Kimberly Jo Smith's Blog

Recently, I found an old journal entry that pinpointed a time in which my confidence as a writer, already fragile due to childhood abuse, was completely submerged in an abyss of hopelessness and self-doubt; it reads as follows:“…When you said we could never go anywhere with my writing, I died inside. You became the murderer of my true self, and I allowed you to strangle the life out of me, obliterating the essence of who I am. I parted with myself, becoming what everyone expected of me and allowing the odd poem or story to come out only to be filed away in darkness while I lived a shallow existence. I was much less than I could have been.A true artist knows the length that their craft can travel and mine was meant to go far. In my soul, I knew this but my mind was racked with fear and doubt. The one person who could have distinguished those fears is the one who magnified them. It became a long journey, but at length, I climbed out from under the blankets that had smothered me, then forced open the door of the tomb I had been pushed into.”It had been some time since I had read that journal entry, and I sat back in wonder of what all had passed since I wrote it. The last line is important to note. The reason I used the word “forced” when speaking of opening the door to my tomb, instead of “pushed”, is because it took a great amount of strength, effort, and the process of several years to go forward and pull myself out of the darkness I was in.The Curse of the Creative SoulI am a deeply spiritual person. I understand and believe that there is a constant struggle between good and evil; there is an evil one who has an army and stands ready to attempt to destroy every good thing that God puts forth. People who were born with talents in the creative arts are particularly susceptible to being attacked—why? Because the adversary does not want beautiful art that inspires, music that uplifts, poetry that brings peace, or books that take us away to distant lands and fairy tales, offering a reprieve from the stresses of the world. If they would attempt the journey, victims of abuse could go back to the time of their trauma and recognize that one of the first things to be negatively affected were their talents. I was nine years old, and there was a neighbor who lived two houses down from us who abused me in the worst way a little girl can be abused. I excelled in singing at the time, and it didn’t bother me to be in front of a crowd; however, after the abuse I shut down in two major areas; I refused to sing in front of anyone again, except high school chorus, and I refused to do things publicly, avoiding crowds at all costs. I began to have the thoughts running through my head that I was different now; stupid, ugly, and that I would get laughed at. Oddly enough, my writing accelerated at this time; it’s what I turned to in order to escape. Music also became my life, both writing and listening—but all was done within the confines of the room I had shut myself up in, doing my best to avoid society. I neither shared or promoted any of my work because I had no confidence in it, yet the drive to do it was there. In those days I had no idea that there was counseling for abuse, but it would have benefitted me little for I was terrified to tell anyone what had happened. I did the best that I could and muddled my way through the chaotic years of middle and high school, a feat that proved arduous due to my father, who moved us from one state to another nearly every six to months to a year because he could not settle. Making friends was not an easy task.Every day began to feel as if it were on autopilot as I cruised down the road of life. Unaware of any other options for someone like me, I did what everyone else was doing and walked down the aisle of marital bliss, or so I thought. It didn’t take too long for me to realize that my husband wasn’t really in love with me and it became a double assault when he shot down my confidence at the mention of a writing career. When it came to my talents there was less than zero support. The only time he read something I had written was nearly twenty years down the road; a small book that was generating a little bit of income. Yes, he perked up when he saw there was financial potential, but by then it was too late for us. His support came late and for the wrong reason. It was during this period that I wrote the journal entry. I knew I had to do something or I would become yet another statistic of millions whose voices are never heard when it comes to writing, music, or any talent that goes unexpressed. There is a reason that kind of passion is so overwhelming; it is an energy that has a purpose, aching to get out, an energy with a movement that can find no completion or resolve without the assistance of the mind and body that is its host. When that energy is suppressed it will expand and move in another direction, for it has to be processed in some manner. If it can’t find the positive direction it was meant for, it will express itself in a negative way. It literally feels as though it is dying inside of you in an attempt to get out; you are mindful of its pain and acutely aware as it screams in an attempt to be heard. It becomes a weight that can make you lethargic in many ways, for there is the talent and need to express it yet lack of support and self-doubt makes getting your work noticed look hopeless. I felt as if I was cursed because the need to write was as strong as the need to breathe, eat, and sleep; however, I was convinced that my writing was not good enough to put out there.It suddenly dawned on me why some of the classic writers and artists who went undiscovered during their lifetime, were often depressed. They needed their work to be appreciated, they needed to know it made a difference; however, they were bound