07 Tuesday May 2013
Posted in Blog
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18 Monday Mar 2013
Posted in Blog
What a relief, to be not as far behind as I thought. It’s just March and a few days away from Spring, despite the frigid outdoor temps to the contrary. For the most part (Winter) I’ve stayed indoors nursing my foot. This time it was a sliver of glass that got it infected, then later, bursitis. I didn’t think the perils of age 60 would come all at once but would sneak up on me gradually.
No doubt in a writer’s life challenges come in all shapes and sizes. You have to decide whether you’re going to write the experiences on little index cards for future use or just ride it out like a badly written scenario from ‘Valley of the Dolls’ and hope booze and vicodin will be there to help you through it all. I did the later along with my other guilty pleasure, hot bubble baths with salts, and the Jack Daniels at my side. I have to think that including this in my blog will make it a legitimate experience.
Lowering blood sugar is a daily battle, aspartame is not good for you, neither is pasta, meat, and processed foods. They all threaten to do me in one fine day probably just as I relent and have that cheesecake I so desire. I have got to get a handle on becoming a vegetarian. I have a busy week ahead but as god is my witness I WILL make it to the gym this week. I’ve been given a rather cautious warning though about the steam room.
Watched a couple of documentaries this weekend on FOOD ….grim stuff but I think its time I got my health together. I’ve been told by several of my ‘supporters’ that losing me would be a personal tragedy. I care enough about those who love me to take heed. After all I haven’t written my major opus as yet…speaking of…my publishing company is dropping a few hints here and there that I might want to work on longer stories with less sex, totally up to me. I can barely eke out a few paragraphs as it is lately and now I’ve got to mess around with another change of formula? Don’t get me wrong. My editors love me and what I currently write and how I write it. Since ’50 Shades of Grey” however, there’s been a call to arms and tumbling sales have put us all on notice.
I HAVE been working on that longer, slightly less sexual short story but I rewrite much of it almost every time I sit down at my desk. I write short stories because my attention span is a tad short. I write sex because it sells and it’s one of the few topics I can totally get behind!
In an attempt to cut distractions and possibly save a few bucks, I now have TIVO and NO premium TV channels and just FIOS internet. And, I’ve switched to a smaller phone and let my iPad mini pick up the heavy work. It’s my way of cleaning house so I can think clearer and deliver what I think my readers want from me without doing a total 180.
My dear Max, my cat, is giving me a run for the money. So glad I just got one. Of course some days he makes me forget about my foot as I go pursuing him around the house. His idea of tough love I imagine.
See you next time. Please visit my guest page with your comments and ideas.
Cain Berlinger
P.S. These are the children of Christmas Island, taken on Polynesian trip Dec 2011-Jan 12
www.cainberlingerbooks.com
Cains Books and Blog
18 Monday Mar 2013
Posted in Blog
What a relief, to be not as far behind as I thought. It’s just March and a few days away from Spring, despite the frigid outdoor temps to the contrary. For the most part (Winter) I’ve stayed indoors nursing my foot. This time it was a sliver of glass that got it infected, then later, bursitis. I didn’t think the perils of age 60 would come all at once but would sneak up on me gradually.
No doubt in a writer’s life challenges come in all shapes and sizes. You have to decide whether you’re going to write the experiences on little index cards for future use or just ride it out like a badly written scenario from ‘Valley of the Dolls’ and hope booze and vicodin will be there to help you through it all. I did the later along with my other guilty pleasure, hot bubble baths with salts, and the Jack Daniels at my side. I have to think that including this in my blog will make it a legitimate experience.
Lowering blood sugar is a daily battle, aspartame is not good for you, neither is pasta, meat, and processed foods. They all threaten to do me in one fine day probably just as I relent and have that cheesecake I so desire. I have got to get a handle on becoming a vegetarian. I have a busy week ahead but as god is my witness I WILL make it to the gym this week. I’ve been given a rather cautious warning though about the steam room.
Watched a couple of documentaries this weekend on FOOD ….grim stuff but I think its time I got my health together. I’ve been told by several of my ‘supporters’ that losing me would be a personal tragedy. I care enough about those who love me to take heed. After all I haven’t written my major opus as yet…speaking of…my publishing company is dropping a few hints here and there that I might want to work on longer stories with less sex, totally up to me. I can barely eke out a few paragraphs as it is lately and now I’ve got to mess around with another change of formula? Don’t get me wrong. My editors love me and what I currently write and how I write it. Since ’50 Shades of Grey” however, there’s been a call to arms and tumbling sales have put us all on notice.
I HAVE been working on that longer, slightly less sexual short story but I rewrite much of it almost every time I sit down at my desk. I write short stories because my attention span is a tad short. I write sex because it sells and it’s one of the few topics I can totally get behind!
In an attempt to cut distractions and possibly save a few bucks, I now have TIVO and NO premium TV channels and just FIOS internet. And, I’ve switched to a smaller phone and let my iPad mini pick up the heavy work. It’s my way of cleaning house so I can think clearer and deliver what I think my readers want from me without doing a total 180.
My dear Max, my cat, is giving me a run for the money. So glad I just got one. Of course some days he makes me forget about my foot as I go pursuing him around the house. His idea of tough love I imagine.
See you next time. Please visit my guest page with your comments and ideas.
Cain Berlinger
P.S. These are the children of Christmas Island, taken on Polynesian trip Dec 2011-Jan 12
www.cainberlingerbooks.com
Cains Books and Blog
31 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in Blog
Writers Block is a horror! I told myself I’d write when there was something to write about and there has been plenty and yet….Writers block is when your hopelessly locked out of a room in your head. Like you’ve got the tales just that it’s all locked up inside. Fortunately it doesn’t last forever ad when the door swings open it flies open!
