San Francisco Ukulele Rebellion Magic

San Francisco Ukulele Rebellion at Pier 1

It was a drizzly, dreary yet beautiful day in San Francisco when a merry group of ukulele players from the San Francisco Ukulele Rebellion hit the scene at Pier 1 and spread joy and cheer to all those passing by. We had originally planned to play down at Pier 7 as we had in past years with the bay bridge as a lovely back drop, but rain brought the group to shelter, which turned out to be a perfect location with amazing acoustics as we played and sang holiday songs.

The holiday season officially kicked off when we played Happy Christmas twice! the second time was by special request. check this out:

Happy Christmas - War is Over echoes through the Embarcadero of SF!

We gave away at least 50 kazoos to kids and passers by. Some kids even joined us and played along on kazoo.

This has not been an easy year for many people. The only thing my friends and I can think of to do is to play music and sing. We didn't practice the songs ahead of time, but we've all played together many times, at both familiar locations and new ones. Sometimes we play the same songs and sometimes we play different ones. Yesterday it was all about the holiday songs like Jingle Bell Rock and Silver Bells and of course, in good ukulele style, Mele Kalikimaka and Christmas Island and so many others. Many of us live in the City, but some like me live south of San Francisco and must travel in. Yesterday I made the journey to the piers via car and BART, parking at the Glen Park station so I wouldn't have to drive or park at the Embarcadero. Although I grew up in the City, I still don't care for driving in the downtown area. My mother never drove, and the only time we ever rode in a car was when our Dad picked us up and took us places. To this day, I still take public transportation in San Francisco.

Yesterday I had to search for my group because they had to move due to rain. I was anxious and stressed out when I arrived, but as soon as I got my ukulele out and started playing, all the stress poured off. That's the way it is. Always.

Happy Christmas!

Ukuleles Can Change The World

Jammin' with Los Horribles at the Mud Puddle in Niles.

Today as I reflect on the senseless tragedies in Paris and all over and mourn for the lives lost, I find myself grateful for the opportunities to surround myself with beautiful music and scenery emulating with peace and love. Being so distraught after watching the horrific events unfold in Paris, the only logical thing to do was to drive to the mud puddle in Niles with my ukulele to play music with my friends and share the joy of being surrounded and enveloped by one of the best mud puddle jams ever. 

Me and Margaret with Michael McNevin

Michael plays an original...my good friend Janet plays the mandolin.

I stumbled upon the Mud Puddle in 2012 when I lived in Union City for two years, sharing a house on a hill overlooking Niles with my son and his little family. It’s technically part of Fremont, but driving or walking into Niles, you feel like you’ve gone into a time warp with the old, historic buildings and theatre which still stands. Charlie Chaplain and Bronco Billy’s silent movies filed in and around Niles before they moved to Hollywood.

Michael McNevin owns a tiny remnant of the past, a small 300 square foot space which at one time was a barber shop and perhaps a pharmacy for a while. Now it’s a place where people gather to play music together, lovingly called “Los Horribles.” Also, musicians have performed concerts in this tiny space – but somehow even those concerts morph into jams. I never go in there without my ukulele and have spent the last three new year’s eve celebrations there opting for a place where I can play and share music instead of just listening.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Then yesterday after reading a blurb in the Santa Cruz uke news I drive to the beautiful pigeon point lighthouse to meet the dharma strummers and perform with them at the 143rd anniversary of the lighthouse!! So beautiful there...breathtaking. Large waves crashing against the shore and the majestic lighthouse overseeing it all. Tallest lighthouse in the west coast! It was a clear sunny cool day. 

This fellow who helps take care of the lighthouse sang a lovely sea chantey for us.

There I am with the Dharma Strummers who welcomed me!

The Sona Dharma Strummers welcomed me and I felt like I was part of their Gang immediately as we strummed and sang songs they specifically chose...that's how it is in the Ukulele world. You simply show up and you're part of the group. If only the whole world could be like that!!

After we played a wonderful group whom I knew from the SF folk music group played Celtic music and sea chanteys!! Perfect music for where we were! I'm so glad I hung out to hear them and enjoy the ambiance of being there. Kids were able to make lighthouses in arts and crafts and free hot drinks for all. It's also free to go to the lighthouse but it's in need of repair so you can't go in. 