by the limitations of the society of their time, the lack of support from those around them, or the lack of means it took to get their work noticed. I could feel myself sinking from the weight of all that was trying to get out; poetry, novels, songs---I knew I was in the wrong place and I could not bear it anymore. It seemed like a constant battle to break free from the restraints I felt held me down. Regardless of opposition in the home, I enrolled in a university, graduating at the age of 46 with a BS in English and writing. Shortly thereafter I became a single mom. Walking away from everything but my children just so I could be free, I literally started over.Transforming the Curse into a Blessing.Why did I wait 24 years to remove myself from an emotionally unhealthy environment? Because I was raised in a time where once you get married, you stay married no matter what. Somewhere down the road, I knew there was something wrong with that. Yes, you try your best to make it work; you try for a long time, but at some point when it is obvious that it is an unhealthy relationship that is doing you harm and half of the parties involved doesn’t think there is a problem that needs fixing, something different needs to happen.In 2000, six years before my divorce, something happened that literally caused a shift in how I saw myself. I was asked to do a presentation which included how I healed from the abuse I suffered as a child. This was terrifying for me. Except for high school choir, I never got up in front of people. I remember that when we were assigned oral reports in school, I always took a zero and refused to do it. But as I mentioned, I am a spiritual person and knew that this was something I was being led to do to help others. I couldn’t say no.When I stood up to do the presentation, my knees began to shake so I locked them in place, took a breath, and proceeded to speak before hundreds of people. Afterward, I was approached by many who expressed to me how much it helped them. In later presentations, I would include performing songs with my son we had written together. It is something he had to talk me into doing, for I had no self-confidence whatsoever when it came to singing in front of people. But after performing, people would always come up and tell me how beautiful it was and that I should consider making a CD. Even though it was hard for me to believe in myself, there were many people showing me support for the talents I had. This led me to start writing poetry and books again. As I started to do so, I felt the weight of all that energy become light as a feather because I was expressing it and saw that it was being enjoyed by others. The more I put my gifts and talents out there, the more I felt the blessings of using those gifts pour in. The curse had been lifted yet I found that it was my self-doubt and fear that made it seem like a curse in the first place.With the technology we have today, getting one’s creative voice heard is much easier, but there must be a shift in the thought process of the creative mind which has been restrained by the effects of trauma and abuse. When you hear that voice in your head saying you are not good enough, remember the one conveying it to you is doing everything he can to make you fail. If you have a talent and a passion to see it realized, you must do everything within your power to express it. It starts with believing in yourself then moving forward no matter what anyone says with diligence, endurance, and motivation. A successful writer writes nearly every day, and when they are not writing they have something in their head that is taking shape to be written soon. The worst thing in the world a writer can say is that they don’t have a chance; regardless of whether or not it looks that way, write and put it out there for you never know when the door that would welcome that piece will open, becoming a piece of art that is loved and cherished by many.True success as a writer begins with YOU. You have to be the one who takes action and moves forward. If you do not, there will be volumes of untold poems, songs, and stories which will have searched in vain for their moment, only to die in silence. Your writings could grant someone a reprieve from the stress of the world, offer some laughs, and bring comfort to the suffering; do not let your gifts drown in a sea of doubt, be the ship-master and take the helm of your destiny.

My family has a tradition of having lunch and watching an episode of America's Got Talent. No matter what we are working on, each Wednesday we turn on Hulu and watch the episode that aired the night before. We are careful to avoid the teaser/spoilers that get posted on Facebook between Tuesday evening and Wednesday's lunch hour, and sometimes we miss a whole week due to traveling and do our best to avoid any spoilers.This past week, while my son's quesadilla was frying in the pan, he ran into the living room to get the episode all set up. When everyone was settled and ready, he clicked play. We saw acts which ranged from touching to beyond ridiculous, but at the end there was one performer who touched me above any I had ever seen before, and he made a comment I will never forget; "When you're surviving, you can't dream."Michael Ketterer is a pediatric mental health nurse who has a big heart for children who need a home. After he and his wife were told they should not have any more children due to health risks, they had settled on the fact that their daughter would be the only child they would ever have. But that perspective changed, when at the age of seven the little girl began to have dreams of three little boys who needed a home. In time they would adopt three boys whose home lives were surrounded by an environment that was unhealthy, unstructured, and unsafe. When you are a child living in a home that