Blog Posts

Up and Coming - July 2019

9/5/2019

0 Comments

https://mailchi.mp/396806d8ab84/finally-a-birth-date-for-wounded-angels

0 Comments

Up and Coming - Special Event 2019

9/5/2019

0 Comments

https://mailchi.mp/2dbf4594cd5d/up-and-coming-special-event-2019

0 Comments

Up and Coming - August 2019 was sent to 751 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

8/5/2019

0 Comments

Up and Coming

July 2019

The New Wounded Angels

Book Cover Is Here!

On Sale January 14, 2020

As promised in last month's announcement, here is the new, final cover design for Wounded Angels.

Once again, many thanks to Darrin Horbal (DPHstudioz.com) for his excellent concept cover. While I originally suggested depicting two angels on the cover, the image I proposed struck reviewers as too somber.

My impression is that the Elm Hill team has done a fantastic job in creating a cover that is both dramatic and uplifting!

I welcome your reactions and comments.

Themes and Snippets of Wounded Angels

What matters more than anything else in a novel is the compelling nature of the story itself and the quality of the writing. Wounded Angels touches upon a wide number of themes, so here are a few of these themes along with a snippet of the writing that supports them. I welcome your reactions and comments.

Writing from the first-person perspective of a woman – I originally wrote Wounded Angels from the third-person “omnificent” perspective, but the story lacked the emotional impact I was trying to achieve, so I re-wrote the entire novel from Maureen’s first-person viewpoint. In that way, I was able to “get into her skin” and express how she felt as the story unfolded.

Occasionally someone asked, “And how is the lovely Miss Maureen this morning?”

I was painfully shy. Father looked down at me, smiled, and replied for me, “Lovely as always.” He ended by waving his hand or even better, by tipping his hat just slightly.

“Daddy,” I said, “it’s like you are the mayor or something,” but he quickly corrected me.

“Not at all, my Lady. You are my princess and I am your humble servant.

Suicide and abandonment - When she is still a teenager, the suicide of Maureen’s father leaves her with a lifelong fear of abandonment.

"The windows were open on that sweltering Fourth of July in 1937: the day my father walked out of my life forever.

Mother, my brother, Ralph, and I waited all morning for Father to come home from the shop so we could go to Coney Island. When he finally stumbled through the door in mid-afternoon, he reeked of alcohol and smoke. I was fourteen and while my father was often sad and angry by then, I had never seen him drunk before."

Growing up in Brooklyn – Maureen’s story begins as a child growing up in Brooklyn, New York in the 1930s. I grew up in that same neighborhood twenty years later.

"Stores like the A&P, the bakery, and my favorite, the ice cream parlor, lined both sides of Atlantic Avenue, which we always had to cross quickly. Four lanes of cars sprang forward like racehorses coming out of the gate as soon as the lights turned green. They rushed to pass as many of the streetlights as possible before they turned red again. Meanwhile, women coming out of the A&P wheeled their shopping baskets past the butcher shop and the men smoking out front in their white, bloodstained aprons."

More Advanced Impressions of

Wounded Angels

As I mentioned in my last announcement, I sent advanced copies Wounded Angels to several respected authors and other professionals asking each of them, if they deemed the book worthwhile, to write a brief review for me. Here are the next two of those I have received.

"Chuck Miceli is a gifted storyteller with a refreshing and positive writing style. He has a talent for creating compelling situations with familiar characters, many of whom you will quickly care about. In his new novel, Wounded Angels, we meet Maureen Russo, a woman who has always been there for friends and loved ones, only to find herself feeling emotionally empty and frantic about what lies ahead. Miceli peppers his tale with an intriguing cast of support players who, along with Maureen, face devastating challenges and discover new meanings for their lives. It is a well told, compelling story."

Martin Herman, author of

THE JEFFERSON FILES

and six other books

"Wounded Angels is a moving account of one Maureen Russo who, at times, appears as fragile as the fraying doily on her faded Davenport, but musters the tenacity to take on life’s adversities when confronted head on. Wounded Angels will grip your heart and hang onto it to the last page. Powerful. Thought-provoking. Uplifting."

Penny Goetjen - Award-winning author of

THE EMPTY CHAIR – MURDER IN THE CARIBBEAN

and other novels

The Redesigned Website

And More to Come

My website, AuthorChuckMiceli.com, currently references most of my present and former projects. A complete redesign of the site will soon be under way to focus more on Wounded Angels. In addition to information about me and the book, the site will feature the new Wounded Angels book trailer, a listing of book-related events, special offers, and the ability to order copies directly from the site. If you haven't already but would like to keep abreast of these and other future developments, you can click on these site names to subscribe to my mailing list at AuthorChuckMiceli.com and/or "like" my Facebook author's page at facebook.com/authorchuckmiceli. If clicking on the site names doesn't work, just copy and paste them into your browser.

IF YOU'D LIKE, YOU CAN HELP

There are a few tasks that, if you have the time and interest, you can help with:

Like most authors, I have learned through experience that no matter how well the novel is written, it does little good if people don't know it exists. Getting the word out is essential and you can help by sharing these announcements and doing any of the following:

Interviews: Do you or someone you know conduct interviews for radio, television, blogs or podcasts? If so, and you are interested in Wounded Angels, I would be happy to send you or the person you recommend information about the book, and participate in an interview. I am well accustomed to public speaking and can promise an interview that will capture and hold the audience's attention.

Reviews: If you read Wounded Angels once it is available, I will very much appreciate your rating and reviewing it on the various on-line sites such as Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Nobel and others. In the meantime, do you or someone you know operate a book review website or write professional book reviews for social media? If so, and you are interested in reviewing Wounded Angels, please let me know and I will be happy to send you a PDF manuscript or, when they become available, an advanced reader's copy, for the review.

The Book Tour: One of my most important and favorite tasks associated with writing is the book tour. This is my opportunity to interact face-to-face with you. Typically, a book-tour event involves my providing background on me and the book, reading specific segments of the story, holding a discussion of the scenes and themes involved, inviting your comments, answering your questions, and signing copies of the book that you purchase or have with you. I also often augment my presentation with slides. I am now setting up dates and locations for my upcoming tour and booking stops from February through the end of 2020. If you live within a two-hour drive of central Connecticut and have a group such as a library, book club, bookstore, professional/social/civic organization, conference, fair or other gathering that you would like me to present at, I would be delighted to discuss adding your group to my tour.

To arrange for a book-tour stop, please supply me with the name and/or type of the group or organization, the location, the contact person's name, email address and phone number, the anticipated group size, and the date/time or period that works best for you.

