Whole Latte Life

Cozy Is As Cozy Does

2012-02-01T07:45:00.000-05:00

Doesn't this pretty lamp evoke a feeling of comfort with its golden color and pineapple pattern. That soft illumination invites us to slow our pace, maybe stop beside it with a book, or a cup of hot cocoa. It would be a nice lamp to cozy a corner of a living room, or set on an end table beside a fireplace, don't you think?

Cozy works well in our workspaces, too. It makes the studio or office or cubby seem just right. Which makes the art of writing, painting, or sewing, seem very right as we relish the coziness of it all.

How do you make your craft cozy? Do you have a framed photo on your desk? Carry a quilted camera bag? Wear a pretty apron? Put fresh flowers on a nearby table? Light candles?

How do you cozy up?

~Joanne

Whole Latte Life - The Miniseries, Webisode 2

2012-01-30T07:43:00.000-05:00

As Matinee Mondays continue, I'm presenting the second scene-selection from my novel. Today we're travelling visually into the heart of Whole Latte Life. This Webisode, Ghosts, takes a quote from the book that looks at how memories haunt my main character Sara Beth as she struggles to make pivotal decisions in her life. My feeling is that at some point, don't we all catch a glimpse of these ghosts?

~Joanne
*For iPad and mobile device users, click on my YouTube link on the sidebar.

Whole Latte Life Olympics

2012-01-27T07:42:00.000-05:00

It's time to start thinking about the Whole Latte Life Winter Olympics for writing, photography, horseback riding, gardening, painting, well, anything goes here! The Winter Olympics are two years away, so we need to start practicing with hours of revision, rehearsal and creation to make it to this prominent event. Sharpen your creative blades, wax your innovative skis, grease your muse's sled, do a warm-up, and show us what you've got ...

The five most-watched events of the Winter Olympics are: Downhill Skiing, Figure Skating, Bobsledding, Hockey and the Luge. In the Whole Latte Life Short Program, pick an event that best parallels your art/craft/hobby, and tell us why. I'm the Judge and want to see many signature moves, from spirals to double axels. From schussing to snowplowing. From steering to timing. From faceoffs to wrist shots. As you race downhill, through creative labyrinths, over moguls of competition and across the slippery ice, give it your best.

At the end of the competition, I will issue the Top 3 Medals, Bronze, Silver and Gold, to the best-crafted answers comparing your passion to any Olympic sport.

Let the games begin, and Go for the Gold ...

~Joanne

Hibernation

2012-01-25T07:46:00.000-05:00

Shouldn't these two be curled up in a cave, sleeping off the winter? Isn't that what bears are supposed to do, not emerging from their slumbering state until spring? Well something sparked their energy and got them out in a mad dash of play and antics in the heart of January.

We all need a little hibernation from time to time. A quiet comfortable space to withdraw to, a place to rest and recharge. But not for too long! Little catnaps from creativity are fine, helpful even. But too much snoozing and our muse we risk losing.

When you've been hibernating from creating, what energizes you so that you hop back to it, putting yourself out on a limb and exploring your craft once again ... A change of scenery? Reading others' books? Viewing artwork? A brisk outdoor walk? Music?

What pulls you out of a creative slumber?

~Joanne

Whole Latte Life - The Miniseries

2012-01-23T07:42:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love sitting in a theater before the movie begins and watching the Movie Trailers promoting upcoming films? They're fun, have a great hook, and pique our interest in the movie.

Publishers and authors try to capture the same response by creating Book Trailers for upcoming books. As I planned for my novel's March release, I considered creating a Book Trailer. But I took the concept in a new direction and have created three Book Webisodes.

Here's why. My book journeys through the characters' lives. The mood throughout changes. So I wanted to show you more than a trailer. Think of Webisodes as a sort of Scene Selection, like you'll see on DVDs. But these are Chapter Selections, as we thumb through the story. In my Book Webisodes, I take a pivotal direct quote from the novel that captures a theme and expand it on film.

So friends, sit back and enjoy Matinee Monday. Starting today and continuing for the next two Mondays, I'll be premiering the Webisode Miniseries of Whole Latte Life ... A Novel. For iPad and mobile device users, click on my YouTube link on the blog sidebar. Popcorn's popping in The Comments, stop by if you have any questions ... The Director's in the house.

~Joanne

Winter Doorway Series

2012-01-20T07:45:00.000-05:00

Rate the doorway in January's Steaming Coffee Cup Rating System ...

1 Cup - Brrr. Icy.

2 Cups - It's Snow-kay.

3 Cups - Thaws My Winter Heart

4 Cups - Fresh Java Brews Inside!

~Joanne

Taking Reservations

2012-01-18T07:39:00.000-05:00

This looks like a nice place for a local book talk. Or maybe for an intimate concert, with the stage set up beyond the picnic tables. Even an art exhibit could work here, with easels and displays arranged around the perimeter of the square. The picnic-table plaza is in the heart a local university campus, so lots of students and faculty would pass through, eager to see or hear about your creation.

Audiences are often the destination we seek for our artistic creations. They provide us with a connection, the artwork being the medium bringing us together in thought, or idea, or just sheer enjoyment. Author to reader. Singer to fan. Photographer to viewer.

Do you pursue your craft hoping to fill these picnic tables with an audience of readers, or customers, or listeners? Would you like to lead a book club discussion here, or sit at a piano and tickle the ivories during campus lunch hour? Or are your creative efforts purely for personal reasons, and reaching an audience is irrelevant?

Is having an audience part of your artistic intention?

~Joanne

The Publishing Gates Are Open

2012-01-16T07:43:00.000-05:00

I'd been kept standing outside the literary gates for a long time. Because until recently, a certain few regulated the journeys of many. Those certain few are the traditional big-six publishers, once referred to as the "literary gatekeepers," and the literary agents who got you to them. Authors had to pass through those limited entranceways in order to have their work published. Ultimately, the result of passing through those gates was a book on the shelf of the brick and mortar bookstores.

Well to quote Bob Dylan, "The times, they are a-changin'." And at the heart of that change? Technology, eBooks and eReaders, which have effectively weakened the reign of six. And actually, I'm not sure if it's the eRevolution which accomplished this, or if it's solely the resistance of traditional publishing to evolve. But regardless, with that destabilization of the traditional power, the gates of publishing have swung open. Writers now publish their work without a literary agent, and without a traditional publisher, to commendable success. Independently published books regularly rank among Amazon's top-selling eBooks.

So the gates are open, but there's more. The publishing destination has shifted, too, once through those gates. One self-published author recently stated that of 20,000 books she had sold thus far, only 1,000 had been in print. The other 19,000 were in eBook format. The shelf that readers are increasingly seeking is the virtual one, rather than the brick and mortar one. An interesting twist that the winding road of publishing has taken.

But to me, the change that's most valuable is this: Thinking. Attitude. Perception. In the past, self-published authors were discounted. Now they've managed to earn, through effort and much work, credibility and respect. Now they're considered pioneers, paving the way past the gatekeepers for others behind them. Now, that's a worthwhile change pushing through those opened gates.

To me, it always felt wrong to "gatekeep" art.

~Joanne

The Results Are In

2012-01-14T11:45:00.000-05:00

You're motivated, especially by the pictures. So I'm glad to know you connect with my perspective found through the lens. And now I'm motivated to buy a new Olympus camera I've had my eye on.

My pictures got top vote again, so I better get going on another photo outing! And since you also want more on writing/publishing, I'm happy to share more of my book's journey. Stay tuned for Writing and Publishing posts ...

For the most part a latte perfection, and nobody thought it was a lukewarm experience. Phew!

Thanks to everyone who participated, and for your thoughtful and kind survey comments too. I enjoyed reading them all.

~Joanne

Translucent Truth

2012-01-13T07:45:00.000-05:00

All of our work, our words, our songs, our images, our creations, are translucent, in a sense. Some element of our own selves can be seen through the surface. In art's structure there lies a window allowing the viewer to see inside. It may be small and obscure, or readily apparent. But it's there, somewhere within the words, the notes, the colors.

Which is part of art's intent. To express, to articulate a thought or feeling of the artist. Consider an author's series of books that have the same mother-daughter vein running through each plot. Or the photographer who consistently shoots in black and white, their eye stark and straightforward. Or the gardener who plants in themes of yellow, giving a sunny visual to her passion. Or the musician always singing in search of love.

A window gives focus, shining a light on a certain view. Be aware of the window in your creations. Think of it often, letting the audience see your essence, your soul, wonderfully, through the panes of your art.

~Joanne

Whole Latte Life Reader Survey

2012-01-11T07:41:00.000-05:00

It's Reader Survey Day! Yes, as Whole Latte Life's blog begins another year, I'm seeking your valuable input. What better time than the New Year to take inventory of all your opinions? I'll add them to the creative brew as I percolate new blog posts for your reading enjoyment. Look, there's an open seat on the piers. Won't you sit and fill out today's fun survey? It's completely anonymous, and if you have any trouble with the form on the blog, you can click here to take the survey directly. Thanks a latte!

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Therapy Monday

2012-01-09T07:44:00.000-05:00

Fretting, hand-wringing, pacing, foot-tapping, sighing. What's a worry to do except hold us back with our creating? Worried thoughts funnel into what-if ideas, stopping our writing, or painting, or sewing, with unfounded fears of failure. So let's beat this thing called worry. Take today to kick back and put your worries out there and set them free.

