Sally A. Moore

Thank-you for visiting my writing site. I hope you enjoy reading excerpts of my stories and poems, comments about my work, and my personal profile as a writer. I have been writing since an early age and have written professionally for many years in business and promotion. I believe good writing is the mark of civilization, and good stories make us human. I have been asked questions about the characters in my work, and I consider it a heartfelt compliment when my readers ask, 'who are they?'

The truth is, they are me, they are people I have known, and mostly they are who they are. As Tori observes in my novel, Wings of a Fly, "She would always be Tori. And Max would always be Max."

The Legend of Three Crowns web portal!

Historical Fiction Fantasy now being offered for publication
Novel excerpts, poems, drawings and more!

Recent Posts

September 9, 2018
Inspiration to Innovation: As in Stories, So in Life

November 23, 2016
Giving Thanks to Historical Fiction: Where does history end and 'historical' begin? An interview with author Elaine Cougler

June 22, 2016
The Letters of Dorothy Osborne: What Price the Loyalty to Love, Guest post on EHFA

June 9, 2016
What Do Writers and Snidely Whiplash Have in Common?: Plotting

November 1, 2015
Writing with Writers, The Collective Inspiration to Share

September 20, 2015
'Prosetry' Short Story, Sixpence Across the Palm wins WW Challenge

July 7, 2015
Evolution of a Garden

March 30, 2015
Paths of Success, the Writers' Journey

February 23, 2015
What Makes a Legend?, the hero's journey

February 5, 2015
Versatile Has New Meaning, VBA Award Nomination!

January 30, 2015
Judgement Day, Charles I, the legacy of a life and one cold January morning

December 29, 2014

The Maple and the Ash, What the past holds, the new years brings

November 18, 2014

Writing Doesn't Have to be a Solitary Act, Where booklovers convene and Legend is unveiled

October 4, 2014

History as Real Life, London, past and present

August 2, 2014

The Busy Life of Hounds, Legend of Three Crowns is born

May 6, 2014

Favourite Inspirations from History, the writers in all of us

March 20, 2014

Writing Life Travels, Nassau, Bahamas

February 4, 2014

Dr. Suess on Crack, a new spin on Childhood Heroes

January 14, 2014

Colours of the Writing Life

Recent Blog Posts Archive

From Inspiration to Innovation: A Beginning, Middle and a Solution

It's not just as writers but in every aspect of our lives we seek inspiration. We all want to catch the spirit, discover something new and surprise ourselves with discovery. This is true in business, as it is writing, and in both cases it can lift your work from everyday to extraordinary.

So what is this elusive spirit, and how to catch it? Writers tend to be introspective and look for that revelation they seek from within. They go to the lake and watch the waves come in or walk in the woods in search of wild flowers. Others seek it in striving for the top score in a game, running a marathon or learning to fly a plane.

In a Galaxy, Far, Far Away...

The point is to go where you've never gone before, whether that be physically or metaphysically. I've given and taken a lot of inspirational workshops, and what you get out of that depends entirely on what you put in, because inspiration is the stuff of dreams, and what you dream makes you unique.

The key is to find the time. We all have the time, even when we don't. Turn off the tv at home, switch off the radio in your car, zone out in a meeting that is going nowhere. (Incredible, I know, but inspiration takes sacrifice.) Find that 15 minutes of reflection. What do you notice? What do you hear, see, smell and, most importantly, feel?

Some people benefit from a starting point. For instance: remember a time when your grandmother came to visit and something different happened. Think back to when your mother was your age: Was she happy? What did she look like? What was she doing? Relive a moment when you had to choose between two important things: Did you make the right choice? How did you make the decision?

My Great-Grandmother, Grandfather and Great-Uncles, 1912:

Passport Photo for passage on the Titanic

The details tend to come rushing back, surprising you with how vivid they are. But what is most important is the emotion. The emotion is why we seek stories. Do we care what happens in the world unless we feel it? We might hear that 50 people were evacuated from their homes and then shake our heads in sympathy, but hear that our brother's home was destroyed in a hurricane and is now trapped in the maelstrom, his life in danger, and we are emotionally engaged. It's the same with characters in stories and a business case scenario. When we know who it affects, we care.

How Does It Feel to be in the Middle?