The Book Launch: After spending years creating a book, it is traditional to celebrate the publication with a book-launch event. The book launch for Wounded Angels will take place mid-to-late January, 2020 somewhere in the greater Bristol / Southington CT area. The specific site will depend upon the anticipated number of attendees. I plan to set up an invitation on my social media sites to ask about interest in attending. In the meantime, if you have any ideas on how I can make the event as interesting and exciting as possible, I welcome your comments and suggestions. If you would like to participate by helping to get the word out and/or assisting with the event itself, please let me know and I will follow-up with you directly.

That does it for this update. Thank you for spending this time with me. If you have friends or relatives that might be interested in these announcements, please invite them to sign up on my website at AuthorChuckMiceli.com

My goal is to provide you with information that you find interesting and enjoyable. Feel free to jot me a note telling me what you think of these updates and what you would most like me to cover in them.

Until the next time, warmest regards,

Chuck Miceli

View on MailChimp

0 Comments

Up and Coming - May / June 2019 was sent to 769 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

6/6/2019

0 Comments

Up and Coming

May / June

2019

The Latest Developments for

Wounded Angels

And My Answers to a Recent Blog Interview

Plans for the Wounded Angels publication continue at a break-neck pace. There is so much work to be done however, that the book cannot be published until early spring. Elm Hill, the Christian publishing division of Harper Collins, has completed all the editing and has sent me the interior layout draft for review and approval. They have also proposed three alternatives to Darrin Horbal's excellent cover design. Much more on these to come.

A Blog Interview for Wounded Angels

For those of you who might not be familiar with the term, a Blog is an on-line, special interest newsletter. These "Up and Coming" announcements for Wounded Angels and my other writing projects are my blog. Occasionally, a blogger will conduct an interview with someone as one of their posts. I recently completed a blog interview and found answering the 42 questions very helpful in focusing my writing efforts so I decided to share my answers with you. Here are the answers to my blog interview.

What inspired you to write this book?
Answer: For Wounded Angels, when my mother-in-law lost her husband, she became inconsolable until she met another emotionally damaged woman. These two dysfunctional women sustained and helped heal each other. They became “Wounded Angels” for each other. I saw this as an important story to share for two reasons: 1. We can and should give ourselves permission to live and love after the loss of a significant other and 2. Our brokenness can be a powerful tool to support and help heal others.
Can you tell me about the book?
Answer: Maureen Russo thought she had it all figured out. After spending a lifetime of love with close friends, caring family and her devoted husband, she would pass away peacefully. Things however, didn’t work out the way she planned. When her husband of more than fifty years dies suddenly, her deep-seated fear of abandonment rises to the surface and she is devastated. Friends, family and even ministers are helpless to lift her from her depression until help comes from the unlikeliest of sources: Doris Cantrell. The product of an abused childhood, a failed marriage and estrangement from her own daughter, Doris is as damaged in her own way as is Maureen. Neither woman has the strength or desire to save anyone yet they manage to sustain and help heal each other, not despite their disabilities, but because of them. When Larry Kowalski re-enters Maureen’s life, however, can her friendship with Doris survive her new relationship with Larry?
What is your writing process like?
Answer: My writing is not as consistent as I would like. I find it challenging to balance the business aspects of writing with the writing itself. After three books and working on my fourth, I still struggle with devoting a set time to writing each day.
Was the character inspired by a real person? If so, who?
Answer: My main character, Maureen, is based largely upon my mother-in-law, Charlotte, a beautiful, vibrant woman. I’ve often joked that she was part of the reason I married my wife.
What do you think happened to the characters after the book ended?
Answer: I know because I lived it. To say what happened, however, would spoil the ending for your readers, so they will have to read the book to find out. For those who don’t mind spoilers, I’ve created a series of blogs called “The Story Behind the Story” on my website at https://www.authorchuckmiceli.com/. They cover the real-life people and places behind the story.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Answer: Both. When I am “In the Zone” I can write for hours, lose track of all time, and enjoy every second of it. When I am struggling with competing priorities or I am lost at how to move forward, it can be very draining.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Answer: Perfectionism – we need to be willing to write crap at first and trust that it will turn out right in the rewrites. Pride of Authorship – We all write the book we love to read. Great authors write the books others want to read. The only way we can learn what others think of our writing is to be willing to hear their honest critique. Work / Life Balance - We need time to write. We also need time for family, friends, love and life. Writing, like any job, requires managing time for both.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Answer: Perfectionism. I write, then rewrite, then rewrite some more and I am still never completely satisfied with what I have written. As a result, it takes me much longer to finish a novel than many other writers.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
Answer: Both. I am less interested in writing many books than I am in writing a few well-crafted, original stories. At the same time, when I write, I picture the person reading my books: laughing at a funny part, squirming at a dramatic or scary scene or sighing at a romantic passage. I visualize them finishing the book, laying it on their lap, smiling and thinking to themselves, That was time well spent, or better yet, I’m sorry it ended. I write to delight the reader and if I succeed, nothing about the craft makes me happier.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Answer: Amanda’s Room, self-published in 2012, is a paranormal thriller involving college students that takes place in upstate New York. Wounded Angels, scheduled for release next spring, is a literary novel involving mature adults that takes place in New York City and suburban Connecticut. Black Hell Drowning, which I am writing now, is a multi-generational historical novel that takes place in the anthracite coalfields of northeastern Pennsylvania. The thread that connects all of my novels is the challenge of faith vs. circumstance. In Amanda’s Room, the scientist, Bert Myers, denies Amanda’s existence because to acknowledge her spirit would force him to accept the possibility of God’s existence. In Wounded Angels, Maureen questions the existence of the God she trusted in light of her husband’s sudden death. While Black Hell Drowning is still under development, a central question is how God works in the lives of faithful people on opposite sides of a conflict.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Answer: I have at least three books that are in various draft stages and may never be published.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Answer: I research as I write. I get a scene down and if I don’t have all of the information I need, I research the answers and rewrite as needed.

As part of my preparation for Wounded Angels, I spoke with people who lost a significant other after many years in close, loving relationships. When one of my early beta readers asked me why so many of my characters in the senior center were “frumpy,” I realized that I had no direct knowledge of what the senior center members were actually like. I spent the next three years rewriting the book on-site at the Bristol Senior Center. While there, I met a host of wonderful people who were amazingly diverse.
Since Wounded Angels deals with people whose brokenness makes them more effective at healing others, I read Henri Nouwen’s, The Wounded Healer. I also read and analyzed Nicholas Sparks’, The Notebook, for how he treated subject matter that spanned a long-term, love relationship.
Because of my character Frank’s war experience, I did an extensive amount of research into the operation of the draft in WW II, the experience of American soldiers on Okinawa and especially the operation of the Japanese “Lilly Corps.”
To augment the story of Maureen’s healing journey, I researched and read materials printed to help people cope with loss and incorporated several of the Abby Press Care Notes pamphlets into the story line.

