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Catherine Castle

~ Romance for the Ages

Catherine Castle

Tag Archives: short stories Forget the Mess It’s Time for a Story

Musings from a Writer’s Brain–He Wants His Cut by Donna DeLoretto Brennan

19 Monday Aug 2019

Posted by Catherine Castle in essay, Musings from a Writer's Brain

≈ 1 Comment

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Catherine Castle Musings from a Writer's brain, Donna DeLoretto Brennan, short stories Forget the Mess It's Time for a Story, women's fiction


He Wants His Cut

by Donna DeLoretto Brennan

As a mom, I love to hear the thoughts that pop in my kids’ minds and tumble out their mouths. As a writer, I love to share some of those sentiments and words with others.

For example, twelve years ago, our family flew to Salt Lake City for my niece’s wedding. My youngest three kids had never flown before and were especially excited. As the plane ascended into the sky, six-year-old Tim stared mesmerized out the window watching the buildings and other planes on the tarmac getting smaller and smaller until they disappeared. That soon appeared to be forgotten as he and his siblings played inflight games, gabbed with each other, and found other ways to keep themselves entertained.

More than five hours later, as our plane began to descend, Tim’s nose was again glued to the widow. He saw the buildings and planes on the ground getting bigger and bigger, and exclaimed, “What? All this time and we’re right back here?”

This made me smile, and I patiently explained that many airports look the same from the sky; this was indeed a different airport.

A couple of years later, a parenting magazine I subscribed to was looking for funny vacation stories (in 50 words or less). I wrote about Tim’s comment and sent it off to the editors. To my delight, they bought the short piece and paid me twenty-five dollars for it.

That night, I proudly shared my news with my family at dinner.

Eight-year-old Tim asked, “How much do I get?”

“What?”

“You said they paid you twenty-five dollars. How much do I get?”

I tried to explain to him that that’s not the way it works. I wrote it. I sent in the story. I got paid.

His response? “But I said it. How much do I get?”

I sighed. Humor with a twinge of sarcasm is almost a second language in our house. I told him, “You’re eating dinner right now, aren’t you? That’s what you get.”

He didn’t like my answer, but he dropped the subject—for a while. That conversation took place almost ten years ago, yet every now and then he’ll bring it up. He tells me he’s still waiting for his cut.

Admittedly, I was tempted, all those years ago, to give him a few dollars to make him happy. But since so much of what I was writing at the time was based on interactions with my family, I figured I couldn’t afford to pay my kids every time they thought I got my idea from them. Especially since they seem to think everything I write is about them, even when it isn’t.

For instance, in one of my books the kids play soccer. All three of my boys played soccer from elementary school through high school. So my book must be about them. And one of my main characters in that same book is named Elizabeth. But that’s my daughter’s middle name. So it must be about her. And so on and so on.

I try to explain that most writers write from their experiences. I was a soccer mom; my main character is a soccer mom. And I like the name Elizabeth—that’s why I used it for my character and why it’s my daughter’s middle name. It really isn’t about them at all.

Yet now here I am, writing about my kids and what they’ve actually said or done. But I’m not getting paid for this post, so maybe I’ll make an exception this time and agree to split my earnings with them.

 

About the Author:

Donna DeLoretto Brennan was a technical writer for over ten years before becoming a computer programmer. Since leaving the corporate world after her twins were born, she’s had short stories, interviews, and nonfiction articles published online and in print magazines. She’s speaks at writing conferences and other events.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group (GLVWG). She’s served in various capacities on the GLVWG board, including several terms as Conference Chair. She’s always looking for opportunities to encourage others and to share what she’s learned.

Donna’s website is http://www.degunkinglife.com/.

Forget the Mess—It’s time for a Story!

by Donna DeLoretto Brennan

Forget the MessWhen life starts to fill with mindless chores and endless to-do lists, take a mini-break to relax and reenergize. This book contains six stories to help you forget about the dishes that need to be washed or the laundry that needs to be put away. Forget the mess for now, and enjoy a story. The mess will still be there, waiting for you, when the story is finished.

  • My Good Son – The son she remembers is missing; and who is this man calling her “Ma”?
  • Pretense – Sister-relationships can be complicated, especially if you’re afraid to tell the truth.
  • Another Day – Clara looks for a way—and a reason—to keep going.
  • Spectator – When watching other people’s lives is more interesting than living your own, maybe you need to take some action.
  • Taking Care of His Wife – Brad promised to take care of Megan forever—but he never said exactly how he would do that.
  • Love Your Frenimies – When Jesus said to love your neighbor, he couldn’t have meant Gina’s neighbor, Anna.

 

Forget the Mess—It’s Time for a Story is available in paperback form at Amazon. A kindle version will be available soon.