We'll vent. Venting has a way of evaporating doubts and fears. Saying them, chewing on them, turning over the words, scrutinizing them, lessens their impact. There, we can think. I said it, and nothing happened. Announcing our worries also lets others offer reassuring words to dispel them.

So today we're giving voice to any little thing bothering us. Maybe too many family interruptions stopped you from finishing a painting. Or a disappointing agent rejection stung too much. Maybe last night's dinner ended up in the disposal and you don't want to cook again. Or a blog post didn't get the response you'd hoped for.

What's worrying you today?

Anything ... Let's chew on it in the comments ...

~Joanne

Snow Reads

2012-01-06T07:41:00.000-05:00

Snow Reads are the new Beach Reads ...

Chenille throws replace beach towels,
Fireplaces replace the sea.
Winter is the perfect time to settle in with a good book.

What will you be reading in these cozy winter months?

~Joanne

Viewer, Viewer, On the Blog

2012-01-04T07:45:00.000-05:00

Okay, we're headed straight into an exciting New Year. So it's time to take a look through the Whole Latte Life viewers. They bring the horizon close, sharpen distant details, and magnify the expanse of life. This particular viewer is on a two-mile stretch of boardwalk on Long Island, NY. The white sands of the beach spread to the mighty Atlantic Ocean, unfurling to seeming infinity, meeting up far, far away with the distant sky.

But if you had this Virtual Viewer looking out onto your craft over the coming months of 2012, what would you hope to see in the viewfinder? Your paintings shown in an art exhibit? Your novel on the bookshelves? Your harvest at the local fair?

I'll drop in the quarter, you tell us what's on your 2012 horizon ...

~Joanne

For Old Acquaintances

2012-01-02T07:42:00.000-05:00

My Wish For You ...

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T07:40:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all the joy, peace and love of the season.
I'll be back after the New Year ...

Merry Christmas, friends!

~Joanne

Creation

2011-12-21T07:37:00.000-05:00

Faith, color, architecture, symmetry. When I considered this photograph, I thought of so many themes that could best tie it in to living a choice life. I could ask, Where do you find faith, not necessarily religious, but faith in your craft, faith in your actions, faith in nature? Or take color. These soft golds and yellows evoke the peace of warmth, comfort. Where do you turn for peace? And then there's architecture. How about describing the structure of your passion? Does it bring a symmetry to your life? A balance?

But I discounted all those themes for this one.

Look at what hands create. At what perseverance builds. At what dedication unfolds. At what reverence shines. At what faith inspires.

But mostly, see what our hands are capable of, and begin your creation.

~Joanne

Where To Look ... To Browse For Books

2011-12-19T07:38:00.000-05:00

It used to be that I'd fill this pretty tote with a book or two to read during the winter. My Snow Reads, if you will, rather than Beach Reads. We all have them, a small pile of books on our nightstands, or coffee tables or in those totes, waiting to be read. But I have a feeling that after this Christmas, eReaders will be inspiring changes in many To-Read piles.

Change. Really, we can't stop it. We can embrace it, resist it, welcome it, ignore it. It's our choice how to handle it. For me, I like the change eReaders are bringing to the book market. I don't see them as replacing traditional books, but rather as supplementing them, expanding readers' choices and avenues to find more books. And with the recent changes in how we can read, I'm finding the manner in which I seek out books has changed too.

When you're looking for a good novel to settle in with, where do you turn now? To a friend? A librarian's recommendation? A book-blogger? Have you shifted to internet searches, including Goodreads, the world's largest website for readers and book recommendations? Whether traditional or eBooks, according to their blog, "The year 2011 has made one thing abundantly clear ... people still love to read ... At Goodreads, we found that a book was added to a to-read shelf every second of the year."

That's a whole latte reading going on, with a very devoted reading audience. If you decide to visit Goodreads to browse your winter book choices, stop by and visit me while you're there ...

My Goodreads Author Page
Whole Latte Life Novel Page

Are you a Goodreads fan? Where else will you go to find books for your winter To-Read list? Share with us ...

~Joanne

Holiday Light Display

2011-12-16T07:42:00.001-05:00

What's your favorite?

~Joanne

A Latte Lifestyle ~ Video Tip 3

2011-12-14T07:42:00.001-05:00

A Latte Lifestyle Tip #3: Be Merry

A Merry Giftcard Giveaway

2011-12-12T07:40:00.000-05:00

Yes, folks, it's time to Tech the Halls with an Amazon or Barnes and Noble $20 eBook gift card. Technology has breathed new life into publishing with its eReaders and eBooks. In doing so, it's opened wide the doors of opportunity for so many authors, changing the landscape of reading and writing at the same time.

'Tis the Season for giving back. So, I'd like to show my support for the technology that inspired me to publish my novel. In return, I'd like to bring more eBooks into the home of one lucky person.

Entering is easy, here's how ...

1. Leave a comment here.

2. Earn an extra chance to win by Following this blog.

3. Add another chance by Following me on Twitter @JoanneDeMaio.

4. Add one last chance by Tweeting this blog post.

Be sure to come back here and leave a separate blog comment for each Follow or Tweet.

As easy as that, you can be book shopping and reading from the comfort of your own home. If you don't have an eReader, you can always download the free Kindle Reading App on your computer or cell phone. Winner will win a $20 eBook Gift Card for either the Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook, winner's choice.

Contest runs through Wednesday. Good luck!

And the winner is ...

Congrats, J.A. Bennett! I'll be sending you an email shortly :)

~Joanne

Subbing For Santa

2011-12-09T07:40:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it's happened again. When I was shopping at the mall the other day, they told me Santa needed a day off and asked me to sit in for him. It's a serious responsibility, but today I'm sitting in the big chair to pass along your Christmas wishes to Santa. That's right, I'll put in a good word for you, direct to the North Pole.

Now don't crowd, we've plenty of time. Stay in line and you'll get your turn. But here's the catch ... I'm only taking wishes directly related to your craft, your passion, your art.

Thats' right. What are you wishing to find under the tree on Christmas morning? A sleek case for your digital camera? A set of shiny measuring spoons for your recipes? Skeins of colorful yarn? A spiffy new eReader? Sheet music? A leather saddle? A netbook to write on-the-go? Clay pots for your container garden?

Now's your chance to get in a good word to Santa. The line, wow, it's already forming in The Comments! One at a time now, let the Christmas list begin ...

~Joanne

Delight In the Details

2011-12-07T07:41:00.000-05:00

Imagine this pretty little North Pole house without its twinkling lights. Imagine it painted solid red, instead of accented with bricks. Imagine the windows unpaned, the Christmas tree inside unlit, the candle in the window gone. The delight of the image would be gone, too. There would be no detail to draw our attention, no sense of wonder at the suggestion of the festive season upon us.

Then think of the same with your craft, with your books and songs and photographs and knitted scarves and cooked meals. Imagine that they are without detail. Your fictional characters aren't complex, your song has no variation in tune, your scarves are one stitch, one color, your meals spiceless. Pretty dull, no?

Details draw the eye. They evoke a response and inspire wonder. Details delight.

So be sure to add those fine, finishing touches to your work. Does your protagonist have an endearing nervous habit? Will your song climb the scales in leaps and bounds? Is your latest scarf color-coordinated to the season?

What details do your bring to your craft? Delight us ...

~Joanne

Putting My Self On the Shelf ... Why I'm Self-Publishing My Novel

2011-12-05T07:42:00.000-05:00

Independently published books now regularly rank among the top-selling eBooks on Amazon.
eBook sales have increased from 2010's $265 million to nearly $650 million, so far in 2011, a sales increase of 144%.
The Kindle Fire is the #1 Most-Wished-For product on Amazon's site. Amazon is expected to sell around 5 million Kindle Fire units by the end of 2011.
The Wall Street Journal states that the number of self-published titles in the U.S. nearly tripled to 133,036 in 2010 from 51,237 in 2006, according to R.R. Bowker LLC.

And the list goes on. The stats are everywhere, indicating a monumental shift in the publishing industry. I've been seeing the shift myself in smaller ways. Publishers now expect authors to handle their own publicity. Agents expect authors to have their manuscripts professionally edited before submission. Authors need to set up their own web sites, their own social media.

When I looked at it all together, the changing publishing stats and the author expectations, I also looked differently at how I could achieve my publishing goals. Until recently, I'd thought the traditional path was my only choice. But thanks to changing technology and an evolving industry, my goals can be reached without a literary agent, and without a traditional publisher.

There's a revolution going on in publishing. It's changing not only how books are purchased and read, but also how they are published. And this is a revolution I did not want to watch from the sidelines. I want to be in the heart of it, helping to effect change, and taking the opportunity it offers.

So I decided to independently publish my novel. I've partnered with Amazon's CreateSpace to bring my work to publication, and have never looked back. It's a great collaboration, but what amazes me the most is the speed with which publication can happen. The old model tied me up for too long. After querying for the past few years, I've had too many close-calls with agents, too many months passing, seasons passing, only to hear that my work was declined with hesitation, or regret. Last Spring, editors at two well-known publishing houses enthusiastically requested my manuscript. I've yet to hear back from either of them. These days that type of wait is inexcusable, and so, taken with my experiences of the past few years, it all motivated me to make the decision.

I decided the wait was over.