Let’s start with this bizarre freezing, then warm weather, again the rough winds in the middle of the day. They say drastic climate change is going to be a regular part of our lives henceforth, due to all the environmental atrocities we’ve heaped upon or surroundings. Tornadoes and twisters all over the place in New York?
News Flash: Cure for diabetes? Exercise and proper diet. Duh, yet a leading story on todays Eyewitness News. As a person who suffers from Diabetic neuropathy I’m all for it. Easier said than done it’s definitely the intelligence vs intellect argument.though.
In December I adopted arguably the smartest cat in the world. Meet Max, a rescue kitty from a parking lot in Bed-Sty. He is working hard on control of my apartment (but it’s a battle, I’m not going to make it easy for him.) He’s a rather chatty kitty as well and tells me what’s on his mind and exactly when he expects to be fed. I’m ashamed to admit I’ve become a rather proud and doting papa as I whip out my cell phone to show friends photos of Max’s latest escapades, although my partner Will is more the doting grandpa than me.
We beamed as we left the humane society with our well behaved kitty who didn’t flinch for the needles and didn’t make the much anticipated fuss! “Good Kitty” Max’s entourage exclaimed. Me, Will, and family friend Rob. Max had lots of support at his first official family doctor visit. In last month’s AARP newsletter we were told that having a pet is one of the ten keys to life longevity. Max keeps me moving thats for sure and definitely doesn’t allow me much time to stare out the window. He does however sits with me when I work. He follows me all around the house and he comes when I call. Like I said, smartest kitty in the world! I can see how the closeness of our four legged friends can inspire writers to write just by makin’ em feel good.
Now of course the biggest news since I saw ya last is that this young hipster has turned a very youthful 60 years old! Yes, and while its true that black don’t crack it does warp a bit. As the saying goes: If I’d known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself. WOW! Talk about a feeling of sudden serious credibility. I feel years have backed me up and life’s experience is really going to help me in my writing. When creating characters I can now draw on life’s experience. I mean there is still going to be research in my future when it comes to people I can build on the many backgrounds of people I actually know. Will all my characters be grounded in reality? They always have been. Even the really insane ones, there is a kernel of real nuttiness about them.
Now that the holidays are a distant memory I hope everyone got to enjoy my Christmas offerings Max & Luthers Christmas Tales and Blood Red Christmas. Next year there will be a new one for your stocking. I like these holiday themed tales. So there will be more.
I have a few more projects on the fire now and one is totally chock full of characters that may or may not be living really close to you, in your neighborhood, just folks..
Thanks for hanging in there with me. Please go to my site and sign in on my guest book .
First Picture is of Max the cat of course.
Second picture is a sculpture of ‘Kouros’ by artist Philip Hitchcock. I presented it to Will as his birthday/Christmas present.
Love you guys and gals, Cain
Look forward to your comments.
23 Friday Nov 2012
Posted in Blog
This month I promise not to kvetch about blogging especially since this is the time of year when sharing with others is a key element in the enjoyment of the holiday season, be it time, money experience or just good will. Thanksgiving is the day when we stop and give thanks for all that we have to be thankful for be it health, wealth, good friends and family be they near or far. While the December holidays celebrate all that is good about mankind.
I am grateful that finally the infection in my foot is actually finally showing signs of real healing. Having gone through vascular surgery to clean out a vein and increase the circulation and blood flow …am I giving too much information? Bottom line is if your a diabetic, monitor your blood sugars regular . Much of the pain and drama that comes from health issues can be channeled into writing (i.e. sharing )but creativity aside, I want to wish all my readers Great Health for the New Year.
I think it may be a writer’s dream to create a long running endearing character that we can write about over again until we know how that character eats, breathes and sleeps. I liken it to giving birth to a child that you can nurture and watch grow until it matures not only in your writing but in the hearts ,minds and memories of the reader. It is flattering to know your readers are as invested in your creations as you are.
Certainly the weather trails and tribulations of those living on the east coast has been felt and documented. It is often a writers job to document he current events of our time accurately, good and bad and to weave them into our stories to add realism, credibility and to leave a written record of the times we live in. NURSE BETTY takes place during the night of one of the most devastating storms to hit New York in over a hundred years. Perhaps its the storm that releases asexual predator into the midst of a crippled hospital. No male apparently is safe.
NURSE BETTY follows on the tail of the “EXHIBITIONISTS AND VOYEURS” series. What can be more voyeuristic than to involve oneself in the sex lives of all those who live in OTHERVERSE , a virtual world where all those involved are either seeing or being seen living laughing and loving each other in a world where everyone and everything is perfect. Can Robert find a real love in a world that only exists online?
2012 is going to be an increasingly busy period and no doubt will be getting busier with the holidays here. I hope I’m not to very distracted to focus on new stories for the new year because I’ve just been diagnosed with carpel tunnel, I love the way life keeps giving you new material. Maybe my next character will be a writer hindered by carpel tunnel and whose efforts are thwarted by a haunted dictation machine? Write what you know but let your imagination be your guide.
BTW For an interesting Xmas story be sure and read my chilling tale of the BLOOD RED CHRISTMAS, its a thrilling holiday treat! Please visit my website www.cainberlingerbooks.com leave a note, a comment, or just share some ideas. I look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful Holiday and a very joyous New Year!
Cain Berlinger
pic 1 one of my favorite Rubens paintings.
pic 2 Portugese Synagogue in Amsterdam
…and the rest of the pics are just some shared Xmas cheer! Happy Holidays!!
www.cainberlingerbooks.com
Cains Books and Blog