How long were you a part-time writer before you became a full-time one?
Answer: I co-authored my first book, Fire Behind Bars, a text on deadly fires in secure institutions, in 1979. Then I did a thirty-year career in government before taking an early retirement to get back to writing. Even then, it was four more years before I committed to writing full time.
How many hours a day do you write?
Answer: If you count marketing and publicity writing, blogs, social media announcements, etc, I write about eight hours a day. I consider myself lucky if I devote two or more hours to writing my new books. I hope to change that in the near future.
What period of your life do you find you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult)
Answer: It depends on the subject matter I am developing. There are segments of my books that cover the period when I was in grammar school, others in high school and others that take place well into my fifties.
What did you edit out of this book?
Answer: I originally wrote Wounded Angels as a Hallmark-type story and then I adjusted it to be more mainstream fiction. In my relationship with my publisher, a Christian publication division of Harper Collins, I needed to modify the story again to meet their guidelines, which included revising scenes with crude language and graphic sex or violence. I believe it is a better and stronger story because of it while still dealing with the challenge of maintaining faith in the face of bitter realities.
How do you select the names of your characters?
Answer: I visualize the characters in my head, playing with different names until one matches their personality. Sometimes, names come from people I have known who have similar traits or even places. The female lead in Amanda’s Room is Katie Jarvis. The reformatory I worked at in Cheshire, Connecticut was located on Jarvis street. Sometimes I just love the sound of the name. I also work at using distinct sounding names so that the reader can keep them straight as the story progresses.
If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
Answer: I love public speaking. I have delivered training courses, seminars, workshops and keynote addresses all over the country. I would love to return to doing more of that. I have also written and directed several plays, one of which has been in continuous annual production for more than forty years.
What was your hardest scene to write?
Answer: Actually, it wasn’t one scene but the approach to the entire book. I originally wrote Wounded Angels from a third-person perspective. My main character, Maureen, however, came across as shallow. I couldn’t impart the kind of emotion I wanted to give her. I finally realized that in order to create the desired emotional impact, I needed to “Get into her skin.” I rewrote the entire book from the first-person perspective of Maureen. I expected it to be difficult as a man to write from the perspective of a woman, but the writing flowed well and from the feedback of many beta readers, it apparently comes across as very authentic.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Answer: It took me less than a year to co-author my non-fiction textbook, Fire Behind Bars. It took me seven years to write Amanda’s Room. I started Wounded Angels in 2005 and it will be published next spring. I started Black Hell Drowning in 2001 and it will be at least another two years before it is finished.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Answer: I’ve lived it! For Amanda’s Room, I wrote two thirds of the novel as a stream of consciousness and let the characters drive the action. Then I hit a wall and for several months, I had no idea where the story was going or how to finish it. I finally took out my frustration by having one of my supporting characters experience all of the anguish I was feeling and poured it out on the paper. The scene worked and I outlined the rest of the book.
What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand?
Answer: For my first novel, I wrote everything out on paper and made the computer transcription my first rewrite. Now I type everything directly into my computer and edit in my word processor. I would like to master dictating the first draft into a voice recognition program, but I’m not there yet.
When did it dawn upon you that you wanted to be a writer?
Answer: In Grade School. I wrote a poem about my mother with a funny punch line, intentionally ending with the word “aint”. I waited for the nun’s reaction as she read it aloud. She howled at my ending right on cue and then told me I had to change it because it was bad grammar.
How hard was it to sit down and actually start writing something?
Answer: I find it easy to start writing and difficult to stop. Like the priest who answered the criticism about his sermons being too long, “That’s because I didn’t have the time to write a short one.” Most of my rewriting is taking material out.
Do you aim to complete a set number of pages or words each day?
Answer: Not currently, but I would love to return to that habit.
Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?
Answer: I start with a broad idea of the full arc of the story. Then I see where the plot will take me for as long as practical. If I get bogged down, I outline as much as needed to move forward again.
Do you read much and, if so, who are your favorite authors?
Answer: I like to read whenever I can, but not as much as I would like. I’m a slow reader and I tend to analyze the story as I go. I was amazed by Harper Lee’s description of young Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird, which inspired me to start writing novels. I learned the art of the “hook” by reading Mario Puzo’s, The Godfather. I like John Grisham and Stephen King very much. My favorite author is Ken Follett. I have read many of his books and I am still jealous that he wrote Eye of the Needle when he was twenty-seven. I consider Pillars of the Earth my favorite book. Right now, I am reading non-fiction books on coal mining as part of my research for Black Hell Drowning.
What is the most important thing about a book, in your opinion?
Answer: Great non-fiction books, skillfully crafted, can be life-changing tools by imparting essential knowledge and wisdom. Great fiction can teach us the “Why” of life by allowing us to see it through the character’s eyes and can transport us to entirely new worlds.
How much of yourself do you put into your books?
Answer: Very much. Parts of many of my characters are autobiographical. Many of the situations in my books are out of my own life experiences as are the other people and places involved.
Who is the most supportive of your writing in your family?
Answer: I enjoy the support of many in my immediate and extended family but my daughter-in-laws, Jenn and Jolene, and son Mike win the prize for most supportive. When I give Jenn or Jolene a draft manuscript to read, their feedback is brutally candid and detailed. That is essential to my rewriting. My son, Mike, is a gifted visual and video artist. He and Jenn created the cover and the video trailer for Amanda’s Room and will be doing the trailer for Wounded Angels as well.
Writers are often believed to have a Muse, your thoughts on that?
Answer: Does praying count? I’d like to become more playful in my writing and entertain thoughts of a muse looking over my shoulder. Right now, my characters tend to provide my motivation to write and yes, I do pray a lot.
Did any of your books get rejected by publishers?
Answer: By publishers no, by agents yes. I have learned to recognize the importance of what a particular agent enjoys reading and/or promoting. I have had agents pass over my current book while asking me to bring them my future one when it is finished.
What is your view on co-authoring books; have you done any?
Answer: My first book, Fire Behind Bars, was co-authored with Al Golden. Al was an experienced Fire Marshall and I was the researcher / writer. The partnership worked extremely well as we had compatible skills and personalities. I would be open to doing it again for the right book with the right person.
Is writing book series more challenging?
Answer: That is not something that I have done to date.
Does it get frustrating if you are unable to recall an idea you had in your mind some time earlier?
Answer: It use to. Now the problem is having too many ideas to work on and narrowing them down to doing a reasonable number at any one time.
Have you ever destroyed any of your drafts?
Answer: No. I painted when I was much younger and I was actually good at it. I destroyed many of my paintings when I was going through a period of severe self-doubt and always regretted that. Now I am less critical of my early writing attempts and accept that they will improve in the rewrites and provide the foundation for better work later on.
Can you tell us about your current projects?
Answer: Right now I am conducting research for the rewrite of the novel I first started writing in 2001, Black Hell Drowning. My father was a coal miner in Pennsylvania and died of the Black Lung. Black Hell Drowning is a multi-generational historical novel about life and death in the anthracite coalmines of northeastern Pennsylvania. After writing about 200 pages, I realized that I was not experientially or emotionally ready to finish that book, so I put it away and worked on the other two novels. Now I feel ready to finish it and, as I write this, I am in Pittston, Pennsylvania, the town where the book takes place, doing research for the book. I am also working on the rewrite of a play script for Wounded Angels. I held a reading for the play April of 2018 in Connecticut. Over 150 people attended and gave a standing ovation but the play needs more development.
Had any of your literary teachers ever told you growing up that you were going to become a published writer one day?
Answer: No. Many told me I was going to be a lawyer because I loved debating, but I think I hid my writing skills because of my poor self-image at the time.
Were your parents reading enthusiasts who gave you a push to be a reader as a kid?
Answer: No. My father was pulled out of school in the fourth grade to work in the mines. He taught himself radio and television repair and read mostly technical manuals. My mother’s reading was mainly limited to religious pamphlets. Most of the books in our house were those we brought home for schoolwork.
Do you enjoy discussing upcoming ideas with your partner? If yes, how much do you value their inputs?
Answer: My wife is the last reviewer after all of the other beta readers and before the book goes out for editing. I read the book aloud to her and she comments on what she hears. That process works well for both of us. She had extensive input on Wounded Angels as the book is based primarily on her mother’s life.
Have you ever turned a dream or a nightmare into a written piece?
Answer: When I’m working on a book, I often take Stephen King’s advice and invite my characters to play out the next scene while I sleep. Then I write down their actions for the next chapter the following day.
How can readers find out more info about you and your books?
Answer: My website, https://www.authorchuckmiceli.com/ contains information about me and my books. Your readers are welcome to visit the website and to sign up for my monthly newsletter, Up and Coming. For those who love to understand the background of a book, I have been blogging for the last several months on the “Story Behind the Story” for Wounded Angels. There are archives of all the blogs on the website. Future blog posts will contain information about the upcoming publication of Wounded Angels, pre-order details, discounts, contests and giveaways, and the Book Launch details. I welcome readers’ questions and comments and I love speaking to library groups and book clubs. My publisher will be creating a new website for Wounded Angels in the near future and will link the two sites so readers don’t get lost.

