Showing posts with label Crystal C.V. Rhodes novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crystal C.V. Rhodes novels. Show all posts
Monday, March 2, 2020
Thursday, February 27, 2020
A REWARDING MONTH FOR WRITING
I've been very busy this month and nearly missed writing this month's blog. I had my playwright hat on and was privileged to be one of the winners of the Ivoryton Playhouse Theatre's Women Playwrights Initiative for 2020. My One Act drama, 1200 MILES FROM JEROME, was given a staged reading at the Ivoryton Playhouse, located in Connecticut, and it was quite a success.
The play is set in 1942 during WW II. It is about a courageous teacher and members of an African American family who are transporting a young Japanese American boy who has escaped from an interment camp in Jerome, Arkansas to New York City where he can be shielded by relatives. Danger is lurking for the car's occupants every miles it will take to get there, and along the way a lot of truth is revealed.
Below is the link to the TV interview I gave while in Connecticut on a program titled "A CERTAIN AGE", with host Li Hayes. The interview was broadcast in Connecticut only, but it will tell you a lot about my career as a writer:
Also, here are some photos from the powerful play reading that was held at the Ivoryton Playhouse Theatre in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Everyone involved in putting on the Women Playwrights Initiative for 2020 did a wonderful job!
The Cast of 1200 MILES FROM JEROME
(l to r) Justine Hall, Brie Covington, Jacob Goodhart, Kathryn Markey (Director) Crystal Rhodes (playwright) Renee Sutherland and Denise Johnson
Director, Kathryn Markey in front of the Ivoryton Playhouse Theatre in Ivoryton, Connecticut
Monday, January 6, 2020
HELLO 2020!!
Here we are in the first year of a new decade, and I welcome it with open arms! Last year was so fantastic for me creatively that I'm giddy with excitement to see what 2020 will bring. My goal to finish the first draft of Someone Like Them by the end of 2019 was achieved. I finished the final draft on December 31st, New Years Eve. While other people were partying fervently, I was writing feverishly. Such is the life of a writer. It's not all wine and roses.
I look forward to going through Someone Like Them again, to fine tune it. I like my character, Wanda Carson. She is a 50 year old grandmother who she is living a dream that can only be imagined by others. Unfortunately, she discovers that all that glitters is not gold.
Someone Like Them should be released by this fall, if not sooner. Meanwhile, I'm also working on a new Two Act play. My latest One Act Play, 1200 Miles from Jerome, which won the 2020 Women Playwrights Initiative, sponsored by the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut, will enjoy a staged reading early this year. I'm also writing another mystery novel with L. Barnett Evans, my talented co-author of the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy mystery series. It looks like 2020 will be as creatively satisfying as 2019. I sure hope so. Meanwhile, Happy New Year!
I look forward to going through Someone Like Them again, to fine tune it. I like my character, Wanda Carson. She is a 50 year old grandmother who she is living a dream that can only be imagined by others. Unfortunately, she discovers that all that glitters is not gold.
Someone Like Them should be released by this fall, if not sooner. Meanwhile, I'm also working on a new Two Act play. My latest One Act Play, 1200 Miles from Jerome, which won the 2020 Women Playwrights Initiative, sponsored by the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut, will enjoy a staged reading early this year. I'm also writing another mystery novel with L. Barnett Evans, my talented co-author of the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy mystery series. It looks like 2020 will be as creatively satisfying as 2019. I sure hope so. Meanwhile, Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
2019 - THE YEAR OF ALL YEARS!
I can't account for other people, but I am one who is grateful for every year of my life, and the majority of them have been good ones. Fortunately, I pursued my passion for writing, never limiting myself, and I have been richly rewarded. I've done it all, books, plays, TV scripts, articles. You name it, I've tried it. As we come to the end of 2019, I look back and recognize that this year has been one of the most creatively rewarding that I've ever had. Financial rewards are always welcomed, but when one is an artist and receives recognition for ones art that's a feeling that is difficult to describe. The word elation is the only one I can think of at the moment.
