FICTION IN A FLASH AND PAINTING, UH, NOT SO FAST
WRITING STUFF
I placed three more flash fiction pieces with FLASHSHOT – no scheduled dates for publication yet, but look for these titles in September/October: ARTIST'S MODEL; IF YOU FEED THEM,THEY'LL STAY and WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS?
I worked a bit on the novel this month, but it's slow going as I am stuck on one of those pivotal plot points and can't make up my mind. Sometimes you come to that literary fork in the road and can't decide which way to go. Yes, I know: I should write BOTH – but really, who has that kind of time? Oh, yeah, that's right - I do. Sigh.

Okay, maybe I'll write it both ways and see what happens.

The problem with that approach is that sometimes both ideas work out and you have to choose between 100 pages of something that works and 100 pages of something else that works. Worst case is the Time Wasting Effort in which you produce 100 pages of something that doesn't work and another 100 pages of crap. That's just plain depressing.

So it's back to 100 word flashes that either work right off or get deleted.
Here's a sample of one of my recent flash pieces – this was published in FLASHSHOT on July 6th 2009:

FLASHSHOT
Daily Genre Flash Fiction
==================================================
ISSUE TWO THOUSAND-SIX HUNDRED-NINE July 6, 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A SURE THING
By Kate Thornton

"Sorry, no casino," the man at the desk said.

Michele blinked. What kind of local tribe had no casino?

"Stay for lunch, we have the Breadbasket Buffet, Buffalo Grill, and Corn
Doll Café."

She chose the café and ordered soda, pizza and chocolate cake.

Her waitress smiled. The resort was the old Chief's idea, just something
to keep everyone busy.

From the top floor, the view was reservation land planted thick with corn.
A train of tanker cars stretched from the processing plant.

There was no need to build a casino, not with the ultimate revenge -
high-fructose corn syrup.

copyright 2009 Kate Thornton
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's a sample – quick and to the point, under 100 words and with a grin at the end if possible.

Pros of Flash Fiction:
It's quick and easy to read
It gives the writer immediate satisfaction

Cons:
It takes as much time to write short as it does to write long
It is a bitch staying under 100 words and still painting the whole beginning-middle-end picture
Characters must be drawn fully in only a few words

But I love the puzzle of it, the challenge. Sometimes I'll write a 500 word piece, then edit it down to 75 or 100 words just for practice. There's nothing as satisfying as a concise sentence with exactly the right words. It's hard to do.

Practice it – take a "what if" idea ("Hey, what if that guy over there trying to operate his new Blackberry is really more than 800 years old?") turn it on a plot point ("The very old guy with the Blackberry discovers that his ancient fingers can text, if he goes slowly. But his messages can only be deciphered by other 800 year olds on the planet.") and write it out so it makes sense. Then trim it to 100 words.

See? Not easy…

PAINTING STUFF
Writing is difficult and takes a lot of time, but it's a breeze next to painting.

This month I will pick up 2 pieces from Bunny Gunner's SUMMERTIME show and 2 pieces from the da Center for the Arts WATER show. I will drop off 2 pieces for Ashley Ashley's GONE FISHIN' show. I am working on a larger piece for the HEAVY METAL show and a large piece for no show in particular.

I am still experimenting with my painting style, although I seldom stray from my compulsion shape, that ubiquitous circular thing I am forced to put in every painting.

But it has been so hot lately that I have had trouble with my paints – I work in oils and use a quick drying glaze medium to thin them for transparency. It means stuff dries too fast in the heat. If I thin with oil, then I lose the texture I need and the stuff never dries. I keep plugging away at it, though.

And I had an idea about the 2 pictures from the SUMMERTIME show. I did 4 pictures for the show, but only sent 2. I think I want to have all 4 framed on a black background – sorta like my "LEARNING THE NUMBERS 1-10" (shown in photo below between OBIE & AMY) only not vertically, but in quadrants. It won't be cheap, but I think it will look great. The pictures are about heat.