My Facebook author’s page is https://www.facebook.com/authorchuckmiceli,
My twitter page is https://twitter.com/authorchuckm,
My Linkedin page is https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmiceli/
My Pintrist page is https://www.pinterest.com/authorchuckm/.
I’m planning to establish a presence on Instagram, but I’m not there yet.

Thank you for spending this time with me. Feel free to jot me a note telling me what you think of these updates. Until the next time.

Warmest Regards,

Chuck

View on MailChimp

0 Comments

Up and Coming - March/April 2019 was sent to 770 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

4/11/2019

0 Comments

Up and Coming

March / April

2019

"Tag Saleing" in

Wounded Angels

And More of the "Story Behind the Story"

Wounded Angels is shifting into high gear. I have decided against the Kickstarter for this book. I have contracted with a major publisher who is editing my manuscript and reviewing Darrin Horbal's cover design. As I write this, the manuscript is undergoing a content evaluation, an editing assessment and a full mechanical edit. If all goes well, Wounded Angels should be available for purchase on-line and in book stores this fall.

Wounded Angels and "Tag Saleing"

Warning: For those of you who don’t want any clues about how the story unfolds, there may be some spoilers in the following, so read with caution.

In my previous newsletter, I talked about some of the great themes in literature. One of the most important themes is survival. In many ways, Wounded Angels chronicles Maureen’s journey to survive. She must survive her lifetime fear of abandonment and overcome the loss of a dear friend. She must endure the war’s impact on her and her husband and ultimately, she must survive the loss of her lifetime soul mate. In her journey back to wholeness, Tag Saleing becomes a metaphor for Maureen’s journey of survival. Unexpectedly, I had to create a new word (and a way to spell it) to describe how that occurs in the book.

If you look up the term “Tag Saleing” in a dictionary, encyclopedia (now I’m dating myself) or on Google, you won’t find it, because it didn’t exist until now. You will find terms like “Tag Sale,” “Yard Sale,” “Barn Sale,” and “Garage Sale,” but in each case, the word “Sale” is a noun. However, when you invite a friend to go on a tag sale venture, you don’t waste words by asking, “Would you like to join me in going to some tag sales?” You simply ask, “Would you like to go Tag Saleing?” Here, “Saleing” is a verb: the act of going to tag sales. You will read it used that way for the first time in Wounded Angels.

Tag Sale finds. Actually, many of these items were found by going "Tag Saleing."

I love to go Tag Saleing and, like many of the scenes depicted in the book, the background came out of real life. Of course, I intentionally exaggerated Doris’s behavior, as I did for everything about Doris. In real life, I used Tag Saleing as a means to engage those who were hurting from their loss. When my sister lost her husband, I invited her to go Tag Saleing. I did the same with my brother after he lost his wife. Most significantly, I spent months Tag Saleing with my mother-in-law, Charlotte. She later became the primary inspiration for my main character, Maureen.

In each instance, Tag Saleing provided an outlet that was both individual and social. While moving through the tables at a tag sale, it's common to see toys, tools and trinkets that link back to memories. We were free to reminisce in solitude for as little or as long as we wanted. There is something calming about that. We could also choose to socialize through talking or negotiating, or not. Those Tag Saleing characteristics made it easy to “be with” them without “imposing on” them.

We followed Tag Saleing with breakfast where the conversation often dealt with the various items we found. We only talked about a past loved-one when and if they were ready. Thus, Tag Saleing provided weeks of outings during which they could heal gradually, at their own pace.

