Small Stir

New Office with a View

2011-06-23T16:04:00.000-04:00

It's happened; it's finally happened! I'm working from home. I'm drinking coffee at a teal lacquered desk ("how lovely," you say; "yes," I reply, "the legs are curved, how did you know?") while staring out huge windows into my lush backyard. I see birds and trees and grass and hydrangeas, and I am old because I'm thinking about a bird feeder. I try to ignore dust and fingerprints and laundry (my one weakness) and just write, write, write. Soon I will write whatever I wish but for now I must write blog posts for The Greenville Shakespeare Company, a weekly current events article for an online publisher, and news for a new teen magazine called Trak (more about that later). But this may be done in pajamas and slippers or running clothes or an old t-shirt with bleach on it. (Because one can never use bleach without ruining something, can one?) And so it is glorious.

Writers' Forum

2011-04-06T22:25:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I spoke at a Writers' Forum. Here are a few things I included in the PowerPoint--lessons I have learned through the publishing process:

•1) A first draft is a first draft. (Don't consider initial output perfect.)

•2) A revision is a re-vision. (That means look at your draft again.)

•3) Your editor wants you to succeed. (He's not trying to tank your project.)

•4) Consider all suggestions. (Consider. All. Suggestions.)

•5) Collaboration usually makes a better product. (Theatre people know this. Why don't other artists get it?)

•6) Appreciate others’ strengths. (Use other people's talents. Very few people are good at everything.)

•7) Don’t forget your audience. (Unless you're waiting to be discovered posthumously, make your writing something people want to read now.)

Book Signing Blahs

2011-03-23T23:14:00.000-04:00

So I had a book signing Monday night. It was blah. For one thing, it didn't get advertised. For another thing, we were stuck in the back of the store. And we (the authors) were too many, so I think we overwhelmed anyone who came near us. I brought my own book stands (always remembering the mantra "flat books, flat sales") and stood several books up. I also brought my big lion and sat him on the floor.

We should've been in the children's section so that folks looking there anyway would find us. At least two of the sales that were made were because I mentioned to people browsing in children's that there were authors in the back of the store. There should've been more signage, too. Oh, well, live and learn.

Greetings from Honduras and Panama!

2011-02-04T16:15:00.000-05:00

While traveling for work, I was able to promote Mumsi Meets a Lion and Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond in Honduras and Panama. In fact, the event organizer wanted to give away copies of my books as an incentive to turn in a survey. So Mumsi and Rodney have traveled to Central America and are being introduced in at least two Honduran home--perhaps even as I write!

Tomorrow I get to speak on teaching writing, a topic I always enjoy. No doubt the books and freelancing will be part of the discussion. I just hope they don't ask me how faithful I am in my (non-work related) writing!

Celebrity Sighting

2011-01-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

While taking an early-morning shuttle to the airport in Atlanta, my husband gave up his seat on our crowded bus to an attractive older woman. She accepted his offer and mentioned to me how kind he was. My husband then proceeded to give her husband one of his gloves to grip the freezing cold pole with. (They were both standing.) At this, the lady was amazed and again commented to me about his kindness. We began conversing, and the short of it is that she was (is) Marjolein Bastin, the well-known Dutch artist! She is known worldwide for her detailed nature paintings. She is perhaps best known for her 30-year association with Hallmark cards. Of course, I had nothing with me for her to sign or sketch on. We talked about her painting and her love of nature before we were dropped off at the airport and went our separate ways. It was a fun way to start our trip.

New Year, New Plan

2011-01-01T08:23:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year 2011! It's a fresh new year, and I'm up early making a new yearly plan. Part of my plan will have to do with writing goals--goals for my writing, that is. Aside from a ton of free lance work (including a fairly sizable play) and of course, my part-time job of textbook writing, I haven't done much writing. Soooo, I'm considering making the goal of writing a chapter a week for this year. I have thought about a chapter a day, but I'm afraid that that will just set me up for failure right from the get-go. Even a chapter a week would net me 52 chapters in a year (in case you weren't working the math in your head), and that's way more than a YA novel. I'm thinking that these chapters will be focused on getting a story on paper (that's figurative--it'll probably be on computer) and not on final, massaged drafts.

So that's the plan. Here we go. Hang on. Can't wait to see what happens.

Mumsi Audiobook

2010-11-08T22:32:00.000-05:00

I found out today that my publisher posted my book, Mumsi Meets a Lion, as an audiobook. It's available here. This is a recording that I made in a friend's home studio. How cool is that? Look out, iTunes (ha).

This afternoon I visited Hidden Treasure, a school for disabled children. I read Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond to them. They seemed to enjoy the story and the wonderful illustrations. This was my first opportunity to read this book aloud to a group of children. The jury is still out on which of my books I like to read more.

Language

2010-10-28T19:51:00.000-04:00

Here's an excerpt from the piece I wrote for God's World News last week:

To grow up with English teachers in the house is to love wrangling over language. My family made a team sport of arguing minor points of grammar. Each of us had a specialty: Dad monitored pronoun-antecedent use; Mom policed comma rules; Sis investigated mistakes with as—as and so—as. And I, I took the road less traveled by concerning possessives before gerunds. Together we critiqued the punctuation, usage, spelling, and mechanics of much of the Southeast. No “Cantaloupe’s $2” sign went unnoticed; no church bulletin was safe.

The piece ran on the website this week, and I've already received comments about it both from people I know as well as people I don't know. How rewarding to write and then hear from people who were encouraged by what you had to say.

Whew!

2010-10-14T20:02:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in quite a while--not because I'm not writing but because I am writing . . . a lot. My freelancing is keeping me hopping. I now have a weekly piece on the GWN website.

I've also been asked to write an Easter play for 2012. That project has been very interesting and challenging. I've roughed the initial concept now and written some first drafts of scenes. The play is due to the producer in January, so I feel good about where I am with it right now.

Am I allowed to say that my writing is keeping me from writing? Hmmmm . . .

Mumsi Fan

2010-09-17T13:25:00.001-04:00

The other evening I was at a birthday party when a little fellow sidled up to me and said, "I just love your Mumsi book!" Turns out, he was in the K5 Mumsi program last Spring. He played the part of a monkey. I asked him what his favorite part was. He replied, "I really couldn't say. I just love it all." Wow. Then I asked him whether he was at all scared when he first read it and told him that I was just a little scared about what would happen to Mumsi. He assured me that he was not scared because it was such a good story.

Then in the grocery store this week, a mother stopped me to say that her son had been one of the multiple Mumsi's in the program and that he loved the book and the whole experience of learning about Africa while working on the program. It's nice having tiny fans.

Rodney Letter

2010-08-24T16:51:00.000-04:00

Wow! I received a wonderful letter in the mail on Friday. Some weeks ago I sent a copy of Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond to the folks who live in the real-life house mentioned in my book. It was my grandparents' very New England house on Colonial Avenue "with the perfect picket fence," a cherry tree in the front yard, and a cellar door. This was at the suggestion of my uncle, who remembered that a couple from the neighborhood had bought the house in the 80s and were still living there. Here are excerpts from the nice letter I received:

"I grew up [on Colonial Avenue] and as a child I remember what a big deal it was for the street to be paved. It was a summer project and I loved all the commotion!"

And this, "You may be interested to know that to this day when we have a big rainstorm a huge puddle still forms in front of our house until the storm drain can catch up. Sometimes it has even crept halfway up our driveway!"

Now if I could just find the newspaper article. . . .

