Okay, it's plastic and not the most powerful weapon in the universe. Actually, it's a promotional giveaway for Green Lantern Corps #1, and I received it from a lovely woman at Dragon's Lair, not a little blue guy. But nevertheless I'm wearing it proudly.
My main to-dos at the moment are to prep for my VC talks, but first I have a couple of events this weekend and some writing of my own to bring to a pausing point.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
South Texas
GLS and I hoofed it to Kingsville, Texas on Friday to do some research for his WIP. Did you know that ranchers prefer red cattle and horses because they're less likely to sunburn (I didn't!)? Also, don't open the car window around lots of cattle--too many flies!
Because the local B&B never returned our call, we stayed at the Best Western, which is the best hotel in town. It wasn't bad, but the room took all night to cool down (and as we'd recently bought a whole new air conditioning system for our first floor, this seemed a relatively cruel blow).
Despite recent restoration and economic development efforts, the historic downtown had been hit hard by the outlying mall and Wal-Mart. But I did enjoy a first-class and bargain grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat with mayo and guacamole at Harrel's Soda Fountain & Pharmacy. We also had fun shopping at the King Ranch Saddle Shop (though the fetching sleeveless brown silk Day of the Dead shirt was out of my budget at $322).
We were told that the best Mexican restaurant had burned down a while ago, and the best barbecue was another fifteen-to-twenty minutes on the highway headed back north, so I'm vaguely embarrassed to admit that we ended up eating twice at Chili's, which was the highest end chain there. I'm sure if we'd had more time, we would've been able to score local cuisine better than that.
I liked Kingsville. It's a majority Mexican American (about 70%) community and one of the friendliest places I've ever visited. I did keep an eye open for rattlesnakes and gators, though. I didn't see any of those--just lots of cattle, horses, wild turkeys, and deer.
We boogied back north on Saturday afternoon to Corpus Christi (think Gulf Coast, palm trees, T-shirts that read: "It's a Shore Thing." The water was an aquamarine green, the sun shining, and the wind gusty.
Next time we'll also try to make it to the U.S.S. Lexington Aircraft Carrier Museum, but for this trip we just had time to go to the Texas State Aquarium. Highlights included a turtle tank "in memory of Selena--her music opened a window into beauty." My fave animals were the sleeping prehensile-tailed porcupine and the playful otters. I also observed that pelicans are quite large, especially when they're flying right over your head.
We stayed at the lovely Omni Hotel on the ocean, where sights included a pink-purple-dyed poodle. We had dinner that night at the Republic of Texas Bar & Grill (crab fondue, New England clam chowder, and lobster with rice pilaf).
Heading back on I-35 south on Sunday morning, we stopped at the Gruene River Grill in Gruene, Texas. Maybe because of the too-boisterous Father's Day crowd, the stuffed mushrooms were tepid, though my tortilla soup was quite good.
Spooky Notes
Thanks to Vanessa Joy Ziff for cheering Austin, which no doubt misses her too.
Because the local B&B never returned our call, we stayed at the Best Western, which is the best hotel in town. It wasn't bad, but the room took all night to cool down (and as we'd recently bought a whole new air conditioning system for our first floor, this seemed a relatively cruel blow).
Despite recent restoration and economic development efforts, the historic downtown had been hit hard by the outlying mall and Wal-Mart. But I did enjoy a first-class and bargain grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat with mayo and guacamole at Harrel's Soda Fountain & Pharmacy. We also had fun shopping at the King Ranch Saddle Shop (though the fetching sleeveless brown silk Day of the Dead shirt was out of my budget at $322).
We were told that the best Mexican restaurant had burned down a while ago, and the best barbecue was another fifteen-to-twenty minutes on the highway headed back north, so I'm vaguely embarrassed to admit that we ended up eating twice at Chili's, which was the highest end chain there. I'm sure if we'd had more time, we would've been able to score local cuisine better than that.
I liked Kingsville. It's a majority Mexican American (about 70%) community and one of the friendliest places I've ever visited. I did keep an eye open for rattlesnakes and gators, though. I didn't see any of those--just lots of cattle, horses, wild turkeys, and deer.
We boogied back north on Saturday afternoon to Corpus Christi (think Gulf Coast, palm trees, T-shirts that read: "It's a Shore Thing." The water was an aquamarine green, the sun shining, and the wind gusty.
Next time we'll also try to make it to the U.S.S. Lexington Aircraft Carrier Museum, but for this trip we just had time to go to the Texas State Aquarium. Highlights included a turtle tank "in memory of Selena--her music opened a window into beauty." My fave animals were the sleeping prehensile-tailed porcupine and the playful otters. I also observed that pelicans are quite large, especially when they're flying right over your head.
We stayed at the lovely Omni Hotel on the ocean, where sights included a pink-purple-dyed poodle. We had dinner that night at the Republic of Texas Bar & Grill (crab fondue, New England clam chowder, and lobster with rice pilaf).
Heading back on I-35 south on Sunday morning, we stopped at the Gruene River Grill in Gruene, Texas. Maybe because of the too-boisterous Father's Day crowd, the stuffed mushrooms were tepid, though my tortilla soup was quite good.