is involved in meth and other drugs, you are always on alert and in a state of fear; indeed, there is no room for dreaming or goals, the energy to think about such things is just not there. So Michael took these children into his home and created an environment that would give them the freedom to dream and see the many possibilities that lay before them, and what is more important--that they had every right to those dreams.After hearing this story I began to reflect on the chaotic past few months of my own life, which has been riddled by a barrage of unexpected family heartaches and financial strains that would try the endurance of a saint. Sometime in April, just barely two weeks into these stresses, I felt all of my creative processes slip away. My son and daughter experienced the same thing in their careers. I stopped writing on my book, composing music, working on my Facebook pages and websites--my mind seemed void of any imagination whatsoever. I began stress eating, sending my autoimmune issues into overdrive, which made me feel even less like creating because I felt ill most of the time.It seems an obvious outcome that if one allows stress take them over they are going to stop functioning in many ways, but something about how Michael Ketterer said what he did about not being able to dream when you are in survival mode caused me to see things in a different light, and he said it so simply. It was like someone shook me awake from a haze, saying, "he's talking about you too! He's talking about anyone whose environment is in chaos." So how did that change how I saw the situation I am in? It completely changed the canvas, painting it in a myriad of different colors. I no longer saw blackness taking me over, shutting out the light inch by inch, day by day. Instead I realized I had the power to take ahold of the brush and paint the outcome myself. If I see black hues bleeding into the crevices of the brushstrokes, I can wipe it off, or make it a shadow that is dominated by light. The point is, I have the power to make the canvas what it should be.Today I started a new schedule. I began to rethink how I let things affect me. Instead of not writing at all when things are overwhelming, I promised myself to write something at least four days a week, if not more. The other days I will be keeping up on my Facebook pages and websites. I will also work on music at least once a week, as well as photography and any other creative processes that I was born with, for they are the colors that will shape my canvas. When the stresses become overwhelming I will redirect how I handle them. Instead of stress eating I will stress write, watch a funny movie, practice singing, go for a drive and take pictures--anything that involves using my talents. By incorporating these methods into my life I hope to transform survival mode from a dream killer into a dream weaver. Thank you Michael Ketterer for all that you do and helping me see things in a different light! Write on!

There are three main elements to a novel; character, setting, and plot; yet character and plot are nothing without a well-constructed setting that will catapult them into powerful imagery. Any avid reader or writer knows that setting means everything. The setting of any story will shape the tone and mood; the overall feel of a story. It can add to something simple and make it grand, or if badly designed, thoroughly weaken what could have been a masterpiece; it is not just a place, but an emotion that the reader should experience in a vivid sensory overload of imagination; a memory that becomes their own to wrap up and carry with them.I remember being in high school, exhausted by endless pages of a Dickens classic that we had been reading. However, as we progressed through the story I began to appreciate the intricate weaving of detail which added layer upon layer to the story, giving insight to the personalities of the characters. I could not help but see beyond the pauper in the street and actually feel the heaviness of his plight through every sight, smell and sound that was crafted as only Dickens could express it.Settings are what draw the reader in and help them fall in love with the story. Who could not help but fall in love with the characters in Jane Austen's novels? However, descriptions of homes and the outdoors became a backdrop to the more pronounced emphasis on the interactions between the characters themselves, vividly painting a picture of the social realities that were a part of the times she lived in. One could not turn the last page of any Austen novel without having experienced life through her eyes, closing the back cover with a sigh and longing to see and know more.Settings are not something that I have had to struggle with in my writing. I have always been a descriptive writer; my shortcomings fall in the area of plot lines and is something I have to work extra hard at, but in my musings today about settings, I thought I would mention a few sights that I have found helpful in many areas.This is one of my favorites: One Stop For Writers. It has many useful tools, templates, and guidelines for writers. https://onestopforwriters.comThis is a fun site for those struggling with word usage in Austen's time period.http://www.writelikeausten.comApril Davila has some interesting insights and advice on writing that she has gleaned on her journey. There are some helpful bits and pieces worth looking at. https://aprildavila.comThis is also a good site: https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.comWhile I love Scrivener, One Note is one of the best programs I have found for organizing during my writing. https://www.onenote.com/downloadLast but not least, the best teacher always lies in the written word; read, read, read! The best way to improve writing is to read the works of others. Write on!

