One Question – My Experiment

Published September 28, 2020 by rochellewisoff

I wanted to share this most comfortable interview between two of my favorite author friends. Kathleen Rodgers and Jan Marler Vanek. Kathleen kindly referred me to agent, Diane Nine who now represents my work.

To watch the actual interview, click Jan’s link to view the original post. 😉 You’ll miss out if you don’t.

Jan Morrill Writes

Recently, after a couple of Zoom conversations with my friend, Kathleen Rodgers, I thought it might be fun to record conversations with author friends about their thoughts on writing and their recent work or novels. (SEE OUR “CHAT” BELOW!)

After weeks of thinking about it and trying to find a good time, I finally jumped in and interviewed Kathy about her latest novel, The Flying Cutterbucks.

The conversation was intended to be just that–a conversation, and not an overly formatted interview. This made it both exciting and scary. Though I did have a couple of questions in mind to ask, Kathy didn’t have a heads up about what I would be asking. I think you’ll see in the video, it really was spontaneous–especially by the fact I didn’t even have a title for the “episode” yet. But we had fun, and hopefully, viewers will learn a little bit…

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Weekend Writing Prompt – Zany

Published September 27, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s comment section.

Some of you might know I’m a logophile…a word nerd. I have the old, no longer supported, Scrabble app on my phone and on my iPad. No bells or whistles. No connection to the internet. Just the way I like it. However I do miss the interaction of a rousing game with friends. So I give you a little wishful thinking.

GAME ON

“Z-A-N-Y” Rochelle arranged the tiles on the Scrabble board. “Ha! Thirty points to open the game.”

Dale flashed a smile. “Big deal.”

“Can you do better?”

To Rochelle’s chagrin, Dale played the Q, U and I off the Z for forty-four points on a double word.

Na’ama dumped her tiles back in the box. “I’ve a better idea. Let’s bake some bread.”

***

If you’re in the neighborhood come visit my virtual booth at the PeaceworksKC art fair to day from 11-5 CDT.

25 September 2020

Published September 23, 2020 by rochellewisoff

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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.

PHOTO PROMPT © Dale Rogerson

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As fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors remain in our midst, it seems easier to forget. It’s not taught in schools and increasing numbers of misinformed believe the Holocaust never happened.

INTERVIEW WITH PRISONER A5714

Remember Robert Clary as LeBeau of Stalag 13? Hogan’s shortest hero? The connoisseur of French cuisine.

He reminisces about the rabbi who helped him study for his Bar Mitzvah. “He smelled of schmaltz, herring, onion and garlic.”

“Ah food.”

He shrugs. “In Buchenwald we had little to eat. I sang for the prisoners and sometimes the chef in the kitchen gave me an extra piece of bread.”

“What’s your greatest achievement? Performing?”

“No. I’m most proud to have spent twenty years keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive. Warning against man’s inhumanity. While I am living, I have to tell.”

Weekend Writing Prompt – Megalith

Published September 20, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.

I love the challenge of learning a new word and then using it creatively. And this one was a challenge. So I digressed to a darker time in my life. Not to garner sympathy. I’ve recently finished a novel with the working title “Last Dance with Annie” based on my own experience with an eating disorder. Much of it is fiction, but a lot of it isn’t. So, without further exposition, this is where the muse took me this morning.

She walked the line

Between brilliance and insanity

Writing

Drawing

Obsessive Compulsive.

Drowning in the river

Denial

Chipping away at the megalith

She couldn’t climb.

Her mirror lied

Demons dined

Until she made a decision.

No looking back.

The boulder crushed to powder,

She writes, paints and

Celebrates life.

*Below are three of the many sketches I did as art therapy during the dark times. If you look closely you can see they’re dated 1992. A different place. A different person.

AUTUMN HOUSE CLEANING

Published September 16, 2020 by rochellewisoff

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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Genre: Fiction

Word Count: 100

Yes. It’s me again. Double dipping. It seems my first story is only understood by a few. So I decided, by divine right of flash fiction queens, I’d write another. Thank you for understanding. 😉

AUTUMN HOUSE CLEANING

“I’m not a hoarder. I’m sentimental, that’s all.”

True to her words, Carolyn kept a clean, albeit, cluttered house.

“You could eat off my floors.”

“If we could find it.” Megan rolled her eyes as she rummaged through her mother’s kitchen cabinets. “Maybe. But baby bottles? What do you need with these?”

