Author Mary Vine and Author Paty Jager will be at the Memorial and    Labor Day Weekends!!!        

SUMPTER’S OUTDOOR FLEA MARKETS

Sumpter, Oregon

2021 Dates

Memorial Day Weekend May 28, 29, 30 & 31

Fourth of July Weekend July 2, 3, 4, & 5

Labor Day Weekend Sept. 3, 4, 5 & 6

Food, Crafts, Art, Collectibles, New Merchandise, Books

 and More!

Sales 8 am till Dusk

Admission is Free!

HELP FOR STUTTERING

After 28 years in the field of education I retired. I got rid of most of my notes and lesson materials, but I still remember a few things about stuttering. More boys than girls stutter, and more boys take it to adult life than girls. Out of many SLPs I have worked with, I didn’t meet one that was gifted in solving this mystery. Also, I learned that low functioning students could not easily or could not grasp a way to manage their speech. Younger students with speech errors have a fear of reading aloud in their classroom. It helps when we express this to the student’s teacher.

 So, statistically, a female with average or above average skills has a better chance of succeeding with the goals, especially with awareness and determination. I’ve seen that students who don’t try to be aware of their speech patterns, don’t try to slow their speech down to a pattern or don’t have any kind of determination to make a goal, make little progress. However, maturity is a huge factor, too. Not this year? Maybe next year.

 Some practices that I used are as follows:

Via conversation, try to distinguish which vowels or beginning or middle of words are hardest through reading. Choose a story he or she wants to read and have them read to you. Have her correct sentences as she reads with a model and then without a model. If you can identify any words or sounds with a pattern, I can copy off paragraphs to read with multiple sounds of the word(s) in them. I did keep a speech book.

If you can find a pattern during conversation have her/him tap the table with a finger (for each word) when she slowly repeats (corrects) the words in the sentence. The plan is once they can successfully tap out each word in a regular pattern for some time, then he or she will be able to tap secretly under the table and then later perhaps on a knee, on or under a leg in a more private manner anywhere the student goes.

 A few times, I have used a metronome (I borrowed one from a music teacher), a device used by musicians that marks time at a selected rate by giving a regular tick. He says/reads each word with a tick of the metronome. You may need to turn the dial/switch down to match his pace. This is the same principle as the tapping on the table, too.

As far as I know, no one has proven a scientific reason for why people stutter.  I did work with a few students who said that when they are excited (happy) or anxious they stutter more, but that is only my experience.

I hope this helps.

authormaryvine.com

Everyone Should Have a Mission Statement

 

The Oxford Languages Dictionary says that a mission statement is a formal summary of the aims and values of a company, organization, or individual.

I have been trying to better understand my life’s mission especially as regards to my writing. More precisely, what makes my main characters who they are and why do they act the way they do? First, I believe I must consider my own life’s journey.

There is probably not an adult alive that hasn’t wondered if there’s a purpose for their life. Who doesn’t want to do something good, make a difference that’s unique to you? The hard part can be figuring out just what the plan for one’s life is. While we may look for a grandeur gift to fall upon us, we may simply be called to be kind to others, which is so needed today. Most likely there are several things we do in our lives that make a difference to others, some we may hardly notice or remember as anything special. That doesn’t make it any less meaningful. For example, the first person who helped me with my writing didn’t remember doing so until I told her I dedicated my first book to her. Serving humanity is a gift, not everyone can do it, but everyone can make a small gesture that can cause ripples and may consequently change someone’s direction.

Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayer the way we want, or something difficult seems to turn our lives upside down and become a defining story in life. The event moves us in a new direction, literally and figuratively. Who hasn’t heard, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?” What may be hardest to grasp is that the new journey can bring you inward growth and changes to your perspective.

In fact, post-traumatic growth (PTG) is a theory of transformation following trauma, developed by psychologists Richard Tedeschi, PhD, and Lawrence Calhoun, PhD. These men believe that people who struggle through hard times can see inward growth. The five gifts include new possibilities; increased strength; more meaningful relationships; greater appreciation; and spiritual development. In fact, my husband and I learned some of these very things after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. We saw silver linings (blessings with adversity) after time passed and we had moved and settled in Idaho. Yet, you must reflect on your life and look for the silver linings or you will not see them.

