There’s a Change in the Air

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Camille Griep, editing, Editing Services, Fantasy, Lit Chicks Editorial, Roberta Trahan, Writing

Autumn is all about change – and every time the season falls, I feel a niggling urge to re-evaluate, re-vamp, and re-direct.

One of this year’s fresh starts is a creative collaboration with my colleague and friend, author Camille Griep. We’re both always looking for ways to reinvest our artistic efforts in the writing community. Lit Chicks Editorial Services gives us both an opportunity to share what we’ve learned on our professional paths.

If you’re a writer looking for editorial support, we hope to provide some helpful resources, as well as developmental and copy editing assistance:

Lit Chicks Editorial Services

Developmental and Copy Editing for all genres

We Read Books. We Write Books. We Edit Books.

Let us help make your book the best it can be.

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Wake up & Smell the Coffee!

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Coffee & Writing, Inspiration, Novel Writing, Poetry, Roberta Trahan, Writing

For me, the first of October marks the turn of the seasons. I’m a little strange, I guess, because I look forward to autumn and spring the way most people look forward to the summer months. The anticipation begins long before the first leaf turns, and by the time the date arrives I am almost giddy. My coffee even tastes better this morning!

I realized the other day that every novel I’ve written is set at the onset of autumn and resolves with the arrival of spring. This was not at all intentional, and must be a reflection of my own seasonal rhythms, perhaps some subconscious testament to my feelings about the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Intersting how these personal ideals and philosophies weave themselves so subtlely into the fabric of the story.

This little poem says it best, at least for me:
https://robertatrahan.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/ode-to-autumn/

Auld Lang Syne

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Coffee & Writing, Coffee Quote, Happy New Year, Inspiration, Roberta Trahan, The Writing Life, Writing

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes, how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes, how do you measure, a year in the life?

—excerpted from “Seasons of Love” (soundtrack for the motion picture RENT), lyrics by Jonathan D Larson)

Coffee Trivia of the Month–December 2010

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Coffee, Coffee & Writing, Coffee Quote, Roberta Trahan, Writing tips

Coffee and Healing

(excerpted and compiled from “Coffee Cantata! by Jan Stoltman)

Coffee has been lauded as a potent medicinal since the earliest ages. Over the centuries it has been prescribed for the treatment of an astounding variety of maladies, from kidney stones and gout, to small pox, measles, and a wide range of circulatory and digestive disorders.

A medical encyclopedia compiled by Rhazes, a follower of Galen and Hippocrates, referred to the coffee  bean (bunchum), which supports the belief that the healing properties of coffee were understood and in use well over 1000 years ago. Similar references appear in the writings of Avicenna (AD 908-1037).

In Europe, coffee beans were originally only of value to botanists. Before long, however, they became a staple in apothecary shops, as a vital component in treatments offered by 17th century herbalists, chemists and even housewives.

Today, the caffeine in coffee is a well-known stimulant and has been shown to increase mental functioning and even memory – when used in moderation.  Overuse can reduce concentration and cause nervousness or jitters. The caveat being, of course, that too much of anything good can lead to affliction.

Coffee Trivia of the Month — November 2010

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Coffee & Writing, Coffee Quote, Roberta Trahan, Writing, writing life

Coffee House History

In most countries, coffee houses initially were considered the territory of men. Women were either banned or severely discouraged from going into these dens of political, financial and/or religious discussion. The exception was Holland, where from the 17th century, women were as much a part of the coffee house scene as men. It’s a good thing for American women that the enlightened Dutch founded New York and brought their concept of coffee houses to the New World. Perhaps the early American coffee houses were not only a hotbed for the upcoming revolution, but also the first step toward the future emancipation of American women

Coffee Trivia of the Month — October

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Coffee, Coffee & Writing, Roberta Trahan

I’ve run out of interesting and unique coffee quotes so am moving on to interesting and unique coffee related anecdotes and trivia.

Coffee Recipe From the book  ‘Kitchen Directory and American Housewife’ (1844): Use a tablespoonful ground to a pint of boiling water. Boil in tin pot twenty to twenty-five minutes. If boiled longer it will not taste fresh and lively. Let stand four or five minutes to settle, pour off grounds into a coffee pot or urn. Put fish skin or isinglass size of a nine-pence in pot when put on to boil or else the white and shell of half an egg to a couple of quarts of coffee.

I dare you to try it!

Coffee Quote of the Moment

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Coffee, Coffee & Writing, Coffee Quote, Roberta Trahan

You know you made the coffee too strong when it sticks to your teeth.  –Roberta Trahan

Coffee Quote of the Month — September 2010

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Coffee, Roberta Trahan, Writing, writing life

“A cup of coffee shared with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent.” –Author Unknown

Coffee Quote of the Month–November 2009

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Coffee & Writing, Coffee Quote, Roberta Trahan, writing life

No coffee can be good in the mouth that does not first send a sweet offering of odor to the nostrils.    –– Henry Ward Beecher

Coffee Quote of the Month–October 2009

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Coffee & Writing, Coffee Quote, Roberta Trahan

No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee’s frothy goodness. 

~Sheik Abd-al-Kadir