As I worked on the rewrites for Wounded Angels, the survival theme gradually emerged, as did the metaphor of Tag Saleing for Maureen’s survival journey. It became clear that after Frank’s death, Maureen felt the purpose of her life had also ended. Through her conversations with Doris, Maureen learns that the items sold at tag sales are not worthless; they have simply outlived their usefulness for the people selling them. The tag sale buyers have a new appreciation for them. Doris makes money by buying and reselling her finds. She tells Maureen that by doing so, she gives new life to the old items.

As Doris pushes Maureen to negotiate each purchase, Maureen’s self-confidence rebuilds. For Maureen, her costume jewelry buys help reconnect her to living after her loss. Toward the end of the book, one buy in particular resolves an important gap in Maureen’s past. It also helps her to move forward to her future. Like the tag sale items, Maureen achieves a renewed purpose for her life. As you read about Maureen and Doris’s Tag Saleing adventures, I invite you to explore this theme further in the book.

Launching Wounded Angels

As part of the book launch, I'll be sending future announcements about my new website dedicated exclusively to Wounded Angels, a video book trailer, information about pre-orders, a book launch event and a book signing tour.

In the meantime, if you have the time and interest, you can help me to "get the word out" by doing any of the following yourself and/or inviting others who may be interested to do likewise:

"Share" this "Up and Coming" notice with people on your mailing lists and social media sites.

"Like" my Facebook Author's Page at: http://bit.ly/2FZAyWg

“Follow” my Twitter Page tweets at: https://twitter.com/authorchuckm

Invite others to subscribe directly to my monthly posts on my website at http://bit.ly/2UtvxQ8 clicking on the "Contact" button and completing the subscription form.

If your are interested in more information on the "Story Behind the Story," go to my website at http://bit.ly/2G5VPh7 click on the "Blog" button. There you will find more articles on the background of the book and the real-life people and places that inspired it.

I hope my musings provide some new insights into Wounded Angels and will increase your reading enjoyment when the book comes out. If you belong to a book club whose members might enjoy reading the novel together, please keep me in mind. I am thrilled when I can connect directly with readers and explore their insights and impressions.

Thank you for spending this time with me. Feel free to jot me a note telling me what you think of these updates. Until the next time.

Warmest Regards,

Chuck

View on MailChimp

0 Comments

Up and Coming - January / February 2019

3/11/2019

0 Comments

In writing Wounded Angels, I used the novel to explore a number of important literary and life themes, including abandonment, love, prejudice, war, forgiveness and others. I cover how the book addresses these and other themes in my January / February 2019 issue of Up and Coming. You can click HERE to read a copy of that blog. After reading, feel free to come back here to comment or to use the buttons provided to share the article on Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for visiting.

This chess set plays a critical role in exploring themes of war, patriotism and forgiveness in "Wounded Angels".

0 Comments

Up and Coming - December 2018

3/10/2019

0 Comments

When you read a novel, do you ever wonder how much of what you are reading is based on actual people and events? In my December "Up and Coming" I start giving the "Story Behind the Story" of Wounded Angels. Click HERE to go to the December 2018 issue of Up and Coming. Feel free to come back her to comment on the article or press one of the buttons to share it on Facebook or Twitter.

Read about the importance of John Pringle's fountain in the December 2018 issue of Up and Coming.

0 Comments

Up and Coming - October 2018 - Re-posted 11/22/19

10/15/2018

0 Comments

Up and Coming
October 2018

Wounded Angels
The Story Behind the Story

As I get ready to launch Wounded Angels, for those of you who may have missed them, I am re-posting a few earlier blogs that tell "The Story Behind the Story." I have also just finished a badly needed update of my author's profile on Amazon in preparation for the new novel. You can check out the new profile at amazon.com/author/chuckmiceli.

Those of you who have been following the development of my upcoming novel,Wounded Angels, will recall that while it is fiction, much of what happens to my main character, Maureen, is based upon the real-life experience of my mother-in-law, Charlotte.
"Part 2 - Frank," in the book chronicles how Maureen meets her future husband, Frank, at the roller skating rink where Frank works. In actuality, that is how Charlotte did meet and fall in love with my father-in-law, Fred. Similar to how the novel flows, Fred did, in fact, teach Charlotte how to skate dance.

This is Fred and Charlotte in their roller skates.
We still have the roller skates from when they
were dating prior to WW II.

The novel continues to follow Maureen and Frank through their courtship, to their marriage and honeymoon in Atlantic City only to return to their railroad apartment in Brooklyn to discover that Frank has been drafted into WW II, is shipped off to the Pacific and is gone for the first three years of their married life. As with the skating, these elements are also based upon Charlotte and Fred's actual experience.

Charlotte and Fred in their railroad apartment in Brooklyn, New York.

Charlotte and Fred on their Honeymoon in Atlantic City.

Fred in his WW II uniform in front of their railroad apartment in Brooklyn.

Frank's war time experience in the Pacific is a fictionalized account but is based upon three real-life factors. The first is that, when the subject of the war came up in discussions, my father-in-law, like so many other WW II veterans, would fall silent and not discuss his experiences. The second is that the accounts in Okinawa are based upon reports of others who did serve in that theater. The final is my research into the real-life "Lilly Corps" members; actual Japanese high school girls who served with the Japanese on Okinawa during the war.

True to life, following his military service, the novel chronicles Frank's love of photography and his obsession to capture everything he could on film. Following his death, we discovered thousands of my father-in-law's photos in his basement and garage. As Maureen does in the book, Charlotte found the pictures too painful to look at and wanted to throw them away. Fortunately, we held onto them and they have become a treasured memory of their story.

Charlotte and Fred with one of Fred's many camera's.

In Wounded Angels, following Frank's return from the war, he and Maureen set out to make up for their lost time together by doing everything as a couple. So too, in real life, except for Fred's annual church retreat, he and Charlotte were inseparable. They did everything together and their trademark became holding hands in public.
Even after fifty years of marriage, Fred and Charlotte remained inseparable.

Unfortunately, Maureen's sentiments expressed in the novel also proved true for Charlotte in real life.

"I relished the closeness I shared with Frank for so many, many years and thought that I had to be the luckiest woman alive. I had no idea that before the year ended, the very same closeness we shared would become the instrument of my undoing."

As with Maureen and Frank, the real-life Fred's death devastated Charlotte and shattered her sense of security. It was during this long, dark period of Charlotte's depression that she met another woman who was as damaged in her own way as was Charlotte. The product of an abusive childhood, failed marriage and estrangement from her daughter, this woman, whom I call Doris in the book, became the instrument of Charlotte's healing and, in the process, received healing in return: hence the title, Wounded Angels. While eccentric, the real-life Doris was no where as extreme as I painted her in the novel and I have to admit I got a great deal of pleasure at her character's expense.

