Your ideas can influence my faerie novel: Lark’s Tale

Posted on by
Reply

What are your initial reactions to these ideas for the first book in my young-adult faerie trilogy? Your comments will help shape Lark’s Tale! (working title)

Image by Mark Pate (www.markpate.com).

Story highlights:

  • A tale about Lark, a lanky, white-haired, 17-year-old musical prodigy in Queenstown, New Zealand who finds out she’s actually a faerie.
  • Her unlikely mentor Noel (pronounced “knoll”) is a 6’7″!, blue-eyed, 18-year-old, dark-faerie-turned-noble sheep shearer.
  • My faeries are of the ancient Celtic tradition: extremely tall and willowy, no wings, shape shifters using glamour (faerie magic).
  • Music links the human and faerie (Delfaerune) realms, which exist simultaneously on different planar levels.
  • Lark – daughter of the Minister of Glamour, who has been captured by the dark faeries as part of their plot to take over the human world – must use her musical prowess to save the human world and free her family.

Burger phenom: Hudson’s Hamburgers

Posted on by
Reply

Bob, Codi and Cutter help occupy the 23 counter stools available at Hudson’s. ©2011 ANVidean

One special Coeur d’Alene memory I somehow neglected to work into my Rhythms & Muse novel (half of the story takes place in the Idaho town) is Hudson’s Hamburgers. The joint is known worldwide for serving up – for the past 100 years! – a limited menu of simple, fresh, delectable burgers in a storefront on Sherman Ave., the town’s short main street!

I happened to grow up right next door to the Hudson family in the Fairway Hills neighborhood. Patriarch Roger was the fry cook in my day, but his sons Steve and Todd were in training on weekends. Now, they run the place.

I have very fond memories of conversations with the Hudson boys while sitting at their counter. How many times I watched them form my burger, grill it up on that savory grill, slap on the cheese, rapidly slice up thin slices of onion and pickle to place on the grill-toasted bun. The best part about a Huddy burger is the hot mustard and/or special sauce you squirt on yourself once the server plops your small plate in front of you. My mouth is watering right now, just thinking about the juicy goodness of that first bite.

It’s not a true trip to Coeur d’Alene without standing in line at least one, or two, or three times, at Hudson’s to enjoy a perfect “cheese, both” (i.e. cheeseburger with both onion and pickle). If you’re ever there in Cd’A, do not miss it. Any wait is totally worth it!

Check out this a great little historical PBS video about the local institution,  providing a number of fun facts, plus interviews with Roger and Todd.

…………………………………………….

Rhythms & Muse novel and music CD:

Coffee CommuniTea: Echo Coffee, Scottsdale, AZ

Posted on by
1

Inviting entrance and patio at Echo Coffee. ©2011 ANVidean

Today’s Cup o’ Tea
Echo Coffee
Fresh. Local. Organic.

Perks (what I really like!)

  • Knowledgeable owner:  Steve Belt
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Calm, light, peaceful environment
  • Modern décor
  • Local art
  • Organic tea selection

Share a cuppa (the stories)
Owner: Steve Belt
The tipping point for Steve to open a coffee shop, per his blog, was a Twitter tweet. He said, “I researched nearly every significant coffee shop in the Phoenix area, tasted a ton of coffee, and watched how each shop’s customer service was handled… Batch after batch, I roasted and tasted, roasted and tasted, until I developed a very strong idea of what I wanted my coffees to taste like.”

Steve will give you a mini lesson on roasting coffee, if you ask. ©2011 ANVidean

His research led to the decision that the shop would “not only need to be good, but great.” I think he’s hit the mark.

What’s Brewing (coffee, tea, food)

  • Coffee roasted on-site
  • A tea selection
  • Organic pastries
  • Cold and hot sandwiches
  • Salads

The Grind (what I would change)
Nada.

Percolation Factor (the activity/environment/energy/service)

Owner Steve Belt showcases local artists' work. ©2011 ANVidean

  • The servers and baristas were friendly and helpful.
  • It’s a busy place with customers enjoying their coffee, working and chatting comfortably.
  • Steve holds a periodic Barista Jam. The Feb. 2011 event featured a latte art competition, a tasting opportunity with one original coffee roasted four different ways, and included a visit from Walter the Bus, a 13-foot-tall VW bus accommodating 50 people on its upper deck.

