Weekend Mishmash: Fortune Cookies

My husband and I share a lot of common interests – not the least of which is a fondness for Asian food. Wherever we’ve traveled, from London to San Francisco, we’ve tasted an assortment of Asian delectables, including sashimi, pad thai, pot stickers, and almost everything in between. Usually, our meals end with a fortune cookie – a crispy little treat made from fairly basic ingredients (flour, sugar, vanilla, and butter or oil) and wrapped around a small piece of paper that typically contains six lucky numbers (used by some – not us, I'm afraid – for the lottery) and a vague prophecy, character assessment, or wise saying.

Not surprisingly, fortune cookies are more prevalent in America, Canada, and England than in China. Although the origin of fortune cookies is unclear, various Japanese immigrants claim to have popularized them in California in the early 1900s. After World War II, Chinese manufacturers took over production of the cookies, which are now available as complimentary desserts in Asian restaurants all over the world.

According to Dan, the “fortune” inside a fortune cookie will only come true if you choose the cookie pointing directly at you, read the piece of paper aloud, and then consume the entire cookie (no matter how stale it is) before leaving the restaurant. I’ve heard a few other myths, too, like having to select a cookie with closed eyes, choosing a cookie for someone else, eating the entire cookie before reading the fortune, not eating the cookie if the fortune seems unlucky, and refraining from reading the fortune aloud.

No matter how we handled our fortune cookies – or whether we believed the enclosed fortunes or not – one fact held true in my family for several years: Dan’s fortunes always made way more sense than mine. Without fail, mine were always silly adages, while Dan’s actually applied to his life. Once, when he was in the midst of building and selling homemade camera stabilizers, he received one fortune that promised he’d succeed as a purveyor of wacky inventions.

It became a running joke with us – how, no matter which cookie I picked, the enclosed “fortune” would be some trite adage like A person is never too old to learn or a confusing statement like A perfect statue never comes from a bad mold. That is, until I started editing my first novel, and I kid you not, Fortuna began to smile on me. My “fortunes” suddenly seemed to hint at my ultimate writing goals.

The first was a compliment: You have a charming way with words. The second was a reminder to quell my perfectionist tendencies: It could be better, but its good enough. (Funny that “its” is spelled wrong, thus illustrating the point of the fortune.) The most recent three have all given me hope that my dreams will someday come true: Be patient – think, listen and heed signs for personal gain. Endurance and persistence will be rewarded. Allow yourself time – you will reach success.

So, it looks as though my luck has finally turned – at least where fortune cookies are concerned. All five of these fortunes are now taped to my laptop, as not-so-gentle reminders whenever I’m feeling stressed or glum. I’m grateful for their hopeful words...

Well, what about you? What’s the silliest saying or most meaningful prophecy you’ve ever found in a fortune cookie?

Friday Fantasies: Movies to Inspire Writers

Note: I apologize for the lateness of this post. It might be time-stamped with Friday’s date, but obviously it didn’t go live until midday on Saturday. Given a missing dog and visiting friends, it simply couldn’t be helped. I’ll try hard not to let it happen again, though I can’t make any promises. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me – and that you’re having a groovy weekend, wherever you are!

Novelists and screenwriters have long been fascinated with telling stories about writers, which seems a rather obvious fascination, given the conventional wisdom that writers should write what they know. I guess it might also seem obvious that, as a guidebook author and aspiring novelist, I adore such stories – in print or on screen. Even the gloomiest tales work their magic on me, inspiring me to be a better writer, encouraging me to experience life more fully, and giving me hope that my dream of being a published novelist will one day come true.

Although I’ve read my share of writer-centric stories, most of my inspiration has come from the movies – whether original screenplays or adaptations of beloved novels. It’s a known fact that, whenever I’m feeling down about the publishing industry, my own writing ability, and my slim chance of success, all I have to do is watch one of my favorite “writer” flicks and I feel energized again. Now, such films run the gamut, from dark tales of screenwriting dreams gone awry (Sunset Blvd. in 1950) to exciting adventures about shut-in novelists learning to live (Nim’s Island in 2008). Some have been biographical in nature, like Out of Africa (1985), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), Under the Tuscan Sun (2003), Finding Neverland (2004), and Miss Potter (2006) – some of which were based on previous material. Some have featured wannabe writers, like Alex & Emma (2003); some have focused on successful novelists in tight jams, like Her Alibi (1989); and some have just been downright weird – Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch (1991) comes to mind. But, of course, Stephen King is probably responsible for most “writer” movies – including the award-winning Misery (1990), The Dark Half (1993), the absolutely dreadful Secret Window (2004), and the surprisingly creepy 1408 (2007).

