tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post6582077692552506977..comments2024-03-29T02:43:11.575-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Amy MacKinnonJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77657391553034375372008-08-21T14:13:00.000-04:002008-08-21T14:13:00.000-04:00Thanks, Amy. In some ways, like you, I already hav...Thanks, Amy. In some ways, like you, I already have written from that experience.<BR/><BR/>Actually, what made that experience so powerful is that it was not a near death experience. It just happened!<BR/><BR/>Faith is how we navigate this matrix we call time. It is very difficult to separate who our mind thinks we are from who we really are at the core.<BR/><BR/>Nelson Mandela touched on this - <BR/><BR/>"We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?<BR/><BR/>Actually, who are you not to be?"<BR/><BR/>Then we go and set our alarms ...<BR/><BR/>How hard it is sometimes for us to confront this.<BR/><BR/>That is the most inspiring part of your story ... <BR/><BR/>Then we go and set our alarms .... <BR/><BR/>It's a matter of connecting the dots that lead us to oursleves.<BR/><BR/>"The main theme of this novel, and every other one I intend to write, is the exploration of faith: in one's self, in another, in a higher power."<BR/><BR/>Amen.<BR/><BR/>MikeMike Vecchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016079615702702269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89662962967008111092008-08-21T11:36:00.000-04:002008-08-21T11:36:00.000-04:00Thank you, Jan. Let me know if it's at that darli...Thank you, Jan. Let me know if it's at that darling bookstore and I'll let you know if #1 is true -- or not.<BR/><BR/>Laura, like Hank, I wonder who might have your first manuscript, if it still exists somewhere. I recently found out a dear friend and first reader had mine. I made her promise to burn it. I wonder if she did...<BR/><BR/>MTV, what an amazing experience you've had. Perhaps you should write about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8652692540784686362008-08-20T22:14:00.000-04:002008-08-20T22:14:00.000-04:00Amy, as others have said, "Thanks for setting the ...Amy, as others have said, "Thanks for setting the alarm!" The only way for an author to get a work done is to write it!!! One of the self-evident irony's of life that most of us, me included, conveniently overlook!!<BR/><BR/>Guess where my butt's gonna be tomorrow. In fact, tonight... no time like the present!!!<BR/><BR/>As far as setting rules - write what you know derives its power from authenticity. Write what you don't know draws its power from a passion for knowledge, the very juice of life.<BR/><BR/>Seems to me your passion is very clear, particularly if the no. 1 fact about your life is true. I have the greatest respect for anyone who has died and returned. The return raises so many questions. For me, it was my intense white light experiences that brought me to probe the very nature of existence and why I am here. At the same time I have decided not to stress over life. When the story is ready, it just pops out of me, like some of the songs I've written.<BR/><BR/>Still, a writer must write and that's the power of the outline to propel you forward. Topic of a past JRW. <BR/><BR/>In regard to rules, I think it is fine to break ones that some think are "true". I remember one time, I was at a writer's conference and one of the guest agents said, "You don't write your first novel and send it to William Morris Agency?"<BR/><BR/>Hmm... who knew... that is exactly what I did and got reviewed and almost taken on as a client. Good thing that was before he told me that! I didn't know that that was not a possibility!!!<BR/><BR/>JRW - another great presentation!!!<BR/><BR/>Amy - truly a learning experience.<BR/><BR/>Thank you!!<BR/><BR/>MikeMike Vecchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00016079615702702269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33961234151327188002008-08-20T21:30:00.000-04:002008-08-20T21:30:00.000-04:00Oddly enough, Hank, someone just published a YA no...Oddly enough, Hank, someone just published a YA novel with the same title as my first novel: Skin Hunger. I haven't been able to bring myself to actually look at the published one because I was so irritated that they used the title!<BR/><BR/>I'll use it again, someday, for a whole other book. <BR/><BR/>But I love your story idea--that it landed at someone else's house. Probably with our piano bench. Grrr.Laura Benedicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08474185786017084327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-9591780682404424792008-08-20T20:37:00.000-04:002008-08-20T20:37:00.000-04:00Amy, Thank You for your comment about setting the ...Amy, <B>Thank You</B> for your comment about setting the alarm and just putting that butt in the chair (OK, that's Julie's part...). It made me realize how many excuses I have been making, and my youngest child is now 19! No more excuses. And now that it is 8:30 pm, I'd better get to bed since I've already set the alarm. <BR/>EdithEdith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38123898542697393922008-08-20T14:18:00.000-04:002008-08-20T14:18:00.000-04:00Oh, Laura. What if someone finds that novel? Would...Oh, Laura. What if someone finds that novel? Wouldn't that be a good..novel?