The Grounds (location)
2902 N. 68th St., Suite 135
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-422-4081

Tea Times (hours)
Open:
6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily

Yelp rating: 4 stars

……………………

I love connecting people and ideas, so I’ve been creating small villages my entire life. Really, what better places can writers and musicians find to create “village” than independent coffee/tea shops? I wrote most of my Rhythms & Muse novel in coffee/tea venues, so it seemed natural to create this blog. Whether you came here to find a new favorite hangout, or suggest a spot not yet not posted, may you find Coffee CommuniTea exactly to your taste!

Coffee CommuniTea: Rocket Bakery On First, Spokane, WA

Posted on by
Reply

Today’s Cup o’ Tea
Rocket Bakery On First

Rocket Bakery On First. Photo by Nathan on Urban Spoon

Perks (what I really like!)
• Great open-air space
• Free Wi-Fi
• Located in a charming old brick building in downtown Spokane, within walking distance of Riverfront Park (site of 1974 World’s Fair)

Share a cuppa (the stories)
• Locally owned bakery and coffeehouse with nine neighborhood locations in the Spokane area, since 1992.

What’s Brewing (coffee, tea, food)
• All baked goods made by scratch with only wholesome ingredients
• Wide selection of delicious food choices
• Good tea selection and specialty drinks

The Grind (what I would change)
• More accessible Wi-Fi (I couldn’t get on during my second visit, perhaps because of a an over-protective firewall?)

Percolation Factor (the activity/environment/energy/service)
• Lots of activity from loyal, local patrons.

The Grounds (location)
1325 W. 1st Ave.
Spokane, WA
509-747-1834

Tea Times (hours)
Open daily 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Yelp rating:
4 stars

…………………

I love connecting people and ideas, so I’ve been creating small villages my entire life. Really, what better places can writers and musicians find to create “village” than independent coffee/tea shops? I wrote most of my Rhythms & Muse novel in coffee/tea venues, so it seemed natural to create this blog. Whether you came here to find a new favorite hangout, or suggest a spot not yet not posted, may you find Coffee CommuniTea exactly to your taste!

Dare! Find a small-town main street offering more than Coeur d’Alene’s.

Posted on by
Reply

While my family visited Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, we spent quite a it of time in Downtown Coeur d’Alene, the lively little town which sets the scene for more than half of my Rhythms & Muse novel.

In addition to its most beautiful City Beach at the west end of downtown, Cd’A’s seven-block main street, aka Sherman Ave., offers a plethora of great experiences:

  • Hudson’s Hamburgers, with it’s 100-year legacy, is a destination for the most delicious, juicy burgers worldwide!
    (I very much regret I couldn’t find a good way to include Hudson’s iin Rhythms & Muse. Those burgers are one of my favorite reasons for visiting Cd’A. A point of interest: the Hudson family, including current proprietors Steve and Todd, lived next to my family in Fairway Hills the entire time I lived up there.)
  • Calypsos Coffee & Creamery, a great coffee venue right off Sherman on Lakeside Ave., where I held my book signing.
  • A number of charming retail shops, including:

    Looking west down Sherman Ave. from 5th St.(?) ©2011 ANVidean

    • Gallery Northwest, filled with lovely unique artwork crafted by local artists
    • Summers Glass gorgeous dichroic glass jewelry and art, beads, and more
    • Possibilities wine and gift-basket shop
    • Coeur d’Alene Chocolates, a family-owned shop with the most beautifully delicious treats I’ve ever seen.

      The sandy City Beach at the west end of Sherman Ave. offers a pristine view of the towering Coeur d’Alene Resort, and Tubbs Hill. ©2011 ANVidean

  • The Coeur d’Alene Resort, a lovely destination towering over the north end of Lake Cd’A right at the foot of downtown, with a  marina and one of the largest boardwalks in the world. It’s connected via skywalk to an indoor shopping mall featuring mid-to-high-end restaurants and shops.

I’ll be doing future posts to provide additional details on some of these distinctive hot spots, so watch the blog.