The year 2019 opened with my Two Act play, The Diary of Annie Mae Franklin, winning a national playwriting contest, The American Theatre's 21st Century Voices New Play Festival. I spent a weekend in January in St. Petersburg, Florida where a staged reading of the play was presented, and it received an excellent reception. The next few months saw the re-release of one my romantic suspense novels, Singing a Song, and the writing of the third book in my Stillwaters Series, Someone Like Them (which it seems like I've been working on forever). I acquired a drama agent in the fall, presenting me with the opportunity to have my plays presented in more theatres, and a shot at having my work acquired for TV--one of my major goals.
I attended severalwriting workshops. My writing partner and I won scholarships to attend an artist conference. We gave presentations on writing to two college classes, and a visit with one my favorite book clubs was quite a treat. To top it off at the end of this year I won a second national playwriting contest! My One Act Play, 1200 Miles from Jerome, won the 2020 Women Playwrights Initiative, sponsored by the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut. I'm looking forward to that staged reading.
Recently, the year was further topped off with my having been presented with a Creative Arts Fellowship by the Indiana Arts Council. What an honor it is to be recognized and appreciated for my art. With this fellowship I can travel to anywhere in the world I want. I'm still tingling from the excitement.
Yes, 2019 was quite a year! I can't wait until 2020.
The year 2019 opened with my Two Act play, The Diary of Annie Mae Franklin, winning a national playwriting contest, The American Theatre's 21st Century Voices New Play Festival. I spent a weekend in January in St. Petersburg, Florida where a staged reading of the play was presented, and it received an excellent reception. The next few months saw the re-release of one my romantic suspense novels, Singing a Song, and the writing of the third book in my Stillwaters Series, Someone Like Them (which it seems like I've been working on forever). I acquired a drama agent in the fall, presenting me with the opportunity to have my plays presented in more theatres, and a shot at having my work acquired for TV--one of my major goals.
I attended severalwriting workshops. My writing partner and I won scholarships to attend an artist conference. We gave presentations on writing to two college classes, and a visit with one my favorite book clubs was quite a treat. To top it off at the end of this year I won a second national playwriting contest! My One Act Play, 1200 Miles from Jerome, won the 2020 Women Playwrights Initiative, sponsored by the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut. I'm looking forward to that staged reading.
Recently, the year was further topped off with my having been presented with a Creative Arts Fellowship by the Indiana Arts Council. What an honor it is to be recognized and appreciated for my art. With this fellowship I can travel to anywhere in the world I want. I'm still tingling from the excitement.
Yes, 2019 was quite a year! I can't wait until 2020.
Friday, November 8, 2019
STILLWATERS COMING
It looks like I’m going to finish editing the re-release of my novel, Stillwaters, before I finish my novel Someone Like Them. Actually, that makes sense, especially since Someone Like Them, is the third installment of what I call the Stillwaters book series. For readers who are unfamiliar with the town of Stillwaters and some of the people in it, the re-release of the Stillwaters novel will introduce readers to the town. It’s an extraordinary place, and the characters that I create who live in and around the town find benefit from the association. In the Stillwaters novel, not only is the reader introduced to the town and its residents, but you get to meet Bev Cameron and Ray Wilson, two people who don’t look as though they have much in common, but looks can deceive. Here’s an excerpt from the first chapter of Stillwaters.
CHAPTER 1
“What do you mean, Ray is coming here?” Bev Cameron gripped the telephone tightly, uncertain that she heard her daughter correctly. Everyone in their family knew the strict criteria that must be followed in order to bring a stranger to her hometown, and Ray Wilson, the man who had been shamelessly flirting with her for years, did not fit the criteria. “There must be some mistake. Who told you this?”
“Thad.”
Bev knew that there was no doubt about the validity of the information. Her daughter’s husband was movie star Thad Stewart and he adored his wife, singing superstar Darnell Cameron. She was the love of his life, his confidante and his best friend. Thad wouldn’t lie to her.