THE SOCIAL CALENDAR

We had a few friends over for drinks last week – it was fun. Here 's a pic of OBIE LOAGUE and his friend AMY. OBIE owns the Sugar Rush Café & Gallery and AMY bought one of my "NAM'S RED DOOR" series paintings.

Here's JER in the Eames chair and that's BRUCE EMERTON 's friend FREDDIE waving. That's BRUCE EMERTON and LINDA GARNER in the background.

Also present were BRAD LINDENBERG, AARON & LESLIE COLE and CHERYL SAVOIE.
I love having company – next time maybe a full-fledged party – or maybe just several evenings of different guests.


THREE BEAUTIFUL THINGS

The Summer Orchids in full bloom. Okay, the whole patio – pretty in the daytime, a magical place at night.

Drinks at DBA 256 on Fourth Saturday – with Jer, Linda Garner, John Clifford of Pomona Heritage and of course Tibbi, proprietor extraordinnaire.

We dragged one of the large rubber tree plants into the house too – indoor/outdoor living!

Be careful out there!

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT: The Last Few Months of Painting, Art, Writing and Surgery

I guess my twice-yearly update should be something momentous, but one of the reasons I have not updated since April of 2009 is that I have been busy with the minutia of life.


ART:

Okay, lots of painting. I had pieces at the dA Center for the Arts in the past few exhibitions. Someone nice bought my fund-raiser plate, "Jungle Chicken" before I had a chance to photograph it, but take my word, it was pretty weird. Someone else bought one of my very favorite paintings, "IN THE TIME BETWEEN", from the Members Show at the dA Center.

Over at SUGAR RUSH CAFÉ & GALLERY, I sold "NAM'S RED DOOR" which was exhibited at the dA's SIMPLY RED SHOW in February of this year. The buyer phoned me for the story on the painting and I was touched and delighted that someone wanted to know more about it.
Obie, the gallery owner at Sugar Rush, asked if I had more like it as it generated a lot of attention. As a matter of fact, it was part of a series I did on dreams of the red door of a Vietnamese bar across the road from Ft MacArthur in my old Army days. I'll be delivering 2 of them to Obie next week when I get the wires on the back.

Currently on exhibition at SUGAR RUSH are several paintings, including my PATTERN RECOGNITION series from the SQUARE FOOT exhibit at the FIFTY BUCKS GALLERY and my tribute to one of my favorite painters, Fr. Bill Moore, "EVENING WITH FATHER BILL."

Coming up: 2 paintings in the H2O Show at the dA, a couple of paintings at BUNNY GUNNER GALLERY for the Second Saturday opening of the SUMMERTIME show and paintings for Ashley Ashley's GONE FISHIN' show.

On the enjoyment front, I was delighted by the recent show at FIFTY BUCKS GALLERY, PET SYMMETRY with knockout works by Jen Wilkins and Juan Thorp. One of Juan's painting was his proposal of marriage to Susie Eaton – I hear they are planning a February wedding at the dA Center for the Arts, and the gallery show will be SIMPLY WED instead of the usual SIMPLY RED show. Sigh – ain't love grand?

I heard my DH, Jerry, bought us a painting by Jay Merryweather at BUNNY GUNNER GALLERY, a surprise birthday treat. (My birthday was the same day as the dA' s 25th and just a day or two from Susie Eaton's of BUNNY GUNNER.) I think we can pick it up this week!


It was a great birthday – I celebrated for weeks: tea at the Huntington Library with special friend Nan, lunch at Akbar's in Pasadena with special friend Chris, lunch in El Segundo with special friend Trollman, lunch with Jerry and Brad at Sugar Rush and a Swedish Midsummer Festival Party in Pasadena with hosts par excellence, Tama & Johan, under the Swedish moon. Here's Brad at Sugar Rush...

