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Things That Make Me Go Mmmruh

March 6, 2007 by in category Archives tagged as

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Things That Make Me Go Mmmruh

By Geralyn Ruane

Mmmruh . . . you know, that sound you make when biting into the most succulent piece of chocolate – or when you see an incredibly hot guy and you know you’ll never have him – or when you see the absolute cutest pair of baby shoes EVER.

Mmmruh . . . I live for that sound. More precisely, I live for those moments that create that sound – those moments that reach right into the bloody pumping heart of me and squeeze – those moments that can sometimes make me hurt, make me cry – but always make me feel alive. Those moments that steep me in a well of pure sensation – a well so often iced over in a frenetic world.

Sometimes these moments of mmmruh are HUGE and witnessed from afar – the U.S. hockey team defeating Russia at Lake Placid (“Do you believe in miracles?!”) – or Matthew McConaughey flying in a chopper through the aftermath of Katrina to save a man and the stranded animals he would not abandon.

But the really cool thing is that these moments of mmmruh don’t have to be huge . . . they can be tiny . . . and they’re everywhere – like pearly drops of dew glistening on the grass at daybreak, just waiting to be licked off and savored by a thirsty cricket. These drops are so small, ephemeral, always there, too often unnoticed. Like the way the pot-bellied old man cradled the little white dog settled so trustingly in his arms as they made their way through the cross walk right in front of my windshield. Or like the car that pulled over on an exit ramp two lanes over from me so the driver could get out and help the man pushing his disabled car up the ramp.

These are random drops of mmmruh. Moments that cut right to the essence of love, trust, compassion, understanding, nobility. Moments that I savor in life. Moments that I crave when I’m reading. Moments that I strive to evoke in my writing.

If I can recognize these moments, find these moments, access these moments, re-create these moments – but most of all, remember these moments and the way they make me feel – mmmruh, what a wonderful world it can be.

Geralyn Ruane’s favorite Hardy Boy is whichever one Parker Stevenson played, and these days she writes romance, chick lit and women’s fiction. Last year her short story “Jane Austen Meets the New York Giants” was published in the New York Times Bestselling anthology The Right Words at the Right Time Volume 2.

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President’s Message

March 1, 2007 by in category Archives tagged as

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By OCC Co-President Sandy Novy-Chvostal

Critiquing: Sometimes a Paneful Necessity

I am a writer; words are my bred and butter. So I take great pride in insuring that I always select the right word to express my exact meaning.

Yet, despite the fact that i have a photogenic memory, even I have been known to make mistakes. I once told an editor that she was an abnormality in the business, only to have a friend quickly correct that to anomality. And although I realize that a condiment is something you put on your hot dog, and a condom on something else entirely, I’ve unfortunately traversed those two words as well.

But as bad as it is to make mistakes like these in pubic, its even worse when you make them in you’re writing. Because then the reader (and editor) is detracted from what you are trying to say.

Which is why I am so thankful to have critique partners. Along with helping me develop plot and characterization, they also help me catch those small mistakes in my books that some time slip through spell check.

But if you are a knew writer, you may not have found critique partners yet. And you may be wondering how ou can get you’re work critiqued. Well, here are a few suggestions to help you get started:

*Enter OCC’s Orange Rose Contest. The oldest, RWA chapter contest, the Orange Rose, was created to help our members get published. Every entrant receives detailed feedback from three published writers, and finalists are judged by acquiring editors. (Please see page 15.)

*First-Chapter Critique drawings. Offered monthly by our generous published authors, OCC members can enter this drawing for free at every general meeting.

*Critique Group Raffles. Still in the works, our creative Ways & Means directors are devising ways to give members the chance to “check out” how established critiqued groups function. Watch for more info in upcoming Orange Blossom issues and The Morning Juice loop.

*Stay for lunch at the meetings. There’s no better time to get get to know your fellow OCC members, and hopefully, find someone you’d like to work with–such as an all most error proof writer like me!

Happy Writing!

Sandy


Sandy Novy-Chvostal (aka Sandra Paul) has a degree in journalism, but prefers to write from the heart. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have three children, three cats, and one overgrown “puppy.” Romantic Times has labeled Sandra Paul’s work as “outrageously funny and surprisingly perceptive” while Rendezvous stated “Sandra Paul is imagination with wings.”

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WINNERS – The Worst Valentine’s Day Ever

February 28, 2007 by in category Archives tagged as

Vicki Lewis Thompson and OCC are thrilled to announce the winners of The Worst Valentine’s Day Ever contest.

But first we’d like to thank Vicki Lewis Thompson for teaming up with us and for helping make this The Best Valentine’s Contest Ever.

For even more Valentine fun, be sure to look for Vicki’s latest, My Nerdy Valentine.

Vicki Lewis Thompson is uniquely qualified to document the nerd experience and has the National Honor Society pin to prove it. Long before brains were cool, she made passes at guys who wore glasses. She eventually married one.

Being a smart man, he recommended she write romances. Being a smart woman, she wrote about romantic nerds. When Nerd in Shining Armor hit the NYT bestseller list, it validated her secret passion and confirmed what she’s always known – nerds are hot and getting hotter! The runaway success of Vicki’s nerd books indicates that we have officially entered an era of nerd love, which suits her perfectly.

And now for the winners!

But first I’d like to thank all who entered and followed along. It was great fun and we hope you come back next year.

What?

Next year’s too long to wait?

Well okay!

Come back tomorrow when we kick off A Slice of Orange, the e-zine!

That’s right!

Come back every day for lots of fun, friendship, tips and tricks for newbies and inspiration for newbies and veterans alike.

Okay…now for the winners!

First Place:

The Valentine’s Day Scale: Great, Good, Not So Good, Ugly and Get Off Me by Jen Crooks

Second Place:

Smokin’ Valentine by Rebecca Forster

Third Place:

Slip Slidin’ Away by Andrea Baker

Congratulations, girls!

Warmest regards,

Dana Diamond

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Author Talk in The OC

February 28, 2007 by in category Archives tagged as

By Jina Bacarr

Are you on the go 24/7 with your family, your writing, your emails? Did you miss the last monthly OCC/RWA meeting? Or you attended the meeting and you want to know more about our guests? OCC doesn’t have instant replay, but we have the next best thing: Video podcasts with our guests as well as OCC authors.

Check out the OCC podcast page for my series, “Author Talk in the O.C.,” video and audio podcasts that are fun and informative. In my monthly audio podcast, you’ll get all the info about our next meeting on March 10th and a sneak peak at what’s inside the Orange Blossom Newsletter. Check out all my OCC podcasts at http://www.jinabacarr.com/OCCpodcast.html

And I’ll see you at the meeting!

Best,
Jina

Jina Bacarr picked up her first microphone at the age of ten and worked in radio (deejay and commercial voiceovers) before podcasting. She’s the author of The Blonde Geisha and coming in July, Naughty Paris.

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Valentine Haiku by Michelle Thorne

February 25, 2007 by in category Archives tagged as

valentine’s day dearth
no candy or any flowers
no one to spoon…sucks

Michelle Thorne
Bearly Used Books…123
Home of A Great Read
OCC Media Director
123 So. First Street
Historic Old Puente, CA 91744
(626) 968-3700

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