All posts by emmapalova

Emma Palova, born in Czech Republic, is an author, a writer, a screenwriter, a journalist, a photographer, a designer and the founder of Emma Blogs, LLC, based in Lowell, Michigan. Currently, she is working on her memoir "Greenwich Meridian" which she intends to turn into a screenplay. Palova started her blog EW Emma's Writings at http://emmaplova.com in support of the publication of her memoir in January, 2013. The blog has grown into a passion and a company that designs blogs for other people under the umbrella of Emma Blogs. Palova is a prolific online publisher open to new ideas and to new horizons. A natural innovator, Palova loves to create progressive brands into the future. Check out her inspirational post "Desert epiphany" and the authors page on About_me and on Facebook. I am looking forward to seeing you around the greater Grand Rapids area and on my blog. I am seeking an agent or a publisher for the memoir that I intend to publish for my mom Ella's 80 birthday on Aug. 23. I celebrated my fourth anniversary on the WordPress publishing platform on Jan. 15th, 2017 with more than 1,000 followers and 500 plus posts. Love always, Emma

National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo Day 10

November 10, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

Likely the last 70-degree day this season, so I got right on it writing in two sessions: in the early morning session, I took a walking break to the Franciscans, then I wrote more for a total of 2,426 in the late morning session. I had to wrap it up after the second break at the Arrowhead Golf Course. My brain refused to function anymore. I stuffed myself with a nut mix and chocolates.

I drove back home through the orchards that always calm me down.

The story is on its way to the first big surprise nearing the top of the first climb on the roller coaster plotting method.

The word total since the challenge started on Nov. 1 is 22,570 words. I wish I could have written more, but the body and the mind are smarter than I am and stopped me.

Today, we’re stilling peaches from Mason Apple Orchards in Belding. Thank you, my friend, Lynn. This is the third stilling run of the season.

To be continued…

author events, Christmas through Lowell, National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo Day 9

November 9, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

Rising moon over the cornfields

It was an awesome writing day split into two sessions. I logged in 3,277 words for a total of more than 20, OOO words. I am working on a sequel to The Lost Town.

Christmas through Lowell

In my other role as a newspaper woman, watch for the upcoming story about Christmas through Lowell featuring vendors and artists in The Lowell Ledger.

I will be on the tour as well inside the Lowell Area Historical Museum in the industrial room with my books from the Shifting Sands Series plus the Konecny Family memoir.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to meet a local author and shop for lovely gifts.

National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo Day 8

November 8, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

It’s a big day today that started off with the total lunar eclipse of the moon known as the bloodied moon. We can see the next one in three years.

The Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse

NaNoWriMo Day 8

I started writing at 8 a.m. and moved the adventure further ahead after flipping back to the beat sheet method. After the lunch break on the trail, I wrote in the afternoon logging in 3,217 words for a total of 16, 867. I wish I could have written more. But it is what it is. Grateful for this productive day.

General Election Nov. 8

Now we’re getting ready to vote at our brand new township hall. And then it’s Taco Tuesday or Mardi Taco; we haven’t decided on a specific joint yet. It seems like all the local restaurants got away with Taco Tuesdays.

Done at 6:22 p.m on a beautiful Tuesday evening. I voted as the 776th voter in the overcrowded Vergennes Township hall. The rewards were excellent at Ripple on the Flat in downtown Lowell. We had Midwest tacos and I had a Cochinita taco with a Hemingway cocktail.

Delicious.

Have you voted yet?

All in a day’s work.

Feature photo: Morning above our tree line.

author events, National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo Day 7 Week 1

November 7, 2022 emmapalova 1 Comment

In the first week of NaNo, Day 7 I logged in a total of 13,650 words. On top of that, I wrote for the Lowell Ledger logging in 1,841 words with stories about Milo’s Consignment, Station Salon Celebrates 10th Anniversary and the Lowell Arts Artist Market. That would put me at 15, 491 more like my buddies. Writing is writing, my buddy Diana says.

Lowell Ledger stories gallery for Nov. 9

Stay tuned for these stories in the upcoming issue of the Lowell Ledger

In the NaNoWriMo 50k word challenge, we met our nemesis on the first climb of the roller coaster plotting method. I am still thinking about switching to the 15-beat sheet method, but on the other hand, I like the tension of the unknown.

Blast from my communist past in former Czechoslovakia

Nov. 7 was another mandatory holiday, when we paraded with lanterns in the streets of Gottwaldov, now Zlin, to celebrate the Soviet holiday of their October revolution known as VRSR.

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia. I will write more about this when I have time.

The October Revolution, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution or (according to the communists themselves) the Great October Socialist Revolution,[2] abbreviated VŘSR or Great October, was the second phase of the Russian Revolution of 1917, following the February Revolution.

