Sally's Musings...

Let's ponder the reality of reality shows. I think we all know these are scripted shows that reflect the producer's vision of reality. Of course, some surprises may happen that end up on the show, thus enforcing the "reality."

I must admit there are a few reality shows that I love to watch. All for different reasons. First, Jersey Shore, for its blatant vulgarity and over the top personalities. From grenades to Snooki drunk on the beach. You never know what you're going to get with that show.

I also enjoy Gene Simmons Family Jewels. I like the people and the whole family dynamic. Plus, it's cool to see into the personal life of a rock star. The kids, Nick and Sophie, are great. Gene and Shannon have a wonderful chemistry. So much so, that I must be reminded, as I was recently by a friend, that this is a scripted show. Parts of it seem very real. And entertaining.

However, my favorite reality shows are 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. I love that these shows portray teen motherhood in an honest way. I think there is a strong reality in these shows. Each girl's story is different, yet the same, as she struggles to balance school, family, work and a new baby. Some with the baby's father. Some on their own. Others are adoption stories and the pain that brings to the young mother.

So, is there reality in reality shows? I think so, to some degree. Certain shows more so than others. But the one thing we can agree on is that reality shows are here to stay, regardless of truth.

Sally's Musings...

Writers are often asked where they get their ideas. Now, a fellow writer will never ask that question. Because, quite frankly, we don't know.

I was recently cleaning out some drawers and found a scrap of paper with a story idea written on it. Yes, I'm old school. Still scribbling ideas on paper scraps and spiral bound notebooks. Anyway, it must have been in there a few years. It had been that long since I cleaned out the drawer. The idea was similar to my novel, Obsession, which releases in July. Probably my first inkling of the idea. It was just a few lines scribbled down, and some of the ideas changed. But the main thought of a man obsessed with a woman in a coastal Maine setting was the same.

Where did I get this idea? I've never been to Maine. I did have a man, more a boy than a man, briefly obsessed with me as a teenager. He would leave me long love letters declaring his love for me on my car. He'd sit outside where I worked and wait for me to come out. Thing was, I didn't even know him. His fixation developed from seeing me at the grocery store, where I worked as a cashier after school.

Funny though, I hadn't thought of this incident for years. But it came back to me as I wrote Obsession. I think writers often pull from thoughts in their unconscious mind. This might not even be something that happened to them. But, perhaps, a situation they heard about or saw. Even a particular image or song may trigger some sort of idea that morphs into something else. Writing is messy, and never complete. The voluminous thoughts and ideas traveling through my head often change into other forms, once expelled onto paper.

Ideas are fickle and ever evolving. Writers may not realize where a thought came from. But there is a foundation to every idea lurking somewhere in the writer's mind.

Sally's Musings...

I love summer vacation. The part of the year when time has no meaning. I relinquish early wake ups and packed lunches of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lazy swimming days and roasting hot dogs over an open fire. We stay up late and get up late. There is a certain sweetness in the air. Freedom.

Of course, my freedom is marred somewhat in my obsession to do those once a year chores. Wash the windows. Clean out the closets. Organize my file cabinet. Maybe they should be more than once a year chores. But who am I kidding? I'm lucky if they get done once a year.

The first week off is always dedicated to these must do activities. I can't wait to cross them off my list and dive into the real summer activities. Swimming. Writing. Playing. Eating ice cream.

Oh yes, that's my summer schedule. How about you?

Obsession

I'm so excited that my story is coming from MuseItUp Publishing on July 15. You'll meet me, Joanna Dresden, in Sally Royer-Derr's novel, Obsession.

You know how some events change your life forever? Events that you never could image happening to you. I had a perfect life. I married my high school sweetheart, Jared and we had a beautiful daughter, Jilly. Okay, maybe it wasn't perfect. Nothing is perfect. But I was happy.

Jared was determined to sell our family inn in Maine and move to Southern California to a new inn along the coast. I wasn't thrilled about the idea at first. But I eventually started to get excited about it.

Two weeks before the move I received news that shattered my world. Jared was dead. Killed on impact in an automobile accident. The only man I ever loved taken from me in an instance. Later, I realized Jared's death wasn't an ugly twist of fate. But instead, a well planned murder by someone I thought I could trust.

Obsession will be released July 15, 2011. Check Sally's website for more information.

Sally's Musings...

I hate when people describe themselves as snarky. I see this description quite a bit on Twitter. Especially writer bios. It appears every writer thinks he or she is the snarkiest of them all.

Why not just say you're critical or sarcastic? Because they think snarky sounds cooler. Maybe more intellectual. Sorry, but it makes you sound pompous and pretentious. Not sure why this is such a pet peeve for me. But it irritates me every time I read someone describing themselves as a snark, or snarky. Now, snarkalicious wouldn't bother me. I can see the humor in that one. But any other form of snark has me rolling my eyes. Get over yourself. Just call yourself a disagreeable troll. Or a cantankerous crab. That might be a more honest portrayal.

But what do I know? I'm just a snarky writer.