As 2012 came closer, I knew I had two options. I could continue with the traditional, antiquated path of seeking a literary agent, who then might or might not sell my debut work. Who might secure me possibly a one-book contract, to be published when? In 2014 at this point?

That is not a feasible option for me. By 2014, I plan to have at least four books published. And so I realized that really, I didn't have two options. I had one.

It was time. Time for me to practice what I preach here at Whole Latte Life. Time for me to live my own choice writing life. Fully and without apology.

And so as my blog tag-line has stated for almost four years now, finally, finally, I am doing just that, publishing my first book in March 2012.

Finally, I am pouring my heart into my writing, my life.

~Joanne

Rate The Wreath

2011-12-02T07:45:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of holiday decorating, rate the Christmas wreath in the

4-Coffee Cup Rating System ...

1 Cup - Needs a little Elf-help

2 Cups - Pretty as a Snowflake

3 Cups - Holly Jolly

4 Cups - Frosty the Snowman Approved!

~Joanne

Rev It Up

2011-11-30T07:44:00.000-05:00

Wouldn't it be fun to take this little car for a spin around town? To get behind the wheel and see what's under the hood? To put the pedal to the metal and give it a whirl. It's thrilling just looking at this exclusive automobile. It inspires us to want to have a chance to steer it down the open road, the breeze blowing our hair as we set caution to the wind. Can't you hear that engine purring when you turn the ignition?

Well folks, I'm here to wave the starting flags and tell you to start your engines! There are mere weeks left to the year and we have lots to finish up on our projects. Don't you want to meet those commendable goals you set back at the New Year? The time is now to put our passion pedal to the metal.

What do you have to do to finish up your project before the holidays are upon us and the year over? Start your December Creative Engines and give your project the gas! Will you rev up a chapter? Zoom through a few new recipes? Steer your stitches to completion? Race through the musical scales?

How will you make it across the 2011 Finish Line?

Zoom Zoom,
Joanne

Whole Latte Life ... The Novel

2011-11-28T07:42:00.000-05:00

Would you leave everything behind to know who you are?

Sara Beth Riley never dreamt she'd walk straight out of her life. Actually she'd never dreamt a lot of things that had happened this year ... From being kidnapped by her own best friend, to throwing her wedding rings into the Hudson River, to calling an old love in France, to getting inked with said best friend, painting the passionate constellation of these choices into permanence. But mostly, she could never have dreamt what started it all. How could it be that her mother's unexpected death, and the grief which lingered painfully long, turned her into the woman she was finally meant to become?

Sara Beth's escape begins a summer of change - of herself, of marriage, of the lives of those around her. In a story that moves from Manhattan to the sea to a quaint New England town, Whole Latte Life looks at friends we never forget, at decisions we linger with, at our attempts to live the lives we love.

Coming March 2012

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T07:44:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving week is always a big week in my home. I'll be spending time with my family, celebrating my daughter's birthday and getting things cooking in the kitchen. And so I'll be taking the rest of the week off, and will see you all next week :)

Whether you're staying home, or going home, I'm wishing you good food, good company, and lots of beautiful memories.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving ...

~Joanne

Announcing Good News

2011-11-21T07:39:00.000-05:00

Being ready to announce good news is a nice place to find ourselves in, isn't it? As you work daily on your craft, your art, have you given any thought to how you'll announce your accomplishments, once you reach them? Maybe you imagine an intimate dinner party, or a fun tweet heard around the world. It's important to think about this, as part of living our choice lives. Because when we finally reach our life goals, that moment is worthy of celebration, and respect too.

For me, I'd set out lots of coffee cups, as I have in this blog post. Then I'd serve, oh, maybe lattes for all. Cinnamon dolce lattes sound perfect for celebrating. There'd be pastry on the table as I sit with my friends and family and share with them the news I'm going to share with you. Come back next Monday to see what it is. One thing's for sure, I'll have these coffee cups filled to the brim, and a blog post filled with good news :)

In the meantime, let us know how you'd share good news. Would there be a party? An ad in the local paper? Would you spill the news over lunch with friends? How will you announce?

~Joanne

Going Home

2011-11-18T07:47:00.001-05:00

Home. It can be an old house, a childhood town, a holiday memory. It can be merely a sense of security. Home can be a big, boisterous family, or a shadow of what once was. Home can be a mother. A special meal. A place to rest. Peace. Shelter.

I have read that most fiction stories are, in some way, about going home again. So my thought is, does this concept apply to all arts, and our crafts and hobbies too? Do we seek reassurance, a memory, a community of family, a long ago comfort, in our passions? Home can be such a strong pull in our lives, the moon to our tides.

Is our reason for drawing, cooking, gardening, writing, a way to go home again?

~Joanne

Innovation

2011-11-16T07:39:00.001-05:00

Do you see how the fence builder accommodated this tree trunk? Take a look at how the vertical posts have been customized to meet up with the trunk, making it an actual part of the fence. The tree trunk was not physically removed. The fence did not get placed in front of it, obscuring its view. Instead of letting the trunk present a problem to a creation, the fence artisan chose to let the trunk serve the fence with its beauty.

Innovation can change perspective, and purpose, in our creations. Think of books, or photographs, or paintings, or gardens, or meals, that linger in your memory. Maybe you've seen a garden of hundreds of sunflowers, turning toward the sun. Or you enjoyed an atmospheric meal served in an antique carriage house. Maybe a beautiful painting was created on glass, light itself shining through the paint. A song, sung live in a different key, takes on rich meaning. And all stay with us in their innovation.

Some of the best works of art are innovative in their delivery, in their perspective. Remember that ... when you write, photograph, sew. Cook, play piano, scrapbook.

Innovation is the silent hand helping to shape a masterpiece.

~Joanne

Art Imitates Life

2011-11-14T07:41:00.000-05:00

Isn't Mother Nature the best artist? Her life designs are filled with a natural grace and poise that take our breath away. Beauty speaks to us in the composure of nature, in the acceptance of self, in the display of identity, a truth we try to capture as artists.

As artists, we have many mediums with which to capture our creations ... words, paint, fabric, food, and the list goes on. With our Whole Latte Life swan mascot as the model, this is how she'd be captured in lights, her graceful shape replicated in festive colors, reflected in the water again, capturing the very idea of her.

There are so many artistic choices to consider ... Words? Paint strokes? Musical notes? Digital images? Yarn? Glass? What medium do you use to give shape to your creative ideas?

~Joanne

Fall Doorway Series

2011-11-11T07:43:00.001-05:00

Rate the fall doorway in the 4-Coffee Cup Rating system ...

1 Cup - "Falls" Flat

2 Cups - "Leaves" Us Welcomed

3 Cups - "Raking" In the Smiles

4 Cups - "Harvesting" Home Sweet Home

~Joanne

Time to Tweet

2011-11-09T07:43:00.000-05:00

Yes, folks, it's true. A little birdie told me it's time to venture out and try my wings with the rest of the flock in the virtual Twitter sky. So today I'm jumping into the foray and chirping my Tweets into the orchestra of blue birds out there. I might spend a little time perched on the Twitter branch observing and taking it all in, but keep your virtual ears open for my Tweets :)

When I began blogging, I'd never imagined it would become, and continue to be, such an integral part of my writing persona. But it has, and the dialogues you initiate here continue to inspire me. So I'm sure many of my Tweets will be an extension of Whole Latte Life, kind of like espresso-shots of inspiration as I continue to explore what it means to live the life we choose, the life we dream of.

In the meantime, I have a few questions for all the Tweeters out there ... Any advice? Or Twitter lessons learned that you care to share? Leave your chirps-of-wisdom in The Comments for this novice, and for anyone else considering soaring the Twitter skies ...

Follow @JoanneDeMaio

Mascot Mania

2011-11-07T07:45:00.000-05:00

When it comes to Fall, is there any better mascot than a scarecrow? Especially when it's standing guard near a seasoned cornstalk. It perfectly suits Autumn with its rich colors, bandana scarf and straw hair, not to mention that happy grin. You just know what time of year it is when you see a sight like this one.

Our crafts can use a mascot too. Some image or symbol or icon that captures its message. For me, I consider all my projects' mascot to be the coffee cup. I try to bring that coffee comfort, energy and good talks to the page.

Let's make some mascot magic today. What mascot best represents your message, or genre? A sci-fi writer? How about a space ship. A crocheted heart for the knitters stitching with yarn and love? Happy oven mitts for the bakers? A gold-leaf picture frame for the wedding photographer?

Everybody from major companies to national sports teams have one! What mascot best suits you?

~Joanne

Fall Doorway Series ~ Back In Business

2011-11-05T11:25:00.000-04:00

Whole Latte Life is back in business! Today we're celebrating the return of electricity, so rate the fall doorway in the following kilowatt coffee cups ...

1 Cup - In The Dark

2 Cups -Nicely Illuminated

3 Cups - De-light-ful

4 Cups - 75 Watts!

~Joanne

Unable To Blog

2011-11-02T07:40:00.000-04:00

Hi everybody. I just wanted to let you know that a brief snowstorm devastated New England this past weekend. The outages are extensive, and we are still in the dark with no power. I'm not sure if this made the news, but the trees that are down and the storm damage combined created a disaster. My internet access is so limited, I'll be back to the blogs as soon as I can ...

Thanks,
Joanne

Encore Presentation of the Porch Series

2011-10-31T07:44:00.000-04:00

Rate the porch in the Haunted Coffee-Cup Rating System ...

