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Book Buzz – DARK SURF news & goings-on
My solo spring writer’s retreat comes to an end. Editing, writing, brainstorming and writing some more—a very productive trip!
Today, the last day, was the best one yet. I outlined my ideas from my big brainstorm on my drive home and added nearly 10 new, action-packed pages this afternoon.
I’ve left the characters in a precarious state. I look forward to guiding them through it on Monday, after enjoying the weekend. Or … maybe tomorrow. I might not be able to wait.
Book Buzz – DARK SURF news & goings-on
So the secret location where I’m holding my writer’s retreat is overlooking a golf course. I can confidently say I’m having a lot more fun than the men and women out on the course. Even today, which was a challenging day of writing trying to match up the timelines for several intersecting stories, I didn’t swear once. I can’t say the same for the golfers.
And sometime yesterday or today, I crossed the 50,000-word milestone on my first draft of the DARK SURF sequel. I’d say that’s better than a birdie or even an eagle!
Book Buzz – DARK SURF news & goings-on
Road trip! Tomorrow I’m leaving in the wee hours of the morning for my own self-styled writer’s retreat in a super-secret location. I plan to barricade myself in a scenic locale—with easy access to iced coffee, fish tacos, and West Coast red ales—so I can dive back into the dark world of the DARK SURF sequel. I’m more than halfway done with my first draft, so it’s time to go back to the beginning.
Over the next week: I’ll create a timeline for the intersecting storylines to make sure the timing in one location matches up with the timing in the others. I’ll create a map of a brand new setting so, as I write, I can guide readers from one end of the facility to the other. I’ll add descriptive information and first-hand details to create a “you are there” feeling. I may add backstories for a few characters to shed light on their personalities and why they act the way they do.
And, most important, I’ll see what these night-dwellers want to do next…
Pulse – events & entertainment
The countdown begins to the Big Sur International Marathon, which starts Sunday, April 28 at 6:45 a.m. Set along one of the most breathtaking courses in the world, BSIM was named one of the country’s top 3 marathons, behind Boston and New York, by Runner’s World magazine. It was also designated as the best destination marathon and most scenic marathon. I’d agree with that. If you’re going to run 26.2 miles, you might as well enjoy the view.
In past years, before I became a night-dweller, I participated in the BSIM as an aid station volunteer and as a participant in the 10.6 miler, one of many BSIM events in addition to the marathon. Being able to enjoy Highway 1 on foot and admire the cliffside views—with no cars for miles—is an amazing sensory experience. Waves crash and splash over rocks and swirl into picturesque coves. The cool ocean breeze and crisp salt air refresh and invigorate. Sweeping views of the ocean, as it deepens from pale mint green to teal and turquoise before it turns cobalt blue and stretches to the horizon, inspire. Live entertainment sprinkled throughout the course, from a lone piano player to a rock band with fire dancers, motivates runners to push ahead to the next mile marker.
This year, I’ve been invited to stay in a private residence along Highway 1 to enjoy the race from the sidelines—another fun perspective. I hear this neighborhood likes to gather, over breakfast and mimosas, to cheer runners along as they make their way to the finish line. When the sun rises over the Santa Lucia Mountains and lights up the coast, I’ll head for the cover of the trees in Point Lobos and watch the race from the shadows.
BSIM will also have several opportunities to honor those affected by the events in Boston, including a donation collection for The One Fund Boston. For info, visit bsim.org.
Crave – food & drink
Yesterday, I trekked up Highway 101 to Healdsburg, Calif. to sample the local fare. My companions & I all agreed the favorite winery of the day was Stephen & Walker, a small, artisanal family-owned winery which crafts wines from vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Monterey counties. The tasting room is located at 243 Healdsburg Avenue, off Healdsburg Plaza.
My favorite wine of the day was Stephen & Walker’s 2011 Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley ($39), a winegrowing region in northern Sonoma County. The grapes for this wine come from 40-year-old vines grown on the valley floor. The tasting notes highlight flavors of “violet, cherry-berry and vanilla spice.” The wine is definitely fruity and velvety smooth.
Other notable wines we tasted were the 2011 Zinfandel from Russian River Valley ($39), and the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from the renowned Howell Mountain in Napa Valley ($65). The Howell Mountain Cab is grown at an elevation over 1,400 feet and wins medals in tasting competitions year after year.
