tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.comments2023-07-22T07:59:05.327-07:00Valerie J Brooks - Gobsmacked: Confessions of a Working WriterValerie Brookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comBlogger473125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-13992037522948307662019-05-04T02:29:32.847-07:002019-05-04T02:29:32.847-07:00Great Work! Thank u for wonderful information.Great Work! Thank u for wonderful information.Jobsite Table Sawhttps://bookmyreviews.com/best-portable-jobsite-table-saw/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-49035568921409617562018-01-07T22:42:17.828-08:002018-01-07T22:42:17.828-08:00FROM EMAIL:
Val,
Great to get this.
I agree, he t...FROM EMAIL: <br />Val,<br />Great to get this.<br />I agree, he tried too hard at those descriptions. What I love about Louise Penny ( most of the time, anyway) is her use of personification. Stops me mid-thought - love it.<br /><br />I am going back to writing- hope to see you around.<br />Lou<br />Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-58713094458183247242018-01-07T22:27:17.514-08:002018-01-07T22:27:17.514-08:00@AnonymousThanks Rx3! That's quite a line--a c...@<a href="#c7457998072513674660" rel="nofollow">Anonymous</a>Thanks Rx3! That's quite a line--a come on for Truck Driving Lessons on the back of a pack of matches? Can I steal that? Have you ever thought of spinning your wordsmithing into gold? Or at least into blogging? I like the lots and lots and lots of pillows. God knows I have to fluff mine all the time. Stay warm and sassy! xoValerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-74579980725136746602018-01-07T22:10:41.632-08:002018-01-07T22:10:41.632-08:00Great review. You could write a come on for Truck...Great review. You could write a come on for Truck Driving Lessons on the back of a pack of matches and my only complaint would be it was too short,but I would read and reread it. I read a review of Lady in the Window in our local Detroit paper and like you said, it was too superlative laden to get past my"hmm" reaction. Now, I think I will give it a go because I know I am going to see the movie if for no other reason than to compare it to one of my all time favorite movies, Rear Window. So I ready the scene with pink fluffy yarn, Caramel and cheese popcorn from Costco, a thermos of fresh brewed coffee with a lacing of Bailey's Irish, a soft throw and pillows lots of pillows and start the reading of a woman who chooses a window to still touch <br />a world of limited adventure. R&R&stillRAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-4954289768472773982017-10-08T15:37:49.961-07:002017-10-08T15:37:49.961-07:00Via email from Lois Jean Bousquet
This post is stu...Via email from Lois Jean Bousquet<br />This post is stupendous and, yes, some people still use that word! I'm glad I checked in today. Can't wait to get Preyed...wait, that's not right. I'm gonna love it. Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-73961149056532188792017-01-01T18:33:15.562-08:002017-01-01T18:33:15.562-08:00FROM LOU SIMAENZ via email
Dear Val,
Welcome to t...FROM LOU SIMAENZ via email<br /><br />Dear Val,<br />Welcome to the wonderful world of fiction.<br />I tried the memoir thing, too, and couldn't bear excavating the mud of my past and heritage that bubbles up creatures for Steven King's imagination - beasts that are too close for comfort. My monsters need remain buried. I, too, searched for a turning point and discovered that there wasn't just one, but many, all woven together in a fabric of disparate strands, most with no discernible beginning or end. So perhaps I write fiction as a way of hiding from myself, but I like to think that from that miasma of experiences I have done enough, seen enough, experienced enough, and understood enough to be able to develop the psyches of my characters well enough to weave them into an engrossing tapestry of mystery. <br />Hows that for over writing?<br /><br />You write beautifully - I agree you have the chops - so glad you have found that out.<br /><br />I look forward to your story!<br />LouValerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-31751499933848645162017-01-01T18:30:46.282-08:002017-01-01T18:30:46.282-08:00FROM JUDITH WATT via email:
Love your process, Va...FROM JUDITH WATT via email:<br /><br />Love your process, Val. Can't wait to read Revenge in Paris! And give it to friends!<br /><br />Funny that you mention our Film as Literature class. This past week I was looking through a box from under the house full of old cards, miscellaneous paperwork, high school reunion books and my Film as Literature papers. What fun to read them and remember the films, our conversations and Susan's lectures. Among those papers was a piece written by you titled "Outlaws, Always Outlaws". Your introductory paragraph: "It was the female great escape. Playing hooky from work, leaving family behind. Judy and I had money in our pockets, reservations at the Mallory, and plans to feed our minds and souls. Susan, friend and film instructor, was waiting for us there. We had everything." We were headed for Lewis and Clark to attend the Seventh Annual Gender Studies Symposium, "The Many Faces of Feminism." I had forgotten about that trip. You? I will mail you a copy of your writing and you can relive our fun, and enlightening, trip.<br /><br />Love and hugs,<br />Judith/Jude/Judy<br />Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-74820712534615325672016-11-13T13:41:22.228-08:002016-11-13T13:41:22.228-08:00@Julia Whitmore Unfortunately, yes. Thanks for lea...@<a href="#c2715592484008668700" rel="nofollow">Julia Whitmore</a> Unfortunately, yes. Thanks for leaving a comment, Julia!<br />Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-27155924840086687002016-11-13T12:50:54.867-08:002016-11-13T12:50:54.867-08:00Noir! A perfect match to the mood of the week, pro...Noir! A perfect match to the mood of the week, probably of the year, maybe the decade! Looking forward to the launch.Julia Whitmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12495964930033116368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-57986827516148511062016-11-07T21:26:58.735-08:002016-11-07T21:26:58.735-08:00Thank you so much, Lois Jean! That means a great d...Thank you so much, Lois Jean! That means a great deal coming from you. As always, thanks for the laugh! (Good girl? If you say so.) xoValerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-72296551244043653472016-11-02T08:57:09.297-07:002016-11-02T08:57:09.297-07:00OMG, Val! A fabulous post and so much more. One he...OMG, Val! A fabulous post and so much more. One hellofa pre-launch of Noir series, I must say. Pure brilliance. It'll be a pleasure to share with others when it launches. Meanwhile, I'm straightening my crown and tossing out my matching underwear just to be safe.<br /><br />With respect and affection,<br />Good Girl Lois JeanUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03816418225414222960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-27980188219507824392016-05-22T14:18:52.740-07:002016-05-22T14:18:52.740-07:00@Jill Thanks, Jill. It's a heartbreaker knowin...@<a href="#c1595529109462246687" rel="nofollow">Jill</a> Thanks, Jill. It's a heartbreaker knowing your dad was so upset and crying. I think my dad was the person people expected to do that. I'm sure it was hard on you, seeing your dad like that and having such a huge change in our family dynamics. Our family split apart, Kent and I going off to someplace else just to distance ourselves from reality. Wendy, of course, was the only one at home. I'm glad you two were so close. Thank you for telling me about your family's history around that time. Yes, we could have named Jason Slick, but no one could fill those shoes. We did however, nickname him Spike, kind of similar.<br /><br />We miss Tia, even with the new pup. Stevie does have big paws to fill. xoxo love alwaysValerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-15955291094622466872016-05-19T09:23:32.820-07:002016-05-19T09:23:32.820-07:00Dearest Valerie,