“Mama?” The towheaded toddler in the high chair reached out his arms and whimpered. “Ba-Ba”

Carolyn patted his hand. “Aaron. You’re too big for a bottle. Megan get your baby brother his sippy cup.”

“Mom. Stop!” Megan’s tearful voice startled Carolyn. “Aaron died fifty years ago.”

18 September 2020

Published September 16, 2020 by rochellewisoff

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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

BIG RASCALS

“I was a baby when Mr. Roach hired me,” says George McFarland. “They still call me Spanky.”

Ernie grins. “I was one of the first back in the days before talkies. Sunshine Sammy, that was me.”

“I was Butch. The bully in the gang.” Tommy Bond adds with a twinkle in his eye, “Guess I had the scowl for it.”

Matthew Beard strokes his bald head, looking very much like little Stymie. “We was just kids. We went to school and played together. Black or white didn’t matter. Hal Roach loved kids.”

“Great times,” says Ernie. “I’d do it again.”

***

Hal Roach

Tommy “Butch” Bond

Matthew “Stymie” Beard

Ernest “Sunshine Sammy” Morrison

*Some may remember the “Our Gang Comedy” or, as it later became known in syndication “The Little Rascals.” Some may not. For a bit of a lengthy history CLICK HERE.

Weekend Writing Prompt – Rectify

Published September 12, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s Comment Section.

This seems to be a recurring theme for me. In fourth grade my teacher nicknamed me “Messy Bessy.” My mother kept my bedroom door shut. I envy those neat-nicks who have a place for everything and everything in its place.

Is it the artist in me?

Or is it the writer?

Organization

Mission Impossible.

Try as I might I can’t line up all my ducks

They scatter in all directions

Can this situation be rectified?

11 September 2020

Published September 9, 2020 by rochellewisoff

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The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

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Before continuing I have to share my happy news. My novel “Last Dance with Annie” is now under contract with literary agent Diane Nine! www.ninespeakers.com

Genre: Historical Fiction

Word Count: 100

COUP D’ETAT 1898

Easter and me’s both six years old. Her daddy owns a shoe shop in Wilmington. He made my Sunday shoes. He’s really nice.

Easter’s funny and she draws real good. Her skin is pretty. It’s as brown as chocolate so she don’t get sunburns like me.

Day before yesterday, Easter’s daddy went to vote in the ‘lection. Someone said white men in red shirts shot him in the street. Easter cried and cried. I cried, too.

Easter, her mama and lotsa other black folks moved away sudden like. I don’t understand why people are so mean. I miss my friend.

To Learn More CLICK

A Walk in the (Virtual) Park

Published September 7, 2020 by rochellewisoff

For the most part, 2020 art fairs, concerts and festivals around town, large and small, have been cancelled. These cancellations include a few I’d planned to participate in. Heavy sigh. Potential for sales out the window.

However, 2019 wasn’t exactly a great year for us and outdoor fairs. In June, at Corks and Canvas, it took an hour to set up in intermittent rain. Happily the rain stopped. Unhappily it gave way to stifling heat and humidity, coupled by high winds. I spent a lot of time chasing my note cards across the pavement.

Corks & Canvas June 2019

In September there were two fairs. The first one was Independence Uncorked. One would think my wine glass pictures would go well there, right? Not so much. People seemed more interested in wine than art. To be fair (hee) I did fairly well at that one. The wine note cards were my best sellers.

The next September fair was the annual UNPlaza fair, not to be confused with the Plaza Art Fair held the same weekend. Torrential rains washed out our hopes for decent sales.

This year, You-Know-What washed out hopes for this year’s UNPlaza renamed PeaceWorks KC Local Art Fair. However, the wonderful board of directors at PeaceWorks decided to try something new. A virtual fair! Each artist will have an online booth. There will be video chat rooms to speak with each artist. Artists’ web pages will give attendees an opportunity to shop in the comfort of their own home.

I am excited and nervous at the prospect. Save David Bayard, who’s heading the planning, none of us really knows what to expect. At any rate, it is an opportunity for a broader audience. You don’t have to live in Kansas City to come, browse and buy. 😉

While you’re in the neighborhood click my art tab at the top of the page. Thank you.

The fair goes live Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

For info on how to participate

CLICK HERE!

Join other local artists and me for a new experience.

Weekend Writing Prompt – Sentient

Published September 5, 2020 by rochellewisoff

A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in Sammi’s comment section.