The Stephen & Walker wines are made by Nancy Walker, who has worked as a winemaker more than 20 years. She has won awards for the winery’s Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Late Harvest Chardonnay and more. Tony Stephen, a partner in the winery, is Nancy’s husband.
By far, the strangest wine we tasted was Stephen & Walker’s 2010 Late Harvest Chardonnay from Mendocino Ridge. It’s a “botrytisized” Chardonnay. Botrytis is a fungus that grows on grapes. It can ruin an entire vineyard—or it can be carefully cultivated to create this unique wine. The tasting notes for the 2010 wine call out aromas and flavors of “peach, honey, ripe pear, ripe apple, subtle soft wet earth, mushroom, pineapple and guava.” For me, mushroom was the most prominent flavor, followed by sweet fruit. It was an interesting combination.
Stephen & Walker is a participant in the upcoming Passport to Dry Creek Valley event April 27-28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis; $120 for the 2-day event or $70 for Sunday only. Passport guests are invited to 50+ wineries throughout Dry Creek Valley, each offering a wine, food and entertainment.
Dusk Patrol – surf news & initiatives
Can a love of surfing influence public policy? In this video, the California Assembly’s informal “Surf Caucus” encourages participation in Earth Day and conservation of the state’s 1,100 miles of coastline.
Happy Earth Day!
Book Buzz – DARK SURF news & goings-on
While writing DARK SURF, I found that one of the most challenging things to envision & write was a big fight scene. From choreographing the fight and keeping track of where everyone was & who was doing what to whom, to describing the action in enough detail to give readers a clear visual picture of the action—it was a fascinating experience. I even acted out parts of the fight with a partner to figure out how to react and then describe the movements.
Now, in the sequel, I’m gearing up for another intense battle scene. I do my best brainstorming at the beach, so I went for a windy walk through the sand dunes and along the ocean to start to plan the fight. So far, I’ve figured out where each character needs to be, right before the action starts. There’s a double-cross involved so it’s even more challenging to write because one character wants both sides to assume she is with them, so needs to act accordingly. And this shady character has no idea that another group is about to arrive and surprise everyone—and, of course, join the battle.
In my next beach brainstorm, the characters will begin the fight. I know who’s going to live and who’s going to die. The question right now is, how?
BeachStyle – art
Artists strive to be original. From writers to painters to musicians to photographers, we are constantly pushing ourselves to create something unique in the world.
This weekend, I attended the opening reception for an exhibit called “Hanji ‘Reborn’” by Ham Sup. The artist, who hails from Korea, began his career working in oils like the masters he studied as an undergraduate. But Ham found he couldn’t avoid producing works similar to other artists. In his quest to be different, he began experimenting with hanji, traditional handmade Korean mulberry paper. Hanji is reported to be durable and last 1,000 years—which is a plus for those who want their artwork to last more than a human lifetime.
Ham soaks pieces of hanji in water. Then he tears, kneads and throws the pieces onto canvas to create a rich array of textures. The hanji ranges in color from parchment to taupe, similar to the neutral shades of sand. Ham uses natural dyes to create his palette of colors like red, golden yellow, blue, black, white and green.
In each piece, the handmade paper, colors and textures blend the traditional and the modern with the abstract to create something…original.
The exhibit runs through the end of April at The Marjorie Evans Gallery at the Sunset Center in Carmel, Calif. The artwork is on loan to the Sunset Center from Westbrook Modern, also located in Carmel.
Book Buzz – DARK SURF news & goings-on
I spent my spring break at the beach and working on the sequel to DARK SURF. It’s a ton of fun—more like play, than work—and I can’t wait to get back to writing more!
Would you like to play, too? I’m looking for first names for two native Hawaiian characters. Both are men. One is a smart, upstanding police officer. The other is a handsome but not brainy “sidekick” kind of guy.
Please go to Facebook.com/TCZmak to list your suggestion for a first name for the officer and/or for the sidekick. Mahalo!
Shark Bites – news & sightings
With a GoPro camera attached to your board, you can capture cool video and time-lapse photos while shredding in the surf. Last week, a California surfer visiting Kaanapali Beach in Maui may have caught something more—his own attack by a shark.
Last Tuesday, April 2, the 58-year-old was attacked by a shark while sitting on a surfboard, with both legs in the water, about 100 yards offshore. The man, who was able to paddle to shore, was hospitalized with two deep lacerations on his right thigh.
Police recovered a GoPro camera that was attached to his surfboard, and are holding the video as evidence while they continue to investigate the incident.
For the full story, see this article in The Maui News.
