Bestselling Book Idea Transferred with a Kiss...

http://heritagepresspublications.blogspot.com/2015/08/when-your-story-talks-to-you.html

Back in August I posted a story about the remarkable coincidences/connections to the Hazel Moon story. Taken all together, it did seem as if the story was Talking to Us! Today I was listening to NPR and author Elizabeth Gilbert was being interviewed about her book, Big Magic, in which she shares similar stories of the magic, the storytelling fairies, the writing pixies who can surround a book project with surreal levels of inspiration.  

http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2015/09/23/elizabeth-gilbert

Elizabeth had been considering developing a plot where a mousy mom working at a big company has her life turned upside-down when her boss orders her to a strange land on a dangerous mission. When her personal life got complicated, she abandoned the project. Months passed and she found herself at a book signing, kissed the author, and two years later the second author ended up writing a book based on her exact idea and they never talked about it!!!!!!



http://hazelmoonlisaloriminneti.blogspot.com/2015/09/hazel-moon-magic-at-peabodys.html

At an LGBT fund raiser last Friday night author Lisa Minneti learned that the man responsible for the design firm where she works, Peabody's Interiors, Jon Schlagenhaft (Jon on the right in the pic), though having lived an extraordinary life as a gifted member of the LGBT community of professionals, never had his story told in a biography. I was present when Jon's parents described his remarkable emergence as talented designer while growing up. He went on to found his own design firm and purchased Peabody's just before a tragic accident when he and his business partner, and partner in life, were killed in a plane crash.

The phenomenon Elizabeth was trying to describe in her NPR interview came alive and began poking us on the shoulder, offering us the chance to tell Jon's story either as a book or by modeling one of the Hazel Moon characters after Jon. The Inspiration...the Magic was palpable...

I'll keep you posted if anything comes of the impulse we're both feeling to tell Jon's story! Now, if only I could get the charming author team of Lisa & Lori Minneti to seal the writing contract with a kiss!

More Hazel Moon Magic at the Peabody's LGBT Soiree...

This evening I was invited by one of my Hazel Moon authors, Lisa Minneti, to attend an LGBT fundraiser hosted by her company, Peabody Interiors. I showed up a little late for the shindig having almost gotten lost in the rain--no GPS. Lisa was supposed to show people around and put in plugs for Peabody's, in general grease the socializing wheels, but enthusiasm and interaction spontaneously exploded as soon as a good number of LGBT benefactors showed up!  (Karen Valentine below with Lisa)

Among those attending were members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an organization of gay men who dress in nun drag and provide meaningful service to the LGBT communities where they have chapters. As the spokesperson, Karen Gotzler, for the Milwaukee LGBT chapter informed the group, the need is great as LGBT members of the community still suffer discrimination and hardship at unacceptable rates.

 

 

On display were the paintings of Ramon Pablo Vidali and among his collection were a group of now iconic canvases depicting artistic renderings of members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

The first item of Hazel Moon Magic involved the fact that the head of Peabody's found out about Lisa's book and offered to host a book signing soiree on the same lush level as the LGBT affair! While walking around, one of the first people Lisa met just happened to be a twin and an interior designer--JUST LIKE HER! The ladies shared stories about the magic of having a twin...how close they were to their twin sisters, and yet how different they could be. Then, Lisa ran into several former colleagues who, upon hearing about her book, volunteered their considerable gifts to the cause of finding a wide audience for Hazel Moon! 

Then, for those of you who've read the book or read my publisher's blog, remember how November had an apartment above a funeral parlor...well, Lisa met one of the attendees and learned he had an apartment over a funeral parlor and he invited her to come there to take a look!

All in all, it was another magical night of unlikely Hazel Moon Magical Connections!!

Feeling the Hidden Hazel Moon...

As you know from the previous post, November... I mean author Lisa Minneti (I get confused sometimes) found herself acting out a scene from her story when she slipped down a slope and hurt herself on a partially buried lamppost, the post also connecting to the story through a key Lady Luna scene. Later that day, the Eve of the Hazel Moon festivities continued to unfold at the Lily Lake Resort in Walworth County in Wisconsin. What we did not see all night because of persistent cloud cover was the above Hazel Harvest Super Moon.