1 Cup - Candy Corny

2 Cups - Be-witching

3 Cups - Ghoul Cool

4 Cups - Spooktacular

Happy Halloween!

~Joanne

Simple Things

2011-10-28T07:42:00.001-04:00

Along the journey of our choice lives, remember to find happiness in simple things. They're doses of contentment keeping us tuned in to beautiful moments we encounter in the daily busy-ness of living. Like this smiling cat making its annual stop here, at Whole Latte Life. As she lives waiting to be fed, and struggling to find time for naps, she finds happiness in the autumn leaves. Coming across her on my country walk, she reminded me to be aware. And to cherish the everyday.

Contentment. For me, a cup of hot coffee in a charming cafe will do it. And a walk on my favorite beach. A pretty new journal waiting to be filled.

How about you? What simple things bring you purrs of happiness. Let's make this cat proud!

~Joanne

Have A Coffee With ... Rock Musician Paul Freeman

2011-10-26T07:44:00.000-04:00

At a recent Roger Daltrey concert I attended, the opening act had the audience engaged from the very first note of his guitar, the first note sung. When thousands of people in the Hartford Civic Center take instant notice, I know that only someone living his passion can have that draw. Paul Freeman was that opening act, and I've asked him to take the stage here today and have a coffee with us as he talks about living what he loves, a life of music.

One pre-teen afternoon, riding his bike around the neighborhood, Paul Freeman found his first guitar, a battered and beaten acoustic, its warped neck sticking out of the top of a dumpster. Although the guitar had but four strings, Freeman fell in love. So much so that by the next Christmas, his parents and grandparents joined forces to buy Paul a proper six-string and a book of chords. “I sat and listened to records and played along with them,” he remembers. "And then I started learning the Beatles." Paul’s come a long way since then. He was signed by the legendary Clive Davis and in the last year has toured with Joe Cocker, Todd Rundgren, Edwin McCain, Los Lobos, and Brandi Carlile. He’s currently being featured by Subway and grooveshark.com. And look for Paul singing on this season’s finale of “Make It or Break It.”

Welcome, Paul ...

Music is a universal language, and you live a life rich in song. What drew you to make rock music a lifestyle rather than a hobby?
It was all I can remember ever wanting to do since my Dad took me to see Paul McCartney when I was a kid. I clearly recall nearly jumping out of my skin when the fireworks went off in Live and Let Die. There was never really any other option as I left school at 16. I think in order to be good at anything - football, golf, acting or music - you have to surrender to it and give yourself up to everything it brings, good and bad. Some people can do that and some can't. It's a very vulnerable lifestyle choice, as you're really putting yourself out there day after day. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely for me.

As you continue living your life of music, recording in the studio, touring and songwriting, what does the creative process give back to you?
The first thing it gives is joy, joy that I get to see things I wouldn't be able to see, and meet people I wouldn't otherwise be able to meet, all through music and travel. There's not a day that goes by that I don't feel grateful for that. Creatively, I do most of my writing while I tour so I guess that's another huge gift I get from traveling. I find it incredibly inspiring to sit on a plane and watch the world turn beneath me.

As a writer, I'm interested in the art of storytelling, so tell us about your songwriting process.
Songwriting from my perspective is all about storytelling, it’s justdone in a short space of time. It’s amazing to me how many pop songs existthese days that don’t have that substance. They just become jingles at that point. I tend to start with a title andwork back from there, creating characters as I go. I like to write from a FirstPerson perspective, but it’s not necessarily me I’m singing about. For example my song That’s How It Is is written from the point of view of someone ontheir deathbed talking to their loved ones. I hope I’m a bloody long way offthat. I think part of being a songwriter is to empathize, so I try to beconscious of that the whole time I’m writing.

Who are your musical inspirations?
Overall I’m just a fan of great songwriting. It doesn’t really matter to me who sings it,however the artists that have had the most effect on me are Macca (obviously),Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Jackson Browne, Noel Gallagher, Tom Petty andmore recently Justin Currie, Doves and Elbow.

What advice would you give to others who are trying to pursue their passions and live what they love?
Don’t give up EVER. It’sthe ones who even think about quitting that fail, plain and simple. Yes it’shard and I’m sure I haven’t seen the worst of it yet, but it has not and willnever occur to me to quit. I’m in this for life, for better or worse!!

In keeping with the spirit of Whole Latte Life, as you're rehearsing for that gig or beginning your day in a recording session, how do you take your coffee?
Strong, white, with no sugar please!
................................................................................................

Thanks so much, Paul, for sharing how music is the soundtrack of your life. I've heard of other musicians who also were so inspired by The Beatles that they went on to pursue music fully in their lives. It's beautiful how a few bars of music, really, have the immense power to invoke such change in us.

Readers, stop by the Comments with any questions for Paul, or share who first inspired you to pursue your passion ...

To learn more about Paul Freeman, visit his website, here.

Rock on,
Joanne

The Pumpkin In The Room

2011-10-24T07:43:00.001-04:00

It's not always easy being creative. Not only are there pressures of designing just the right project, but we have family and home pressures too. And when they all rise together, it can feel like there's a lot of weight on our shoulders. Like we're trying to lift this 700 pound pumpkin, when what we really want to lift is a pumpkin spice latte to sip on for a few artistic hours. But no matter how hard we try to move this pumpkin mountain aside, we know in our hearts it ain't budging.

Stress has a way of doing that, of taking over all the space in our creative lives. Household chores compete with our gardening time. Waiting for that query response weighs so heavy it interferes with our writing. 50,000 words during NaNoWriMo? While perfecting that stuffing for Thanksgiving? Sheesh. It's time for Whole Latte Life to rewrite the "make lemons into lemonade" saying. Let's take that stress pumpkin, and make it into a sweet pumpkin pie!

When pursuing your passion, what stress becomes your 700 pound pumpkin? Add your stress to the Comment ingredients, as we bake them away into that pumpkin pie.

~Joanne

Fall Doorway Series

2011-10-21T07:39:00.001-04:00

Rate the fall doorway in the 4-Coffee Cup Rating System ...

1 Cup - "Falls" Flat

2 Cups - "Leaves" Us Welcomed

3 Cups - "Raking" In the Smiles

4 Cups - Pumpkin Perfect!

~Joanne

Pumpkin Pie Patch

2011-10-19T07:42:00.000-04:00

Imagine taking a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch and finding this pumpkin PIE patch. The baking's already been done, no kitchen work involved for a great homemade pie. Variety and flavor all laid out before us. And you just know that any pie you pick will be good :)

I like to think that we all have some pumpkin pie patch in our lives. Not one filled with pies. But a place filled with all good things, where you can't go wrong picking any item on display. A special shop where you can wander away an hour in sheer delight, just looking and picking up samples here and there. Maybe it's a local antique shop. Or the indie bookstore filled with your favorite reads. How about a denim boutique with shelves of jeans, vests and jackets. Or an office supply store, a kitchen gadget shop ...

We all have a place that speaks to a passion of ours. What is your personal Pumpkin Pie Patch?

~Joanne

Pet-Palooza

2011-10-17T07:44:00.003-04:00

Pets. Like Snoopy is to Charlie Brown, they're such an inherent part of our days. They keep us company, entertain us, take us out for walks, and have a calming effect on our lives.

They can also play a part in our crafts, having a ~~hand~~ paw in our creative endeavors. My cat sits beside the computer screen while I'm working and watches the moving cursor. She swats at it, too, and I'm not sure if she's pointing out misplaced commas or playing Chase the Cursor. Regardless, she keeps me smiling when she visits my work space.

Do you have a pet? Does it help you write? Sample your recipe? Does your dog wag a tail at your tale? Is a canary serenading your sewing? A feline fussing with your fiction?

Let's raise our paws in a high-five to our animal inspirations today :)

~Joanne

What I Love About Floral Design ... Jessica Stage and Brittany Asch

2011-10-12T07:43:00.000-04:00

Brittany Asch & Jessica Stage

When someone is living their passion, I want to know more. So after seeing photographs of floral arrangements mirroring New York's Fashion Week styles, I contacted the floral designers. Here, Jessica Stage and Brittany Asch share a bouquet of thoughts as part of Whole Latte Life's What I Love About Series.

Everything's coming up roses in what Jessica and Brittany love about floral design ...

Making people smile! We strive to personalize every design.

Keeping the tradition alive! Flowers are traditionally part of defining moments in people's lives, from birth to celebration and death.

The creative process! Flowers in their own right are absolutely gorgeous. With a little tweaking and collaboration, beautiful arrangements are born.

Letting our inner creative voices sing! Flowers are the medium and our personalities shine through in each arrangement. Arranging is like play for us.

Showcasing the personality of flowers! Like humans, each flower has its own personality. Some may be unruly, and others stick-straight. It's fun to figure out how to make their individual characteristics contribute to the overall design.

Rag & Bone Fashion Meets Asch & Stage Floral

So friends, let's build a bouquet of Comments. Tell Jessica and Brittany a little about your favorite flower or a special time when you received a floral arrangement. They'll be stopping by to chat.