She wrote with the elegance of angels, ink emboldened with the sharpness of truth edged in wit. One can only measure their own merits of wordsmithing to discern if they are her equal or even close to it. Her equal might be found today among throngs of books lined with wasted scribbles, absorbing minds which have never tasted the delight of intrigue and romance without the explicit, harsh visual presentation of naked love. But every now and then, beneath a collection of unsorted creations, lies a verse, manuscript, or maybe just a few lines which speak volumes; an undiscovered masterpiece that could become a classic.I often wonder how many worthy authors are tossed aside and ignored just as she was at onetime. At least we live in an age which allows us to instantly publish our creations by way of theinternet, something that hopefully offers a small measure of satisfaction. But there are those who have an old soul and intimately identify with her; she that wrote of pride and love, of the possibility of disposing oneself to a better station, and that somewhere there is always a Darcy to hold hands with and a Pemberly for him to offer as a home.How many pick up the pen and write as she did, expressive only in that manner by which she embossed upon parchment so many eloquent lines? It makes one consider that we may have all been in heaven with her before we came here. Perhaps we were all in the same writing class. She seems such a kindred spirit to us, I think that must have been the case! I can imagine it at least, and it seems to fit well. At any rate, it does satisfy my imagination fitfully. Here is how I reason such a conclusion about mysteries which cannot fully be explained. After all, does it not fall to us who have brains to imagine everything, to assemble the most grand explanation in any situation? I would say that it would behoove us to make such proper and distinguishable attempts in employing our faculties, especially those of our gender who are most ingenious when imagining anything.In heaven we were, all of us, writing about angelic heather which crested celestial moors. Shehad a quiet nature with a detectable wit if one could win her friendship, and ever after the prizewas worth the effort for she bore a jolly soul and loved nothing better than to write about happy,beautiful things as there was no residue of sadness in that place. So there we all were,congregated daily in the most beautiful garden, exchanging the best stories ever constructed,when it came time for her and others to leave. We knew that day would come for all of us, butshe left before I did. I watched her go. She went to a time that would not appreciate the merits ofany woman who attempted to use their talents beyond anything besides child-rearing anddomesticity, but true to her nature she was bold and kept writing regardless, for it was the giftshe came with. So great were her efforts to make sure her words were expressed that shespent her life writing about the follies and value of true love, never really finding and holding onto it herself.I glimpsed her from beyond as she graced a more innocent age while I waited for my turn. She had been gone for some time when my turn to come finally arrived. Now Iam here and the innocence is lost. Women have power but stability is out of balance, awoman’s place is valued but true values are hard to find, the world demands the very best ofeverything, yet they had it before but it faded for lack of appreciation. What used to be isn’tanymore and I came at a time that no matter how well you express a story it is not saleableunless it is explicit. I must confess, I feel quite lost in many ways. But all is not lost for as long asthere is breath there is the hope of change.I think back upon the memory of her; the wit, the beauty, and yes, even the sadness that came from many of her words, and I can never let go of the measure of goodness that was in her craft. So what does it matter that I live in a modern world of literature that is just as restrictive in many ways as it was in her day, only for different reasons? The true meaning of authorship is to write well and in a manner that leaves the master of the pen free of any doubts or regrets. Somewhere in the interim that exists between birth and death, a level of maturity emerged, reminding me that what once was never completely dies, it just lies in a state of repose waiting for someone to wake it up and express it in words. She taught me how to do that.

It happens. Life gets busy, world events consume the mind, and suddenly you are too swept up to engage in those things that satisfy your soul and propel you forward in a satisfying manner; using your gifts and talents to create. I can't remember the last time I wrote a poem, maybe six months or so. My life has been consumed with other things; finishing volume two of my historical fiction series, working at the high school, fulfilling speaking engagements on the weekends; the list goes on and on. I remember how it used to be before I allowed things to intrude so far into my creative space. I knew there was always time to write, even if it is just fifteen minutes a day. I used to step outside and express my feelings of the day in a few lines that would eventually weave themselves into a verse, then a poem, and more often than not a song would emerge. But in the past year, I have allowed my daily environment to drain any creative energy I have. I found myself going to bed for a long nap when I arrived home, too tired to think let alone write. That all changed a few days ago.We have the sweetest cats, brothers who look after one another. Pollux is especially attentive to his brother Castor, a special needs cat who was born deaf. Because of his disability, Castor has different behaviors