creativity - Karen A. Chase

Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark: Animals Near Extinction

January 15, 2024 By Karen A. Chase

This week we attended a Richmond Forum lecture with Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark project, in collaboration with National Geographic. As someone who cherishes the art of photography, I am inspired by Joel Sartore’s mission. He’s striving capture the essence of 15,000+ insects, creatures and animals near extinction. Why did Joel kick off this incredible project? View some of the photos below, and read on about the impact Joel hopes to make. 📸✨

What is the Photo Ark project?

Sartore initiated the Photo Ark project out of a deep concern for the accelerating loss of species around the world. Too many animals are near extinction. Witnessing the devastating impact of habitat destruction, climate change, and other human-induced threats on wildlife, he felt a compelling need to take action. The project started in 2005, aiming to photograph 15,000 species that are on the brink of extinction—those with the smallest numbers and/or protected in captivity. His goal is not merely to create a stunning visual archive but to raise awareness about the precarious state of these creatures—both great and small.

Joel Sartore’s photo of Kindu, a Schmidt’s red-tailed guenon (Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti). Kindu was hand raised at the Houston Zoo. During bottle feedings, Kindu was given a surrogate stuffed animal that he still loves.

What do Joel Sartore’s Photos capture?

The captivating photos captured by Sartore span a wide array of species, from the tiniest of insects to the most majestic mammals (like this elephant and her baby). His lens doesn’t discriminate, encompassing the beauty and fragility of life in its myriad forms. Each image tells a story of a species fighting for survival, serving as a poignant reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the intricate web of life on Earth. On simple black or white backgrounds, the creature’s eyes are clear and vivid, and if possible, they’re looking directly into the camera. That kind of eye-contact resonates with us humans, and increases our empathy.

A federally endangered three-year-old cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) named Hasari at White Oak Conservation Center.

Why the Photo Ark images are important?

Through the Photo Ark, Joel Sartore hopes to evoke a sense of urgency and empathy among the global audience. By showcasing the incredible diversity of life facing extinction, he aims to kindle a collective commitment to conservation. Sartore’s believes awareness and education will inspire us to take action to safeguard these species and their habitats.

An endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered hatchling green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

What you can do to help animals near extinction.

We can lend a hand to these awesome creatures, too. Joel’s friendly advice is to begin right in your backyard (or patio or front stoop). Instead of a lawn we douse in chemicals, Joel recommends planting native plants and grasses. It will reduce pollution of the waterways. And pollinators will have more food to thrive. Don’t have a yard? Pick one creature—insect, bird, buffalo—and give them the voice, funding, and support they need.

If you want to delve deeper into the magical world of the Photo Ark, hop on over to his website to run through the gallery of Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark. There, you can immerse yourself in the beauty and fragility of our planet’s incredible biodiversity.

Let’s be the superheroes these creatures need. Support conservation groups, volunteer for wildlife causes, or just spread the word. (Ahem, share this blog.) Let’s make sure that the Photo Ark isn’t just a gallery of memories. Let’s make it a call to action for a better, wilder world.

A brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) at the PanAmerican Conservation Association in Gamboa, Panama.

I share stories like this and more in my author newsletter. I hope you follow along or sign up for my Chasing Histories Newsletter.

When A Story Starts

January 11, 2017 By Karen A. Chase

once_upon_a_time_lccn98518274 A dear friend of mine was struggling to choose when to begin her novel. Not when to begin writing, but when, in the timeline of her protagonist’s struggle, her story should begin.

One method we discussed was outlined in Syd Field’s book, Screenplay, The Foundations of Screen Writing. If the chronological timeline of a story are points along a line, numbered 1 through 10, we can begin with a glimpse of number 9 (the denouement), and then return to number 1 and write the rest in order. In All Is Lost we first see Robert Redford drifting in despair without his sailboat, then we are taken back and shown everything preceding it. The result? We know what’s coming before the protagonist does, but neither of us knows if by number 10 he will sink or swim, so we stick around to find out.

