October 17, 2014
Book Talks at Hofstra University Oct, 7th and Port Jefferson Library Oct. 11th
I was so busy the last few weeks that I didn't get a chance to post my talk at the Italian-American Experience Lecture Series at Hofstra University on Oct. 7th, 2014. Thank you Dr. Stan Pugliese, staff and audience in attendance for the warm welcome and successful night. Thanks, too, to Samantha Winter, staff and audience in attendance at the Port Jefferson Library on Oct. 11, 2014 for hosting me to share my story and books with such acceptance and warm emotion. Thanks also to Sharon Z. who recommended me to the Library and to her book clubs that have read my book and loved it.
September 08, 2014
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August 12, 2014
Been Busy Working on a Cookbook
I have been busy working on a cookbook of my favorite Italian and American recipes, so have not had much time to post. But below is the Prologue to my novel, ORANGE PEELS and COBBLESTONES, for those of you who have not read the book.
PROLOGUE
“You better not wait any longer,” John said to his friend after an hour had elapsed. They’ve just posted another delay.” The friend had driven John and his wife Marietta to Kennedy Airport. At the gate Marietta sank down with their one year-old baby in the only seat available while John went to check once more on the status of the flight to Los Angeles.
“The problem is mechanical. They don’t know how long it’ll be before it’s fixed.” John was clearly frustrated but Marietta didn’t mind the extra time on the ground. She dreaded what might be in store for her once she was up in the air. Her first flight, when she was ten, had been traumatic, and she was afraid of the memories left within the clouds. Would they come to haunt her, knowing what she planned to do? Or would they come to her aid, give her the courage not to be afraid and not fail?
She also worried about the plane crashing. She cringed at the thought that her daughter might not have a full life. And the idea of dying before she saw her mother and sister again was too painful to bear. She’d never be able to ask the questions she’d been rehearsing for months, the ones that had plagued her ever since she was a little girl. They pestered her at every significant event in her young life. She knew it was no way to live – happy and sad at the same time. The vast emptiness she felt inside her was the worst. It masked the past where those questions lay buried like soldiers in unmarked graves. Someone had to come forward and identify them in order to grieve properly.
When Marietta married John he’d filled a part of that hole. But since giving birth to Anna, the questions surfaced with a vengeance. Hard questions. Not the kind you’d normally ask others, certainly not the kind you could ask your mother. How would Stella react when Marietta confronted her? They were family, but...
Family – Marietta smiled warmly at the sound of the word. In California she had the beautiful promise of family, her family. But then, family had torn her apart. She no longer trusted it. Would it betray her again as it had once before? Or would it welcome her back permanently, the way she had hoped for all these years?
The announcement to board finally came. The young parents gathered their sleeping child along with their belongings and entered the long corridor that led into the plane. With the engines roaring and the lights dimmed, Marietta leaned her head on John’s shoulder and instantly fell asleep. She dreamed not of her mother Stella but of her grandmother handing her a slice of bread spread with olive oil, of her cousin Lucia waving her orange peel in the air urging her to come out and play. She dreamed of her lost childhood a world away.
PROLOGUE
“You better not wait any longer,” John said to his friend after an hour had elapsed. They’ve just posted another delay.” The friend had driven John and his wife Marietta to Kennedy Airport. At the gate Marietta sank down with their one year-old baby in the only seat available while John went to check once more on the status of the flight to Los Angeles.
“The problem is mechanical. They don’t know how long it’ll be before it’s fixed.” John was clearly frustrated but Marietta didn’t mind the extra time on the ground. She dreaded what might be in store for her once she was up in the air. Her first flight, when she was ten, had been traumatic, and she was afraid of the memories left within the clouds. Would they come to haunt her, knowing what she planned to do? Or would they come to her aid, give her the courage not to be afraid and not fail?
She also worried about the plane crashing. She cringed at the thought that her daughter might not have a full life. And the idea of dying before she saw her mother and sister again was too painful to bear. She’d never be able to ask the questions she’d been rehearsing for months, the ones that had plagued her ever since she was a little girl. They pestered her at every significant event in her young life. She knew it was no way to live – happy and sad at the same time. The vast emptiness she felt inside her was the worst. It masked the past where those questions lay buried like soldiers in unmarked graves. Someone had to come forward and identify them in order to grieve properly.
When Marietta married John he’d filled a part of that hole. But since giving birth to Anna, the questions surfaced with a vengeance. Hard questions. Not the kind you’d normally ask others, certainly not the kind you could ask your mother. How would Stella react when Marietta confronted her? They were family, but...
Family – Marietta smiled warmly at the sound of the word. In California she had the beautiful promise of family, her family. But then, family had torn her apart. She no longer trusted it. Would it betray her again as it had once before? Or would it welcome her back permanently, the way she had hoped for all these years?