What I have experienced has become part of my mission statement, these “gifts” are what I want to show developing in the characters of my books as they face adversity as human beings. I also want to show how a healthy romantic relationship helps you grow to be a better person, how the couple’s reflective comments make each other think and help point them to good, not to selfish or destructive, decisions.

When I look back over the books I have written, I see that my various characters want to serve humanity in some way, and it’s reflected in their jobs. Some of these people have suffered a life changing accident or come from war. The characters have lost someone they love or have life changes that cause them to travel down a so-called broken road where they will find meaning and love in their lives.

My book settings take place in the forests of Northeast Oregon, because in nature is where I, the writer, have done some of my best reflecting on life’s struggles, successes and goals and have been best able to implement them.

From time to time, it can be a good idea to reflect on your life and what you are trying to convey in the efforts you make or the things you do. Perhaps you will see that you have already conveyed something you want others to grasp or learn, whether it came out subconsciously or in more of a planned way.  

 

 

 

SOCK ETIQUETTE

Years ago, when I was a child, the girls wore dresses and Mary Jane shoes with what we used to call anklets. Once we grew older the anklets were set aside for the teen sock fashion of the day.  If our jeans or pants shrank or we grew taller, friends would look at our jeans ask if we were preparing for a flood. Obviously, it was a fashion no-no to be seen in pants too short.

Presently we have “flood” (cropped) jeans in style. This goes against the principles of a woman of a certain age! So, now I am looking online at proper winter socks to wear with these waders. Of course, ankle boots are the answer, but I don’t want to wear a boot every day this winter. I like my comfortable tennis shoes and I have different colors. This summer I have been wearing socks that don’t show, but it’s fall now and starting to get cold.

I suppose I can buy longer jeans but I have to admit these jeans are figure flattering even for a woman of a certain age. So, I looked at online images of jeans and socks and found that anklets were back in style. You have many choices of what kind of ankle socks to buy, even some frilly white fabric with a ruffle on the top like we used to wear.

My search tells me that I can probably fold the winter socks I already have in half and then hope I don’t embarrass myself in front of my friends of a certain age.

So, I will have to bite the bullet and let go of my principles. Yet, I can slowly get used to this idea as Covid-19 keeps me inside hiding these days. My husband won’t notice, and my dogs won’t care. I think I will survive.

 

Here Comes the Judge

As a writer I’ve had to pay more attention to how people communicate and decided to check out nonverbal communication on television. This past week I viewed two back-to-back court hearings on Judge Judy where I observed some nonverbal communication styles in the courtroom. In the first part of the episode, Judy focused in on a multi-pierced, twenty-three year old man with a Mohawk hairstyle, who’d thrown bricks into the windshield of his ex-girlfriend’s car. Judy said, “She may think you’re handsome, but I don’t!” “Uncross your arms!” and “Put your arms at your sides!” The second part of the episode revolved around two high school boys/brothers who were accused of stealing money from a backpack. Judy commented on one boy’s poor eye contact and had to use a hand gesture to remind him to look at her. “Look at me when I’m speaking!” “Stand up straight!” Further, Judge Judy hates it when you are smiling at the wrong time. “Wipe the smirk off your face!”

Our clothing and personal appearance are important means of nonverbal communication. If you wear a Mohawk in Judy’s courtroom, she lets you know she’s not impressed. Many Americans consider a reluctance to make eye contact as rude, disrespectful, and hostile, and can demonstrate believability or dishonesty. Further, we avoid eye contact with someone we dislike. If someone has their arms folded after meeting you, it could mean that he is not enthusiastic about being around you. Through our facial expressions (smiling or a smirk at an inopportune time in this example), we reveal a great deal about our feelings and responses to other people.

Communication is 7% verbal and 65 to 93% nonverbal. Judge Judy has to consider the whole picture when determining whether a person is guilty or not. The nonverbal expression and the verbal message must be considered together. The nonverbal message is more accurate and is usually believed over the verbal message. Watching Judge Judy helped me see that whether we like it or not, we are being “judged” by our nonverbal communication in every aspect of our lives. One can learn a lot about nonverbal communication by looking no further than your living room TV. For a writer, non-verbal communication is just as important as the words in a conversation. Movement can reveal important details about a character’s personality, how they behave, whether subtle or blatant. Perhaps while watching your favorite show you will see just what authors need to emulate in our stories, and if you are a writer, you can gain a few nonverbal communication ideas to add to the characters in your story.