Dave (on the left) is a friend of mine and this wonderful group played Celtic music and sea chanteys after the uke players. Perfect music for this scenario!

But there are free tours around the lighthouse and a panoramic view of the ocean behind it where a bunch of us watched the sunset and I happened to be standing next to a young man who proposed to his girlfriend. 

Wow! I don't even know their names...

It was incredibly moving, touching and beautiful! There is still hope for the future because there are still so many beautiful in the world.

Who knew there would also be an amazing slide show at dark filmed on the actual lighthouse lighting it up! Never seen anything like it in my life!! Lots of people there for this...I was so amazed and excited to see that!! Yes they're raising funds to help restore the lighthouse but a worthy cause and they're not pushy... 

And the entire history of the lighthouse unfolded in the dark. Right after it was over the stars peeked out...yes there is hope for the future.

On Sunday, I played ukulele at the Red Victorian on Haight Street in San Francisco with my San Francisco Ukulele Rebellion friends. The Red Victorian was built in 1903 and survived the San Francisco earthquake.  Dean, our organizer, was able to rent the space for us – and what an amazing space it is with old hardwood floors and colorful Halloween-ish décor. I walked by the Red Vic so many times as a kid – it’s been Red Victorian since the 1940’s, a hostel where people could rent rooms really cheap – still to this day not too expensive. People actually live at the hotel, and the guests enjoyed our ukulele playing.  We’ve played in various locations all over San Francisco, and have gotten nothing but positive feedback from everyone. Several new members joined us, some a little shy sitting on the outskirts.

“Come join us!” the regulars say, clearing a space right next to them so they can share the Daily Ukulele songbooks with us and play.

“Oh but I’m just a beginner,” one slender older woman with a ukulele said shyly.

“That’s okay, you’ll catch on!” I smiled at the woman and she joined us in our circle. Surrounded by my close friends and the newcomers, we strummed our ukuleles and sang our hearts out, and all was well with the world as it should be.

My Interview with Tom Hallock of Beacon Press

How fortunate I was to speak with Tom Hallock who is the Sales & Marketing Director as well as Publisher at Beacon Press. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about our phone interview before it occurred. I'm usually on the other end of interview process -- although it's been a few years for that too because I've been at my current job for almost 10 years now.  the Publishing world seems to ominous and scary, but I immediately felt at east talking to Tom Hallock. 

On June 27, 2011, “Self Awareness” posted this image of the day.
Beacon Press associate publisher Tom Hallock about to deliver via bicycle a few more copies Nancy Gertner's memoir, In Defense of Women, to Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, Mass. The moral of this revolutionary ride, as the press put it: "Beacon Press will go the extra mile for indie bookstores... on a bike!"

Since Beacon Press was founded in 1854, it has continued up uphold its reputation for publishing books that accentuate people from various ethnic and economic backgrounds. In today’s world, an acceptance and understanding of various cultures and fundamental issues is needed more than ever. I find myself concerned about the lack of empathy and understanding that currently exists and respect the staff and authors of Beacon Press for continuing to uphold the urgency for books that evoke peace, love and understanding and empathy for others no matter who they are or where they come from. As someone who has always been concerned with social issues of the world, Beacon Press is a “beacon of positive and light” in my eyes.  Beacon Press has been involved in the publication of all of Martin Luther King’s work, among many others. It does not get any better than that.

Tom Hallock of Beacon Press is a prime example of this. Although we had never spoken before, I immediately felt comfortable and at ease speaking with him over the phone.  When I initially asked Tom Hallock how he became a publisher who does the sales and marketing, he proclaimed, “I have no idea!” We both chuckled, and I felt even more at ease talking to him. He shared his experiences in publishing and his diversion to travel through China for a couple of years before returning and ultimately ending up at Beacon Press where he's been for the past 19 years.

Since Beacon Press is small, they're able to give their authors a bit more attention than the larger ones, but you still must have a platform. 

Tom Hallock's advice to an emerging writer? 

Have awareness of what's being published -- who's published it?  Go into bookstores and look at how they organize books, what they're displaying, what they look like.