In a book I recently picked up, Wired For Story, the author Lisa Cron discusses the importance of starting your novel or script for the greatest neurological impact. Humans (readers) are hard-wired to hear/need stories. When tales begin, we want to be drawn in to know whose story it is, what’s happening, and what’s a stake. In Albert Camus’, The Stranger, this is accomplished with just three words. “Mother died today.” The child will be somehow affected by a death. I want to read on.

And that, my fellow writers, is the goal that ultimately my friend and I agreed upon. We strive to begin our books so it increases our readers’ curiosity to such a pitch they must keep reading.

There are countless articles that share countless ways on when and how to begin, (this one from Writer’s Digest illustrates 10 Ways to Begin). When or where have you decided to begin?

Research & Writer’s Block

February 5, 2016 By Karen A. Chase

Writers block means going back to the books. (Public Domain Image: Ivan Kramskoy. Reading woman.)

Writers often dread the idea of becoming stuck, and Writer’s Digest (WD) has a great post this week about 5 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block.

I’ll admit that I’m not a big believer in writer’s block as this staring-at-a-blank-page, drink-in-hand, woe-to-the-tortured-Hemingway-like-writer syndrome. Much like the WD article author, Molly Cochran, I think the reasons for why writers might stall are pretty straightforward. And Molly’s tips are a great help for overcoming those problems.

But I will add to her list a sixth reason, and it’s primarily for all the historical novelists out there. Lack of preparation or research.

I write what I call “Factual Fiction,” whereby my plot, story and characters are not loosely set in history but intrinsically tied to real events, people and places. So if I am having difficulty with my plot, or what my characters are doing or saying, it’s because I simply don’t know enough about the event, person or place with which they must interact.

To overcome those moments when words come to a screeching halt, I read (or sometimes reread) about an event. I take out pictures of the locations I’m featuring, or I read second-hand accounts or bios about the person they’re speaking to. Once, I had to request a historian’s dissertation from a California university to overcome a lack of information.

Usually within an hour, or in that one case a couple weeks, I’m humming along with ideas again. No more writer’s block. Then my only problem becomes whether or not I’ve blocked off enough time to write.

Dealing with Doubt

February 28, 2014 By Karen A. Chase

This painting by Henrietta Rae is actually called "Doubts." There he is behind her, that rascal. — This painting by Henrietta Rae is actually called “Doubts.” There he is sneaking up behind her, that good-for-nothing rascal.

Doubt is a natural thing for authors–for just about any profession. So I’m sharing a method to get rid of it. Personification.

Doubt. He’s a cold fish in a dusty old striped suit, with a ridiculous hat over a sharp nose. Sometimes he slips in a door I thought I’d shut behind me and slithers into a chair. He sniffs at me, clearly unimpressed with my work and determination.

“Really?” he says, “Are you sure you can do this?” His British accent sounds contrived.

I nod and mumble, “Go away. You’re not helping.”

“Ah, so you aren’t quite certain,” he raises a thin eyebrow. He smells stale, but the pompous manner in which he crosses one leg over the other gives the impression he thinks otherwise.

I try to reason away my uncertainty, “It’s not just me, you know. Even famous writers wonder if… If…”

“If today they’ll discover you’re a fraud?”

I hate it when he’s eloquent on days I’m not. I hate the way he picks the dirt from beneath his nails and flicks it to the floor. As if that bit of dirt is me.

Doubt is about to speak again when I hear a woman say, “Doubt can make you work harder. But he’s destructive. Unhelpful. He can’t stay.”

Gumption is here! That chick is kick-ass, and she empowers me. I point to the door, “Get out, Doubt! I’ve work to do.”

As Doubt slinks away, Gumption winks at me, “You’ve got this.” Yes. I do.

American Thrift Hustle

January 17, 2014 By Karen A. Chase

70sVintage — I found this fabulous vintage 70s dress for $45.