that one would not ordinarily see in other cats. He loves vacuum cleaners and brooms, lying down so that I can vacuum his side and back. Because he cannot hear the noise does not scare him. He also spends a lot of time watching television.A few days ago, Castor was watching leaves fall from the trees outside. It was mesmerizing to observe, wondering what his thoughts were as he watched these light, floating objects sway back and forth to the ground. He would watch several fall, tracing their descent with his eyes, then raising them back up to see the next group make their journey. It was that pause I took to measure what I was seeing that allowed the words to come forth. I took a snapshot of Castor, then walked over to the window so I could see from his vantage point, and there they were; yellowed, dying leaves. They seemed dry and weightless as they skated across the porch, their final performance bolstered by a sharp autumn breeze, their companion to the end. "A crisp decay," I said to myself. Then something deep inside, a lonely voice that had remained unheard for too long, said to me, "grab a tablet," and I did. What followed was the poem, A Crisp Decay.I learned an important lesson that day; never forget to pause often, for a pause is followed by reflection, and reflections move the mind, spirit, and soul. The immediate effect is a culmination of words so vast one must write them down. It starts with a thought, then a line, which becomes a verse, then a poem, and sometimes even a song. No matter what happens in life or how hectic things get, a writer must never forget to pause. Without that simple interlude, verses lie dormant, poems remain unconstructed, and songs carry fragmented on unseen winds.Don't forget to pause.A Crisp DecaySuch a sadness creeping  When summer hours die  For in its wake leaves weeping  The soul that bows to cry And in its dying breath  It casts a sorrowed moan  Expelling graying winds  Shading skies where it has blown The spirit knows, however  To pause and then reflect  For the tempering of the season  Demands its due respect For in its flailing motion  It draws a crisp decay  And cycles toward rebirth   Giving pause for blooms in May"   Kimberly Jo Smith

Okay, so yes, this is a writing site...but I wouldn't be a southern lady if I didn't write about food every now and again, and who can write without eating chocolate??? I have bumped into some luscious items pertaining to eating gluten and soy free.When I was told I would have to go gluten free I thought I would die. So I ignored it, but then years later I started having health issues and went to the doctor again. After getting the results of some tests I had a nice visit with the doctor---said no patient ever. I went in all positive and smiling, as oft I do. The doctor looked at me and said, "Do you like chocolate candy?" to which I replied, "Who doesn't, especially Nutella spread." He shook his head and said that I had an even worse allergy to processed soy, and that soy lecithin, an emulsifier, is in most chocolate candy...as well as many other candies and foods. I looked him straight in the face and said, "Well, sir, that means the second coming must be today, because if I can't have chocolate the world's coming to an end!" So what did I do? Went into complete denial and ate as much Nutella and M&M peanuts as I could in the next few days. I was determined to prove him wrong, after all, chocolate was my friend...it would never turn on me. The result? The traitorous vermin turned on me and treated me to a nice visit to the ER about a week later.So I had to concede that I could not eat store bought chocolate candy, brownies, cookies, cakes, etc. As I started looking at other foods I could not believe how many things had soy lecithin, hydrolyzed soy protein and many other forms of adulterated soy. So basically I had to get back to basics. I started making everything from scratch and found that not only did everything taste better, but I felt better. Don't get me wrong, I've always made a lot of things from scratch, but life gets busy and there were many times I went the quicker method. What I learned from this is that chocolate itself is not evil, but what man is doing in some food processing is. If people would not mess with food so much it would not turn against us. The more they mess with it, the more cases of allergies pop up. I do not remember there being so many illnesses due to food when I was young, but I'll stay off of that soap box for now and concentrate on some ways I have found to "have my cake and eat it too!"That brings me to the next topic; what about desserts??? They lord have mercy! I had tried baking with gluten free flours and everything was so dry, ugh! Well, as time went by I put my southern nose to the grindstone and found a few good all purpose flours to work with. My favorite is Cup 4 Cup http://www.cup4cup.com/our-products/P... have different comfort zones though when it comes to textures and taste, likes and dislikes will vary. I have had the best luck with their flour, and thanks to a fellow southerner who has Celiac, I have been introduced to some recipes that are way better than any store bought.Go to this site for the best gluten/soy free chocolate cake. http://www.agirldefloured.com/2013/04/17/gluten-free-fudge-cake/It's a little heavier than regular cakes but it's oh so good. I like the fact that it is heavier, that is how homemade cakes used to be. It's thick and rich too!For the best gluten/soy free chocolate cookies: http://www.tasteloveandnourish.com/2012/11/18/virtuously-sinful-fudge-cookies/If they come out too thin just add a bit more flour and roll them into a ball.My newest discovery is the best pancakes EVER! Even if I wasn't gluten free I would be eating these!http://lizheather.com/thisislizheather/2014/5/22/healthy-banana-pancakesSlather on some buttah and honey and OH, MOMMA! They are surprisingly delicious! If you want a bit more protein, wedge a piece of sausage in-between two pancakes.I am still on a road of discovery concerning other foods, but if all else fails, I add lots of buttah and shuggah...you know...it's a southern thang, and if I can't resolve it, I'll fry it. LOL

