tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post6050702487387833262..comments2024-03-29T07:15:33.972-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: A Funny Thing Happened To Me On My Way To Writing My first Novel ~ Or ~ Inspiration Comes From Where You Find It: a guest blog by Al LamandaJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84597986242580456952013-05-22T13:25:30.575-04:002013-05-22T13:25:30.575-04:00How have I never known about all the fabulous writ...How have I never known about all the fabulous writers in Maine? I can't wait to read your books.<br /><br />I remember the ice storm but only the aftermath. We spent that winter in a motorhome touring the US and came back to find my Honda covered with snow and ice. (We parked it in the backyard in the path of the snow falling off the roof.) But, son of a gun, it started on the first turn!<br /><br />Thanks for letting us learn more about you!Marianne in Mainenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-42311712050222403272013-05-22T07:35:46.717-04:002013-05-22T07:35:46.717-04:00My "inspired" story involves a five-week...My "inspired" story involves a five-week house swap in Australia during winter, on crutches with a cast, after just having broken a foot and had surgery - an excellent formula for learning to rewrite.<br /><br />Al, can't wait to dive into your books. Thanks for a great story (I spent one week-long ice storm trapped in a friend's wine store and deli in Vermont - no joke).Sara J. Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145626175256433448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-28132125431070380712013-05-21T18:49:48.398-04:002013-05-21T18:49:48.398-04:00Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I reall...Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I really do appreciate it. The highlight of the Edgar Awards, for me, was getting to meet and talk with so many wonderful and talented writers. Dennis Lehane is not just a great writer, but a great regular guy to have a conversation with. With a litttle luck maybe I'll get to back one day.Al Lamandanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36571707154193878732013-05-21T18:39:19.536-04:002013-05-21T18:39:19.536-04:00Well, add me to the list of those who're addin...Well, add me to the list of those who're adding you to our TBR lists!! And big congrats on your Edgar nomination.<br /><br />Here in Northern California's Santa Cruz Mountains we don't get ice storms, but along with earthquakes we get snow and power outages. They certainly make life interesting.Lyndahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03788610902096354682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17411032751428416202013-05-21T17:23:12.970-04:002013-05-21T17:23:12.970-04:00A spaghetti pot and a Maine ice storm? Al, I have...A spaghetti pot and a Maine ice storm? Al, I have no idea how I've missed your books before now but I'm going to change that. <br /><br />Congrats on the Edgar nomination!Sofie Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830230500527705589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87370222412657138312013-05-21T16:50:42.089-04:002013-05-21T16:50:42.089-04:00Oh, Al, this is a fabulous story! I burst out laug...Oh, Al, this is a fabulous story! I burst out laughing imagining it! <br /><br />Next Edgars, let's all wear spaghetti pots. It's a dangerous world! <br /><br />SO happy for you! WOnderful to meet you in NYC--And eager to read Sunset! xooHank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58468744254869152142013-05-21T16:38:26.898-04:002013-05-21T16:38:26.898-04:00Welcome Al, what a great story! congrats on the Ed...Welcome Al, what a great story! congrats on the Edgar nom--that is a great honor.<br /><br />Love the pot! I can't believe you've stayed in Maine after that--one thing I hate most of all is ice.<br /><br />Fortunately, not much of that in Key West:)Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15509856330151108382013-05-21T15:29:52.566-04:002013-05-21T15:29:52.566-04:00Absolutely wonderful blog. During the Ice Storm ...Absolutely wonderful blog. During the Ice Storm of '98, I was here in Austin Texas....it got cold. I believe the idea of a pot as a helmet to protect your head from falling trees is a good one. I am going now to check on your books. I believe after reading this blog it will be necessary for me to get one. You are a fun writer.ANNETTEhttp://www.letterswhichbuildbridges.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47928123798267135382013-05-21T14:21:03.254-04:002013-05-21T14:21:03.254-04:00Welcome to Jungle Reds, Al! Great story! Isn't...Welcome to Jungle Reds, Al! Great story! Isn't it amazing how, when we've thought long and hard and tried to work for something with nothing, nothing, nothing, some random little incident will trigger this avalanche of ideas that make up the whole premise for a book?<br /><br />Congratulations on the Edgar nomination! I'll add your books to my TBR list and move them to the top.<br /><br />What inspires me to write? It's different things with different books. Sometimes an image will coalesce all these thoughts and ideas. Sometimes it's something I've overheard in a public place. Sometimes a situation that bothers or interests me. But always it only turns into the idea for a book after I've done a whole lot of work, usually on character.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52489884781235428552013-05-21T13:39:53.968-04:002013-05-21T13:39:53.968-04:00Al, your blog today reads like a thriller. I kept ...Al, your blog today reads like a thriller. I kept looking for the thing that was stalking you from the city, through snow and ice, ready to... Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59345153402275282342013-05-21T11:25:20.817-04:002013-05-21T11:25:20.817-04:00We used to live in Ohio and Minnesota--not bad for...We used to live in Ohio and Minnesota--not bad for a native Texan. I enjoyed the snow; my husband was less enthusiastic. I think it had to do with his having to clear the driveway. Anyway when we were returning to Texas after an absence of 25 years, more or less, my husband looked absolutely jolly when he sold the snowblower.<br />Your books sound intriguing, Al. I will have to look for them.Pat Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55301725304011071352013-05-21T10:53:56.131-04:002013-05-21T10:53:56.131-04:00My neighbor is alive and well at 82 and still uses...My neighbor is alive and well at 82 and still uses the same spaghetti pot as he did during the ice storm, only now just for cooking. Thank you all for your support, it is greatly appreciated.Al Lamandanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36246130105559769032013-05-21T10:51:15.806-04:002013-05-21T10:51:15.806-04:00Congratulations on the Edgar nomination and thanks...Congratulations on the Edgar nomination and thanks for sharing your Ice Storm of 98 tale. The stories that grew out of that particular storm still amaze, and yours is one of the best I've heard.<br /><br />That long and icy week I was in the middle of a huge deadline-driven project at work, and there was power in downtown Portland, so I spent the week creeping back and forth from my home on Peaks Island to my office in the Old Port, using ski poles for stability. The boat was easy, but walking was an adventure.<br />Brenda Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161539130987122737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60951353397797815222013-05-21T10:14:51.363-04:002013-05-21T10:14:51.363-04:00What's funny is that my next door neighbors, w...What's funny is that my next door neighbors, who've become dear friends over the years, moved into their house (from Colorado)just a week before the Great Ice Storm of '98. Our first face-to-face introduction came after the ash tree in our side yard split down the middle and hit both our houses.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16797193797853757592013-05-21T07:32:45.768-04:002013-05-21T07:32:45.768-04:00A big damn spaghetti pot--hey, whatever it takes, ...A big damn spaghetti pot--hey, whatever it takes, right? <br /><br />Durn, now I have to find "Dunston Falls", in addition to "Sunset"! Karen in Ohiohttp://seetheusablog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75010938300465547342013-05-21T06:12:57.789-04:002013-05-21T06:12:57.789-04:00Who knew we’d be thankful to an ice storm and a sp...Who knew we’d be thankful to an ice storm and a spaghetti pot for wonderful mystery books? Congratulations on the Edgar nomination . . . I’m definitely adding “Sunset” to my mountain of to-be-read books . . . . Joan Emersonnoreply@blogger.com