Children's Book Writing Conference

2010-08-10T15:07:00.001-04:00

I attended a writers' conference last Saturday. Great speakers, great topics, great location--a wonderful experience! One speaker, Pat Scales, was a former Newbery and Caldecott judge. I could have listened to her all day. Another was an editor for Highlights magazine and Calkins Creek books. She was knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. She was the kind of person that I just knew I would like, the kind that I could get into trouble with if we were ever seated together somewhere formal. Other speakers included a Caldecott-awarding winning illustrator, a well-published children's book author, and the author of the currently popular Pirate books. All were quite down-to-earth and eager to share their insights into the world of children's book publishing.

I've already contacted the lady from Highlights/Calkins Creek and asked about sending her something for publication. That's one of the major benefits of attending these conferences, I'm told: networking and opportunities for personal contact that can lead to publishing opportunities.

2010-07-17T21:01:00.000-04:00

Here's a list of things that I have meant to do for some time:

--send a copy of Rodney Robbins to the people who live at the real house in which the story takes place

--send a copy to my mother-in-law (ouch!)

--send copies to my friend who lives in Vermont

--send one to the librarian downtown who was so helpful with Mumsi

--work on other stories including but not limited to a novel for adults, a devotional book, poetry, and several picture book ideas

Here's what I have done so far:

--nothing (as far as writing goes)

That's not entirely true. The nothing part, I mean. I do think about writing a lot. I think of ideas all of the time (two in the last two days). Then I bring them up occasionally to my family--"That could fit into my new book," I say. They, "What new book?" Me, "The new book I'm thinking about." They, "Is this the same one you were thinking about last month?" Me, "Well . . . " They, "Oh."

Sometimes I think about writing when I'm falling asleep. I can restart the same scene the same way several nights in a row as I drift off. So there's this little boy who has a pet lizard. . . . There's comfort in sameness anyway.

Ayuh!

2010-07-08T22:55:00.000-04:00

I've always been interested in words. It probably started with my parents' giving me a Word-a-Day calendar when I was in seventh grade. I've been hooked ever since. (Incidentally, I still get a W-a-D calendar under the Christmas tree. Today's word: xylography, the art of making engravings on wood.) Well, enjoying words turns quickly into loving phrases and proceeds quite naturally into adoring sentences. One particular aspect of logophilia is fascination with colloquialisms and regionalisms.

This brings us around to ayuh, a New Englandism if ever there was one. Ayuh usually means "yes." However, language connoisseurs note that although at first blush the word has a positive connotation, it also may possess negative meanings which are expressed in "extremely subtle undertones" that "only a native New Englander can discern." (See The New England Accent for more information on ayuh and other New Englandisms.)

And now we get around to the point (finally!) of this little essay. My Grandfather Hamilton, whom my new book Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond features, said ayuh frequently. Grandpa was a Vermonter through and through, but he lived much of his adult life in Waltham, Massachusetts. He said ayuh differently than the official pronunciation, which stresses the first syllable: ay'-yuh. Grandpa Hamilton always said ay-yuh'--with the second syllable almost clipped off, almost like "uh-huh" in emphasis but sounding a lot like "yeah." "So howdya like the brown bread and baked beans, Floyd?" my grandmother might ask. "Ayuh," he might reply, holding out his plate. This meant, of course, "They're delicious. May I please have some more?" A man of few words, just like in my book.

Story Starter

2010-06-29T22:30:00.000-04:00

For one of my workshops last week I used the opening paragraph to Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond as a story starter. Then I had the group finish the story round-robin fashion. The story took an interesting turn and ended up involving a carnival and a fishing contest. The attendees seemed interested when I revealed that this very paragraph was the opening to my new book. Some of them actually went right out and purchased the book and had me sign it.

Perhaps one of the most gratifying moments came when one lady said while skimming through Mumsi Meets a Lion, "I don't know if I could make it all the way through this without crying." I told her that I always feel the same way about Mumsi's story: I'm so proud of him for listening and doing the right thing!

Speaking in Upstate NY

2010-06-23T22:12:00.000-04:00

Greetings from the Finger Lakes region of New York State! I've arrived in beautiful Canandaigua, NY, and am staying at an inn on Lake Canandaigua. Tomorrow and Friday I'll be speaking at a teachers' conference. I'm giving three sessions: one on pre-writing activities, one on teaching vocabulary, and one on literature. There will also be opportunities for me to sign my books at a book table.

As I sit here in my hotel room, I'm debating about whether to revamp my whole workshop or just stick with what I've done before. It's always a challenge to practice what one preaches about inductive teaching and teaching for comprehension--especially when there's a lot of material to be covered in a short amount of time. Perhaps I should focus more on inspiring the teachers of writing to be inspirational than to cover all of the material on my handout. After all, the material on the handout will be there when they get home. (They can read it.)

Rodney Robbins Book Trailer

2010-06-16T21:43:00.000-04:00

Check out the book trailer for my new book, Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. I just love the way the pictures are animated. And the child's voice is so cute, too. Here's the link: http://www.bjupress.com/videos/rodney-robbins.mov

Unexpected Blessing

2010-06-14T08:43:00.000-04:00

Wow. I heard a sweet story from the director of the Mumsi play. The family of one of the children in the program is preparing to go to Africa as missionaries. The little boy was fearful and unsure of their big move. However, after working on the Mumsi Meets a Lion program, he is looking forward to this new adventure. That's a very unexpected and exciting result!

Look, Mom! I'm on Amazon!

2010-06-03T12:02:00.000-04:00

My book is finally out! Hooray! Yesterday I checked Amazon.com and found that my book was listed there for sale. Wow. That's really cool. No reviews yet though, so somebody out there in cyberspace please post a (positive--did I say that?) review for Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond.

This from a satisfied Mumsi reader just the other day:" I read your new book to my grandson, Sam, and we both loved it! Excellent book! Congratulations." I love positive feedback.

My Smallest Fan

2010-05-31T12:43:00.001-04:00

Here's a sweet photo of what might be my smallest fan. She is reading a special pre-release copy of Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. (Actually, her father is reading it to her.) She seems enthralled by the story--or at least by Bruce Day's excellent illustrations--don't you think? Two days from now is the release day. Nothing big planned so far--just life as usual and working on the next project for Summer Shakespeare, a little freelance biography writing, and a possible kid's chapter book.

It's Finally Here!

2010-05-24T22:46:00.001-04:00

Here it is! (See image at right.) At long last, my latest picture book, Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond has arrived. And my publisher says that I can now spill the beans. So here's the news: the illustrator is Bruce Day, a talented illustrator from Idaho. He's done work for the NFL, Campbell's Soup, and other well-known companies. His style is comic, detailed, and bright. Children will enjoy finding various elements of the story or sub-story throughout the book. For example, there's a frog that shows up repeatedly and a bandaid and . . . but you'll just have to see for yourself when the book becomes available June 2.

New Website

2010-05-22T17:26:00.000-04:00

My staff & I (this is said slightly tongue-in-cheek) have been working hard to bring a new website to life. It will be about my endeavors as a children's author and will celebrate the launch of my new book, Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. I have some reason to believe that the launch will take place next week since the word from the publisher was that the book was due to be out in May 2010. (And next week ends the month of May . . . or almost.) So with hope and joy and yes, a smidgeon of pride (or should I say "satisfaction"?), I look forward to the finish line.

Mumsi Program

2010-05-17T22:45:00.000-04:00

This photo was taken by my mom at the Mumsi Meets a Lion program last week. It shows one young Mumsi and a fearsome lion. Note the flashlight and spear (as in the book). The backdrop and the abandoned termite mound are nice in this shot, too. You can't see the other children on the risers, but they are there in full costume--more lions and giraffes and birds and bats. Nice job, K5ers!