Imagine breaking away from your routine and leaving everything behind for about thirty-four days. You will walk fifteen miles a day until you have walked five hundred miles. At the end of each day, you will perform a play before an audience in hopes of evoking a response or stimulating thoughts about life, the world we live in and what our purpose as individuals may be. The audience will be made up of people who have been walking the same trail you are on. Darren Hill, an actor and true artist in theater performance is about to strike off on such a journey.The PilgrimageEstablished in the 9th century, The Camino de Santiago is the longest pilgrimage route in Europe and is taken every year by thousands of people from all over the world. For many, it is a spiritual walk or a journey of self-discovery, and there are those who wish to honor the memory of James the Apostle, who is buried in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at the end of the route.(1)For Darren Hill, it is a combination of all of the above and more.At the end of each day's journey, Darren will perform a play called An Impressive Presentation of Lovely Evidences - Underneath the Lintel. The play unfolds the story of a librarian who finds a book in the return bin that is 113 years overdue. Mysterious writing in the margin and an unclaimed dry-cleaning ticket stirs the librarian to go on a quest to find out who returned such an overdue book. What follows will become a "mysterious adventure that spans the globe and the ages."(2)The play parallels the journey that many who walk the Camino Santiago are on. It is Darren's hope that it will stir people's thoughts about life, the times we live in, and build a communication of harmony, unity, and hope."The majority of those who walk the Camino are searching for something. Whether it is spiritual, emotional, career paths, relationships, the list goes on.I believe that when people see this play on the Camino, it will be a catalyst for thought, conversations, and reflection."(3)According to Darren, a documentary will be produced detailing the experience and he hopes it can be entered in film festivals worldwide. "It will not only focus on my challenge of walking 500 miles and doing the play every night, but it will focus on the effect that it has upon the audiences, immediately after seeing and on the Camino in the following days."(4)For more information about Darren and this project, please visit this website: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1130447096/an-actors-pilgrimage-and-challenge?ref=project_tweetActor, Giver, Loving SoulI have enjoyed many travels in my life; roads that crisscrossed and connected throughout the United States and invisible tracks in the skies that carried me to Australia. There have been times in my journeys when I came across people who stand out due to colorful personalities, uniqueness, and an old soul quality that draws me in and calls me friend. One such individual is Darren Hill, an actor in the true sense of the word in that he has every quality it takes to execute his creative abilities to the fullest extent. What makes him even more endearing is the passion that lies behind his talent and skill. It's a passion that does not seek out glory and vanity for his talent, but endeavors to project hope and lift hearts.Darren Hill was born August 29, 1970, in Worcester, England. He was influenced at an early age by Peter Sellers, Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Patrick Stewart, Brian Blessed and Trevor Nunn.Though drawn to acting at a young age, Darren was told that because of his dyslexia he would amount to very little, so he put aside acting until eighteen years ago when he came to the realization that he could do anything he set his mind to.(5)This is one of the qualities that I admire about Darren, he is a gentle soul who has had to overcome struggles to realize his dreams. As a result of his own experiences, he has the ability to convey to everyone around him that they too can overcome difficulties and succeed at whatever they attempt. Darren trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, England. Yielding talented alumni such as Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Daniel Day-Lewis, and Gene Wilder, the school was founded in 1946 by one of the greatest performers in classic film and theater, Sir Laurence Oliver. While there Darren performed as Captain Cat inUnder Milk Wood,  receiving a rousing review on the BBC website, which stated, “Spare a thought for Cap’n Cat, Darren Hill, his lovelorn tale was pure “Goodbye Mr. Chips” for the high seas.” Darren also performed as Polonius inHamlet. (6)After completing his training in Bristol, Darren toured the United Kingdom, performing in over twenty-five notable productions such as,Much Ado About Nothing, The Thirty-Nine Steps, andThe Importance of Being Earnest. Darren has also stretched his talents beyond the stage to film and television, his latest endeavor being with Asylum Film's production ofOperation: Dunkirk, which will be released in July, 2017.(7)Darren has called Chicago, Illinois home for the past four years, performing at the Apollo Theater and various locations throughout the city. Every experience throughout his journey has brought wisdom and growth. "I hope that my performances will challenge the audience. There was a time I just wanted people to enjoy my acting but now I want them to feel something, to leave with more questions than what they walked in with!"