For me, though, there are ten films that I routinely use to stimulate my creativity and quiet the voice of doom:

The Shining (1980) – I’m one of those people that actually like both the Stephen King novel and the Stanley Kubrick film, even though I’ll be the first to admit that Kubrick took some serious liberties with the source material. The visuals – like the elevators spewing forth a torrent of decades-old blood – are just too incredible to forget, and the sense of isolation is palpable. Of course, you might be asking yourself how this tragic tale of an alcoholic writer, husband, and father who goes mad in a remote, psychically-touched Colorado hotel could possibly be inspiring to me. Heck, what wannabe novelist wouldn’t want the opportunity to write all day and all night, with nothing to distract her but a few hungry ghosts? I say, sign me up!

Romancing the Stone (1984) – You might scoff, but I freakin’ love this movie, and I watch it any and every chance I get. As Nim’s Island did several years later, this film reminds me that sometimes a writer has to emerge from her comfort zone, explore the world, and perhaps find herself in a wee spot of trouble in order to fully realize her stories – and herself. And, come on, who isn’t at least a little entertained when Joan Wilder’s status as a romance novelist saves her and Jack T. Colton from the wrath of a drug lord in the hinterlands of Colombia?

Gothic (1986) – Hands down the best Ken Russell movie ever, this bizarre film explores the stormy drug-filled summer night during which Mary Godwin, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron amused themselves by creating ghost stories, one of which would eventually become Mary’s Frankenstein. I watched this disturbing movie when I was very young – which perhaps explains a lot – and ever since then, I’ve longed for a night equally as inspiring, memorable, and just a little mind-bending.

Stand by Me (1986) – My connection with this classic coming-of-age tale is twofold: The book from which this story came, Different Seasons, inspired me, at a very young age, to pursue a writing career, and the movie continues to inspire me. For those of who haven’t seen this gem – Really? Could there be anyone out there who hasn’t seen it? – the entire story is told in flashback, from the point of view of Gordie Lachance, a writer who has just learned about the death of an old friend, propelling him to recall a boyhood adventure, during which he and three pals go in search of a dead body... and grow up a little along the way.

She’s Having a Baby (1988) – This might seem like a strange choice, but as I get older, I find this John Hughes flick more and more “educational.” After all, it’s essentially about an advertising copywriter (and wannabe novelist) who tries to balance his dreams with the real-life issues of being a new husband and expectant father. Although I don’t plan on having children any time soon, I am married – have been for nine years – and I struggle every day with the desire to write constantly and the reality of marital compromise. (But, if you’re reading this, Danny, you know I love you – and don’t begrudge the struggle at all!)

As Good As It Gets (1997) – I love stories in which curmudgeons see the light, so it’s no surprise that this movie would appeal to me. After all, it demonstrates how one grouchy, bigoted, misanthropic, obsessive-compulsive author learns to get over himself, with the help of a straightforward waitress, a homosexual artist, and a little scruffy dog. Sometimes, I feel a powerful need for such outside help – to get over my own nonsense. Thank goodness for my hubby and kitty, who keep my grouchiness and obsessive-compulsive nature in check, especially when I’m in the midst of writing something – fiction or otherwise.

Finding Forrester (2000) – One of my all-time favorites, this small gem of a film tells the story of a young black basketball player and aspiring writer, who wins a scholarship to a prestigious prep school in Manhattan and subsequently befriends a reclusive white novelist. Through this unlikely friendship, both characters change, grow, and assist each other: The man helps the boy improve his writing skills and cope with bigotry, while the boy helps the man emerge from his self-imposed solitude. While watching this tale unfold, I always wish that I could’ve had a mentor like William Forrester – and though it’s too late for that, I take comfort in knowing that there’s still time for me to help young writers like Jamal Wallace in the future.

