Barb's Blog - Barbara E. Stefano

Stepping Outside the Bubble -- And Letting Others into Your Writer's Shrine

1/27/2015

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I'm letting myself be altered. I've been holed up in my shrine for too long, and it was long overdue.

Like millions of others, I bought Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. (I won't review it here: I'm not deep enough into it, and there'd be little I could add to the lengthy discussion anyway.) You see, I'm a writer, and for too long I forgot that writers need to be readers too. At least any writer worth her salt has to. Sure, I read all the time: blogs, Facebook posts, news, those vapid little quizzes like the ones Amy Dunne journals about in Flynn's bestseller. But I wasn't making time to consume books. This is what I want to write; this is what I should be reading, right?

And, sadly, I had forgotten what an amazing influence any piece of literature can be on how you process and express. It doesn't matter that I saw the movie and know the ending. What matters is the scenery I'll take in along the way. That "scenery" is inspiring me. I'm taken with how Flynn puts her words together, and it's a reminder to me to be fearless in being my authentic self and doing what comes natural to me -- rules be damned.

It's not a blatant influence, one where I'm compelled to borrow wording or "Ooh, nice use of punctuation! Think I'll be using that!" It's just a nice butterfly effect that happens when you walk outside of your pristine bubble once in a while. It's the casual brush against a stranger in the supermarket that transfers coat fibers or cat hair -- maybe even the cold virus -- onto you. You don't even know it's there, but it's there. And it changes your world in little and not-so-little ways without your even realizing it. You don't have to go out looking for it; just let it happen.

Order Bobbi's Canon: Round 1 for Kindle, Nook, Google and Apple devices, and on paperback.

Sneak Preview: "Bobbi's Canon: Round 2"

1/23/2015

      “I think you have a stalker. Behind you—don’t turn around!”
    Sherl Lane-Craft squinted intently at the sandy-haired young man who had followed her and her little sister several blocks to Blueberry Hill and taken a seat at the next table. There was something vaguely familiar in the square-jawed, sober-looking gent—Bobbi could see that much in Sherl’s expression—and it was killing her not to pivot in her seat for a good look.
    “Anyone you recognize?” she asked, irked. “Is it the dude from NBC with the God-awful plush Pergo remnant he calls a toupee?”
    “No, no faux follicles on this one. He’s pretty cute, actually—kinda Robert Redford-y. I think he’s one of the newbies at CNN.”
      A pen and tiny notepad peeked out from the front pocket of his business shirt. That and the dark, crisply pleated slacks screamed “yuppie with aspirations.”
    Three months after Robbie Westbrook’s death, local and national newsies were still clamoring to get an exclusive with the grieving girlfriend who watched him die. A brilliant comedian on the brink of stardom overdoses on cocaine after a Machiavellian manipulation: The major networks were salivating all over the made-for-TV tragedy. Bobbi’s physical beauty and talent—and her stubborn and persistent evasion—intrigued them all the more.
      “We should have waited for a damn booth,” Bobbi grumbled, fussing with her menu. “Let’s just leave.”
     “I’ve got a better idea,” Sherl said, rising from her chair. “Hey, Dan Rather wannabe!”
     Her loud proclamation drew the attention of every patron in the bustling restaurant. The young blond fidgeted and blushed.
     “Yeah, you. We totally saw you follow us through, like, the entire Loop. She’s not doing interviews, so why don’t you just order your burger to go and break in those pleather shoes somewhere else, douchebag?”
     Bobbi lowered her head to the table and laughed until she snorted.
     The young man rose from his chair, embarrassed, and slid a business card in front of the snickering Bobbi before turning to walk out.
     “In case you change your mind …”
     “If she changes her mind, she’ll call Barbara freakin’ Walters,” Sherl shot back. “Loser!”
     She took a quick, playful bow—a gesture several customers answered with applause—then plopped back into her seat, more than a little satisfied with herself. Bobbi shook with barely stifled laughter; her cheeks blazed a bright red and her eyes watered profusely.
     “Okay, that was worth the aggravation ..."

Order Bobbi's Canon: Round 1 for Kindle, Nook, Google and Apple devices, and on paperback.

