I’m changing things up a bit today with a Blast from the Past:
Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Change
~ Stay tuned tomorrow for: My Boy & Me ~
What does change mean to you?
Times Change: My Girl & Me
Blog
So Long, Summer
Although the calendar tells me it is now officially fall, I am enchanted by these last few days of beautiful temperate weather we are enjoying in Newfoundland. Paul and I even had a chance to lie in the sun and read yesterday evening. It was so gorgeous on our deck that we didn’t want to go inside for supper until the sun sank low on the horizon.
As much as I love the summer temperatures, it’s nearly time to say good-bye.
Happily, I have a nostalgic affection for fall and everything it brings.
Here are a couple of pics I snapped of ripening apples
on our recent trip to Springdale in Green Bay:
The view beyond the apple trees:
We stayed overnight in nearby King’s Point.
Here is the view from our room the next morning:
Before leaving, I made sure to visit the pottery and craft store to browse and to buy a few things:
If you ever get the opportunity to visit the area, do stop in here. You won’t be sorry.
One of the perks of my husband’s job is joining him on these road trips.
We love any opportunity to visit the many corners of our island.
***
Two evenings ago, I had to run for my camera again.
The sunset on Perry’s Point was so stunning,
I think Maisie and Vivian were even spellbound:
After the sun disappeared, the sky took on a strikingly different quality:
Another good-bye…
That same evening, I received a call from my sister.
My beloved aunt in the U.S. had passed away suddenly.
I am inclined to let imagination take hold,
to fancy that as she went to join my dad (her brother),
she painted that sky as a farewell to her loved ones here at home.
Rest easy, Aunt Irene. All is well.
❤
Friday Bouquet #29
Because I have roots in Grates Cove, a little beluga whale has been all over my Facebook feed lately. That is where I recently discovered Jared through his Beluga At My Doorstep post.
His blog, Bird⋅the⋅Rock, specializes in bird & nature tours in Newfoundland.
From the blog’s About page:
Jared Clarke is a native Newfoundlander who grew up on the northeast coast of the island and was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age – mostly by his grandfathers…Despite his “official” training as a health researcher (PhD Medicine), his love of nature and sharing it with others has consistently led him astray. Jared has led tours big and small across Newfoundland; from historic St. John’s to the ancient Viking settlement of L’Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of the island and many points in between.
Check out the beautiful photos Jared captured in the link below. There’s even a short video of the whale:
I’ve disabled comments here in the hope you will comment on Jared’s blog.
If you do, please tell him Jennifer sent you.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
❤
A Title For My Sequel
My Young Adult novel is working through the various steps to reach the Release Date finish line.
The main edits are completed. The cover art is done and approved. My manuscript is now in the hands of Managing Editorial for copy-editing, layout, and proofing. After that it will head to typesetting. So much goes into the creation of a book!
In between the days I watch and wait for these steps and the days I work on edits to my second book of the series, I’ve been racking my brain, trying to come up with a title for the second book.
No, Calmer Girls Two does not appeal. Either does Calmer Girls – the Sequel. I like a book title that has a double meaning – like Calmer Girls – or a title that borrows a phrase or a line from another work. That could even include inspiration from a line in a song, a poem, or a nursery rhyme. Think: Along Came a Spider, or Norwegian Wood. I also like titles that are taken from a line or quote inside the book, as many authors have done. Think: To Kill A Mockingbird, or The Silence of the Lambs.
There is advice out there now that suggests you should name your book while keeping in mind keywords, SEO, categories and literary genres, all a part of improving its visibility in the digital marketplace.
As much as I still prefer reading Print books as opposed to eBooks, I know I am writing for a largely younger group of readers who love their eReaders and almost exclusively read all their books that way. Keeping that in mind will be beneficial for the upcoming marketing stage as well.
In my research surfing, I happened upon a wonderful post by author Anne R. Allen that may help me find a title. If you’re a writer, you may find it helpful as well. Check it out below:
10 Tips for Choosing the Right Book Title in the E-Age
by Anne R. Allen
For Writers: How do you title your books? Any tricks of the trade to share?