Author, Lori Minneti, along with her partner, Dave, an Elvis impersonator, entertained the resort/restaurant crowd to the delight of everyone who attended. Dave is so authentic, he appears to be channeling the spirit of Elvis. Lori's perfect pitch voice is delivered professionally, but her true gift is how she sells the song using her considerable acting skills and engages the crowd, often bringing individuals out onto the dance floor or dancing to Dave's singing like a '60s Go-Go Girl...the same can be said for Dave's gift for engaging the crowd...before, during, and after the show.

Here's Lori as Marilyn Monroe.

And as Ann Margret.

As charming and as entertaining as Lori & Dave's show was, the Hazel Moon had something more in mind. As Lori & Lisa's publisher, I couldn't let the actual night of the official Hazel Moon, around which the book was centered, pass without presenting them each with the first proof of their book, Hazel Moon. They had no idea I might have printed any copies because we were all waiting to have Lori on the cover, so it was a complete surprise!

Without pushing the book on anyone, people began to notice and within minutes folks were asking where they could buy the book. The next thing we knew, one of the ladies there walked up to Lisa and said she was part of a book club and definitely intended to have her group read Hazel Moon when it was her month to host the club. Let me add that this book club specialized in supporting local writers, which I found admirable and I suspected was rare as well.

Several times during the night people mentioned how even though the Hazel Moon wasn't visible because of the cloud cover, they all felt the magic of the moon's influence. For example, the book club person had played an especially energetic set earlier that day and gave the upcoming full moon the credit! 

The entire night was both magical and unexpected. Author Lisa Minneti above joined in adding to the night's entertainment by playing her harmonica, an instrument featured heavily in Hazel Moon.

I'll finish this post by reporting that I distinctly got the impression the Hazel Moon project had taken on a life of its own...it was like the book wanted to find an audience so it could share the story and messages embedded in the tale and was using the authors, the publisher, and anyone else in the immediate vicinity to accomplish that cosmic goal. 

I couldn't help but feel it was just more Hazel Moon Magic...

And...the Hazel Harvest Super Moon finally came out the next day, which was what motivated me to put this post together!

 

 

A postscript ending the actual night of the Hazel Moon, Saturday, arriving home after a long drive through fog and mist, just before pulling up to my driveway, two beautiful deer loped in front of my car, looked at me, and continued on. I'd never before in all the years living there, have had that happen...

More Hazel Moon Magic Mischief...

 

I just got this email from one of the Hazel Moon authors, Lisa Minneti:

This morning a very "November" thing happened! I was walking my dog Jake and a black dog followed us and was playful and then when we were on a slope Jake bolted, I let go of his leash, and landed on my side and cried out in pain! I either bruised or maybe cracked a rib, but the weird thing is when I was on my side I came face-to-face with a black lamppost lying on the ground, uprooted...it was crazy. Both dogs came to my rescue and soon the owner of the black dog arrive on the scene!!

 

 

I knew the Hazel Moon Magic Mischief Machine would have another surprise for us today, of all days...the rising of the 2015 Hazel Moon and a Supermoon at that!!! Just two days ago, the story's Camaro turns up parked right outside of the cafe where I was meeting with author, Lisa Minneti, to go over our final edits. Now today, a scene happens to Lisa right out of our book when November, walking on a slope, slips on something she wasn't expecting underfoot and hurts herself badly...OMG!!!!

Here's the scene:


SONNY ARRIVED FIRST on the scene and quickly began administering first aid. Hunched down on all fours, he was doing what came naturally, licking November’s wound, her clothes stained with bright-red fresh blood, quickly turning a deep maroon as it hit the air and ran down her leg.

What do you do when someone upsets you? Flip them off, if you’re Italian you might give them the chin flick, but if you’re Angela Gonzales you’ll let out a she-devil scream, which is exactly what she did.

