writer

The Writer¡Çs Idea Book
$14.99
A book I frequently turn to for inspiration is The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron, How to develop great ideas for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and screenplays.)
This 255-page book really delivers what it promises. You can open it to almost any page and find inspiration, an idea to jumpstart your writing or to energize a project you are working on.
He extols the "writer's high" (or artist's high)--the elation which all creative people feel when they are caught up in their work and the rest of the world fades out, and he suggests effective ways to unleash that flow, ways to overcome the obstacles that impede us, prompts to spur creativity.
He offers strategies to defeat the procrastinator, the victim, the talker, the critic, and other internal enemies of the artist. He equates writing with the life of the spirit and suggests ways to get in touch with your spiritual side, to examine and use the spiritual experiences that have enhanced your life
Most of all, he offers an endless number and variety of prompts, creative suggestions to get you thinking, seeing the world from a fresh perspective, and writing, writing, writing.

Writer
$6.99
Music can attach itself to a specific period in our lives. I was a freshman in college in Normal, Illinois with parents living in Asia. I entered school not knowing anyone. I rented a record player and music was my first companion. I recall going to the record store & having to order this album because the owner had never heard of Carole King. That was to change forever with the release of her next album Tapestry. I've picked up the CD because they don't make cars with turntables! Many lovely pieces of music this CD contains!

As I listen to this set, the thing that impresses me is how musically adventurous Carole's first set is. "To Love" is a beautiful song, albeit not one for which this set is usually remembered. Carole incorporates country elements as she sings, "There are those of us too cool for passion, We're the ones that it could do some good. And there are those who say it's out of fashion, they're the ones who only wish they could." Interestingly, Kim Carnes & Ian Matthews recorded the track, but there never was a hit country version as far as I know. Similarly, "Raspberry Jam" is not usually the song for which this set is recalled, yet Carole experiments with a jazz fusion such as her friends Danny Kortchmar & Abigale Haness who perform on "Writer" did in their cult classic of the same year Jo Mama. The interplay of guitars & piano and the breezy harmonies make it a lovely jazz track in the midst of this pop album, "It's time to begin again!" "Although you see the world different than me, sometimes I can touch upon the wonders that you see; All the new colors and pictures you've designed; Oh yes, sweet darlin', so glad you are a child of mine" Carole sings on "Child of Mine," one of the most beautiful songs about the joy of being a parent. "Goin' Back" is a tremendous song for its simple wisdom, lovely melody and Carole's lovely vocal expression, "Thinking young and growing older is no sin & I can play the game of life to win." Many including Freddie Mercury, The Pretenders and The Byrds have sung the song. There is a sweet version by Goldie on the compilation CD Goin' Back - Songs of Goffin and King. "Eventually" marries a lovely melody to another thoughtful lyric, "Love was a slogan coincidentally; and they told us they would work it out eventually." The set concludes with Carole's version of "Up On the Roof." "Writer" will always rest in the shadow of "Tapestry," but what a large place that is! It is well worth exploring and discovering nearly 40 years later. Bravo!

Hemingway & Bailey's Bartending Guide to Great American Writers
$15.95
It might be said that behind every great author there is a great bottle. My guess is that in most cases the bottle is empty. This little book takes a look at how great american writers have produced so many empty bottles.

For each author you will find: a drinking story, a drink recipe, and a paragraph or two from a representative work. The stories are fun. The drink recipes are spot on, simple and well done. I've mixed several and never had a complaint.

I have about 10 of these sitting on top of the wine rack in the dining room. It's nice to hand one out to someone who's drinkin' what you're mixin'.

A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You
$5.99
Great little book with helpful information for writers and wannabe writers. How to help your creative side flourish.