Also out of context was the tag saleing episodes. Charlotte did spend a great deal of time going to tag sales and breakfasts during the period between Fred's death and her eventual remarriage. In the book, she does this with Doris. In real life, it was with me and it was during our after-tag-sale-breakfasts that I learned of the real-life Doris and marveled at the way in which these two dysfunctional women mutually supported and healed one another, not despite their disabilities, but because of them. But that is a story for another time. For this update, I would like to close with this extraordinary real-life experience.

Charlotte passed away on June 21, 2017 following the devastating loss of her second husband, Tony, and her own difficult and painful struggle with Alzheimer's disease.Two days after I finished the last edits of Wounded Angels and sent the manuscript off to a potential agent, I was looking through some storage containers in the basement of our new home that have been there for the six years since we moved. In one of those containers I came across a card from Charlotte congratulating me on my retirement. It was shortly after my retirement that I started on the first draft of Wounded Angels. This is the actual note I found from Charlotte two days after I sent the finished manuscript off to an agent. I'd like to think that she was giving her approval from heaven.

That's All For Now. Thank You For Spending This Time With Me. Feel free to jot me a note telling me what you think of these updates.

Until Next Time,

Warmest Regards,

Chuck

0 Comments

Up and Coming - June / July 2018 was sent to 816 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

6/1/2018

0 Comments

Up and Coming

June / July 2018

So What Did People Think About

The Dramatic Reading of

Wounded Angels

at Seven Angels Theatre?

Over 150 people came out to hear the dramatic reading of the new play. The end of the performance was met with a standing ovation. In addition to the feedback we received immediately following the performance, I sent a survey out asking those who attended the performance for their candid feedback and was thrilled with the response. Below is a summary of the feedback I received along with my thoughts on the resulting re-writing. Now it's time for me to get busy on revising the play and finishing the book.

Answers to Questions about the Dramatic Reading of Wounded Angels and Thoughts about Revisions

1. How about the story itself? Did it keep you engaged? Could you relate to it? Did I belabor anything too much? Was there anything missing?

I liked the story, I loved Doris character, I know you said you upped!! her personality. You did a great job with that. I related to your mother in-law emptiness. Yes, very difficult place to be.

Yes, yes, yes, no, no

Yes, it kept me completely engaged and caring about what was happening.

Great, Yes, Yes, No, No

We were engaged. Yes, we could relate. Nothing seemed to be missing.

I stayed with the plot all the way through and there was nothing missing. It was so good for you to talk to us afterwards and explain your thoughts as you put it together. That tied together nicely your thoughts and how it was played out.

Thought the first act was more monotone... I would have liked something more punchy here to go with the flow of the second act. The second act's humor grabbed us into the heart of the characters and pulled the threads of the story together.

Very much so – from the opening scene to the last scene. I think anyone – especially one on in years – understands that losing a spouse, especially after a long and happy marriage, can create the kind of trauma facing the lead character. I don’t think anything was belabored too much. Anything missing is a very hard question to answer after a single viewing.

Combined with other comments later on, the main thrust for my revisions will be focused on the first act. In particular, I’ll want to provide Maureen with a wider array of emotions and will emphasize Elizabeth Kubler Ross’s five stages of death and dying (Denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) more in the structure.

2. What did you think about the tone and pace of the play? Were there parts that you especially enjoyed? Were there parts that dragged, lacked emotion or felt overdone?

There where many parts that I enjoyed, I liked that you received from the audience a mix of emotions. I feel that in itself is wonderful.

The first act could use more emotional variety. The depression comes across, but other emotions are not as developed. Also consider injecting a little more humor in the first scene between Maureen and Doris.

Tone and pace were fine. Perfectly done.

I would have liked to see more of a 'connection' between the two women, really coming to care for each other.

Tone was awesome, pace super, loved the humor amidst the serious emotions.

I am not remembering if there was a particular place, in the first half. The women to the left of me was falling asleep and at the break a few women {seniors] friends of a client of mine expressed it dragged. Complained it was too long or wished it started earlier. I felt it was a bit slow moving the first half, but I must share I don't sit still very well and I am sure I would feel different when the scenes changed on stage.

I think the tone and pace was good. I got so into it that I could understand how it would be in a final presentation. I became engrossed in the part played by the main character.

Maybe work on the first waitress a bit. Doris seemed obsessive about the food, didn't realize the waitress poked her in some way. Second act let us know something about Doris's character gets resolved with her daughter.

The pace and tone kept my attention and from what I witnessed around me, it kept the attention of the audience. I particularly liked the back and forth dialogue between the two major characters. No noticeable parts that dragged, lacked emotion or felt overdone.

The big reveal at the end of the first act took me by complete surprise. It put everything together and explained a lot about Doris’s behavior.

The only part I thought was a little long was the first scene? It just seemed more should have happened quicker.

Enjoyed the entire play.

Obviously, I will concentrate on enhancing the first act and the first scene in particular, as it sets the pace for the rest of the play. I like the idea of injecting humor right off and will look to see where the dialogue between Maureen and Doris can be edited to make it quicker and more engaging. In particular, I might move some of the exposition of Doris’s background to later in the play.

3. How did you feel about the characters? Were they fully developed enough? Were they interesting and realistic enough? Were their words and actions consistent with who they were?

Characters were great, Narrator nice job. The man that sat to the left of the narrator had a small part [that he did very well] but wished his part a bit bigger. But of course with then just sitting in a line makes that more noticeable. In a full production I am thinking it would not be the case.

Larry’s character needed more development to explain Maureen’s feelings for him. The two scenes with Maureen’s daughter seemed similar. In both scenes, the daughter comes across as more abrupt. In the first scene, would expect more sympathy.

I especially enjoyed the role of Charlotte since I knew her and it was like she was there.
The only part that I thought was inconsistent with the tone of the play was the, and this is probably just my feeling, overly descriptive talk about how good the almost-ex husband was in bed.

Yes to all

Yes. Larry wasn’t developed as much as the other characters. We felt like we wanted to know him more.

I was impressed that right before intermission Doris was so taken by the emotion that she actually cried!!!!

I realize the mother character was more laidback.

Could have used a little more information about Frank, Maureen’s first husband, to explain more why she was so devastated by his death.

Wondered if replacing Maureen’s monologues with acted scenes might work better.

If there is anything that I would suggest you address it would be the daughter’s interaction with her mother.

Just a thought from an ordinary person viewing your play reading. The character Larry was a surprise for us.   We were thinking it would be nice if his character was developed just a little more like Clem’s character was developed. When Larry reappears, we said to ourselves where did this guy come from and who’s Larry.

