Twenty (eek!) years ago, I was a freshman in college, minding my own business and doing my homework in my dorm room. Suddenly, my roommate's twin sister burst into the room, crying and yelling about something. Eventually we understood her words: the Wall is down!
We followed her downstairs to watch on TV as thousands of Germans climbed on the Berlin Wall, crossing East to West and West to East, in the largest display of euphoria I'd ever seen. In the days that followed, demonstrations continued in the surrounding Soviet bloc countries, including Czechoslovakia, where my grandfather was born and where I still have cousins.
I've lived in Germany since then. I realize that the effects of East vs. West and the resulting unification have positives and negatives. I know that the economy of the East is still weaker than the West, and that the cost to rebuild the East chafes. I get what Wolf Biermann says in his poem "Der Westn ist besser, der Westn ist bunter, und schoener und schlauer und reicher und frei/und trotz allerdem, ich sag' dir die Wahrheit/der Westn ist auch nicht det Gelbe vom Ei." (The West is better, the West is more colorful, und more beautiful, and cleverer and richer and free/but in spite of it all I tell you the truth: the West, it isn't the yolk of the egg/cat's meow.)
Still.
We don't love (and need) freedom because it solves all our problems. We love freedom because it gives us chances. Because it opens doors. Because it gives us--and sometimes forces us to develop--power we didn't have before. Power to change our lives and bless others and make something of the world around us.
Die Mauer ist gefallen. Let freedom ring.
We followed her downstairs to watch on TV as thousands of Germans climbed on the Berlin Wall, crossing East to West and West to East, in the largest display of euphoria I'd ever seen. In the days that followed, demonstrations continued in the surrounding Soviet bloc countries, including Czechoslovakia, where my grandfather was born and where I still have cousins.
I've lived in Germany since then. I realize that the effects of East vs. West and the resulting unification have positives and negatives. I know that the economy of the East is still weaker than the West, and that the cost to rebuild the East chafes. I get what Wolf Biermann says in his poem "Der Westn ist besser, der Westn ist bunter, und schoener und schlauer und reicher und frei/und trotz allerdem, ich sag' dir die Wahrheit/der Westn ist auch nicht det Gelbe vom Ei." (The West is better, the West is more colorful, und more beautiful, and cleverer and richer and free/but in spite of it all I tell you the truth: the West, it isn't the yolk of the egg/cat's meow.)
Still.
We don't love (and need) freedom because it solves all our problems. We love freedom because it gives us chances. Because it opens doors. Because it gives us--and sometimes forces us to develop--power we didn't have before. Power to change our lives and bless others and make something of the world around us.
Die Mauer ist gefallen. Let freedom ring.
Having sent what has turned out to probably be the last revision of my picture book to my editor on Saturday, I had planned to not only blog today but also work on a new book.
Unfortunately, instead of merely one previously-scheduled doctor's appointment, I ended up with four: the planned one, then a trip to the pediatrician, the radiologist, and the orthopedist.
Yep, the Pace family has its first broken arm. It belongs to the twelve-year-old male child, otherwise known as #3.
Bummer.
Also unfortunately, I had to miss a Virginia Festival of the Book planning meeting with![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
franslayton and the Festival director. Fran and Nancy met without me and have come up with something absolutely fabulous. I'm so excited -- it's bigger and better than ever with kidlit at VABook -- and we'll have deets coming soon.
Unfortunately, instead of merely one previously-scheduled doctor's appointment, I ended up with four: the planned one, then a trip to the pediatrician, the radiologist, and the orthopedist.
Yep, the Pace family has its first broken arm. It belongs to the twelve-year-old male child, otherwise known as #3.
Bummer.
Also unfortunately, I had to miss a Virginia Festival of the Book planning meeting with
franslayton and the Festival director. Fran and Nancy met without me and have come up with something absolutely fabulous. I'm so excited -- it's bigger and better than ever with kidlit at VABook -- and we'll have deets coming soon.I think that possibly I will only write about things that happen at the grocery store from now on because it's kind of more interesting than the things that happen at my house.
My house is like a bat cave:
You can guess which one I get to be. Seriously. There is no light in there. It's so bad that sometimes I step out into the driveway and realize that not only do my socks don't match, but my shoes don't match!
Yes, I do turn on the lights.
No, they don't help.
I think pretty soon I'm going to end up looking like this:
This might actually be an improvement. He's kind of cute.But this transformation probably won't go over well on the book tour because instead of talking about my books and characters and how cool it would be if NEED was turned into a movie, I'll just be all, "SCREECHING_BAT NOISE_ SCREECH!"
This may be an improvement too actually.
Anyway, the ATM/CREDIT machine broke today in the grocery store FAST/EXPRESS lane, which made it not so fast/express.
The guy behind me was:
1. Cute
2. Impatient to get to lunch
3. Buying toothpaste.
And the woman in front of me was:
1. Cute
2. Patient
3. Buying $10 worth of things.
I was merely buying this:
Yes, it is that kind of day.
