Tag Archive for: Paula Gail Benson

The Courtesy Strategy

/in /by
2015 Celebrity Apprentice Cast with Donald Trump

I
don’t watch many reality shows, but Donald Trump’s The Apprentice has always fascinated me. When it first premiered,
with non-celebrities participating, I followed the program until Bill Rancic
won the initial challenge. Each episode, I remained glued to the screen. Then,
afterward, I would berate myself for enjoying a show that encouraged folks to
undermine their opponents in order to take the prize.

For
those of you who have avoided the temptation, please let me congratulate you.
The premise is that Mr. Trump brings together talented individuals from all
walks of life to be divided into teams, compete against each other in
accomplishing business tasks, and eventually be eliminated (“You’re fired”)
based on judgments of their work product, their cooperative abilities, and
their capabilities to outlast each other. The original prize was the
opportunity to manage a Trump-owned enterprise. Later, the participants were
limited to people considered “celebrities” (including actors, singers,
comedians, reporters, athletes, reality stars, and people generating media
attention) who played for donations to selected charities.

So,
I weaned myself from the terrible viewing habit, although I must admit some
backsliding to watch Omarosa’s manipulative efforts. Of course, I was intrigued
when celebrities became involved, and had to see if what I read about Gary
Busey’s antics was true. Then, this year, how could I not tune in for Joan
Rivers’ last TV appearances?

Leeza Gibbons
There
is a more personal reason that the current Celebrity
Apprentice appeals to me. It features among the players local girl made
good, Leeza Gibbons who grew up in Irmo, South Carolina, a suburb of Columbia,
and attended the University of South Carolina. Also, I went to law school with
her brother Carlos.

Leeza
Gibbons came to prominence as an interviewer of celebrities on Entertainment Tonight. She also hosted
her own programs and infomercials and has been a competitor on Dancing with the Stars. She’s beautiful,
intuitive, kind, supportive, and the epitome of a lovely Southern lady, which
is why she seems to be doing so well in this round of the Celebrity Apprentice.

In
the early episodes, Leeza followed a Bill Rancic strategy,
remaining low key, but always available and part of the team. She appeared
level-headed and evaluated the situations reasonably without making derogatory
comments. She even expressed regret and concern when people faced the
boardroom. At one point, Geraldo Rivera asked her when she would step up to the
plate to be project manager. With demure tact, she managed a non-answer.


Then,
the task arose to make a viral video for Chock Full of Nuts Coffee. Making
videos is Leeza’s forte. So, she stepped up to the project manager slot,
listened to the recommendations of all her team members, and ultimately took
charge to direct the process, including making use of a dispute between two
female team members and incorporating it into an edgy, controversial film for a
conservative product. Even she admitted she wasn’t certain how it would go over
because it pushed the envelope, but with her classy presentation, her team was
victorious.

Geraldo Rivera
Now,
Leeza and Geraldo, two reporters, one respectful and deferential, but savvy,
and the other inventive and intelligent, yet erratic, face off in the final
challenge that will air tonight (Monday, February 16, 2015). Who will be the
victor? Will class overcome brash?

As
you can imagine, I intend to watch the resolution. Maybe because I was raised
in the South and have seen its manners work successfully in so many settings, I
have to admit I’m rooting for a Leeza win. I haven’t felt as guilty following
the episodes this time because I saw less of bad behavior being rewarded and
more of courtesy and kindness being admired.

What
do you think? Is courtesy the preferred strategy? Can it be used for a
competitive advantage?

 

Resolution as Metaphor

/in /by


This
year, I made two New Year’s resolutions. The first was to carry only the
essentials in my purse.
I’m
a person who delights in handbags. In particular, I like to carry totes, which
accommodate lots of extra stuff. As a result, my shoulder and back are
constantly aching from the weight I carry.
Hence,
this year, I determined to lighten my load.
My
second resolution was to drink more water. Perhaps part of this resolution came
from the fact that I had the flu the last week of the year, and discovered the
keys to getting better were taking the antibiotic, getting lots of rest, and
keeping hydrated.
Liquids
are very comforting when your throat is sore and nothing tastes good. They’re
both filling and moisturizing, two very satisfying feelings associated with a
comfortable, healthy lifestyle.