To read this of course brings te...Dearest Valerie,<br /><br />To read this of course brings tears to my eyes, because I remember those events only too well. It was the first time I ever saw my own Daddy cry, broken down in sobs when he received the news that his best friend and fellow WWII Vet was gone. The events that followed: the mostly silent long trip from NY to NH, and all I could think of was what could I possibly say to my "cousins" that would make them feel any better. I remember that the prior summer your parents had celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a big party at the house and thinking how life had gone completely upside down now. I know my Dad, who had introduced your parents, felt a responsibility toward your Mum from that moment on. They still took her out to dinner on her anniversary, I guess trying to keep Uncle Slick's memory alive. Not that we could ever forget him. When those two men got together there were plenty of laughs. And by the way, you could have named Jason, "Slick," you know! After all, it WAS the 70's.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your letter. And my condolences on the loss of sweet Tia, whom I was lucky to meet when your Mum first got her. Stevie has big paws to fill!<br /><br />Love always,<br />Jilly xoxoJillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16777768272296296059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-67195127628215157162016-05-15T10:14:10.110-07:002016-05-15T10:14:10.110-07:00@Ms. K @ Write On Thyme Thank you so much, dear fr...@<a href="#c4125498411981479960" rel="nofollow">Ms. K @ Write On Thyme</a> Thank you so much, dear friend. Yes, to new life, new love. Can't wait for you to meet Stevie! Soon! Blessings & much love. xoxoValerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-41254984119814799602016-05-14T13:21:35.261-07:002016-05-14T13:21:35.261-07:00Oh Val, this brought tears. Such beauty and heart ...Oh Val, this brought tears. Such beauty and heart in your writing and I felt your pain and blessedly your forgiveness in ways I hadn't in our discussions on the subject. Thank you for sharing and for the beauty of you. Love you and can't wait to see Stevie! New life, new love. Life always gives us new opportunities for love... and forgiveness. And gratitude for those who were here before. Love to you, Kirsten xoxoKirsten Steenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07497761140112542336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-72338832187016496282016-05-11T15:02:20.493-07:002016-05-11T15:02:20.493-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-40149784416247273562016-05-10T21:33:39.539-07:002016-05-10T21:33:39.539-07:00Ditto, my May birthday pal! Love, ValDitto, my May birthday pal! Love, ValValerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-91684236035065938862016-05-10T21:30:56.686-07:002016-05-10T21:30:56.686-07:00BILL POPPIE VIA EMAIL
Hi Val,
You touch my life ...BILL POPPIE VIA EMAIL<br /><br />Hi Val,<br /><br />You touch my life and I’m glad to have you in it. Here’s to our Birth Month and all the glorious struggles we are lucky enough to have!<br />Love,<br />Bill<br />Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-24893443723860967442016-05-10T21:29:51.345-07:002016-05-10T21:29:51.345-07:00Yes, it does take a certain number of years to app...Yes, it does take a certain number of years to appreciate their temporality. I do wish it were not so temporary, but we must enjoy every single minute we're given. Thanks so much for writing. Please come to Oregon again! I miss you.Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-36306375632971361352016-05-10T21:26:19.004-07:002016-05-10T21:26:19.004-07:00LESLEY HOWARD VIA EMAIL
Thank you for sharing the...LESLEY HOWARD VIA EMAIL<br /><br />Thank you for sharing the letter to your dad -- powerful, as always, to hear others' stories. And :( for the loss of the dog. I have become quite the passionated mutt-owner and as my oldest one begins to slow down, I am enjoying every minute with her because life is so short. Duh, right, but somehow it takes living a certain number of years to appreciate their temporality. Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-72616539602894074582016-05-10T21:07:43.667-07:002016-05-10T21:07:43.667-07:00Dearest Karla,
Thank you for responding with so m...Dearest Karla,<br /><br />Thank you for responding with so much heart. I love you so much!<br /><br />I remember well our talks about our fathers and suicide and then scattering some of your dad’s ashes from our deck. It was a moment of faith, your faith in me and in the ritual, and touched me deeply. Yes, your dad, the Aquarian, had found his star, and we found our lasting and loving friendship.<br />Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-68109782528359704912016-05-10T20:27:08.637-07:002016-05-10T20:27:08.637-07:00KARLA DROSTE VIA EMAIL
Val, dearest!