So, I said to the cashier clerk man who JUST had to go through a similar 20 minute ordeal with the machine where everyone in the entire grocery store had to come fix it, "I'll buy her stuff and my Mr. Bubble Bubblebath for sensitive skin and his toothpaste."
Everyone looked at me.
And I said, "I have cash!"
Which I did! Amen! And the cute lady who I love hugged me and the cute man was all, "Thank you, you didn't have to do that." He looked at me like I was this super angel person, which I am not, but it was nice to have someone think that.
And I have decided now that cash is a very good thing.
So is bubble bath.
Bats don't like bubble baths, right? So, I am still human, right?
Just checking.
My novel, Give Up the Ghost, has a set-up that might feel familiar to fans of paranormal fiction. There’s a main character with supernatural ties. There’s a character of the opposite sex who enters her life and shakes it up. You know where this is going, right?
If you guessed that they end up in a heated romance, you would actually be wrong. But I wouldn’t blame you for assuming that. Before I even started writing the book, I knew a romance would be the expected outcome. It was very deliberate that I chose not to meet that expectation.
Comment here or there!
Originally published at Megan Crewe - another world, not quite ours. You can comment here or there.
. . . that my new Meter Readers column for KidMagWriters.com went live as of November 1st. It's all about rhymed couplets: what they are, how to write them, and a good number of examples (including dialogue from The Princess Bride - hence my icon, which is part of dialogue in rhymed couplets between Inigo Montoya and Fezzig the Giant).
Clickety click.
Clickety click.
- Mood:
naptime! - Music:Alienation's For the Rich by They Might Be Giants (brainradio)
Back from AASL in Charlotte, NC. There's more to say on this, but I'm about to word-war with Tessa for my neglected NaNo novel. So we'll let some pictures and music say it all.
1. Music from the Ballad video is now up for download for my site. (up for down, did you catch that?)
2. Some sketches from the Sketchbook of Doom. These are from the way to and from AASL.
3. My current musical obsession: "Percussion Gun" by White Rabbits. The whole album rocks. I can't stop listening to it. It's like if Vampire Weekend had babies with The Bravery. (also, if that happened, could I watch?)
1. Music from the Ballad video is now up for download for my site. (up for down, did you catch that?)
2. Some sketches from the Sketchbook of Doom. These are from the way to and from AASL.
3. My current musical obsession: "Percussion Gun" by White Rabbits. The whole album rocks. I can't stop listening to it. It's like if Vampire Weekend had babies with The Bravery. (also, if that happened, could I watch?)
It's always exciting when your book first pops up on Amazon--found book one of Magic Repair shops books up there today.
SOOOOOOO close to finishing book two!!!!!! Got waylaid last week by sick kids, doctor appointments and mega-carpooling.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416990
SOOOOOOO close to finishing book two!!!!!! Got waylaid last week by sick kids, doctor appointments and mega-carpooling.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416990
SLEEPLESS, coming out July 13, 2010, is finally available for pre-order on Amazon. In case you just, um, wanted to put it in your cart. Of course, if you want to wait and get it from your local Indie, I support you in that decision. :)
And even though GIMME FEVER isn't going to be available until 2011, some really quick person already added it to Goodreads (thank you ever-so-much!). Add it to your to-read list? Please?
Twenty years ago this evening I was a relatively new mother, walking my colicky baby around the livingroom until it was late enough in the day for a warm bath to take effect.
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
They weren't because I was tired, or wished the colicky period would pass.
They were tears of joy, because the Germans had taken broken through the Berlin Wall.
I had seen the Wall. I had been on both sides of it. I had seen the ruins that remained in the East. Important reminders about not repeating the past, they also spoke of a lack of resources.
I had been under the Wall, riding the subway from West to West by passing underneath the East, where armed guards stood in the shadows of closed subway stops, stops marked with their original signs--Alexanderplatz, Unter den Linden, Potsdamer Platz.
I had gone through Checkpoint Charlie. I had seen the border guard pause as he compared my companion's passport photo with her face, the tension only broken when she explained the difference in hairstyle as a Dauerwelle (permanent), and then his quick flash of smile, as much for the ease of her German (not English) as anything else, I suspect.
The Wall, and the government that erected it, have left their scars, as did the war--even if the ruins have all finally been cleared.
Today, though, as I did 20 years ago, I find myself with tears on my cheeks, because of the power of people, when they work for good, and because, at least in one part of the world, a whole generation has grown up not knowing what it means to live in a divided country.
There's more to say, but I won't. Instead, I'll quote Robert Frost: "Something there is that doesn't like a wall."
You can add it here.
I'm not sure who put it up on the site, but hey, someone is just as excited as I am! :-)
Also: SQUEEE! I totally love this Icon made by the talented
anywherebeyond
This year, Esquire Magazine’s Fiction Contest featured three prompts: “Twenty-Ten,” “An Insurrection,” and “Never, Ever Bring This Up Again.” Something about the final category spoke to me. Who knows? Maybe it was the start of football season. Maybe it was me, reminiscing about my college days of drinking at sun-up. I can’t say for sure. What I can say is that a story came from this prompt—a story that I consider very much ME.
