In The Spirit of Halloween

I’ve always loved a good scare. This has driven me to see all the classic horror flicks – The Exorcist, Halloween, Rosemary’s Baby, It, Night of the Living Dead, The Thing, Amityville Horror and a few others so poorly made their almost funny. I’ve traveled to haunted cornfields and the cheesy staged haunted houses.

A few years ago, when the editor at the newspaper I was working at came to me looking for a “different” Halloween story all I could do was grin. I knew exactly what I was going to do – scare the pants off myself and hopefully a few readers.

In pursuit of this, I headed directly to the library, then the Internet to do a little research. What did I find? Well, some pretty wild tales of haunted areas across the city.

I made sure to pinpoint the creepiest one, loaded a staff photographer and navigated in the dark to the outskirts of the city.What I found when I arrived was a scene right out of some of the best horror films. The wind was blowing, stirring the leaves that had already begun to fall from the trees. A wrought iron-gate leading to the circa 1800s church, completely surrounded by old gravestones mind you, was creaking loudly.

It was literally perfect!

To see what happened, follow the link: http://www.erinrickert.com/html/ghost.html

End of Week Inspiration

I find myself reading lots of different publications to see how others are getting their message across. The one I read today had a special section devoted to taking your alumni magazine to new heights. Crafting an new alumni magazine is exactly what I’m in the midst of at the college.

After reading this excerpt from a veteran editor with 20 years experience, I think I’m inspired. How about you?

“News informs. Stories change lives. Changing lives is the essence of our business. It is, finally, the product we sell – and a very expensive product it is, with very many competitors. Magazines are the coolest genre there is to tell stories about changing lives. They’re tactile and funny. They’re the verb, not the noun. If we use these vehicles for only news, we are making them Pintos. If we seek only balance between news and story, we make them midsize sedans. If we seek to make every page carry a story of weight – prayer, humor, fury, poignancy, challenge, amazement, heart, bone – then we begin to make a magazine that a reader cannot ignore, cannot throw away, cannot help but read, cannot help but share, cannot help but respond to.”

Great Grammar ...

So I felt the sudden compulsion to pause from proofreading copy to share a few of the top mistakes that pass over my desk.

No this is not to pick on my clients (well maybe a little). No, really I see these mistakes everywhere. All are easy to fix, just break a moment to commit them to memory.

Here goes:

1. The first most widely seen offense is related to punctuation. If you are using quotation marks please, by all means, put your punctuation inside the quotation.
2. The following words are confused a LOT. First on the list, their, there and they’re. Remember, there is an adverb specifying place or location. Their is a possessive pronoun signifying something belongs to more than one person. They’re is the contraction of they are. A good rule here – ask yourself if the sentence will make sense to you when you replace they’re with they are.
3. Oh, and the list could definitely not be complete without this combo: its vs. it's.Its is a possessive pronoun showing something belongs to “it.” (see also how I used the period inside the quotation). For example: The book has a colorful photo on its cover.It’s is a contraction of “it is.” For example: It’s sunny out today.
4. If you are using commas, stick to these three rules. First, use a comma before a coordinating conjunction like “and,” “but,” or “or” that joins independent clauses. Second, use a comma between two or more adjectives that each modify a noun separately, called coordinate adjectives. Third, use a comma after an introductory phrase or clause. These introductory phrases often establish setting, either time or location.
5. Making nouns possessive. For singular, follow this example (the cat’s collar), and for plural (the six dogs’ home).
   

Wowweee! Do you have all that? Since I'm running a bit long, I will stop my rants for today. Maybe I will feel compelled to pick up again later. Trust me, there are plenty more :)

Cool Chix

I met in a quaint Raleigh photography studio recently with a few ladies who are part of the non-profit organization, Chix in Business. The women and the group are the topic for a profile for Triangle Catalyst Magazine.

Geared toward the female professional, the group is a little different than other similar organizations. These women are quirky, kind-hearted and most importantly, friendly. They are not trying to stuff their business cards in your pocket before learning your name and a bit about you. Congratulations on 10 years, ladies!!

Facility of the Year Award

For a few days in November I worked closely with a few clients in Clayton – spending time sifting through documents to begin the task of compiling information to submit to the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering. ISPE, INTERPHEX, and Pharmaceutical Processing Magazine hold an annual competition that honors one firm in the world with the Facility of the Year Award. Recipients are state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing projects that use new and innovative technologies to enhance the delivery of a quality project, as well as reduce the cost of producing high-quality medicines.

NNE Pharmaplan, an engineering firm in Clayton, contracted me to assist them with the written portion of the submission after NNE (and others)collaborated to complete a 30-month expansion project on Novo Nordisk’s Clayton plant. The expansion allowed Novo Nordisk to begin making FlexPen, a compact device that delivers insulin to diabetics. As a result of the 200,000 square foot expansion, the company became the only supplier of FlexPen in the U.S. and doubled its production capacity.

