Comments on: Using Memories of Summers Past for This Summer's Writing

By: jamesr403

jamesr403 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 00:25:27 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. You & me both, Laura. "Tourist oil!" Yep, and now we're paying.

By: jamesr403

jamesr403 — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 00:24:07 +0000

Excellent, Fae! I remember one classic sunburn; my parents had gone out and when they came home I was sitting up on the edge of a chair in the living room because I could not bear to lie down. Someday that will turn up in some of my work. Thanks for making me think of it. (Obviously I got way behind in email, but I had to answer your essay.)

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:24:09 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. Hahahahaha! Take a look at your arm, and now take a look at my arm (in your head). Do you see that luminous white blinding you? Yeah. I needed SPF and my nurse mama made sure I got it. I was much more afraid of her, and of the sunburn, than of my friends.

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 08:31:06 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. You had SPF? Lightwieght. We had baby oil, Sun In in our hair and we were HAPPANIN'! Of course, we have sun spots and skin cancer now, but back then.... we were sun Goddesses...

By: Mary K Tilghman Writes

Mary K Tilghman Writes — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 04:19:22 +0000

I immediately thought of three summer memories that appear in my soon-to-be-published novel. Little things but they appear in moment when my characters are cherishing those they love. I liked this column so much I wrote about it on my own blog. Credited you, of course. Thanks for your wise words.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 21:32:00 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. And WTF were we all thinking, tanning with baby oil and #4 sunscreen?? I almost got laughed off the beach as a tween for using SPF15 and I wouldn't be caught dead in less than SPF30 now. Also, roasting our feet on the hot pavement because we INSISTED on walking everywhere in LA barefoot. Never in a million years would I do that now.

By: Debbie Herbert

Debbie Herbert — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 13:22:02 +0000

Summer memories! Being the little bookworm, I remember as a child reading Treasure Island while we vacationed at a cottage on Myrtle Beach. Hearing the ocean in the background, feeling the sand beneath my toes, and the smell of suntan lotion-- made the book all the more enjoyable for me. Ever since, beach vacations are when I give myself permission to read whatever I want, all day long. Binge reading atits best!

Thanks for bringing up a great memory, Fae! And how exciting about your book this summer - yay!

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:12:01 +0000

In reply to Jenny Hansen. Oh yeah, the beach IS Hawaiian Tropic! Good reminder not to forget to use all the senses, Jen!

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 06:10:53 +0000

I gave long-ago summers a five minute daydream after I read this post and, growing up in Southern California, it was always the beach!

I immediately remembered the ferry rides and learning to canoe (on the ocean) for my Catalina Island Girl Scout camps. Riding the bus to Santa Monica and walking the three blocks to hang out will all my pals between lifeguard stations 24 and 25. Jumping waves until the surface was smooth and floating for hours. (Jaws seriously ruined ocean floating for me.)

Thanks for the daydreams, Fae. The smell of coconut Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen is strong on my mind now!

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 06:03:54 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. I've always loved that Stephen King quote...and now Orly has given me a new one!