Yes, I’m always ME. However, I do like to try new things with my writing. I like to go somewhat off the Sara Dobie path to see what else I can do. However, there are also times when I stick to my guns. I write from my insides, out, pouring my sense of humor, my sense of life, and my penchant for cussing like a sailor onto the page, and in those moments, I feel free. I feel happy. I feel most like myself, and with the prompt, “Never, Ever Bring This Up Again,” I was quite at home.
So I’ve decided to share this story with my readers. As I mentioned last week, November is National Novel Writing Month. I’m not writing a novel this month. However, in homage to National Novel Writing Month, I submit the following short story—crude, honest, and inappropriate as it is. I will be posting segments over the course of this week. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I present, thanks to the Esquire Magazine Fiction Contest, “Never, Ever Bring This Up Again.”
Never, Ever Bring This Up Again
Max and I made a bet that if the Steelers won the Super Bowl, he would get his balls waxed. Well. The Steelers won the Super Bowl. Now, it’s the day after my victory. Max and I stand in a salon two blocks from my sports bar, and this chick with fake blonde hair stares at me like this is all my fault. I guess it is my fault; I’m the girl who initially joked about the bet the day before. Max merely agreed, and even then only after I’d fed him beers—the high gravity kind that’ll mess you up faster than a bull at Pamplona.
“So you’re telling me you won’t do it,” Max says, and the chick chews her green gum and holds it in the side of her mouth. She chews a couple times then uses her pink tongue to swoosh it to the other side. It’s a green gum dance, and I’m drunk enough from the day, night, and morning to be entertained.
I blink when Max groans, because it reminds me of a sound he made during our unexpected make out session a week before.
“Max,” I say, and I take hold of his arm, “let’s go back to the bar.”
“No, they should be able to do this. If they can wax a woman down there, why not a dude?”
It occurs to me that it’s strange Max is the one fighting to have his balls waxed. I’d suggested the bet, and my team had won the Super Bowl the night before. I should be angry that these salon wenches won’t do it. Instead, my eyes dart back and forth from the green chewing gum and Max’s Atlanta Falcons jersey.
“I’m sorry, sir,” says gum girl, rolling her eyes. “We don’t perform those services.”
“Well, who does?”
“I don’t know, sir,” she replies, and I get lost as her tongue does another loop over the tops of her bottom teeth. It’s about then I notice we’re making a scene. I’d been distracted by Max and bubble gum, but as I look around the sunlit foyer of the posh salon, I realize there are a number of raised eyebrows and headshakes.
I glance at Max. He isn’t talking loudly. The attention is fully based—I think—on the fact that we are two people wearing football jerseys who have been drinking since noon the day before. Oops. My bad.
* * *
“Well, that was a bust,” he says after we leave, but I’m not listening. I’m checking out the scene on King Street—working folk dressed in business casual bustling about in front of retail stores and palmetto trees. I can’t remember the last time I woke up this early. We get a few strange looks as we walk aimlessly north, and then this one dude in a tie and khakis lifts a fist.
“Go Steelers,” he says, and I hear Max cuss at my side.
I nod at the khakis man and throw a fist up, too. Yeah, I’m a chick, but when you own a sports bar, you adapt.
“I hate you,” Max says.
“No, you don’t,” I reply, “you want to shave your balls for me.” But I understand his frustration. I hate it when my team loses, too.
I glance over at Max, and he doesn’t look as tired as he should after staying up all night. He still looks eighteen years old, even though he’s twenty-six. He’s short—my height in flats—and he’s blond with blue eyes. More than that, he’s funny. He doesn’t take anything seriously, which was why I figured letting him kiss me last Sunday didn’t matter.
“I guess we can’t fulfill your bet,” he says, putting his hands in his jean pockets and glancing left to right as we jaywalk across Calhoun Street.
Next to us is Marion Square—a block-size grass park that houses the Charleston Farmer’s Market every Saturday afternoon and sunbathing college girls throughout the spring. On this Monday, I see a few ladies wearing their Sunday best. I wonder if they’ve been drinking since yesterday, too.
“I was gonna do it, you know,” Max continues. “But that crazy chick wouldn’t let me.”
I glance at Max again, and I realize he’s smiling. That’s when I understand. His ambitious bargaining with the gum chewer was a front. He knew she was going to say no when we’d asked about waxing his balls. I grabbed his shoulder, “Oh, hell no.”
“What?”
“I’m sure someone in town waxes balls.”
“She said no.”
“That was one salon. I’m looking it up online at the bar,” I say, walking now with the purpose of a drunk chick.
Max grabs my wrist and spins me around. It’s moments like this when I remember he’s stronger than me, despite his stature. I felt as much when he pushed me against a brick wall to kiss me only a week before. “Nolan, she said no.”
“Well, I’m sure we can find someone who will say yes.”
“Damn it.”
“You agreed to the bet, dude.”
“I didn’t think you were serious.”
“I’m always serious,” I say, and his blue eyes crinkle around the edges. For the first time since I’ve known him, Max shuts the hell up.
* * *
The End. Part 1. More to come.
I'm not talking about censorship/sex/drugs/your neighbor thinking you act like a teenager.
