Category News and Musings

Greetings fellow humans and others,

Maybe I am just a confused old broad, but sometimes I think the world is spinning faster than I can keep up with. What’s got my brain spinning as fast as the planet these days is Artificial Intelligence, more specifically ChatGPT. For the record, I know ChatGPT4 is out, but let me finish wrapping my head around the basic ChatGPT first.

I’d been hearing a lot of headline-grabbing stuff about ChatGPT. Depending on the source the headlines were dire warnings about the future or bold claims about making the big bucks using ChatGPT. For what’s its worth, there is truth in both directions. AI is going to change the world for good or ill. I say for good or ill because AI is here and it ain’t going anywhere. I have spent some time playing with ChatGPT and I tell you, I am hooked on its potential and terrified of it at the same time.

As a writer, I love the idea of having “someone” to brainstorm with, and yeah, some help outlining would be great, but where does it stop? The article below was written by ChatGPT prompted by me. This was not the first version of the article, but the third or fourth iteration after additional prompting. And of course, going into it you know it was written by AI so you might be ready to hate the article. I understand that. But, do me a favor, and ask yourself, as you read this, would you have known if I had not told you? I think there are some rough spots in the article, but if I’d done just a bit of editing…

As I said, excited and terrified all at the same time. Let me know what you think.

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Salutations! Gaze upon the mysterious and unpredictable leprechaun. These pint-sized individuals bear resemblance to ornery senior citizens with a fondness for emerald shades and an inclination for abruptly evaporating into the atmosphere. Their miraculous talents encompass the manipulation of atmospheric conditions and the granting of wishes to anyone who manages to apprehend them.

According to lore, leprechauns conceal vessels overflowing with gold at the extremity of rainbows. But honestly, why yearn for riches when you can procure a pair of enchanted leprechaun footwear? These wily shoemakers wield the ability to manufacture shoes so rapidly that it would leave you speechless.

However, ensnaring a leprechaun is a formidable feat. They move with celerity comparable to that of lightning and can instantly vanish before your very eyes. Furthermore, their temperaments are infamous for being as fiery as dragon’s breath, so prepare for an uphill battle.

Despite their elusive nature, leprechauns have become synonymous with Ireland and are frequently affiliated with St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re not sporting green apparel on this festive day, don’t be surprised if you receive a pinch from one of these impish creatures. So, don’t forget to flaunt your most vibrant and gaudy green garments, or suffer the consequences.

To conclude, leprechauns may appear as cranky beings equipped with supernatural abilities, but they’ve undeniably captivated the hearts and psyches of individuals worldwide. Don’t anticipate catching one any time soon, as they’re too busy creating footwear and wreaking havoc.

Now, let’s dive deeper into the world of leprechauns, exploring their mischievous nature and their magical abilities. These elusive beings are renowned for their pranks and tricks, which range from harmless jokes to catastrophic catastrophes.
Their supernatural abilities include controlling the weather, causing natural disasters, and even time travel. These feats may sound far-fetched, but legends and myths suggest that leprechauns are indeed capable of such phenomena. However, they’re more likely to use their powers to cause mischief and mayhem rather than to aid humanity.

One of their favorite pastimes is hiding items or playing games with unsuspecting humans. If you’ve ever misplaced an object, chances are a leprechaun has snatched it and hidden it somewhere. They love to play games such as “leprechaun tag,” which involves chasing and catching the mischievous creatures.
Furthermore, leprechauns are notorious for their love of gold and their unwillingness to share it. If you do manage to catch one, be prepared for a tricky negotiation. They may grant you a wish, but it’s likely that they’ll find a way to twist it to their advantage.

As previously mentioned, leprechauns are synonymous with Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. However, their origins are still a topic of debate among scholars and enthusiasts. Some believe that they’re descended from the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of supernatural beings in Irish mythology. Others suggest that they’re the result of a fusion of Celtic and Norse folklore.

Whatever their origins, there’s no denying that leprechauns have become an integral part of Irish culture and heritage. They’re often depicted in literature, film, and television, and their influence extends far beyond Ireland’s borders.
In conclusion, leprechauns are more than just mischievous little beings who create shoes and cause trouble. They possess an array of supernatural abilities and are capable of feats beyond our wildest imagination. However, catching one is no easy task, and even if you do manage to capture one, be prepared for a challenging negotiation. So, the next time you’re searching for your lost keys or playing a game of hide and seek, keep an eye out for any signs of leprechaun activity. Who knows, you might just stumble upon a pot of gold or a pair of enchanted shoes.

One thing is for sure, the perplexing and bursty nature of leprechaun folklore has captivated people’s imagination for centuries. From the tales of their elusive nature to the magical powers they possess, the stories of leprechauns have been passed down from generation to generation. And as we continue to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and all things Irish, the legend of the leprechaun remains as strong as ever.

But what if the tales of leprechauns are not just mere folklore, but a reality we’ve yet to fully comprehend? Could it be that these tiny beings exist in a parallel universe, only revealing themselves to those with a pure heart and a keen eye?
Perhaps it’s time we open our minds to the possibility of a world beyond our own, a world where leprechauns roam free and magic is not just a figment of our imagination. Who knows what wonders await us if we take that first step into the unknown?