I didn’t like your character development of Larry. There is none. We first get to know him in the eighth inning of the play. In my humble opinion you needed to go much further.

Despite their relatively short relationship, Maureen and Doris have a rich, multi-layered togetherness. These characters are fully developed. But, I found that I would like to know more of Larry. He seems to offer another avenue for depth in your wonderful play.

Maureen’s monologues worked well when they provided new information that was not contained in the scenes. Maybe one less?

Yes……. Yes………. and Yes

From personal discussions with people about Maureen’s monologues, they seemed to work and contributed well to the flow of the play, so they will most likely stay. I will look at them with an eye to eliminating any redundant information and keeping their number to the absolute minimum needed. Regarding characters, I will plan to add additional information about Frank, add more lines and information about Larry, take a closer look at the scene between Doris and the first waitress, and will adjust the dialogues between Bridget and Maureen to show a greater contrast between their first and second conversation.

4. How about the settings? Were the times and places appropriate? Did any scenes seem repetitious, too long or unnecessary?

I think so but not remembering the places.

Setting was fine and not very important to me.

Perhaps drop references to specific place names since audience members from other locations will not relate to them and being more generic will allow people to relate them to places that they are more familiar with.

If you were trying to cut back on the length of the play, which doesn’t seem necessary, you might be able to shorten some of the dialogue between mother and daughter.

All fine

All great!

I think the settings were good, it was all well-timed, and appropriate.

I didn’t expect much with the settings because it was a reading. Knowing afterward that some of the pics came from family albums was helpful, poignant to the story.

This is hard to comment upon from a single pass.

Times and places appropriate.

The idea of dropping the specific place names is one for which I will need to give more thought. I enjoyed listening to the audience reactions when they recognized a named place, like West Farms Mall. While I agree with the opportunity of audience members being able to relate to their own experiences more with generic locations, the local color provided by a specific locale may also enhance the experience. More on that to come.

5. Based upon other dramatic plays you have seen, on a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate this play by comparison?
1 = Much poorer,       2 = Poorer,        3 = About average,        4 = Better,        5 = Much better.

About average

5

I love dramas and have seen quite a few over the last few years in NY and I would rate this play as Better.

3-5

4

About average, because, at this point, one was aware that it wasn’t a final version.

For me each play and even within a given play, each cast, is different and so I don’t know how anyone can compare one with another.

Based on some other dramatic plays I have seen, I would give it a 5, much better

5

Not much to say about this question. I would have done better asking something open ended which would have yielded more information. Given that over 150 attended the reading and gave a standing ovation at the end, it seems safe to assume that, in general, people were satisfied with the performance.

6. If Wounded Angels were to be developed into a full main stage production, how likely would you be to attend?
1 = Very unlikely,         2 = Unlikely,         3 = Possibly,         4 = Likely,          5 = Very likely

Very Likely

5

Absolutely

5

5

Wouldn’t miss it!

My friends and I would definitely come to a full stage play.

I would go because my friend wrote it! I would also want to see how – if at all – it was changed.

5 – I would very likely attend a play

5

Since all of the responses to this question were at the top of the scale and others who missed the performance wrote to ask about attending other offerings, I feel fairly confident in the results. It does appear that I would have somewhat of a built-in audience for the full production.

7. Please add any additional comments you would like to make.

I want to share with you what an amazing job, I admire and respect all the dedication and hard work you put into this play. I am so proud of you. I wish you major success.

For us it was a very healing experience.

Very impressed, can’t wait for the book.

I was very impressed with the talent and credentials of all those who performed. They were all impressive and well-placed in their roles. You have come up with a good play which I feel will be enjoyed by anyone attending the final presentation.

As a fellow writer, I find your work inspiring and stimulating. What a process to see your work of art revealed in a way. We take thoughts and ideas from our imagination, from a snippet of conversation, from memories, synchronicities and somehow bring them into our own unique form. Wounded Angels is a great testimony to the complexity of the human spirit. Healing, working through grief, happen but not always how we intend or expect. It’s the unexpected intersections that bring color, humor, and even peace that pokes us and thereby takes us by surprise.

You are a gifted writer and it shows in the tender and sensitive way you coaxed the pain from the lead characters and allowed them to deal with that pain with class and dignity.

Will you do any other reading? I could bring my group, the sooner the better

The slides, the narrator, and the props (teddy bear) really helped give the story depth.   We enjoyed everyone’s performance. The question and answer period was just the right length..........a bonus to hear directly from Charlotte’s daughters, and the reception was an added delight. Thank you for sending us an announcement of the reading of your work.

Best of luck with the process and your work. We, the book club from Portland, hope to be able to see your work again as a finished play.

You are right, humor is difficult, but you did it! Let me know when the full play is produced.

Your play was thoughtful and beautifully crafted.

We just wanted to tell you that we loved “Wounded Angels” and very much look forward to reading the book when it comes out.   I also was pleased with your mention of Henri Nouwen and wish I could recall exactly how you said it, as I thought it was a good way to sum up his thinking as well as its connection to the play.

“Wounded Angels” is a reading I really enjoyed.

Conversations while playing bridge has been very positive from the ladies that attended.

My wife had to coax me into coming. A play might have been OK, but the thought of a reading sounded boring, but it kept my attention from start to finish and I really enjoyed it!

That’s what I’ve accumulated thus far from the feedback I’ve received. I thank everyone who attended the reading and want to especially thank all those who made the time to provide specific comments on the presentation. It will be enormously helpful in my re-writes.

Here are the next steps:

Feeback. Done
Re-writing: Now.
Pitching to Theaters: I have already begun to identify theaters that my be interested in producing it. Wherever the play is selected for production, it will most likely undergo further revision based upon discussions with the directors and producers.
Scheduling and Producing the Play: Theaters are busy scheduling their lineups for next year's season now and it will be unrealistic to get the play produced that soon. I do believe it is realistic to get a full production by the following season, however, so that will be my end goal and I will keep you posted.
Finishing the Novel: Wounded Angels is based upon a much more extensive novel by the same name. I will be working on that project at the same time as I pursue the play production. It may actually be possible to finish the novel before the play, but, at the least, my hope is that when you see the play, you can meet me in the lobby afterwards where I can sign a first-edition copy of the novel for you.

And A Wonderful Night at the Palace Theater!

I was thrilled to be one of the presenters at the 16th Annual Halo Awards ceremony on May 30 at the Palace Theater in Waterbury. The Halo Awards recognize outstanding achievements in high school theatrical productions. What an amazing evening. The excitement and enthusiasm of all of the students involved was incredible an the evening was filled with amazing performances by many of the schools. Congratulations to Semina DeLaurentis and Seven Angels Theatre for putting on a "Class Act."

