tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post1730573068535126595..comments2024-03-28T17:06:34.405-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: It's Jungle Red Thank You Day!Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35840502949961989962015-08-31T23:22:32.785-04:002015-08-31T23:22:32.785-04:00So pleased to be on the journey with you, dear Ma...So pleased to be on the journey with you, dear Mary!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49085994202623645372015-08-31T19:20:09.576-04:002015-08-31T19:20:09.576-04:00Beautiful, Reine <3
I have thought lately abo...Beautiful, Reine <3 <br />I have thought lately about the gifts and directions along the way. My first teacher, kindergarten, was so wonderful that I made up my mind right then that I wanted to be a teacher also. My parents encouraged me to work for scholarships, and my then-husband helped me finish my degree. Without those influences, I'd have missed the 26 very interesting years of teaching.<br />Author friends and fellow backbloggers have helped me settle into retirement, reading favorite authors, finding new favorites, enjoying again the luxury of plenty of reading time . . . and the secure knowledge that we'll never run out of good things to read.<br />Kathryn Windham said of life, "It's a short journey, let's be pleasant company." Y'all are, in fact, and supportive as well. <3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6635497586192929142015-08-31T18:34:59.348-04:002015-08-31T18:34:59.348-04:00Joan, Joan, you are fabulous. Agreed. xoxoo
But ...Joan, Joan, you are fabulous. Agreed. xoxoo<br /><br />But WHAT is B5Unrest???Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91718753483130938922015-08-31T18:34:05.221-04:002015-08-31T18:34:05.221-04:00Always great to meet up with the B5 folks although...Always great to meet up with the B5 folks although, like Mark, I was never regularly on B5Unrest . . . .<br /><br />So many wonderful "thank you" postings that make me teary-eyed; of course, there's always one more to thank after you think you've gotten it right . . . a heartfelt thank you for all those who regularly put their own lives on the line for us.Joan Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810313925049108163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50766575820092914062015-08-31T18:30:16.849-04:002015-08-31T18:30:16.849-04:00That is amazing, and quite quite wonderful, Nancie...That is amazing, and quite quite wonderful, Nancie. See? And you never knew. This is so instructive!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10153641718560843752015-08-31T18:21:42.183-04:002015-08-31T18:21:42.183-04:00The list of the the people to whom I'm gratefu...The list of the the people to whom I'm grateful stretches back as far as my memory goes, but the points of light include Jean Penn, a family friend who, when she was a senior editor at Los Angeles Magazine, said "why don't you come by and talk to us. I think you might be good at this." I don't know if I lived up to her opinion, but I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and never looked back. Then there are those moments when someone you crossed paths with in the past singles you out as someone who influenced them. <br />My last year at Los Angeles Magazine I hired an intern who went on to become a photo editor at the LA Times. When I was at the Times, she sought me out to tell me that I had given her the confidence to pursue a career in publishing. Hearing that was such an unexpected gift. Nancie Clarenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-72757882646188769072015-08-31T17:56:07.619-04:002015-08-31T17:56:07.619-04:00OH, Reine, back at you. It has to go both ways, ri...OH, Reine, back at you. It has to go both ways, right?? xoHankJungle Red Writershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50813529363191729282015-08-31T16:36:10.298-04:002015-08-31T16:36:10.298-04:00I grew up wanting to help others, because others h...I grew up wanting to help others, because others helped me. We all need help sometimes even when it looks like we don't. I find it difficult to forgive some, so I try to let them pass on through my consciousness while noticing the understanding and kindness of others. Thanking publicly is difficult for me, because I don't want to leave anyone out. All are special and critical in my experience.<br /><br />Jungle Reds has been a place full of people who have nurtured my very existence. It has been—you all have been—and continue to make a warm home. xoxoxoxoxMaureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21801974141166991392015-08-31T15:36:39.763-04:002015-08-31T15:36:39.763-04:00OH, she saved your thank you notes, Denise Ann! Th...OH, she saved your thank you notes, Denise Ann! That is WONDERFUL. ANd you were already hilarious. xoxo<br />Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53563574602536958902015-08-31T15:00:42.137-04:002015-08-31T15:00:42.137-04:00I continue to sift through the photos and letters ...I continue to sift through the photos and letters and utility bills my aunt left behind -- I was so lucky to be the #1 grandchild with a devoted group of single aunts and uncles who loved me and guided me. Thinking of gifts and thank yous -- not only did my aunt give me gifts (most often books), but she saved my thank you notes so that I got to read one today!