Simplicity

Have you heard the term ‘pecking order’? Normally it’s used in a condescending manner, but I’m using it as a reference to mankind as a whole. Humanity or human beings, are at the top of the ‘pecking order’ as we have been for centuries. Our advanced brain function separates our species from the animals of the planet thus putting us at the top of the food chain. Another ability we harbor is the gift of ‘free will’ and the power to make life choices. Not everyone has the option to act upon their thoughts or dreams, but at least they have a mind of their own to create it.

To every good, there is a bad. We also have the knowledge and history of hate, prejudice, and absolute evil actions created by the same act of ‘free will’, an unfortunate fact of life and a human hazard. That’s why it is imperative to make practical changes and small differences in the lives of those in need. To champion for the weak and stand up for the innocent and to help those hurting in our world. I’m not suggesting saving the billions of people living on our planet, but I am suggesting small baby steps in the direction of making an impact in someone’s life.

You might be rolling your eyes or wondering what you could do that would make a difference and my response is this: There are two types of volunteers; The Global Giver and The Hometown Helper….

The Global Giver: Travel the world to help the oppressed, desolate people suffering in different countries, be an advocate for the abandoned and the voice for those without one.

The Hometown Helper: Stay close to home and volunteer in your community by participating in a practical way and impacting the lives of those who are disadvantaged, homeless, or forgotten.

Making a difference doesn’t have to be a grandiose gesture or hours of volunteerism, it can be as easy as taking a child to a museum or reading a book to a loved one…really, it’s that simple.

Last month I visited the Holocaust Memorial traveling through my city. I made a conscious decision to take my son to see the exhibit as a demonstration of the fragility of human life. I wanted him to understand how racism and hatred could destroy the balance of nature and cause such turmoil and sadness. I’m one who believes education and kindness can prevent future occurrences and atrocities from reoccurring. If history is remembered and not forgotten, then hope for a future without bigotry or prejudice can be obtainable and the deaths of the innocent would not be in vain.

Though some may disagree, I believe creating an environment with on ‘open door policy’ for children to learn and ask questions presses the importance of making a change.  Having the chance to take my son to the exhibit made him understand how negative actions could impact someone else’s life in a dramatic way. This is one small step in making a difference in his life and it took less than an hour and two miles of gas, but the outcome was priceless.

Imagine what the possibilities of a global participation can accomplish simply by deciding to make a positive change.

‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Quote by Neil Armstrong, Astronaut.


If you would like to help with a humanitarian project, click on the link below and read about the HIV/AIDS orphan day care center in Soshanguve, South Africa. See how you can help make a difference in the lives of a group of children living with the day to day tragedies of death and abandonment. Soshanguve 2012

Stay tuned next month as Sired Scribblings blog will be hosting a Literary Auction with generous donations from the following authors: Lisa T. Bergren, Raine Thomas, CA Kunz, Melissa Foster, Chelsea Fine, Bethany Lopez, Katheryn Lane and Michelle Jordon. There will be lots of signed swag, paperbacks and ebooks galore! All proceeds will help the children of Ithembe La Bantwana Orphan Center.

What Makes A Leading Man?

My mom was a single mother and raised my sister and me to be independent women. There was a SERIOUS lack of male testosterone in the house, except for the cat, and I only had one male role model to look up to, my uncle. Unfortunately, mom didn’t always have her dating radar dialed in correctly, so the boyfriend meter was generally ‘off’, to put it mildly. I grew up thinking marriage and romantic gestures were a thing of ‘fiction’ until I met my future and current husband. Although, I did make him work hard and solidly refused marriage until we were out of college, but eventually I married my junior high sweetheart and the rest is history!

I do have a point to this story, and here it is: What makes a ‘Leading Man’ a HERO not a ZERO? If you look to our movies, books, and T.V. series for your answer, then I suppose any ‘hero’ with a set of rock hard abs and beautiful hair makes the cut. Not so long ago, well okay maybe it was twenty or thirty years ago, but who’s counting…anyway, heroes used to wear masks to cover their rugged looks, and sometimes not so rugged looks. The superheroes of yesteryear weren’t always handsome and they certainly didn’t have that chiseled body type of today’s superstars. Their OUT OF THIS WORLD characteristic was their ability to save the damsel in distress with honesty, integrity, courage and a little bit of swoon factor. Have the young ladies been manipulated into selling out to a creep with a ravishing body and a gorgeous pearly white smile? I hope not!

