Jean M. Cogdell

Wishing a better New Year for the survivors

Published on December 28, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell14 Comments

For the last few days my emotions have been all over the place. Joy, fear, exhilaration, terror, happiness, sadness, relief, gratitude, has bounced around like a ping-pong ball on the new table we gave the grandkids for Christmas.

Why all these emotions?

In the midst of enjoying an amazing holiday, filled with grandkids, good food, gifts that left me stunned at the generosity of my family, and emailing ideas to the illustrator for a new project, tornadoes ripped through our area.

Two of our children were driving through the storm, two children with two grandkids were at their home a few miles away.

Here at our house, Phil, myself, three grandkids and one dog huddled in a closet as tornado sirens wailed in the night.

After the all clear, we left the closet, relieved the tornado had passed over our house and thrilled to receive texts that everyone else was safe.

Next morning, we watched the news stunned at the devastation. According to the weather service an EF4 tornado — which is the second-most powerful with winds over 200 mph — struck Rowlett, Texas, just minutes from where I live. Relief and sadness flooded me as I watched the news reports.

9 tornados, 11 dead!

Still If felt a distance from the destruction until I received a reply from my earlier email.

Ashley Bauer, the artist who illustrated my first children’s book Tryouts for Ben and is collaborating with me on my newest project lives in Rowlett.

Evacuated from her apartment, Ashley apologized because the illustrations might be delayed. Displaced from her home in the midst of the second deadliest storm in Texas history, she’s worried about my little book! Wow! I assured her that should be way down on her priority list at the moment.

The storm cloud that held that enormous tornado passed over my little town, and dropped from the sky hitting Ashley’s apartment complex. She explained her building was not destroyed, but the building next to hers along with the management office was destroyed. I believe she used the word flattened.

I’ve had a stomach ache ever since I received her email. I’m so glad she’s and her family are safe.

The tornado came so close to us. The enormity of our escape hit me. There but for the grace of God, luck of the Irish, a toss of the coin, luck of the draw, or whichever ideology you subscribe I realize my family was very fortunate. But as relieved and grateful as I am for us, I’m also saddened for the loss suffered by my neighbors.

Time to finish gathering things for the donation drive. The families effected need everything. And then I’m going to go hug my kids!

So when you ring in the New Year, remember the families who need good things to happen and let’s wish them all the best that 2016 can bring.

Look for me on Twitter @jeancogdell and on Facebook at jean.cogdell! And don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

How to avoid the taboo in writing

Published on December 28, 2015December 18, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

Now let me say right up front, I’m still working on this myself.

Seems I miss the mark more than I hit it, but gotta keep trying. Right?

And as far as the weather, well, we all know how fickle that is. And the writing about it is just as slippery as predicting it.

Weather scenes in writing seem to rank right up there with the taboos in writing as; waking up, looking in a mirror and dreams. But all are a part of the human life experience.

There was no white Christmas for us this year.

However, we got the next best thing. Days warm enough to shoo the children outside plus wonderful sunshine as we dashed from store to store enjoying those after holiday sales.

However, even when it snows, you won’t catch me on a sled unless I’m unconscious and strapped down. I stay on the sidelines taking the pictures.

Same goes for years like this one with mild winter months when the kids like to ride their bikes and zip along on scooters. Nope, won’t find me risking life and limb.

But after a long day of shopping, you might find me in front of a cozy fire, with a spiked mug of something hot and a good book with a satisfied smile. And of course, sore feet. My mind might begin to wander from the book on my Kindle, I’ll stare at the flames and realize I’m itching to write.

Yes, a break is wonderful, but now that the holidays are almost over, New Years still to go, I can’t help but think about getting back into the groove again.

This crazy Texas weather has just about given me whiplash, the temps going from one extreme to the next week after week. Which got me thinking about the big taboo of using weather in writing.

So how do we it effectively, without getting crucified by an editor that is?

I thought the following article very insightful—

Power Your Fiction: Using Weather To Create Mood, Not Clichés By Angela Ackerman

Look for me on Twitter @jeancogdell and on Facebook at jean.cogdell! And don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Happy Happy Holidays!

Published on December 23, 2015December 17, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

I hope you are enjoying your family, friends

and great food this holiday!

xmas card

See you guys in a few days!

Do you have a good memory trick?

Published on December 22, 2015December 17, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

This is how mine goes at my house.

One night last week as I was drifting off to sleep a rhyme entered my head and refused to leave.

So instead of letting it go I did what any writer and wife would do. I woke my husband.

“Honey, you asleep?”

“Nah, not anymore. Anything wrong?”

“No, need to tell you something.”

Now I had his full attention. He was expecting a big revelation. Much to his surprise it was this little ditty that was running cycles in my head like a kid hyped up on sugar riding a brand new tricycle.

“Thanks for listening.” I said. “Now I won’t forget it. Good night.”

“Night.”

He didn’t think I heard the chuckle in his voice. But I did and I didn’t mind. Because he had listened to my rambling so that I would remember in the morning. Now that’s a good partner. Talking is the only way I can be halfway assured I will remember in the morning. Talking it out helps cement it in my thoughts.

I’m excited to announce I just sent it off to the editor and to the illustrator. Yay! First phase down.

Thanks Honey!

So how about you. Do you have a technique that helps you remember the ideas that pop into your head during the wee hours of the night?

Do tell!

Look for me on Twitter @jeancogdell and on Facebook at jean.cogdell! And don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.