Friday, March 14, 2008

Guest Blogger Cindy Spencer Pape


The first vulture of spring…

March in Michigan. Not the prettiest time or place. Don’t get me wrong, my home state can be beautiful. The phenomenal Great Lakes, lots of brilliant green in the summer, urban architectural grandeur in Detroit and Grand Rapids, and magnificent color in the fall. But in March? Yuck. Melting snow that’s more gray than white. Leafless trees and brown muddy grass. But there is hope! Birds are chattering away outside my window this morning. Yesterday I saw the first vulture of the season. Yeah, that’s a weird sign I know, but they do migrate, so if they’re back it is a sign of spring. And instead of jackets and sweaters, the stores are full of swimsuits.

So spring is springing, albeit at its own leisurely pace. And I am anxious. I’m tired of trudging through snow and I miss having the windows open while I type. Knowing the weather in my part of the world we’re due for one or two more snowstorms before winter gives up the fight, but for today I’ll move my computer to the sunny spot by the kitchen window and pretend. Some day, I tell myself, I’ll be able to move me and my computer someplace warm, where I can sit on a shady porch and look out at the ocean while I type. Hey, we all have to have dreams, right? Goals are important, and all that. And for a writer, imagination is a prerequisite. So if I want to sit here and pretend that the palm tree on my computer screen is actually right outside my window…well, probably shouldn’t mention it, or I might be getting a visit from the nice men in the white coats.

Ah, but that’s the life of a writer. If we admitted to half the stuff that goes on in our twisted little brains, the psych wards would be packed with us, all frantically scribbling away with crayons, and saying, “not until I finish this scene,” when it’s time for medication. No, much better to put all our craziness down in our fiction and pretend that’s where it came from all along.

If you’re looking to heat up your day a bit, you might want to check out “Teach Me,” a Torrid Tarot novel available today from Ellora’s Cave (http://www.ellorascave.com/). Hopefully that will melt the snow off your roof. I’d love for you to leave me a comment, here, and you’re all more than welcome to visit my website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com/ and come chat with me on the Novel Sisterhood loop: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/novelsisterhood/.

Finally, thanks to Melissa, my gracious hostess, for inviting my ramblings today. To all of you, have a wonderful weekend, and may the first vulture of spring bring only good things to each of you!


Cindy

5 comments:

Melissa Alvarez said...

You're very welcome, Cindy! It's great to have you here today. Come on down to South Florida - the temps are hot, the breeze is cool and the ocean's fine!

Smiles,

Melissa/Ariana

Unknown said...

Spring is great, isn't it? All that new growth just about to explode. Over here in the south-west of England it's well-advanced, in spite of the high winds and rain we've been having lately. My garden has daffodils, tulips, primroses and grape hyacinths among the weeds, and the corkscrew hazel has two[!] catkins. Out in the countryside the hedgerows are greening up and the blackthorn is blooming in white drifts. Then there are the lambs...

Sounds idyllic? We-ell, this is where I mention the rivers that have broken their banks and all the flooded fields. Luckily the small city where I live hasn't been flooded for some years now, despite the five rivers that meet in it or nearby. It's lucky for my my computer isn't by my window, or I'd spend more time gazing out there than writing...

Chris Power said...

Hey, thanks to Anny, I can now burble on in your blog! I kid you not, I am such a loser when it comes to the internet and blogs and websites. Anyhow, I want to share my spring with you.

In spite of all the wind and rain we've had lately, spring is well-advanced in the south-west of England. In my garden there are daffodils and primroses, tulips, grape hyacinths, and the corkscrew hazel has two[!] catkins. Out in the countryside the hedgerows are greening up, the blackthorn is blooming in white swathes, snowdrops and primroses are growing wild on the banks, and then there are the lambs bouncing round the fields.

Sounds idyllic, yes? We-ell, now I should tell you about the rivers that have overflowed their banks and the fields that have been flooded... But the small city where I live hasn't been flooded out for some years, in spite of the five rivers that meet in it or nearby.

I love this time of year - well, to be honest, I love every season, but spring is special, isn't it? All that new life about to explode, and the birds bellowing their little heads off.

It's as well my computer isn't near my window, or I'd be gazing out all the time and the vampire novel will never get finished!

Chris Power said...

Okay, here goes the fourth attempt to burble on your blog. I kid you not, I am such a loser when it comes to the internet and blogs and websites. Anyhow, I want to share my spring with you.

In spite of all the wind and rain we've had lately, spring is well-advanced in the south-west of England. In my garden there are daffodils and primroses, tulips, grape hyacinths, and the corkscrew hazel has two[!] catkins. Out in the countryside the hedgerows are greening up, the blackthorn is blooming in white swathes, snowdrops and primroses are growing wild on the banks, and then there are the lambs bouncing round the fields.

Sounds idyllic, yes? We-ell, now I should tell you about the rivers that have overflowed their banks and the fields that have been flooded... But the small city where I live hasn't been flooded out for some years, in spite of the five rivers that meet in it or nearby.

I love this time of year - well, to be honest, I love every season, but spring is special, isn't it? All that new life about to explode, and the birds bellowing their little heads off.

It's as well my computer isn't near my window, or I'd be gazing out all the time and the vampire novel will never get finished!

Susan Macatee said...

Great blog, Cindy!

I too, am longing for spring. We got a preview today with the temp hitting 60 degrees. But I can't wait to be able to open up the windows and let all that fresh air in.

And I agree with you that all we writers are a little bit crazy. But when you spend most of your day making up characters and stories, you have to be just a little odd. But this job is so much fun!