I'm talking about ZOMBIES.
So last night I became one.
Seriously.
I was in Spain. At least I think it was Spain because everything was red-roofed and red streets and there were a lot of yummy smells in the air.
Smells like BRAINZ.
I was bit almost immediately and then knew (because I read THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH bycarrie_ryan) that I would turn. Quickly. And I did.
A useful side character came up (like a good side character should) and warned, "Don't look in the mirror."
So of course I spent the rest of the dream --between diving out of windows/infecting other people/hiding fromwatchmebe who was chasing me with a bow & arrow (SISTER'S RED style?)--looking for a mirror.
When I found one it was blurred and cracked like all good story mirrors are. My reflection looked something like this:
But you know, with blue eyes.
I grabbed a roll of TP (which was handy, natch) and wiped off some of the blood and brainz and got back to work doing what zombies do.
That's about when I found my family casually picnicking on green grass apparently unaware of my current state.
I watched from afar as a wolf. Who looked just like Sam from SHIVER bym_stiefvater
Except, you know with yellow eyes
So he waltzes out of the woods and BITES MY YELLOW LAB ON THE BACK OF THE NECK KILLING HIM INSTANTLY.
Am I upset?
Not really. I casually think, "He's going to morph into a werewolf later--he'll be fine."
As I am OOZING BLOOD AND BRAINZ.
I blame said authors mentioned above. And YA in general.
Needless to say, I escaped unscathed.
I had to tell The Boy all about said dream before school this morning. His comment?
"That's great nobody cut your head off--you know that's the only way to kill a zombie."
Lesson learned? YA is a world I never want to stop visiting.
I'm talking about ZOMBIES.
So last night I became one.
Seriously.
I was in Spain. At least I think it was Spain because everything was red-roofed and red streets and there were a lot of yummy smells in the air.
Smells like BRAINZ.
I was bit almost immediately and then knew (because I read THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by
carrie_ryan) that I would turn. Quickly. And I did.A useful side character came up (like a good side character should) and warned, "Don't look in the mirror."
So of course I spent the rest of the dream --between diving out of windows/infecting other people/hiding from
watchmebe who was chasing me with a bow & arrow (SISTER'S RED style?)--looking for a mirror.When I found one it was blurred and cracked like all good story mirrors are. My reflection looked something like this:
But you know, with blue eyes.
I grabbed a roll of TP (which was handy, natch) and wiped off some of the blood and brainz and got back to work doing what zombies do.
That's about when I found my family casually picnicking on green grass apparently unaware of my current state.
I watched from afar as a wolf. Who looked just like Sam from SHIVER by
m_stiefvaterExcept, you know with yellow eyes
So he waltzes out of the woods and BITES MY YELLOW LAB ON THE BACK OF THE NECK KILLING HIM INSTANTLY.
Am I upset?
Not really. I casually think, "He's going to morph into a werewolf later--he'll be fine."
As I am OOZING BLOOD AND BRAINZ.
I blame said authors mentioned above. And YA in general.
Needless to say, I escaped unscathed.
I had to tell The Boy all about said dream before school this morning. His comment?
"That's great nobody cut your head off--you know that's the only way to kill a zombie."
Lesson learned? YA is a world I never want to stop visiting.
- Location:Spain
- Mood:
accomplished - Music:Zombie music
When we visited my in-laws a few weeks ago, they gave us their nearly-new Subaru Forester. Very exciting, but hmmm, how to get it home? I enjoy traveling, don't get me wrong, but epic car rides give me claustrophobia. (Are you surprised?) But my husband adores road trips. Long story short, he drove the Subaru back to Orange County via the backroads and byways of America.
On this sunny Monday morning, two quasi-related thoughts:
1) Our new silver steed is sturdy, shiny, safe. Just a few tiny scratches -- beauty marks, let's call them -- and that new car smell still lingers. I am grateful for this unexpected blessing, but honestly? I'd like to give it a little makeover. It's a sensible car, which is all well and good, but a little frivolity never hurt anyone, right? So...how can I transform my Granola Mobile into something a little more girly-girl? (No offense to those who prefer the former to the latter.)
2) My husband visited the International Bluegrass Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he was fortunate enough to see a live performance by Bill and Maggie Anderson, I would have liked to see them in person, but my husband brought me a CD as a consolation prize. Now, I'm not all that fond of bluegrass, but trust me: it's a toe-tapping, hand-clapping platter o' down-home goodness. My favorite song on the album is "God's Refrigerator." This video features a different artist, but I think you'll get the picture.
Yeah, it's as corny as all get-out, and maybe a bit too twangy for my ears. But the metaphor's kinda cute, don't you think? No matter your religious beliefs, I think everybody understands the significance of love made visible. And--please forgive me for this shallow interpretation--I'm wishing my story was ready to tape to the refrigerator. You too? Well, let's get cookin'!
