our bargains, compared recipes, cooked together, danced together, laughed and cried together.  Dot even helped me plan one of my book signings in Florida, and I was able to meet her wonderful Woman’s Club friends.

If you’re like me and are fortunate enough to have a beloved mother-in-law, please feel free to put my poem to the paper of your choice for a Mother’s Day card this year.

To Dot and to all moms – Happy Mother’s Day!

I have fabulous memories like this one, when my mother-in-law, Dot, helped me plan a book signing in Florida.

With Love to My Mother-in-Law
by Janet Lane

A visit by phone to share the news
An e-mail you send to inform and amuse
A leisurely visit with coffee or tea
A richly amusing shopping spree
We share so much, I’m ever so thankful
To find a soul sister so warm, so delightful
My marriage brought a huge dividend
Wonderful you, who became my friend
So on this day made for mothers’ bliss
I send my thanks, a hug and a kiss
For all the joys you’ve sent my way
I wish you a happy Mother’s Day!

Did you like this poem?  Will you use it on a card to your mother-in-law?  What do you love about her?  Feel free to share by clicking on the “o comments” or “comments” line below.

Colorado Romance Writers conference a winner

CRW's Romancing the Rockies conference is being held at the Radisson Graystone Castle

I’m energized and inspired after the first day of the “Romancing the Rockies” fiction writer’s conference. It’s being held this year at the Radisson Graystone Castle, so appropriate for me since I write historical romance set in 15th century England.

My character workshop went well. I was nervous before presenting _ I always am. Perhaps it helps stir some adrenaline and makes my delivery better.  I even worried that I had somehow managed to drive to the wrong hotel, just the creative short-circuited thoughts of a writer, haha. I was so relieved when I saw Elaine Levine, CRW President, near the “medieval” portcullis.

My presentation was attended by a group of alert, interesting writers who asked good questions, all a presenter’s dream. It always thrills me when I see the look of discovery as a writing concept is learned. It’s said that, to learn something, teach it and you’ll never forget it. Perhaps that’s why I like to present–it solidifies the concepts for me, and I love sharing what I have learned.  I invited those who attended my workshop to visit my blog and ask additional questions, so if you were there yesterday, thanks for attending, and welcome!  I hope you enjoy my articles on craft and the writing life.  Read, enjoy, share by clicking the “o comment” link (I know it’s weird; it should read “click here to comment.” 

Sherrilyn Kenyon was the keynote speaker last evening, and her story was entertaining and surprising. I had no idea her writer’s journey was so rock-strewn. At one time she resorted to living in a car, and she also spent time on welfare, still receiving brutal rejections from New York publishers. Then she presented her manuscript on the desk of the right publisher at the right time, and now she’s a #1 New York Times best-selling author. She’s gracious, generous with information, and in spite of her considerable success, she has not let it in any way taint her vision or personality.  You can learn more about her journey on the video at http://www.dailyinquisitor.com/sherrilyn/intro.htm

I enjoyed seeing my fellow author friends – Robin Owens, Margie Lawson, Jeanne Stein, Lynda Hilburn, Diana Rowe, Melissa Mayhue – and making new friends.

I visited with many wonderful romance readers, several of whom bought my books, Tabor’s Trinket and Emerald Silk. Thank you all and I hope you enjoy my stories!  And to the handsome young man who served all those tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, thank you for your service to our country, and good luck with your fiction writing.

A ”novel” moment during the conference: When a young fan dressed in a sleeveless, low-backed dress asked Sherrilyn Kenyon to sign her BACK (yes, the skin on her back) instead of one of Sherrilyn’s books.

Funniest moment: when a laptop computer was accidentally locked and cabled onto my presentation table, and after several attempts to open it failed, the resourceful CRW writers stripped the table and simply carried it from the Nobility Room, where I presented, to the Kingdom room, where the laptop was needed for a Powerpoint presentation. It proved that those theft-proof laptop cables really do work!

My Mother’s Day Poem

She can be your mother, your grandmother, your aunt, your adopted mother, or an older sister.  She’s so many things to us – nurturer, lecturer, coach, lifesaver, homework helper.  As Mother’s Day approaches, we may recall specific tantrums we threw, arrows of anger we shot, directly or indirectly, at her.  We may recall the strange detours we took in the past and how she tried to help us in spite of our resistance.  The older we get the wiser she seems.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I wrote this poem for my mother, Mary, and my mother-in-law, Dot, and for all moms who love their children and give the world its greatest gift … the future.

To Mary and Dot - Happy Mother's Day

A symbol of love is the rose
They say
Its petals so lovely and fragrant
Kissed by the dew, a dozen
Or few
Their colors resplendent and vibrant
I hold in my pocket of dreams
And days
Mementos of childhood cheer
Your gestures of love that strengthened
My heart
And carried me through the years
So on this occasion of
Family love
I offer this poem, like a blossom
In thanks for the band-aids and smiles
And hugs
All mother’s gifts, golden and wholesome.
…. Janet Lane

Happy Mother’s Day!

The power of dreams and free characters

Free-range characters control their own destinies, make their own mistakes and ultimately triumph using their own resources.

I’m presenting a workshop today at the Colorado Romance Writer’s conference.  It’s my first time at this, the Romancing the Rockies conference.  My presentation is called “Range Free Characters,” and it’s a craft workshop aimed at making fiction novels stronger by freeing a novel’s characters to pursue their own dreams, learn from their own mistakes, and triumph as a result of their own efforts.  Expressed another way, it’s about allowing the protagonist(s) own inner story to drive the outer story, as opposed to the other way around.  Stories that progress from the inside out makes character-driven stories shine.  Well-known examples of this method are the storylines of the movies Titanic, Silence of the Lambs and the animated movie, Cars. What other well-known stories take full advantage of this concept?