Jessica Stage and Brittany Asch sat next to each other on the first day of the Floral Design intensive at the New York Botanical Garden. Both had creative backgrounds - Jessica studied at Parsons The New School for Design for Fashion Marketing, while Brittany studied at Berklee College of Music. Now as graduates of the NYBG, they've teamed up and started a blossoming floral design business. Stage & Asch specializes in weekly, special occasion, wedding and event accounts. Attention to detail sets them apart, from delivery boxes wrapped in specialty papers to vases chosen according to flower style and recipient personality. Visit their blog, The Remedy, at www.stageandasch.com

Conducting Your Craft

2011-10-10T07:45:00.001-04:00

At first glance, you might see this as a rock concert. The dark theater, the band set up on stage, and that bold concert lighting.

But look again. Notice the conductor, dressed formally and directing the music from his podium. And see the refined symphony orchestra on stage taking his direction. So which is it? A rock concert, or a symphony performance?

This summer, I attended the event which paired the band Deep Purple, pioneers of rock music, with Connecticut's Hartford Symphony Orchestra. I wanted to see what a rock band with over 100 million albums sold would bring to the stage with a classical orchestra. The idea of blending the two opposite genres got my attention, and I wasn't disappointed. The concert gave a whole new meaning to "classic" rock.

Remember, you are the conductor of your choice life. As the conductor, surprise your audience at the podium, be daring and different.

And don't forget to rock.

~Joanne

Fall Doorway Series Premiere

2011-10-07T07:45:00.001-04:00

Rate the doorway in the 4-Coffee Cup Rating System ...

1 Cup - "Falls" Flat

2 Cups - "Leaves" Us Welcomed

3 Cups - "Raking" In The Smiles

4 Cups - "Harvesting" Home Sweet Home

~Joanne

Taking Flight

2011-10-05T07:43:00.000-04:00

The Whole Latte Life Bird

I'm a guest over at Jill Kemerer's blog today, answering Five Easy Questions. Just click the link here and our feathered friend will lead the way. If you'd like to add a question to the mix, chirp it here in the Comments :)
~Joanne

A Latte Lifestyle ~ Video Tip 2

2011-10-03T07:42:00.000-04:00

Latte Lifestyle Tip #2: Live What You Love

Ear-Hear

2011-09-30T07:42:00.023-04:00

Friends, Writers, Creative-men, lend me your ears!

Listening. It's critical to the craft of writing. I listen to life around me, to snippets of dialogue, hearing the intent behind words. But it's not just talk I pay attention to. Sound reveals so much. I notice with equal importance birdsong and silence. I hear the story in music, the rhythm in the tides, the emotion in voice, the motion of the wind. And then I take what I hear and use it to build my characters, my settings, shaping them with realistic qualities that I've observed.

There's something else that I've "heard," maybe you have too. That life is the best teacher. It's true. Listen closely to life around you. To the words and nature and bustle and pace and rhythms, and to the silences too. You might be surprised. You could write a book with what you hear.

~Joanne

Breaking News

2011-09-29T08:34:00.001-04:00

Coffee for All

We interrupt our regularly scheduled blog programming with this announcement ... Today is National Coffee Day! Also known as the unofficial Whole Latte Life holiday. Stop everything you're doing and treat yourself to a coffee moment, right here. Courtesy of "Jo." (That's me).

The line's wrapping around the Comments. Will you enjoy a coffee indulgence today?

~Joanne

Tomato Toss

2011-09-28T07:41:00.000-04:00

"You like To-may-to, I like To-mah-to." The lyric from a fun little Gershwin tune looks at differences in dialect, and as such, class. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off is the song, so I guess those differences give the couple involved plenty of fun reason to question their relationship.

Do you question your relationship with your craft? Is there a discrepancy between where you want your project to be and where it currently is headed? Your song not in tune? Your writing wrecked? Your knitting knotted? Your canvas clotted? Sometimes the challenge to overcome difficulties is too much to take on.

Have you ever said to your manuscript, your song, sewing project, photographs, painted canvas ... Let's Call the Whole Thing Off!

~Joanne

An Apple a Day

2011-09-26T07:43:00.003-04:00

Yes folks, it's Whole Latte Life Fruit and Produce Week :) We're honoring all your harvests of creative crops, commemorating your efforts toiling at your crafts, bent over your computers and cameras and instruments and knitting needles, tilling the artistic soil.

So you know the saying An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away. There's some wisdom at the "core" of that advice, once we "peel" away the words and get at the thought behind them. It's all about taking care of ourselves.

To put forth healthy creative efforts and keep the muse in good shape, we have to be in good shape. The last thing we want as we pursue our choice lives is to have a creative doctor quarantine our projects until we resume our good health.

Today, share a simple, healthy tip that keeps you in tip-top shape ...

~Joanne

Imagine ...

2011-09-23T07:40:00.000-04:00

Why don't we ever ...

Build a sandman? Or a snowcastle?

Make sand-angels? Or carve our initials in the snow?

Sometimes we get boxed in. We fail to discover or consider new possibilities. The gardener gets stuck in a potted plant rut, when she could grow impatiens in vintage coffee mugs! The painter is flipping papers at her easel, when she could create seascapes on pieces of driftwood. The opera singer could sing a recipe, soprano!

Let your imagination run ... That's what a creative life is all about.

~Joanne

Boundaries

2011-09-21T07:43:00.000-04:00

These bright buoys strung along the sea separate the swimming area from the area where small watercraft come ashore. Little sailboats and kayaks don't intrude on families swimming and floating on their tubes, and everyone's happy. Each space is clearly designated for everyone's use.

It's necessary to set up boundaries like this with our crafts, too. When we dive into our creative waters, distractions drifting into the area put our work at danger. They submerge our ideas into the sea of home, waves of interruptions wash over us, and creativity sinks beneath the surface.

So we set up creative boundaries. When we're writing, singing, playing the piano, cooking, painting, we need to close the door. Or work in a coffee shop. Or have a dedicated space. There needs to be a separation to allow us to smoothly float into the creative zone.

Do you set boundaries when you're creating? What are your orange buoys?

~Joanne

What Time Is It?

2011-09-19T07:42:00.000-04:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year ;) It's time for me to get back to blogging!

I love Autumn, but there's always a sad place in my September heart when I say goodbye to summer, to that little beach cottage and walks along the sea with my daughters. It's a "just one more" time of year ... One more dinner out on the deck, one more bouquet of zinnias on the kitchen counter, one more summer concert with the music rising to the starlit sky, oh, and at least one more ice cream in the gazebo. Summer is when I find my voice in everyday life, when I see art in the wonderfully ordinary.

So hello again, everyone. I hope you're all well as September is upon us. For me, fresh from the inspiration of a summer frame of mind, it's time to consider with you, that idea, that reality, of living our choice lives. Whatever they may be, by our own personal definitions.

In your writing, painting, photographing, quilting, gardening, cooking, learning, what is it time for you to do?

~Joanne

Summer Porch Series Grand Finale

2011-09-16T07:42:00.000-04:00

Rate the porch in the 4-Coffee Cup Rating System ...

1 Cup - Flip-FLOP

2 Cups - Made In The Shade

3 Cups - Hammock Worthy

4 Cups - Don't Go, Summer!

~Joanne

Don't Fight The Stripe

2011-09-14T07:37:00.003-04:00

It's hard to fathom that the zebra's bold pattern helps it thrive. Out in the wild, the stripes camouflage against predators, blending the zebra into the landscape; in a running herd, the stripes visually confuse their attacker. So the pattern is key to their survival.

Yet the zebra stripe is such a distinct and recognizable visual. It provides a beautiful image upon the animal's skin, and to our eye it evokes a sense of the wild, of freedom. We borrow the pattern in fashion, in graphics, in art. Here, at first glance, we see mirror images, but they are not. No two zebras have the same pattern. For so recognizable a print, each one is unique.

And so must we be. The books we write, the songs we sing, the pictures we paint and photograph. All fit into the herd. All have a place with thousands of others.

Which makes it even more crucial to be beautifully unique. To absolutely not have the same pattern as the rest. To work your unique voice, your individual self, your soul's zebra print, into your creation. So that you stand out from the herd. Being bold is key to creative survival.

When you create, never, never fight your stripes.

~Joanne

Tune Up

2011-09-12T07:38:00.004-04:00

Built in 1830 for South Church in Hartford, CT, this organ was discovered neglected in 1980 in Plains, PA and now is located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Can you imagine the beautiful music this magnificent instrument is capable of? At the right hands, the sound just might seem miraculous, filling a room with its art, lifting us to a higher place. But if any of those 15-foot tall pipes are not in key, there goes the song. Our ears will pick up on the anomaly, waiting to hear it again, wincing at its sound, remembering the off note rather than the song.

How do you keep your art in tune? Do you spell-check? Hire professional editors? Weed? Photo-shop? What keeps your craft in tip-top shape?

~Joanne

Through the Looking Gate

2011-09-09T07:42:00.008-04:00

Sometimes our destinations seem far off, a vision in the distance, almost a part of another world. The details aren't too clear, but the essence is there. We can imagine it. We can feel it. We know the journey will be worthwhile, though challenging. Our destination is what we strive for ... It's what keeps us journeying back to the computer, the piano, the garden, the canvas, the camera, the kitchen.

A vision. So be motivated. Take the time to look forward now and then to the beauty of arriving at your destination. Always keep that view in sight.

~Joanne

Billboard

2011-09-07T07:46:00.004-04:00

One day, the time will arrive when your book's being published, your song sung. Your photographs and paintings are on exhibit. Your handcrafted beaded jewelry hangs in an exclusive boutique. Your garden is the first stop of the Garden Club Tour. Your lessons will lead you to Teacher of the Year. Your recipes will feed a party of twelve.