My Many, Many Mugs

1/23/2015

Enzo selects his souvenir mug at Alewine Pottery.

I don't need a lot of dishes. It's just Enzo and me in this house, and if we wash dishes once in a while, we don't require many items. But, man, I love my mugs.

I'm not talking the free promotional ones--the plain white, straight-up-and-down, 12-oz. standard coffee mugs emblazoned with a company logo or some crass expression. I'm into seriously well-crafted mugware. Ones you take home from an artisan or specialty shop from that vacation-to-end-all vacations. I have a cabinet full of them. They take me to different places, mentally, where I can be more free and creative.

There are several from Alewine Pottery in Gatlinburg. They're handcrafted and substantial, and coffee tastes so much better sipped out of them. One, from my first trip to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge with Enzo, reminds me of our lunch in the quaint little cafe next to the pottery shop and the little antique stores we tucked into to indulge my shopping quest. Another two were from our recent joint mini-vacation to Townsend, Tennessee, with two good friends. When I drink from it, I can't help thinking about the talented singer/guitarist, Rod, who entertained at the Back Porch restaurant during our first dinner together in town. I aim to return there sometime soon and talk shop with that guy.

Today I relived a idyllic stay in Hot Springs, North Carolina, a few years back as I enjoyed my coffee from my totally touristy little red mug. It's short and squat and one of my personal favorites. And, yes, I even have a few of the standard promotional mugs: one from a former employer, another with a photo from a company Christmas party, a logo mug from my college alma mater and another I won at a memorable visit to the Bissel Mansion with my family.

They all have a place, and each has a story--I'm all about stories. I'll continue to overfill my kitchen with more drinkware than any one person should have. But the memories, those I need.

Officially Frustrated with Official Press Release Surprises

1/22/2015

I thought I had a pretty good grip on the whole press release thing ... but I tend to write them, not necessarily upload them.

In my work with Outskirts Press, I pen a lot of PRs over the course of each month. I know about incorporating keywords. I know from a former editor's perspective what might catch attention in a newsroom. I'm familiar with standard formatting and acceptable word counts. What I didn't fully realize was how difficult some of these PR firms can make the process!

You see, they don't tell you upfront when/if they require an official "business email account," meaning NOT one with gmail or yahoo in it. (My own business email is a Gmail account.) This is a little nugget they save for after you've registered, entered your contact info and uploaded, edited and previewed your press release. Then boom! "So sorry, but Gmail isn't, like, a 'real' email address. PR rejected."

Still, I managed to get my press release about Bobbi's Canon out there. I personally emailed it to more than 150 local and regional news contacts, and did manage to get it posted to three or four free PR services. So, nanner-nanner to those of you who reject my Gmail!

Bobbi's Garage Sale - January 22: "The Concert in Central Park" - Simon & Garfunkel

1/21/2015

Every month or so, Bobbi's Garage Sale will feature a special item that fans of music, books, movies, food and wine -- and other of the finer things in life -- will want to have for themselves. Usually, it'll be something collectible or at least of nostalgic value. Other times, it could be just plain silly. That's the magic of Bobbi's Garage Sale: You never know what will emerge from the dust ...

The sale debuts with Simon & Garfunkel's "The Concert in Central Park" on classic vinyl. Bobbi Lane, the central character in Bobbi's Canon, cut her own musical teeth on the delicate harmonies of Simon & Garfunkel and, in particular, Art Garfunkel's angelic, crystalline vocals. Like Bobbi, I spent many, many hours absorbing the subtleties of those voices and the simple, folksy, often poetic and plaintive lyrics on this album, a favorite in my personal collection. This double album is in excellent condition and features nearly 20 of the legendary duo's most iconic tunes. (I'm most enamored with the tragic "April Come She Will"; it always brings tears to my eyes.) The Central Park performance still serves as the benchmark against which many live shows are measured, and I have many a fond memory of playing through all four sides of the show, start to finish. Now, it's up for grabs in Bobbi's Garage Sale for just $9.00 (shipping is free)!

BUY NOW! To purchase Simon & Garfunkel's "The Concert in Central Park," simply navigate to the Returning Customers page, hit "Add to Cart" and fill in the purchase price ($9.00) once you get to the check out page. Your collectible will be shipped out the very next business day.