Try to find your place in social media -- as in "Platform" yeah, it's true. We gotta have some semblance of a platform.  Try to find allies, people who like your book, other writers or book sellers or people who would be interested in what you're writing about. 

In intellectual terms, we as writers have a sense of all this, but it's all easier said than done. Writers know they will get lots of rejections, yet there is still that small part inside that feels a little sensitive about rejection.

My takeaway on all this? It's really good to know that publishers and editors and people who work in the publishing industry are human beings just like us. They aren't scary people at all. 

This gives us all as writers hope for the future. 

The Indie Bookstore Experience!

We are so fortunate here in the San Francisco Bay Area because we still do have some independent book stores around such as Books, Inc., located right down the street from where I work in Mountain View, Kepler's Books in Menlo Park, Book Passage in San Francisco and Corte Madera, City Lights Books and the Booksmith in San Francisco, not to mention some great used book stores like Green Apple Books in San Francisco and Book Buyers in downtown Mountain View which sells both new and used books.

I used to joke around that I needed to stay away from book stores and music stores because I always found them "dangerous." It's easy for me to spend too much money there! To be honest, the only stores I enjoy are book stores or music stores -- not just music stores that sell records, but music stores that sell instruments of all kinds such as Haight Ashbury Music in San Francisco and Guitar Showcase and Starving Musicians where they let you play expensive instruments you cannot possibly afford. I've had little jam sessions at these stores, playing beautiful sounding ukuleles and guitars. 

That's how I feel about an independent book store -- there's something about all the books lined up in the window beckoning people -- all sorts of books, definitely something for everyone. There are children's books for the parents mostly (of course), next to the literary fiction and romance novels and cook books -- and then the action/adventure. Everyone would stop and look in the store window and have a look.

I can't remember perusing book stores that much as a kid because my mother was a book FANATIC. Nobody on this planet read more than she did! We always were surrounded by books growing up, like we had our own library. And every year for Christmas, my mother would buy us more books. So if we wanted to get books on our own, we just brought our library cards and trekked the 18 blocks from Second Avenue to 18th Avenue to our local public library. The children's library was downstairs, and how I loved it there, spending hours perusing books and feeling totally in control because I could choose the books I wanted and check them out all on my own without having a parent present (this was in a time and place where our parents just sent us off into the universe).

So it wasn't until I grew up that I started going to regular book stores which I always loved -- no matter how big or small. I've been to Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon which is the largest independent book store in the world.  They sell new and used books, and you can get lost in there -- the store takes up a whole city block and several floors (I believe six floors all together). There are entire sections -- like a music section, divided into "Rock and Roll music" and "Classical," etc., and then books about songs, books about artists. There is an practically an entire floor dedicated to Memoirs and biographies. It would take days to get through that book store, but I was only there for a couple of hours with my little great nephew who was getting impatient. They even carry rare books at Powell's. I think they've stayed alive as long as they have because they have a huge online presence (sort of like Amazon but they are an actual independent book store) -- people can order books online. Plus they sell used and new books both. 

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, I've been to many book stores -- used book stores, books that sell both old and new (Book Buyers right here in Mountain View, CA) and of course book stores that only sell new books. I admit that I've spent time perusing Book Buyers to find more cost effective books, but I DO buy new books and I have to be very careful when I go to a book store.

I've also gone to book stores for book signings and events -- most recently I attended Janis Cooke Newman's exciting book event for her latest book, "Master Plan of Rescue." It's her first real "fiction" book -- she wrote a memoir and a historical fiction book called "Mary" getting into the head of Abraham Lincoln's wife. Janis is an amazing writer and a wonderful friend and mentor as well. Of course I bought her book and had her autograph it for me! There's no way I'll go to a book signing and NOT buy the book! I've been to several book readings for my good friend Floyd Salas, most recently at the Octopus Cafe, a literary cafe (with books but in a coffee shop) in Berkeley, one of those funky little places you wouldn't know about unless you were local. I had never heard of the place before, but when I heard Floyd Salas was reading his poetry, I of course had to go. He's an amazing writer and he and his wife Claire are close friends of mine who inspired me to keep going with my writing. At first, I just thought it was a coffee shop, but when my friend Caroline whom I gave a ride to and I walked in, we saw walls of books and posters for upcoming events, community and book events. The placed smelled of roasted coffee beans, ahhhh! It wasn't very big, but so inviting with lots of chairs.