And a large sign will be painted, advertising your craft, your accomplishment, inviting the public to share in your art.

What will your sign say?

~Joanne

Flower Power

2011-09-05T07:36:00.004-04:00

In honor of Labor Day, a Whole Latte Patriotism from some local flowers. This one's for you, my blog friends, for all your efforts, sacrifice and labor in living your choice lives. Happy Labor Day!

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Holiday Summer Porch Bonanza

2011-09-02T07:41:00.005-04:00

For your Labor Day Weekend Porch consideration ...

Rate the porch in the 4-Coffee Cup Barbecue Rating System ...

1 Cup - Burnt Marshmallow

2 Cups - Picnic Potential

3 Cups - Cool as Coleslaw

4 Cups - Hot Diggety Dog On the Grill

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

One Word

2011-08-31T07:46:00.016-04:00

There are some things in life that we can never have too much of.

Like flowers.

In your life, in one word, what's one thing that brings beauty, or contentment, or peace, that you can never have too much of.

One word ...

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Caged In

2011-08-29T07:44:00.005-04:00

*Just stopping in with a quick thanks for all your hurricane concerns. We're doing okay here in CT, beautiful weather today. Hope you're all well and I'll be back real soon ...

Feeling caged in? Is something stifling your flight? Stopping your soaring? Silencing your song? Has your craft idled on its perch, not really advancing or changing or improving? Have you worked on the same story for too long? Do your recent photographs all look alike? Are your recipes routine? Your flowers faded?

What do you do? Sometimes we just have to reclaim the excitement of soaring to new heights, floating on the winds of change. We can write a new flash story to submit to the journals. Or change our camera angles. Maybe visit garden nurseries for floral inspiration. Do you watch cooking shows for the challenge? What about combining passions, and photographing flowers for the local paper?

How do you get out of the cage and fly?

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Without Apology

2011-08-26T07:42:00.011-04:00

Life is rich in texture, shades and nuances. Salt water inlets wind through tall marsh grasses, with a dark forest backdrop rising to the sky. Greens of every shade fill the view, with the sound of lapping waves reaching from the distant beach. The air is redolent with the salty sea, life stirs unseen beneath calm waters.

It exists for all of us, the textures and nuances shading our lives. Inlets of our journeys wind through the landscape of our days. Dark forests of distraction and interruptions sometimes loom. Yet still the colors of sunlight and home and nature filter through, accompanied by the sounds of family, and music, and birdsong.

Remember through it all to let yourself shine. Always. Be seen for who you are, for your values and expectations, your love and dedication. No matter if you're working, cooking, shopping, visiting. Walking, singing, writing, painting.

Think of this little egret here, and how without trying, without effort, without apology, it always, always lets itself shine through.

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Dog Days

2011-08-24T07:41:00.009-04:00

They're here, those dog days of summer. Hazy, hot and humid have settled in, the hours long on warm sunshine, short on cool breezes. Our pace slows, vacations beckon, the living is easy.

How does summer affect your creativity? Do you write less in the heat, choosing to linger on a porch or in the garden instead? Does the sunshine beckon you away from your canvas in favor of a long walk? Does a day at the beach override a day of cropping photographs?

Or does summer engage your senses, fine-tuning them for your craft? Making you more aware of life, of nature, of lingering in the moment ...

How does summer work for you?

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Fishing For Facts

2011-08-22T07:44:00.009-04:00

Here's a genuine school of fish ... These swimming friends are painted on the side of an elementary school in Niantic, Connecticut. And today they're trawling for information, casting a line for lessons you might share. Life lessons, technical lessons, any knowledge they can reel in and apply to living their choice lives. Would you suggest persistence? Zoom in close? Weed often? Revise, revise?

Today you are the teacher. This school of fish wants to learn about pursuing a craft, or hobby, or passion. What one lesson would you share?

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Coffee Break

2011-08-19T07:52:00.008-04:00

Part of living any choice life and pursuing our crafts is the coffee break. I mean, a real coffee break. Inhaling the aromas, lingering with the flavor, feeling your life relax.

This looks like a nice little bistro to stop at for a coffee, doesn't it? Caffee Toscana is in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, and is just percolating charm. I think today is the perfect day for us to take a coffee break, dreaming of a cafe like this one, all cool and mellow on a hot summer day.

Everyone's gathering in The Comments, if you'd like to pull up a chair and say a cyber-hi, maybe chat a little. Enjoy :)

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Fresh Spin

2011-08-17T07:39:00.008-04:00

In the arts, we are encouraged to bring something new to our genre. Something not seen before, a fresh spin on the tried and true. Like the fresh spin these sunflowers bring to view. Their happy faces give the dreary tree trunk an exciting new look, a new purpose! Without the towering flowers, most of us would walk past the old tree trunk without a second glance.

See what a fresh spin does? It gets attention, elicits a reaction. And there's an element of fun with it, too.

Are you bringing a fresh spin to your craft? A new color to your garden? An unusual angle to your photographs? A rare viewpoint to your story?

What sunflowers are you bringing to your work?

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Beached

2011-08-15T07:43:00.011-04:00

Whoever owns this boat apparently loves to fly. The open skies must call to them often. They think about, dream about, engrave it on a boat! But sadly, it looks like their passion has washed ashore. It's beached, stranded up on on the sands of life.

Has your passion ever been beached? Unable to stay afloat? Washed up with fatigue, or writer's block, or interruptions? How did you get it back to smooth sailing? Did you wait for the tide to turn and lift you along? Did you nudge the boat back to sea? Maybe you sent out an SOS, or even abandoned ship.

Gather round this beached boat and share your rescue story ...

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Own It

2011-08-12T07:46:00.013-04:00

There's no doubt this woman is a painter. She's sitting at a local outdoor festival, working at her easel, a palette of oil paint set beside her. But it's more than that ... There's an assured look about her as thousands of people walk past. One thing is clear - She has no qualms about "owning" her painting passion. And look what happens when she does. Harmony occurs. Her passion and her self are one with her surroundings, inviting others to stop, observe and enjoy. Knowing precisely her identity brings an interest that makes others want to share it, if only for a few sunny moments.

Part of a choice life comes from ownership. A certain authority and confidence come from simply making the decision to own your choices. No doubt. No question.

So whatever your interests, from the small ones ... your taste in music, fashion, or food ... to the big ones that you hope will shape your choice life, own your passions for all to see. It's worth it.

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Self Portrait

2011-08-10T07:43:00.006-04:00

Fashion is a form of visual communication. It reveals a little about who we are. Carefree or refined. Colorful or monochromatic. Classic or boho. In a sense, fashion is also a form of art. We create an image using color and texture, style and attitude. It's a way of interpreting ourselves visually. Fashion becomes the medium for our canvas, revealing tone, character and attitude. In that sense, we are all creating, every day!

So this summer, how are you painting your picture? Are there happy splashes of color? Trendy maxi dresses and floppy hats? Or casual tanks and denim capris? Flip-flops or Espadrilles?

What's your summer fashion portrait?

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

All Aboard

2011-08-08T07:36:00.026-04:00

We all know that living our choice lives, and pursuing our crafts, is a journey. And sometimes that journey is like a ferris wheel, all ups and downs, stops and starts. You might pause, teetering on the very top, or you might free-fall right past your destination. You might want to get off, but have to go around one more time. And then, hovering, the seat sways and leaves you breathless.

So writers, photographers, chefs, marathon-trainers, musicians, knitters. Are you just getting line? Are you climbing your way up? Dropping out? Are you stopped in the middle and wavering, enjoying the ride?

Where are you on the ferris wheel of your journey?

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Summer Porch Series

2011-08-05T07:46:00.015-04:00

Rate the porch in the 4-Coffee Cup Rating System ...

1 Cup - Flip-FLOP

2 Cups - Made In The Shade

3 Cups - Hammock Worthy

4 Cups - Ice Cream Time!

~Joanne
On My Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Hues of You

2011-08-03T07:40:00.013-04:00

For this photograph to work, for it to say hot summer day, it definitely needs all the boat colors going on here. There's something about the sundrenched yellow, the sun-faded red, the ocean blues, that only together define the warm August morning. One solitary color wouldn't communicate summer as well.

Does your passion have a particular hue? A certain shade reflecting the mood, the essence of your words, images, gardens, homes?

What colors identify with your choice life?

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

By The Sea

2011-08-01T07:39:00.034-04:00

It's a good day for a daydream. With this hot and steamy weather, really, who feels like working? So let's take a little break from ruminating on our choice lives. Instead we'll ruminate on which cottage we'd pick if we could spend the summer in one. What do you think?

Stately, on the rocks?

Or how about ultra modern, on the peak?

Maybe you prefer an old bungalow?

Do you have a favorite?

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Mirror, Mirror

2011-07-29T07:42:00.016-04:00

Like the mirrored swan, art is a pure reflection. Our selves shimmer in writing style, in images painted on canvas, in architecture and fashion and song. Tone and color and texture are the ethereal mirror. Are we gentle, genuine, flashy, bold? Sincere, flawed, content, searching? And so, it can be uncomfortable putting ourselves on display in our craft. What if the image isn't liked? What if it is criticized? What if we make a mistake? Vulnerability comes with the art.