WRITING:

I wrote three flash stories for FLASHSHOT magazine.
A SURE THING will be published July 6th
MARK DECIDES ON A CAREER IN PLUMBING will be published July 19th
NOSE JOB will be published August 5th
Check out FLASHSHOT and get fresh microfiction delivered every morning for free! (And you can read stories you have missed in the ARCHIVES)
I am trying to finish a nice crime story or three by several anthology deadlines. My story, CELL PHONE did not make it into the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime's forthcoming anthology, MURDER IN LA-LA LAND. They sent out rejections to everyone I know who submitted, but I have yet to see a list of who or what that got in. I've had a story in the past three out of four collections – it's blind submission, so there's no hanky-panky, just inexplicable editorial choice.

It will be making the rounds of all the usual places as soon as I get some time.

I'll be hosting a short story seminar at the BURBANK CENTRAL LIBRARY sponsored by the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime:


BURBANK CENTRAL LIBRARY
110 N. Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank CA
Tuesday, September 1st
7 to 9pm
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Come and learn techniques for beginning as well as experienced writers!

SURGERY:

I had a septoplasty in May as my nasal passages were blocked (a congenital defect shared with my brother.) I had a wonderful surgeon, but it was painful, healed slowly, and was very messy – I'll spare you the blood-and-everything details. If I had known it was going to be that difficult, I probably wouldn't have done it. That's why my brother assured me it was a piece of cake – he knew I really needed to have it done. A six-week recovery was topped off by a virulent stomach 'flu and a blinding (literally) migraine. But now that it's all over, I feel great and breathe much better.

THREE BEAUTIFUL THINGS:

All the summer orchids are blooming, some for a second time! The phaelenopsis & oncidium beauties are gorgeous. My brother and his wife will be visiting over the Fourth of July weekend. They've been on the road for a vacation for the past month and we are the last stop before they return home to Yuma, AZ. When they go on the road, they go on the road! They visited Montana & Idaho, among other places.

Friends at the FIFTY BUCKS GALLERY – also friends at the American Legion Hall (yes I'm a Legionnaire!)

Be careful out there!

WRITING, PAINTING AND WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?

FIRST, the News of the Weird:

Okay, it's been a while since I updated the blog – mostly because so much has been happening and also because I forgot my password and Google makes it virtually impossible to recover a lost password.

I signed up for some serious physical therapy, and it seems to be helping me (although all PT is torture.) My Therapist, Brett Haslop, is not only cuter than a kitten's whiskers, he's also a real pro who understands what I want from the torture – namely, to get some strength back in the left side if possible. And it is possible – it's only been 2 weeks and I am already seeing a difference.
But here's the really weird part: my favorite TV show is NCIS and Brett, who has done lots of extra work in TV & movies, played a dead Marine in one of my favorite episodes! Here's a link to NCIS Season 6, Episode 5, NINE LIVES. He doesn't get name credit because he didn't have a speaking part (duh!) but that opening scene where they find his dead, tortured body is worth about a million looks. He says the makeup was so realistic that it creeped him out, too. There are other great scenes of him on the autopsy table.

WRITING NEWS FLASHES!

Last week I was a guest blogger on Every Day Fiction's FLASH FICTION CHRONICLES. Please check out this fabulous blog written by and for Flash Fiction aficionados. GAY DEGANI is the gatekeeper and driving force behind this endeavor, as well as a novelist and short story writer of note. But check out all the posts, as there is a multitude of viewpoints presented and very valuable information for every writer.

My post is really about who writes short stories when it's the novelists who get recognition, money and book signings.

And while you're at it, sign up to get a Short Story delivered to you inbox every day at Every Day Fiction. There's no fee, no hassle, and the stories are great.

NEWS FROM G.W. Thomas at FLASHSHOT: His fantastic email service – delivering a Flash Fiction micro gem of 100 words or less – to your email inbox daily has been converted to a blog where you may read these quickies daily at your leisure (and also go back and read any you may have missed.)

Bookmark it here: FLASHSHOT BLOG

PAINTING NEWS

The Sugar Rush

(Hanging right in the front lobby!)