 

 

Wednesday Writers–Forget the Mess–It’s Time for a Story with Donna DeLoretta Brennan

17 Wednesday Jul 2019

Posted by Catherine Castle in Book excerpts, Wednesday Writers

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

book excerpt, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Donna DeLoretta Brennan, short stories Forget the Mess It's Time for a Story, women's fiction

 

 

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is Donna DeLoretto Brennan. She’ll be talking about one of my biggest issues and the jumping off point for her contemporary women’s fiction book Forget the Mess—It’s time for a Story! There’s also an excerpt. Welcome, Donna!

 

Confessions of a Procrastinator

By Donna DeLoretto Brennan

I often get overwhelmed with all the things I have to do as a wife, mother, author, and procrastinator.

It’s like a speeding merry-go-round that I can’t step off of. When I’m overwhelmed it’s easier to procrastinate; when I procrastinate for long periods, the other stuff piles up and becomes even more overwhelming.

For example, the lunch dishes need to be washed and I have to edit the next chapter of my novel; but I’m hitting a slump. So I take a break to do something a little more enjoyable—but it has to be something I can convince myself has a beneficial purpose. Facebook, I reason, is just such a thing. It helps me reconnect with old friends and maintain contact with new friends.

But Facebook can be like a black hole. You go on it for twenty minutes and when you look at the clock four hours have gone by. And now it’s time to make dinner, but first I have to empty the sink and I forgot to defrost the roast I wanted to cook, so I need to find something else fast. And that next chapter of my novel goes unedited today.

My solution is to “procrastinate in bursts”. Alexia is my friend in this endeavor. When I go on Facebook, I say, “Alexia, set a timer for thirty minutes.” Then, when thirty minutes have passed, she chimes at me. And, hopefully, I log off Facebook and start being productive again.

Reading a good book is another type of break I’ll allow myself. Usually, at the beginning of a book I can put it down after a chapter or two and get back on task. (Returning to it later, of course.) But sometimes, especially near the end, the book is hard to put down. All those hooks at the end of each chapter and the tension and pacing—I love the book and the world it transports me to, but the stuff in the real world that I have to do keeps mounting up while I’m away.

One solution is to read short stories or articles in magazines. It doesn’t take as long, and it’s easy to put down (for now) and finish later. And the short break does help me to relax from the overwhelm and get back on track.

That’s the idea behind my collection of short stories. Each story is intended to take you away from your current stress and worries, but they’re short, so you aren’t gone that long. You can either read another story right away, or put it down and pick it up later when you need another break.

Forget the Mess—It’s time for a Story!

Genre: Women’s contemporary fiction

When life starts to fill with mindless chores and endless to-do lists, take a mini-break to relax and reenergize. This book contains six stories to help you forget about the dishes that need to be washed or the laundry that needs to be put away. Forget the mess for now, and enjoy a story. The mess will still be there, waiting for you, when the story is finished.

  • My Good Son – The son she remembers is missing; and who is this man calling her “Ma”?
  • Pretense – Sister-relationships can be complicated, especially if you’re afraid to tell the truth.
  • Another Day – Clara looks for a way—and a reason—to keep going.
  • Spectator – When watching other people’s lives is more interesting than living your own, maybe you need to take some action.
  • Taking Care of His Wife – Brad promised to take care of Megan forever—but he never said exactly how he would do that.
  • Love Your Frenimies – When Jesus said to love your neighbor, he couldn’t have meant Gina’s neighbor, Anna.

 

Excerpt from Love your Frenemies, the last short story in the collection:

Finally, after almost an hour of fussing and whimpering, Ella is sound asleep and I can lie her down in the playpen for her nap. I take a moment to wonder at her small figure lying there so peacefully and content, her tiny lips curved into a soft smile that melts my mommy-heart and makes me forget the screaming fusspot she was less than thirty minutes ago.

I glance at the clock. Oh, no! It’s three-fifteen.

I rush to the side door to bring Fritz in before the neighbor kid, Peter Jacob, starts tormenting my dog into a frenzy. Just as I reach for the doorknob I hear that little Yorkie barking his head off outside. Before I have the door fully open, Ella’s screams cause my shoulders to tense and my temper to flare. I see little Peter Jacob scurrying away from the chain-link fence. He glances over his shoulder and we make eye contact. I am certain that’s a smirk on the little bugger’s face.

“Peter Jacob, what did I tell you about agitating Fritz?”

He doesn’t respond. He just hurries his chubby little legs up his driveway to his front door. He pulls open the screen and hollers, “Hey, Mom! I’m Home.”

The door slams behind him.

Fritz is still yapping away, and Ella is exercising her lungs at full volume. Just another day in the neighborhood.

Want to read more? Forget the Mess—It’s Time for a Story is available in paperback form at Amazon. A kindle version will be available soon.

 

About the Author:

Donna DeLoretto Brennan was a technical writer for over ten years before becoming a computer programmer. Since leaving the corporate world after her twins were born, she’s had short stories, interviews, and nonfiction articles published online and in print magazines. She’s speaks at writing conferences and other events.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group (GLVWG). She’s served in various capacities on the GLVWG board, including several terms as Conference Chair. She’s always looking for opportunities to encourage others and to share what she’s learned.

Donna’s website is http://www.degunkinglife.com/.

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