Springtime Arrival

9 03 2010

There’s nothing like a spring thaw to really lift spirits in this corner of the country.

The recent warm weather in Toledo has been really uplifting for all of those students at the University of Toledo who are not off in Mexico for spring break.  Somehow, the weather went from hovering in the upper 20s to a consistent temperature in the 40s, sometimes in the 50s, this week.

Of course, those of us who live in Toledo year-round also recognize that this is the start of something bigger: the beginning of spring.

The real beginning of spring – also called Spring Equinox – doesn’t actually take place until later this month, the 22nd or the 23rd of March.  However, in the land of frigid winters, we take what we can get.

What’s so great about spring in Northwest Ohio?

Fish Fries
Okay, so most places with Catholic churches have Fish Fry Fridays, but Toledo’s relatively high Catholic population (“Everybody in Toledo is Catholic,” according to one of my classmates) means that there are a lot of them around – and my parish in particular has a great reputation to uphold.

Flora
No, not flowers – flora.  The plant life in NW Ohio is pretty stunning when a person takes the time to check it out.  Aside from all manner of flowers, the Toledo area is host to a great number of visually-pleasing trees, bushes, and shrubs that burst into life when the weather warms up.

Weather
Spring weather beats all!  From cool, crisp sunny days to breezy, drizzly rain, the weather in the region at this time of year – mild, because tornadoes don’t like touching down in the city – make walking outside (and walking to class) a decidedly pleasant experience.

There are other things about Northwest Ohio that are pretty cool, but those three probably top it.

What do you like best about spring?





An Open Letter to Students of Midwest Universities

3 02 2010

Author’s Note: I’ve noticed a few things around my campus that are really very strange.  I wasn’t quite sure what to make of them until I realized that the students involved in the very strange occurrences probably weren’t from around here – or, in fact, from anywhere north of… say… Tennessee.  So for all the Californians, Floridians, and southerners who attend midwestern universities: this letter is for you.

Dear Students,

I have seen you walking about campus, and I’m not sure if you fully understand where you are.  You are not in Florida.  Or California.  Or Arizona, heaven forbid.  You are in Ohio.  O-H-I-O.

This is a fact that you cannot avoid.  It is a fact from which you cannot hide.  Ohio is a mystical land that is a force of nature of its very own accord.  It stops for no one and nothing.  Therefore, allow me – a lifelong citizen of this lovely state and this particular weather-beaten area – to give you a few tips on remaining safe and healthy in this climate.

  • Bundle up. I understand that, where you are from, shorts may be worn all year long.  In Ohio – particularly in this area of Ohio – that is not so.  You must, in fact, cover up your legs, men.  Besides, no one here wants to see all that hairyness.
  • Drive slowly and carefully when there is snow on the ground. Yes, I understand that it’s pretty and fun to throw up in the air as you drive through it.  No, I do not care to be hospitalized in a snow-related collision.
  • While we’re at it, for Pete’s sake, do NOT text while you’re driving. This is extremely dangerous to do on any college campus, where pedestrians can come out of nowhere to suddenly leap before your vehicle.  Not only that, but in the city where my university is located, it’s illegal.  So please don’t do it.
  • Again, put some @#%# clothes on. You may think that you look cute, wearing your supershort skirt or short-shorts with some thin leggings underneath and some Uggs, but to us, you just look stupid.
  • Make sure that you eat right. And I’m not talking just eating an apple in the morning, a salad at lunch, and two slices of greasy pizza for dinner.  Get full, balanced and nutritious meals while you’re living in this area.  That means gettig enough protein in your diet to keep your body working the right way in a Toledo winter.  Eat some chili or have some hot chicken in the dining hall for dinner and eggs in the morning; if you’re vegetarian or vegan, make sure you get enough soy or legumes in your diet.  The worst thing you could do in an Ohio winter is let your body wither away.  Next thing you know, you’ll have swine flu or something.
  • Don’t go tanning in January. It’s not spring break yet.  And you look orange.
  • Stop whining about this being a “boring” city. Seriously.  You came to Toledo looking for fun?  While our university has three of the best programs in the state – in Engineering, Pharmacy, and Business – our city happens to be the #9 poorest city in the US.  We’re more or less Detroit’s feeder city.  What Detroit goes through, we go through.  And our biggest employers?  Two different car companies.
  • On that note, start looking at what’s good, not what “sucks”. Toledo has a high-ranking art museum and zoo.  Cleveland is home to the Rock’N'Roll Hall of Fame.  Sandusky has Kalahari and, more importantly, Cedar Point.  No matter where you go in northern Ohio, there’s tons to do.  Stop looking for a club – you can find those anywhere in the country – and start looking for unique things, like coffee houses with free live music and free or cheap concerts.

