When I Was Elena

I went to a lecture hosted by Willamette Writers to hear one of their guest speakers at the Old Church in Portland, Oregon. I wanted to hear Elena Urbani-Hiltebrand talk about her Memoir When I Was Elana.

She was a brave girl even at 22. The year was 1991, when she left college to go in the Peace corps and spend two years in rural Guatemala, armed only with her dog, and a fluency in Spanish, she managed to make a difference in the world--something so many of us would love to do but rarely have the courage to do. She saved children in her village by hiding them when army troops came to steal them away from their families. It was a rough time when children were taken and forced to join fighting units of revolutionary guerrillas.

She spoke of her time in Guatemala and why she wanted to write the story of the women she met while she was there. She also talked about her writing process and why she chose to write in multiple voices.

I thought she was fascinating and an inspirational young woman.

Answer to Word for Wednesday

Word: Nefarious means vile, atrocious, extremely wicked, villainous.

If you want to read more about it, check it out here.

Word for Wednesday - a game for Writers

Word: Nefarious

Put your guess in "comments" and then come back around 3:00 p.m. and see if you were right.

Tune for Tuesday - Sleepyhead

Transformations

Where Did the Time Go
Wasn't it just Christmas? Somehow the time slipped by in the flash of an eyelash.

Now, Valentine's Day is just around the corner and the time has come to change out my decorations.

The transformation has begun

How 'bout you - are you ready for the next wave of holidays - Valentine's and St. Paddy's?

Writing is a Lot Like Running

It's true. Both can be a lot of hard work or a lot of fun. It just depends on your perspective.

Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part and it can feel a little intimidating.

How do I begin?
Where do I begin?
How do I prepare?

There are so many questions, one might even be "who do I ask?"

You have to set goals and start out easy or you might get overwhelmed.

I know from experience--at least when it comes to running. I used to be a "runner". I know, most people wouldn't believe that from looking at me now. But back before I had kids, I used to run at least two miles a day, 3 to 4 times a week. Then I had kids and my entire world changed. Their goals became my goals.

Well, now the kids are grown and it's time to get back to a few of my own goals: one is running and one is writing.

Currently I just started training for the Shamrock run here in Portland, which benefits Doernbecher Children's Hospital. And, I'm also trying to get a manuscript published. Both take a lot of focus, concentration and commitment--plus, a lot of hard work. But, as I reach each goal, I have a sense of satisfaction.

And, I may never win a marathon but at least I'll complete one. And, my manuscripts will be finished. There's joy in the journey--we just need to remember that.

The Men Who Stare at Goats

By Jon Ronson

I'm reading this true story about the U.S. Military Government and secret service special operations. This isn't the usual type of book I would choose to read but I have a B.S. in psychology and a friend thought I would be interested. The title was enough to make me lose interest but when she recommended it, well, I had to give it a chance.

I think it's fascinating - in a very Area 57 type of way. I'm not all the way through it yet. But I think it is very interesting. It's been made into a movie - and I'm thinking about watching that but I think it might be hard to take this book into the silver screen mode. Anyone seen the movie-with George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and the Goat, someone must have seen it...?

Are there any books you've read that you didn't think you'd like - but did?