I’m a sucker for a great story involving romance and butterfly stomachy (totally not a word, but I’m gonna use it) feelings just like anyone else, but I also need to believe in the hero and know his intentions are unique, honorable, and he’s in it for the long haul when the damsel eventually gets stretch marks and puts a little meat on her bones. Yeah, I’m that kind of realist…

I will admit to adding the ‘swoon’ factor to characters in my young adult book series, Elements, where I describe the two leading young men Gage and Talon as almost Greek-Godlike with their sculptured bodies and flawless looks. In my defense though, I further describe them heavily throughout the series with normal everyday problems and setbacks just like a regular teen boy growing up. (With the added pressure of an evil emperor chasing them and trying to kill them, of course. It’s fiction, I need to add a little fantasy factor!) In my opinion, showing the humanism and some characteristic flaws, readers can relate realistically and appreciate the qualities instead of disassociating from the story. Talking about depression, death, insecurities and guilt alongside feelings of euphoria, confidence, humor and love will indeed counterbalance a story to simulate ‘real life’ while still portraying a fictional narrative. Like any author, I put a little piece of myself in each novel and the portion I chose to input is my fondness for respect and a man who is raised to be a gentlemen. My uncle is a true southern gentleman and taught me I should expect nothing less from a man, although growing up in California, this is a bit of an anomaly. (Not to say it is extinct, just rare. I still love being a California girl, no doubt!)

 I have, in turn, raised my sons the same way as my family has for generations by teaching them the essence of gentlemanly mannerisms. Gage and Talon Thorn (Elements characters), like my real life sons, show qualities that are rare in main stream society such as opening the door for a lady, responding with ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’, standing when an elder enters the room and removing their hat when eating at a table. I admire these qualities and I think this may be my personal link to what makes a leading man a HERO not a ZERO. It's not ALL about the looks, it's about the persona and what lies deep within. A hero who can kick a little butt, is willing to admit they're not perfect and needs some help too. 

If you would like to weigh in on the topic, please post your comment here or catch me on twitter at http://twitter.com/fuentes_kate1 . #herovszero   

O Ye of Little Faith...In Our Youth

Today’s youth has received a horrible reputation for being ‘rude, ‘wild’, and ‘irresponsible’ says a recent study of contemporary teens versus those born before 1999. Adults from 1989 were asked to compare today’s youth to their own peers and words such as selfish, materialistic and reckless were used quite frequently from the folks from Generation X. Pretty harsh if you ask me!

Each generation of teen youth receives a failing grade from the older generations before them as they tend to say the younger kids in today’s society have it easier compared to when the baby boomers were born.

I don’t think any teen, either today or from years ago, has dodged the saying “when I was your age…” and wished they could be anywhere else but that conversation. Just for kicks and giggles, lets’ take a stroll back in time to enjoy the previous era’s and what the teens of that time might hear shall we?

1920’s (Roaring 20’s)

Teens were called the ‘Lost Generation’ by their respective elders stating the younger folks were disillusioned and cynical. Adolescents and young adults could commonly be found listening to big band music and doing the Charleston in a Speakeasy club while prohibition was the hot topic of the day. Teen girls scandalously exposed their arms and legs with the new ‘flapper’ fashion and wore their hair cropped in a bob while wearing makeup. (Also considered extremely indecent for the time) The 19^th amendment was passed and this created a new level of fairness for women who now had political equality. (Hallelujah)

Moving on…

1930’s

Obviously the early 30’s moving into the mid 30’s devastated many lives with the great depression and the dust bowl. Families were shattered as was their way of life.  This is probably the only era before or since that received a break from the ‘one up’ stories. Everyone was in dire straits and appreciated the opportunity to be alive one more day. Yeah, it was that bad.

1940’s

Swing music revolutionized the way people expressed themselves through dance, the ‘pin up girl’ became immortalized, pencil skirts and chunky platforms were donned by the young girls and finally with father off to war and mother working in the factory the term ‘Juvenile Delinquent’ was born to the unsupervised youth. Naughty boys and girls…wink, wink.

1950’s

Thank the Lord for 1956 when integration began and all children, regardless of their color, were able to attend school together, equally. Teens rebelled against conservative Middle America and insisted on listening to the new music sensation of Elvis Presley’s Rock and Roll. 1950’s teens were labeled ‘Separate Generation’ led by the likes of James Dean from Rebel Without a Cause. Those crazy kids!

