tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post582593715654474147..comments2024-03-28T13:01:37.845-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: O Little Town of Bethlehem; a Millers Kill short storyJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45127607100180224002016-08-01T02:23:15.850-04:002016-08-01T02:23:15.850-04:00Don't know if you'll ever see this, butI&#...Don't know if you'll ever see this, butI'm going to write anyway. I live on the Maine/NH border and came across your books in my public library quite awhile ago. I guess I connected because Clare's character is so human, a person with faults, a big heart, and a strong sense of what is right and making it so if it isn't. Your baby is overdue and the longer you wait, the harder it is going to be to deliver it. You have expectations and preconceptions about what it will look like, but like any baby, you should throw those out and accept that things don't always go the way you thought they would. <br /><br />It seems to me that you left your characters in a precarious place, but you do have a baby being born. That's good. In your last book, you included very little God. There's another place that Clare needs to work on. Clare and Russ worked past the difficult area of her pregnancy. they are living in the rectory. Maybe Russ puts his renovation skills to work fixing up the rectory and finds his own faith tested and built up in the process. Perhaps Clare's deacon develops jealousy or makes Clare feel pushed out as she adjusts to the demands of motherhood, being a relatively new wife, and living as an ordained minister. In the best of times, women have to deal with many divergent demands on their lives. Being a new sleep-deprived mother is going to test her resources. <br /><br />Russ, for his part, has to deal with the fallout of a deputy who starred in porno movies and the fallout among the personnel in his department. He will be able to empathize with Hadley as a parent and the choices she had to make as a young woman---the choices and resulting consequences---as well as the potential disrespect for Handley from fellow officers. I suspect Clare will exert some influence there as well. He also is a 50 year old first- time father. I am 51 and I cannot imagine being a first-time parent at my age although I was Clare's age when my third was born. <br /><br />There are also crimes that take place in any community. Pick one and work it through. I suspect that you may not be happy with this particular novel. Perhaps it will be your last for these characters, but your characters deserve some closure if that's the case. Perhaps you will leave it open just enough that you can come back. You are a good writer and writer's block does not have to stop you in your track although you may feel it has. I have never written a book although I've had many ideas over the years. The advice I've read most often is write every day. Maybe you need to write and see where the story takes you. Perhaps you have finished a manuscript. Either way,it's time to birth that baby.<br /><br />AlthoughI Ipads are wonderful inventions, typing on its browser is not. I may have multiple typos. The word prediction software stinks! Please disregard those errors. They are unintended. <br />All my best,<br />Elaine<br />ehmenard@yahoo.com<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09365972254902362800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5922413257724846192015-03-02T16:06:29.756-05:002015-03-02T16:06:29.756-05:00I missed this earlier and was just searching for a...I missed this earlier and was just searching for any possible announcements regarding a new book when I stumbled across it.<br /><br />Thank you Julia <3<br />Deborah Carrollnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29412405729028213832014-12-26T16:56:55.845-05:002014-12-26T16:56:55.845-05:00Ok, I searched back for this as I wanted to see wh...Ok, I searched back for this as I wanted to see what was in it. Took 20 min. to find and oh, how sweet it was. Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00381027365274308597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-26141763936371354142014-12-26T10:33:06.641-05:002014-12-26T10:33:06.641-05:00Perfect! What some of can only imagine for a memo...Perfect! What some of can only imagine for a memorable moment in our lives. Happy Holiday Season to you and yours.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39407662596713651202014-12-25T22:12:07.458-05:002014-12-25T22:12:07.458-05:00Thank you! For this, and all the joy you bring.Thank you! For this, and all the joy you bring.PSuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03332549230233812996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67583406575507026312014-12-25T15:45:50.288-05:002014-12-25T15:45:50.288-05:00Thank you, Julia!Thank you, Julia!