Do you have a Cd’A story or photo to share? Comment below, or send your .jpg image to me at avidean@videanunlimited.com and I’ll post it in the future.

…………………………………………….

Rhythms & Muse novel and music CD:

One of America’s most beautiful downtown beaches

Posted on by
1

My family just returned from a too-short visit to the beautiful northwest. We hung out in Spokane, WA, and Coeur d’Alene, ID, for a week… seeing friends, tracking down old haunts, and visiting places and activities mentioned in my Rhythms & Muse novel.

Lake Coeur d’Alene    ©2011 ANVidean

One lazy afternoon, we strolled the Centennial Trail through the City Park, soaking in sights like this one. But what’s so uber cool about this…? Downtown Coeur d’Alene is just about two blocks to the east of this scene.

Can you see why lovely Lake Cd’A certainly served as high inspiration for a major portion of my novel? Who wouldn’t want to spend time near this blue water?

Do you have a Cd’A story or photo to share? Comment below, or send your .jpg image to me at avidean@videanunlimited.com and I’ll post it in a future blog.

…………………………………………….

Rhythms & Muse novel and music CD:

Spokane Trivia from Rhythms & Muse

Posted on by
1

The Spokane River ©2007 ANVidean

I held a Rhythms & Muse novel and music CD signing at Calypsos Coffee & Roastery, 116 E. Lakeside Ave. in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, from 4–7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011.

Beforehand, I visited the coffee house, checking the place out, drinking a delicious tropical green iced tea, and posting this trivia blog about Spokane, Wash.

A number of events in my novel take place in 1970s Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash. If you know the area, or just want to learn some interesting facts about it, check out these questions and see how many answers you can guess?

Spokane Trivia Questions

22. What’s the name of the river on which the Cedar’s Restaurant floats?

23. The novel characters have dinner to escape the pressures of early fame at an oddly named restaurant specializing in Olde English fare and overlooking the Spokane River Falls. What is it called?

24. The former name of today’s INB Performing Arts Center where heroine Alexandra Lauren and her musical peers perform a benefit show for children’s music programs?

25. The name of the central city park, now the legacy of the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane, Wash.

26. The bridge the main characters stand on, almost directly over the Spokane River Falls, connects to what island? For bonus points, what was the island named before the World’s Fair?

27. What three major landmarks in Riverfront Park can be viewed by the characters Alex and Matt while discussing their future together on the bridge?

28. What type of fish migration created one of the Spokane River’s true natural glories before Washington Water Power moved in to harness the river’s power?

Answers in comments below.

…………………………………………….

You can find these, plus more Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash., references in my Rhythms & Muse novel and music CD:

Coeur d’Alene Trivia from Rhythms & Muse, part 3

Posted on by
1

We’re nearing the date of my Rhythms & Muse novel and music CD signing at Calypsos Coffee & Creamery, 116 E. Lakeside Ave. in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. (4–7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011). Excited! I’m so looking forward to seeing plenty of my friends there…including you?

Just for fun, these trivia questions are based on places and activities in Cd’A, and Spokane, Wash., especially during the 1970s. All the items are mentioned in the book. Do you know the area? How many answers can you get correct?

Cd’A Trivia Questions, part 3

15. What’s the name of the marina surrounded by one of the world’s longest floating boardwalks and with easy access from The Coeur d’Alene Resort?

16. How wide and long is the Coeur d’Alene Boardwalk?

17. When did the Cd’A Resort open?

18. Although the Lake City is now northern Idaho’s center for healthcare, educational, media, manufacturing, retail and recreation, the three main industries in the mid-1900s were…

19. Are there really cougars near Cd’A Lake?

20. Fireworks are set off over Cd’A Lake from a barge. Is the rumor that the barge catches on fire every year actually true?

21. What 23-mile-long improved path stretches in either direction from the City Park?

Answers in comments below.

See Spokane Trivia.

…………………………………………….

You can find these and more Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash., references in my Rhythms & Muse novel and music CD:

Coeur d’Alene Trivia from Rhythms & Muse, part 2

Posted on by
1

The back cover of Rhythms & Muse features a Lake Cd’A photo taken by the author. ©2005 ANVidean

A significant portion of my Rhythms & Muse women’s fiction novel takes place in 1970s Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Spokane Wash., so it seemed natural to create a trivia blog entry or two about some of the places and activities mentioned in the book. Do you know the area? How many answers can you get correct?