Happy shopping!!!
Thousands gathered in New York's Central Park to make musical history.

Sneak Preview: "Bobbi's Canon: Round 1"

1/21/2015

drama, romance, chick lit, black humor

Bobbi's Canon: Round 1

“She’s crashing!”

An already fading pulse had nearly disappeared by the time Jeff and his crew pulled up to Jefferson General’s emergency entrance with Bobbi Lane. Intubation had allowed him to get air into her lungs when her busted face prevented adequate CPR, but she needed advanced medical intervention now. Her lungs would need to be drained of blood; she’d need infusions. She’d need facial reconstruction.

“Stay with me, beautiful! We ain’t measuring you for a box just yet,” he cajoled. “Oh, you’ve got fire, honey, I can tell, so don’t you dare stop breathin’ on me.”

After more than a decade in the field, Jeff had learned not to take the loss of riders personally. He went into every pick-up with the mission to pass them off to the E.R. in as good of shape as he could manage, but sometimes they were simply too far gone to even be sustained until they were out of his hands. “Facts is facts,” he always said, and he’d made his peace with his powerlessness over them long ago.

But this case pissed him right off. Being in this business—the business of aiding people at their most vulnerable—he took particular offense to a man beating a woman. Manhandling anyone smaller was a dick move anyway, but this brutality was wanton overkill. This Mickey Green guy, according to Jane, was a solid two-forty on a six-three frame. The girl now laying busted up in Jeff’s ambulance couldn’t run more than a buck-ten. And, Chrissakes, that red hair—it reminded him of his first wife. This was one passenger he needed to see pull through.

“You got this, sweetheart,” he assured her. “You fight this bitch with everything you’ve got in you, you hear me?”

Then he bent down close to her as the gurney passed into the E.R. He spoke directly—intimately—to her, believing with all his heart that she could hear him.

“You kick and scream and stubborn your bad self right back to one piece again, girl. … Then you make damn sure the asshole who did this is sorry you were ever born.”

Order Bobbi's Canon for Kindle, Nook, Google and Apple devices, and on paperback.

All Your Ordering Info in Once Place

1/19/2015

I know I've bombarded Facebook and Twitter with information about the release of Bobbi's Canon in little dribs and drabs. So, I've remedied that here with all the links you need to order in whatever format or platform you choose. Please take a moment to leave your feedback on your chosen seller's site about what you liked about the book. Thank you!

Bobbi's Canon: Round 1

What's rock 'n' roll without gratuitous booze and sex? When young singer Bobbi Lane mixes it up in the music world, she finds herself unprepared for the pressure -- and the trouble she stirs up trying to cope with it. Bobbi's Canon is a three-part book series that tells the torrid tale of Bobbi Lane, a fiery and talented singer with issues and a knack for blazing all the wrong trails. Follow this ginger-haired pistol as she wends her way in and out of audiences, hearts, beds and blackouts.

Bobbi's Canon: Round 1 Kindle Edition Now Available at Amazon!
Order the Kindle Edition of Bobbi's Canon here. This electronic book is readable on a variety of devices!

Get the Paperback Edition.
Order your own author-signed paperback edition right here.
Or
Go straight to Amazon for a "clean" copy.

Bobbi's Canon: Round 1 is also available in eBook editions in the following online stores:
Barnes & Noble NOOK
Google Play Books
Smashwords

Come back often for updates on Bobbi's Canon: Round 2 and Bobbi's Canon: Round 3, the continuation of the titillating saga of torch singer Bobbi Lane. At this writing, rounds 2 and 3 are in development and expected to roll out in summer and fall.

"Bobbi's Canon" Makes Its Debut on Amazon Kindle

1/17/2015

At long last, the eBook version of Bobbi's Canon: Round 1 is available at Amazon!

It's a crazy hour of the night, so I won't opine about the long hours or even my excitement about being a published author who finally has her own name on a book. I'll just invite you to check it out and support independent authors like me and others who've worked hard on their own time to create unique and diverse works.