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56369558173689201362014-12-24T10:44:54.195-05:002014-12-24T10:44:54.195-05:00Thank you, Julia, and Merry Christmas!Thank you, Julia, and Merry Christmas!Katy Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-73360307158755817922014-12-24T09:19:36.580-05:002014-12-24T09:19:36.580-05:00Just what I needed today before all the festivity ...Just what I needed today before all the festivity begins--a moment of quiet reflection on the meaning of true love. Thank you, Julia. And a Merry Christmas to you and your family!Suzanne Chazinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09515842389942661932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56500202025373019812014-12-24T00:21:03.129-05:002014-12-24T00:21:03.129-05:00Wonderful story, Julia. Thanks and Merry Christma...Wonderful story, Julia. Thanks and Merry Christmas!Lynn in Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624333137637840905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80424087441579598452014-12-23T21:19:45.772-05:002014-12-23T21:19:45.772-05:00This is so very sweet, and a reminder that sometim...This is so very sweet, and a reminder that sometimes the small touches make all the difference. <br />Merry Christmas! <3 I have missed Clare and Russ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-73282918400041762002014-12-23T20:56:09.090-05:002014-12-23T20:56:09.090-05:00Love this story! And the photos were perfect. Than...Love this story! And the photos were perfect. Thank you for an early Christmas gift. Dianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37714592395755966422014-12-23T20:53:26.025-05:002014-12-23T20:53:26.025-05:00The story is Russ, Miller's Kill police statio...The story is Russ, Miller's Kill police station and well just perfect! Thank you for such a lovely Christmas gift. It is truly appreciated. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58656038628812816752014-12-23T20:11:41.315-05:002014-12-23T20:11:41.315-05:00What a lovely little story to ease us into the Chr...What a lovely little story to ease us into the Christmas festivities. I love to read of Claire and Russ, and in fact the ladies of Jungle Red Writers are some of my favourite authors! <br />Wishing you all, Reds and Readers, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and "Joyous Whatever" you celebrate.canuck on the wet coastnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27025613181552621492014-12-23T19:15:42.222-05:002014-12-23T19:15:42.222-05:00So touching! Russ really is one of the good guys. ...So touching! Russ really is one of the good guys. Thank you for this lovely treat. 34 for dinner?! Better you than me, dearie. Wishing a very Merry Christmas for you and yours! And the same for all the Reds and readers!stitchkathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13386818613507497168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-43245703602512060322014-12-23T19:13:14.284-05:002014-12-23T19:13:14.284-05:00Thanks, Julie. It isn't a proper winter holid...Thanks, Julie. It isn't a proper winter holiday without something Russ and Clare. Merry Christmas to you and the family. Argyle Scottscooterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05625204101898029120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80247688311066057902014-12-23T18:18:00.264-05:002014-12-23T18:18:00.264-05:00Lovely story. Thank you. Love your books. Lovely story. Thank you. Love your books. Gail Cromacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35107268179467834752014-12-23T17:14:35.352-05:002014-12-23T17:14:35.352-05:00Add me to the list of snifflers, Julia; it's l...Add me to the list of snifflers, Julia; it's lovely and making me miss Russ and Clare even more!!! Merry Christmas to you and your familyjayne m.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06920522989830590840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68221838345244813112014-12-23T16:49:04.028-05:002014-12-23T16:49:04.028-05:00Tearing up here as well. That was so perfect, and ...Tearing up here as well. That was so perfect, and it only reminded me of why I love your writing so much. Blessed Season's Greetings to you and your's. And a very Merry New Year.Ramblings from the Edgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00113455670645000804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-18299747284283189162014-12-23T16:43:30.558-05:002014-12-23T16:43:30.558-05:00Thank you, Julia. One more reason Clare loves Russ...Thank you, Julia. One more reason Clare loves Russ. He does try. Thanks for this wonderful story.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48244624661452055942014-12-23T15:34:15.720-05:002014-12-23T15:34:15.720-05:00Thank you, thank you. Teary here too.Thank you, thank you. Teary here too.Gramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027824918114690029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84452293759452445552014-12-23T15:12:07.796-05:002014-12-23T15:12:07.796-05:00Beautiful, Julia -- hope you and yours have a love...Beautiful, Julia -- hope you and yours have a lovely Christmas!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69778148745611550162014-12-23T14:53:42.969-05:002014-12-23T14:53:42.969-05:00Where can we find other year's stories?Where can we find other year's stories?Denise Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790883493798517829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89833386692825548812014-12-23T14:52:43.093-05:002014-12-23T14:52:43.093-05:00I have been feeling very good about Christmas this...I have been feeling very good about Christmas this year --- but never expected such a wonderful present as this!!!! Thank you sooooo much. I love Russ and Claire sooo much. Brilliant. Denise Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790883493798517829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45278799370338580982014-12-23T14:44:35.259-05:002014-12-23T14:44:35.259-05:00Thank you all so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it...Thank you all so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I didn't mean to make people weepy - but it is a good thing to remember all those folks who are spending Christmas far, far away from home.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16178737992785933902014-12-23T14:43:06.693-05:002014-12-23T14:43:06.693-05:00oh my! *sigh*oh my! *sigh*Gwen Rominenoreply@blogger.com