Mary Vine is an author, publisher, speaker and retired educator. She writes contemporary and historical romantic fiction, a time travel series, and inspirational children’s books, the BIG GUY UPSTAIRS, BIJU SILVER LINING and DRAGON GILBY. Mary, and her husband can usually be found in Southwest Idaho or Northeast Oregon. To learn more about Mary Vine,

http://authormaryvine.blogspot.com

Getting "The Call"

When I got “the call” from a publishing house I was not wholly surprised. I had optimism because the publisher, Kerry A. Jones, had previously read my manuscript and suggested changes. I remembered thinking that if she took time out of her busy schedule to read and give advice, then she was probably interested. If I could manage to make the changes according to her observations, that is. 

I knew I had one other thing going for me, the setting of the book.I had fallen in love with Northeast Oregon and wrote about it. I had read in the newspaper that Jones happened to have grown up on a ranch in northeast Oregon before moving on to college and her career. 

After my husband and I found Northeast Oregon, we bought some properties in the area. My husband had an interest in gold mining but I fell in love with the gold mining history. Out of this love came this, my first published book, MAYA’s GOLD by Mary Vine.

Jones called me on July 5, 2007 and soon presented me with a contract for the rights to my first book (the third manuscript I had written).

My love for Baker County (and a bit of Grant County) is present in all of the pages of this book.  This work literally takes you on a tour of some of the gold mining areas. Further, my fiction books (all but one) revolve around these counties, too. Along with MAYA'S GOLD,  A PLACE TO LAND and SNAKE RIVER RENDEZVOUS are all connected by the fictional town of Salisbury Junction. The books aren’t a series, yet the heroes and heroines are associated in each book.

To check out the area I love so much, take a read or look at MAYA’S GOLD:

For Amazon:

Click the link here:

TELEVISION THEN AND NOW

My Television As Seen From My Recliner

When I was a child, I had four television channels to choose from, ABC, NBC, CBS and the Public Broadcast System. Color TV was new and we were delighted to see new shows and the actors in color. The actors spoke clearly and properly, the content was understandable, and the picture was bright enough to see the show no matter the time of day. We thought we had it all, including enough choices. Even with limited choices, as I see it now, we could easily become couch potatoes. Yet, I remember having time to read, especially in later years when my children were growing up.

The years flew by and I am now retired. Part of my entertainment has been to watch TV more often. I have a multitude of channels to watch and it appears to grow every day. I now use closed caption on my screen, not for a hearing impairment but there are times when I can’t understand a word or two and I can move my eyes down (or up) and read the words as well. Sometimes I’ve noticed that closed caption doesn’t get it either by omitting or putting in a word that doesn’t make sense. I realize that the f word is used a lot in this era but on some Netflix shows I hear the f word so much that I have to stop watching the show. What kind of intelligence is there in a person who uses six f words in a sentence (I counted)? Yes, I’m a grandmother, but come on. And I know there are many other shows to choose from and I do.

There are times every day when we must close a curtain to be able to see what’s happening on the screen and still it can be so dark that very little is visible. I’m sure I’m not the first person to notice this. It’s not just aging eyes.

Violence on our TV shows have been common for some time now. Yes, one gets used to it. Before I retired, I told one of my middle school students that the character that scared me when I was a child was the witch on the Wizard of Oz. They chuckled because they are so accustomed to seeing all kind of horrors. That can’t be good for any of us, including me.

One of my biggest problems these days is to use my time more wisely. I love to read but I don’t get a chance to do that much because of TV. Yes, that is my fault. I can be a recliner potato. Ideally, I would like to be able to cut down on the tv watching, at least more than I’m doing now, and find some other things to do. Maybe find new recipes, sewing, writing, etc. But then I also know that I will procrastinate to a certain degree. But I won’t know how successful I will be until I try, right?