Now that the days are not as hot in Phoenix–more like 85 than 105–I started up my daily walks again. I had to stop when my hip got so bad, but now that I’ve had the replacement there is nothing stopping me. I love the smells outside, although the last two days there has been an unfamiliar funky odor (possibly bobcat pee) in the air, as well as the usual perfume of flowers, grass, leaves, and sun-kissed concrete.
The intensely blue sky during my walk
Not being able to “show” you the smells annoys me. I can take photos and write words and even post audio if I want to. But I can’t post scent. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy adding olfactory descriptions in my writing; however, sometimes I’d just like to share how something actually smells. Or smell something my nose can’t reach.
This brings me to what I was thinking when I woke up yesterday. I’ve always loved history and as a kid used to wonder what it would be like to have lived in a different time period. Or to visit, even invisibly. Choose a time period. How about 1515 CE? What would it have stank like? I think even if I arrived in my time shuttle inside a palace that I would be gasping for air. I’d be holding an entire bottle of Gris Dior up to my face. I’d have to keep a little puke bag handy. I’m sure I’d be begging to come back to the present time. And that’s with palace peeps, not inside the hut of a poor person.
Yes, this is the kind of thing I think when I wake up in the morning. Maybe because I’m not writing every day. If I do write daily, then I’m apt to think of a story or poem while I’m still in bed. But I have finished my Remedios Varo-inspired ekphrastic chapbook. Gosh, I hope I can find a publisher for it. It’s hybrid, being both fiction and poetry, so that makes it harder to find publishers to submit to.
And, in other news, my hybrid flash memoir, Scrap: Salvaging a Family, should be available from ELJ Editions in March! Watch for cover reveal and so on in the future. If you are a blogger and would like to participate in a blog tour this spring, send me an email at luanne[dot]castle[at]gmail[dot]com. You can post a review or I can write a companion post to my book for your blog. I can get you a pdf. Here’s a link to publisher’s page: ELJ Editions forthcoming.
On the cat front, it’s been all puke/pee/poo/puke/pee/poo. If you plan to have multiple cats, try to space out their ages a bit so you don’t end up with all seniors at the same time. (just kidding, sort of)
In less than a week my grandson will be 21 months old! I can hardly believe it. He’s such a delight. He went on vacation to the beach and loved every moment.
Lots of smells evoked here–medieval ones and cat ones!!
Hahaha. And I didn’t mention the every day cat diarrhea!
Unwashed people smells is one of my least favorite smells of all. I often wished that my vision was better and my nose not quite as good at smelling.
Me too about the nose. Why oh why does it have to be so good?
Good luck with your new book. I think that mix of prose and poetry is becoming more popular. I just read an Indie author who did that beautifully.
Yes, I think so, too. Still makes it more difficult to promote because it doesn’t fit in a box.
Love that beach photo. He looks like he is having fun. E-mail on it’s way
Thanks, John! Haha, he did have so much fun. He’s such a busy little bee!!!
Yes, the smells of history (or rather stenches), would send me scurrying back to my own time right quick. That and modern plumbing and toilet paper! The book projects sound exciting!
Yes! I can’t imagine how they stood it. Even going out into the forest, they would still be smelling themselves!!! And their clothes. I’m shivering thinking about it!
Thanks about the books, Eilene!!!
Believe me, their sense of smell atrophied pretty quickly!
I imagine so!
I’ll email you, Luanne. 💖
OK!!!!
Congratulations on your successful hip replacement, Luanne! I’m glad the Colleen weather makes your walk more pleasant despite the smell. I just emailed you.
Thank you, Miriam! The smell was better today outside! I guess the bobcat decided to go somewhere else haha!
I can’t believe your grandson is 21 months old already. He’s having fun with the sand.
I can’t believe it either. He’s such a sweetheart.
Time flies At least it’s cooling off!!!
I started to worry it never would get cooler!!!!
Congratulations on your successful hip replacement. How wonderful to be getting around outdoors and breathing in all those scents! This makes me think of Smellovision from the 1950s that never made it big. Too bad.
There are many reasons I would not like to live in the past. Bad smells and bad health care are only two such reasons.
Thanks for the update on your grandson. He looks handsome on the sand!
Smellovision! Hahaha. Well, I can see why. But what if there was technology that actually released scent through the same channels as sound and vision? Bad health care would have definitely been a good reason not to linger in the past too long!
He is so handsome!!!
Of course your grandson is adorable on the beach with his little bucket! A perfect day for a toddler! I’m glad your hip replacement has worked out well. As far as smell goes, I’ve recently written two goddess poems set in ancient Greece, so I had to research what smells would be appropriate to include! Exciting news about Scrap’s upcoming publication. (I’ll send you an email.)
He was working so hard with his “beach tools”!!!
I love how much you research for your writing. I think it’s wonderful. And it definitely shows in your new book!
Thank you! What I love about researching for fiction is that the research gives me settings, characters, and events—not just facts.
You can get lots of tidbits from both primary and secondary sources!
Absolutely! It was local newspapers that gave me all the tidbits for this one. Completely unexpected!
What a windfall!
What a precious picture of your grandson! Yes, the stink in history. In Italy, garbage was thrown out the window. Women colored their hair with horse pee.
Think how much money I could save on coloring my hair!!!
Exactly!
Hehe.
I’m looking forward to your cover reveal! it’s one of the things I love most about publishing, finding the perfect artwork for a piece. I loved your Red Riding Hood artwork. And that photo of your grandson reminds me on one I took of mine when he was that age. So precious. He’s going on 18 now! Wish I could hug that little one again. Hug yours close. (I know you do).
Thanks, Deborah. I love that RRH artwork, too. Kiki’s art is so special.
I know Hudson will be 18 before I know it. Not sure I’ll be around to see it, but fingers crossed. I can’t believe he’s going to be two soon!