(8)Darren Hill is a man who cares about others and the world we live in. His thoughts convey the sincerity and humility that is in his heart."I am a simple man. I was brought up to stand up for yourself, to respect others and treat others as they would want to be treated."(9)In a world that seems to be straying from such values, it is uplifting to see an actor of his caliber projecting hope and goodness from the stage.View Darren's Showreel: https://vimeo.com/32097600Website: http://www.darrenhillofficial.com/post/76899230551(1) Camino Santiago, "The Pilgrimage Routes to Santiago de                                                       Compostela." santiago-compostela.net(2) Theater Y. "An Impressive Presentation of Lovely Evidences - Underneath the               Lintel."  www.theatre-y.com/an-impressive-prese...- lovely-evidences/(3) Darren Hill. "An Actor's Pilgrimage and Challenge."      www.kickstarter.com/projects/11304470...?           ref=project_tweet(4) Ibid(5) Hill, Darren. Personal Interview. 13 May 2017(6) Darren Hill Official Website       www.darrenhillofficial.com/about(7) Ibid(8) Hill, Darren. Personal Interview. 13 May 2017(9) Darren Hill Official Website     www.darrenhillofficial.com/about

Imagine breaking away from your routine and leaving everything behind for about thirty-four days. You will walk fifteen miles a day until you have walked five hundred miles. At the end of each day, you will perform a play before an audience in hopes of evoking a response or stimulating thoughts about life, the world we live in and what our purpose as individuals may be. The audience will be made up of people who have been walking the same trail you are on. Darren Hill, an actor and true artist in theater performance is about to strike off on such a journey.The PilgrimageEstablished in the 9th century, The Camino de Santiago is the longest pilgrimage route in Europe and is taken every year by thousands of people from all over the world. For many, it is a spiritual walk or a journey of self-discovery, and there are those who wish to honor the memory of James the Apostle, who is buried in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at the end of the route.(1)For Darren Hill, it is a combination of all of the above and more.At the end of each day's journey, Darren will perform a play called An Impressive Presentation of Lovely Evidences - Underneath the Lintel. The play unfolds the story of a librarian who finds a book in the return bin that is 113 years overdue. Mysterious writing in the margin and an unclaimed dry-cleaning ticket stirs the librarian to go on a quest to find out who returned such an overdue book. What follows will become a "mysterious adventure that spans the globe and the ages."(2)The play parallels the journey that many who walk the Camino Santiago are on. It is Darren's hope that it will stir people's thoughts about life, the times we live in, and build a communication of harmony, unity, and hope."The majority of those who walk the Camino are searching for something. Whether it is spiritual, emotional, career paths, relationships, the list goes on.I believe that when people see this play on the Camino, it will be a catalyst for thought, conversations, and reflection."(3)According to Darren, a documentary will be produced detailing the experience and he hopes it can be entered in film festivals worldwide. "It will not only focus on my challenge of walking 500 miles and doing the play every night, but it will focus on the effect that it has upon the audiences, immediately after seeing and on the Camino in the following days."(4)For more information about Darren and this project, please visit this website: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...Actor, Giver, Loving SoulI have enjoyed many travels in my life; roads that crisscrossed and connected throughout the United States and invisible tracks in the skies that carried me to Australia. There have been times in my journeys when I came across people who stand out due to colorful personalities, uniqueness, and an old soul quality that draws me in and calls me friend. One such individual is Darren Hill, an actor in the true sense of the word in that he has every quality it takes to execute his creative abilities to the fullest extent. What makes him even more endearing is the passion that lies behind his talent and skill. It's a passion that does not seek out glory and vanity for his talent, but endeavors to project hope and lift hearts.Darren Hill was born August 29, 1970, in Worcester, England. He was influenced at an early age by Peter Sellers, Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Patrick Stewart, Brian Blessed and Trevor Nunn.Though drawn to acting at a young age, Darren was told that because of his dyslexia he would amount to very little, so he put aside acting until eighteen years ago when he came to the realization that he could do anything he set his mind to.