K5 Mumsi Program

2010-05-11T22:50:00.000-04:00

Today I had the great privilege to attend a performance by a group of talented K5 students. The students did an adaptation of my book Mumsi Meets a Lion for their Spring program. The four kindergarten classes began as a large group, then performed individually. Each class had its own Mumsi or lion or villagers, etc. All of the children wore colorful costumes, and many held handmade musical instruments. Even though many parents had pre-ordered books for their students, some purchased additional ones before or after the program. It was so much fun to see the children's faces as they asked me to sign their books and told me what parts they'd played.

I also distributed buttons advertising my new Rodney book Those were delivered to the school at the eleventh hour. It was nice to have something to give away--and a nice promo.

Sawaya's Visit

2010-04-20T19:18:00.000-04:00

Today I went with Sawaya (the Kenyan friend who told me the story of Mumsi Meets a Lion) to a group of 5-year-olds. I told about writing the book, and Sawaya told about life in Kenya. The children were cute and had many questions for both of us. (Where did you get your idea for the book? How did you get to be friends? Have you ever seen a lion? What toys do children in Kenya have? What did you eat in Kenya? and so on.) The children had all read the book, so they knew lots of things to ask about. Sawaya spoke in Swahili to them, and they sang "Blow, Blow the Kenyan Wind" for us. They will be performing a musical version of Mumsi Meets a Lion for their kindergarten spring program in May. The students have made instruments and costumes for the program. I'm eager to see my book on the stage.

Poetry Month

2010-04-05T21:25:00.000-04:00

I want to post several poems this April in honor of National Poetry Month. Here's a new poem written for a seventh-grade literature class by my 12-year-old son. I think he's got a lot going on in this--possibly more than even he knows. It is a prime example of what can come from an exercise in stylistic imitation. This poem imitates "Swift Things Are Beautiful" by Elizabeth Coatsworth.

Loud Things Are Beautiful

by H.C.S.

Loud things are beautiful

like a lion roaring,

a bear rearing back,

the raindrops pouring.

A hyena’s laugh, 5

a busy town,

a gunshot,

Bang! The target is found.

Quiet things are beautiful,

calm, and sweet: 10

a honey drop oozing,

a butterfly’s wingbeat.

The sun in its beauty,

the moon in its peace,

the calm of the desert, 15

the sheep's woolly fleece.

Read Across America

2010-03-29T15:50:00.000-04:00

Last week I visited a middle school classroom for "Read Across America" Day. I read Mumsi Meets a Lion to them. The class pictured here (an art elective class) was so attentive and asked a lot of good questions about the book and the writing/publishing process.

Here are some takeaways from the experience: 1) A good story transcends the recommended age levels on the back of the book. 2) The illustrator is the big draw. (Pun only partially intended.) The number 1 question I'm asked at readings of my book: Did I do the pictures? (Answer: No. I wish.) 3) I'm amazed at how much I enjoy my own story. 4) Teachers enjoy having their classes read to as much as the students enjoy being read to. 5) "Local Author" is a very rewarding title to put below your name.

Daily Lit

2010-03-26T20:38:00.000-04:00

Have I talked about DailyLit.com yet? Love it. Love it. You log in (or not), sift through their massive library of books, and select something you've always wanted to read but just haven't gotten around to. (Many are free!) War and Peace, anyone? You select a few options such as preferred font, delivery time of day and times per week, as well as amount in each installment. Then you sit back and wait for your book to arrive. Next day, bing! It's there in your inbox--a lovely, palatable chunk of literature. I've chosen Adam Bede by George Eliot. (Yes, the Mary Ann Evans George Eliot, the Silas Marner George Eliot. That's her to our left.) I've been getting installments for about a week now and just this evening I switched the length of my installments. They were so brief--about two minutes of reading--that I was wanting more every day. Did I mention that I love it?

So Many Ideas, So Little Time . . .

2010-03-18T20:26:00.000-04:00

Someone once said that trouble comes in threes. Or was it death that comes like that? Anyway, sometimes story ideas come in multiples, too. Right now in my brain there roil (great word, roil, huh?) three ideas. There's one about a girl detective, one about the antics of a rascally pre-teen, and one about an inventor. And one about soup. Okay, so that's four. The only one I've done any real work on is the girl detective one. I've scribbled the start of a story about the pre-teen on the back of a paycheck envelope but have yet to find the time to develop the story beyond a few scattered ideas. So here I am, blogging instead of writing. . . .

Despite my own creative struggles, real progress is being made on my website design. The banner is taking shape, and I love it! It's vibrant, it's fun, it's interesting--all of the things a writer hopes to be. Let's hope the website is up around the time of the new book's coming out! What a happy coincidence that would be!

CBA Release

2010-03-10T18:16:00.000-05:00

A recent issue of the Christian Booksellers Guide mentions the Rodney story as being released in May. Yippee! That's welcome news to me. How strange it is to see one's name in print in a publication like that!

Plans continue for the Mumsi program in May. Today we nailed down the time for Sawaya and my visit to the elementary school where the program will take place. That is coming up April 20 2010.

Final Proofs

2010-03-01T21:46:00.000-05:00

I'm checking final proofs for Rodney these days. One thing I learned from my Mumsi experience is that I need to read the story aloud and watch the page turns. That is where one may notice a number of problems that would not otherwise be evident.

Here's what else is going on--just for the record:
--I entered the SCBWI-C contest with Daniel's Day.
--I was invited to read at Read 2 Me Day and at Read Across America at a school in Dacusville.
--I continue to write for GWN--8 articles and counting for the April issue.
--I've begun a new story that may become a early chapter book. I'm only about one page in, so I shouldn't even put this in writing yet, but I need some accountability. . . .
--I find that I'm out of steam on resubmissions but will attempt to get back on that soon. (How's that for no accountability?)
--no further work on the novel . . . yikes!

Kenyan Embassy

2010-02-26T16:14:00.000-05:00

I received a letter from the Kenyan Embassy in response to a copy of Mumsi Meets a Lion that I sent them. The writer (a secretary? administrative assistant?) said, "[The story] reminded me of my childhood years growing up in Northern rural Kenya." Isn't that fun?The letter writer's name is Galma Mukhe Boru--I wonder what tribe he (she?) is from.

A Non-Sneak Peak

2010-02-08T16:47:00.000-05:00

My editor called me into the office and gave me an officially sanctioned look at the artwork for my new book: Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. It's incredible! This makes me even more excited about the release date, which is . . . I DON'T KNOW! If all goes well, it should be sooner rather than later. We'll see.

On the Mumsi front: I'm taking copies of Mumsi with me to a conference I'm speaking at in California this week. This was at the request of someone else, but I'm only too happy to oblige. Mumsi will have a spot in the vendors' exhibition hall. Hopefully, he will be well-received.

New Book Soon?

2010-01-28T21:56:00.000-05:00

Well, somebody somewhat in the know almost spilled the beans today about when my new book is coming out. This person just couldn't stop smiling when I said that my book was hopefully being released soon. I think the words "really soon" even popped out. She also mentioned that the buzz is that the illustrations are fantastic. Can't wait.

Any Time Now

2010-01-25T21:48:00.000-05:00

I've made small strides since last writing. I'm in a list mood, so here goes.

1) Work continues on my new website. Tonite I had a setback: my username/password wouldn't work.
2) I should see proofs of the Rodney story soon--in the next couple of weeks!
3) Lots of writing is being done as I develop four brand-new workshops for a conference I'm speaking at in California next month.
4) The assignments for GWN keep coming. I have a big one on the Haiti crisis due next week.

I know, I know, I need to get back to creative writing. Arg.

