The Ghostest with The Mostest

She's surely not a ghost. In fact she's as alive as she can be. But something strange happens when she purses her lips -the spirits come calling. And she answers. Big time.If you don't know her by now...well then you might want to peek out from under that rock. TLC's Theresa Caputo, also known as The Long Island Medium, has hit the airwaves with such a splash I'm literally still mopping up the floors around here. She's a home-grown hit. A psychic sensation. And it isn't much of a stretch to say that we're practically neighbors - as she hails from Hicksville, NY and this little ole' blogger lives just two shakes from there.

I recently had the pleasure of spending an afternoon at a local event where Ms. Caputo was appearing. In her lovely, lively manner she filled two hours reuniting families with their dearly departed. I make no bones about the fact that I'm a believer. The nay-sayers can nay all they want to. I've experienced this gift first-hand and I know. It's like air. You can't see it, but you know it exists. It's about faith. About trusting that there's more to this life than just what we can touch and taste, smell and hear. To witness Ms. Caputo in action is really a thing of beauty. She bridges the deep emotional divide left behind when our loved ones are called home. And as if that isn't enough - she's funny as hell. As a writer, I'm always on the lookout for a fresh source of inspiration. Watching these stories of love that has been lost and found again if only for a moment, brings that and more. It's refreshing entertainment with a side order of Kleenex. I'm "hooked."
Uh...pardon the pun ;)

PS - Here is a photo of the handsome and kind, Mr. Larry Caputo, with my mother, who has now decided that tattoos are very sexy...

Making Up is Hard To Do

I ran into an old friend at the dairy-mart the other day. We caught up in that way you do when you try cramming ten years of living into a fifteen minute window - covering the typical mini-topics: marriage, divorce, kids, school, work and the weather. "So you write fiction?" she said, only half a question. I heard her turning it over in her mind. And I knew what she was thinking. Loosely translated, what she meant to say was,
"So you earn a living making things up?"
Well, technically speaking - yes. And no.
Fiction is the land of make believe. This no writer can deny. But it's grounded in reality, in the life experiences of ourselves and others, seasoned with a generous portion of creative license. You have to be well-organized to be a fiction writer. Note cards help. It can be tough to keep the facts straight when they aren't actually facts. The trick is to convince yourself that your story isn't make believe at all. It's as real as pretend can ever be. Even if you're writing fantasy, dystopian, vampires and/or zombies. If your goal is to have your reader become fully engaged... then they're all real. Easy, right? Not so much. My dear old friend went on,
"Aren't all the original ideas already taken?"
Well, technically speaking - yes and no. I mean, sure its been said that there are only seven basic story plots in literature. But every writer worth his salt will take one of those plot lines and twist the beejeezus out of it until it smacks of originality. Easy right?
Not so much. Yet it's this challenge that drives us, that keeps the whole ball of wax stuck together. Like any good modern relationship - it's a love-hate thing. Like breaking up and making up. It's a living.

PS - Congrats to our two latest winners - Michael and Mary who received e-copies of WISHLESS. Please, please stick around. More contests are just around the bend.