<BR/><BR/>The moving guy, who's a secret writer wannabe. Who steals the manuscript as his own. And then...<BR/> <BR/>Or it turns up in someone else's stuff. (Whose?) And they think it's--evidence? Clues?<BR/><BR/>Okay, back to my own story.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8438026602572832132008-08-20T12:56:00.000-04:002008-08-20T12:56:00.000-04:00Amy, I'm wildly impressed that you deleted your fi...Amy, I'm wildly impressed that you deleted your first novel from your hard drive. Somerset Maugham said that every first novel should be immediately locked in a box after it's written and the writer should move on to the next one. Mine was lost somewhere in an actual cardboard carton during one move or another.<BR/><BR/>I'm looking forward to your next one already! xoLaura Benedicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08474185786017084327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27308936883855143162008-08-20T12:14:00.000-04:002008-08-20T12:14:00.000-04:00Hi Amy,Greetings from Martha's Vineyard, where I'm...Hi Amy,<BR/>Greetings from Martha's Vineyard, where I'm trying to get away from my computer -- but your novel sounds like EVERYTHING I'm interested in, so I'm going to go to Edgartown Books and see if its there! <BR/>And if #1 is true, I'll be eager to talk to you about your experience. Years ago, I spent a year researching those kinds of medical experiences.Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16601868961348973232008-08-20T12:04:00.000-04:002008-08-20T12:04:00.000-04:00Thanks for the warm welcome, Roberta. If Jerry is...Thanks for the warm welcome, Roberta. If Jerry is such an adventurous eater, than how is it he's so trim? Not fair.<BR/><BR/>Julie, call it what you will, just park yourself there and write. And thanks for the kind words.<BR/><BR/>Hank, I haven't re-read it yet! I'm afraid. And isn't it strange how we met in Hallie's class? Now look at us. I'm grateful Random House put up the banner ads on the both the NYT & USA Today book pages. They've been wonderfully supportive. And don't forget, you helped me with the ending!<BR/><BR/>Helen, you gave me a little thrill when you said you've seen it a couple of places. Good to know it's memorable.<BR/><BR/>So does anyone have a guess as to which fact isn't true?Amy MacKinnonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13046229425863274840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59253329590406917492008-08-20T11:56:00.000-04:002008-08-20T11:56:00.000-04:00Am inspiring post. Really. And I love the cover. I...Am inspiring post. Really. And I love the cover. I've seen it in a couple of places and it always makes me stop and look.<BR/><BR/>I like the idea of writing what you want to know.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03171630819400384478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-46258113246913256902008-08-20T11:32:00.000-04:002008-08-20T11:32:00.000-04:00I think I know the quiz answer..but I won't say, y...I think I know the quiz answer..but I won't say, yet.<BR/>And Amy, if number one is true-- you know, it's so like your book. There's this tension between life and death--even the cover, so perfect, has that tension.<BR/>Is she--floating ? Or sinking? <BR/><BR/>When you read your book now, does it seem like yours? Okay, strange question. But sometimes when I look at what I've written, I think--that came from me? And I wonder if anyone else feels that.<BR/><BR/>Congratulations on your wild success. I was reading an article on the NY Times website the other day--and the changing bannner across the top was for Tethered! Four different panels, I think. Gorgeous. And such a--what am I going for here--an announcement of arrival.<BR/><BR/>Department of coincidences: Amy and I first met in a mystery writing class Hallie was giving at Grub Street. Come to think of it, that's where I first met Hallie, too. Huh. You never know.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87817177209952710932008-08-20T10:19:00.000-04:002008-08-20T10:19:00.000-04:00Amy, I, too, loved your comment about setting the ...Amy, I, too, loved your comment about setting the alarm . . . I've heard it called the "BIC" method: Butt in Chair. Truly, that's the first step.<BR/>The book sounds fascinating!Julie Comptonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11518352063650354325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70876142098723548262008-08-20T09:20:00.000-04:002008-08-20T09:20:00.000-04:00Hi Amy, welcome to Jungle red writers! what a fabu...Hi Amy, welcome to Jungle red writers! what a fabulous story--we can all learn from that kind of persistence. But I have to say, if the adventurous eating is true about you, you'd have a run for your money with Hallie's husband, Jerry. He'll eat anything--and lots of it!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.com