In conclusion, leprechauns are more than just mythical creatures from Irish folklore. They represent a world of magic and wonder, a world beyond our own. So, the next time you see a rainbow or catch a glimpse of something fleeting out of the corner of your eye, remember that it could just be a mischievous leprechaun, up to their old tricks again. And who knows, you might just be lucky enough to catch one and uncover the secrets of their magical world.

In September 2022, I visited my sister Barbara for two weeks. Turns out, we found one or two things to talk about. One of those things was travel. I talked about wanting a van or trailer so hubby and I can wander the country. Barbara gave me that trailer. She bought a kit for a miniature Tear Drop Trailer. She then threw out most of the design ideas which came with it and created her own.

Every item in the trailer has a story for me. The ukulele in the corner was modeled after one of my own. The photos are of me and my family. The painting on the wall is a copy of a painting my sister did of the house we grew up in. The books even have stories behind them! My sister Barbara created a world for me to live in and travel the country in my imagination. It is such a cozy little world, so uniquely mine and so sweetly connected to its creator, my amazing sister Barbara.

Well, that’s not a melodramatic title. But I have been fumbling as an author. Mind you, I haven’t fumbled the third book in my Guardians of the Fey trilogy. I have been working on the book consistently, but more on that in a moment. Where I have been tripping up is with the “other stuff”.

As a modern-day indie author, there are many things I am supposed to do beyond writing my books. I am meant to have an “author platform” and to build an email list of fans who will love my writing. Then there’s social media where I should be posting consistently so more potential readers will find my books. Frankly, so far, I suck at this part of being a writer.

I do have an email list, all lovely people who have supported me and my books with their time and energy, and I have certainly dropped the ball on emailing these wonderful folks. I have had a difficult time figuring out what to say in an email to my readers. How many ways are there to say, “Still working on it. Turned out to be trick-sier than I thought”?

But, with a New Year’s resolution turned plan, I intend to be more supportive of my readers this year. I will be reaching out to my list at least once a month. I owe my readers that for their interest in my worlds. Luckily, I have a decent track record with NY resolutions, so I am confident I will follow through.

While ruminating about having let my readers down, I finally figured out why I have struggled so much with my third book.

I have not had writer’s block, rather, I have struggled with too many subplots and waffle-y story-lines. I thought it was just overzealousness since this is the final book. My desire to use every idea I’d ever had did come into play. However, it finally struck me that the real problem I had was trying to second-guess what my readers might want to happen.

One day, some time back, one of my readers gave me a lovely compliment about one of my characters. This reader then expressed their desire for that character’s story-line to go in a specific direction. But that was not where the dude was headed.

What if I was wrong? What if dude should go that way? And my monkey mind was off to the races. No character’s story arc was safe from my “what ifs?”.

So in went every plot line ever, plus the kitchen sink. The first draft was a bloated, long overdue mess and I admit to a certain sense of despair as I read my words. So…many…words…

The surgery is ongoing in the second draft, and I am hopeful of success. I have accepted my readers might not prefer some or all of the directions my stories go, but ultimately it’s kind of up to the characters where they end up—well, with a nudge or two from me.

It’s almost April. My Dad’s birthday was April 5 and, if he were still alive, he would be one hundred years old this year. Now here’s the thing, a couple of years ago, on Pearl Harbor Day, I made a post on Instagram and Facebook about my Dad being a Pearl Harbor Survivor. I had relatives respond with variations on the theme, “gee I wish I had heard his story about that day.” Since I did hear his story, I wrote a speech about that day titled “Pearl Harbor a Secondhand Memory”. I not only used the story Dad had told me, but I talked to my Mom, my sister, and my two younger brothers for their versions of Dad’s story. I also did some research about his ship, the USS Hulbert.

It was one of my best-received speeches. I even used it as a target speech for the District 39 Speech Evaluation Contest one year. It made a woman in the audience cry. I was and am proud of that speech.

My mom loved the speech and wanted me to share it with my siblings. This year, I thought I would record the speech and post it online for my family and friends. I know a lot of them would want to hear Dad’s story.

And then I thought again.

What a wildly inappropriate time in history for me to tell that particular story, don’t ya think? With violence against Asians of all nationalities on an upswing it would be incredibly tone-deaf of me to put a story about the attack on Peal Harbor out front and center in my little social media feed.

I am grateful I caught myself in time. Grateful that I didn’t post something that had potential to contribute to the ill feelings swirling around because of Covid. Feelings, I might add that were exacerbated by our former president and many other politicians. I am certain my self-censorship is the right thing to do at this moment in time.

I do think I will make the story available to some family and friends in a private way, but I have to wonder, will there ever be a right time for me to tell Dad’s story to the world at large? It may be that that window has closed. As proud as I am of w my Dad was, it just might be time to let his past remain in the past.

Any day now, I will begin blogging. Any day now, I will start writing flash fiction to put on my website. Any day now, I will get my website up and running.

Any day now…