On this sunny Monday morning, two quasi-related thoughts:
1) Our new silver steed is sturdy, shiny, safe. Just a few tiny scratches -- beauty marks, let's call them -- and that new car smell still lingers. I am grateful for this unexpected blessing, but honestly? I'd like to give it a little makeover. It's a sensible car, which is all well and good, but a little frivolity never hurt anyone, right? So...how can I transform my Granola Mobile into something a little more girly-girl? (No offense to those who prefer the former to the latter.)
2) My husband visited the International Bluegrass Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he was fortunate enough to see a live performance by Bill and Maggie Anderson, I would have liked to see them in person, but my husband brought me a CD as a consolation prize. Now, I'm not all that fond of bluegrass, but trust me: it's a toe-tapping, hand-clapping platter o' down-home goodness. My favorite song on the album is "God's Refrigerator." This video features a different artist, but I think you'll get the picture.
Yeah, it's as corny as all get-out, and maybe a bit too twangy for my ears. But the metaphor's kinda cute, don't you think? No matter your religious beliefs, I think everybody understands the significance of love made visible. And--please forgive me for this shallow interpretation--I'm wishing my story was ready to tape to the refrigerator. You too? Well, let's get cookin'!
14 has been at work on a fantasy novel for the last six months or so and is taking a creative writing class at her junior high school. She is disappointed to discover that the other students tend to say little more than, “Wow, this is great” when she reads aloud in class, and that no one finishes anything. I am not surprised.
Finally, she allowed me to read the first chapter and give her comments. It was very instructive for me to see the little comments she had written in on the sides. For example, she began the novel with a half page in italics, describing the backstory. She said she couldn’t figure out how else to get that information to the reader, but that it was important. She wanted my great wisdom on this and I smiled, telling her that this is an enormous problem for all writers, more so for fantasy and science fiction. We try various clever tricks to get in our backstory, and sometimes it works better than others. Is there one solution that always works? No. I feel like I am always relearning this with each new novel, trying a new method, seeing advantages and disadvantages. There is no trick here. Writing is a messy business.
Another problem she had was trying to figure out how to get her character to go to a particular event she wanted her at. I told her that this, too, was the kind of thing that I struggle with as a writer. I will do something clumsy in the first draft, and then try other things. Sometimes, none of them work and I end up having to find another plot line to write. This is not necessarily the kind of thing a beginning writer wants to hear, but it’s true. Other times, writers try “overhearing” things if they can’t get a character involved in a particular conversation. Or magic can allow you to see things. Or a dream. Yes, they are all devices, to be used when appropriate.
The last problem was one I actually was able to help her with. She has a man who has taken on the appearance of the enemy race coming out of the battlefield with a half-enemy baby which is his and his wife’s. People wonder how the baby got onto the battlefield and he simply shrugs them off and then lives a good deal of the rest of his life among his enemies, so that his daughter will have a chance to live. I told her that this didn’t work for me and suggested that he leave the battlefield and find the daughter later. The point isn’t the specifics of this problem, though. It’s that when the writer knows that there is a belief problem, it has to be dealt with. There are a lot of things writers don’t notice, but if you do notice something, you must find a solution. You can’t just ignore such things. If the story doesn’t make sense, the fourth wall falls apart and the story feels like just so many words on a page instead of real.
Finally, she allowed me to read the first chapter and give her comments. It was very instructive for me to see the little comments she had written in on the sides. For example, she began the novel with a half page in italics, describing the backstory. She said she couldn’t figure out how else to get that information to the reader, but that it was important. She wanted my great wisdom on this and I smiled, telling her that this is an enormous problem for all writers, more so for fantasy and science fiction. We try various clever tricks to get in our backstory, and sometimes it works better than others. Is there one solution that always works? No. I feel like I am always relearning this with each new novel, trying a new method, seeing advantages and disadvantages. There is no trick here. Writing is a messy business.
Another problem she had was trying to figure out how to get her character to go to a particular event she wanted her at. I told her that this, too, was the kind of thing that I struggle with as a writer. I will do something clumsy in the first draft, and then try other things. Sometimes, none of them work and I end up having to find another plot line to write. This is not necessarily the kind of thing a beginning writer wants to hear, but it’s true. Other times, writers try “overhearing” things if they can’t get a character involved in a particular conversation. Or magic can allow you to see things. Or a dream. Yes, they are all devices, to be used when appropriate.
The last problem was one I actually was able to help her with. She has a man who has taken on the appearance of the enemy race coming out of the battlefield with a half-enemy baby which is his and his wife’s. People wonder how the baby got onto the battlefield and he simply shrugs them off and then lives a good deal of the rest of his life among his enemies, so that his daughter will have a chance to live. I told her that this didn’t work for me and suggested that he leave the battlefield and find the daughter later. The point isn’t the specifics of this problem, though. It’s that when the writer knows that there is a belief problem, it has to be dealt with. There are a lot of things writers don’t notice, but if you do notice something, you must find a solution. You can’t just ignore such things. If the story doesn’t make sense, the fourth wall falls apart and the story feels like just so many words on a page instead of real.
The good: I know for sure some kind librarians nominated FAR FROM YOU for the YALSA 2010 book lists (Best Books for Young Readers and Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers) because they told me so. THANK YOU kind librarians!!!