Taking a shortcut on their way back from the checking out the carnival rides, it all happened so fast. It could have been foul play as the freaky carny burnouts were capable of anything, but in fact November took a nasty accidental spill on the slick grass and moss-covered rocks leading to the injury. Seeing the blood, Angela’s shriek of terror traveled to the turrets of the Tampax Stage, pressed on to the Carburetor Stage, before echoing back to the scene of the crime.  

And the lamppost Lisa mentioned seeing, that caused her fall, another key scene in Hazel Moon is where Lady Luna first appears, standing like a statue under a lamppost in the rain holding an umbrella. 

Here's that scene:


A CAPRICIOUS WIND from the ominous storm slammed the heavy door behind them as the girls scampered back to the Camaro, each holding a black umbrella embroidered with the funeral parlor’s name and logo.

Slamming the shifter into first and about to speed off, November froze after seeing a vision from another era—a woman draped in a long, black cloak covered in elegant scalloped beading and silk buttons, holding a frilly parasol and perched under a lit lamppost. She pulled the shifter out of gear and abruptly jumped out, handing Angela her drink.

Oblivious to the rain, she ran to the light under the lamppost and the mysterious woman standing there.

“Luna!”

“Moonlight Star…I know I’m late, but you know it’s my nature to be naughty.”

November stood there in awe…Luna’s voice as sweet and intoxicating as a Champagne truffle. She added a polished curtsy, worthy of a member of a 19^th Century French Court. An amber glow danced around her olive skin and coffee-with-cream eyes. Turning her head to the left, Luna held her chin with two forefingers, striking a fetching pose, the glow from the lamppost casting her in a cocoon of light.

“Where have you been?” November petitioned, her heart now a useless lump in her throat.

“There will be plenty of time to chuckle over my amorous misadventures…tonight is all about you and your destiny…after all, this is the Eve of the Hazel Moon.”

In a few hours I'll be going to a Hazel Moon festival where author Lori Minneti will be singing, entertaining a crowd gathered to celebrate the full rising of the 2015 Hazel Moon. I can only imagine what Magic might happen under those feisty moonbeams!! 

Washington Park Media Library...

What could possibly account for all the remarkable guided incidents of Synchronicity that seem to be swarming around not only my Hazel Moon project, but as one of the main themes of Hazel Moon point out, Magic is there for anyone to grab hold of...but you do have to Believe in Something...as author Lisa Minneti recently said to me.


We were meeting at my Starbucks office to both finish up the remaining edits for the release of her book and to go over her notes for the beginning of the sequel, Hawthorn Moon. We were only hours away from the rising of the 2015 Hazel Moon, a supermoon that only comes around once each 14 months. The stage was set for more Hazel Moon Magic when I walked up to the Starbucks entrance and parked right in front was a midnight purple Camaro. Now, in the book set in 1984 November's car is a classic '69 midnight purple Camaro!

I find it fascinating to note that whatever this unseen force is, it is not perfect. I didn't see a '69 Camaro, but rather a newer model, and yet I've been going to this Starbucks for years and never saw this car before. But, the Universe of Magical Possibilities was not done. Look at the license plate. The tag, also rare not to have numbers, was LILO...and our authors names are Lisa & Lori...LILO!!! Now ask yourself, what are the odds seeing a license plate like this at any time, but consider it is only hours away from a full Hazel Moon and only a few hours away from the printing of the first book!!

I mentioned in an earlier blog that Lisa and I had been reading the same book, Siddharthha by Hermann Hesse. She happened to show me her copy and on the inside cover was the imprint of Washington Park Media Center...and I went to Washington Park High years before Lisa acquired the used book...Connections!

The rock picture is a piece of tourmaline...featured in the book. In an early scene, November stopped at her apartment to pick up a dress for Angela for the music festival they were going to. Worried about needing protection from dangerous spirits, November picked out a piece of tourmaline for the magic color it had in it. The actual rock above was given to me by author Lisa Minneti who just happened to bring three samples and let me pick out the one that was meant for me. I picked out the one above!! Life imitating Art imitating Life...