Cd’A Trivia Questions, part 2

8. THE 1970s local hangout after ball games and music concerts was a wooden structure with tall slanted windows, just around the corner from downtown Coeur d’Alene. Do you recall its name?

9. The sledding scene in the novel was inspired by a favorite hill just up from where the author used to live off the Cd’A public golf course. What’s the name of this neighborhood?

10. Student musicians would travel to this city, home of the University of Idaho, to compete in “State” where judges rated their talent/skills.

11. You’ll probably need to have been friends with the author to know this one, but what color and make was the family car Ann drove during high school?

12. What is the name of the 17-acre public park named located just west of downtown Cd’A?

13. You can go for a 2.2 mile hike right from downtown Coeur d’Alene in a 164-acre urban wilderness area. Named for a German immigrant who was Coeur d’Alene’s first Justice of the Peace, this area is called…?

14. Hundreds of bird species are found in Northern Idaho, including majestic bald eagles. What other bird-of-prey, known for building nests on top of lake pilings, is prevalent in Cd’A?

Answers in comments below.

More Cd’A trivia (part 3).

…………………………………………….

You can find these and more Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash., references in my Rhythms & Muse novel and music CD:

Rhythms & Muse book signing in Coeur d’Alene, ID

Posted on by
Reply

The back cover of Rhythms & Muse features a Lake Cd’A photo I took in 2005.

I’m so excited to return to Coeur d’Alene in August for a signing of my Rhythms & Muse novel and music CD at Calypsos Coffee & Creamery, 116 E. Lakeside Ave. from 4–7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011.

Background

I spent my high school years in Coeur d’Alene, and plenty of time in Spokane, Wash., which inspired the 1970s flashback scenes in the novel. Anyone who’s been around those towns for a while will recognize a number of the places mentioned in the book. Readers can find a sneak peek in my Cd’A Trivia blog entry, too.

For those who don’t know, Rhythms & Muse is a make-dreams-come-true story about a Grammy-award-winning female vocalist, Alexandra Lauren, who is living the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle and hating it. Dreams are guiding her, but she ignores them until one comes true in real life. Her dreams, and flashbacks to her senior year in high school, lead Alex to listen to her intuitions and return to Cd’A. Searching for true fulfillment, she works an elaborate scheme to try to reconcile with her former music partner and first love, Matt Roberts, and to regain the balance she’s lost in her life.

As I was writing the story of these musical characters, I also decided to create original music to accompany the book, using the music and lyrics my characters “composed.” On the Rhythms & Muse CD, I sing all five songs, and also contribute select piano and guitar accompaniment.

Did you know I…

  • Always wanted to write a novel and create music, so publishing Rhythms & Muse this year fulfilled two of my main life goals in tandem.
  • Graduated from Cd’A high school and left Idaho to attend Arizona State University.
  • Graduated cum laude in Broadcast Journalism from ASU.
  • Worked in corporate and agency public relations until starting my own marketing consulting firm in 1996.
  • Was honored by a panel of national judges honored with a Crown Jewel Award for my firm vIDEAn Unlimited, LLC (i.e. the top U.S. home-based business in 2005).
  • Specialize in developing business tribes using word-of-mouth marketing strategy.
  • Am an award-winning writer and editor.
  • Offer a bunch of interesting and valuable information on my Web site (videanunlimited.com), business-tribe blog (videanunlimited.com/biztribe), and novel blog (anvidean.com).

Did you know Calypsos Coffee & Creamery…

  • Is Coeur d’Alene’s Casual Coffee House
  • Was established by local-area natives, the Jenicek family, in 2008.
  • They decided to open Calypsos to share their love of coffee and to be involved with the downtown business district and its people.
  • Serves quality coffee, roasted onsite, in a captivating and comfortable atmosphere.
  • Is located one block from the Cd’A Resort, the Chamber of Commerce and the City Beach.
  • Great menu and services are detailed at Calypsoscoffee.com.

I can’t wait to get back to Coeur d’Alene to share Rhythms & Muse with my friends there.

– Ann