Sometime ago I fell in love with Russian authors like Dostoyevsky, Turgenev, and  Gorky and read several of their novels. There was a deep quality to them that I had not found in American authors. Perhaps it has something to do with the hardships that they endured daily (read Gorky's three book autobiography: My Childhood, My Apprenticeship, and My Universities) living in the oppression and poverty that is found in Russia, particularly in Dostoyevsky's time in the 1800's.  Maybe this is what is needed, to feel the pain of hunger and longing for any quality of life, to get to the core of our hearts and souls and allow that ache to show in our writing. True pain, not from a toothache or a bad cold, but from too many nights going to bed cold and hungry.

Another fun read by Roald Dahl, The Witches, although similar in plot to The BFG, stands on its own with its own surprises and story twists.

The main character, a boy who lives with this grandmamma, is told many stories about witches and their evil deeds, particularly concerning children. It seems that witches are not only not fond of children but are trying to get rid of all of them, one child at a time.

Inspiration, that is what we are all looking for when we sit at our desk or computer to write a story. I remember reading somewhere that J.K. Rowling got her inspiration for the character of Harry Potter when she was on a train and a boy in a cape walked down the aisle towards her. It seems we just need a tidbit and the imagination steps in and says, "I've got this."

Personally, many of my characters have come out of my past from people I have known either through work or some other encounter. If the personality is strong enough to leave an impression on me, they just might end up in one of my stories. For a new collection of short stories that I'm writing I dug way back into my past. There was one or two incidents that stuck out for me with each of the characters and from there I developed a story. So, besides a character I need to have a little bit of information about them that in some way, whether negatively or positively, inspires me.

Another free book from our swap shop, I'm always thrilled when I see an author's name that I recognize, particularly one as well-known as Roald Dahl.

As I started reading this little gem, I had to laugh. Full of life's lessons and words of wisdom, sometimes it is so obvious that although it is a book for kids, and I'm sure they would enjoy the book, it is also a book for adults. It reminds me of many of the animation movies that Jim and I enjoy so much. There are so many references that only an adult would get. But it is also an enjoyable movie for kids.

For many years now, I have written out my goals for the new year. I don't refer to them as 'resolutions', I refer to them as goals since they are actually chores or activities or accomplishments I definitely want to do. My list is long; it seems to grow longer each year! But it is full of all the wonderful things I still want to do in my life. Of course, a lot of them revolve around writing and still a few around painting. And then there is the 'self-improvement' category and also the house-projects, etc.

It seems that resolutions are made to be broken. It is almost a standing joke with people and many will talk about resolutions that they made at the beginning of the year but by February they are long forgotten and now they can laugh about it. Of course, this is when there is a surge of sales where people buy treadmills and other workout machines that soon become a place where they throw their clothes when getting ready for bed.