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
Tori RunstromNancy DeBoerJanet Teunis
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.
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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
Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
It’s Tuesday, November 1st in Michigan. My dashboard is showing 64F.
I attended All Saints Day mass at St. Patrick’s in Parnell at 7 a.m. The general store across the street wasn’t even open yet.
But I managed to run into an old friend who was already grumpy.
“Nothing has happened yet,” I said. “You can’t be grumpy.”
“Yes, it has,” he said. “I woke up.”
This was the first day of National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo 50k word challenge. I logged in 1,777 words because I like the number plus it was 100 words more than the required 1,667 daily log-in word count.
For the first time ever, I ate my lunch on the porch in the November sun in West Michigan after I got done writing. I will savor that forever.
The lovely day ushered in a mix of emotions that a new project always carries. I even managed to walk the trail listening to the creek. The creek was bubbling its song undaunted by the fall. I threw a few rocks to listen to the sound of the rock entering the water, and measured the depth by the hollow sound.
Our fifth grandchild Henrik celebrated his first birthday today. I remember last year’s tension about the unknown of NaNo and the new grandbaby. Nothing has changed, the tension is the same.
Some guys are showing off water skiing in November in Michigan. Heck yes, that’s cool.
You rock. Happy birthday, Henrik. Love always.
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Copyright (c) 2022. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved.
The Franciscan Rhythms Trail Run Walk to raise funds for the Music Therapy Program is set for Oct.1 at the Lowell Campus of FLPC.
So what sets this 5K apart from the rest?
Music. There will be seven music stations at the different turning points on the trail. The music works as a motivator to overcome challenges on the trail.
I checked out the trails today at the Franciscan Life Process Center. It was just before it started to rain. Once you cross the wooden bridge the trail winds uphill.
Nature trails at FLCP.
It was very calm and peaceful by the old apple trees and the picnic area overlooking the rolling hills and meadows.
The temperature drop from yesterday’s 80s into the 60s made it feel like fall. The nature trail was well groomed and widened since the last time I went there.
The seasons are marvelous on the trails. The entire trail system encompasses 4 miles or 6.4 km on three different loops.
I met people on the trail at the foot of the hill with retreat yurts which is rather unusual. I noticed that new Sisters have professed their vows in 2021 by the Stations of the Cross.
Please check out my virtual booth at Detroit Bookfest from July 15 through July 17. You can get my Greenwich Meridian Memoir about the Konecny family immigration saga from former Czechoslovakia to the USA by clicking on the link below.
My other books from the Shifting Sands series will also be available in the virtual booth including my newest one The Lost Town set in the ghost town of Singapore, MI.
Also, stay tuned for an upcoming episode about The Lost Town on For the Love of Books Podcast at http://emmapalova123.podbean.com
Lowell author & reporter Emma Palova completed The Lost Town, a third book in the Shifting Sands series on the last day of June.
The historical fiction novel is set in Singapore, MI, a ghost town on the shores of Lake Michigan during the pioneer era of the 1830s.
The Lost Town cover by graphic artist Jeanne Boss of Rockford.
Palova captured the spirit of the once thriving lumbering town in its main characters – beautiful Miss Ida, her boss lumber baron John Bosch, Singapore founder Oshea Wilder and supporting characters, Sir Artemas Wallace and housemaid Mrs. Fisch.
Miss Ida was torn between her hometown of Chicago and her new home Singapore, and between two men. Who will win her heart?
The story unravels as the greedy New York investors set their eyes on the undeveloped land at the Oxbow bend in the Kalamazoo River surrounded by sand dunes with much coveted white pines.
Wily Oshea established the New York & Michigan Co. in 1836 to facilitate the development of Singapore. The investors envisioned that Singapore would rival Chicago and Milwaukee. With its humming mills, boarding houses, hotels, and general stores at the height of its prosperity, Singapore almost outshone Chicago.
The name remains a mystery, as its famous counterpart island city in East Asia was only a fledgling town at the time.
“The mysterious name inspired me to write this novel,” Palova said.
According to one interpretation, the exotic name was used to honor the “singing sands” of the Lake Michigan shore. The shape of the grains and the moisture combine to make the sand sing or squeak when someone walks on it.