Darnell explained. “Thad was excited about playing golf on the new course, and he said that he couldn’t wait for Ray to get here so they could play together. Then, he thought about what he had said he clammed up, but it was too late by then. It’s my guess that Ray’s coming with Dana.”
Bev was shocked. “My sister?”
“Who else could it be? Aunt Dana said that she was coming home and the two of them are friends.”
“That’s true, and it does make sense.” Bev could tell by Darnell’s tone that she was also finding it difficult to believe the scenario.
“What should we do?” the younger woman asked. “Tell the Family Council and have them stopped at the gate?”
“I’m not sure.” Bev considered the alternatives. “I’m just wondering why she’s bringing him here, and how she expects to get him into town.”
“There’s only one way that she can get him in,” Darnell affirmed, “and that’s with a lie.”
Bev knew that she was right. “Why would she do this?” Her heart sank at the idea of her younger sister engaging in such deception.
“Maybe it’s some move to stop Aunt Tessa’s family from taking over the town.” Even through the telephone Darnell could feel her mother’s pain. The two sisters had been estranged for quite some time and Dana’s return home might have provided an opportunity for their reconciliation, if it wasn’t for this new development. Darnell could hardly comprehend what her aunt must feel about their family to do something like this.
“You might be right,” Bev’s voice was hollow. “She’s probably plotting some kind of legal maneuver that could wreck havoc in the family.” She gave a shuttering sigh.
“So what’s the plan, Mama?” Darnell’s voice was filled with sadness.
Bev tried to think. “We’ll keep this to ourselves for now. If she gets past the gate with Ray, let’s see what Dana is up to.”
Darnell was receptive. “That sounds reasonable. Meanwhile, I’m going to see if I can pump some more information out of Thad. Kiss my little gem for me.”
The women disconnected and Bev sat reflecting on their conversation. What was Dana up to? What part did Ray Wilson play in her sister’s scheme? She was familiar with her younger sister’s escapades, but why had she aligned herself with that middle-aged playboy and dared breach the security of their family haven?
A loud yawn interrupted Bev’s musing and she looked down into the face of the little brown bundle nestled in her arms and smiled. Her granddaughter, six-month-old Nia Cameron-Stewart, was awake.
“Hey there, little one.” Gently, Bev caressed the baby’s soft cheek and was rewarded with a toothless grin. The dimples inherited from her father winked at her and Bev melted. This had to be the most beautiful baby in the world.
“Let’s get you something to eat.” She rose and headed toward the kitchen with Nia. “Then we’re going to wait for your Aunt Dana and your godfather Ray to arrive. When they do, there’s going to be some fireworks lighting up this town, and it’s not even close to being Independence Day.”
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
SINGING A SONG is in Paperback
As stated in the last blog, the paper back version of Singing a Song is now available on Amazon.com. As long as I continue to write and my books are published my work will not only be in eBook format, but in paperback as well. Who knows, one day I may even have a book published in hard cover.
In my opinion, an e-reader simply can't replace a real book. But, I'm glad that eBooks and eReaders were invented. They make my work available to so many more readers. Plus, I don't have to pack ebooks around to book fairs trying to making sales. That's a real plus.
I'm not sure how many people read books other than in eBook format anymore, but I know that I enjoy a good paperback. They bring back memories of my childhood when I used to curl up in bed at night, or on the couch, and sometimes even lay under the shade of a tree, being entertained for hours. Books have always taken me into a world of imagination where I could become the heroine, or hero, capable of doing anything. It is because of books that I became a writer, but it wasn't simply the words on the pages that I enjoy. I like the feel of books in my hand, the enjoy turning the pages of a book in anticipation of what's coming next. I even enjoy sticking bookmarks between the pages of a books. I don't know why. It's probably some kind of psychological satisfaction that I get from the experience, but I do know why I get upset if the bookmark falls out and I loose my place. It sucks!
In my opinion, an e-reader simply can't replace a real book. But, I'm glad that eBooks and eReaders were invented. They make my work available to so many more readers. Plus, I don't have to pack ebooks around to book fairs trying to making sales. That's a real plus.
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