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Renee Writes Now!

~ Observations from a Writer-in-Residence

Renee Writes Now!

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Master bedroom madness

11 Tuesday Aug 2020

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author, books, business, Design, Home, Life, lifestyle, writing

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The Houston Association of REALTORS® announced it will no longer sanction the use of “master bedroom” or “master bathroom” in its MLS descriptions.

According to Realtor Magazine, “The decision to remove the term comes after a group of real estate professionals said the term ‘master’ on property description represents a potential stigma.”

In addition to Houston, Chicago realtors and builders like David Weekley have announced they will also refrain from using terminology like “master bedroom” and “master suite.” (David Weekley Homes now refers to the space as the “owner’s retreat” instead.)

Many argue that the term has no actual relationship to racism – neither does the term Master’s Degree. “Master bedroom” first appeared in the early 20th century to denote that the room was reserved for the master of the household, who almost always was a man. Why not the “mistress bedroom?” (Okay, that has another weird connotation.) Or the “biggest bedroom?” (Not very exciting.) Maybe the “significant sleeping space?”

Anyone have a better suggestion?

 

 

Award-winning author Renee Garrison will release her new book, Anchored Together, in September

 

Renee interviews author Malcolm John Baker

28 Tuesday Jul 2020

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author, books, business, entertainment, inspiration, writing

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Tell me about your background. Where you grew up, where you live now, education, work experience? Share some interesting things about yourself that we should know about.

I am a British citizen but have a permanent residency in the United States. They call me a resident alien. I think I must be a small green man from out of space, which is appropriate as my current book is to be called ‘Annabelle’ and she goes on a trip to Saturn with NASA with disastrous results.

However, I am 75 years old, although I do not feel it. I retired many years ago from business in the UK where I was a chartered surveyor. You don’t have the equivalent over here, but basically I dealt with Property Management.

What inspired you to write this book? What is the story behind the story?

I live now in Sarasota, Florida, in a golf club community named Lakewood Ranch. This is my paradise. I was married until five years ago, and after that I thought I needed something to occupy myself, so I took up writing fiction. All my stories are based on either my personal experiences, history or current affairs. I have always loved travel and have seen much of the world.

Every day I see things that are of interest and those incidents go into my books with amendments to make the adventure realistic.

My first book was Revenge is Mine, it is a story of ISIS, two generals’ families are killed in a cruise missile attack, and they set out to kill the President of the US. The story revolves around how they gained access to the country and the escapades with the FBI. He book is about love, adventure and intrigue. One of the ladies then goes to Syria with ISIS, but it does not turn out how she expected.

The next two books are FBI type books involving drug smuggling, treasure hunting in Mexico’s underground caverns. That is From a Jack to a king.Both these books would make good movie material.

The third book Daylight Robbery is as its name suggests, and I am the executive producer of a film that is made for the film festivals which are to take place when the current virus situation clears.

I have always had an interest in the legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood, so I wrote a series of four books about Merlin. There is no magic in my books, although I must say J. K. Rowling was an influence in my writing. My Merlin is a time traveler who goes back to Arthurian days with the ghost of the Lady of the Lake, Viviane, the first book is called Merlin’s Secret.He takes back information from today and they think he is a wizard. Three books have so far been published and they are all full of adventure through the ages, culminating at the end of World War II. I am working with two movie companies at the moment for the series to be made films. I found it interesting making conversations with William Shakespeare!

The last book to be published is Which is the Clone?About a young U.S. president who clones himself to come back as president later in life. Needless to say, the results are disastrous.

Do you write every single day? Any writing rituals?

 I write most days, but not more than three hours at a time, but I spend all the time when I am out collecting ideas of events and people characters. I have always self-published, but I now publish the books myself and all are available on my website http://www.malcolmjohnbaker.us

What has been your biggest challenge or obstacle?