1960’s

It’s said to be the ‘Age of Youth’ as 70 million children from post war baby boomers now were becoming teenagers. This was the era of revolutionary thinking, dressing, music, and politics. Crew cuts now rivaled long haired hippies and bouffant hairdos accompanied miniskirts with go-go boots. This was the era of sexual revolution expressed in a myriad of ways including literature, film, music and clothing.  Protests were extensive demanding equal rights for all and historical icons leading the movements were important in carving a path for future generations to come. Thank you rebellious ‘Age of Youth’.

1970’s

Welcome to the fashion era that went dramatically wrong in so many ways! Two words: bellbottom pants! With the Vietnam War still going strong, this divided most Americans politically and teens were often against the war as most young men were forced to enlist against their wishes.  It seemed a time for an advanced maturity level as a majority of young adolescents became heavily involved in political movements. To the watchful eye of the surrounding adults, the youth were considered to be a “lost cause of deadbeat, political fanatics who were lazy and opposed the typical American way.” Wow, talk about critical!

1980’s

Enter the Generation X teens who were labeled the ‘Me, Me, Me’ era of status seekers. Teens were said to be materialistic as fashion trends were closely regarded by the name on the label. Conservative adults had a field day regulating and censoring the youth by banning classic literature such as The Grapes of Wrath, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Catcher in the Rye. The teens of the 80’s were certainly looked down upon by their older predecessors and were undoubtedly considered to be selfish .

1990’s

Generation Z or Net Generation (The techi teen) has found an era all for themselves to flourish in. The World Wide Web was born changing the lives for everyone young and old. Elders criticized their teen children for their technology driven obsessions and distance from the family.

And so this leads us into our current era where the age old question persists “How is this generation going to make an impact on society?” Easy…just as the youth of yesteryear had to grow up one day and put their big boy or big girl pants on, so will our current youth. Everyone will make mistakes, as everyone should…how else does one learn? Giving labels to our youth will not teach them a valuable lesson or inspire them to succeed; it will affect their level of respect for the elders who have earned that particular position. I believe each generation has a gift for the next and our society has definitely been rewarded thus far with many positive aspects as well as negative. But is this not true for any of the previous eras of teens and young adults? We are a species of curiosity, intelligence, and problem solving. I continue to have faith in our youth that they will provide not only a new way of life in our future but improvement as well.  

So I ask you to give our youth a break and have a little faith in the underdog. Instead of comparing their culture to those from the past and throwing out insults, try embracing some of their ways to form a common ground. No one likes to be called something uncomplimentary or worse recognizing the fact that current adult mentors have zero confidence in the performance capabilities of teen society. Remember, they will be waiting for a time when you are too old to care for yourself and will happily enroll you into the nearest rest home…savvy little teens!

For the Love of Writing

It is said ‘true writing’ (not proto-writing) was invented independently in two different places; Mesopotamia around 3200 BC and Mesoamerica around 600 BC. Debates have erupted in various circles also crediting Egypt in 3200 BC and China in 1300 BC, lest we forget about the Tartaria Tablets from Transylvania that predates all of the others from 5500 BC. No matter where ‘true writing’ surfaced, it is by far the most exhilarating concept known to man. The simplistic idea of having the tool to communicate one’s thoughts or stories for all to interpret across the ages of time is mind boggling.

Mankind learned to record their script on several different types of materials such as clay, tree bark, stone, parchment and later on papyrus (plant found in Egypt). The ancient Egyptian scrolls were used as the first form of a book in 'roll' format when they glued sets of papyrus together to create a tablet of sheets. Eventually this material was imported into Greece where it dominated the land as a new writing element from an exotic nation. After the fall of the Great Roman Empire, parchment became the main writing material once again as the trade with Egypt was no longer available. After the development of Codex (books), and before the invention of the printing press, monasteries would copy text into books by hand which is why they were so rare and expensive to make because of the labor intensive work it took to create and make a single copy. Unfortunately, some works of art were ultimately destroyed by the Monks because they were deemed 'dangerous' for their lack of religious content and were feared to have the ability of manipulating the person in contact with the book. 