Mumsi to the Embassy

2010-01-12T17:16:00.000-05:00

Wow. It's been a while since I posted. I've taken quite a Christmas break and now am trying to get back into the swing of writing. I've had six assignments from GWN over the holidays and am glad that the February issue is behind. Word is that March assignments are on their way later this week, so the hiatus won't be too long.

Today I sent Mumsi Meets a Lion to the Kenyan Embassy in Washington, DC. This idea came from an article in SCBWI's monthly magazine. I've also made some headway on the novel I'm working on but not nearly as much as I'd hoped to over break. At present it is apparent that I do not have the discipline requisite to be a novelist. I'm mulling around several other stories--children's ones--in my head. None seem ready for paper yet.

At some point I need to set some goals for the year here in this space. Of course, I don't look forward to making myself accountable to myself. . . .

Artwork

2009-12-16T21:34:00.000-05:00

Today my editor sent me a sneak preview of the artwork for my new book, Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. It is fantastic! I don't think I'm supposed to reveal who the artist is, but I will say that the style is just exactly what the story needs. I'm thrilled to finally see Mr. Hamilton and Rodney come alive. All artwork is supposed to be finished by the end of December for a January 2010 book launch. That should translate into a late-Spring book in hand. Marketing is hoping to get the book on some summer reading lists.

Last week I sent October Bell out to five more publishers. We'll see what happens with this batch. Somewhere out there is a publisher who is just right for that story.

Two Roads

2009-12-14T22:03:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this isn't a running blog, but I must report that I ran my fourth marathon on Saturday. Twenty-mile-per-hour winds were a definite factor as was the reality that I would be running the distance by myself (oh, and 1499 other runners) due to my running buddy's having begged off four weeks previously. At the starting gun, I choked back tears: the last thing I was looking to do was run for nearly five hours in my Polartec mittens. (It was 37 degrees.) Instead I desperately wanted to return to our suite at the hotel and drink coffee and watch HGTV. But alas, there was a 26.2-mile job to be done. Two roads diverged in the Huntsville dawn. I took the one traveled by crazy people. And that has made all the difference.

2009-12-10T07:49:00.000-05:00

Here's a little unsolicited praise for Mumsi Meets a Lion from someone I don't even know in Texas:

"As part of the teaching process, we were to bring in a picture of a lion or some video footage to help understand how big they are, etc. So I brought her book about Mumsi--the kids loved it!"

It's always nice when someone else loves your baby.

What's Up

2009-12-01T21:31:00.000-05:00

Not much going on these days other than final training runs for my December 12 marathon. I am trying to work steadily on the information needed for a new website, filling in a Google doc a little at a time.

I recently read Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. I'd heard so much about it, and in many ways it didn't disappoint. The strengths for me were the pacing and drive of the story. Each event propelled you to the next--not in a cheap thrills, cliff-hanger sort of way but in an adrenaline-charged, curiosity-killed-the-cat ride. The style was solid and non-cliched, unforced and comfortable. Perhaps if I'd read it before Gilead, I'd have been more taken with it. Don't get me wrong--I'd highly recommend it.

Mumsi Music

2009-11-19T21:31:00.000-05:00

Today I met with the director of the Mumsi Meets a Lion program. She and I attempted to figure out where within the text to place the poems (that she will turn into songs) that I wrote. We found some places where I need to edit the poems for logic's sake. We also found one "hole" that needs to be filled by another song--probably about Mumsi's running home after the lion leaves. The collaboration was a lot of fun.

I've also been asked to speak in a writing class next week as a writer of children's nonfiction. I will discuss my freelancing opportunities and the challenges of writing for a deadline and to fit someone else's idea of a good piece.

More research today on places to send my writing. I used the latest issue of SCBWI magazine for ideas. Always something on the to-do list . . .

Website Demo

2009-11-18T19:28:00.000-05:00

I demoed a CMS for my upcoming website yesterday. Wow, was it ever easy, which is just what I need. I'm definitely not wired for techno and creative. Creating pages, adding content, etc., seemed to be a breeze. I continue to write copy for the website: book blurbs and bios and the like. This is another form of self-promotion, a difficult task for me. But if one is going to produce a product (and one is trying to), it seems that one ought to be willing to get it out there for folks to see. (You see, I'm talking about myself here.)

Website Planning

2009-11-13T22:42:00.000-05:00

I met with my tech people (wink, wink) and began planning for a website. I've done some preliminary research about what I like/don't like, want/don't want. Now the time has come to make decisions about specifics for each page: how many pages, how people will navigate through the site, what will appear on each page, and many other things I don't know anything about. I'm told I need to select a Content Management System. I'm considering Big Blue Hat, but I need to give it a trial run first. I'm told it's easier than many--and I'm such a techno-infant.

Two More Submissions

2009-11-12T17:06:00.000-05:00

I submitted Daniel's Day to two more publishers today. I hope to get a rejection letter from at least one of the publishers I've submitted to. I can't learn from nothing, so it would be nice to get some kind of feedback. I also worked on the novel just a bit. I must get more consistent with that--I wait so long between times that I work on it that it's almost like starting over every time.

Hidden Treasure Reading

2009-11-09T19:01:00.003-05:00

Today I took Mumsi Meets a Lion to Hidden Treasure, a school for the disabled. Since today is National Young Readers Day, the school decided to have a number of local celebs and/or authors in to read to the students. (I fall most firmly into the latter category.) The students there were so enthusiastic and attentive. They really became involved in Mumsi's story--imitating the lion sounds and echoing Mumsi's injunction of "Don't move; don't breathe. And whatever you do, don't run." Some understood more than others, but all were appreciative. I found myself encouraged and challenged by those special students. I left a complimentary copy of the book with them, and they were so excited to get to read it again and again. At the end of my visit, they presented me with a big cookie. What a wonderful ministry the teachers and helpers at Hidden Treasure have!

Daniel's Day Out Again

2009-11-06T16:56:00.002-05:00

I've decided to send my stories out to multiple publishers at the same time. I sent Daniel's Day out to two more places. It's hard to wait 9 to 12 weeks between sending things out. This way I feel less like I'm spinning my wheels.

Noises in the Night

2009-11-05T13:43:00.005-05:00

That's the title of one of the songs I've written for the K5 program that will feature Mumsi Meets a Lion (or Mumsi, the Musical, as my husband likes to call it). The song features onomatopoeic words that mirror animals that Mumsi meets in the forest. I have about eight songs in the works. I've "released" three to the program director/musician who will be setting them to music. So far, so good. I'm hoping that one of the songs that states the book's repeated warning, "Don't Run, Mumsi," will use a variation of the Kenyan folk song (not sure that's what it would be called?), "Jambo Bwana." But we'll see what the composer thinks. . . .

Sonnets in the Mail

2009-10-29T08:18:00.002-04:00

Mumsi Meets a Lion is being turned into a play! A K5 class is going to be performing a staged version of the book in the Spring. I've been asked to write some songs for the kids to sing at various points in the action. This will definitely be a first for me: ditty writer.

Yesterday I mailed the two sonnets to Indiana. I took them to the post office without an entry fee check inside and had to call and have the postmaster pull the envelope out of the pile so that I could run a check up. Ooops. That would've been embarrassing: "Ummm, Ms. Stegall, you didn't include a check. But just forget about it . . . really." Today I'm hoping to work on some song texts for the Mumsi play and put in some time on the novel.

Quondam and Tide

2009-10-23T11:22:00.002-04:00

Those are the titles of two sonnets that I've written for a sonnet contest. I'm no sonneteer, mind you. Just stretching my poetic wings a bit. I like the constraints of the form as an exercise in flexibility--if that makes some sort of odd sense. . . . I hope to print them off later today and possibly send them in. That would be a pleasant finish to a fairly unproductive week writing-wise.