For Readers: What are some of your favourite book titles?
Have you ever bought a book because you loved its title?
Please share in the comments section below!
Connected
What comes to your mind when you hear the word connected? For some, the word may conjure a mental image of all the gadgets we have, like our smart phones, computers, etc. that allow us to stay accessible and up-to-date in the digital world. Or it may make you think of being well-connected, in that you have successfully networked with the right people who can further your career or your mission in life.
The most meaningful connections for me, as they are for most, are the ones I make with people in person, especially one-on-one. These attachments are unique and irreplaceable. You know who you are<3. But as much as I treasure the relationships in my personal life, there is a lot to be said for the virtual connections I have made with other bloggers over the past three to four years.
Living in a remote or rural area can make it difficult to find like-minded souls, especially in the writing arena. The blogosphere has been instrumental in solving that dilemma for me. The advice and the inspiration I have received from other bloggers has been nothing short of extraordinary since I started Jennifer’s Journal. A huge thanks to every one of you that I follow. Whether your blog shares writing, art, or photography, I am grateful to have met you through the internet.
Kath Unsworth of Minuscule Moments of Inspiration is one such blogger. Not only does Kath pursue the craft of writing, she is also a gifted artist. Her creativity and dedication to her artistic endeavors have influenced my own aspirations much more than she probably realizes. And because of the internet, it is no matter that she lives on a farm in Australia. Well, actually it does matter; her location adds even more intrigue for me. 🙂
I was lucky enough to win a contest Kath held last year, where my name was drawn to receive a free pet portrait. Here is the result:
This summer, I was moved to acquire one of Kath’s original, highly affordable works of art from her newly opened Etsy shop, ScratchyBirdDesigns. Her love of birds speaks to me, so much so I had to have one of them adorning my wall. (Vivian is in my living-room, Willy Wagtail is in my kitchen-dining room.) Isn’t he beautiful?
I also purchased her delightful fridge magnet (its slogan fits me to a tee):
Like me, Kath understands the value of virtual connection. You can read about it in her blog post here:
The Magic of Virtual Friendships
You can visit her Etsy shop here:
What does the word “connection” mean to you?
Are you as grateful as I am,
for the connections you’ve made in the blogosphere?
*special thanks to Orange is the New Black for those gifs 😀
Friday Bouquet #28
In the middle of the afternoon yesterday, I received a welcome and gratifying email. My editor sent me – minus a few finishing touches – the cover art for my upcoming YA novel, Calmer Girls.
I. LOVE. IT. Since then, to say I am getting more excited about my book’s upcoming release is an understatement. As one of the teenagers in my book might say: “this sh*t just got real!”
In keeping with what is now on my mind 24/7, I’m sharing one of the writer blogs I follow. Jane Friedman is a writing coach with a wealth of useful tips and advice on building an author platform and getting published. In the post below, she interviews Hannah Goodman, a proud advocate and author of the Young Adult genre.
I’ve disabled comments here in the hope you will comment on Jane’s blog.
If you do, please tell her Jennifer sent you.
Have a safe and happy Labour Day weekend, everyone.
❤
Search Party
As anyone with a blog or a website knows, people online can find or happen upon our blogs using a variety of search terms. Some of those terms that have popped up on my blog admin section are logical and understandable, some are pretty strange, and still some others are downright funny.
I’ll start with a few of the logical search terms. My followers – at least the minuscule few who’ve visited since the beginning – will understand how these terms led searchers to Jennifer’s Journal:
- Jennifer Kelland Perry, Jennifer Kelland – moi, the most logical
- cats at the ocean
- cat ice
- tentative cat
- cats exploring – yes indeedy, you will find cats, ocean and ice here
- Newtown, Newfoundland – where?
- Maisie and Vivian – and what are the cats’ names?