Great Weather Press (a very small presss) had several people read who had been published in their latest anthology and Floyd Salas was one of them. His poetry always paints a picture and tells stories of his family and of Oakland in the 1940s and 1950s. 

They also had spots for open mics, so I signed up for one not having any idea what to read because I'm not a poet -- I love poetry, but I don't write it. I had to pick something short, and for a moment there I thought I might not read at all, but then I found a short piece from my current Travel Writing Class about a Fish and Chips place on Haight Street in San Francisco in the 1960's. People loved it and a lot of the old hippies said, "Hey I remember that place!" I knew the people there loved anything that had to do with the 60's. Later a young poet about my kids' age read poetry about the same area of San Francisco in the 1980s and 1990s from a totally different perspective and the guy from Great Weather Press invited me to submit my piece to them. I will get $10 for this! Maybe I'll do it. All this at a tiny independent book store aka Coffee Shop. It was wonderful.

My latest "shopping" experience at a book store happened quite recently at Books, Inc. in downtown Mountain View, which kind of explains why book stores can be dangerous for book lovers. I walked into Books, Inc. and was immediately engulfed and surrounded by colors and books of all shapes and sizes. The best selling nonfiction books and the best selling hardback fiction books are all front and center so you see them immediately when you walk in. Of course I decided to buy a book by a local author. I had even planned to attend his book reading, but that was right after my recent injuries. In between all the book displays, there's an adult coloring book section (these have become quite popular) not to mention another display of seasonal children's books and how could I not get my grandson Baby Jeremiah the cute Halloween picture book about California? and maybe I needed an adult coloring book because I've been really stressed out and studies show that coloring in these books can be stress-relieving. But then I have to make my way through fiction because I admit I LOVE fiction and memoirs the best. and it doesn't hurt to make my way to the magazine rack to check out the latest Poets and Writers Magazine along with the Acoustic Guitar magazine which always has a few songs in them.

There really is something for everyone at the local book store -- such as Books, Inc. from kids, to YA fiction, to books about how to do things, to music biographies, memoirs, fiction, mysteries, you name it. Shelves and shelves of books that smell so new and look so pretty. I am reminded of all the work that goes into the design of these books, but there's also the placement of the books in the book store which I don't believe happens by accident. 

I'm thrilled these book stores still exist even if I spent over $50 at Books, Inc., without really intending to.

Navigating My Way Through the Mysterious World of Publishing!

It amazed me that I actually knew many of the commonly used terms in the publishing world. We as writers are familiar with many of the terms such as manuscript and drafts – and even slush pile – that huge pile of manuscripts that grows and grows – eventually falling off tables and spilling on to floors.  All those laborious hours and blood, sweat and tears those writers have put into those precious manuscripts that end up in the dreaded “slush pile.”

Also, because I work at a law firm that deals with IP litigation and such, many of the legal definitions are familiar to me, such as boilerplate, contract and publishing agreement and copyright. The word “Colophon” was completely new to me. What the heck? Apparently it’s a listing of production info including typeface details.

The lexicon that surprised me most was “ARC.” As soon as I saw that, I thought, “Oh yeah, the Arc of our essays, stories or memoirs, the “structure” that makes the writing piece cohesive, something I’ve sometimes grappled with – that damned arc – someone will say in a writer’s group, “What is the arc of your story?”  It’s a scary question, and we’d darn well better know or we’re doomed. We have to know what the whole story is about, right? That’s Arc for you. I love the one and only comment related to this lexicon, which is as follows:  “Arc -- the boat in which Noah saved reviewers endangered by the deluge of free books.” – thank you “Elizabeth” for that good laugh. I truly loved it.

In reality, “ARC” here means “Advanced Reading Copy, aka bound galley or uncorrected proof. Pre-publication copy of a book sent to reviewers, booksellers, etc. to generate word-of-mouth and promote sales.”  I never would have guessed this. Advanced reading copy.