I am currently showing a collection of my paintings at the SUGAR RUSH CAFÉ & GALLERY. This cozy spot is well-known for excellent food, terrific artisanal coffees (brewed individually with Chemex carafes) and the friendliest service around.

The Owner/Gallery Manager is "OBIE" (OBEDIAH LOAGUE) and his vision of a café/gallery has really taken off. PAUL LIU is the Assistant Manager, and in addition to being very personable not to mention gorgeous (how is it I am spending a lot of time these days in the company of attractive young men?) these gentlemen have an eye for abstract art.

Obie Loague Paul Liu

The clientele does, too – I have already sold a piece right off the wall! (Nam's Red Door, originally shown at the Simply Red Show at the DA Center for the Arts)

It is a fine piece, one of my best efforts, and I am proud to have it go to a good home.

Nam's Red Door

Here are more photos of the works at Sugar Rush:

I am delighted to have had such success in this past year – I have sold five works and have started painting a new series, Pattern Recognition. Many thanks to the DA Center for the Arts, Bunny Gunner Gallery, Vincent Bluesky Gallery, and Gallery 475.

Here's a preview of a work in progress:

And there's news on the Website Front, too – my new website will be at Katethornton.net – right now it points to the old website, but that will change as the new material is produced and uploaded.
So I'll try to keep this site updated on a more timely basis, too!

A BEAUTIFUL THING!

My friend Nancy at Louise's - we had a wonderful dinner and caught up on old times.

Be careful out there.

PAINTING STUFF: TIME IS LIGHT

NEW PAINTING DIRECTIONS

Going from dark to light...
I have been painting in oil on canvas for more than a year - not long in the natural scheme of things, but long enough for me to have changed my initial rigid compulsive style.

I started with the tangible concept of Time - something that has bugged me for more than half a century, and which grew more tangible, more visible and more insistent after my cerebral vascular accident. The first three paintings I tried were direct visual representations of this, and I have them - framed and a constant reminder of where I started - on my studio wall.


I like them very much. (That's "Present" "Future" and "Past", left to right. If you click on any of the pictures here, you will get enlargements.)






They look almost monochromatic, don't they? I knew absolutely nothing about pigments, oils, paints, thinners, glazes, gesso, impasto, or anything else at the time. I just knew I had to paint these things and I had to do it right then.

The next paintings - still the same subject - were more complex in visualization and execution. You can see how deep they are, how layered and dark. I think I have painted about twenty in this style. (I have to collect 10 of them from local galleries this week.)


That's "Chinese New Year" on the left and "Untitled" on the right.






Today's paintings are a bit different.

They are still the Same Old Thing: visual representations of my concept of Time in its many forms, but I have discovered the lighter side of it, at least a lighter side, a side that is less about two hundred coats of thinned down black oil and glaze medium and more about reducing the conceptualization to a purer, lighter and more simple form.

See how the basic shape that defines my concept remains. (Untitled work in progress)






Here's another sample - different, eh? ("Blue #3")





I wonder what makes this compulsion evolve. I know pretty much where the compulsive behavior comes from, why it is that I feel pressed to make these paintings, no matter what (that's no matter that I don't know how, or have any time, or any history, or any rational reason.) But I can't figure out why it changes.



I have a painting hanging at Sugar Rush Cafe & Gallery right now - "Before the Moment" - and although it was painted horizontally, the gallery owner, Obie, has hung it vertically. He knows I paint in a mirror sometimes, or work on a piece sideways. But I always know which side is up. I think.



My brother who lives in Arizona visited me this past week and commented on the change. He thought the lighter colors reflected a lighter spirit, that they were less dark, therefore less unhappy. But I don't think that's it at all - there is no happy-unhappy to them, just as time itself does not reflect that sort of emotion. They may evoke emotion in a viewer, but to me they are more energy than emotion, more urgency than happiness. The lightness isn't happy-lightness; it's more transparency-lightness, I think. But what do I know - I just know which side is up. I think.


