Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Kimberly A. Cook

Got Camera? Use It!

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

With all the electronic tools and cell phones at our disposal these days, seems like everyone captures events on film or digits. We writers can improve our storytelling abilities by using a camera. My little Canon PowerShot point and shoot is always with me.

Don’t be afraid to get in close, like I did with this Peace Rose in the backyard. Details tell a story with images too.

Lately I’ve been using my camera for taking notes, snapping exhibits at museums,  and taking photos of books I want to buy later. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of trying to capture a moment or mood with the camera. My new cell phone actually has a better camera than my current point and shoot, 8 Mega Pixels to my 7.1 Mega Pixels on my Canon PowerShot SD800IS Digital Elph, but I prefer my camera. My larger Canon PowerShot SX200has a 12x optical zoom and 12.1 Mega Pixels, but it sucks the battery like a vampire.

I find my little Canon PowerShot Elph is always with me and does the job. When taking photos for the newspaper, I always took an establishing shot for the overall view, then did close-ups of the activity or people involved to tell the story with pictures. The feature article I wrote would then add in the quotes and the flavor of the subject in the body copy.

This is the same technique we use when writing fiction or non-fiction; we have to give the big picture, then get into the details with each character or point. When we train our photographer eyes to see photos as a storyteller, we have a photo essay. A beginning, middle and end with images.

We writers observe and try to capture our world and we even create complete new worlds to share with our readers. If we write with a photographer’s eye, it improves the visual impact for the readers. They can better see the journey we are taking them on with us. So get out there and take some pictures!

Happy Veterans Day This Sunday

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by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

On this special Friday, I want to give a shout out to all my fellow veterans. Having had the fun and honor to be on the lawn of the Nation’s Capital on July 4, 1990, this call out of the military services they do every year gave me chills.

I’d watched The Capital Fourth Concert for years on the PBS station in Oregon and I finally got to experience it in person. I stood up twice, for my Army and Air Force service, so make sure you stand up when your military anthem plays! Happy Quirky Friday!

A Veterans Day Thank You

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by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

This Sunday is Veteran’s Day. The reason we had a national election today is because of the service of my fellow veterans for more than 200 years. While the news media reports and predicts tonight, I prefer to consider the future. One learns very quickly in the military that we are a diverse and wacky group of folks who make up the United States of America family.

Members of the Illinois Army National Guard’s 1-14th Agribusiness Development Team in Kunar Province, Afghanistan in September 2011. Photo by U.S. Army

But if someone comes after our “family,” watch out. Like any dysfunctional family or Army squad, we do the best with what we have and move on. We forge lifetime friendships and agree to disagree. All veterans will never agree on everything, we are a true cross-section of our nation.

But in tough times, the tough get going and keep going, like Navy SEAL Teams and Special Forces. But even those elite teams can’t get the job done without their support staff, families and friends. It takes a nation to fix problems.

So let’s follow our future veterans who are serving today and leading by example in Afghanistan, at U.S. Embassies around the world, at home and aboard, on land and sea and under the sea around the world.Thank you to all who have served and a special thank you to all those veterans who have written their stories to share with everyone else. Lest we forget.

Are You Ready For Some Gangnam Football?

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

This Saturday our beloved University of Oregon Ducks play USC. Now, we have Ducks, Beavers and Vikings in my family, but we all get along. Except for Civil War. (And in a mascot fight I think my PSU Viking could take the Duck and Beaver, just saying.) BUT, this weekend the mighty USC is going to try to out fox us on the field. Can’t wait!

In the meantime I wanted to share this fabulous U of O band half-time show they did in September. Saw it the first week it was online and couldn’t wait to share it with everyone. Not only is Puddles the Duck a great dancer, he’s got great guns from all those push ups! Go Ducks!

A Responsibility For All

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

While Superstorm Sandy still pounds the Eastern United States, my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone. Stay safe. One dedicated unit who stood their ground against Mother Nature’s wrath was the Old Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington, D.C.  They maintained their duty while the superstorm hit, not leaving their posts. Read about it here http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/10/ap-old-guard-stays-tomb-of-unknowns-hurricane-sandy-102912/

With soldier dedication like that, including all the first responders and National Guard saving lives during this storm, the coming election day can fade from view. For those of us not touched by this storm, we need to make the effort to get out and vote next week to honor those who may not be able to go to the polls. With a week before the election, getting folks out to vote will be an even harder task back East. I don’t talk about religion or politics on my blog because military writing is my news beat and  everyone gets their own ballot.

Maj. Cornelius from Macon, GA, fills out her absentee ballot form while PFC Miller from Auburn, NY looks for her mailing address at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar on Oct. 16. Using the base dining facility, 200 ballots were mailed the first three days and had a bar code on each parcel so absentee voters could track their ballots online. Photo by U.S. Army

But I can encourage everyone to get out and vote. Period. I voted on October 22. Oregon has had vote-by-mail since 1998. I think the entire country should do vote-by-mail. Leaves a paper trail, costs 30 percent less and we might even save the United States Post Office by making them the official national ballot couriers. (I do not trust electronic voting machines with heaven knows what code inside them. Call me old school.)

Until the USPS gets that tasking, I can’t encourage folks to vote enough. The first time I voted was on a pool table in my barracks recreation hall watched over by my First Lieutenant. Serving in the Army in Colorado, I had a Oregon absentee ballot. I felt so adult and proud to do my duty.

It’s easy to forget how and why we got the vote, but it was George Washington and his soldiers, their families and women who supported them fighting and dying to create this great country. Since that time our military men and women have continued to defend, serve and sacrifice not only so we can vote, but so other nations can grow to have that same right. So if you can go to a polling place or send it in by mail, do it.

As a former newspaper reporter who cherishes the First Amendment for Freedom of Speech for writers as well as everyday citizens, I know voting is a privilege and a duty. If you don’t vote, you can’t gripe. That’s my rule!

Who Ya Gonna Call For Treats?

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by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Halloween is almost here. While we go out and buy more candy since we gobbled all the pre-Halloween supplies, we might as well cozy up with a good movie. Some of the oldies but goodies are best. Let’s try a run at Ghostbusters! You never know when you might need one and the theme song rocks. Enjoy pumpkin carving and candy scarfing this weekend. Happy Quirky Friday!