That brings us to the middle. Take what you remembered from your 15 minutes of reflection. How did the emotion affect you? This is not just about writing stories. This is experiencing life in a different way, discovering who you are beyond the everyday tasks and habits that can weigh us down. If you made the wrong decision in that choice you examined, how would your life be different now? Could you somehow change that and add colour to your life in the present?

When you remembered your mom, what was your overriding emotion? Do you miss who she was then, admire who she has become? Are you angry over something that happened? Perhaps this emotion can change how you interact with your children now. Stay with the emotion and you can connect with what needs to happen now.

And Now for Something Completely Different...

All stories have an ending and that's where the innovation comes in, the 99% sweat equity to your 1% inspiration. Even in business, I have found this method useful in moving ahead on a project. The most hard-headed people are driven by emotion, and it's that emotion that makes us open to a solution.

Here's where we leap ahead to the outcome. The emotion identifies the problem; the innovation determines how to solve it. I was hired to run environmental programs for industry at a time when most people thought environmental responsibility ended with recycling. We had a long way to go, especially with a construction and manufacturing sector who knew how to make things, but viewed the environmental movement with wariness. But upon reflection, I realized that industry boards are made up of people, and people have families with children and grandchildren whom they love.

So, at a controversial board meeting, I showed them footage from Corporations and An Inconvenient Truth, and I explained that this is what the environmental community and perhaps people in general thought of them.

Naturally, it hurt to see themselves in this light, and they didn't want to leave a legacy like that to their grandchildren. So we held an open forum on what we could do, and the "Building a Sustainable Future" initiative was born. We ran community and education programs; partnered with environmental groups, government and schools; and funded environmental buildings, projects and films. Over the course of the next few years, this industry did a tremendous amount of good in environmental works, and the innovation continues.

As in Story, So in Life

In story-building, the emotion comes through character. What made you want to examine the aspects of your grandmother's visit? What sense of loss, love, longing, anger or regret made you want to remember her? This is the spine of your story. All else spins from this core. Make us care about your grandmother as a person, as who she is, and we will be engaged in the examination of the problem, the emotion that it evokes and the solution. This is no different from solving a business problem-- it's all about the caring.

The Building Blocks of Creative Inspiration:
Reflection-- Take the time to think about the issue from a new perspective.

Emotion-- How does the problem make you feel?

Innovation-- What revelations can solve the problem?

If a billion dollar industry can make a huge impact with a few minutes of reflection, imagine what you can do by making reflection part of your weekly habit. You might miss one episode of Big Bang Theory, but you can make a big bang in your own life and that of others if you take a time out to think about what is around you, how it makes you feel, and what you can do about it.

Recent Events Archive

November 2, 2013
Trusting Voices, Pat Schneider on Buckhorn Lake

October 11, 2013
My Life as a House

October 10, 2013
"Wedding Service" by S. A. Moore wins Montreal International Poetry Prize Shortlist

April 28, 2013
Mel Clayton, March 4, 1940 - April 23, 2013

September 11, 2012
Historical Fiction with a Canadian Face

April 22, 2012
Year of the Rabbit

April 9, 2012
Anniversary of Vimy Ridge

December 28, 2011
Words of the Season

October 12, 2011
Montreal Poetry Prize Longlist Award for "Lucas"

September 13, 2011
Richard James Moore, January 13, 1933-September 13, 2011

August 16, 2011

Gemini Producers' Party

Gemini Party Picture

July 9, 2011
WCDR Slam

June 19-20, 2011
Historical Novel Society Conference

March 28th, 2011
Coffee, Tea and Words

Legend of Three Crowns Chapter Excerpt

Chapter

Aramanda Dumas, Princess of Legend

Genre: Historical Fiction Fantasy Crossover

Setting: Fictional country of Dunia, a royal court rife with factions and warrior origins

Story: The mystical hold on an ambitious royal princess, the father who controls her future, and her passion for a man she cannot have.