THREE BEAUTIFUL THINGS

large yellow cymbidiums



The orchids are blooming. I grow cymbidiums on the patio and they are the usual February-March profusion of flowers in lovely cascading sprays.


pink cymbidiums

yellow cascading cymbidiums with red lips

The little "plumicot" tree out in the kennel is covered in tiny pink blossoms - the promise of delicious fruit this summer.

The weather calls for more light rain this week - but I heard there were sixteen inches of snow somewhere back east. My weather - even with rain - is a beautiful thing. It's all relative, isn't it?



Be careful out there.

ART STUFF - BUNNY GUNNER GALLERY KICKS!

HOMAGE - IT'S NOT JUST FOR FILM MAKERS ANYMORE


I was painting this morning and I had an idea - well, I had about six bazillion ideas, it's how I paint, but I had one that made me laugh.


Yesterday I was in Bunny Gunner - the frame shop/gallery on Second Street with my DH & Susie Eaton, the proprietor. We were looking at the All You Can Eat Exhibition, a remarkable show of hundreds of small works by artists we know and love. We couldn't even get near the place on Opening Night, but the daytime is perfect for viewing the art.

While there, Ashley S. Ashley came in, gave me a kiss (love the way he does that!) and I noticed his beautiful wall art pieces. His stuff was over near the dozen or so tiny paintings by Fr. Bill Moore, one of my favorite painters, and there was a piece of Ashley's that looked like a Fr. Bill piece. He explained it was an homage, and frankly, my dear, I loved it.

I got to thinking - I have done a painting of my own that looks a bit like a Fr. Bill piece - I thought it would be fun to do one of my own signature glazed synesthesia-inspired time pieces as if Fr. Bill would have done it.


As I looked around I saw work by Thomas Stubbs, R.T. Pece, Amy Maloof, Cheryl Bookout, Juan Thorp, George Comer, Tom Pathe, Michael Maas, Tomoko Suziki and literally dozens of others, all favorites, all different, all with that unmistakeable fire that lets you know you're experiencing Art - the real thing.


Anyway, while painting this morning, I thought wouldn't it be fun if there could be an exhibition of work by All The Usual Suspects in the style of Fr. Bill Moore - or just in the style of any other admired artist?

Just a thought, Susie (and Terrie Castillo over at the da Center - maybe this would require a larger space.) But I think it would be fun. I'd love to see what everyone came up with.

Anyway, here's the piece I was working on when this hit and a picture of my studio - it's not a mess, that's just how I work...




And here's my "Ode to Fr. Bill" piece

THREE BEAUTIFUL THINGS

Okay, Art is always beautiful, even when it's hard to understand

(Mark di Suvero's "Joi de Vivre" - I am a big Mark di Suvero fan)


The rain has let up for a few days and the place is starting to look like a home instead of an ark

The new Danish Modern setee is coming tonight! Okay - not new, period vintage like our house - even better! Michael from Futures Collide and Vincent Bluesky from Bluesky Gallery will deliver and stick around for Irish Coffee - now that's Beautiful!

(I like it from the back - it's a lovely piece indeed!)

WRITING STUFF - BIG CHANGES COMING

Okay – It's Just My Website

I have several rinky-dink websites, one going back to 1997 or so – and they all cost me money, look terrible, don't provide you with much information about what I do, and in general are a point of sore embarrassment to me.

So I am going to change this situation.

I know, I know it's been more than six months since I've even updated this blog – what makes me think I can do something as complex as a new website when I can't even get the blog going? Well, I'm getting professional help. Several folks have suggested I get professional help. This may not be what they meant, but…

Since I write for publication and teach writing classes, one part of my bifurcated website will be all about My Writing Life. And since I paint and exhibit my work in galleries, the other part of the website will be about that, with lots of photos of my paintings and the places they are shown.

My Studio
Me at the Da Center Gallery

And who is that professional website designer? It's the incomparable Jerry Lerma who is busy designing websites for the State of California University system at CalPoly Pomona. He has announced his retirement plans as of the end of this year and I want to be the first in line for his services when he's available.