Happy New Year. In light of the oh-so-fabulous American Hustle movie winning at the Golden Globes, I’m sharing my little secret to finding that vintage (or used) fashion.

In 2013 I made the resolution to only buy used clothing (with the exception of swimsuits, shoes and underwear obviously). What did I find?

In vintage shops, I found one-of-a-kind skirts and dresses with amazing styling. But then I found an owner of a vintage shop in a Salvation Army buying pieces to resell, so I started to shop with even more thrift. I discovered that in the fancier neighborhoods, I could buy designer clothing with the tags still on them. Clothing that others thought was “so last year.” Some of it was last century.

I also found more time because clothing wasn’t my focus. And I found more money in my pocket, with a few more dollars to invest in nicer shoes that would last longer. In all, I figure I spent about $250-300 on thrift items and saved over $1500.

Discovering this second-hand life, allows me more time and money for this one–and it’s loaded with decades of styles. So I’ll stick to thrift-shopping in 2014, with a little hustle and haggling thrown in for fun.

SnowPants — Snow pants. Yes they’re Pepto-Bismal pink, but they were $20, and no one was going to recognize me so covered up.

Dress from a consignment store, $30. My mother's 1960s hat, and an old sweater of mine. — Dress from a consignment store, $30. Tags were still on it. My mother’s 1960s hat, and an old sweater of mine.

I guess the whole throwing an outfit together started early. Me at age 4 or 5 with borrowed jewelry and glasses. — I guess the whole throwing a thrifty outfit together started early. Me at age 4 or 5 with borrowed jewelry and glasses.

Gifts for Writers

November 8, 2013 By Karen A. Chase

The turkey has it right, I know. It’s not even Thanksgiving and yet here I am talking about gift-giving. This year, I’m working on a little something that will run on my blog for six weeks leading up to Christmas, so this is my only chance to share a fun holiday shopping list with you. I’ve gathered a few non-traditional ideas for gifts for the writers in my life. Yes, I see this is a little self-serving but I’ve given a couple of these before, and they were well-cherished.

Jane Austen Society Membership: Magazine, certificate, and more.

Turn a book cover into a charm at Artistry for Authors. Though I doubt Dan Brown would wear it.

An i-Tunes compilation of songs from the top 10 songs from famous authors. For $36 you can give a commercial-free membership to Pandora–nothing stalls the pen like being interrupted by a “Now just $5.99!” commercial.

For those of us who write at home, and it is unclear to our loved-ones whether we are outlining our plot or looking in the fridge (often done simultaneously), I give you the perfect t-shirt.

For other tangible items, just type in the word “author” in the search bar at Etsy. Or pick anything from this Pinterest Ideas for Writers. Coffee of the month, and spa certificates for neck massages are always welcome.

FYI, here is also what not to give–pretty self-explanatory: Alcohol. Cigarettes. Cable subscription. Books about how to write better. A journal full of blank pages.

Blogging Guidelines

August 23, 2013 By Karen A. Chase

This Public Domain image is of Anna Brassey (1839-1887). She was an English traveller and writer. Her bestselling book, "A Voyage in the Sunbeam, our Home on the Ocean for Eleven Months" was published in 1878 and included this illustration. — This Public Domain image is of Anna Brassey (1839-1887). She was an English traveller and writer. Her bestselling book, “A Voyage in the Sunbeam, our Home on the Ocean for Eleven Months” was published in 1878 and included this illustration. Journals were the original blogs.

An important element in a writer’s arsenal is a blog. It proves to publishers we have an audience and we’re capable of communicating with them. It also provides us a pure, unfiltered format for our words.

However, building and maintaining a blog that is consistent, noteworthy and timely can be time-consuming. That simple fact was why I set parameters for my own blog. 250 words maximum. Post on Fridays. Always about “composition.” These guidelines have allowed me to keep it simple, and each week I learn to eliminate excess words. I delete stuff. I simplify.