The not-so-good: It didn't make either nomination list, which means it didn't get the necessary second from a committee member. I'm sad, but oh well. I'm thrilled so many awesome books are on the lists and many of our LJ friends, includinglkmadigan and jbknowles , have books there.
The good: The book I've been working on for the last 8 months, HOPE FOR NIMBUS, is done. For now. And I'm going to send it to my agent today!
The not-so-good: I wanted to be a lot further along on my new novel-in-verse than I am, and I'm so busy at work this month, I don't know that I'm going to have much energy to work on it during my off-hours. But, I guess I can only do what I can do.
The good: I was browsing the new S&S Children's Catalog for Spring 2010 and on the CHASING BROOKLYN page, it says, "12-copy mixed floor display (Includes 8 copies of CHASING BROOKLYN and 4 copies of I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME) for $159.88." A floor display will be available for my books!!
The not-so-good: Will any bookseller really buy one? I often see news like this and think the worst. What is up with that?
The good: Day off today!
The not-so-good: I have a to-do list the size of a foot-long sandwich. I better get to it.
Happy Monday all! And in case I don't get a chance to say it tomorrow, Happy Anniversary Sesame Street!!
The not-so-good: It didn't make either nomination list, which means it didn't get the necessary second from a committee member. I'm sad, but oh well. I'm thrilled so many awesome books are on the lists and many of our LJ friends, including
lkmadigan and jbknowles , have books there. The good: The book I've been working on for the last 8 months, HOPE FOR NIMBUS, is done. For now. And I'm going to send it to my agent today!
The not-so-good: I wanted to be a lot further along on my new novel-in-verse than I am, and I'm so busy at work this month, I don't know that I'm going to have much energy to work on it during my off-hours. But, I guess I can only do what I can do.
The good: I was browsing the new S&S Children's Catalog for Spring 2010 and on the CHASING BROOKLYN page, it says, "12-copy mixed floor display (Includes 8 copies of CHASING BROOKLYN and 4 copies of I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME) for $159.88." A floor display will be available for my books!!
The not-so-good: Will any bookseller really buy one? I often see news like this and think the worst. What is up with that?
The good: Day off today!
The not-so-good: I have a to-do list the size of a foot-long sandwich. I better get to it.
Happy Monday all! And in case I don't get a chance to say it tomorrow, Happy Anniversary Sesame Street!!
I just finished my first NYC school visit. I spoke to a group of sixth graders at Pershing IS-220 and we had a fun visit. They even gave me flowers--so sweet! I ran through my Power Point and the kids asked great, engaging questions.
The best part? I didn't spill coffee on my skirt (and I mean a LOT of coffee) until I was heading down the stairs to leave. Win!
Thanks so much to Lucia Greenberg for being a fantastic host. She took photos of the event and got releases from the students' parents, so I'll be able to post pics to my blog soon.
Gotta do some writing before heading into Manhattan for an appt. Happy Monday!
- Mood:
relieved
I don't have to tell anyone how much this isn't good for their writing. I also don't have to tell anyone how hard it is to gain that confidence back. Now, what made me lose mine? I wish I could blame it on someone, but the truth is I've never lost confidence in my writing because of what someone has said. I guess I'm just not that type. Before I started my first book I'd spent a lot of time in book discussions, book groups and online. I knew very well what the fans had to say about storytelling. True, I didn't understand the process behind a book, but when I first started I knew I'd never please everyone. Knowing this will never make me think I can't write. Seems kinda silly to let such a thing happen in the first place, doesn't it?
I love Supernatural. Der. Y'all know that. I'm falling head over heels in love with Vampire Diaries. And no, I certainly don't expect everyone I come in contact with to love these shows like I do. I don't even expect them to like the shows. Certainly, I won't dislike a person because they don't like what I like.
So no. Regarding my writing, differing opinions don't shake me.
I also know that some people can't dislike something without being nasty about it. That is just how they're made.
I am what makes me lose confidence in me. I lose interest in my story and its mission and I lose that drive that I once had. For me, writing a book is like a marriage. At first, I'm all googly-eyed and it's all I can think about. After a time though the honeymoon's over. I have to decide if I want to work at really loving my book, give it up in some flight of fancy since the grass is always greener, or stick with it because I'm stubborn and in the end wind up hating it.
This emotional battle is what makes me lose confidence in my writing. If I can't commit then I'm worthless. If I can't work at making it the best it can be then I'm a lazy slob. If I make myself do something I don't want to do then I'm only hurting myself in the end. And the circle goes round and round.
Until, eventually, thank the fiction gods, it evens back out.
I love Supernatural. Der. Y'all know that. I'm falling head over heels in love with Vampire Diaries. And no, I certainly don't expect everyone I come in contact with to love these shows like I do. I don't even expect them to like the shows. Certainly, I won't dislike a person because they don't like what I like.
So no. Regarding my writing, differing opinions don't shake me.
I also know that some people can't dislike something without being nasty about it. That is just how they're made.