If you follow these guidelines, living in northern Ohio will become much more pleasant for you.  And a lot warmer.

Sincerely,

The Author





Defeating Writer’s Block

23 01 2010

Every writer, in every shape and size, gets writer’s block.  It’s really not a matter of how good the writer is – how much technical skill the writer has – how smart or clever the writer happens to be – or even how well-educated the writer is.  Every writer gets writer’s block – because, hey, we’re all human here.

(If, by any chance, you aren’t a human and are in fact a zombie, I don’t think this really applies to you anyway.)

Now, I’ve had a massive case of writer’s block recently, and because of my oh-so-busy schedule – in which I attend classes, do homework, and go to work at a part-time job – I haven’t really had the chance to try and break the block.

At least, not until now.

There are several things to do to help you get over your writer’s block, either as a writer of nonfiction (articles or nonfiction blogs) or a writer of fiction (novels, short stories, novellas) or even as a writer of poetry (if you need an explanation for this one, maybe you’re not cut out for this writing business.)

Margaret Atwood mentioned a few tips on writer’s block in her blog.  She has some good suggestions.  A lot of her suggestions involve some creative mixing around, and some just involve doing other things until your muse comes back.  (I think that’s just so you don’t waste your time staring at blank paper, though.)

Anyway, I’m no Margaret Atwood, but here are a few things that may help writers of a less professional nature, students and hobbyists alike, may also find helpful.

  • Try going out of your comfort box. If you’re having trouble with your novel, spit out some poetry; if songs are your thing, try writing a journal-type article on something totally unrelated.  Writing is about creativity, so get creative.  If you open your mind to something new, you may find yourself opening up the floodgates.
  • Travel somewhere, even if it’s just the short ride from Toledo to Ann Arbor or a train from Rahway to the city.  While you’re traveling, try writing in a journal or taking photos.  It’ll help you de-stress and make you think.
  • If all else fails, go for a run. The endorphins are good for your brain.  At the very least, you’ll get your blood pumping, and eventually you’ll have something to write about – how tired you are, how you twisted your ankle when you missed a step, or even about that cute girl you met in the park.
  • Read a book. Okay, so this may not help you at all – you don’t want to rip somebody off, after all.  But books are pretty great, and reading one will help you remember why you started writing in the first place.
  • Visit your local coffee shop or bookstore. And I don’t mean Starbucks and Borders, either.  I mean the indie one downtown.  The one that’s family-run.  To find an indie bookstore in your neighborhood, check out NewPages.com.  Indie bookstores are always a great environment – and a good cup of coffee might stir up your brain.

If you’ve tried all this and you still can’t bring yourself to write, it may be time to work on another manuscript.  Maybe the one you’re working on now just isn’t meant to be.

For more writing tips, keep checking back!





Reasons to Celebrate!

16 01 2010

It’s just past the halfway mark of January 2010, and Glass Tower Press (and me, too!) have lots of reasons to celebrate the new year – even this far into the month.

  • The TECH Project, the first title from Glass Tower Press, will make its debut on the 28th.   The book is a young adult novel about the lives of twelve young superheroes as they work to defend their city from a group of terrorists.
  • Its sequel, The Final Experiment, is still in the works, but a background book based on one of the characters will be released by Glass Tower Press later this year, in Fall 2010.  Dance, Dance is the story of Ian Drake, a member of The TECH Project’s Version One, during his freshman-year transition into high school.
  • Today marks the launch of TheTECHProject.Net, the official domain-name site of The TECH Project series.  The site includes a blog, information on your favorite characters, and much more.  Keep checking back for information on giveaways and contests!
  • Glass Tower Press is now accepting submissions for 2010!  If you have a novel appropriate for anyone between ages 13 and 25 – particularly an action-adventure story – please submit a query to this address:

Glass Tower Press
Attn: Submissions
506 Ogden Ave
Toledo, OH 43609

There’s so much exciting stuff going on in 2010!  What are you excited about for this year?





Happy New Year!

1 01 2010

Hello friends and fans!

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2010 is going to be full of new experiences and new surprises, so I hope you’re prepared!

All right, now down to business. January 1st means that pre-orders for The TECH Project are now open! You can get a pre-order form in many places, but the easiest place to get one is by downloading it. You can download it here.

If you live in the Toledo area, don’t worry about the shipping and handling fee – most in-town orders will be hand-delivered, so all you need to do is list your address and the book will magically find its way to you on January 28th!

More fun can be found on the Zoe Lee and Gordy Johnson pages, as well. Keep checking out those pages for some fun character insights – and keep watching for more!