At
some point during my recovery, I read in a writing craft book that characters
should be viewed as metaphors rather than people. Interesting concept. Rather
like the passion plays from the medieval times where audiences were encouraged
to associate characters with good or evil.
It
made me wonder if resolutions should be viewed as metaphors instead goals. Is a
resolution a plan for action or a reflection of what you think about yourself?
What
does it say about me that I want to carry less around and concentrate on
drinking enough fluids? Are those signals that I want to shed
unnecessary baggage and focus on keeping refreshed and vital?
How
do those resolutions relate to my writing?
If
you travel only with the essentials, you’re not overwhelmed with personal
objects. You can watch what’s around you and enjoy new experiences. And if you
keep hydrated, you have what’s essential to life. You are, in fact, embracing
what makes up most of a human body (50 to 75 percent) and of the environment
(about 71 percent of the earth’s surface and about a trace to 4 percent of the
atmosphere).
Lightness
and water are two ideas associated with movement and flow. They enable the
journey and keep the adventurer fueled to seek new possibilities.
So
far this year, I’ve been able to keep my resolutions. My shoulder and back
don’t ache, and I’m rarely thirsty.
I
know it’s hard to stick to resolutions. I’m sure the day’s coming when I slip
that extra book into my tote or stay at the computer too long without taking a
break to fill my glass.
But,
maybe when I stray, remembering how much better I felt when I was following the
resolutions will bring me back to them again. Perhaps I’ll read over some of my
writing from a time I carried only a notebook and pen instead of my iPad or
laptop and wrote at a coffee shop drinking refreshing mint tea. Maybe I’ll
notice the easy movement of my prose when I was less encumbered and better lubricated.
Then, I can sit down at my computer with a full bottle of water, type from my
notes, and feel like I’m making progress.
And,
isn’t that what resolutions are all about? Getting us started going forward
into the New Year?
 
Have
you made any resolutions? If so, what do you think they say about you and your
writing?

FOR HOLIDAY READING AND GIFTING: THE YULETIDE ANGEL by Sandra Ardoin

/in /by


Sandra Ardoin

Previously, Sandra Ardoin has published short stories
and devotional work. Her fondness for horses and westerns led her to write The Yuletide Angel, a delightful holiday
romance novella taking place in the 1890s, and available through Amazon.
The publisher, Lighthouse of the Carolinas, matched Sandra
with a good friend of mine, Susan F. Craft, who is both a wonderful editor and
author. Susan’s award-winning The
Chamomile is available through Amazon, and she has two post-Revolutionary
War novels being published by Lighthouse of the Carolinas in 2015.
I asked these two engaging authors if they would tell
us a little about the writing and publication of The Yuletide Angel. Here’s a brief summary of the story:
As Christmas approaches in Meadowmead, the residents
anticipate visits from the Yuletide Angel, an unknown benefactor who leaves
packages on the doorsteps of the needy. While others speculate about the
identity of the Yuletide Angel, grocer Hugh Barnes has discovered it is his
quiet, socially awkward neighbor, Violet Madison, a spinster who keeps house
for her brother. Hugh takes it upon himself to be Violet’s secret protector
during her nighttime journeys. When Violet’s brother announces his engagement,
Violet decides to support herself by seeking to sell her baked goods and Hugh
gives her the opportunity at his store. While Violet encounters resistance from
her family, Hugh must deal with a visit from his brother Kit, who previously betrayed
Hugh by stealing Hugh’s sweetheart.
Can Violet find the courage to do what she believes is
right? Can Hugh forgive his brother’s past transgression? Can Violet and Hugh
find happiness with each other? All these questions will have readers rapidly turning
pages.
Sandra, how did you develop the idea for this story
and why did you decide to focus on Violet and Hugh?
Paula, thank you for inviting me to talk
about The Yuletide Angel.
I set out to write a Christmas novella
and tried on various plots and characters, both historical and contemporary.
Among the ideas, I wrote about 1,800 words set in the late 1800s (what became, basically,
the first two scenes of the novella). However, with no clue what the story was
actually about, I settled on writing a contemporary. Lacking a chapter of
finishing, I decided I disliked the story and went back to peruse the previous
ideas. When I read what I had written on the historical, everything clicked,
and I knew this was the one God had in mind.
In Violet’s original scene, she was much
less accepting of her brother’s engagement, but I felt her character was headed
for trouble—that she’d be too unlikable. Also, Hugh’s first scene began as an
exercise in mood, so I needed a reason for him to be out late at night. That’s
when the secretive Yuletide Angel was born.
Currently, you are working on a novel about Hugh’s
brother Kit. Did you always plan to write about Kit or did your fascination
with him grow as you wrote The Yuletide
Angel?
When I read a novel, I invariably find a
secondary character or two I want to get to know better. It’s no different when
I write. I needed a problem/conflict for Hugh, so I gave him trouble with his
younger brother over an incident that happened five years earlier. Once Kit
appeared, I kept mulling over ways in which I could give him his own
happy-ever-after. That book, tentatively titled A Reluctant Melody, is scheduled for an early 2016 release. It
brings Kit together with the woman with whom he once betrayed Hugh—fireworks in
the making!
Will Hugh and Violet appear in Kit’s story or in
future stories of their own?
Hugh and Violet will not appear in A Reluctant Melody, although they are
mentioned several times since so much of the backstory involves Hugh. As for
future stories …?
 