That's All For Now and Thank You,

Chuck

View on MailChimp

0 Comments

Up and Coming - May / June 2018 was sent to 818 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

5/2/2018

0 Comments

Up and Coming

May / June 2018

Wounded Angels

at Seven Angels Theatre

Then, Now and Next

So what exactly did happened with the April 22 reading of Wounded Angels at Seven Angel's Theatre in Waterbury?

Actually, quite a lot:

Seven extraordinarily talented actors came together under the careful direction of Ilvi Dulack to conduct the reading. They brought their talent, energy, passion (and several of their own costume and prop accessories) to put on one hell of a show! I am forever indebted to them for taking part in this labor of love.
Seven Angels Theatre, under the guidance of Artistic Director, Semina DeLaurentis, provided an exceptional space for the conduct of the reading and provided a wealth of expert staff and crew support for the production. I thank Semina and all the Seven Angels team from the bottom of my heart. For any of you who have not yet attended one of their main stage productions, I encourage you to do so and to be delighted that you did.
Over 150 people attended the performance from throughout Connecticut and from as far away as New Jersey and New Hampshire. During the reading, I was nestled back stage handling the technical aspects and was delighted to monitor the audience reaction to each of the scenes, from laughter, to gasps, to absolute silence, to the gratifying applause and standing ovation at the ending. My deepest appreciation to all of you who came out for the performance.
Following the reading, everyone gathered for the after-performance reception and once again, I was overwhelmed by the delicious contributions to the event by my amazing family, friends and John and Betsy, the wonderful managers of Tops Market in Southington.
Following the performance, I have been blessed with a shower of compliments in person, by phone and via cards and letters and I am deeply grateful to one and all. It has taken me over a week to recover from the physical exhaustion, emotional exhilaration and elevated ego while perched on my own personal cloud.
I would also like to express my appreciation to Joanne Greco Rochman of the Waterbury Republican American for the full page feature article she did on me and the play (Wolcott's Miceli is a master of mysteries) in the April 19, Accent Weekend magazine section of the paper. In a thank-you note I sent to her, I joked that "Some day, I'd like to meet that fellow."

Many of you have asked, "What's Next?"

Here are the next steps:

Feeback. What is needed now is a candid appraisal of what worked and what could be improved. That's where you come in. If you attended the dramatic reading, please complete the survey at the bottom of this newsletter and reply to me by May 15 with your comments. When Michelangelo was asked how he could make such beautiful statues out of blocks of stone, he answered that the statue was inside all along and he just needed to chip away enough of the stone to release it. The feedback I receive from you will help me to decide what I should leave alone and where should chip away to let the final play emerge.
Re-writing: I re-wrote Wounded Angels multiple times before it was ready for the reading, and I will probably re-write it several more times before it becomes a play.
Pitching to Theaters: When I feel the play is ready, I will send it to theaters that I think may be interested in producing it. Since Seven Angels took a chance on me for the reading, if they are interested, I would love to produce the main stage play there. Wherever the play is selected for production, it will most likely undergo further revision based upon discussions with the directors and producers.
Scheduling and Producing the Play: While I was hoping to get Wounded Angels on stage next year, I realize that theaters are busy scheduling their lineups for next year's season now and it may be unrealistic to get the play produced that soon. I do believe it is realistic to get a full production by the following season, however, so that will be my end goal and I will keep you posted.
Finishing the Novel: Wounded Angels is based upon a much more extensive novel by the same name. I will be working on that project at the same time as I pursue the play production. It may actually be possible to finish the novel before the play, but, at the least, my hope is that when you see the play, you can meet me in the lobby afterwards where I can sign a first-edition copy of the novel for you.

And Just For Fun

I am thrilled to have been invited to be one of the presenters at this year's Halo Awards ceremony on May 30 at the Palace Theater in Waterbury. The Halo Awards recognize outstanding achievements in high school theatrical productions. After quickly accepting the invitation, I asked for a listing of the various high school productions state-wide. I have been attending several of these plays to gain an appreciation for the work these students are doing and I have been amazed at what I have seen. From the performances, to the sets, to all of the technical aspects of these productions, we can be rightfully proud of the amazing theatrical talent in our Connecticut students and the dedicated teachers and parents that mentor and support them.

And Now For That Survey

Here are the items for which I would appreciate your feedback. In giving your comments, please respond to the play itself, not to the acting or directing, as that will vary by the cast and director. It is the written play that I will be revising. And don't feel like you have to write a lot. A few words will suffice. I'm just looking for things that stood out to you and you would like me to know about.

If you can, just reply to this email along with your answers. To be safe, hit "reply" not "reply all." If that doesn't work, simply copy the questions into your own email program along with your answers and send to Chuck@AuthorChuckMiceli.com or AuthorChuckMiceli@gmail.com. If possible, please respond to me by May 15. I will plan on summarizing the responses I get and the changes I am considering in my June update.

1. How about the story itself? Did it keep you engaged? Could you relate to it? Did I belabor anything too much? Was there anything missing?

2. What did you think about the tone and pace of the play? Were there parts that you especially enjoyed? Were there parts that dragged, lacked emotion or felt overdone?

3. How did you feel about the characters. Were they fully developed enough? Were they interesting and realistic enough? Were their words and actions consistent with who they were?

4. How about the settings? Were the times and places appropriate? Did any scenes seem repetitious, too long or unnecessary?

5. Based upon other dramatic plays you have seen, on a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate this play by comparison?
1 = Much poorer, 2 = Poorer, 3 = About average, 4 = Better, 5 = Much better.

6. If Wounded Angels were to be developed into a full main stage production, how likely would you be to attend?
1 = Very unlikely, 2 = Unlikely, 3 = Possibly, 4 = Likely, 5 = Very likely

7. Please add any additional comments you would like to make.

That's All For Now and Thank You,

Chuck

View on MailChimp

0 Comments

<<Previous

Forward>>

The Write Stuff

Up and Coming - July 2019

Up and Coming - Special Event 2019

Up and Coming - August 2019 was sent to 751 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

Up and Coming - May / June 2019 was sent to 769 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

Up and Coming - March/April 2019 was sent to 770 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

Up and Coming - January / February 2019

Up and Coming - December 2018

Up and Coming - October 2018 - Re-posted 11/22/19

Up and Coming - June / July 2018 was sent to 816 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

Up and Coming - May / June 2018 was sent to 818 subscribers of the Up and Coming list on MailChimp!

Author

Archives

Thanks for Visiting - come back soon!