Just the Facts

2009-10-20T13:47:00.002-04:00

Wow. I've been so bad about posting. Here's what's happening around here that's keeping me from writing. No excuses, just facts.

--new responsibilities at work
--death of a friend
--new commitments at church
--an out-of-town trip that I coordinated
--showers and parties and kids' school events
--increased marathon training (read: lotsa miles)

In brief, LIFE has happened, and writing has been put on hold for a season. In the queue I have a sonnet to finish before November 15, a poem to write before November 15, and a short story to write before January 1. (Note to self: this story may be titled, "This Little Cow.")

2009-10-10T12:16:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I mailed a copy of Which End Up? to a publisher whose website says that they are seeking books with a distinctive flair and possibilities for unique presentation styles. I think my book would be a good match given the upside down "motif." I made a dummy book for this submission since the concept of flipping the book is a little difficult to explain. I always wish I were an illustrator for these submissions since seeing the pictures would help sell the concept, I think. But I'm not, so there you have it.

Writing Away

2009-10-09T08:38:00.003-04:00

I went yesterday to my favorite writing spot/coffee shop and had a good "session." I didn't get much writing done, but I did get some organizational things accomplished. First, I got the wheels rolling on getting a website. I consulted with "my people" (you know who you are) and as a result I now own the kimstegall.com domain! Woo-hooo! Of course, there's nothing up yet. But one thing at a time. Next, I figured out to whom I want to send Which End Up? and wrote the intro. letter. I'm hoping to send that manuscript out today. Unfortunately, that's one for which I really need to make a dummy book, so it takes a good bit of time to send out. We'll see. I got nothing done on my novel. Oops.

Daniel's Day Submitted

2009-10-06T21:23:00.005-04:00

I sent Daniel's Day off last week. Not sure how I failed to record that earlier. I sent it to FSG. This is the first time I've included a SASE with my manuscript. That will be interesting to know when the manuscript arrives. FSG allows for simultaneous submissions, but I can't imagine that editors really like that. (I know of at least one who doesn't.) Still, I may go ahead and send the story off to one or two others just to keep the ball rolling. This week I hope to rework Which End Up? and resubmit that. I would also like to work more on my novel. Wow, it's so hard to long enough blocks of time to make much headway.

I finished my second month of freelancing for a children's magazine and received the first issue. My name isn't anywhere in the mag, but that suits me just fine since the writing is not my usual style. Just keep the checks coming, right?

Three Finished Poems

2009-09-28T22:03:00.004-04:00

I finished three poems in my "series" and am sending them off tomorrow. There's not a huge poetry market these days, but I found a small publication that might be interested. I sent "Football," "Radio," and "Horseradish"--my three favorites. My father-in-law would be so amazed to read about his early exploits in poetic form.

Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond

2009-09-24T21:38:00.003-04:00

So that's my official title now. I just got word on that this afternoon. (I told my editor that it would be referred to as Hamilton's Pond in my memoirs.) I now enter what my editor loves to call the "black hole" of publishing. That means that I hear virtually nothing about what's happening with my book while they negotiate with an illustrator, set up pages, design the cover, and so on. Perhaps, if I'm very, very good, I will get a sneak peek at something now and then.

I'm really crossing my fingers about the illustrator. I have a friend who is an excellent illustrator, and her name has been thrown into the ring as a possibility for my book. That would be so great on so many levels. I better not hope too much for that lest I be horrifically disappointed if she doesn't get the job. There's a Shakespeare line that goes something like "Do not? Dare not? Do you know and dare not?" That line comes to my mind every time I have contact with my editor now.

It's a Go!

2009-09-21T23:17:00.002-04:00

Hooray! My second book will be published by JourneyForth Press. Hamilton's Pond will actually see the light of day. More details to come!

Taking the Pond Plunge

2009-09-17T09:37:00.003-04:00

I did it! I resubmitted my Hamilton's Pond story just two minutes ago! I feel relieved and happy. I just wasn't sure it would happen. I sure hope I don't have to wait forever to hear back. The new edits make the story stronger, I think. There was one I declined to make: I didn't want to delineate everything about the scooter. I felt that a good illustrator could tell a funny story with the scooter better than I could write it out. We'll see what the editor thinks about my ignoring that particular comment. I really want to see this story work out.

Relax and Write

2009-09-09T20:50:00.003-04:00

Ahhhhh! I had a wonderfully relaxing morning writing at ABC today. I was able to look objectively at my story and do some tweaking. I don't think the point of view change ruined the story at all. I did have one point of disagreement with the editorial committee: I don't think I should have to explain where Rodney's scooter is at all times. I think that is something that is better left to a clever illustrator. We'll see how my editor reacts to that notion.

I also received two new freelance assignments--we're on to the next month of the magazine.

An Answer

2009-09-04T16:54:00.003-04:00

I finally heard back from my publisher about Hamilton's Pond. And the answer is rather mixed. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Before giving me a contract, the review committee wants me to change the POV to Rodney. (Remember him?) The POV now is limited omniscient. I just don't see the change. . . at least not right now. The review committee seems to think that kids won't go for a story that features an adult. I think lots of kids' stories feature adults. Anyway, I need some time to absorb and decide whether I want to make that change.

Sidetracked

2009-08-31T21:37:00.002-04:00

Currently not working on creative projects--just doing freelance editorial work, adapting a play, and editing a video project. Knee deep in stuff for other people. Oh, well, back to my pet projects later. . . .

Sparkle Plenty

2009-08-28T11:03:00.002-04:00

Anyone remember the cartoon Dick Tracy? Well, the cartoon featured a girl named Sparkle Plenty (daughter of B.O. and Gravel Gertie Plenty). Her name became synonymous with anyone or anything that had chic-ness, effulgence, and, well, sparkle. (Notice her long, flowing, blonde hair. That's sparkle for you.) It's what my editor wants. It's what my piece Which End Up? lacked. The first line began, "Humans function . . ." I mean, really. So this morning a tried adding a little sparkle. I even used the term "tricked out." Just call me Sparkle Plenty.

Green Glow Worms

2009-08-24T20:29:00.002-04:00

Just freelanced an article on swimming worms that drop glowing green bombs from their heads when threatened. Really. I'm certainly learning a lot from this experience.

As I expected, my creative writing efforts have been severely curtailed due to my return to work last week. I need to get a plan and stick with it. It's just that now I'm heading to work in the morning, running errands/doing housework/freelancing in the afternoons, then helping with homework and getting supper ready in the evenings. (I know, I know--no excuses.) Right now my choices seem to be to get up earlier, stay up later, or let the house go. Hmmmmmmm.

Updates

2009-08-20T19:29:00.004-04:00

Okay, so let's review what's out there hanging:

Since I've heard no word on October Bell, I resent today to another publisher (#3). Now I wait for 3 months.

Still waiting for word on Hamilton's Pond from my first publisher. Word is that I may hear something next week. The project has been tabled but will be revisited soon. My editor is championing this.

Daniel's Day is waiting for my first-choice editor to be freed up from considering the above project.

I'm working on a sonnet just for kicks. This may be entered in a sonnet contest in November. Here's the first line (at least for now): "Somewhere in ancient past before this day."

Still need another poem (on school?) for my poem sequence. I will probably need to talk to Jeff's dad for this since all of the poems are about him.

I've written three articles now for a new freelance project. That is proving to be quite enjoyable.

So that's what's going on for now. What will the rest of the week hold?