Moravian Sons Distillery, National Novel Writing Month

November Sun shines on NaNoWriMo Day 6

November 6, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

It was sunny, in the 60s in November in West Michigan. Unbelievable. I logged in 2, 073 words and moved the story further up the first climb on the roller coaster. We chugged upwards looking for the arch nemeses. We haven’t found them yet. They’re lurking somewhere

The gospel was about Jesus’ major nemeses, the Sadducees. Interesting tricksters they were. Enough to inspire me.

After the morning stretch of NaNo writing, I switched hats to get some bisulphate and cuvet yeast for the apple cider that we hauled in on Friday from our supplier Hill Bros in Sparta.

Go to http://moraviansonsdistillery.com

Mission accomplished. I grabbed my newspaper hat and wrote about Milo’s Kids Consignment & Boutique.

On my way back home, I caught the moon rising. Of course there’s no time for TV. I like it that way.

Good night.

author events, Moravian Sons Distillery, National Novel Writing Month

NaNoWriMo Day 5

November 5, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

The wind picked up in the afternoon blowing leaves and sweeping my gardens, so I skipped the daily walk..

I am definitely a morning writer through and through no question about it. Whatever I don’t get done by 1 p.m. doesn’t get done. Even the characters in my stories know that. They stop cooperating.

I logged in 2,063 words and I am sending the protagonists off into the unknown, not without a fight, both in the story and real worlds.

Now stilling pears

Our son Jake with his family came over to work in our Moravian Sons Distillery. This is our second production season. First, Jake and Ludek had to unload the non-pasteurized apple cider from Hill Bros Cider Mill in Sparta, our major supplier. It was a total of 450 gallons of sweet and tart apple cider that will turn into hard cider.

To read more go to http://moraviansonsdistillery.com

Back to my writing marathon as the uphill roller coaster climb continues. I decided to stick with the roller coaster plotting method for now.

Each day of NaNoWriMo is completely different.

Uncategorized

November podcast episodes

November 4, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

Tune in to these spring and summer episodes during National Novel Writing Month, and keep climbing the NaNo roller coaster to the peak. I moved it up the steep hill with a jerk declaring ‘Singapore is Ours.’

November schedule of For the Love of Books Podcast

Whether you’re a participant or not in the 50k-word challenge, catch up with spring and summer authors, still coming author Chris Stark and NaNoWriMo Halfway.

Nov. 3 Nikki Mitchell, Nightshade Forest

Nov. 10 Mikel Classen, True Tales

Nov. 17 NaNoWriMo 2022 halfway episode with authors Emma Palova, Jean Davis, and Vera West

Nov. 24 Reader of the Year, nominee, Diana Duell

Nov. 30 Kristoffer Gair, The Beautiful Moment

books, bookstores, literature, local author, National Novel Writing Month, Uncategorized

NaNoWriMo Day 4

November 4, 2022 emmapalova 1 Comment

Even though the clouds moved in, we still held onto the upper 60s with rain in the afternoon. The November weather definitely made its mark on the start of NaNoWriMo.

Like on a real roller coaster, I pushed the story forward with a jerk to the ‘Singapore is Ours’ declaration by the protagonists and left it with a new chapter opened. I logged in 2020 words. Again I like the number, but I wish I could have pulled off more.

I am going to flip back to the beat sheet plotting method rather than the roller coaster, which is more like a labyrinth. This morning it led me to these dead-end streets and side streets.

In my other role as a journalist, I am working on a story about a hometown salon celebrating its 10th anniversary. The salon survived the Covid horror and competition from other salons.

You can buy my books locally at Shabby Chicnanigans next to Curtis Cleaners and Bettie’s Pages on Main Street just in time for holiday shopping.

Thanks Michelle.

Shabby Chicnanigans opens next to Curtis Cleaners

book podcasts, Indie authors, writing

Nikki Mitchell’s Nightshade Forest

November 3, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-9b6zq-1304f67

In case you missed this summer episode with author Nikki Mitchell about her Nightshade Forest release.

Enjoy.

daily writing, National Novel Writing Month

Day 3 NaNoWriMo 50k challenge

November 3, 2022 emmapalova Leave a comment

Roller coaster plotting method

It’s day three of National Novel Writing Month and the temperatures steadily hold in the upper 60s, even reaching 71 in the afternoon in West Michigan.

I wrote happily this morning 1,708 words not banking any extras for rainy days aka holidays. I have introduced the inciting incident into the story which made my heart beat faster.

Inciting incident

Exactly as depicted in the roller coaster plotting method. With sweaty palms and a racing heart, I stopped before the steep climb and went for a walk to alleviate the pressure of excitement.

There is something about the roller coaster plotting method that keeps you on the edge, just like on the real ride. You hold your breath and wait for what happens next.

Last year I used the beat sheet method. But I’ve learned both from my podcast author guests and from meditations that change pushes you forward. It was the jerk I needed as I reverted back to my most productive time, morning writing, and afternoon reporting.

I inserted a long break in between so it doesn’t feel like I am working all the time. The afternoon visit to the Lowell Arts Gallery was a sheer pleasure. Janet Teunis made it easy. I felt like back at home with the other artists setting up.

The sun is setting now so I should head back.

More tomorrow.