I am what makes me lose confidence in me. I lose interest in my story and its mission and I lose that drive that I once had. For me, writing a book is like a marriage. At first, I'm all googly-eyed and it's all I can think about. After a time though the honeymoon's over. I have to decide if I want to work at really loving my book, give it up in some flight of fancy since the grass is always greener, or stick with it because I'm stubborn and in the end wind up hating it.
This emotional battle is what makes me lose confidence in my writing. If I can't commit then I'm worthless. If I can't work at making it the best it can be then I'm a lazy slob. If I make myself do something I don't want to do then I'm only hurting myself in the end. And the circle goes round and round.
Until, eventually, thank the fiction gods, it evens back out.
- Location:butt in chair
- Mood:
calm
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saralewisholmesSix things from my book signing at Hooray for Books!, a wonderful independent children's book store in Alexandria, Virginia:
1) People showed up! You may laugh at my anxiety, but authors fear the unattended book signing like they used to fear searching for a friendly lunch table on the first day of a new middle school. I was grateful to see tons of familiar faces, friends who waved and hugged and bought books and laughed at the right places during the reading. Thank you, thank you.
2) The people who couldn't show up still ordered books! Yup. I had a large basket of pre-ordered copies to sign, and as I went through them, I kept breaking into a big, goofy smile at the sight of each name. What fun that faraway friends went the extra mile to support the signing. Big hugs to each of you.
3) I did a craft project for the signing! (Those of you who know me are fainting.) It could hardly be featured on Etsy, but I made a collage of pictures of military families.
You can see it beside me in this picture. Having who I wrote the book for next to me helped me focus. How could I be nervous when military kids are kind and brave each day?
4) I brought props! Here's a close up of my table:
---little green army men, of course, guarding the book of LGM photos that my agent, Tina Wexler, gave me as a publication gift
---a REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT tag
---a container of folded paper stars like the ones Gari makes in the book (My daughter made these particular ones. They were passed from hand to hand and oohed and ahhhed over.)
---the fabulous teacher's guide written for me by Natalie Lorenzi, who was in attendance. (Yay, Natalie!)
---other books about military families, including Rosanne Parry's Heart of a Shepherd and Jimmy Gownley's fourth volume of Amelia Rules! graphic novel series. I also held up Jon Scieszka's Knucklehead because the book is hilarious and features little green army men!
---my YES wristband given to me by my husband, which I'm wearing, as well as the As You Like It necklace that was a tribute to my theater background in high school.
---the yellow roses are courtesy of dedicated OPERATION YES supporter and fabulous friend, Jama Rattigan of Alphabet Soup.
5) For the reading itself, I chose the scene where Miss Loupe pretends to be rowing a boat and leads her class in a jody call from atop the Ugly, Ugly Couch. I recruited young actors from the audience to shout out the responses to the jody call as the students in Room 208 do, and when it came time for Miss Loupe to obey St. Peter's command to "drop down, granny, and give me ten!" I complied with pushups as my lovely friends counted. (You can see a picture of my pushups here at Jama's blog, along with other pictures from the signing, including one of my husband with Cornelius Bear!)
6) Hooray for Books! owners Trish and Ellen, plus helper Kristy, were unfailingly gracious, helping me set up and providing brownies for everyone. At the end of the signing, they extended an author discount to me on the copy of Robin Brande's FAT CAT that I had called ahead to reserve. And they also gave me a check with a matching donation to Musicorps! Thank you so, so much.
P.S. If you still want a signed copy of OPERATION YES, Hooray for Books is standing by. Call them at (703) 548-4092. I live close to the store, so I can personalize your request.
I'm so needed outside to rake, haul and help hubby with some measuring of the land. I'd so much rather be moving forward with my sci-fi middle grade. After rewriting the first four chapters with the new characters, I went back and totally overhauled the middle and end plots. New places to explore, new people to talk to. A simplified ending . . . I'm soooooo in love with this project again!
And speaking of projects, B finished his Egypt report. He had three weeks to create the written portion, a 3-D piece and a poster board of information. But three soccer practices/games a week + one boyscout meeting a week + two big merit badge projects (all of which in the month of October) = very, very little time.
So he really, truly started the project last Monday, once soccer was done and the merit badge projects were turned in. He chose to work on Mummies. I wasn't surprised . . . dead things, organs being extracted, brains mashed and taken out the nose, fingers and toes falling off . . . what boy wouldn't want to do a mummy project?
He did his report first, 'cause he finds that the most boring. Then he did his 3-D, and then the poster was worked on aaaaaallllll day yesterday
I learned so much right along side of him . . . very interesting stuff! I thought his 3-D would be the sarcophagus or he'd wrap a mummy. But he chose a canopic jar, in the shape of the jackal headed god, Duametef. It houses the stomach so the pharoh or other elite could have it in the afterlife. There are three others which house the liver, intestines and lungs. The Egyptians threw the brain away, it wasn't important I guess. And the heart stayed as it housed the soul.
B is sooooo proud of that jar! Then, on the way out the door this morning, he tried to help me carry something, and he dropped the top. An ear and nose broke off . . . he was soooo upset.
But good news!! We quickly super glued it back on and you couldn't even tell it'd come off.
All hail the Super Glue!!