He has also promised to do the yard work and maybe paint the interior of the house. Yes, the shoemaker's children have long gone barefoot – Jerry is my DH.

BUT WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?
Nothing Much, Except…

Now I will be able to spend some time getting back to updating the Blog here on writing topics – I have neglected this for too long.

For example, I taught a Short Story Workshop last month to 30 members of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime in Pasadena, CA. They were all preparing murder stories for an upcoming blind-submission anthology and I was able to tailor the workshop directly to their needs.

A couple of weeks ago I taught a workshop for short story writers of all levels of expertise, experience and interest at the Altadena Public Library. Chief Librarian Pauline Dutton was a joy to work with, and we had a turnout of nearly 50 people!

Altadena Public Library

MORE WRITING STUFF

My Writing Space

Here is an outline I used to teach the Altadena Workshop. Feel free to let me know if you find it helpfiul.

BASIC SHORT STORY WRITING
With Kate Thornton

1. Short Stories – What Are They?
a. A Guide to short story formats/lengths
b. We won't get rich writing them

2. Basic Story Structure
a. All stories – whatever the length – have a beginning, a middle, and an ending
b. Vignettes are not stories
c. Get a GRABBER!!

3. Where Do You Get Ideas?
a. Use your head. And your hands and feet, too – and everything you've ever read
b. The Idea File

4. Getting the Story Written
a. The BIC Concept
b. The Blank Screen of Death
c. Putting together scraps – and what did I do with that Idea File?
d. Just do it now vs. Lemme get it absolutely perfect

5. Are We There Yet?
a. How do you know when it's done?
b. Formatting – what is Standard Manuscript Format?
i. Fonts, spacing, indents, electronic formats

6. Now What? What To Do With a Finished Story
a. Revise! Or, it's never really done, is it?
b. Critiques – Or, who are all these people and why are they trying to hurt my feelings?
i. Groups, Individuals and Your Sisters (in Crime, that is) Online and offline
ii. Your family & friends who are not writers
c. Submit
i. Pay vs. No Pay – why they both work
ii. Anthologies, ezines, magazines, your church bulletin and the garden club newsletter
iii. Don't forget non-fiction venues

7. QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, SPECULATION and Are You Ready To Get That Story Ready?

REFERENCES

SHORT STORY LENGTHS:

These are guidelines; numbers vary

Flash: up to 1000 words (includes Micro Fiction – 500 words and below)
Short Short: Under 2,000 words
Short story: USA 2,000--7,500 words
Short Story: UK and Commonwealth 1000 - 12,000 words
Novelette (General Fiction): 7,500--15,000 words
Novelette (SF & Fantasy): 7,500--17,500 words
Novella (General Fiction): 15,000--30,000 words
Novella (SF & Fantasy): 17,500--40,000 words
Novel (General Fiction): Over 30,000 words
Novel (SF & Fantasy): Over 40,000 words

SOME OF MY FAVORITE ONLINE GROUPS:

Short Mystery Fiction Society - http://www.shortmystery.net/
Crime & Suspense Mystery Magazine - http://www.crimeandsuspense.com/
Absolute Write Water Cooler – http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/index.php
And their main site - http://www.absolutewrite.com/
Sisters in Crime Los Angeles - http://www.sistersincrimela.com/

A SHORT STORY BY THE MASTER HIMSELF, EDWARD D. HOCH (the most prolific mystery short story writer, well known for his regular appearances in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine):
http://www.mysterynet.com/Christmas/mysteries/three/

THREE BEAUTIFUL THINGS

Getting the Blog going again. Yes, it's been waaaay too long.

DH agreeing to do the websites. It feels like a whole new online life!

The rain. Okay, I am sick to pieces of it, but we need it and it gives me a great excuse to stay indoors and write or paint. And the light in the studio on a rainy day is just magnificent.

It's good to be back.