<br /><br />Undated, but you can guess the age if you read the words: "The jacket was an apsolute [sic] banana split! I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble, growing and all! But that's the way the ice cream floats!"<br /><br />These days I rely so much on my sister Nancy, although we live on opposite coasts. And my precious daughters.Denise Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790883493798517829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-4236862870835990482015-08-31T13:58:00.530-04:002015-08-31T13:58:00.530-04:00Agreed, KAthy! The list, once we start thing about...Agreed, KAthy! The list, once we start thing about it, grows and grows. Which is pretty wonderful, right?i That's the joy of gratitude..<br /><br />ANd Triss, always amazing to have the moment, as with Cheryl, that makes your world change. SO interesting, how connected we all are. Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-40250760218209117082015-08-31T13:39:34.644-04:002015-08-31T13:39:34.644-04:00The two friends who took me seriously as a writer,...The two friends who took me seriously as a writer, at two different moments when I could not do it for myself: Cheryl Finkel, who doesn't remember what she said but I do! And much-missed Marilyn Wallace, who made a difference in my life for too short a time. My grandmother, Mary Dobbis, who took me to the library and my aunt, Barbara Dobbis Block, who shared her children's librarian knowledge with her bookworm niece. (I've blogged about her) Sisters in Crime. And the team at Poisoned Pen Press who saw something.Trisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08058396345946250313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77492037368869077052015-08-31T13:09:28.521-04:002015-08-31T13:09:28.521-04:00I always have to give credit first to my dear moth...I always have to give credit first to my dear mother, gone now twenty years, who gave me the greatest gift of attaching value to the time spent reading. I can't ever remember her admonishing me for sitting around reading instead of doing something "more productive." The reading was productive to her, then to me, then to my children, and now to my grandchildren. She gifted me with a legacy of loving to read, and it has been a joy and a comfort throughout my life. It's hard for me to imagine how people who don't know the thrill of a good book get through it all. <br /><br />Teachers. First, my mother, Mildred Pollock Boone, who taught my kindergarten class where I first learned to love learning. My second grade teacher, Mrs. Wright. who took a story I wrote about a dog and had me read it to the principal because Mrs. Wright thought it showed something special. My elementary school librarian, Miss Donna Root, who talked books with me and suggested titles I might like and was my source of inspiration for finally getting my Masters in my late 40s. My sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Collins, who was a great storyteller and showed me how much fun that was. My creative writing teacher, Mr. Rice, who during my senior year in high school surprised all his students by revealing to us just how little we really knew about writing and how much we had to learn, and learn we did. One of my English professors, Mr. Cheesewright, who captured all the girls' hearts as well as their minds, and who wrote on one of my papers that I had chosen well when I chose to major in English. Then, in graduate school for library media, I gained a lot of confidence in writing from a group of teachers I had who were complimentary and highly professional.<br /><br />I should give credit to my immediate family of my husband, daughter, and son, who all have accepted as normal piles of books in the house, crammed full bookcases, and books as a major part of gift giving. My grown children appreciate and enjoy the necessity of books as part of life's infrastructure, and they give back to me in their acknowledgement. <br /><br />Then, there are all of you wonderful authors, readers, and bloggers who deserve thanks for validating that the world of books is the best world of all. I owe great debts of gratitude to the people at my first Bouchercon, such as the friends of Laurie R. King, of which I am a member, and who took me under their wing in Albany to show me the ropes. Kristopher, you have been a great friend and source of author connections for me, and you never waver from supporting my blog, which I will need to pick your brain about in Raleligh. And, Erin Mitchell, introduced to me through Kristopher, who is a constant source of author and book love. The Jungle Red Writers have given me a place to come to every day to talk and learn about books and authors and so many interesting topics, and each of you has a generous streak that doesn't stop. To the participants in this blog, I look forward to your comments and thank you for imparting your knowledge and experiences to me. I am grateful to other authors, such as Anne Cleeland, Elly Griffiths, Jen J. Danna, and Anna Loan-Wilsey with whom I've developed wonderful relationships with through their writing and my reading. <br /><br />Gee, as much as I've written, I'm sure that I've left people out to thank for my wonderful relationship with books, reading, and writing. