Powell's Books

Only half thinking it would be a different experience I walked into Powell's flagship store in Portland, Oregon and immediately knew it was unlike any other bookstore.

Lost in color coded rooms, it's much  more entertaining to explore them rather than asking directions. Except perhaps when you need to find the restroom, then ask for directions.

The Rose room on the first floor with light streaming thru the windows. Children are invited to just sit and read on the reading carpet. Tables and chairs just their size.

Floor to ceiling and shelf after shelf, volumes of books to escape in, travel to another world or another time.

The Gold Room has cookbooks, gardening, home repairs, music and more.

The Blue Room for Sci-Fi (my personal favorite for reading).

We all know people (including ourselves) who need help but who knew there were so many books on psychology in the Purple room.

Police procedures, murder mysteries, plot design, publishing guides, amazon marketing, character creation, it goes on and on. It was interesting to see that I already owned about five of the titles on writing.

I will make a trip back when I can spend more time browsing. The daughters and the grandchildren were patient but probably enjoyed the trip to Voodoo Donuts more than the one to
Powell's.

Bucket Lists and Zip Lines

Skamania Zip Lines - Washington

Bucket lists can include many things. It never occurred to me to put zip lining on my list and I never thought it was something I would actually do.

Peer pressure applied by grandchildren is a powerful motivator, along with the fact that the opportunity would most likely never arise again.

Hannah and Savannah, our zip line tour guides, were patient, kind and helpful to a Grandma with bad knees. It wasn't easy to climb up the steps to hook up to the line.  Let alone "zip-away" as our guides would say to each other.

"Let go of the rope" the son-in-law says.

"Easier said than done" I squeal in mid-zip.

The most difficult task was the transfer to the ground  after zipping to the first few platforms and letting go of those pesky control issues. Stepping off a perfectly good platform high above the ground and trusting that the tiny little rope would actually lower you gently to the ground. Turns out I was right, well at least half right, as I landed on my rear end instead of my feet. Fortunately, only my pride was injured but I was vindicated when the son-in-law had a similar landing. BOOM!

Seven platforms into our adventure I was able to open my eyes and at least let go of the rope with one arm for a few seconds and then we were done.

While zip lining is not for everyone, and I did enjoy the swinging bridges, however, I don't think I will repeat the experience. I'm glad I was able to finish the entire course and face some of my fears and let go just a little bit.

Pink

Pink is such a beautiful color for flowers (it happens to be my favorite) and May is the perfect time to “stop and smell the roses” as my husband is always telling our grandchildren. Try to find time to sit a garden. Close your eyes and use your senses. What do you hear? What do you smell?

You aren’t done yet, get out your pen and paper (or laptop/tablet) and write it out. Describe it as though you were telling someone who couldn’t see it, hear it or smell it. Good writing includes sensory descriptions to pull the reader into the scene and keep them engaged and interested.

Writing is an expression of both who we are and who we want to be.

Enjoy your month writing and work on those sensory descriptions.

Linda Sue Forrister

Co-author of "Those Meyerson Women" (a work in progress)

Raindrops

Have you ever thought how raindrops are like words? One raindrop joined with others can end a drought. One word alone can have a multitude of meanings, but tied together with others the meaning becomes richer and more fluid. The quest for just the right words in just the right order is one we are all pursuing.

The elation that results from completing the task cannot be duplicated, nor can the satisfaction that comes with seeing your name on the cover of a completed project.

The more you learn about the process of writing the better you are able to string the words together and the better the end result will be.

I continue on my quest.



Linda Sue Forrister

Co-Author of "Those Meyerson Women" (a work in progress)

Everyday Book Marketing

http://www.lyonbooks.com/

My fabulous local book store, Lyon Books, bought in author Midge Raymond last week to talk about her book "Everyday Book Marketing". Of course, I had to buy it (one more book never hurt anyone did it). Midge did a fabulous job presenting her book and has some great ideas for "Promotion ideas to fit your regularly scheduled life". I highly recommend this anyone who is writing or needs to promote any type of endeavor and suggest you read it cover to cover. Very worthwhile read.

/http://www.midgeraymond.com/