I Have Been Buried in Books

Posted on by Sandy Webster

Back into my illustrations for the Burke and Wills story. As I am now doing the writing, I notice more drawings are necessary.

It has been a good deviation from what I hope is the last editing of Kind Gestures. I have ordered another proof so I can look it over before telling Amazon to publish. I changed the cover photo to start…the other one seemed too dark. this is better, I think.

At least I think it is. I am keeping all covers illustrated with my own artwork. Before publishing the short stories, I changed the photo to this.

There has yet to be any Amazon reviews of my three, soon to be four books. Maybe some will come.  The poetry groups that I meet with are most encouraging about my efforts and their enthusiasm makes me want to continue.

I did take a few minutes to draw a robin in the Meadow Book.

I don’t like the drawing very much but figured he is in the book now, and it is better to do a bad drawing/painting than to not even try. Next will be better, I’m sure!

Another trip to the gym picture. Starting to get a bit darker at the hour I head off.

The front yard mulch had this wonderful “scrambled egg” fungus that only lasted one day.

And I did a ‘clean out refrigerator dinner’ two days ago.

Recipe:

Put a few cups of salty water in a shallow sauté pan. Add Raman noodles that will soak up most of the water.

Chop last of green onions, last few bits cauliflower, broccoli. toss in with cooking Raman.

Shut off stove, toss in cut up fresh spinach (the last in the bag)

Add some precooked and thawed shrimp.

Some garlic and lemon juice.

Squeeze in some pesto sauce…decide it needs more color and add a good splash of V8 tomato/vegetable juice.

Check to see if anything else is about to go off and if not, and the water is all absorbed…

Add handful of grated parmesan cheese and stir while mixture is still warm.

Plate up and add some lightly salted peanuts and a bit more parmesan.

Pour a glass of white wine and have a seat.

It was delicious and made enough for three meals.

Next morning I went out and replaced all the veggies I had used up.

Not much else new…

Think I will go for a walk.

Til later…

 

 

Four More Days Gone

Posted on by Sandy Webster

I have spent the last several days re-editing the novella, Kind Gestures. I requested one proof to look through. And that came in a few days.

Made a few changes and requested another proof only to be informed that it was ruined in the mail and they were refunding my money. So I used the one above to go through to check for noticeable errors…you know, the ones that even the smarty-pants proof reader who lives in the computer, just waiting to pounce on spelling and grammar, missed in their diligence.

The big thing was that the cover just gives the title. No more. Silly, isn’t it? Kind Gestures could be a book about, call your mother, treat someone to a beer, etc. So now it has a subtitle of (novella). That should help.

It has been a while since I read this and was not sure because it being an older work, that I wanted to add it to the other S. Webster books. A little bit of rearranging background information on one of the women characters, and I found I liked the story. So as soon as I see this next proof (Wednesday I’m told) and find nothing else out of order, I will publish it as well. Then their will be just the four books, all similar in size, until I create enough for volumes 2 of the first three and/or write another novella.

Time now is being spent on writing poetry and working on Burke and Wills.

It is still quite hot and humid here. A relief when it rains but brutal when the sun comes out afterwards. Sadie just stays low.

I know my basket making friends are gathered again this weekend in Tasmania, so to feel I am with them, added another drawing to the Gathering Book. It is of a Mahdi Chandler clay pot that has been contact printed with leaves and then coiled on the top. She is brilliant!

I met friends for lunch today at a local food truck/brewery and had one of my favorite local beers with a lobster roll that is only available on Sundays.

I was told to check out the bathroom and was certainly happy to step inside just long enough for this shot. too funny!

My short stories and novella are no longer on my website.  My web person is so good to deal with. He knows exactly what I am saying even though I do not have the correct words. Can’t beat that.

On another topic, I was noticing that what I am missing is conversations with the creative, passionate, strongly driven people that I got used to in my quest for BFA and MFA, then with students who were needing to express feelings in a visual form. My Australian regulars for master classes were so inspiring in that way. Meticulous, deliberate steps to arrive at what needed to be said. We stay in touch, and I am so grateful for that, but what i wish I had was that person that you meet up with to just talk art, not other life issues…just art. And I mean idea driven art.

When I was going to Asheville regularly, on my way out of town, I would meet Gwen Diehn, and she would haul her work into Trader’s Joes or show me in the parking lot outside before we headed in for breakfast and a good talk. She and I talked art for many years and I just supposed there would always be someone like that in my life.

Now I spend more time writing my ideas. And attending poetry reading groups. The words and poems that get to me are the ones that seem to come from those places that art did. The words need to be released in the same way the idea fixed in form does. It is not healthy for some of us to keep it all inside. Drawing in sketchbooks and writing are my way through this time of solitude. I am good company for myself and I understand what I am saying/thinking and that is good enough. I am getting used to myself. Not a bad idea to have a good talk and share a scotch with yourself.

Til later…..

 

Fast Week

Posted on by Sandy Webster

Beautiful morning walks to the gym. The other day all of the grasses in the field I walk through had been mowed down.

Then quickly rolled into hay bales that were taken away. All I could do was draw and paint the memory in the Meadow Book of what occurred there.

Couldn’t help adding those pesky Trifids in the background.

Then when not reworking the last of the small books for Amazon, I was busy watering over-heated plants out back. Just had to take some detail shots out there to remind me what flourishes and what wishes for more shade.

And today the first of two separate author proofs came in the mail. I can already see another adjustment I need to make before giving approval for publication. This book is thicker and gave room for a spine title/author. It costs a bit more to produce so price slightly higher than the other three. All can be found on Amazon under S. Webster.

Now I am working on the story of Burke and Wills. Writing in rhyme is fun so far, but several more drawings will be needed.

The monthly poetry meeting is this week and I have done more writing for that.

I am getting the hang of being alone and managing my time effectively. I miss doing artwork but with no place to put it, have gone back to writing.

Back in undergraduate school I remember having a hard discussion with my advisor. I told him as an artist, I am accountable for whatever the artwork is. Whether sculpture or works on paper/canvas. The artist is the work and vise versa.

BUT being a writer, the doors are wide open to be whoever I want to be through the characters in the story. There is such freedom in that way of creating. It is a good place to occupy right now.

These four small books by S. Webster will be enough for awhile. Burke and Wills will be using Sandy Webster as the author. (I actually still have a Sandy Webster artist page on Amazon because of my Earth Pigments book from years ago.)

That is about all I have for now. The novella, Kind Gestures should be available next week and slightly modified from how it appeared on my website.

Til later….