(5) This is one of the qualities that I admire about Darren, he is a gentle soul who has had to overcome struggles to realize his dreams. As a result of his own experiences, he has the ability to convey to everyone around him that they too can overcome difficulties and succeed at whatever they attempt. Darren trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, England. Yielding talented alumni such as Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Daniel Day-Lewis, and Gene Wilder, the school was founded in 1946 by one of the greatest performers in classic film and theater, Sir Laurence Oliver. While there Darren performed as Captain Cat in Under Milk Wood,  receiving a rousing review on the BBC website, which stated, “Spare a thought for Cap’n Cat, Darren Hill, his lovelorn tale was pure “Goodbye Mr. Chips” for the high seas.” Darren also performed as Polonius in Hamlet. (6)After completing his training in Bristol, Darren toured the United Kingdom, performing in over twenty-five notable productions such as, Much Ado About Nothing, The Thirty-Nine Steps, and The Importance of Being Earnest. Darren has also stretched his talents beyond the stage to film and television, his latest endeavor being with Asylum Film's production of Operation: Dunkirk, which will be released in July, 2017. (7)Darren has called Chicago, Illinois home for the past four years, performing at the Apollo Theater and various locations throughout the city. Every experience throughout his journey has brought wisdom and growth. "I hope that my performances will challenge the audience. There was a time I just wanted people to enjoy my acting but now I want them to feel something, to leave with more questions than what they walked in with!" (8)Darren Hill is a man who cares about others and the world we live in. His thoughts convey the sincerity and humility that is in his heart."I am a simple man. I was brought up to stand up for yourself, to respect others and treat others as they would want to be treated." (9)In a world that seems to be straying from such values, it is uplifting to see an actor of his caliber projecting hope and goodness from the stage.View Darren's Showreel: https://vimeo.com/32097600Website: http://www.darrenhillofficial.com/pos... Camino Santiago, "The Pilgrimage Routes to Santiago de                                                       Compostela." santiago-compostela.net(2) Theater Y. "An Impressive Presentation of Lovely Evidences - Underneath the               Lintel."  www.theatre-y.com/an-impressive-prese...- lovely-evidences/(3) Darren Hill. "An Actor's Pilgrimage and Challenge."      www.kickstarter.com/projects/11304470...?           ref=project_tweet(4) Ibid(5) Hill, Darren. Personal Interview. 13 May 2017(6) Darren Hill Official Website       www.darrenhillofficial.com/about(7) Ibid(8) Hill, Darren. Personal Interview. 13 May 2017(9) Darren Hill Official Website     www.darrenhillofficial.com/about

It is the middle of the second volume of a book you are writing, and you come to the chapter where the wedding takes place. It starts out something like this, ready, set, go!"Grace was mesmerized. She had seen him from a distance, watched him walk in serene and majestic fluidity beside Clement as they made their way to the chapel house, but she was unprepared for how magnificent he looked up close. The transformation was resplendent. He had gone from incredibly handsome to a true Highlander Scot. The rugged beauty and richness of a heritage he knew little about emanated from every feature of his body and whispered to her soul in conveyances which words could not form, yet were keenly felt. She elevated her arm and slipped her small hand into his, basking in the thrill which ran through her as his hand enveloped hers. The soft but firm grip spoke of complete love, devotion, protection, and honor as he turned to stand by her side, escorting her toward the steps."(From American Dream, The Eagle and the Lion)But not so fast there, ink and quill. This is an 18th-century wedding. Time for research.I have spent over twenty years in the depths of historical research spanning from early Rome to the 1950's. I learned much about daily life, foods they ate, military encounters, culture, and more. What I had never explored, however, were the fine details of the wedding ceremony. Oh, what a ride that was. I absolutely loved it!When we envision the perfect wedding, it is often a traditional approach; white dress symbolizing purity, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, etc. An 18th-century wedding was a different occasion altogether.According to an article in the Daily Mail, The white dress did not become a symbol of purity until Queen Victoria made it popular. Instead, multi-colored or blue gowns were a symbol of purity. The article is key for many genealogy enthusiasts for it reports the availability of London marriage records dating from 1521-1896. These records say a lot about the ceremony, bride and groom, and in some cases their parents as well.An 18th-century wedding reception did not boast of a multi-layered, cake with white icing. Instead, there was a bride's pie made of, "savory meats and sweet mince." There was no bouquet thrown to predict the next in line to get married, but whoever found a glass ring in the pie was sure to be the next to be proposed to! Traditionally only the woman received a ring until a 1950's ad campaign popularized the idea of the exchanging of rings between the bride and groom.There were so many interesting details I stumbled into online, and it was fascinating to see the evolution of marriage ceremony customs throughout the ages. I am posting just one of the sites I went to, which I quoted in this blog, but there are many more sources online. If there are writers of fiction out there who have not engaged in a study of marriage customs of the past, please do! You will not be disappointed!Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...

My book Shadows of the Ancient Wood is now on paperback! It will be on Amazon by April 3rd but you can order through Create Space here:https://www.createspace.com/7045646and it will be shipped immediately!  I am so excited about this! Volume two is coming along and taking twists and turns I never imagined. Order volume one today so you can get started on the McCarter saga!Back with more blogs soon! Just click the link or the logo and it will take you to the order page!