Cats on Ice – Spring Thaw in Iceberg Alley
Then the cat theme begins to get humorous:
- cat on an iceberg
- fancy words for purr
- jennifer with cat eyes
- jennifer feline eyes
- french jennifer cat eyes
Some other topics are right on the money:
- polar bears in Newfoundland – a popular topic, only once for this blog
- speciesism rant – one of my very few rants
- pictures of patch quilt on clothesline – beautiful Greenspond
- little boy working on car – our grandson
- you are my one and only blog – ❤
- first date journal – ❤
- Jennifer in varadero – Cuba!
- heart turned cold quotes – I did pen a dark poem once…
- journaling about bitterness – okay, twice!
- reasons of dreams and meaning of dreams, see sleeping mouse in dream – because I put the word dream in a couple of my titles, I’m guessing
- menopause feel like a furnace, perry menopause symptoms, hot flash journaling, internal combustion menopause – a topic of great concern out there, apparently, though I only blogged about it once
- very cute images of love peace and understanding – but all they found were Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello!
- Jennifer’s progress – my novel, the sequel? inquiring minds want to know
- famous Jennifers in fiction – not me, but…maybe…someday?
Still giggling at the rest below. You will not find anything about the following topics in my blog:
- having guy visitors in winter – shhh, don’t tell Paul!
- cat foot ptarmigan – a new cross-breed?
- scarlet woman – just call me the whore of Babylon
- iceberg smelling – hold on: is that a thing??
- Jennifer is a racist blog – yikes! I swear you’ve got the wrong blog!
And my personal favourite:
- Jennifer Kelland Perry the platypus
Turns out there is an explanation for this one.
I just learned about this fellow when I did a search.
And there you have it. Someone looking for a platypus found me.
Have any funny or odd search terms from your blog to share?
Fess up in the comments below. 🙂
A Poem by Vivian
“Man’s Best Friend”
by Vivian K. Perry
My master and I are best buddies
time together we do love to share
I have proven my “dogged” affection
For a cat, I am told, that is rare
So it gives me great pleasure to flaunt it,
how I’ll follow behind my fine friend,
stay with him as long as I’m needed, then…
…make a bed of his shorts at day’s end.
***
*Photo credits go to Paul Sautter Jr. – except for the last two 😉
The Poet’s Thought
The Poet’s Thought
“It came to him in rainbow dreams,
blent with the wisdom of the sages,
of spirit and of passion born;
in words as lucent as the morn
he prisoned it, and now it gleams
a jewel shining through the ages.”
~ Lucy Maud Montgomery
* Ailsa’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Gleaming
Friday Bouquet #27
Happy Friday, all! Before I introduce this week’s recipient of Friday Bouquet:
Vivian and Maisie would like to extend a sincere and purry “thank you” for all the beautiful comments and well wishes on their 8th Birthday post, from all of their lovely followers both here and on Facebook, as well as the retweet on Twitter. Their mom and dad read, enjoyed, and treasured each and every one. 🙂
Now, on to the bouquet:
Brenda Knowles says her Space2Live blog is a place “where we intentionally reflect on core passions: art, nature,writing, reading, relationships,family, traveling, self-realization and spirituality.”
From her About Me page:
… I am an open listener, introspective, dreamy, expressive and a mom. When I say highly sensitive I don’t mean I cry at the drop of a hat or tremble like a Chihuahua. I’m not even shy. What I mean is, I will sense the moods of the people in a room and be affected. I am an introvert.
…Over-stimulate me (with noise, technology, hurrying, overscheduling, interruptions) and I am going to get overwhelmed and crabby and wish I could handle more. Writing is the perfect outlet.”
As much as I hate labels applied to people, the following post resonated with me. While reading it, I found myself wishing everyone could read it for a better understanding of why introverts and/or highly sensitive people have a need to withdraw at certain times. Maybe then we wouldn’t be described by certain others as “difficult” or “unsociable.” Maybe then we would be accepted for who we actually are, in spite of our differences.
Introverts and Withdrawal: Why We Do It
I’ve disabled comments here in the hope you will comment on Brenda’s blog.
If you do, please tell her Jennifer sent you.
Have a terrific weekend, everyone.
❤
