Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Writers' Workshop



Come to the Triangle Sisters in Crime
One-Day Workshop for Writers!


Saturday March 12, 2016, 9 AM to 4 PM
Room 118, Western Wake Technical Community College

3434 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary NC
Registration closes March 7.
 
Click here to register for the workshop


Learn from the Best - Sign up for this all-day writers' workshop


Come to the Triangle Sisters in Crime
One-Day Workshop for Writers!


Saturday March 12, 2016, 9 AM to 4 PM
Room 118, Western Wake Technical Community College

3434 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary NC
Registration closes March 7.
 

THREE DYNAMITE PRESENTATIONS
 

Thrills and Chills with Allison Brennan.photo of Allison BrennanCharacter, conflict and pacing are the three keys to writing a compelling mystery or thriller. In this workshop, Allison Brennan will talk about how to create characters readers will love (or hate), how to keep the story moving, how to keep your stakes high and your conflict real. Plus, a special bonus discussion on villains--no matter what kind of villain you create -- evil or just misguided -- Allison will share tips on creating a villain worthy of your hero. Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 28 books and numerous short stories. She writes two series -- the Lucy Kincaid/Sean Rogan romantic thriller series (book 11, THE LOST GIRLS, will be out in November); and the Maxine Revere cold case mystery series (book 3, POISONOUS, will be out in April.) Allison believes life's too short to be bored, so in addition to writing three books a year, she is raising five kids, assorted pets, and a husband. Visit her website at allisonbrennan.com.


Plotting Along with Erin Knightley. We’ll discuss different approaches to plotting and how to know what will work best for you. From detailed outlines to simple character motivation worksheets, group plotting sessions to solitary brainstorming, find the method that fits your personal writing style best.  photo of Erin Knightley
 
Erin Knightley, the USA Today bestselling author of a dozen published works, including seven historical romance novels, initially decided to pursue a sensible career in science. She eventually came to her senses, leaving her practical side behind in order to write full time. Together with her tall, dark, and handsome husband and their three spoiled mutts, she is living her own Happily Ever After in North Carolina. Visit Erin’s website at erinknightley.com.


photo of Tara Lynne GrothMake a Living as a Writer with Tara Lynne Groth.  What does it take to rely on writing as your sole source of income? Learn about various streams of income you can tap into with your unique expertise. Consumer and trade magazines, advertising agencies, and website owners need content. Writing credits build your authority and a 'writer platform' makes you attractive to traditional publishers and readers. What are standard pay rates? How much do you need to earn? How can you protect yourself financially and legally as a writer? We'll answer these questions during this session.​

Tara Lynne Groth, a full-time freelance writer, resigned from salaried life in 2010 and has been running her writing business ever since. She writes web content, magazine and newspaper features, speaks at conferences, and leads workshops through two groups she founded: Triangle Writers and Asheville Writers. She blogs at www.writenaked.net and more at www.taralynnegroth.com.

SinC members $65, Triangle SinC members $60, Others $75
Includes catered box lunch, door prizes, coffee & snacks, writing game, mingling, and moderated panel.
 

Friday, February 12, 2016

Curmudgeon's Book of Nursery Rhymes

Now on Kindle.

Beloved nursery rhymes told with a twist.  In Little Bo Peep the narrator is one of the sheep, who says "in the first place she didn't lose us" or in Hickory Dickory Dock the story is told from the viewpoint of the clock. In Little Miss Muffet the spider says "I was invited to that fateful lunch."

There is also a politically correct version of Little Bo Peep rewritten so as not to offend anyone, especially those who are little, that is to say "vertically handicapped" or "altitudinally challenged."
Sometimes thought provoking, often humorous, the retelling of old stories reflects how the Resident Curmudgeon sees life. A true curmudgeon also sees things from a different viewpoint.

Available on Kindle for $2.99

Friday, January 15, 2016

Functions of the President

Among the many functions of the President is to represent the US in international affairs. Among many other things he must negotiate with leaders of other countries.

Now that brings us to a problem.  Can you imagine Donald Trump negotiating with the Prime Minister of England?  Or of France.  How about Trump meeting with Angelia Merkel? Please spare us the embarrassment!

But the absolute worst scenario:  Donald Trump having an audience with the Queen of England.

Heaven protect us from such a tragedy!

Wednesday, January 06, 2016

A Puzzlement

I am really puzzled about some things I have seen recently. There are a couple of televangelists who seem to be claiming a new (at least to me) concept in religion. As I listen to and read their pulpit rantings, I keep getting this theme:  "If you don't believe exactly the same as I do, then you're a sinner!"

Whoa there! I thought that was God'S job, to decide who were sinners. How come these earthlings now have this task?

Listening and reading further, I realize the really important factor.  They claim that God speaks to them directly. Aha!  Now I understand.  This is some sort of a franchise arrangement. These teleboys have some sort of a license whereby God tells them the ground rules, and then they get to apply them.