And, again, if all that weren't enough, a young Tony Robbins came into the cafe and first Lisa, then I noticed him and his gift for reaching out to people. I invited him to ask Lisa some questions about the book to give her some experience with an author interview. Besides asking excellent questions, when the subject of the magic mentioned throughout the book and all the magic surrounding the publication of the book came up, he actually referenced The Law of Attraction as providing some basis for understanding what was happening. The more we were focused on the book and the story and the characters the more we Attracted Connections related to the story.

Another remarkable day in the life of the publication of Hazel Moon!

When Your Story Talks to You...

The author of Wicked, Gregory McGuire, was recently interviewed on NPR discussing his new book, Egg & Spoon, set in Russia. He talked about one of the characters, Baba Yaga, a Russian witch in a real Russian fairytale who lives in an old house perched up on chicken legs. While writing the book he wandered into an antique store and it was as if his story was speaking to him! There was a replica of a house on chicken legs, something he'd never seen before, which he promptly purchased to honor the magic surround the telling of his story. Here's a link to the Gregory McGuire interview: http://wuwm.com/post/egg-and-spoon-gregory-maguire-re-imagines-pre-revolutionary-russia  

The Marlboro box above is a pic of the actual empty box that I found while riding my bike around my neighborhood on the morning before going to a soiree hosted by my authors, Lisa & Lori Minneti, which was originally planned as a book-release event before we ran into difficulties completing the cover. 

I'd ridden this route hundreds of times over many years and never came across an empty cigarette box, much less a Marlboro box. On the way back home I found another Marlboro box, so I had two. In Hazel Moon there are two Marlboro Girls promoting Marlboro cigarettes at the Hazel Moon Music Festival. In real life, Lori  & Lisa had been Marlboro Girls!

Next, walking up to the home where the party was being held, I found a 20-dollar bill on the ground (see the actual bill above). In all my years I've never found a $20 bill before. In the book, character Cash Reynolds pulls a wad of big bills out of his pocket while buying clothes for his girlfriend, Cola, at the Merry-Go-Round where November and Angela work. So, the $20 bill had a direct connection to Cash!

While at the party I met Jake, Lisa's dog, who was the inspiration for Sonny in the book, and the people who had volunteered to play the other main characters in some promotional videos the authors are planning to produce including, Mrs. Casimir, the fortune teller, and November. I also had a chance to speak at length with their Armenian friend who took the time to explain the disturbing back story behind the Armenian Holocaust which took place in the early 1900s.

All in all, it was another magical night enhanced to surreal levels by all the Magic swirling around Hazel Moon's publication! And the actual Hazel Moon will be rising in all its full-moon glory only a few days from now...I can only imagine what might happen on that night!

 

Here are some pics of a few of the many who attended Lisa & Jeff's Summer Soiree!

 

 

 

 
 

And More Hazel Moon "Connections" . . .

I've been posting incidents which seem to be connected to my current Hazel Moon publishing project, connections which appear to be guided as if they had a purpose, or simply to provide evidence that our project has already reached out into the Universe of Possibilities and is now on some kind of unseen network.

The above photograph was taken by Tom Rolfson and it happens to be one of Hazel Moon's authors, Lori Minneti, as Nancy Sinatra, a persona she uses while entertaining as a singer! Lori will soon be gracing the new cover of Hazel Moon, also photographed by Tom, posing as one of the book's central characters, Lady Luna. 

Lady Luna is an eternal being, a shapeshifter who comes and goes throughout the story acting as November's part fairy godmother part guardian angel. So, in real life, Lori Minneti is an actress, author, model, singer, and television personality all rolled into one...one might say a entertainment shapeshifter!!

This photo is Lori as Marilyn Monroe, another persona she uses while entertaining as a singer.

In another remarkable connection, Lisa Minneti recently let me know that she has an old copy of a book we've both been reading, Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, a used copy that originally came from the Racine Park High School library (as stamped on the inside cover)...and that was the high school I attended!!

Whatever word you may use, Magic is all around us!