Back to Work

2009-08-17T22:03:00.003-04:00

Returning to my regular work today was difficult. Of course, the morning was spent greeting colleagues and cleaning off my desk. So it was not until right at the end that I got around to some actual editing. The feeling walking up to the front door was bittersweet--familiar, comfortable . . . but required. (That's the bitter part.)

I received word back from my new freelance writing job for a Christian magazine publisher that my piece was accepted with only minor adjustments. (And most of those were style issues--I'm not used to theirs yet.) One suggestion I made turned into a second (very small) assignment, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Big Week

2009-08-15T19:37:00.004-04:00

So much has happened this week. First, I was able to spend two full mornings working on writing. And I do mean working on writing . . . not actually writing. There is so much to be done in the way of researching publishers, researching topics (what topics are already done to death by which publishers and who has what holes), charting a plan, resubmitting, etc. I didn't hear anything from the October Bell people, so I'm planning to resubmit that next week someplace else.

Here's a peek at my to-do list for the next week/weeks:
1) Join SCBWI.
2) Check out writing conferences to attend. (NYC in January?)
3) Think seriously about putting together a website.
4) Re-submit October Bell and Which End Up? (8/20).
5) Study publishers who have/don't have books about adoption.
6) Look for publishers who welcome/encourage manuscripts about disabled children.
7) Write another poem for the "series."

Lots to do. And I start back to my "real" job on Monday!

Publisher Research

2009-08-11T12:06:00.003-04:00

I've spent several days and tons of hours poring over the 2009 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market. (Incidentally, do they ever need a good editor!) The articles by authors and publishers have given invaluable advice on today's market. They've also given me encouragement to keep submitting even after rejection. It's amazing how many times some of these people were rejected before finding a publisher. I've been marking the publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts and noting who is interested in what kinds of books. A number of publishers are looking for books about children with handicaps--which I just happen to have.

Another interesting section of the book is about various writing conferences and support groups. Many of the authors cite those two outlets are primary influences and helps in their getting published. I'm looking into some conferences here in the Southeast this fall.

Now on to the 2010 guide!

Gilead

2009-08-10T11:57:00.004-04:00

I finished Marilynne Robinson's Gilead a couple of weeks ago. The story was at first difficult reading--heavy, that is, and serious. I was afraid that it was going to be a bit esoteric for me. But I really grew to love the story, the characters, and Robinson's writing style. The language and themes were all so lovely and tranquil yet with a throbbing undercurrent of faith-based questioning that (at least for me) strengthened rather than diminished the book's effectiveness--not at all preachy but very moving and instructive. There is also an element or two of surprise in this otherwise placid letter from a preacher to his son that makes the ending sparkle with thoughtful significance. The book makes me want to read the author's other books, Home and Housekeeping.

Poetry

2009-08-04T21:11:00.003-04:00

Today I worked on my poetry "collection." (I use quotation marks because there are only five poems so far, so I'm not sure that they qualify as a collection. They are, however, related somewhat, so perhaps they do qualify.) They are free-verse poems based on stories that my father-in-law has told me about his childhood. The poems are Radio, Shoes, Horseradish, Football, and today's new one, Outhouse. There is very little market for poetry, but these were just begging to be written. It's amazing how much time and energy go into the artful compression of thought that makes poetry poetry. Exact, sparse, and imageful words take effort; there is a lot of paring away of unnecessary bits. Sometimes I worry that I take so much away that the image is visible only to me, like covering up most of a photograph and expecting someone else to recognize the picture: it seems so obvious to the one doing the covering or the paring. Perhaps I'll publish some of the poems (or parts of them) here at some point.

Movie Version a Flop

2009-08-01T21:47:00.002-04:00

Wow. The movie version of The Tale of Despereaux was a disappointment. Much of what made the book delightful--namely the author-reader interaction--was gone from the film script. Characters were altered drastically or invented capriciously, e.g., the jailer/unfit father and the strange vegetable man. And poor Miggery Sow was not given her due--she was a much more pitiful creature than the movie led one to believe. And Roscuro's redemption seemed a bit over the top. I wonder what Kate Di Camillo thought of the version they presented? No surprise that the movie didn't come close to the book. Most of them don't.

Juvenile Fiction Read

2009-08-01T12:40:00.003-04:00

I failed to mention in the last post that I read The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo on the plane last week. What a delightful story! DiCamillo artfully captures the interest of the young reader throughout, urging said reader to look up words, listen carefully, heed advice. She capitalizes on the childish fascination with things a bit gross and scary and weaves a tale of bravery and forgiveness despite overwhelming adversity. The first chapter, in which the large-eared, wide-eyed mouse is born ends in a way that compels the reader to read on:

"But, reader, he did live.
This is his story."

The drama involves said mouse, several unscrupulous rats, and Miggery Sow (yes, reader, named for a pig), a pitiful, not-too-bright farm girl, who's been abandoned and abused.

Here are a couple of favorite quotations among many memorable lines:

"Reader, you must know that an interesting fate (sometimes involving rats, sometimes not) awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform."

(Oddly enough, I didn't find the book a tirade on conformity, as the previous sentence would suggest.)

"Unfortunately, a rat can hang from a chandelier for only so long before he is discovered. This would be true at even the loudest party."

The true test was giving it to my 12-year-old boy, who devoured the 270-page book in a day. Definitely a must-read for the 7-12 age group.

And the Answer Is . . . Wait Some More

2009-07-28T10:47:00.003-04:00

My editor/publisher let me know yesterday that she is herself in a holding pattern given some restructuring/negotiations/red tape stuff going on in her office. The publisher evidently is trying to broaden its audience. That being the case, it doesn't seem that this will affect the decision on my book (Hamilton's Pond) except for timing possibly. Of course, this is all speculation on my part. Exact words: "this will push the decision deeper into the calendar." Go figure.

Stamp of Approval

2009-07-24T10:59:00.003-04:00

Today the mother I interviewed about her son's disability read Daniel's Day. She cried. Okay, that was quite gratifying. She felt that the tone (what I'd been so concerned about) was right: serious but not morbid and with enough touches of humor. She made one suggestion and that was that the massaging session I mentioned would take place at the therapist's not the doctor's office. I made that change and am continuing to let the piece simmer as I consider whether to submit it now.

Still waiting to hear about Hamilton's Pond. I really don't want to submit another story to the same editor until I hear about the first one. Not sure if that's the right tactic or no.

No News Is No News

2009-07-20T17:09:00.003-04:00

I found out yesterday that my editor will be out of the office until Thursday of this week. So that means that I will most likely not hear anything until next week about the status of Hamilton's Pond. This manuscript submission process will teach me patience yet.

Still diddling away on Daniel's Day.

An Austen Afternoon

2009-07-18T22:18:00.003-04:00

My daughter and I attended a Jane Austen lecture, tea, and film showing this afternoon at our downtown public library. The lecturer spoke on the subject of "Austen and the Stormy Sisterhood," a reference to a famous criticism of Austen by Charlotte Bronte. (Bronte believed Austen to value reason over passion to a deplorable degree.) Although I did not agree with all of the lecturer's assessments, I was intrigued by the whole of idea of famous authors critiquing one another's works. I know my favorite criticism quotation is Jonson's of Shakespeare when Jonson said, "Sufflaminandus erat," that is, "He ought to have been stopped." Of course, I humbly but heartily disagree with Mr. Jonson.

