Interview with Author Charity Maness

Words are so much more than simply words...

Writing is not simply words streamed together to create a story, they are colors and feelings painted on the awaiting canvas of the readers mind. A reader does not know what corner will be turned next, they await the surprise and expect to be moved.

I can only hope that when people read what I have written they will feel intense emotions of... passion... fear... love... desolation... hope... tragedy....laughter...sadness...

Emotions so real that for a moment my thoughts translated to words, become their thoughts translated to feelings.

Reading is a journey....

Enjoy the journey....

Suicide Prevention and Awareness walk-a-thon Speech 9-15-12

I would like to thank you all for coming today to the 3^rd annual Live On Suicide Prevention and Awareness walk-a-thon! Today, you are making a difference… for some, it is a difference between life and death. 

In 2012 Calaveras County has already exceeded the national average in suicide deaths with a total of 15 deaths to date. This is unacceptable.

When I was asked by Kim Molina to speak today I was honored by her request, yet at a loss as to what I would say. Kim gently told me to speak from the heart. That, I can do.

Many of you may know me as a mother, an author, a journalist, a veteran activist, or simply a friend. Some of you may not know me at all, but what none of you know is that I am survivor.

On June 1, 2009 my best friend took her life. 

Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association Ride

On Friday August 24, 2012 I was honored to ride with the Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association in a funeral escort for a fallen Desert Storm veteran.
It was an incredibly moving experience.
At the conclusion, as the veteran's ashes were lowered into the ground and Taps played, we stood in formation holding flags at attention, the last three notes floated through the air on a breeze that had each of our flags billowing out creating a straight line of American flags. Stunning.

New Interviews

Each day brings new adventures and new learning experiences. With that said I am currently interviewing a Special Forces Vietnam Veteran for a chapter in my new book 'In Their Words - Vietnam' and am thrilled to be writing his story.

I love my job! I can only hope, upon the books completion, the words I have written will honor each and every veteran that I interviewed.

Tuolumne Writer's Retreat September 2012 - Charity Maness featured speaker

TUOLUMNE WRITERS RETREAT SEPTEMBER 28th, 29th, 30th, 2012

PRESENTED BY SONORA WRITERS GROUP Experience the 1st Tuolumne Writers Retreat in the State Historic Park of Columbia, California. This Gold Rush town orginally founded by miners in 1850, claims preserved brick buildings, historic artisans, period displays, shops, restaurants, hotels, & docents to transport you to another era. While you are embedded in your favorite writing classes, your entire family will be entertained. Stage coach rides, gold panning, climbing rock formations, watching the blacksmith clang his anvil, candle & candy exhibitions, and creamy ice cream cones await their arrival. Participate in classes, hear featured speakers, take a lantern walk to the Cemetery for a Ghost Poetry Open Mic, enjoy professional Literary Performances, Miners Nuggets of Prose & Poetry Reading, Authors Row. Special events planned for the public & your families including Cowboy Poets & The Devil Mountain Boys Country Band.

For more information CLICK HERE

More kind words...

I received a warm email this morning from a veteran who had read "It's Lonely Here in Hell" love Letters from Nam, it read in part - " I must say that the story contained within it's cover was nothing less that shocking."

That was a wonderful way to begin a day!!

It is every authors dream to touch people's hearts with the written word. 

Travel always inspires me

When I travel, I am always surprised and delighted with what I see, hear and feel. Every experience I have is either turned into a humor column or added to my ever growing list of unfinished manuscripts.

I find people in different areas of the country enticing and exciting. New dialects, sounds and actions...all foreign...yet all American. Amazing.

I hope to have some fun anecdotes for your perusal upon my return:)

Youthful writers

Had a wonderful few experiences yesterday, as two seperate youth asked me advice about writing. One was interested in journalism, the other in novels.
Either way I was impressed and thrilled that some of our youth are still motivated to manipulate the written word to create a moving and passionate piece of literature.
For those of you wishing to write....do it!

Why I write

People ask me often, why I write.
It would be easy to say I write because I love the written word, but that would only be part truth.
I write because I love the way words, when they meld together perfectly, become much like the colorful oils on the canvas of a brilliant painting. Each word means something to the author yet when read by another can have so many different meanings and can create different images, some powerful and moving, others gentle and soothing. Words knit together to create a story can take you on a journey you never imagined taking, can teach you things you never knew existed and can stimulate feelings you thought you didn't possess.
That my friends - in a nutshell - is why I write. It is my passion.

Newly revised 'Welcome to the Country' to be released June 25, 2012 on Amazon.com

Welcome to the Country is a collection of humor columns written by humorist Charity Maness from '09 through '12.  Each column pokes fun at the country life as seen through the eyes of city girl transplant.

Welcome to the Country is a humorous look at life in the country, from cow pie bingo to rocky mountain oysters, to the random collection of tractors in our yards that we proudly refer to as yard art. Luckily for us, those  rusty old tractors, discarded comodes bursting with wildflowers, and windmills squeaking in the breeze, have put us country folk on the cutting edge of 'eco art'. Who would have guessed?

 

                                                             ****************

My first clue that I had moved to the country was a pageantry of bovine beauties parading across a four lane highway halting traffic for miles. As I stared in wonder at the 'fragrant' display  before me, my eyes  sadly drifted to the beautiful new Manolo heels adorning my feet, wondering just where in the country I would ever wear them. I soon learned they were useless for mucking stalls and tastier to a  country dog than an old rawhide bone.

Many more lessons followed on the heels - no pun intended - of my first introduction to the country life.

Not one to turn from an adventure I learned to embrace the country lifestyle wholeheartedly.  My first order of business... a shopping trip for new duds (aka  Wranglers and Ariats) country style haute couture here I come.

Author Charity Maness lives in the Northern California Foothills with her many children, animals, and husband of 25 years.

Welcome to the country is available on Amazon.com and kindle.

Such a rewarding process...

What a rewarding experience, to interview a Vietnam veteran and to put their words into a story...their story.

I didn't think it could get better, but you see, I can't just write their words without a lot of research. When they tell me a location or a date I need to locate that section and research the conflicts of that time, the manpower on the ground, the artillary usage, etc. All of this research helps the reader understand what the veteran is saying...as they all tend to say, "If you weren't there, you don't know." So with research I hope to at least supply some background for a better understanding of the stories. So when I submit my final draft for approval to the veteran I have interviewed and they are not only amazed at how well I captured their words but also the detailed historical documentation that supports their stories I am, to say the least, thrilled!

One vet told me that he was just trying to live to the next day, he wasn't aware of what was going on just miles from him or what had let up to the fight he became embroiled in. Nor did he even consider where the intel he was receiving had come from...just go forth and fight.