Wonder Boys (2000) – By far, my favorite “writer” movie ever – and quite possibly one of my favorite films of all time – this quirky comic drama chronicles one weekend in the life of a college professor with writer’s block and a host of other dilemmas. It’s hard not to be inspired by a man like Grady Tripp, a one-time, critically acclaimed novelist struggling to finish his never-ending follow-up while juggling the needs of his disgruntled wife, pregnant mistress, washed-up editor, infatuated tenant, and suicidal student, who’s responsible for accidentally killing the dog of his mistress, the married chancellor of the Pittsburgh-area university where he teaches. If you’ve never seen this film, drop what you’re doing and watch it... right... now. No matter what kind of funk overtakes me, this movie never fails to chase away the doldrums and put me on the writer’s path again. It doesn’t hurt that it cracks me up on a regular basis – or that it’s based, in part, on novelist Michael Chabon’s own misadventures following the success of his first novel. And don’t tell him this, but as much as I love the book, I adore the movie even more – maybe it’s just the perfect casting that’s to blame.

Sideways (2004) – This choice might confuse you. I mean, isn’t this a film about a wine lover’s misadventure with his philandering, soon-to-be-wed best friend? Well, yes, but the wine lover in question also just happens to be a struggling novelist, with a passionate agent and no hope of snagging a publisher. That might sound disheartening, but what I like about this movie – besides the obvious hilarity of the absurd situations – is that Miles manages to impress a beautiful, vivacious woman with his story, proving that even if a novel remains unpublished, it still has the power to touch someone.

Becoming Jane (2007) – Although historians question the accuracy of this film, which chronicles the elusive Jane Austen’s first and only love affair – the one that presumably inspired her much-studied and much-lauded collection of romantic novels – I really love this movie. First, because it demonstrates how a writer’s upbringing, family, and environment can influence her stories, and second, because it shows the sacrifices that a writer must often make to pursue her art. May I have the strength to do the same...

If none of those work for you, here are a few more suggestions:

The Lost Weekend (1945)
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Somewhere in Time (1980)
Best Seller (1987)
The Accidental Tourist (1988)
Funny Farm (1988)
Barton Fink (1991)
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Little Women (1994)
Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Sliding Doors (1998)
Breakfast of Champions (1999)
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Adaptation (2002)
Orange County (2002)
Love Actually (2003)
Swimming Pool (2003)
Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
Atonement (2007)

Of course, there are even more than that, but I’m tired of typing – and frankly, itching to watch a movie!

Whimsical Wednesday: Inanimate Muses

A few days ago, my new online pal D. L. Strange (otherwise known as Strange Fiction) reflected on, among other things, the “motivational tools” on her desk – you know, the inanimate objects and spiritual totems that comfort and inspire us writers – whenever we feel less comforted and inspired than we should. The post urged me to recall all the writing spaces I’ve had over the years – from the childhood desk that Hurricane Katrina destroyed to the folding table that I now cart around the country. In turn, I began thinking about all those blessed little objects that have become as critical to my sanity as that infernal volleyball, Wilson, was for Tom Hanks’ lonely character in Cast Away.

One of my favorites is Harold, a clay good-luck elephant that my kitty, Ruby Azazel, “gave” me this past Mother’s Day (after, of course, Dan had purchased him at Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo on Bourbon Street). Here’s Harold in all his auspicious glory:



Another inspirational totem on my desk has been with me a lot longer. Years ago – when I was still a minor living under my mother’s roof, she and I went to a jewelry trade show, where I stumbled upon a Japanese figurine with a rotating head. Although it was only recently – after nearly two decades of owning him – that I named him Takara (after one of the characters in my novel, Hollow Souls), he’s done much to comfort and inspire me over the years. If for no other reason than that, whenever I’m feeling stressed by looming deadlines, I can simply rotate Takara’s head and be soothed by his “serene” face.

Likewise, when I’m frustrated by someone or something – and feeling impotent as always – I just have to rotate his head the other way – and it’s Takara’s “angry” face that motivates me.

Of course, when all that fails, I just turn to that photograph of me and my hero, Willie Nelson. Thinking of the legacy he’ll one day leave behind... and how much he and his music have always inspired me, I remember that dreams often do come true and all I can do is keep working toward that goal.