Since there are more than one of these teleboys, I have to wonder just what sort of territorial jurisdictions have been assigned.  Maybe it's something to do with what network they are on.

In a way you just have to admire these teleboys.  They are true entrepreneurs. They have discovered a product, and developed a market.

Bless us all here in the good old USA.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Trickle-down economics



Trickle-down economics
This theory has been disproved many times in our history, yet the dingbats are still in love with it.  It has never worked, but they still keep preaching this as the ultimate solution to all our economic problems.

Here is a hypothetical example:  You own a small factory manufacturing gizmos.  Currently your capacity is 1,000 gizmos each year.  Each gizmo retails for $1,000, and you realize 30% net profit.  So far you have been able to sell your entire production each year, but the past few years have been tight.  The number of middle class workers who can buy gizmos is shrinking.

You currently employ 20 workers. At times you have considered expanding your production which would enable you to hire a few more, but the market just is not there.  This would require some investment on your part, and entail a risk that you might not be able to sell more gizmos.

The government is constantly talking about how we need to create more jobs, but you just can't see any economic advantage associated with the risk of expansion. But then the government says that in order to encourage job creation, we're going to give you a big tax break.

So you and your accountant look at the numbers. Yes, you could invest in expansion, take the risk, hire a few more workers, and maybe, perhaps show an increase in revenue.  OR, you can do nothing, enjoy the increase in net revenue resulting from the tax break, make up excuses why you can't create more jobs, and investigate moving your entire operation to China.

So, more money to the top does not necessarily mean any will trickle down to the workers.  What it usually means is that the rich get richer.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Immigration

The more I read and listen, the more I am convinced the dingbats are totally insane.  Current events prove the point.

Last week, they wanted to impeach President Obama for "misuse of executive powers" because he made some things happen that the dingbat controlled Congress would not do.  Now they want him to use those same executive powers to do something about the immigration crisis, because they don't want to pass some legislation that might hurt them in an election. Wish they would make up their minds, assuming such is possible.

They all seem to conveniently  forget that much of this "crisis" stems from legislation passed in 2008, and signed into law by then-President Bush.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Fracking

I vowed that I would not write anything more about the totally stupid actions by the dingbats in the NC Congress.  I have problems controlling the anger I feel every time these idiots again display their total ignorance about history, reality and concern for the common folk.

However, they have now pushed through, without debate, new legislation designed to expedite "fracking " for natural gas hopefully located in Harnett, Lee and Chatham counties.

They totally ignore the physical evidence coming from other sites where "fracking" is practiced.
That would be bad enough, but there is one other even greater problem.

The oil and gas corporations who are so insistent that they be allowed to immediately harvest this hoped-for bonanza have failed to answer the one most critical question concerning this operation.

Let's assume they are able to recover natural gas from the shale formations. The question then is:

 What are they going to do with the gas? 

Where is the nearest pipeline terminal?  How do they propose to get the gas from the well head to that terminal? Do they propose a monstrous fleet of tanker trucks roaring up and down the winding, narrow back roads?  Maybe they will propose to build a pipeline extension into the area.  How long will that take?  What do they plan during the interim?

I think it is wonderful that some people will make good money from drilling leases.  But, what about the rest of us?  How much do we have to suffer?

As usual, the dingbats are totally concentrating on big business, and to hell with the people!

Monday, January 27, 2014

State of the Union

President Obama will give a State of the Union address tomorrow, Tuesday, night. I will not watch his address.
 
All day tomorrow the media "experts" will tell me what they think he is going to say.

Then, on Wednesday, these so-called "experts" will tell me what he said.

With such coverage, why should I listen?

Monday, January 06, 2014

Voter ID

The NC Legislature, in its infinite wisdom, has created yet another totally unnecessary problem.  This time it's voter ID.

The new law, which is scheduled to go into effect beginning in 2016, will require all potential voters to present an acceptable photo ID.  Therein lies the problem.  The new law requires that photo ID must contain the "Full" name, and it must match the name on the voter registration books.

What is the "Full" name?  Normally we would define this as first name, middle name and last name. But, what about a married woman? What is her "Full" name?

Here is a hypothetical situation.  Mary Ann Jones registers to vote as soon as she is eligible.  Then she marries Joe Smith.  Now what is her "Full" name?  Is it Mary Ann Smith or Mary Jones Smith. More important, in order to vote she must present a photo ID, such as a driver's license.  What name is on the photo ID? She registered to vote as Mary Ann Jones.  When she renewed her driver's license after she married, she changed the name to Mary Ann Smith.  It no longer matches the registration books, so, by the law, she is not eligible to vote.   Does she know this?