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39775981336127107212015-08-31T12:39:13.494-04:002015-08-31T12:39:13.494-04:00I am just overwhelmed by lithe lists of names.Trul...I am just overwhelmed by lithe lists of names.Truly, (and thank you, dear KAte) it is heartwarming and incredible fuel. It shows you so much about the world we inhabit, and how it works, and how much this all matters in our little way.<br /><br />Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87629377573816919022015-08-31T12:34:52.778-04:002015-08-31T12:34:52.778-04:00My husband for never asking me to stop writing, ev...My husband for never asking me to stop writing, even while we're watching a movie after the kids go to bed. My kids who wait, however, impatiently for me to get to the end this scene.<br /><br />Mrs. Barnoski, my high school creative writing teacher and Gail Tremblay. Both really encouraged my poetry, which I never considered pursuing, but that background taught me to value every word.<br /><br />My writer friends online. Heather who never tries to cheer me up but always listens. Karin who always tries to cheer me up, but also proves it can happen. Em who hates querying more than me. Tara and Monti who give me editors insight. And Lana who catches most of my bad commas.<br /><br />Lucy/Roberta for following me on Twitter and making me feel real. <br /><br />And more recently Paula Munier for suggesting her book to me after chatting about yoga on Twitter because it actually makes sense to me and most writing books don't. (I think in scenes and write sideways. It presents a translation issue. ;)<br /><br />Tracy Weber for encouraging me to write book2 and go to my first conference at her book signing. And Leslie Budewitz and Ingrid Thoft for listening to me ramble at that same bookstore. <br /><br />Hank for a bunch of things, but providing comps in Jane and Charlotte's books given me confidence more times than I can count. <br />katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249658451051437343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31222179166153927062015-08-31T12:11:51.558-04:002015-08-31T12:11:51.558-04:00AH! LInda. Great stories. As always. And hey, my p...AH! LInda. Great stories. As always. And hey, my pleasure. I still think about that trip! Amazing in every way. And thank you!<br /><br />And yes, so interesting about the support from fellow authors. It's not like that in TV, either… -)Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70877067435920263132015-08-31T12:09:59.212-04:002015-08-31T12:09:59.212-04:00Kristopher--whoo. SWANKY is right. ANd attendee wo...Kristopher--whoo. SWANKY is right. ANd attendee wore hats, I see! Some, at least. :-) <br /><br />MArk you and Juila are killing me no. What isB5Unrest??? Am I hopelessly out of it? Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21315372899081606152015-08-31T12:08:54.558-04:002015-08-31T12:08:54.558-04:00Ellen K, that is SO interesting! And perfect. Yeah...Ellen K, that is SO interesting! And perfect. Yeah, being wrong is the most terrifying thing..and oh, where did I just read about a wonderful correction? It was something like: "The newspaper regrets the error in the recent article about the Boy Scouts.The original article read A Boy Scout is a fiend to all and a brother to every other scout. It should have read: A Boy Scout is a friend to all and a bother to every other scout."Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23699516900147337402015-08-31T11:52:23.994-04:002015-08-31T11:52:23.994-04:00There are so many to thank. Fern Howard, who had s...There are so many to thank. Fern Howard, who had sung with the NYC Metropolitan Opera before marrying a rancher/oil man in Oklahoma, not only taught me music but watched over me during a miserable time in my childhood and literally saved my leg, if not my life, by noticing I had blood poisoning and sneaking me off to the doctor against my mother's wishes. She wanted to adopt me and send me to Juilliard, and she told me I would either be a great opera singer or great writer.<br /><br />Like Julia, I have to thank Luci Zahray, the Poison Lady, who chose my first mystery as a finalist for the St. Martin's/Malice Domestic prize. <br /><br />Red Julia herself. We'd never met, but when my first mystery was about to come out, she emailed me AND MY EDITOR to say she would write a blurb and wanted to do whatever she could to help me promote the book. Just the ultimate class act--and shocking to me since I came from the lit world where jealousy and backstabbing were more the norm.