Friday, January 8, 2016

Harlan Kentucky Inspires Writers (A Writers Vacation)



Vela's Villa
Some great TV shows, movies and reality TV Shows are based in Harlan, Kentucky.  From Harlan County Wars to Justified to Walking Dead Harlan Kentucky has inspired many great stories.  This leads me to believe that any writer looking for inspiration should visit Harlan, Kentucky.  Harlan, Kentucky is a holler in the Appalachian Mountains.  That’s right coal country.  Go 20 min down one road and you are in Virginia.  You could also end up in West Virginia and of course Tennessee. I personally have spent quality time crossing all those state boarders in one day and going back home to Harlan.  Yes, I said home.  My mama owns Vela's Villa which is right in the heart of town in Harlan.  I can tell you one thing, in Harlan you will always come up with a great story.

Harlan Kentucky is a secret blessing to writers.  The town, its people, the surroundings, the past, present and future are all characters.  Harlan is the birthplace of stories and that well will never run dry.  Harlan is known for its grit, moonshine, ginseng, coal and law enforcement but there is so much more.  Harlan has a fairytale magic and old-fashioned horror story with in her.  Harlan is Mayberry one day and Carnivale that night.  In Harlan, especially at my mom’s place, Vela’s Villa, you can keep to yourself.  It is nice and quite there and you can make your own food.  Great for a writer who is really banging their story out and just needs to get away from all distractions.  But let’s say you need the energy and the mystic of the Appalachian Mountains and her people, you don’t need to go far.  Just walk right outside your door and you are in the heart of Harlan’s “downtown” while staring up at a peak of a mountain.  In other words you can mingle with the locals without driving your car and let me tell you they have stories.  Of course, you will have to sit a spell to get through one of those stories but all good stories take time.  Like I said before, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia are all touching each other.  If you do need to venture out and explore this is the place to start.  The mountains are beautiful but if you need to get to a city like Knoxville you are only an hour and a half away. 

Vela's Villa


Harlan is a culture unto itself.  There is folklore and curses and God.  There is genius and ignorance and sometimes all in the same person, lol.  It seems to me that Harlan is the place of ideas and creativity.  In fact that is all Harlan is mining these days.  The original owner of Vela’s Villa was a writer, owner of the bank and coal man.  Vela was his wife and my mother’s best friend/2nd mom.  My husband was also a writer and when he passed he was in the middle of collaborating on a film script based in Harlan.  Vela's Villa loves writers for writers mine the mind.  If you need solitude come on over to our holler.  My mama will take care of you.  If need surroundings that inspire, come on over, my mama will take care of you.  There is nothing like the Appalachian Mountains in the world, for the Appalachian Mountains connects us all to the old world, in this country we call the New World.  If you are a writer you should come and stay with us at Vela's Villa.  We promise you will see the world with new eyes. Vela's Villa

Below is my husbands last poetry reading.  Like I said Vela's Villa is for writers.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

My Birthday And The Way Of The Capricorn

Love Yascone Capricorn Born Jan.4 

As some of you know my Birthday is January, 4th.  I am a Capricorn.  Last year I posted about anime characters who were also Capricorns (In The Anime World Capricorns Rule).  Earlier last year I decided to look at famous women who were Capricorns.  Partly because I needed validation for myself (if they are hot, sexy, talented and smart I can be, too, lol) and partly to learn something about myself.  I know that we humans can serve as each others mirrors.  Yes, I am awkward but I am not the only awkward Capricorn.  Capricorns are proper ladies and extreme broads all in the same minute.  I think most Capricorns think that they are the only odd ball Capricorn, but even Ava Gardner had her moments.  Actually Ava had many moments.  Read about Ava if you are a Cappy and you will see, you are not alone.  So, I had this post planned out months ago and yet I am letting go of the original plan.  I do have a Pinterest page devoted to Capricorn women called The Way Of The Capricorn but I don't feel the need to devote my time to talking about them anymore.  Don't get me wrong these women are great.  They made me ask myself really tough questions but I realized I was repeating a really bad habit again.  It is my birthday.  Why do I have to become good enough? Why aren't I good enough?  You see, I was refusing to include myself on this Pinterest page.  I wasn't important enough yet.  I realized it is my birthday and I am dissing myself!  Only one thing to do, pin 6 pics of myself today.  So, I did just that, I pinned 6 pics because I am a major Capricorn with six planets in Capricorn (I talked about that in my anime post last year, In The Anime World Capricorns Rule).

It is my birthday and I am done dissing myself.  In fact I don't want to talk about what is wrong with me at all.  I want to celebrate me! Tomorrow is Nicole Beharie's birthday, Happy Birthday girl.  Tomorrow is the 3rd but at Midnight it will be officially the 4th.  I am going to start celebrating at midnight.  Yes, I know, I was actually born at like 3:47 Pm so I will be celebrating early but who cares!  Most people in entertainment would never it pancakes at 12:00am, especially if they needed to lose weight.  I will eat at Midnight tomorrow and it won't be low carb! I have wanted to go out to a diner for years and eat at midnight but I told myself I have to be super skinny.  I will become my best this year, but it won't be by denying myself fun.  I am crossing this off my to do list.

Usually the best bakeries in Louisville are closed on the 4th.  This is because they worked hard during the holidays and they are now on vacation.  I may make myself a champagne cake or I may be lazy and then I don't know.  I want to go to happy hour on my birthday.  Maybe sushi will be my late night dinner.  I am not having a party but the goal is for me to be social.  I am the most antisocial of the 4.  If you want to see how the rest of the 4 party check out the following post (Birthday Birthday And Again Birthday Part Deux Or Our September, Birthday Birthday And Again Birthday).  My birthday is usually low key but still can be expensive.  The most important thing is plotting how to take over the world with my sisters and mom, lol.  The best gift I could receive on my birthday this year is a phone call saying the project we've been working on is a go.  My birthday is the first work day of the New Year this year.  It would be nice to get a yes on my actual birthday.

My family says I focus to much on them.  I just think they are amazing and beautiful.  I think they show the best of me.  This bothers Faith.  She thinks I hide myself to much, so I am going to try something new.  I am going to post my best pictures of myself.  I am going to be proud of myself.  The only gift I want from the universe is that,"go phone" call.  The only gift I need from humnity is good positive energy directed toward me and the rest of the four.  What I will give to myself?  This year I will be my best fan.  Fans never show their stars in a bad light.  Fans may criticize but it is only to see improvement never to stop their stars light from shining.  I will have fun.  I will achieve the "impossible".  When I am tired I will rest.  When I can sing my praise I will sing my praise.  This year I will build myself up.  I must not apologize.  Fans don't apologize for celebrating their stars.

Love Yascone Capricorn Born Jan.4 
Love Yascone Capricorn Born Jan.4 


Love Yascone Capricorn Born Jan.4 
Love Yascone Capricorn Born Jan.4 


Love Yascone Capricorn Born Jan.4 
Love Yascone Capricorn Born Jan.4