I’d better figure out what the Arc of my story is so that my memoir will eventually be an “Advanced reading copy.” An Arc is a partial circular figure – which I picture as a beautiful rainbow stretching across the sky from one end to the other.

Another lexicon I had never heard of before is “Black Swan” – which is an unexpected success or phenomenon – such as J.K. Rowlings’s Harry Potter books. She was an unknown writer who suddenly became a huge success. Apparently, publishers always are on the look out for those beautiful “black swans,” but who knows for sure which books or authors will end up becoming those black swans?

So, picture this.  A rainbow stretches across the slush pile of manuscripts forming the perfect ARC and suddenly, a beautiful black swan flies out with my manuscript and drops it down on to the publisher’s desk and suddenly my book is propelled to best seller status. People are calling me for interviews. I’m told I can quit my day job and become a full-time writer for a living – I won’t need to work anymore, and I can finally tell my kids, the book is going to be published and of course there will be a movie as well.

Of course I’m dreaming. I will be thrilled to publish anything at this point in my life. The dream lives!

Taking Risks, Letting Go of Fear

I have finally returned after shamefully neglecting my fabulous blog for so long. Yes, I admit that I've been using Facebook to chronicle my life adventures, but it's time to return. I have sometimes wondered if anyone actually reads my blog entries as I have still not figured out how to get "followers" yet, although I've written many posts and have created a couple of blogs for various things -- a fitness blog, a blog chronicling memories of my father who passed away last October. at first I had lofty thoughts if getting caught up by back posting, but have decided to abandon that idea and start fresh and new -- new ideas about present and past adventures and about my writing life.

Recently I attended a fabulous writing retreat on the Oregon coast while on my latest road trip adventure, and this about sums up where I'm at with my writing:

Yep! I'm all over the map, literally! It doesn't matter whether we call it a platform or a road map -- there you have it! this is my latest idea for how I view my memoir, the "book" -- and at structuring it, although I've had other ideas about how to do this.

as I embark on this journey of writing and publication, I think of how sometimes I become paralyzed with fear -- it's also an issue whien it comes to finishing a book or perhaps a set of essays. What if it isnt good enough? What if I truly do suck and this is just a crazy dream? but I've come too far for this. There's no direction to go but forward. I don't have an issue with getting my ukulele out at any given moment and playing it, and singing a Beatles song. I am not a professional musician by the way, just a chick with a ukulele who has some musical skills. I have friends who are professional musicians though, but music is such an integral part of my life which is why this blog is called Writer Chick with a Ukulele. Music puts my life into perspective when I'm feeling blocked or scattered. Somehow music is what puts everything into perspective. the above map for my book has changed many times and might even change again. Many of the stories are written already, just need cohesiveness to bind them all together and perhaps some sequeways. I know what to do. Why don't I just do it? My brother in Washington said to me when I talked about this MFA Program, "Well you could help fund the rest of your program by publishing your writing. Like what a concept." My brother knows I've been at this for many years. 

I'm exciting about revitalizing this blog and writing regularly in it. Maybe I'll figure out how to get followers too. 

This past weekend I spent some time with my grandson, Baby J (although he has reminded me he is no longer a baby because he's four now). He is so much fun to hang with and as I watch him interact and play wiith others, I notice that he has absolutely no fear to try things or say things...or to even do new things like participate in a teddy bear treasure hunt at a music camp event I took him to. He is curious and still has that innocence and imagination that we somehow lose as we get older because we have to "comply" with the rules. 

little guy, big train. No fear!! Yesterday we rode the steam engine from Sunol through Niles canyon. 

My goals are to let go of fear and market myself out there more, and BE that "professional" or "accomplished writer" instead of just dreaming about it or wishing it to be so...  Miracles do happen, as Baby J said when I realized I left my car keys at the Railroad Cafe across the street from the train station after they closed. "I believe!" We were looking inside the closed restaurant. Just then, a guy who works at the cafe happened to drive by and see us. I flagged him down and asked if someone had left their keys. He said, as a matter of fact, yes, went around the back, and gave them to me! Me and Baby J both cheered, "Now we're not stuck here forever." That resonated with me as I walked back to the car with him..."Stuck." time to get unstuck and move on!