Chasing Redbird

2009-07-17T08:20:00.003-04:00

Earlier this week I finished Sharon Creech's YA novel Chasing Redbird. Although I still loved her semi-rambling, casual style--a style that feels comfortable, like a favorite chair--the plot of this novel passed me by somehow. The characters were endearing and memorable--the uncle who runs about waving a stick; the main character, Zinny, a collector of everything from bottlecaps and white pebbles to mental images and fading memories. The weakness I saw was the fact that many of the character actions seemed unmotivated: why is Zinny obsessed with the trail? why have her aunt and uncle created this other world in the woods? and how is it possible that no one knew about the cabin? why is Jake a kleptomaniac? I had the same feeling with this novel that I have feared for my own writing; that is, that I will become so enamored of a certain image that I will ram it into my work whether it fits or no. The dying-in-a-drawer image struck me this way. And the medallion. And the snake thrashing. And the divided house. I'm not giving up on Creech though. I still admire her breadth of style and unwillingness to fall into a safe pattern in her writing. Formulaic she is not. And that seems like a great rule to follow.

Read Aloud

2009-07-15T22:32:00.002-04:00

I read my story aloud to my husband today. It was nice to have an audience. I found myself getting choked up near the ending. I still think that there are some rough passages and that some of the things that are clear to me are probably muddy to someone unfamiliar with my topic, but it's coming along. The tweaking continues.

Down to Business

2009-07-14T08:14:00.003-04:00

Today is another writing day courtesy of my hubby. I'm sitting in a coffee shop with a mug of coffee and a banana nut muffin top preparing to let the creative juices do what creative juices do best. My goal is to knuckle down on the Daniel's Day story. I'd love to get that into submittable style before we leave for vacation in a week and a half. I need to incorporate the info from the interview and get a couple more questions answered along the way. I think tone is going to be my biggest hurdle on this piece: serious but not somber, light but not trivial, happy but not giddy.

Response to Literature

2009-07-13T08:26:00.002-04:00

I recently re-read the epilogue to More Precious Than Gold, the story of a terrible house fire that left young Becky Vaughn permanently disabled and disfigured. Several things stuck out to me as I read of her ordeal. One was the magnitude of her injuries: she had over 57 surgeries and 171 blood transfusions at the time of the writing. Another was her awareness (as an impressionable teenager) that she was not physically attractive to other people and her knowledge that other people would stare at her. At one point in her narrative, she says, “I’m only telling you this because I’m writing it and you’re not looking at me.” Throughout her story Becky remained thankful that God spared her life. Although she was “not sure what [her] story will be yet,” she recognizes that “God has been very good” to her. The poignant statement “I’m glad I’m alive” at the end of her piece is a gut-punch of an ending and a reminder of “what is really important in life.”

Reading Update

2009-07-10T22:30:00.003-04:00

Last week I read Jamie Turner's newest book, Sometimes a Light Surprises, about a man whose wife died years previously, and he is estranged from his children. Although I could not empathize as well with this character as with the protagonist of Winter Birds, I enjoyed Turner's exquisite characterizations as always. These are people you feel you know and just might catch yourself requesting prayer for at Wednesday night prayer meeting. I also read Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie, a book I've intended to read for some time. I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing, the characterization, and the plot. I thought it was spot-on for its YA demographic. Next up: Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech, my current favorite YA author.

Research Interview

2009-07-09T23:11:00.005-04:00

Today I talked with a friend who has a disabled child. She answered my questions about the family's daily activities and how the other children are involved in taking care of the disabled child. I spoke with the children, too. Their input was quite affectionate. Neither one seems at all shy or embarrassed about their sibling. They both treat the whole situation as if it's the most normal thing in the world. As I expected, I had no sooner left but I had a number of further questions. Ah, well, these can be covered by email.

Probably the most interesting thing about the interview was the mother's saying that the disabled child adds an immeasurable sweetness to the home--something that seems to defy description. However, I shall attempt it. Or perhaps the sweetness is better left to the illustrator. . . .

Back at It

2009-07-08T20:17:00.003-04:00

Today my wonderful husband gave me the morning to write. I went to a local coffee shop that had wi-fi and worked diligently on Daniel's Day, the story of a handicapped child and his siblings. I was surprised at how much I had already written. The story is really taking good shape. Tomorrow I will go visit friends who have a handicapped child and ask questions about how they go about their days. I'm interested mostly in how the other children work with the handicapped child. I feel as though I'm handling this in a very sensitive manner, and I genuinely want the piece to be educational, inspiring, and challenging. But I worry that in my ignorance, I may ask questions that seem callous. At the same time, I don't want to sugarcoat what the family is dealing with. Happily, this family is well-grounded and very open.

I also did something I've never done before--at least not on a computer. I reformatted the last two or three paragraphs with each of the 10-12 sentences on separate lines (not in paragraph form). Then I cut and pasted in order to get the right order. In the process I realized that there were some redundancies as well as sentences that were irrelevant. How difficult it is to part with favorite ideas or turns of phrase! But seeing each attempting to "stand" on its own made the superfluous sentences obvious.

Stagnation

2009-07-06T17:41:00.002-04:00

My life is currently so busy that I don't seem to have time to write . . . at least not for publication. I'm writing blog posts for Summer Shakespeare, writing assignments with a student I'm tutoring in writing, and similar things, but no "official" writing. And momentarily I'm leaving to address a group of high school students about the play they will see tonight (Two Gentlemen of Verona). (That's related only by virtue of its being communication of some sort.) I really am itching to have a block of time in which to get some ideas down on paper.

Off to Reviewers

2009-06-30T22:11:00.004-04:00

Well, my book Hamilton's Pond made it through its first big hoop: the editor. As far as she's concerned, it's a go! Now it's off to the review committee. I'm not sure what that means--whether it's something of a formality or yet another potential obstacle. At any rate, I'm glad to have news. Now it's wait, wait, wait again for the reviewer feedback to come in. That should be several more weeks.

I'll be interested to see whether any of the reviewers question the use of the word "asphalt." I hadn't thought of it before, but today during an email exchange with my editor, I decided that the word was perhaps a bit old for children the ages of my intended audience. I did "field research" on three subjects ages 5, 10, and 12. Neither the 5-year-old nor the 10-year-old knew what the word meant. The 12-year-old did. (Incidentally, the 12-year-old is my son.) I suggested "tar" as a possible change from my own text since I talk only of how somethings smelled--not what it actually was.

Add One to the Booklist

2009-06-23T00:04:00.004-04:00

A friend just brought me A Beginning, A Muddle, and an End: The Right Way to Write Writing by Avi. So I'm adding that book to my to-be-read list. This should be a good week for getting some reading done . . . and hopefully some writing as well.

Tomorrow (which is, I guess, today) I hope to do further research on Lovers of Laundry. I did some Bible study yesterday and attempted to outline the book. My thoughts so far are rather unwieldy: too broad, too scattered, too nebulous. I'm hoping that looking at other books of a similar genre will help me focus on what I want to accomplish with this book.

Books I'm Reading

2009-06-18T08:58:00.004-04:00

While I wait for word on my latest project(s), I'm continuing to write. But as most (all?) good would-be writers do, I'm reading, too. Here's what's on my recently read list:

Heartbeat (Creech)
How to Study the Bible (MacArthur)
The Old Man in the Corner (Orczy)
Kitchen Privileges (Clark)

Here's what's on my to-be-read list:

Sometimes a Light Surprises (Turner)
How to Speak Shakespeare (Pritner & Colaianni)
Peace Like a River (Enger)
another Sharon Creech book

What else should I be reading? Any suggestions for me?

Spy Network

2009-06-17T20:32:00.002-04:00

My daughter and her friend ran into my editor yesterday. The editor told the girls that she was eager to read my revised manuscript and that it was next on her list. So perhaps that means that I will hear something this week. The editor also mentioned that she could already see some of the illustrations and who would do them. Now doesn't that seem hopeful?! To be continued . . .