Susan F. Craft

Susan, with your love of history and romance, I can
see how you were an excellent editor for Sandra. Please tell us how you came to
take on editing duties with Lighthouse of the Carolinas.
My
selection by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas to work as one of their
editors was one of those “for such a time as this” moments, when pieces of a
puzzle came together in God’s perfect timing.
Over
the past 35 years, I’ve strived to hone my craft by reading books about writing,
attending conferences and workshops, and being a member of a writers’ critique
group. I’ve learned quite a lot (and have more to learn), and wondered how I
could share that knowledge.
After
LPC decided to publish two of my historical suspense novels next year, I began
a cordial relationship with staff members, who were impressed with the quality
of my novels as far as the writing, editing, and especially the spelling,
grammar, and formatting. Through conversations with LPC, they asked if I would
like to be an editor for them.
The
timing was right in that I recently retired after working fulltime 45 years. Can
you imagine my joy? I get to work–from my home—with excellent authors and to
read historical fiction–and get paid for it.
What did you most enjoy learning about the historical
period when Sandra’s novella takes place?
My
area of historical expertise includes the American Revolutionary War and the
Civil War, so when I was asked to edit The
Yuletide Angel, which takes place in 1890, I wondered how much research I’d
have to do. Which was fine with me, because I’d rather research than write.
I
had fun learning about the history of glass making. This came about because
Sandra mentions the “plate-glass window” in Hugh’s store. I wondered if that
was a modern term, and set about my research journey. I was fascinated by
learning about the use of glass as a building material on display at The
Crystal Palace of 1851, built by Joseph Paxton to house the Great Exhibition. 
Because this blog is The Stiletto Gang, shoes and
accessories are frequent topics of discussion. Sandra, let me ask you to
respond to a question that Susan suggested. At Violet’s brother’s wedding, what
kinds of shoes would the bride and Violet be wearing?
Good question and one I didn’t address
in the story, so I’ll do so here. Lila, the bride, wore ivory satin tie shoes
with floral-patterned beadwork to match the beadwork on her ivory satin gown.
By this time, Violet was becoming more bold in her choice of attire and shaking
off the black in favor of brighter colors like red. However, she didn’t want to
show up the bride and chose a velvet dress of deep purple and matching purple
satin pumps with a purple bow on top. Both pairs of shoes had a thick, flared
heel no higher than two inches. It’s amazing how fashion is repeated over time.
It isn’t uncommon to see similar heels today. You’ll find examples on my
Pinterest board for The Yuletide Angel.
Susan, here’s a similar question for you: in your
Revolutionary War novel, The Chamomile,
a wedding occurs. What shoes did your bride wear and what special accessory did
she carry?
I
had such fun chatting with naturalist, Rudy Mancke, asking him, “The wedding
between Lilyan Cameron and Nicholas Xanthakos takes place in May 1781 in the
South Carolina swamps near Charleston. What would my bride carry in her
bouquet?” When Rudy mentioned that orchids grow wild in those swamps, my scene
was born. In that scene, Brigadier General Francis Marion, Nicholas’s
commander, has one of his men present Lilyan with an orchid he spent hours
searching for in the swamps. The other camp followers offer Lilyan a blue
mantua dress, a kerchief, and slippers. Her brother, Andrew, drapes the clan
Cameron scarf across her shoulder and pins it with the clan brooch.
Thank you both for being with us today. Please let me
highly recommend Sandra Ardoin’s and Susan F. Craft’s work. They each portray
fascinating characters and convey historical periods in excellent narratives.
Treat yourselves and others to their stories.