The announcement to board finally came. The young parents gathered their sleeping child along with their belongings and entered the long corridor that led into the plane. With the engines roaring and the lights dimmed, Marietta leaned her head on John’s shoulder and instantly fell asleep. She dreamed not of her mother Stella but of her grandmother handing her a slice of bread spread with olive oil, of her cousin Lucia waving her orange peel in the air urging her to come out and play. She dreamed of her lost childhood a world away.
July 24, 2014
Rose Marie Dunphy @RoseDunphy · 2h “The Commodore’s Ball,” a Memoir | The East Hampton Star http://easthamptonstar.com/Fiction/2014722/%E2%80%9C-Commodore%E2%80%99s-Ball%E2%80%9D-Memoir#.U9GOqTGY1Zg.twitter … ReplyReplied to 0 times RetweetRetweeted 0 times FavoriteFavorited 0 times Delete More
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“The Commodore’s Ball,” a Memoir | The East Hampton Star http://easthamptonstar.com/Fiction/2014722/%E2%80%9C-Commodore%E2%80%99s-Ball%E2%80%9D-Memoir#.U9GOqTGY1Zg.twitter …
“The Commodore’s Ball,” a Memoir | The East Hampton Star
“The Commodore’s Ball,” a Memoir | The East Hampton Star http://easthamptonstar.com/Fiction/2014722/%E2%80%9C-Commodore%E2%80%99s-Ball%E2%80%9D-Memoir#.U9GOqTGY1Zg.twitter …
July 22, 2014
NEWS RELEASE: THE COMMODORE'S BALL
NEWS RELEASE! My memoir piece titled The Commodore's Ball, will be published in THE EAST HAMPTON STAR this coming Thursday, July 24, 2014. The paper sells throughout the Hamptons and NYC, if anyone wishes to read it. The piece will also be online.
June 23, 2014
Invited by Hofstra University for a Book Talk/Signing, Tues. Oct. 7, 2014, 7-8:30 PM
I have been invited to speak at Hofstra University's Italian-American Experience Lecture Series on Oct. 7, 2014, 7-8:30 PM. Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549. Free and Open to the Public. All are welcome.
Book Talk/Signing in Mt. Sinai
This Friday, the 27th of June, at 9:30 am, I will be giving an Author Talk at the Acampora Center at Mt. Sinai. The address there is 739 Route 25A, Mt. Sinai.
Book Talk/Signing at the Dolphin Bookshop
On June 14, I had a Book Talk/Signing at the Dolphin Bookshop and Cafe in Port Washington, NY. My books were on display one week prior to the event and continue to be on sale there today.
May 26, 2014
Book Talk/Signing at The Dolphin Book Shop and Cafe, Port Washington, NY, 2-4 PM, Sat. June 14, 2014
Won't you join me for a book talk/signing at The Dolphin Book Shop and Cafe in Port Washington, NY?
Date: Sat. June 14, 2014
Time: 2-4pm
Free and Open to the Public
Date: Sat. June 14, 2014
Time: 2-4pm
Free and Open to the Public
Happy Memorial Day!
A big Salute to all the men and women who fought and continue to fight and die for us so that we may live in peace and freedom. We are indebted to you and your families for your sacrifice.
Author Visit with Sharon Zollenberg's Book Club, May 19, 2014
It was a pleasure to visit and share dinner with Sharon and her Book Club members who had read Orange Peels and Cobblestones as their monthly selection. Their questions showed that they were deeply affected and emotionally involved with the book's story. Thank you so much for your positive support. Sharon booked me for two other events that she runs: a book talk/signing in Mt. Sinai Senior Center on June 27, 2014 and another with the Port Jefferson Library book club on Oct. 14, 2014.
Delray Beach Library Book Talk/Signing, Delray Beach, Florida April 10, 2014
The event was a great success. About 40 people attended and all were intrigued by the story of my book. Many asked questions that lasted longer than I expected and bought copies of my book, which I gladly signed for them. The event was even more successful in that a member of the audience asked me to be a speaker at one of their group meeting for the 2015 winter season.
April 02, 2014
2 Future Book Talk/Signings
Am looking forward to my book talk/signings with the Council for Catholic Women in Ascension Church on Wed. April 9th, 7 PM and at the Delray Beach, FL library on Thurs. April 10th, 2 PM.
March 07, 2014
The Palm Beach interview of me by Linda Haase, Feb. 27, 2014
This is the photo that appeared along with The Palm Beach Post interview of me by Linda Haase, Thurs. Feb. 27, 2014, titled "Unanswered questions lead author to confront demons."
