Cindy on April 30th, 2009
“There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” — Aldous Huxley
Every time our walls give way to a sledgehammer, I’m reminded that change of any kind is never easy. Whether you’re updating a vintage kitchen or trying to lose a few pounds before hitting the beach, “self-improvement” takes time and patience. That’s my topic in this week’s Midpoint column in The Oakland Press. To read the column, click here. Meanwhile, I’d love to know: What changes are you working on this spring? — CL
Cindy on April 27th, 2009
“I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do,” — Willa Cather, O Pioneers
Environmentalist Maria Rodale wrote that people who live near trees have stronger family ties than those who live in treeless areas. âTrees create a sanctuary around us,â Rodale noted in an essay for Organic Style. âThey certainly make us feel grounded and safe.â
I know exactly what Rodale meant. On the boulevard across the street from my home, a trio of Bradford pear trees is ready to burst into snowy bloom. Surrounded by smaller stands of lilac, the pear trees are typically the first to flower. I look forward to their annual display in late April and early May — and I’m always relieved when I return from spring vacation to see I haven’t missed it. While it might not seem like such a big deal to anyone else, I’m proud of this contribution to my neighborhood landscape.
My little grove began with a single tree, which I ordered from the City of Royal Oak the first spring in our present home. In subsequent years I added two more Bradford pears. Today, everyone in our immediate family is represented by a flowering tree. And like the three of us, each tree has filled out over the past 16 years — a natural reminder of how quickly we’re all changing. My son was in kindergarten when the first spindly Bradford pear tree was planted; around this time last year he graduated college. Like every mom I know, I often repeat the sentimental cliche: Where did all those years fly?
Come fall, the foliage on our pear trees will turn bright orange, then crimson. And just as I do every year, I’ll admire the color show from our dining room window and console myself with the fact that everything, including the local landscape, is evolving right on schedule. – Cindy La Ferle
– Parts of this post were excerpted from my essay collection, Writing Home (copyright 2005) –
Cindy on April 23rd, 2009
“It’s the first impression, and it will either open the door or close it. It’s that important, so don’t mess it up.” — Nicholas Sparks (on query letters)
While many of us “meet” new people through blogs and online social networks, our person-to-person social skills remain a key factor in our careers and personal lives. Psychologists have discovered, in fact, that first impressions are far more powerful than we realize.
âFor centuries, people stayed in the communities in which they were born,â note Ann Demarais, Ph.D., and Valerie White, Ph.D., authors of First Impressions: What You Don’t Know About How Others See You ($12; Bantam). âNow, however, we live in an age in which people move to new houses and cities, change jobs, make new friends, and form new relationships at a rapid rate.â Whether you’re an unemployed mid-lifer or a new graduate preparing for job interviews, you don’t want to miss this book. It’s the topic of my Midpoint column today in The Oakland Press. –CL
Cindy on April 20th, 2009
“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances.” — Bruce Barton, American Congressman
It’s no secret that the print and publishing industries are in turmoil and transition. In this climate, it’s nearly impossible to get a major publisher to look at your manuscript — unless you happen to be Joe the Plumber or Nadya Suleman (aka Octomom).
“As a writer, I find this worse than depressing,” wrote columnist George Cantor, addressing this issue in the Feb. 12 edition of The Detroit Jewish News. “My agent tells me it is getting harder to sell a book of any kind unless it involves a celebrity or someone who has already written a best seller.” Which might explain why so many serious and talented writers are considering self-publishing as a viable option.
Is there a novel, a poetry collection, or a memoir in your desk drawer? As print-on-demand publishers are quick to point out now, many literary giants, including Virginia Woolf, were self-published authors. If you’re willing to work hard to get your own stuff out there, self-publishing might be for you, too.
But don’t even consider it without doing some serious homework. There are several resources available, including Deana Riddle’s 2009 Writer Watchdog Self-publishing Directory, which includes an article I wrote about my own adventures in self-publishing. Riddle’s directory features more than 200 useful resources for self-publishers, in addition to some solid advice from industry professionals. And I highly recommend a visit to Dan Poynter’s Web site, where you’ll find a list of his outstanding directories and some tips for getting started. See you in print! –Cindy La Ferle
Cindy on April 18th, 2009
“Kiss of the sun for pardon. Song of the birds for mirth. You’re closer to God’s heart in a garden than any place else on earth.” — Dorothy Frances Gurney
If today’s sublime weather is any indication, it looks as though spring has finally arrived in Michigan. On days like this, I remember that I’m not fully “myself” unless I’m working in a garden every day. Those days are coming soon. With that idea happily planted in mind, I’ve been clearing out winter debris from the herb beds and even scrubbing down the patio furniture. The cushions in the teahouse are dusted off, too, ready and waiting for anyone who wants to escape with a good book and a glass of iced tea. If only we could live this way year ’round! –CL
–Photos of my backyard gardens in summer (Cindy La Ferle)–