A legislative attorney and former law librarian,
Paula Gail Benson’s short stories have been published in Kings River Life, the Bethlehem
Writers Roundtable, Mystery Times Ten
2013 (Buddhapuss Ink), A Tall Ship, a
Star, and Plunder (Dark Oak Press and Media, 2014). Her most recent story, “Moving On,” appears in A Shaker of Margaritas: That Mysterious
Woman (November 2014). 

Wearing Cinderella’s Slippers

/in /by


This
is my first post for The Stiletto Gang. I feel fortunate to be asked to
join the group. Already, the other posters have sent me warm
welcoming messages, which I very much appreciate. A grand thing about the writing community is the support offered and received. Maybe there is an enabling factor that urges authors who work so much in
solitude to reach out to others who aspire to follow their path. An
overwhelming generosity of spirit flows from writers who have made
their mark to those toiling to achieve success.

From
looking at past posts, I see that I’ll be filling a spot long held by Evelyn
David, one of the founding members of the blog and a very prolific writing team
of Marian Edelman Borden and Rhonda Dossett.
I’m humbled by the opportunity and know I have large shoes to fill. And, I’m
grateful to my fellow posters for handing me Cinderella’s slippers.
I just hope I don’t lose one or, if I do, that it’s returned by a prince!
As
I considered my first message, I kept thinking about shoes. Shoes often seem to
have been used in literature to define women. Consider the epic battle that
ensues when Dorothy gets the witch’s ruby red slippers. Yet, eventually, those
shoes become the vehicle that transports Dorothy home, on her own power.
When
I was young, after school, I would wait in my mother’s classroom while she
attended teachers’ meetings. I would listen to the footsteps coming down the
hall and learned to recognize hers returning.
Later,
when I went out into the workplace, I saw women navigating the sidewalks in
high heels, their staccato tapping emphasizing their focus and determination as
well as their rushing to the next appointment. The sound of their steps signaled
a giddy assurance that they were in the right place and making important
contributions through their work.
When
I visited New York City, I walked along the streets, feeling a stronger
connection with the place as my sneakers trod its thoroughfares. I had read
that Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, who loved to travel, adored having
someone stop and ask her for directions in a location she was visiting, because
that made her feel as if she were part of the place. I remember my own thrill
when I advised a tourist on a New York street corner. A sense of belonging is
so reassuring.
I
guess my favorite shoe image comes from To
Kill a Mockingbird, when young Scout realizes Atticus is correct in
telling her we never truly understand a person until we have a chance to walk
in his shoes. To me, the scene where Scout stands on Boo Radley’s porch envisioning
all that had happened in their town through his eyes is a truly powerful piece
of writing.

So,
thank you, Stiletto Gang, for including me among your posters. Thanks for your
encouragement and for believing in me, a short story writer who strives to be a
novelist. And, thanks for providing this forum for those of us who love
mystery, romance, suspense, thrills, and good writing.

A legislative attorney and former law librarian,
Paula Gail Benson’s short stories have been published in Kings River Life, the Bethlehem
Writers Roundtable, Mystery Times
Ten 2013 (Buddhapuss Ink), and A Tall
Ship, a Star, and Plunder (Dark Oak Press and Media, 2014). Her next short
story, “Moving On,” will appear in A
Shaker of Margaritas: That Mysterious Woman, an anthology due to be
released by Mozark Press in November or December 2014. She regularly blogs with others about writing mysteries at http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com. Her personal blog is http://littlesourcesofjoy.blogspot.com,
and her website is http://paulagailbenson.com.