You should soon be able to preview the eBook in the Amazon bookstore, as well as my Amazon Central author page. And, of course, there will always be information here about Round 1 and two sequels that are slated for release in the spring and fall.

THOSE WHO'VE ORDERED PAPERBACKS, PLEASE NOTE: You're signed copies are coming soon. However, some errors were made in formatting that must be addressed by the formatter so I can resubmit the book for print. As an extra measure of caution, I'll need to print a physical proof to ensure it is laid out properly before fulfilling the pre-orders. Your copies should still be on track to arrive to you by Valentine's Day, but I will certainly keep you posted if anything changes.

Thanks all for your support!

Sneak Peek: "Bobbi's Canon: Round 1"

1/16/2015

         She’s slipping.
        Sherl listened in horror as the sharp, precise attack on every note that characterized her sister’s sound—even when she intentionally pushed and pulled or syncopated her rhythms—veered off course. She was rushing and slowing the pace, but not purposefully; she was simply getting sloppy, letting the song drag her around her instead of the other way around. A nearly full tumbler stood at Bobbi’s feet, and Sherl could only hope she had switched to straight soda. ...
        Bobbi took a long sip from her glass and turned to the boys. Sam could smell the bourbon on her breath.
        “We’re off-roading,” she called out, her code for doing an improvisational song.
        “Nope,” he shot back, shaking his head violently.
        Tony shook his head in solidarity with Sam and took several quick steps toward Bobbi to snatch her glass away before she could put any more alcohol down her gullet. The move sent the tumbler crashing to the floor, but Bobbi was already deep into a sea of tables before anyone could stop her. She wove between them, bantering with each person she knocked against on her way through.
        Sam and Tony led the band in a few halting bars of “Junkie” in an effort to cue her to abandon the improv segment. From her vantage point at the edge of the dance floor, Sherl called out for the song, but Bobbi didn’t pick up on it.
        “Now, those of you who’ve seen our gigs before and didn’t learn from the experience know that this is the part of the show where we all get a little hazy, crazy and lazy, and put you to work.”
        A handsome older gentleman handed her a shot and held up one of his own in a toast.
        “Oh shit,” Tony murmured.
        “Aw, bless yor lil’ baby heart,” she teased the man in an exaggerated Southern drawl before tossing back the shot in one gulp.
        “Ooh, mah fav’rite: rawket fyoo-all! Cough … so smooth, too!”
        Sherl stared at Tony in a silent plea for action. He glanced over at Sam, who had a barely concealed look of panic on his face. For the first time that night, the three of them were on the same wavelength. They were watching Bobbi run recklessly to the edge of the proverbial cliff and there seemed no way to rein her in gracefully. She could be bullheaded and when she got a notion into her head, there was no derailing her. All they could do was hold their breath and hope she had her wits about her enough to work the same magic they’d seen her perform dozens of times before.
        “I need a topic—go!”

Bobbi's Canon: Round 1 will be available on Amazon Kindle and paperback on or around Jan. 20. To pre-order a signed paperback, visit the Bookstore.

Sneak Preview: "Bobbi's Canon: Round 2"

1/15/2015

Bobbi's Canon: Round 2

"Droplets of blood pit-patted onto the slide of the Springfield 1911 nestled in Bobbi’s lap and she wondered if the wet gun would still fire.

She wondered, for that matter, if she had remembered to insert the magazine after loading the rounds. A frantic check of the gun confirmed the presence of ammo but in the moment of inattention to the road, the passenger side wheels of the Grand Prix dropped off the blacktop. Bobbi wrested it back over the curb and the sudden jolt brought on a fresh gush of bleeding from her mangled nose.

Bobbi swiped the blood stream from her lips with the back of her pistol hand and willed herself to stop shaking. Every muscle in her body ached down to the bone, but the most galling was the sharp, tearing pain between her legs. She was sure she was still bleeding there too.

'Mickey Green, you’re a fucking dead man,' she grumbled between gritted teeth, stepping on the gas harder the nearer she got to Handsome Dan’s Bar & Grill."

Bobbi's Canon: Round 1 is slated for release on Amazon Kindle and paperback on or around Jan. 20. Signed paperback versions of the book are available in the Bookstore on this site.