Overview
I was driving home from the grocery when the DJ on the radio announced that Robin Williams was dead. It was one of those profound events that will remain a vivid memory for the rest of my life. Then, to learn that the cause of his death was a suicide shocked me even more—for he was a comfortable icon—someone I was certain I would grow old with. Being older than me, approaching age-related milestones and hurdles didn't feel so traumatic; as Robin aged, he seemed to reach out to us and say, "Come along. Don't be afraid." Now, we are left with memories and a backlist of incredible works, but the chameleon is gone. There will be no more movies nor improv interviews on talk shows. It's over.
I'm taking his death hard because I feel cheated. Selfishly, I expected more. I remember Robin Williams's first appearance on "Happy Days", and I watched every episode of "Mork and Mindy". I absorbed everything possible about his amazing improvisation skills. Many of his movies remain my favorites; Bicentennial Man and What Dreams May Come are so fresh, so unique that I watch them over and over. The breadth and depth of his roles, the way he executed them, was flawless—he owned them, making them not only credible characters, but making them his.
I mentioned his improv skills because his brand and style of comedy was insanely unique. While others prattled on through rehearsed and tired monologues, Robin would appear on stage and explode. There is no other way I can explain the experience of watching and participating as he not only suspended reality, but he twisted it, bent it, chewed it up, and then brought me back to a new perspective of reality. It was always a rollercoaster ride.
His ability to step back and distort perceptions, along with his improv talent, affected my writing and personal life. To this day, I search for impromptu opportunities in which I can make friends and family laugh—not only in a slapstick, physical-comedy way, but also in a manner that words and actions move quickly to suspend my audiences' reality. Then, my mind races ahead as my mouth delivers the setup and jokes. It's all due to Robin Williams.
I wouldn't be a writer if it weren't for Robin Williams. He taught me to dig deeper and "own" the story, pick up on bits of life, and weave them together into a fictional tapestry. I have more than 50 stories waiting to be written, all "what ifs" and "it could happens" That Robin Williams has influenced.
Instead of lamenting his loss any further, I decided to turn this tragedy into a positive. Out of death comes life, and as such, I chose to assemble this ebook box set of my humorous stories, dedicate them to Robin Williams, and donate all my royalties from its sales to a children's home in Costa Rica called Hogar de Vida (Homes of Life).
The Hogar de Vida was founded by Tim and Dena Stromstad. They are missionaries who have helped abused, neglected, and abandoned children in Haiti, Guatemala, and now Costa Rica by building safe homes and environments for them. Hogar de Vida is a Christian-based organization, but I allied with the Stromstads because, like them, I adopted children—two from Guatemala, and my husband and I believe in helping those who help children.
Most of Hogar de Vida's money comes from charitable donations. In Costa Rica, where the average annual income is only US$11,000, local fundraisers help, but financial assistance from the global community is critical.
Thank you so very much for purchasing this box set of my humorous ebook stories. I hope you enjoy reading the two novels and four short stories; I certainly enjoyed writing them. It warms my heart to help people and do so in a manner that acknowledges the amazing talent of Robin Williams and the profound impact he had on my life and writing style. Thank you, as well, for helping less-fortunate children in Costa Rica.
God bless,
LC Cooper
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940046172690 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | LC Cooper |
| Publication date: | 09/11/2014 |
| Sold by: | Smashwords |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 2 MB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
To contact me, please send an email to: l.c_cooper@hotmail.com
Twitter name: @LC_Cooper
I live with my wonderful husband, our great kids, and our bratty cats in our cabin at the base of the smoky mountains. When not writing, I enjoy gardening, reading, vacationing in exotic places, and visiting family and friends. I have degrees in mathematics education and curriculum design, but with the fallout of that lousy system called common core, I prefer to write more than teach. My goal is to publish four novels every year, and I do enjoy writing short stories, so look for a few of those sprinkled in between the Novels. Novels will always have a price tag unless there's a freebie promotion.
Interview:
I sat down with Author, LC Cooper this afternoon for a quick interview on her latest book. I'm excited to bring it to you here on BeBee!
CJ: LC, how has this new book come about?
LC: Just Hold Me is my latest novel. It came about due to current events, recent elections, the increasing stories of extra-terrestrials in the news, the possibility of human-hybrids, and the U.S.-Mexico border. These issues on the news medias and social medias are of interest to many of my readers.
CJ: Can you tell us about the genre?
LC: The genre of this new book is a mash-up of Historical, Political, SciFi, and Romance.
CJ: How are the characters creating the mood?
LC: The protagonist, Ed McGraw, is a paranoid conspiracy theorist, who, as a world traveled photo journalist, must come to grips with his past to save the future of his marriage.
CJ: Does this story have a meaning you wish to express?
LC: Yes, I believe we will soon face the situation where humanity evolves, once again, as a result of extra-terrestrial intervention.
CJ: Are you excited about writing for this Camp NaNo WriMo Contest?
LC: Yes, because I love to write and the time pressure spurs me on.
CJ: Do you recommend this type of contest writing to new writers? explain?
LC: No, because writers who have already published their first novel have experience and have worked through much of the doubt that can come when writing. That being said, NaNo WriMo has a group for young writers, too.
CJ: In closing, LC can you tell your readers what is next on the horizon for their reading pleasure?
LC: Next on the writing table is a sequel to Just Hold Me, called T.H.U.D., followed by, Chocolate Barbells; which will be a Romantic Comedy sequel to Christmess (a John and Jennifer Adventure). Also, I intend to complete two more novels waiting in the wings; Fortune Island-- the third in the Collen Rogerro Adventure Series and Second Chance -- a medically ethical "What if?" novel.
CJ: Wrapping this up, I'd like to thank you LC for sitting down with me today and giving your fans and followers a glimpse into this new Camp NaNo WriMo writing project! Good luck to you on this endeavor and keep us up to date when these next novels go to publish!
CJD.Sign