Synopsis:

Born the daughter of a powerful king, Aramanda Dumas fascinates the world with her birthmark of three crowns. Trained to conform to her legend, she is strong, stormy, and with the warrior’s spirit that her obsessive father demands. If she is to rule after him, she must be perfect, must prove that nothing will deter her resolve to be queen. To do this, she must defeat her half-brother, Prince Edourd, who, with his intelligence and military prowess, is as passionate as she to be crowned. Hampered by the machinations of her brother; a family secret; the betrayal of a neighbouring prince; and her ill-fated love affair with her father’s gentleman, Aramanda must overcome all to collect on her father’s promise and fulfill the legend of three crowns.

Full Synopsis

Chapter Excerpt

The World [Map]

Novels

Legend of Three Crowns

Aramanda Dumas, Princess of Legend

Genre: Historical Fiction Fantasy Crossover

Setting: Fictional country of Dunia, a royal court rife with factions and warrior origins

Story: The mystical hold on an ambitious royal princess, the father who controls her future, and her passion for a man she cannot have.

Synopsis:

See the Legend of Three Crowns Portal: Novel Excerpts, Poems, Drawings and more!

Wings of a Fly

Tori Carr, corporate executive with blue collar values.

Genre: Contempory Fiction
Setting: Toronto 2009, Sauncorp, high tech world full of corporate sharks
Story: A woman of business struggles to reconcile the values of her upbringing with the ambitious, sometimes vicious actions of her fellow execs

Synopsis:

Wings of a Fly is a novel about the choices we make in a world that puts money before people:

Toronto, 2009. Tori Carr, VP at a wildly successful high tech firm, discovers an insider trading scheme in her company. Complicated by her secret liaison with the CEO’s favourite, corporate shark Max Arden, Tori must decide whether to blow the whistle, or stay quiet and reap the rewards. When news of her father’s death forces Tori to return to her hometown, she finds herself unable to reconcile the tenets of her childhood with the money-first ambitions of her business life, sparking a personal crisis that threatens to bring her company down—taking her and Max with it.

Writing Events

Tallin, Estonia, Environmental Conference
paper on Sustainability in Trades
published by Wessex Institute

Poundbury, environmental delegation, Cornwall, England

Northern Estonia, environmental conference, paper on Sustainable trades

Eden Project, environmental delegation, Cornwall, England

Poundbury, Prince's Trust, environmental delegation
Cornwall, England

Writing Events

Pat Schneider listens to Diana Cawfield's heartwrenching piece in the writers' circle at Buckhorn Lake, October 2013

Writers Christine Barbetta and Kathleen Martin at Pat Schneider Retreat, Buckhorn, ON, October 2013

Early morning inspiration at Buckhorn Lake, Ontario, Pat Schneider Retreat, October 2013

Afternoon sun at Buckhorn Lake, Ontario, October 2013

Cryssa Bazos, Literary Historical Fiction Writer, Words of the Season, reading from "The Highwayman", The Bear in Pickering, ON, October 2013

Pat Schneider "How the Light Gets In" book launch at Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge, ON, October 2013

Pat Schneider Book Launch, "How the Light Gets In", Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge, ON, October 2013

Myrna Marcelline and James Dewar, Blue Heron Books, October 2013

Pat Schneider and Clare Bolton, Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge, ON, October 2013

Sue Reynolds and Pat Schneider, Book Launch, Uxbridge, Ontario, October 2013

Blue Heron Books, October 2013

Lucy Brennen, WCDR member
WCDR breakfast, October, 2011

Mark Terry, Polar Explorer
Gemini Ceremony, September, 2011

James Dewar, President, WCDR
Luby Brennen, member, WCDR
WCDR breakfast, October, 2011

Turning Leaves Writing Retreat
October, 2010

Gwynn Sheltema, Walkwrite Writing Expert
Turning Leaves, October, 2010

Ruth Walker, Walkwrite Writing Expert
Turning Leaves Retreat, October, 2010

Karen Martindale, Writing Circle buddy
Turning Leaves Retreat, October, 2010

Gwynn Scheltema, Walkwrite writing expert
Turning Leaves Retreat, October, 2010

Sally's Reading, Words of the Season, September 7, 2011

Trafalgar Driftwood Theatre Event, March, 2011

European Conferences

Tallin, Estonia, Environmental Conference
paper on Sustainability in Trades
published by Wessex Institute