Hamilton's Pond Revisited

2009-06-10T22:01:00.003-04:00

Yes, it's true. I re-submitted my children's book story Hamilton's Pond with a revision that added a child who is involved in the plot. My editor will get back to me at some point. So it's the waiting game again. For now, I'm continuing to work on our summer play, which opens Friday. After that, I'll try to find time to do some research on Daniel's Day and Lovers of Laundry. Both pieces have been stagnating for some time while other projects pushed them out of the way.

An Ending in Sight

2009-06-08T23:27:00.003-04:00

The End is near! The story Hamilton's Pond has made it through my daughter and now my husband. His comments involved questioning how asphalt is laid (who knows?), remarking that my placement of an odor in the story was odd (it was), and wanting me to add some more details (I did). So now everyone's happy, but I still need one more pass before I'm willing to let it go back to the editor. Hopefully, I'll be able to do that in the morning before I head to the ticket office for the day. Perhaps my quick turnaround will inspire a quick turnaround in others. :)

It's All About the Ending

2009-06-06T09:52:00.003-04:00

And I'm having trouble with mine. I just can't seem to get it right. It doesn't feel or sound finished yet. The reader needs to feel a sense of "Oh. Wow. That was good" when he reads the last line, I think. I'm hoping to spend some time this weekend massaging that final paragraph and then back to the publisher. But right now I'm headed to buy a dog leash and doggie treats for our summer play. First things first!

Add-a-Kid

2009-06-05T12:10:00.003-04:00

Rodney Robbins. That's the name of the boy I added into the Hamilton's Pond story that I am revising. I did a reworking on Wednesday in ABC then tested it on my 14-year-old daughter. She had some good insights: things like, "Who's Rodney talking to when he says . . . ?" or "Would a kid really send an email to the mayor?" (I decided that this particular kid would. But it's helpful to think about things as a genuine first-time reader does.) I've now given the story two days' rest, and I'm going to go back at it this afternoon to see what I think now that I have a little perspective. I'll probably read it aloud, too. It's amazing what that exercise will point up.

I'm reading a memoir of Mary Higgins Clark right now (Kitchen Privileges), and she states that she submitted her first short story 40 times before it was published. Wow.

A Chance to Revise

2009-06-02T16:34:00.004-04:00

I heard from an editor at one of the publications at which I've submitted a story yesterday. The word was a "no-but-if-you-care-to-make-a-change-we-might-be-able-to-talk." I'm taking this as an opportunity to learn and grow and what's more, get another story published. The editor felt that my story Hamilton's Pond was too adult (where have I heard that before?) in that it features an adult with an adult problem solved by an adult "albeit with humor" (her words). She feels that I need to write some children and childish thinking into the story. I couldn't agree more. But I just didn't see it before she said it.

Take one of my favorite children's books: Officer Buckle and Gloria. Officer Buckle is an adult who has an adult job that he loses, which is a very adult problem. However, it is a child, Claire, who states the theme of the story in one of her star-shaped notes to Officer Buckle: Always stick with your buddy. So now the question before me is whether I can accomplish this with Hamilton's Pond. Stay tuned.

More Shakespeare Research

2009-05-29T09:41:00.003-04:00

These days my writing time is mostly taken up with writing for the Summer Shakespeare blog. Yesterday's entry ("Superlative Obscurity") was an enjoyable exercise in research and writing. As a blog entry it is probably a little long (I'm still getting the hang of length), but I just couldn't seem to stop once I got going. How bad is that for a would-be author? Sometimes my love for history and my enjoyment of writing come together nicely. My research led me to an old book in our attic--two volumes with no date and very little publication information--that is a complete works of Shakespeare. The information in it was so quaintly written and copious that I found myself virtually tied to the tome for hours. You can read that one and any others I've posted by clicking here.

Writing--Er--Submitting Is Hard Work

2009-05-21T21:31:00.005-04:00

Yesterday's writing session saw me get my Which End Up? manuscript resubmitted. (I actually made all of the requisite copies, cover letters, etc., and mailed it.) I'm starting to realize that getting the manuscript in the mail is half the battle--at least for me. I also got the next blog finished for Summer Shakespeare. Still no word on Hamilton's Pond. Waiting is so hard!

What's the most difficult part of writing for you? Ideas? Rewriting? Submitting?

Blogging in ABC

2009-05-20T11:03:00.007-04:00

I'm sitting in ABC blogging and writing. I've managed to update my manuscript submissions charts and write a submission letter for Which End Up?--submission number three for this picture book, but who's counting? My submission letters are getting better, I think. I'm trying to focus more on the things that a particular company finds important and using those buzzwords in my letter. This publisher requires exclusive submissions and also requests that authors state their previously published works. I was able to list Mumsi Meets a Lion and the blogging I do for Summer Shakespeare. Speaking of which, next on my to-do list is a new blog promoting the educational materials I've written for that site.

Also on my to-do: Daniel's Day research about a family with a special-needs child.

1947 Research

2009-05-12T11:15:00.003-04:00

I spent part of the morning yesterday researching the year 1947 for a video project I'm helping write a script for. What a fascinating year: advances in microwave and transistor radio technology, female students given full student privileges at Cambridge, CIA formed, Israel granted statehood, first Dead Sea Scrolls found, Jackie Robinson's joining MLB, Hollywood 10 indicted, and so on. How very interesting is the idea that almost any year taken in isolation would seem to be so pivotal. There's a story in there somewhere. But maybe it's already been done to a certain extent in the late-80s/early 90s television show Quantum Leap. (What ever happened to Scott Bakula?) There is truly nothing new under the sun.

Comedy and Tragedy

2009-05-02T20:33:00.003-04:00

I've written before about my taking a writing test and being accepted as a freelancer by publisher out West. I have been eagerly awaiting my first big assignment. Yesterday evening I received an communication from the editor thanking me for my patience but informing me that the series I was hired to write for has gone belly up. It was really quite humorous: "Thank you for your willingness to write for _____. _____ has been discontinued." Once again I find myself thinking that I'm glad I'm not depending on that to put bread on the table. The editor did inform me that they are keeping my name on file should a need arise elsewhere in their company. Ahhhhh, the economic downturn affects us all.

Of Scripts and Speeches

2009-04-29T21:46:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm no speech writer, but I did write and deliver a farewell/retirement speech today that seemed well received. My dear colleague Judy Lanier retired today after having worked on our team for seven years. I was asked to say a few words, which was easy since she is such a wonderful co-worker. So that's my excuse for a no-writing day today. I'm also beginning a collaboration on a program script that will involve interviews and film. The writer/director has a strong concept already--I'll just be massaging and editing. But it should be a challenge--especially working with someone else.

Another Week Bites the Dust

2009-04-24T12:33:00.003-04:00

Somehow this week got by without my being able to write for any length of time--a drip here, a drab there, but nothing substantial. Good thing I'm not trying to make a living at this! Still in the hopper: Which End Up? rewrite, Daniel's Day (in the research stage), and Lovers of Laundry (in the mulling-it-over-in-my-mind stage). I may never have mentioned Lovers of Laundry. It will be a non-fiction piece (an article?) about things that keep Christians from knowing God based on a concept from I Peter 1:8.

Children's Science Books

2009-04-21T15:50:00.002-04:00

I'm broadening my chart/audience for the children's science-y book Which End Up? (I don't want to presume to call it a true science book. . . .) To do this, I'm researching types of animal books published and then cross-referencing that information with publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts. This should help as I seek to re-submit this story. This may be better suited to an article than a book, but I'm going for the book angle first. So far I have three possibilities. I'm sure there are many more out there.

Got any ideas for me?