Thanks, D. L., for the inspiration.

So, what about the rest of you? Do you rely on such sacred objects from time to time? If so, what are they and how long have they been with you?

Monday Munchies: Blueberry Scones

Since this is my very first post, I should probably explain the purpose of this blog. Currently, I maintain two other blogs: one about U.S. travel and one about my unpublished novel. There is a third, very neglected blog – also about travel – that needs serious revamping, so forgive me if I ignore that one for now. Although I’ve been reading other writers’ blogs for the past few months, I wasn’t so sure that I wanted to use my newly acquired Blogger account to launch yet another blog of my own. That is, until this past weekend.

While fiction writing and travel are two of my favorite interests in the whole world – and I’m truly tickled to be blogging about them on a semi-regular basis – I realized just how many of my inspirations are being overlooked by such targeted sites. Musings about yoga, karaoke, movies, religion, blueberry scones, Willie Nelson, and Woody Allen have no place on my Ruby Hollow website or American Nomad blog.

So, I decided to start a new blog – one that would focus on all the people, places, and things that interest and inspire me on a daily basis. After brainstorming possible names for the blog – many of which are too embarrassing to list here – I settled on something short and sweet. Hence, “Laura’s Simple Pleasures” was born.

Now, given that I’ve only been posting two articles per week for my American Nomad blog – and that I’ve been lucky to post a few times per month since starting the Hollow Souls blog – what I’m proposing is perhaps more than I can handle. But, as the saying advises, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained," so here goes nothing...

I will attempt to post six entries per week, adhering to the following routine:
1. Musings about my favorite foods and beverages for MONDAY MUNCHIES
2. Tales of memorable people, places, and events for TUESDAY TRAVELS
3. Thoughts about varied hobbies and interests on WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY
4. Notions about nature, religion, meditation, and yoga on THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY
5. Reviews of assorted books, plays, movies, TV shows, and music on FRIDAY FANTASIES
6. And everything else that’s fit to print for the WEEKEND MISHMASH

We’ll see how long my enthusiasm – or, more aptly, my stamina – lasts. But, until my already overloaded schedule fails me, I’ll happily share my myriad inspirations with you. Because no matter what’s happening in the world around us – from poverty and disease, to pollution and war – it’s the simple pleasures in life that keep us going... which brings me to the aforementioned blueberry scones - the thing that actually inspired this blog in the first place.

During the summer months, my husband, Dan, and I live in the northeastern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, along the mucky shores of Big Bear Lake - truly an amazing place for a writer to be. The rustling trees, the star-filled night sky, and the occasional deer or fox sighting simultaneously calm my nerves (which are routinely tested in my other two homes – New Orleans and Los Angeles) and feed my stories. I relish wandering through the vibrant forest, swimming in the cool lake, and, of course, picking wild raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.

Wild blueberries, which usually flourish in July, are my favorite to pick. Though smaller than the kind you usually spot in grocery stores, they are infinitely tastier – and ideal for baking. Every summer, I pick as many berries as I can wrestle away from the deer – and bring them home to be used in various treats. Typically, I make blueberry muffins, while Dan, the real cook in the family, prepares blueberry pancakes and blueberry preserves.

This summer, however, I decided to try my hand at blueberry scones – my treat of choice at coffeehouses around the country. After collecting enough blueberries – which wasn’t easy, as it’s been a particularly cold summer in northern Michigan – I searched for a decent scone recipe online and settled on the one recommended by EAT.DRINK.THINK. Earlier today, I gathered all my ingredients, rolled up my sleeves, and prepared my first-ever batch of blueberry scones. True, it took me longer than planned and required Dan’s help during the dough-kneading phase, but I was not disappointed.

As advertised on the EAT.DRINK.THINK. website, these homemade scones were some of the best I’ve ever tasted – not too crumbly, not too sweet, and loaded with blueberries – the perfect complement to my ubiquitous mug of Tetley tea. Even Dan, the gourmand, approved – he assured me, in fact, that there was no need to refrigerate the leftovers, as they wouldn’t last that long. What a compliment indeed!

So, thank goodness for the little things... and for the fact that my blueberry scones came out a lot better than my last batch of oatmeal cookies – or whatever those flat, chewy things were.