Okay, hubby is tapping his foot and looking at his watch . . . I have to run!
- Mood:
grateful
Since before it came out in September, All the World has been received very kindly by a bunch of very fine folk -- from bloggers, librarians and reviewers to cereal makers, booksellers and honest-to-goodness kids.
For me, each note or nod acts as ballast to the careening nerves and crises of confidence that beleaguer my everyday work.
Because while I'm mindful that I oughtn't attach myself too closely to external affirmation, it doesn't hurt to be told (in not so many words) to carry on.
And that's what happened this weekend when we got a little love from the New York Times.
THE New York Times.
Seriously you guys.
First, there's this lovely review that includes one of my favorite spreads from the book.
And then (this totally flipped my lid) we made the top ten list of Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2009.
Gulp.
Yipes.
Sigh.
Carry on...
For me, each note or nod acts as ballast to the careening nerves and crises of confidence that beleaguer my everyday work.
Because while I'm mindful that I oughtn't attach myself too closely to external affirmation, it doesn't hurt to be told (in not so many words) to carry on.
And that's what happened this weekend when we got a little love from the New York Times.
THE New York Times.
Seriously you guys.
First, there's this lovely review that includes one of my favorite spreads from the book.
And then (this totally flipped my lid) we made the top ten list of Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2009.
Gulp.
Yipes.
Sigh.
Carry on...
We are pleased to announce Holidaze With the Debs, a series of author events in the U.S. and Canada this holiday season. At bookstores, libraries and schools in the New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto areas, members of the 2009 Debutantes will talk about their own books and other 2009 favorites. A full list of events is available below.
"Publishers are working with shrinking promotional budgets in this economy," notes Rhonda Stapleton, author of STUPID CUPID (Simon Pulse). "As first-time authors, we know that much of our promotion is going to have to come from us, and over the last year we've also learned how much fun it is to do events together. So we're especially excited to be able to talk to readers directly this holiday season."
2009 DEBUTANTES' HOLIDAZE TOUR
NEW YORK
Dec. 6, 1-3 p.m.
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th St.
New York, NY
Including: Megan Crewe, Sarah Cross, Deva Fagan, Neesha Meminger, Kate Messner, Shani Petroff, Jon Skovron, Michelle Zink
CHICAGO
Dec. 5, 1-3 p.m.
Borders
161 N. Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin
Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.
The Book Cellar, Inc.
4736-38 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Dec. 5, 3-4 p.m
Borders
588 Francisco Blvd. West
San Rafael, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley
Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
Menlo Park Public Library
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
Dec. 9, 12 p.m.
Petaluma High School*
201 Fair St.
Petaluma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
* Open to the public, but visitors should check in at the school office when arriving
Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
119 Colma Blvd.
Colma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
TORONTO
Jan. 9, 2 p.m.
Indigo
Eaton Centre
220 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
Including: R.J. Anderson, Megan Crewe, Sarah Ockler, Rhonda Stapleton, Lara Zielin
"Publishers are working with shrinking promotional budgets in this economy," notes Rhonda Stapleton, author of STUPID CUPID (Simon Pulse). "As first-time authors, we know that much of our promotion is going to have to come from us, and over the last year we've also learned how much fun it is to do events together. So we're especially excited to be able to talk to readers directly this holiday season."
2009 DEBUTANTES' HOLIDAZE TOUR
NEW YORK
Dec. 6, 1-3 p.m.
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th St.
New York, NY
Including: Megan Crewe, Sarah Cross, Deva Fagan, Neesha Meminger, Kate Messner, Shani Petroff, Jon Skovron, Michelle Zink
CHICAGO
Dec. 5, 1-3 p.m.
Borders
161 N. Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin
Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.
The Book Cellar, Inc.
4736-38 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Dec. 5, 3-4 p.m
Borders
588 Francisco Blvd. West
San Rafael, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley
Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
Menlo Park Public Library
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
Dec. 9, 12 p.m.
Petaluma High School*
201 Fair St.
Petaluma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
* Open to the public, but visitors should check in at the school office when arriving
Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
119 Colma Blvd.
Colma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
TORONTO
Jan. 9, 2 p.m.
Indigo
Eaton Centre
220 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
Including: R.J. Anderson, Megan Crewe, Sarah Ockler, Rhonda Stapleton, Lara Zielin
I returned from my Disney trip to find that FAIRY TALE was mentioned in this past Sunday's New York Times book review, along with books by Lisa Mantchev, Melinda Lo, and Aprilynne Pike. Very cool!
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jonowrimo :: jbknowles : 2nd Official Update coming SOON! [+2] - metteharrison : messy writing problems [+0]
- lisa_schroeder : The good/The not-so-good [+12]
- jessicaburkhart : First NYC school visit [+0]
- meredith_wood : Losing Confidence [+4]
- saralewisholmes : Six Things for a Signing [+0]
- tamra_wight : Quick Post and Grateful for Super Glue [+2]
- liz_scanlon : Gulp. Yipes. Sigh. [+7]
- debut2009 :: anywherebeyond : Introducing Holidaze with the Debs [+8]
- cyn2write : New York Times [+2]