YOUNG ADULT SF BOOK COMING OUT IN SUMMER 2012 -- SPACEHIVE. I'm a member of the Writers Guild of Alberta, The Children's Book Insider, and a former member of the Alberta Playwrights' Network. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree with Distinction from the University of Alberta. I'm a freelance writer with an artist's soul, and a self-employed medical transcriptionist since 1999. I've lived successfully with schizophrenia for many years.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
LinkedIn and muscle engine photos
A parking lot sprawls behind my building. A yellow Mustang is parked there with two motorcycles in front of it. Presumably all these muscle engines belong to a couple of people in the building who share a suite. I've often walked by these parked vehicles and thought they'd make a good photo. What do you think? I'd like to find a magazine interested in these pictures.
I know my photos are those of an amateur but I love to take photos and find neat opportunities to shoot subjects that interest me. I made prints of these and gave them to the fellow who owns the yellow Mustang. Later the motorcycles disappeared for the winter and there's only the Mustang left.
Interestingly, when I first took the picture of the car there was only one bike (see first photo). Sometime between while I was adjusting my camera and the angle for a better composition the fellow or young woman must have parked the second bike closer to the Mustang and left. They must have been bemused/amused by the old gal taking a snap of their motor vehicle beauties.
Something else--there was a better photo of the two bikes and the front of the car, but you could clearly read the license plate number of the second bike, so I didn't publish it. Isn't this a neat collection of toys for someone?
An unlikely combination while I'm talking about bikes and muscle cars, but have you seen the social media site LinkedIn? It's an excellent vehicle (pun intended) for entrepreneurs, freelancers and those job seeking. You can choose a group from hundreds or start your own. I belong to a freelance writer's group and have found it extremely interesting and helpful. Too many discussions to follow but valuable. I found some newsletters for writers I otherwise wouldn't have known about, and also suggestions and links to sites especially for writers. Of course, if you're not a writer, you'd be looking for sites specializing in your field.
Just a hint; there's a fellow writer on there by the name of Rick Lauber who's a Canadian and Edmontonian, and has written a book called Caregiver's Guide for Canadians. He starts excellent discussions on this particular LinkedIn group. I don't have a lot of contacts but I value the ones I have.
I'm sure there are plenty of good photo groups, too, and I may find some suggestions for selling my photos or pitching them to an appropriate journal.
Re: pitching an article or book--reporters and editors are very busy people. I read advice on LinkedIn how to pitch an idea to a busy journalist. I think with any business communication and especially marketing, one has to think about the other person and their needs. Indeed, any communication must involve good listening skills and empathy. It's not all about us.
R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-rrrrrr
Labels:
freelance writing groups,
LinkedIn,
motorcycles,
Mustang,
parking lot,
yellow car
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A great man but no idol
Jack Layton and wife Olivia Chow in happier times |
One of the real heroes I see here is Jack's wife, Olivia Chow, whose presence at his memorial helped to calm and comfort thousands of mourners. It's probable she helped draft the letter he left, and was certainly a source of comfort and support to Jack during these last few months of his life. There are going to be naysayers and there's going to be cruelty. A life is precious and it's hard to weigh on a scale the value of one life for another. As a leader Jack Layton was exemplary and he is exemplary in death. May he Rest in Peace.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
My Vacation to Southern Alberta
I took off with a friend in her van for three or four days last week to visit my eldest son in southern Alberta. A long overdue vacation.
And last night a baseball game. Our team, Edmonton Capitals won 8-7 against the Yuma Scorpions. With an almost full moon "watching" the game.
And last night a baseball game. Our team, Edmonton Capitals won 8-7 against the Yuma Scorpions. With an almost full moon "watching" the game.
Action shot of Yuma Scorpions pitcher winding up |
Friday, August 5, 2011
A Poem
Someone lived here once--Smoky Lake district |
This old truck NE Alberta farm CLICK LINK BELOW LEFT TO READ MORE... |
My Hometown Edmonton
I consider Edmonton my hometown although I was born in Toronto, ON and raised in the Peace River country of northeastern British Columbia. My first child, who was adopted and raised by another family, was born in Calgary in 1963. I lived in Calgary, Alberta and Oklahoma City, USA as a new bride with my Canadian husband in the mid-1960s. He died in 1971. An 8-year marriage, rocky and wonderful. Moving back to Edmonton from Oklahoma, we lived here for most of our brief marriage. Our two children were born in this city at the University of Alberta Hospitals. Both my husband and I attended the University of Alberta at different times in our lives, he before I met him and myself after his death. I presently live in the Oliver district of west downtown Edmonton. I took these photographs at dusk on a lovely spring Saturday evening this year, near my home.
Labels:
children,
Edmonton,
marriage,
Oklahoma,
Oliver district,
Victoria Boulevard
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