Unless we do like the swan. Unless we allow dignity and composure to frame our work. Unless we bow to the calling. Unless we let the art be such a part of us, we cannot separate one from the other.

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Distractions

2011-07-27T07:42:00.018-04:00

Sometimes you try, try, try as you might to live that Whole Latte Life and distractions just keep stopping you. Like what I saw here, for instance. There I was, minding my own business living the writing life, immersed in a manuscript revision, deep in research and edits, and this had to rise in the window beside my computer. Sheesh. I'm trying to get some work done here! Ah well, what's the saying ... Red sky at night, writer's delight :)

Are you ever distracted from your writing, your painting, your sewing, gardening, cooking, antiquing? What distracts you from your craft?

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Details, Details

2011-07-25T07:40:00.004-04:00

When I came upon this exhibit in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the absolute symmetry of the pieces caught my eye. Every object is perfectly aligned. You just know that whoever arranged this exhibit loves their job, their passion evident in the scrupulous attention to detail. Can't you imagine the level, the measuring tape, and all those erased pencil marks on the wall?

Passion has different ways of showing itself, and this is one. Detail. Detail shows the close attention given to bring out the best in art. Here, it's reflected in the symmetry.

Are you fussy with your petunia color? Do you tweek characterization? Is a particular place repeated in your settings? Do you measure precisely in your recipes?

What one detail do you like to fuss with in your art?

~Joanne
(On my summer break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!)

Illusion

2011-07-22T07:45:00.006-04:00

Do you see a candle wick glimmering in yellow flame here? If this was the only photograph on the post, you might actually visualize a deep magenta burning candle seen from above.

You might not think of this ...

A beautiful tulip.

So much of perception comes down to perspective. To how wide our vision expands. To angles and viewpoints. It's a critical factor we bring to our crafts.

The burning candle wick instead of the brilliant bouquet.

Illusion. Try moving in close, to a place, a painting, a book, a photograph, yes a garden, even, and seeing it differently. Find the detail, the varying paint-strokes of art all around you.

~Joanne
On my Summer Break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!

Shield Yourself

2011-07-20T07:41:00.015-04:00

Thick skin. Nerves of steel. You need these if you choose to express yourself in the creative arts. Opinions are subjective. Criticisms are readily available, cutting or uplifting. Rejection is commonplace, sending us back to our computers, easels, cameras, desks, ready to revise, edit, renovate, discard.

Writing, photography, music, art ... Arenas of the brave. When you submit your work for an exhibit, for publication, for listening, for representation, are you prepared for the response, good or bad? An artist must persist, must maneuver the negative email, the returned SASE, the silence, the varied opinions, the discouragement, the painful near-misses.

Do you ignore unwanted responses? Learn from them? Study them for clues?

How do you shield yourself?

~Joanne
(On my summer break, I'm repeating a few past favorites. Enjoy!)

Summer Wish

2011-07-18T07:43:00.010-04:00

Summertime has a way of gently beckoning. The flowers and gardens and yes, those beautiful porches, along with the hazy warmth, invite us to stop for a bit, don't they? There's a certain lure to slow down and be a part of its peace.

So I'm taking some time off, friends, to idle with my family during the summer. The garden calls, tomatoes need staking, flowers pruning. The sea beckons us, walks welcome my summer musing. Concerts invite us to spend time beneath the August stars.

Favorite posts will run until I'm back online in a few weeks, ready again to ponder this Whole Latte Life right along with you.

In the meantime, grab an ice cream cone ... linger with a beach read ... wish upon a star and enjoy these summer days.

~Joanne

Summer Porch Series

2011-07-15T07:35:00.006-04:00

Rate the porch in the 4-Coffee Cup Rating System ...

1 Cup - Flip-FLOP

2 Cups - Made In The Shade

3 Cups - Hammock Worthy

4 Cups - Ice Cream Time!

~Joanne

What I Love About Self-Publishing by Author Karen Walker

2011-07-13T07:30:00.003-04:00

To kick off a new Whole Latte Life series, What I Love About ..., author Karen Walker is stopping by today to sing the praises of Self-Publishing.

Karen is a longtime blog pal and writer with essays published in newspapers and magazines, as well as an anthology series. After a career in marketing and public relations, she went back to college and graduated summa cum laude in 2005 from the University of New Mexico, with an emphasis in Creative Writing. She lives in Albuquerque with her husband Gary and their dog, Buddy. When she's not writing, you can find her doing International Folk Dancing, singing at retirement communities with her trio Sugartime, hiking, reading, or hanging out with friends. Please welcome Karen to the Whole Latte Life stage ...

Thank you so much, Joanne, for hosting me on my book blog tour. First of all, let me say that self-publishing was not my first choice. I’d tried to obtain an agent for almost two years. Perhaps my query letter wasn’t effective--I’ll never know. It’s just that I knew I had something to share about my life journey that just might help others struggling with similar issues and I didn’t want my hard work to languish in a desk drawer forever. Self-publishing my memoir is a decision I don’t regret.

Here’s what I love about self-publishing:

• Having creative and artistic control over cover design and interior layout.
My one thought on this is to hire a designer if you don’t have the skills to do this yourself. You want your book to look and feel professional--just the same as all the other books you find in bookstores.

• Owning all the rights as far as ISBN’s, e-books, etc.
When you choose the self-publishing company, make sure you do own all the rights and materials.

• Freedom of choice in terms of content.
That being said, I would caution writers to make sure to hire a good editor before self-publishing. I worked with several: One who I hired prior to the query process and two editors at the self-publishing company I worked with.

• Self-Publishing is losing its stigma.
The publishing industry is changing so much, even agents are suggesting that an author who self-publishes will not harm their writing career by doing so.

I’m not advocating this for everyone. It’s a lot more work than writers who have been traditionally published. But when faced with the choice of self-publishing or not having your work see the light of day, it is definitely something to consider.

Blessings ~ Karen
...............................................................................................

Thanks Karen. It seems that choosing self-publishing does show a real commitment to the craft and is definitely another avenue writers can take in their journey to living their passion :)

Karen will be visiting in The Comments, so feel free to ask any questions about the Self-Publishing choice, or just stop by for a coffee and a quick Hello!

You can visit Karen at her blog, here ...
To learn more about Karen's memoir, and to purchase a copy, please visit ...
Amazon.com
Smashwords.com

A Latte Lifestyle ~ Video Tip 1

2011-07-11T07:35:00.010-04:00

Latte Lifestyle Tip #1: Escape

Sew & Steady

2011-07-08T07:43:00.009-04:00

Sometimes imagining the scope of a finished project is intimidating. Doubt rises. We question our ability to create something so fine, so beautiful, so important. The commitment of time and labor necessary to reach that destination seems daunting. Fear and doubts of our own skills and abilities stop us from moving forward. The knitting is left in a basket; the piano left unplayed; the manuscript left in a drawer.

So it's important when beginning a book, a painting, a remodeling, a garden, a project, to remember this ...

One stitch at a time. That's all. Don't overwhelm yourself with the months of details behind a symphony, a museum piece, a New York Times Bestseller. Just do one stitch perfectly, then go on to the next stitch. Because, before you know it, one stitch at a time, one after the other, leads to this ...

Dishing Website Design

2011-07-06T07:35:00.017-04:00

My New Website

www. Three little letters with huge implications. The first place people turn to find out about who we are and what we do is the World Wide Web, so we need a welcoming address there for them to visit. Working with my daughter Mary, we recently had some makeover fun and redesigned my website. I supplied her with the written content, and with her talented and insightful eye, she managed and incorporated the design. Mary's joining us for a coffee today to talk about what she sees, from the designing side, when building a website. Welcome, Mary ...

Hey everyone, I'm happy to be here and share with you my Top 3 Web Design Myth Busters today ~

Myth #1 You have to pay thousands of $$$ for quality web design.
Not true. There are free DIY website builders available, you just have to find the one right for you. A simple Google search will bring up options, from basic website builders to ones with dynamic flash elements. To keep it looking polished, connect your site to your domain name. But don't worry, that's not going to break the bank.

Myth #2 Websites need lots of pages and written content to be effective.
No! There's nothing worse than a cluttered website. I'm not going to click to 10 different pages and subpages. A website should be a quick, simple, and clean visual advertisement for your audience. Less is more.

Myth #3 Using a pre-made website template is fine.
To an extent. However, the keyword you'll want to remember is "customize." A pretty, pre-made template is nice and all, but what does it have to do with your writing, or sketching, or sewing? Before you even start to design, ask yourself what's unique about your work. Is there a unifying theme? A specific audience? A certain image or concept? You all know how coffee helps define my Mom's blog, and that carries over to the rest of her writing. For me, that image was the springboard for my design. I customized colors and images and fonts and titles as I considered how coffee influences her work. So, remember to modify your site's template based on what makes your craft unique.
..................................................................................................
Thanks Mary, you're a great partner in design ...

Now for a whole latte fun, click to tour my new website, here.

Then come back and let's talk websites. Do you have one? Do you think they matter? Are you nervous about designing one? What's important to you in a site?

Mary is joining us in The Comments to dish design, and will be glad to answer any questions.

~Joanne

Summer Porch Holiday Bonanza

2011-07-03T08:00:00.013-04:00

What better way to celebrate our nation's independence

Than by enjoying a Whole Latte Life Summer Porch ...

As a special Holiday Weekend Treat,

Rate the porch in the 4-Coffee Cup Fireworks Rating System ...