Even so, I’ve missed a few Friday posts. (Hang head. Shame.) This week an editor and I were chatting about the blog she’s had since 2001. She told me that when she doesn’t post it’s “partly for lack of discipline, partly out of self-consciousness, partly for lack of focus/purpose.” Exactly.

Well, dear editor, I think readers will forgive an occasional blog holiday. Their inboxes need a break from us, too. Yes, I think the “guidelines” are important to give us direction, but we should concentrate more on what we hope to contribute long-term through the life of the blog. Inspiration. Perspective. Information. Sometimes a little entertainment. A blog is a journey, not a destination.

What blog parameters have you seen that are helpful for authors?

(FYI, this post: 226 words.)

Type The Beginning

August 9, 2013 By Karen A. Chase

RolltopDesk — My Underwood typewriter on Ted’s old roll-top desk in our living room.

Typewriters. We writers love them. Historian and author David McCullough writes all his books on a typewriter for fear he will hit the delete key and wipe out a whole novel. Tom Hanks wrote an ode to typewriters for the New York Times this week. Famous authors have had their babies–specific typewriters upon which they tapped out their best work. You can see a list here.

I, too, have typewriter. It’s a 1935 Underwood. We found it in an antique store for $20. I paid another $100 to make it work. I don’t use it often because the keys are clunky and heavy, and I could seriously break a nail typing my name. But I do go to it for one reason. Beginnings.

When I’m on a regular computer I can crank out about 75 words a minute. (My brother said, “Yeah, 75 words a minute, but half of those are the delete key.) At that speed my thoughts are flying, but I’m not always discerning about the words. Word choice, to me, is never more important… imperative… paramount, than at the beginning of a book, of a chapter, or a scene.

How those moments start must fully engage the reader, so my mind must fully engage too. And that lovely old, black, heavy typewriter simply slows down my thinking. Besides, I feel like a writer at that typewriter. I feel all Hemingway. All Faulkner.

Now when I want to feel all Austen, I pick up a pen.

Guest Post: Kelly of Austen Hill

January 11, 2013 By Karen A. Chase

Today’s fabulous guest is the lovely Kelly Fitzgerald, founder and creative voice behind the lifestyle blog Austen Hill, where she writes about fashion, design, travel, food and more. She created the site as an outlet to share things that inspire her, and she’s come to chat about how it all started. Kelly…

Take a Chance on Yourself
When I began Austen Hill I had no idea how hard it would be, but I had felt for some time that there was a burgeoning designer inside of me just waiting to get out. What did I want to design? I had no clue. I just knew I had all of this creative energy and I needed a way to channel it. Blogging seemed like a wonderful way to explore things that I loved, and also write a bit.

Step 1: What do I do well?
A lot of my friends have asked me to help them plan parties, re-decorate rooms, or pick out the perfect shade of gray. I soon realized I had a knack for designing, and I was never asked to run the final length of a relay race. So I can’t run very fast, but I can design the heck out of a tablescape.

Step 2: Find my style.
For those of you in the marketing world, you know brand is everything. Articulating my brand, or style, consistently ensures that my readers immediately identify Austen Hill. What is my style and why does it matter? I created my Pinterest Board to get started and I always come back to it for inspiration and continuity.

Step 3: Drink a lot of wine!
It can be scary putting yourself out there. What if people don’t like what I’m doing? Through this experience I’ve learned to trust my design instincts and go for it. I took a chance on being myself and I’m so happy I did.

Check out her blog, AustenHill! Or visit the blog’s Facebook Page. Starting Monday, 14th, AustenHill will be holding a week-long give-away in conjunction with moi! If you like Paris and free books, this contest will be for you.

For her day job, Kelly travels the country working on health policy issues, but calls Richmond’s historic Church Hill home, where she lives with her dog Miss Austen. Below are a couple of her lovely pics from her blog, including an appetizer set-up in her living room, and a mood board she put together inspired by Les Misérable.