Author: Ramona DeFelice Long

The Journal Junkie

by Ramona DeFelice Long

Yesterday I bought a journal. This is not newsworthy. I buy journals all the time. Like many writers, I am an office supply junkie. Next to sticky-notes, journals are my office supply Achilles heel.

I own many journals of many shapes and sizes. I have handsome leather journals, flashy faux gold leaf journals, nature-themed journals, journals from museum gift shops. Some of my journals are covered in drawings of hydrangeas or geometric designs; some are wire-bound and would be perfect for a school child. A couple of journals are lined with writing quotes. Another gives a line of advice on how to lead a good life. Continue reading “The Journal Junkie” →

How To Be a Next Big Thing

by Ramona DeFelice Long

~Special thanks to Edith Maxwell for the invitation to participate in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. A quick trip to Edith’s blog will show you how she came to write her Local Foods Mystery series. Edith’s alternate writing persona is Tace Baker, whose mystery Speaking of Murder  features a Quaker linguistics professor solving a murder in small-town Massachusetts.~

The Next Big Thing is a Q&A for women writers. To do the Next Big Thing, a writer answers 10 questions about their current work and then tags a few other authors who will share the status of their own WIPS. My answers are below, with writer friend links to follow: Continue reading “How To Be a Next Big Thing” →

Over Here*

by Ramona DeFelice Long

November 11 is Veterans Day–known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other countries. November 11 has been celebrated since 1918 to commemorate the Armistice that brought an end to the War to End All Wars. Continue reading “Over Here*” →

Kick-Starting Your Writing in November, A Guest Post by Gigi Pandian

by Ramona DeFelice Long

Note: November is a month for giving thanks. I have been the fortunate recipient of of writing grants and fellowships, and for this, I am grateful. Today, I am happy to welcome another writing grant recipient, Gigi Pandian, as she discusses what can make a writer thankful in November. 

KICK-STARTING YOUR WRITING IN NOVEMBER

by Gigi Pandian

The month of November is a great month for writers—especially mystery writers. Continue reading “Kick-Starting Your Writing in November, A Guest Post by Gigi Pandian” →

How To DIY a Dedicated Writing Month

by Ramona DeFelice Long

What is DIY?

DIY = Do It Yourself

What is a Dedicated Writing Month?

A Dedicated Writing Month is one designated and devoted to producing a lot of words in a short amount of time, such as one month.

Unless you are a writer living in a cave under the sea or on a celestial body without Internet access, you know today is the first day of NaNo, which is short for NaNoWriMo, which is short for National Novel Writing Month. Continue reading “How To DIY a Dedicated Writing Month” →

A Person of Value*

by Ramona DeFelice Long

A couple of years ago, at our annual neighborhood holiday party, I reached across the crab dip and said hello to my down-the-street neighbor Max.

“Max!” I said. “I never see you and Rhonda anymore. How are you enjoying retirement?”

Max shoved a cracker into his mouth, chewed, swallowed, and then frowned at me.

“Who are you?” he said. Continue reading “A Person of Value*” →

The Walking Friend

by Ramona DeFelice Long

Last week, my Walking Friend and I went walking. Walking is a vital part of the agenda when you call yourselves walking friends.

Walking Friend and I live across the street from one another. Sometimes we do a short run (45 minutes around the neighborhood) and sometimes a long haul (3 miles, with hills). We jabber away while we walk because we are friends and because walking while talking burns more calories. Walking and talking are two of my favorite activities. Walking and talking while eating a chocolate croissant would be my triple crown of favorite activities.

A few walks ago, I told Walking Friend a story about a woman named Diane. Continue reading “The Walking Friend” →

Let’s Talk about Take Aways

by Ramona DeFelice Long

The past couple of weeks, folks in my writing world have been on the go, go, go.

I went away to Cape Henlopen State Park for a poetry & prose writers retreat. Mystery writing friends went to a “police academy” for writers, and the city of Cleveland was overrun with crime authors for the Bouchercon conference.  More pals from the great state of Texas met for a weekend and, according to one source, met in a place called the Stagecoach Inn to solve the world’s problem. Oh, and write a bit, too, of course.

Continue reading “Let’s Talk about Take Aways” →

Retreat Report

by Ramona DeFelice Long

I spent the past few days at the Cape Henlopen Poets & Writers Retreat, a four-day immersion retreat sponsored by the Delaware Division of the Arts. We stayed in the lovely Cape Henlopen State Park, and housed in the Biden Center, a former naval training center now renovated and open for groups and events.

An immersion retreat is one that focuses on the creative expression of your choice. We were all literary artists: 8 poets, 8 prose writers. Continue reading “Retreat Report” →

Another Day, Another Theme

by Ramona DeFelice Long

Yes, I changed my look again.

A few weeks ago I went on a tour of the Amstel House in New Castle, Delaware. This is an historic home in the historic town where William Penn first landed in America. Our tour guide shared with us various tidbits from the home’s history. Most notably, George Washington once honored the owners, the Van Dyke family, by attending a wedding in the parlor. According to the guide, General Washington stood by the fireplace and “kissed all of the pretty girls, as was his wont.” And then he enjoyed an evening of dancing.

GW, what a party animal. Continue reading “Another Day, Another Theme” →