1 Cup - Fizzled Out

2 Cups - Sparkler Sensation

3 Cups - Wow!

4 Cups - Star Spangled Splendor

~Joanne

Weekend Wishes

2011-07-01T07:25:00.002-04:00

Wishing you all ...

Fireworks of Color,

Sweet Summer Days,

And a little Catnap on the side, too :)

Have a great Fourth of July Weekend!

~Joanne

Penny For Your (Happy) Thoughts

2011-06-29T07:42:00.008-04:00

Wouldn't it be nice to keep a bank of Happy Days? What an investment, compounding smiles and laughter, art and nature, good food and conversation. Then, when we need to dip into the rainy day fund, feeling a little low on bliss, we can shake out a Happy Day to relive.

A choice life includes so much more than our passion. It includes sharing moments with others, immersing ourselves in Happy Days of experiences and togetherness and dedication to each other.

So let's break the bank! What recent Happy Day from your life can you add to the Whole Latte Life Happy Days Bank?

~Joanne

Bridges ... Cross On Over

2011-06-27T07:41:00.027-04:00

This boardwalk bridges worlds. It bridges the little boat marina behind it to the sandy beach before it. But there's more. It bridges the reality of my everyday life to a summer escape. Sitting there looking out at the sea, responsibilities of home lift away in the sea breeze. I'm free of chores and bills and cooking and appointments, while I sit on this summer "bridge." Here, I'm part of the vast sea, the horizon and the sky.

The same happens with our craft. It must, in some way, bridge to our home life. Even though they are two different worlds, creative space and family space are both part of our days.

So there's some journey we take to get from one to the other. Do you take a walk before writing? Check in with your blog pals? Do you observe nature before putting your paintbrush to the canvas? Craft a to-do list?

What bridges your home life to your creative life? What's your boardwalk, so to speak?

~Joanne

The Road To Your Dreams

2011-06-24T07:46:00.004-04:00

If I could, I'd live on this street.
I don't think there could be a better street for me to live on.

All those words and stories and books, so suited to a writer.

If you could name the street you live on after your passion,

What would you name it?

~Joanne

Fairy Tale Endings

2011-06-22T07:43:00.002-04:00

There's something so fairy tale about a wedding, don't you think? All the wonder of designer gowns and elaborate ceremony has us hoping for a beautiful union that's always happy. There's promise in a wedding, a promise started with true love, a new life started with a toss of the bouquet.

As we commit to the union of our selves and our crafts, from learning to outline to revising to querying; or developing paint skills into more advanced techniques; or serving up our cooking skills to foreign dishes, we hope for one thing, ever and always . . .

It's at the heart of our efforts. We seek it out the best we can. It's the promise of a happy ending for our project.

What would be the fairy tale ending to your latest creation?

~Joanne

Stories Within

2011-06-20T07:39:00.001-04:00

Often in a shop like this, you'll find two stories in the books on the shelves. One is the book itself. It takes a little imagination to piece together the second story. It's the one with a personal twist, found in the book's inscription.

Try it. Open the inside cover of a used book and see what you find. Christmas wishes for a sister, or graduation hopes for a child. Maybe the author signed the book, adding a personal note of best wishes to the reader.

My copy of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, copyright 1938, bears a signature of Edyth on the inside cover, followed by the name of a farm. I imagine her reading this novel decades ago, journeying to Manderley from her quiet New England homestead. Who was Edyth? Was she happy? Did she crave an escape with Rebecca? Was she young, longing for a different life? A whole story unfolds . . .

The beauty of this is that we get to see how our crafts have reached people. We see how our stories, our words, are cherished and passed along as a gift, and how they fit into many different lives.

The next time you buy a book, for a gift or for yourself, inscribe it with a message, a date and place. And become a part of the cherished book's story.

~Joanne

On Tour

2011-06-17T07:46:00.003-04:00

Okay, so we've contemplated empty auditoriums, and talked with a musician who has performed in concerts around the world. Whether it's a full house in front of us as we stand at a podium, or a few stragglers beyond the microphone, that audience is the reason we put our work out there, presenting our art to the world before us.

So how do we actually make that connection? Well, a tour of course. Book tours, traveling art exhibits, a horse show circuit, blog tours. What better way to bring yourself together with your audience than to give them a time and place to meet and greet.

If you've published a book, did you tour it? How'd it go? Or pick a place for your very own tour to begin ... Where would it be? In your hometown at a local indie bookstore? In a metropolitan area? Manhattan? Chicago? How about at a country fair? Or online on a blog tour? Maybe in a museum?

Let's think ahead, and start planning our own tours :)

~Joanne

On Stage With Drummer Kenny Aronoff

2011-06-15T07:45:00.013-04:00

Performing in South Korea

At a recent gig in Moscow, rock and roll drummer Kenny Aronoff performed with John Fogerty for an audience that included ex-President Putin. Having performed concerts everywhere from the Kennedy Center Honors to the Kremlin, from America to Africa, he returns now to Whole Latte Life's stage. Please welcome Kenny back for another coffee and conversation as we consider audiences and the characteristics of the crowds ...

About the Moscow audience
The show was all right. Ex-President Putin was there, and the new President. They introduced us and I swear, there was one handclap. Clap. Clap. Clap. I’m like, Did we show up at the wrong party or what? It was a whole evening of entertainment … There was eating, and there was a ballroom orchestra at one end. So like, I’ll tell you, I was playing to nobody. I’m thinking, this is a joke. But anyway, you just do it. I do it for perfection, just to play great. Maybe they were taking notice of what Putin does. Maybe Putin didn’t clap and if he doesn’t clap, we don’t clap. You see? You never know. So I don’t know. They got up, eventually, to dance, but it took forty-five minutes.

On adjusting the drumming based on the locale or culture
No, I don’t. I’ll sometimes ask John Fogerty if he wants to play louder or softer in a particular venue, but he always says “No. No, you better play full-out.”

On trying to consciously engage the crowd
I just do my thing. I focus on doing my job.

Advice on staying tuned-in or connected with the audience

Kennedy Center Event 3/2011

Well if they won’t connect, if you can’t connect with the audience, then in my case I can connect with the band. If you’re a writer or something else, you connect with the art. And that’s how you do it. Obviously you’ve got a passion for what you do, so you connect with that. It makes it a little more difficult, because you’re not going to get a reaction. But you connect when you can visualize somebody you’re writing to, or singing to, or performing to. You can create the connection.

On the differences in various global audiences

2010 Japan Fugi Rock Festival, Performing with John Fogerty

When I used to play in Japan with Mellencamp, back in the 80s and 90s, they were way more conservative. They wouldn’t applaud until the end of a song. And they would just sit. They were very, very strict, and they would sit, and at the end of a show they would almost militarily, uniformly, walk out. There was no engagement then. We would be rocking our butts off and running all over the place on stage, and they’d just be sitting there. Now that audience has changed. They’re up and they’ll rock, it was just a different time.

So there are variations in audience. How about in coffee … Were there any interesting coffee shops in Moscow?
Well, see, I didn’t walk around. I got in, and when I woke up I went right to sound-check, came back, had an hour and a half, and went right back for the show. I had coffee in the hotel, I had coffee at sound-check, I had coffee before the show. Yeah, I was coffee-ing up the whole time. I can’t remember what kind it was, but it was good.
...................................................................................................

Thanks Kenny, for giving us a glimpse of what you see from that rock and roll stage.

Bloggers, there's standing-room-only in The Comments. Take the stage there with your thoughts on connecting with an audience, or with questions for Kenny on his audience experiences. The curtain's rising ...

~Joanne

Your Worst Nightmare

2011-06-13T07:45:00.007-04:00

Imagine playing a sport, or giving an outdoor concert, and the seating looked like this. Or you're giving a reading from your brand new novel, or performing in a musical recital, or exhibiting your photographs, and you look up to see this. Your worst nightmare. Not one person showed up, took a seat, or expressed interest. Oh the dread!

Try as we might, we have no control over some things. Like audience participation. Or ticket sales. Or bestseller status. That might be what we fear most in the pursuit of living what we love. Those things over which we have no control, things we can easily imagine the worst. Like no audience in the theater.

As you continue to finetune your project, be it a book, a song, a meal, a garden or garment, do you have any fears about what's to come? What's your worst nightmare?

~Joanne

Summer Porch Series

2011-06-10T07:44:00.031-04:00

Rate the porch in the 4-Coffee Cup Rating System ...

1 Cup - Flip-FLOP
2 Cups - Fun In The Sun
3 Cups - Staycation Approved
4 Cups - Ice Cream Time!

~Joanne

Risking It All

2011-06-08T07:43:00.003-04:00

Swimming here, no one is around to help if a strong undertow pulls you far from shore. You'd better be pretty darn levelheaded and strong if you choose to swim at this beach. The risk for danger is serious.

But there are situations when risk is good. It can tip the scale in your favor, particularly with the arts. The controversial photography exhibit garners headlines and audiences. The bold new spin given to a classic rock song sells cds and concert tickets. And a fresh, original storyline brought to old themes launches a novel up the bestseller lists.

Risk is a responsibility we assume as artists. It makes the difference between ho-hum and number one! So, are you levelheaded and strong while challenging your self and your art with risk? Or do you leap in spontaneously with a new idea, hoping to rise to the surface with sheer boldness?

How do you take risks doing your own thing?

~Joanne