Poundbury, environmental delegation, Cornwall, England

Northern Estonia, environmental conference, paper on Sustainable trades

Eden Project, environmental delegation, Cornwall, England

Poundbury, Prince's Trust, environmental delegation
Cornwall, England

European Inspirations

Paris, France from the Eiffel Tower

Dining Hall, Wolf Hotel, Oberammergau, Germany

Coliseum, Rome, Italy

Armour of Kings, Tower of London, England

Holy Cross Monastery, Florence, Italy

Roses at Ata-Hotel, Pomplei, Rome, Italy

Tuscan Roses

Tuscan Rose

Rose in Rome, Italy

Refreshment at Wolf Hotel, Oberammergau, Germany

Sculpture outside Oberammergau Theatre, Germany

Dome of the Pantheon, Rome, Italy

Chapel Ceililng Detail, Holy Cross, Florence, Italy

Charles Bailey, 16th century astrologer, "Grafitti" at Tower of London

Prisoner Graffiti at Tower of London

Carved Chess Set, Oberammergau Museum, Germany

Innsbruck, Austria

Doges' Palace, Venice, Rome

Coliseum, Rome, Italy

Oberammergau Theatre, Germany

Doges' Palace, Venice, Italy

Passion Play costumes from 1960's, Oberammergau Museum

Courtyard at Monastery, Holy Cross, Florence, Italy

Indoor Garden, Venice, Italy

Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy

Christ's Passion, Oberammergau Museum, Germany

Crucifixion, Oberammergau Museum, Germany

Crucifixion, Holy Cross, Florence, Italy

Swarovsky's, Lucerne, Switzerland

Doges' Palace, Venice, Italy

Doges' Palace, St. Marco's Square, Venice, Italy

Oberammergau Museum, Germany

Monticanti Hotel, Tuscany, Italy

Wood Carving from Oberammergau, Germany

Holy Cross Cathedral, Florence, Italy

Oberammergau Museum, Germany

Holy Cross Cathedral, Florence, Italy

Dinner in Paris, La Ferranais

Oberammergau carver's shop, Germany

Venice by boat, Italy

Tower of London

Paris by night

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Civil War armour, Warwick Castle, England

Oberammergau, Germany

Pilatishous, Oberammergau, Germany

Entrance to San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy

Wood Carver Shop, Oberammergau, Germany

Dinner in Paris Bistro

Monastry, Italy

Outdoor courtyard, Vatican, Italy

Wolf Hotel, Oberammergau, Germany

Market in Venice, Italy

St. Agostino, Tuscany, Italy

Garden at Pilatishous, Oberammergau, Germany

Gelato Shop in Rome, Italy

Italian Treats, Florence, Italy

Oberammergau Theature, Germany

Venice, Italy

Security at Eiffel Tower

Henry VIII's armour, Tower of London

German hospitality, Wolf Hotel

Inner Courtyard, Doges' Palace

St. Peter's, Vatican, Italy

Passion Play, Oberammergau, Germany

Pilatishous, Oberammergau, Germany

Jonah and the Whale, Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau Museum, Germany

Pilatushous, Oberammergau, Germany

Pilatishous, Oberammergau, Germany

Hotel Montecanti, Tuscany, Italy

Oberammergau Museum, Germany

Lucerne, Switzerland

Pilatushaus, Oberammergau, Germany

Pilatishous, Oberammergau, Germany

"Maid's Closet", Venice, Italy

Vatican, Italy

Memorial to 16th Century Executed Prisoners, Tower of London

Oberammergau Museum, Germany

Wood Carver's shop, Oberammergau, Germany

Oberammergau Museum, Germany

Oberammergau, Germany

Windermere, England

Windsor Castle, England

Warwick Castle, England

Hampton Court Palace, England

Howard Castle, England

Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn's family estate, England

Warwick Castle, England

Anne Boleyn wax figure, Warwick Castle, England

Tower of London, England

Beaulieu estate, England

Salisbury Cathedral

Starbuck's York, England

York, England

Blenheim Palace, England

Tower of London, England

Tower Bridge, London, Engand

Bailey Astrological chart, Tower of London

Elizabeth I, Madame Tussaud, London, England

Charles I, Madame Tussaud, London, England

HenryVIII, Madame Tussaud, London, England

Warwick Castle, England

Hampton Court Palace, England

Kitchens of Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace, England

Palace of Versailles, France

Oberammergau, Germany