Even more fun would occur if she decided to hyphenate her name, and become Mary Ann Jones-Smith.  If she changes her photo ID  then the names will not match.

My wife and I discovered this problem, when she realized the name on her military ID card was different from that on her driver's license and what was on the registration books.  To be sure, she had to change the name on the registration book to match her ID.  But, how many other people will think to do this?

The voter ID act is supposedly to eliminate voter fraud which is minuscule in NC. So, the legislature has concocted a stupid solution to a problem that really doesn't exist.  But, that's our legislature!

Friday, October 18, 2013

The Republican political platform

After much study and deliberation, I think I have finally deciphered exactly what the “dingbats” propose as their platform to govern the world.  While this is rather complicated, I have summarized it in order to spell out the most important planks.

ECONOMICS: The dingbats don’t actually believe in any accepted economic theory, except for their one guiding principle.  That is expressed as “Trickle Down.”  If big business, big banks, and very rich people are allowed to operate without any form of regulation or restriction, then they will make scads of money.  Eventually, although really not necessary, some of this will trickle down to the working class.  (Note: the dingbats would really like to do away with the entire working class, as thee people make a lot of noise demanding food, shelter and other minimal necessities of life.  However, the dingbats realize that they cannot totally eliminate this class.  After all, somebody has to clean house, mow the lawn and tend the flower gardens.) We have seen evidence that the “trickle down theory of economics” does work, at least for the working classes in China, India, Vietnam, etc.  This is where the wealthy dingbats have moved their businesses in order to make even more scads of money.

WOMEN:  The dingbat’s program is simple.  “Woman’s place is in the kitchen, and she should go there immediately after returning from work.”  Being barefoot and pregnant is optional. The man of the house will make all decisions.

EDUCATION: Extensive education for the masses is totally unnecessary.  For the working classes, a minimal ability to read, write and do a few sums is all that is required.  For the limited middle class that will be necessary to run the grocery stores, dress shops and other such amenities important to the elite, a couple years more should suffice.  For the children of the elite, of course, higher education is required to polish their social skills.  This will be in private schools, preferably those with some religious affiliation. This will be funded via a voucher system.  However, this is certainly not to be considered an entitlement, but more a necessity to insure that the leaders for the future have the proper foundations.

MINORITIES: Afro Americans and Hispanics are expected to work in the fields, picking cotton, harvesting grapes or other necessary menial labor. A great part of this labor will be devoted to completing the massive fence along our border with Mexico. All Hispanics lacking the “proper” proof of citizenship will be immediately deported.

VOTING: In general, only the elite (those with some established income level and/or position of importance) will have voting rights.  Preferably voting should be restricted to males, as they are the only persons with the necessary understanding of the complexities involved, but exceptions will be made to accommodate those females with sufficient income or position.  Also, a minimal number of the middle class will be granted this privilege, but only white males who own property.

TAXES: All taxes, local, state and federal, will be held to the absolute minimum, especially to those of the elite.  The bulk of tax revenue must come from the middle and working classes. If this does not generate enough revenue to maintain the essential government services, then other means of revenue will be found.
GOVERNMENT: Ideally, there should be only a minimum of government.  There are certain functions, such as fire and police protection, that are necessary to protect the person and property of the elite.  But, many of the other departments and operations should be abolished.  The fact that this will cause many thousand to suddenly become unemployed does not seem to be a determining factor. 

HEALTH CARE: The dingbats are fiercely against the Affordable Care Act.  They will do almost anything to abolish it.  But, they have yet to say what they want to replace it.  Apparently they believe that nothing is required.  They, the elite, all have great medical insurance, so they don’t have to worry about this. For all the rest, tough! Medicare and Medicaid are too expensive for the minimum remaining government to support, so anyone who cannot afford the outrageous policies now available also cannot go to the emergency rooms, as that is a tax burden.  Maybe they should just die by the side of the road. 

NATIONAL DEBT: Not a problem.  We’ll just default and tell all our creditors “tough!” After all, we would have to extract more tax revenue from the elite in order to pay down the debt. That is a no-no!
ARMED FORCES:  We must have a strong Army!  However, this poses a problem. Armies and Navies, Air Forces, Marines etc.  are expensive to maintain. One solution might be to re-institute the draft.  As government activities are shut down all over America, there will be thousands out of work.  Many of these will be young and fit enough to serve as perpetual Privates. There will be no promotions as that would increase the cost. But, after all, our need will be for cannon fodder.  Leadership will come from the elite.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING:  This must be reduced drastically.  Nothing is sacred.  Everything must be cut, except, of course, for those pet projects by various members of congress necessary to ensure their reelection.  These will be funded, financed by some source of revenue not yet determined.


If you think all this sounds totally preposterous then you haven’t been paying attention. Listen to what is being said at the dingbat fund-raisers, where they are talking to their loyal followers.  It is frightening!