A to Z II - S is for Sniper

It's Monday! Which means we are back at it with my personal A to Z challenge. We are kicking off this week and this day with the letter s. S is for sniper.

What else were you expecting?


Yes, we know Joe is a sniper.

He was a sniper in the Marines before he was a sniper with Detroit SWAT.

Joe's father was a sniper.

It's in his blood, in his DNA.

He has the eyesight and patience that very few people have.

Call it a gift.

Call it a curse.

It is simply Joe's destiny.

A to Z Challenge S is for Sadness

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

It's time for another A to Z Challenge! This year, I want to tell you about a story that is currently a WIP (work in progress). It's the story I'm writing in honor of my baby lovebird, Robert. It's a fantasy story, but it's really a story about emotional healing. So let's examine it by going through the alphabet!

Today we're going to take a deeper look at s, which is for sadness.

No one likes to talk about sadness. Many people are awkward and uncomfortable around people who are sad. So, why on Earth would I dedicate a blog post to sadness?

Because none of this would be here if not for Robert's passing.

We have to be honest about things, and this is my truth. This story originated from a place of deep grief. I wanted something to hold onto that was Robert, or would at least remind me of him. I couldn't let go. I needed to have him in my life in some capacity. So that capacity became this fictitious story.

Just as dreary, rainy days provide the necessary water for flowers to blossom, so did my tears water the seeds that made this story bloom.

Much beauty can arise from sadness.

Come back tomorrow for this week's final letter, t.

2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 19 (S)

For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

19 days in means that S is our letter today. S is for softly, or softness.

Pianissimo means, "to be played softly."

How does that apply to the story?

It relates in a few ways, actually.

First off, there is the softness, the tenderness, and the love between Agnes and Margaret. And that softness needed to be played softly due to social stigmas of that era. They couldn't be out and proud, like so many of us are able to be nowadays. Instead, they needed to downplay their love and affection. They needed to be quiet and secretive. Their love song needed to be played softly, so to speak.

Even Corinne's story was played out softly. So much of her story is kept in the silence of her solitude. She had no audience but her own mind (and Millie and Mollie, of course). Her experiences are quiet, heard only in her mind. Rich comes along later, but her self-discovery is still a quiet concert for one.

Corinne's greatest realization of Agnes and Margaret's humanity is the apex of the story, and yet it is played so quietly. It is an epiphany that she shares with no one. There is no giant, "lighting bolt" moment. It's just a thought that gently and quietly washes over her.

There are more ways - several - that softly or softness applies to the story of Pianissimo, but I don't want to give it all away! Just remember that some of life's greatest moments aren't big and loud, but gentle, sweet, and soft.

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

A to Z '14 - Selflessness

For this year's A to Z Challenge, I am honoring my grandfather who passed away on April 3, 2013.


S is for Selflessness.


My grandfather was a very selfless man. He always gave and did for others.


His mother was a very hard working, selfless woman. At a young age, he learned the value of selflessness and generosity.


Working his way through life, he gave back to his mother. He gave to everyone in the family. He gave to multiple charities. He gave to anyone he encountered that was in need of help.


Mind you, he was anything but a doormat. There is a huge difference between selflessness and people pleasing. He clearly set boundaries which people respected. And he gave what he could: time, money, energy, effort. He was very respected for it and very much appreciated for it.



Sadly, we live in a world where selflessness is a dying attribute. Most people nowadays only live for themselves. Is it any wonder the divorce rate is as high as it is? Can we really be surprised by the hatred and killing in our society today when we glorify selfishness in the media today?


We need to return to our humanity. To give - even just a little - in order to help someone else. It doesn't take a tremendous amount of money or some huge event to be able to change someone's life. Just do the best you can with what you have. You'll be amazed to learn that the life changed is your own.


S is for selflessness.

S: Silliness

Play and silliness are as key to creativity as paint brushes.



Without a care-free attitude, our art loses its heart. Art is mean to be enjoyed. We must approach our art with light-heartedness and a willingness to laugh and play.



The Artist's Way and several of my fellow writers/creatives/artists all talk about how key play is. In fact, I met one of my dearest writing friends through a course she taught on playing with your writing.


Children are always happy to create. They want to draw or paint or color of do whatever. They just want to make stuff. They have no inhibitions, no fear. Children are silly when it comes to creativity. Who else but an imaginitive 5 year old would make blue playdough french fries?


Do see what I'm getting at? Have fun! Create! Play! Art was never meant to be serious or even solemn. Art and fun are both three letter words and they are, indeed, synonymous.

So go out there and create! Don't forget to have fun while you're doing so!