<br /><br />Red Hallie, who came up to me as I was about to do my first panel at Malice and introduced herself, saying all the Reds were rooting for me and supporting me. What a boost during a nervous time!<br /><br />All the members of JRW and all the backbloggers, who made me feel welcome in the mystery world from the very beginning--and who routinely offer such support to so many new mystery novelists. And who have been so generous about blurbing my books and those of others.<br /><br />Red Hank, when I became president of our local SinC chapter, Border Crimes, in our fifth year in existence and I wanted to put on a BIG celebration with a big-name writer who also represented national SinC. I emailed and asked if she'd come to KC, even though I didn't think I could give her any honorarium--during one of her busiest times--and she said sure and made our celebration something people in KC still talk about.<br /><br />The best, most unexpected thank-you I ever had was from a boy who'd sort of grown up playing with my kids as the step-grandson of our neighbors. In his early teens, he'd been kicked out by both of his divorced parents and their spouses. My son found him living on the streets and brought him home, and he lived with me and my kids when I was a struggling single mother for over a year until I had to ask him to leave because he brought an underage girl to the house for sex while I was working (he was underage himself). I arranged for one set of his parents to take him back again. After years without hearing from him, he knocked on my door one day to tell me he'd just graduated from high school when everyone else but me had said he never could/would and that belief I had in him had kept him going. That thank-you left me in tears.<br />Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77219836973359421252015-08-31T11:36:48.916-04:002015-08-31T11:36:48.916-04:00Running late for work as always, but I have to giv...Running late for work as always, but I have to give a shout out to a fellow B5 fan! Never was on B5 Unrest, but I have made so many of my best friends while watching that show. Plus it's a wonderful show doing something no one else was in the 90's.Mark Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567392254011373198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53908934660977947732015-08-31T11:29:50.633-04:002015-08-31T11:29:50.633-04:00The Louise Penny tea was sponsored by Politics and...The Louise Penny tea was sponsored by Politics and Prose and held at The Willard Hotel in DC. As swanky as it sounds. Kristopherhttp://www.bolobooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81620635969431051112015-08-31T11:28:53.930-04:002015-08-31T11:28:53.930-04:00Hank, Miss Gardner meant that if you misspelled (s...Hank, Miss Gardner meant that if you misspelled (something TV reporters don't worry about if my brother-the-newswriter is any example) a word or a name, or if you got your facts wrong, you couldn't exactly print a story saying, "Sorry, I never checked the spelling." Actually, newspapers (and network news) can and do print corrections and retractions, but they seldom have the impact of the original story. Look at what happened at the Times about Hillary's e-mails a couple of weeks back. The conservative outlets ran with the supposed criminal investigation (which never happened) and now it's a story that won't die. So either one feels guilty about doing that kind of thing, or is one of those guys who majored in blow-dried hair and doesn't give a c***. Or doesn't know enough to give a c***. Either way, the alibi doesn't undo the damage. You need to get it right the first time. Ellen Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-63798255124959675952015-08-31T11:12:52.072-04:002015-08-31T11:12:52.072-04:00Aw, thanks, Susan. It does make you realize how mu...Aw, thanks, Susan. It does make you realize how much different it can make..Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-73654356311766060892015-08-31T11:12:19.694-04:002015-08-31T11:12:19.694-04:00Kristopher, thank you! SO nice of you, and my plea...Kristopher, thank you! SO nice of you, and my pleasure, of course! TELL ALL about the Louise event..who sponsored it, anyway?<br /><br />Yes, Julia, let's hear from teachers! ANyone have a student tell you something special?<br /><br />Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48090001550502478292015-08-31T10:23:38.716-04:002015-08-31T10:23:38.716-04:00One of the common threads are the teachers in our ...One of the common threads are the teachers in our lives - I didn't include the special one in mine, Mr. Al Marshall of Argyle Central School. Mr. Marshall made copies of a poem I wrote in his English class, tacked it up in the teacher's lounge, and added "Don't tell me the kids in this school aren't talented!" <br /><br />If any of our backbloggers are teachers, or if you have a teacher in the family, rest assured: you really <i>do</i> affect your students lives, in ways you may never even know. Thanks you!Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.com