NOELLE GREENE: What Did Tolstoy Know About Women?
December 1, 2006 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Craft
“If you want a writer who understood his characters, look at Tolstoy,” my Dad said. “You’ve read War and Peace, haven’t you?”
I choked.
“Anna Karenina?”
Um, saw the movie. Downer ending, right?
The following week, a heavy box arrived from Amazon, a lovely new edition of Anna Karenina nestled inside.
It’s 817 pages, okay? Before the footnotes. But it’s brand-new and sits on my nightstand reproachfully. And I am curious. How did Leo Tolstoy understand characters?
I suspect this is where the term “tough sledding” originated. If slogging through the landscape of nineteenth century Russian literature isn’t tough sledding, what is?
I’m quite happy to leave literary analysis to the English majors. But now that I’m all of 10% into the book (did I mention the small type?), a couple of things are apparent about Tolstoy. And I’m starting to get it.
He writes from at least seven points of view (so far) in Anna Karenina and head-hops within scenes like crazy. But it works. His empathy for both men and women is all the more striking when you see that he holds someone in contempt or dislike. While deep in a point of view, he subtly gives the person plenty of rope. By then you understand the character so well that you don’t want him to hang himself.
Tolstoy wrote dialogue and introspection almost tenderly. Not necessarily nicely, but genuinely from that character’s point of view. Shades of gray are all over the place, figuratively speaking.
He had a genius for describing ordinary people’s emotions. The following passage describes how a heartbroken girl witnesses dashing Vronsky falling for older, married Anna:
She saw that they felt themselves alone in this crowded ballroom. And on Vronsky’s face, always so firm and independent, she saw that expression of lostness and obedience that had so struck her, like the expression of an intelligent dog when it feels guilty.
Can’t you just see Vronsky? It’s that uncanny ability to capture the essence of a moment that will keep me reading. I already know how it ends.
By Noelle Greene
0 0 Read moreJACQUELINE DIAMOND Our Own Tradition
November 22, 2006 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as What Inspires YouA zillion years ago, when I was first married, my husband and I started a Thanksgiving tradition. Instead of spending the holiday with extended family, whom we see at other holidays, we decided to hold our own potluck event for friends and occasionally random (friendly) strangers.
Over the course of nearly three decades, the attendance has risen and fallen – as high as twenty-five, as low as seven – and people have arrived, moved away and sometimes moved back. There’s been at least one minister, whose family was out of town, and several elderly guests from my husband’s church; numerous Jewish friends and I’m sure our share of atheists. We’ve watched our friends’ children grow up and have produced two sons ourselves, the elder of whom is now in college.
My husband, who rarely cooks, prepares the turkey and stuffing. I shop, make the gravy and mashed potatoes, and provide incidentals such as rolls and cranberry sauce.
Looking back, I recall memorable guests and moments. My older son’s first Thanksgiving, being passed from guest to guest. Friends from the Associated Press, where I used to work, including the then-science writer, who donned an apron and washed dishes afterwards.
The food varies each year, although some regulars have developed their own niche. Our older son’s best friend from preschool – now in college – and his family bring pies. One Chinese-American family prepares Chinese food; another prefers to fix sweet potatoes. Sometimes there are two fruit salads, or two types of stuffing, or extra mashed potatoes. Of course, we enjoy the leftovers!
Next fall, our younger son starts college. We hope that, like his brother, he’ll always come home for the holidays. There’s nothing like greeting old friends, making new ones, and enjoying a changing assortment of food.
Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!
—Jackie Diamond Hyman writing as Jacqueline Diamond
The Doctor’s Little Secret, Harlequin American Romance, February 2007
Daddy Protector, Harlequin American Romance, May 2007
Twin Surprise, Harlequin American Romance, September 2007
Thank you MICHELE CWIERTNY!
October 31, 2006 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as OCC Photos
Caption This! has been a success due to the hard work of OCC’s own Michele Cwiertny It was Michele that sorted through the OCC scrapbook, took digital pictures of the old photos, loaded them onto the computer, optimized them and sent them to me (Jen Apodaca) to put up on the blog. Michele managed to do all this despite her computer having a major break down!
Michele holds a BA in English with a focus on Creative Writing, she is the Co-Editor of the award-winning Orange Blossom Newsletter and a contributor to The Writer’s Vibe. In addition to all this, she takes time away from working on her books to help out with A Slice of Orange!
THANK YOU MICHELE!
7 0 Read moreRita Clay Estrada – On Publishing Industry And Favorites
October 23, 2006 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Author Interview, Rita Clay Estrada
Author RITA CLAY ESTRADA is RWA’s first president and the co-founder of OCC whose contributions to the romance genre led the national organization to name its highest honor – the RITA Award – in her honor.
Today on A Slice of Orange, Rita talks about the Publishing Industry and some of her Favorite Things.
Q – What has changed for the good in the industry since you formed RWA?
A – American writers can sell to the romance industry in America. American writers can take their name with them from publishing house to house. No one else can write under their pseudonym. They can check on the reputations of editors, agents and publishing houses before submitting manuscripts. They have a base in which to share ideas and contract clauses. They have a variety of sources both in chapters and in published reviews in which to use to promote and embellish their works. They have a cadre of writers to find information, seal friendships and feel a camaraderie for which there is no equal.
Q – What is your favorite book of all time? Why?
A – The Wolf and the Dove. Yet I understand it sold the least of Kathleen E. Woodiwiss first six or seven books. It was the relationship between the hero/heroine that I enjoyed most. That characterization spoke to me.
Q – Which is the favorite of your books? Why?
A – The one I love and hate at the same time is the one I’ve got the idea for and haven’t written yet. It’s in a pristine state of mind and will stay that way until I put it to paper. That’s where it turns to a pile of manure and I have to mold it into something that will allow the growth of a garden of characters and strong plot. But until it’s on paper, it’s perfect and brilliant!
Q – What do you look for or love to see in a hero?
A – It’s evolved into a good heart, a sense of humor and the ability to talk as well as listen. Come to think of it, it’s the same thing I love to see in any man…
For more of the interview with Rita, see the October issue of Orange Blossom.
Dana Diamond is the OCC/RWA Secretary, a columnist for OCC’s award-winning newsletter Orange Blossom, a contributor to A Slice of Orange, and hard at work on her next book.
OCC Photos – Caption This! October 20, 2006
October 20, 2006 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as OCC Photos
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