As strange as it might seem by biggest obstacle is grammar. I was hopeless at school, but I have to say that when I question people why do they like my books? I am told because they are readable, without having to look up the meaning of every other word.  I think many more writers should go along that route This is particularly relevant if English is not your native language.

 Share some tips for other Authors or Aspiring Authors: What would you do differently? What would you do the same? Please share anything you think would be beneficial to those reading this.

To any aspiring writers I would say be careful once you get to the publication stage. There are many companies out there who are only interested in getting their income not yours.

In praise of business cards

25 Wednesday Mar 2020

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author, business, Humor, Life, relationships, writing

Business cards

Call me old-fashioned, but I love business cards.

I asked my son for his business card recently, and it was as if I’d asked him for the Holy Grail. Today, it appears that digitally-minded young executives don’t use them (sales and business development officers seem to be the exception.)

Yet, the Vistaprint company reportedly prints nearly six billion business cards each year.

I have hundreds of them, collected from acquaintances or representing jobs I’ve left behind. I view them as sentimental: Mementos of my career path representing a little slice of time or career milestones.

(Full disclosure: I pitched the ones that were so old they didn’t include email addresses or websites. What could I do with them? Origami?)

Thanks to the rise of smartphones and LinkedIn, business cards are becoming extinct. Like the dinosaur or the dodo bird, they may disappear one day. Until then, I’ll carry mine – just in case.

 

 

Renee Garrison is currently writing the sequel to her award-winning book, The Anchor Clankers.

 

 

Attending a writers’ conference

15 Tuesday Oct 2019

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author, business, networking, publishers, women, writing

FWA Conference

Writing is a solitary activity — publishing is not. That means people like me need to network and meet other writers and publishers who share the same enthusiasm for writing as I do.

Regardless of how many novels we sell, there is always something to learn at a writers’ conference. The publishing industry is constantly changing and it’s hard for authors to keep up. Honing our craft is about more than learning proper punctuation, or when to use upper case or italics from the Chicago Manual of Style. These conferences offer the sort of nuts-and-bolts information that can improve our writing and increase our efficiency in the business side of the craft.

Sure, they’re exhausting (and usually involve cold coffee and a chicken dinner.) But I recommend that every aspiring writer attend at least one. Wherever you are on the road to success, you will meet others who have been there and who are ready to help you.

 

Renee Garrison is the award-winning author of The Anchor Clankers.

Greetings

04 Thursday Apr 2013

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Tags

business, cards, e-cards, email, Family, greetings, Memories, technology

Letter

Alright, I’m sentimental.

If you open my nightstand drawer, you’ll find a card from my grandfather (congratulating me for making the dean’s list,) a Valentine from old lover and several Mother’s Day cards signed in crayon. They share space with anniversary cards from my husband, supportive cards from my girlfriends, and a stack of sympathy cards that I received, but could not bear to read when my mother died.

That’s why the news that greeting-card industry sales are down – battered by free competitors online – is so unsettling to me.

Technology companies launched electronic greetings – no stamps, no handwriting needed. But we can’t save those sentiments as tangible reminders of the ones who love us. Emails and E-cards have no lasting significance.

Of course some people still buy paper cards: The average customer is in their 40s, according to American Greetings Corporation, which was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1905. That company still generates 89% of its revenue from cards and gift packaging. Interactive business accounts for just 4% of its revenue.

That’s good news for those of us who prefer the printed word to trendy new digital offerings. There’s a certain comfort that comes from reading a message in my grandfather’s meticulous penmanship or holding a birthday card signed by my mother’s hand.

Quite simply, the new way to share old sentiments isn’t as satisfying. Am I wrong?

Mundane tasks

29 Tuesday May 2012

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business, Homes, Houses, mundane task, real-estate

The next time you find yourself resenting some mundane task around the home, just proclaim that you are managing your family estate.

“Home: Celebrating the Spaces of Your Heart” is available at Apple’s iBookstore.

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