Thank you St. Jude's Columbiettes in Boca Raton, FL
A big thank you to St. Jude's Columbiettes for the wonderful reception and welcome they gave me during my book talk last night and for so many buying ORANGE PEELS and COBBLESTONES. Mille grazie also to the members of the Italian class next door who chose to join us to hear me speak and for buying the Italian translation of my book, CIOTTOLI e BUCCE D'ARANCIA.
February 20, 2014
Upcoming Book Talk/Signings
Please join me if you can.
Thurs. March 6th, 6:45 P.M. St. Jude's Columbiettes in Boca Raton, FL
Thurs. April 10th, 2 P.M. Delray Beach Public Library in Delray Beach, FL
Sat. April 19th, 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Islip International Airport in Ronkonkoma, NY
Thurs. March 6th, 6:45 P.M. St. Jude's Columbiettes in Boca Raton, FL
Thurs. April 10th, 2 P.M. Delray Beach Public Library in Delray Beach, FL
Sat. April 19th, 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. Islip International Airport in Ronkonkoma, NY
Book Talk/signing
Thank you St. Vincent Ferrer Columbiettes in Delray Beach, FL for welcoming me warmly during my book talk last night, for gifting me the lovely daffodil plant and for buying my books.
Thanks also go to St. Jude's Council of Catholic Women in Boca Raton, FL for also welcoming me warmly during my book talk and for buying my books on Jan. 23rd.
Thanks also go to St. Jude's Council of Catholic Women in Boca Raton, FL for also welcoming me warmly during my book talk and for buying my books on Jan. 23rd.
November 24, 2013
How to Write a Compelling Novel
How to Write a
Compelling Novel
by Rose Marie Dunphy, author of ORANGE PEELS and COBBLESTONES
1. Write in Scenes. This satisfies Writing’s Cardinal Rule, which
is, “Show. Don’t Tell.” Think of each chapter as a play composed of scenes. You are a spectator or eye witness
of the scene. Then record the action, which is what happens; the dialogue, which is what each person says; description, what the people look like; location, where the scenes take place.
2. Like a journalist, you’re providing the 5 Ws, Who,
What, Where When and How.
3. Write about something you know, something you’re familiar with. It comes across as more authentic. There isn’t much you can say about what you
don’t know. You need to research what
you don’t know and once you do that, you know it, so it’s still writing about
what you know.
4. Write about something you love or hate. It has to be
a strong emotion so your passion comes through.
5. Let the conflict of the book show its face early in the first two pages.
6. End each chapter with something that needs to be resolved. Unfinished business. The reader will want to turn the page and if
he or she doesn’t have the time to continue reading, they’ll be itching to get
to the book as soon as possible.
7. Write your first draft of each scene furiously, from your heart. Don’t worry
about spelling, grammar, great character development of anything else. Get you your story down.
8. Create characters with flaws as well as
redeeming qualities. Make them human,
not saints and devils.
9. Use strong verbs to describe the action and limit adjectives and adverbs. Your verbs should carry the story forward.
10. Use all your senses or as many as you can to write a scene.
Think of the reader as a blind person next to you and you are taking
them on a journey providing the world they can’t see.
11. Bridge your scenes or connect them with prepositional phrases so that they flow, for example,
“in the meantime, whereas, on the other hand, not so for John.”
12. Try to have two or three parallel themes or stories
going in your book. Orange Peels is about Marietta’s need to come to terms with
her past but it’s also a love story between John and her.
13. Revise many times. Once you have all or a good deal
of writing done, revise, revise, revise.
14. Choose an apt title, preferably unusual, so that
it will pique the reader’s curiosity and an interesting cover design. It acts as the readers’ first impression, how
they get introduced to your book.
15. You need ass glue. What this means is that you must sit in your
chair and write even when you don’t feel like it or are stymied. You have to stay there, keep at it until you
break through and make some ground.
16. Write every day,
preferably at the same place and the same time of day. The routine will help you stay glued to your
chair.
17. Read, read, read other authors. Copy how they
describe a character, a location, an action.
Write a scene using your favorite author’s style. It will come out differently because you are
not copying his or her words but their style.
18. Read books about writing to learn and perfect the craft. There are tons out there. Some of the best are Stephen King’s book “On
Writing”, Natalie Goldberg’s “Writing Down the Bones”, Ann LaMott, etc.
19. Join a writing group and bring in your writing for critique and input regularly. Others see what you don’t. Remember, they’re like your readers and will
pick out things you’re not even aware of or they will confirm your personal
intuitions that something isn’t quite right in the development of the story.
20. Believe in yourself. If you don’t, no one else will.
21. Promote your
book every way you can.
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