Fast forward several centuries and you have the ease of uploading any form of writing onto the internet for all to view. As consumers in an advanced society, we no longer have to hold a piece of paper in our hands to read but can browse the electronic pages pictured across our mechanical devices. What is that saying for future historic prosperity? Are we removing an art form from our genetic line as humans by relenting to the ease of technical mechanics? Personally I’m inclined to say yes, although many people would say I’m not thinking about how this saves on natural materials and refraining from leaving my carbon footprint. But I must add this small comment before moving on; peruse the old books from before and notice the gorgeous handwritten calligraphy, the intricate swirl of cursive and the originality of personable printing. From an artistic stand point these scripts are priceless, but speaking as an author I am eternally grateful to be living in my current era of keyboards and automatic print! Can you imagine the carpal tunnel claims and ink poisoning statistics from the insurance departments of the renaissance generation? (snark) Now, moving forward…

I have asked several people their opinion regarding paper or electronic books with answers dividing the argument straight down the middle. Prior to my meager interrogation of several avid readers, I must admit I had a clear assumption that the younger generation would veer toward the viral world as opposed to the older contemporaries leaning toward traditional paper books (with my generation stuck in the middle of understanding both arguments equally). I was actually proved wrong on both points, which under normal circumstances I would not outwardly admit, but in this case, I’ll let it slide; for humanity’s sake of course! Depending on which side of the fence you stand, the choice is irrelevant because the art of writing wins the battle hands down. We are still able to read great works such as Austen, Dickens, Tolkien, Twain and Lewis. Or modern authors like JK Rowling, Cassandra Clare, Stephenie Meyer and Dan Brown, regardless of which source it is read from, the outcome is equitable. Whether you enjoy turning the pages and feeling the weight of the paper rustling beneath your fingertips while the smell of aged ink whisks lightly below your nostrils or it’s the ease of carrying your electronic device weighing less than ten ounces and holding up to 2,000 books while simultaneously surfing the net and responding to twitter. Whatever tickles your fancy is your prerogative.  The beautiful part of the great debate rests simply with that of the individual. You can stand loyally to one or share the best of both worlds by actively participating in either sets of scholarly utopia; paper and/or electric.

Writing this post made me think back to my younger years and remember how I first got started as a lover of words and who my person of influence was who inspired my reading passion. I was in third grade and my older sister Kim would sit with me in our room to read Greek Mythology while I envisioned the wondrous creatures, epic battles, and sheer beauty of the story. My imagination was filled with incalculable fantasies and extraordinary stories that still remain vividly in my mind today. How I loved to listen to the ancient expressions and later read them for myself and now share that same love of reading with my own children. I'd like to thank my sister for taking the time to read to her kid sis and thus spawning a lifelong fanatic of historic mythology. It’s a cyclical and harmonic cycle passed down through generations and the key to future works of art. As you sit and read this segment, what was the infamous book that turned the tides from a regular reader to bibliophile and how has that shaped your interest for your genre of choice? Is reading an escape from your everyday life; an opportunity to venture beyond the boundaries of time and relevance or purely out of delight? Post your comments on this blog or on twitter @fuentes_kate1 using hashtag #readingfan. I would love to read your opinions!


To learn more about my Elements of writing, you can visit my webpage at http://www.katefuentes.com/



Any historical content featured in this article was gathered from http://www.wikipedia.org/ .

Break the Bread

As children we are taught to share with others; our toys, food, time, love, along with many other characteristics. On the journey to ‘teen land’ our objectives have a tendency to develop into the realm of being self-absorbed, not necessarily selfish, rather unaware and solely concentrating on fellow adolescents, music, fashion, and/or/simultaneously on hormones. Not all teens go through the above mentioned, but some do and I can be honest and say when I was a teen I did just that. I walked around in my own little bubble, oblivious to the troubles of the world or even the financial burdens of my own household and how this type of stress can affect adult relationships.

When you finally reach the fork in the road to stay in the child world or venture into adulthood the 'sharing' characteristic surfaces once again. The choice is that of the individual; will they choose to sincerely share with others their happiness, wealth, education, compassion, love, and friendship or will they resort to the behaviors of gluttony, greed, and narcissism?

A thought ponders on the edge of my brain; are others truly and genuinely happy for their peers/friends or does an ulterior motive of sabotage linger in the dark corners of their psyche? When looking at my author colleagues, does the above rule apply as a competitor’s impairment?  Have I read too many conspiracy theory novels and watched far too many movies about treachery for my own good? I hope not, I rather enjoy those types of intrigue and would like to continue to benefit from the various forms of entertainment without the after affects of guilt or paranoia. So, back to the question at hand, how easily does ‘sharing’ come to you?