I am so dee...KARLA DROSTE VIA EMAIL<br /><br />Val, dearest!<br /><br />I am so deeply moved by your writing. I've always felt like we had such a bond from the moment out there by the river where we confessed our deepest pain to each other. Mine was so new at the time, it had only been a year, and I remember gaining so much solace from you; seeing you helped me know that I really could heal from this tragedy. I knew I would never be the same, but I watched you and I knew I would heal, a deeper, wiser, more compassionate woman than I was because you showed me it could happen.<br /><br />You were the first to share with me that suicidal ideation is an addictive process. That was always so helpful to me, because having my own addictive processes, I was able to understand it - - a little more. Of course, it's still painful, and I still think about him. But like you, I have come to understand his decision. I think he was also afraid he could not provide for my mom, and thanks to insurance, she would have more money if he was dead than alive. And there was a deep down pain in his soul around both the relationship with Mom and his career ending when the money dropped out of the oil business, and he just couldn't live with it. He bought the gun four years before he used it. I bet there were several "serotonin bumps" in those four years before he made his final decision. When I wrote his eulogy, I ended it with "And we are so glad you are finally free, the Aquarian has found his star." something like that - he had 5 planets in Aquarius, and saddling himself down in such a conventional life never really suited him. That made me sad for a long time . . .<br /><br />Dad died in August, 1989. I am not surprised at all that most suicides are in the spring/summer. I know that when i am feeling off or blue it is the warm weather and sunshine that can make me feel more anxious; everyone else is so happy, why aren't I? I feel left out of life somehow. Sitting by the fire, cozy in the winter is a lot easier on me when I'm feeling like that.<br /><br />So I thank you, dearest Valerie, for sharing your family story. Little will you know the healing ripples it will send out to the many people who love you and for the people who don't even know you! You are brave and wise and courageous and I love you so.<br /><br />And Stevie is adorable! Enjoy her!<br /><br />Love,<br />Karla<br />Karla Droste, MS<br />~Deepening Relationships With God- spiritualdirectorkarla.comValerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-16340516799263607892016-05-10T20:21:19.094-07:002016-05-10T20:21:19.094-07:00Dear Samantha,
I’m aware of how many people think...Dear Samantha,<br /><br />I’m aware of how many people think spring will bring relief, but my observation of the years is that it’s just the opposite. I could give you astrological reasons, too, but for now, I’m suggesting that it’s that frenetic spring energy (affecting physiological elements that I don’t understand) combined with high expectations for relief (oh, sunshine! oh, flowers! oh baby geese!) that cause the deep dive. It’s like working yourself up for the prom and finding out it’s just your classmates in fancy dress and at the end, nothing has changed. In fact your rival at school was crowned queen. <br /><br />You get the idea. In winter, we tend to hunker down and our bodies know this.<br /><br />Here’s Wikipedia’s info on the suicide aspect of the season. I found it interesting that even Australians experience the same thing even though they’re spring is our fall. <br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_effects_on_suicide_rates<br /><br />Let me know if you want to talk further about this. I’m hoping to get this info out into the world, so please pass on my blog if you think it will help others. I will try in the next week to post some ways I’ve personally found to pull myself from the “waiting for the other shoe to drop” syndrome.<br /><br />big hug,<br />ValValerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-49889594755298246612016-05-10T20:18:11.623-07:002016-05-10T20:18:11.623-07:00SAMANTHA WALTZ VIA EMAIL
Val, I found so much val...SAMANTHA WALTZ VIA EMAIL<br /><br />Val, I found so much value in this blog. Much sympathy to you of course. I was fascinated with the whole concept of back and forth spring because I wondered why when the sun first burst out my spirit sank instead of applauding. And a dear girlfriend fell in to a black hole that lasted nearly a week without understanding why. I’m going to read this several more times tomorrow. I’ve never heard the concept before but a guy friend likes winter best, fall next best, and I didn’t understand that either. It helps me understand him better. I hope you reach a lot of people with this “confession.”Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-971026925134956743.post-39567808769708355202016-05-10T20:14:59.529-07:002016-05-10T20:14:59.529-07:00BARB SULLIVAN VIA EMAIL
Your beautifully, painful...BARB SULLIVAN VIA EMAIL<br /><br />Your beautifully, painfully detailed account of how the suicide impulse works so seductively is information that should be broadcast as widely as possible--because I don't think that's very well understood. If it were, people contemplating suicide might make very different choices, or at least more informed ones, and their loved ones might be better able to see the signs in time to reach out instead of having to struggle for resolution in retrospect: even if the outcome were the same, the result would be different. <br /><br />I also respect and admire the path you show through the tangled chaos survivors must travel--a path that follows compassion while also recognizing how natural it is to be angry when someone leaves us in this way, a path that avoids judgment while laying out evidence, a path that leads to the inevitable conclusion about where the blame really lies.<br /><br />Suicide is epidemic in some places (Greenland, for example, where one in four people attempt it), and in some groups--our own vets, as you point out (41% higher risk of suicide than the general population). One common denominator, at least in the failure to prevent suicide regardless of causative factors, is silence.<br /><br />Thanks for the time, energy, and heart that I know this post required.Valerie Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03974801169865595635noreply@blogger.com