I have truly enjoyed the work done so far with these guys and gals. I especially liked suiting up in booties, a hair net, safety goggles, and gown to tour the facility while conducting my interview with the production manager. What an amazing plant. Cannot wait to start in on things again in February, guys!

The Urban Sophisticates

Sharp lyrics, smooth vocals, and a great blend of brass, guitar, bass, and drums, that’s what several fans have said about the music of The Urban Sophisticates. Not too long ago the Greensboro-based hip-hop band won the Disc Makers Independent Music World Series Southeast Showcase.

I will be sitting down with these guys soon for an interview to weave together facts and color for my next magazine feature. Check out their music at www.theurbansophisticates.com.

Memories

MEMORIES
Memories are heartbeats
Sounding through the years
Echoes never fading
Of our smiles and our tears.

Moments that are captured
Sometimes unaware
Pictured in an album
Or a lock of hair.

Images that linger
Deep within the mind
Bit of verse we cherished
Once upon a time.

Through the musty hallways
Of the days we knew
Ever comes the vision
Beautiful and true.

Memories are roses
Blooming evermore
Full of fragrant sweetness
Never known before.

Life must have a meaning
Goals for which to strive
Memories are lights that burn
To keep the heart alive.

--Grace E. Easley


I ran across this poem in the midst of a project. I just LOVE it!!! Had to share.

The Lux Life

For the last few weeks I have been working on the final portion of the cover story for the February issue of Triangle Catalyst Magazine. Finally, we are getting close to the end!

The feature piece is about 2,000 words and highlights downtown living in Raleigh and Durham. You know, the old tobacco warehouses and cotton mill’s turned lofts and the luxury high rise condos with all the bells and whistles. Really, it covers what is out there to buy now, what’s in the works and what they all have to offer.

I have really enjoyed this assignment. Some of these properties are so unique. You have some with concrete floors still baring the marks from earlier days as a paint shop. Others with freight elevators, rooftop pools, even meals catered to your condo or loft from the swanky restaurant in the lobby. Best of all, these options are all within walking distance of shops, restaurants and bars.

It really makes you think … is there any reason to get that home with the white picket fence and big backyard???? Who wants to mow lawn on the weekends when you could be enjoying a swim in a pool overlooking the city?

The main factor ...If you are not scared to pay $220,000+ for one or two bedrooms or even $1.2 million than antee up!

Seeing Green

I must say, I am quite pleased with next month’s piece for the magazine The Bride’s Book. Though I have just started work on it, the concept – GREEN weddings – is after my own heart.

As my blog has already revealed, my fiancé and I are exchanging our vows barefoot on the sands of the North Carolina Outer Banks. I love the fact I get to research this topic, because our own wedding has a few touches of green.

For starters, it’s outside, during the day and will be minimally decorated. I do not plan on shipping in hundreds of flowers either. I will likely hold just a few, picked locally. My centerpieces, well they are compliments of the good old ocean, sand and shells. Favors for the guests will be monetary donations, in their names, to both the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Association. There is a story behind each, but we will save that for another day.

Anyway, I would love nothing more than to add a few more green ideas to our wedding. We will have to see what type of things I can find as I research this story. To all you brides out there, feel free to offer suggestions!

Kiddie Heaven

So I just finished the January cover story on Marbles Kids Museum for Southern Neighbor Magazine. Two former children's museums, Playspace and Exploris, combined to form the hands-on interactive museum in Raleigh's downtown earlier this fall.

The place has everything, IMAX movies, water games, a tree house, Gyotaku ... the list could go on forever. But don't be fooled by the name. The only thing this museum does not have for kids to play with is, you guessed it, marbles.



The museum’s marketing director informed me one of the walls (made from more than 1,000 marbles) inspired the name. Still, it is a unique space for kids young and old!

Check out the East Hargett Street spot for yourself at www.marbleskidsmuseum.org.

February Downtown Cover

I just finished two pieces for Triangle Catalyst Magazine. Each are designed to offer readers a quick, but comprehensive look at the changing faces of both downtown Durham and Raleigh.

The information is slated to appear as part of the cover story for the February 2008 issue. Check out the magazine online at www.trianglecatalyst.com

Awesome Orchids

I recently finished an interview with the owners of Orchids by Hanks Chapel Greenhouses in Pittsboro. They are a mother-son team, and just wonderful to spend time with. I had a blast taking photos of the several hundred species of orchids housed in their two greenhouses. My story and photos will appear in the December issue of Southern Neighbor Magazine. Just for fun, here are some of the shots I took. I love some of the colors … so vibrant.

Yarn Shop Feature

My piece on the Hillsborough Yarn Shop dropped earlier this month. I had a great time hanging out with all the ladies at this quaint shop back in late October.

Check out my story and photos on the magazines Web site at http://www.southernneighbor.com/full_issue_pdfs/SN_2007_11.