Always on the hunt for stories and inspiration, Palova walked into the general store on Butler Street in downtown Saugatuck in the mid- 1990s. She picked up a book about Singapore and checked out the historic marker in front of the Saugatuck Village Hall.
“The story just gripped my imagination and stayed with me throughout the years,” she said. “Then I forgot all about it for decades.”
It wasn’t until getting ready for the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) last November, that Palova realized that what she had planned to write about Singapore would turn into a novel rather than just a short story.
“I wanted to do the fascinating story of Singapore its justice,” she said. “I knew a short story wouldn’t cut it.”
During her research for the novel, Palova came across Singapore’s ‘wildcat bank.’
“I knew this was big,” she said, “bigger than life.”
Singapore had a ‘wildcat bank’ that issued its own ornate bank notes that are still in the collection of the Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society in Douglas.
“I used their online collections catalog exclusively for research,” she said. “It’s an excellent tool for anyone who wants to write about history. Most historical societies in Michigan have online collections.”
The novel covers the entire span of Singapore’s existence from the 1830s to its demise in the 1870s. At one point the town was known as Ellis Island since it accepted immigrants from European countries like Norway and Holland. The town was the first stop for Hollanders before they moved further up north and established Holland. It came before Saugatuck which was smaller and known as Flats.
“I wove nautical stories into the novel because I love the seas,” Palova said. “I wish I was a sailor.”
It was not just a lumbering era, but also a time for steamers, schooners, and tugboats on the Great Lakes. Nautical transportation was just as dangerous as travel by land, and later by rail.
“Sometimes the story evolved all on its own to my surprise like in the chapter ‘Mail fraud at Oxbow’, she said. “I was really surprised at what Ida was capable of doing driven by secret love.”
Other chapters were meticulously planned with research usually showing up later in the novel.
“My previous research didn’t help me much, but the immediate research during the NaNoWriMo challenge helped,” she said. “I can easily say that this novel is a direct product of the challenge.”
During NaNoWriMo, Palova wrote a minimum of 1,750 words daily to reach the victory lane at 50,000 words by the end of November. After that came months of more writing, revisions, and editing.
Carol Briggs of Lowell edited The Lost Town. The whimsical cover was designed by graphic artist Jeanne Boss of Rockford. Beta readers include Nancy Price Stroosnyder and author Diana Kathryn Wolfe-Plopa.
Emma’s ease at mixing actual history into her stories is remarkable, and so entails Miss Ida’s response to an invitation to a soon-to-be bustling “Singapore” on the shores of Lake Michigan. She is transported away from Chicago, family, and friends. She quickly learns the duties expected of her in maintaining a boarding house and warehouse in the rapidly growing community. Soon she falls in love with one of the corrupt founders. The many colorful characters weave a fantastic story of love, mystery, hope, and faith. This is a quick, very worthwhile read!
Palova will be signing her new book at the following locations: Fallasburg Summer Celebration on July 30, Englehardt Library in Lowell TBA, Holland, Aug. 6, and Paradise, Aug. 19-20. Listen in to an upcoming podcast about The Lost Town on http://emmapalova123.podbean.com
The Cover
The cover of The Lost Town was designed by graphic artist Jeanne Boss or Rockford.
I am sitting underneath our octagon pergola covered with wisteria and trumpet vines listening to the Florentine fountain, a gift from mom for one of my birthdays. The first orange trumpet vine cones are falling into the fountain.
I am basking in the simplicity of this unique day that will never repeat itself. A gentle breeze is lifting the foliage ever so lightly. I can feel the lightness of my being after the stress and anxiety of the previous week.
Wearing a pink beach cover up that states, “I need beach” I am far from any beach or a larger body of water. I am listening to the birds chirping in the wisteria and earlier this morning I spotted a red cardinal.
The Frenchies and Ludek left for town to return empties, so I grabbed that moment for myself. I lack nothing; the gardens and the plum trees are watered, we will be grilling thirsty birds this evening an shooting fireworks with the grands.
Upon checking the vegetable patch with Sam, I found out that we’re going to have plenty of cucumbers for pickling and more.
My stillness is elusive in the long run, but right now I am just being. I love watching the nature’s relay, as the blossoms of bloody red weigelas and purple spiraeas wane, the orange of day lilies takes over.
Summers are easy and I celebrate them with my summer books from the Shifting Sands series. They are the culmination of my summer happiness.
authoremmapalova 