I’m personally drawn toward people/authors/writers/entertainers that exude individuality, creativity, charisma, kindness, and humor. The world is a vast exodus of untapped resources (literally speaking) and hidden treasures that are waiting to be discovered by the next individual. That could be any form of discovery including exciting new inventions, befriending someone from a different culture and/or religion, perhaps creating a novel. I will be the first to say small doses of competition are healthy (speaking from my experience as an athlete), and I will stand behind my opinion in which I’m sure others will wholeheartedly disagree. Of course, I welcome their argument without judgment and bring forth an open mind. The desire to be on top of the mountain is intrinsic in us all, but when you rise to the peak and take a look at those around you, do you want a friend to encourage you or a foe to pull your feet from under you to watch your descent back down to the bottom?

I choose thoughtfulness and positive support; it’s less painful and a safe bet you will receive it back tenfold. I would rather deliver the benefit of doubt as opposed to thinking my peers are out to get me. I have mingled in settings where fellow authors are leery of others and have a cynical outlook regarding their literary companions. I have sympathy for those conflicted only for the mere fact that embracing those ill feelings will cause you nothing but grief. I'm happy to report I have experienced nothing but genuine thoughtfulness from other authors and writers who are not the enemy but heartfelt comrades willing to help fledgling novelists new to the publishing world or give words of encouragement to keep on going.

When I look back at my early teenage years I cringe at how horrible my attitude was and I’m grateful I decided to try my luck down the path of benevolence. I have been growing ever since and hope to continue to search out new ways to give back to those around me who have assisted me along the way or new friends in need of a helping hand. Should I have written this in stone for all to see, absolutely! No one is perfect, no one is safe from ridicule but why not be the first to put it out there in an effort to expose your blemishes for others to compare with against their own and accept them for what they were. That's right, past tense, WERE. Change is definitely possible and most of the time can be accomplished without sacrificing a great deal. Share both your faults and your strengths; in the end you will gain a healthy respect not only for yourself, but from those around you as well.

http://www.katefuentes.com/

The Power of Opinion

I often find myself repeating the same encouraging statement to my children 'believe in yourself' yet shamelessly I also find I tend to be the first person to doubt my own abilities. Does this make me a hypocrite? Why is that? Is it because we are our own worst critic or is it human nature to second guess our own talents?

In a technologically advanced society where virtual conversations and opinions are so easily accessible, I feel exceedingly vulnerable when putting my literary work on display for all to see as it has the potential to be ripped to shreds by thousands world wide. Thankfully, the feeling only lasts momentarily and I inherently push the send button to press my luck and ride the virtual opinion wave with gumption and eager anticipation!

I have experienced first hand the meaning of 'hard exterior shell' when my recently released YA novel, Elements The Beginning, hit the market. It is without question a debut book and unknown author are vulnerable to the onslaught of bad reviews. Concurrently it has just as much of an equal opportunity and substantial chance of receiving a positive opinion, capable of launching an author into a successful writing career from the same group of avid readers, reviewers, bloggers and critics. The catch is, as the writer, how much of the bad outweighs the good and vice versa?

I am not one to believe this is an easy feat to come by and the chances of being the exception to the rule and an overnight success are slim to none, but I would be in a perpetual state of denial if I didn't admit to daydreaming about it and conclude that anything is possible. (This coming from a fiction writer, of course)

Social media networks provide a myriad of marketing strategies, public relations, customer service, advertising and (the sometimes dreaded, brutally honest) personal opinion. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and defeated about my chances of extraordinary achievement, I am revitalized with the emotion that in the vast open planet, on this place we call earth, dreams can come true! Whoever said it was going to be easy?

I have decided to adopt the following quote as my motto; Success only comes before work in the dictionary (this quote actually is taped above my desk, no joke). Nothing comes without hard work, effort and diligence and in all honesty I wouldn't want it any other way. Personally, the struggles I have experienced in my journey have shaped me into the person I am today and continue to evolve into. I think it is safe to say many people may harbor the same opinion about themselves and their work ethic. Constructive criticism is extremely helpful, even if it stings at first, pick yourself up off the floor after a good cry or temper tantrum and put the suggestion to good use.

I must end this segment by expressing my endless gratitude for all the reviewers, bloggers, readers, fans, critics, librarians, literary agents, publishers, and everyday book fanatics for their extreme devotion and uncompromising allegiance to the literary world. Even if they are not hardcore fans of mine, their loyalty to books is duly noted. Thank you!

Keep the dream alive and hug an author today! You never know they might need it!