Spooky Notes
Thanks to Vanessa Joy Ziff for cheering Austin, which no doubt misses her too.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Righteous Revision
Only one more VC packet to go! Then I'm going to take a bit of a break and wait until July to do prep for the next res.
Amidst a million other things, I had a chance to go through the scribbled comments on F&M from last night's crit group and apply them to the master copy. Some highlights: "love the parallel to T's life; D is so cunning;" "great turn of events, high drama;" "funny--great movie scene;" "love her formal language; she's doing well;" "M&B seem sufficiently humbled;" "remind me of personal connection;" "go, girl;" "nice D;" "how did he get here? oh, she moved to another room;" "jealous?" "aha, great page-turner;" "I love the letter; it really helps to see it;" "D is a nice addition, helps to see this character. I also like having T and D together earlier. It works!" "great end;" "what does he find?" "does D wonder if T is watching?" "good explanation;" "love this."
Perhaps needless to say this is a much-polished rewrite of a scene they'd read earlier, and in this case I revised to mostly SP's suggestions.
("a million other things:" email, write student evaluation, work out on treadmill (45 minutes), drop off dry cleaning, check P.O. Box, pick up misc. groceries (eggs, pecans, dental floss), mail packet, etc. etc.)
By the way, have I mentioned lately how much I love working with my webdesigner/master LF? She is amazing. If you're on the fence about hiring a pro, trust me, it's worth it and she's the best. I just sent May updates from Cynsations and otherwise, and boom! there they are--quick like a bunny.
Amidst a million other things, I had a chance to go through the scribbled comments on F&M from last night's crit group and apply them to the master copy. Some highlights: "love the parallel to T's life; D is so cunning;" "great turn of events, high drama;" "funny--great movie scene;" "love her formal language; she's doing well;" "M&B seem sufficiently humbled;" "remind me of personal connection;" "go, girl;" "nice D;" "how did he get here? oh, she moved to another room;" "jealous?" "aha, great page-turner;" "I love the letter; it really helps to see it;" "D is a nice addition, helps to see this character. I also like having T and D together earlier. It works!" "great end;" "what does he find?" "does D wonder if T is watching?" "good explanation;" "love this."
Perhaps needless to say this is a much-polished rewrite of a scene they'd read earlier, and in this case I revised to mostly SP's suggestions.
("a million other things:" email, write student evaluation, work out on treadmill (45 minutes), drop off dry cleaning, check P.O. Box, pick up misc. groceries (eggs, pecans, dental floss), mail packet, etc. etc.)
By the way, have I mentioned lately how much I love working with my webdesigner/master LF? She is amazing. If you're on the fence about hiring a pro, trust me, it's worth it and she's the best. I just sent May updates from Cynsations and otherwise, and boom! there they are--quick like a bunny.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Cooling Off
Gothic fantasy goddess ACK (author interview) has turned in a glowing blurb for Tantalize (Candlewick, March 2007). I'm filled with the happy!
Today, our critique group went to the UT Club for happy hour and manuscript feedback. The service was tacos and margaritas. The queso was excellent. I brought a re-written, expanded and moved-up scene of F&M. The story is told in alternating POV and one of SP's suggestions was to move that scene up so that it occured after the two protagonists had met. He also thought it would be good to actually show (rather than cut away from) the scary part and perhaps also use it as a catalyst to D's internal journey. Genius! The dynamic trio of SP, AB (author interview), and TC offered great polish suggestions. [I also brought an interior design element because, you know, I live for those.]
In other important news, our new upstairs air conditioner was installed, and I'm no longer melting. It's almost awe-inspiring. I'm surprised that when air conditioning was first introduced in Texas that it didn't spark a new religion. Repeat after me: "Oooo, cool."
Today, our critique group went to the UT Club for happy hour and manuscript feedback. The service was tacos and margaritas. The queso was excellent. I brought a re-written, expanded and moved-up scene of F&M. The story is told in alternating POV and one of SP's suggestions was to move that scene up so that it occured after the two protagonists had met. He also thought it would be good to actually show (rather than cut away from) the scary part and perhaps also use it as a catalyst to D's internal journey. Genius! The dynamic trio of SP, AB (author interview), and TC offered great polish suggestions. [I also brought an interior design element because, you know, I live for those.]
In other important news, our new upstairs air conditioner was installed, and I'm no longer melting. It's almost awe-inspiring. I'm surprised that when air conditioning was first introduced in Texas that it didn't spark a new religion. Repeat after me: "Oooo, cool."
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Chisholm Trail
It's a hot and happenin' weekend here. The hot is literal. Our upstairs air conditioner is on strike, so we've slept the last two nights on a futon mattress in the sunroom. The second repairman is coming this morning. When I expressed surprise that we could get someone on a Sunday, GLS's reply was that in Texas there was no higher calling. It's already a triple-digit summer here.
On Friday, we spoke to a TSU graduate seminar class of writing teachers in Round Rock. It was a friendly, enthusiastic group. We mostly told the stories behind our stories and made a few observations about the industry as a whole. Then we enjoyed a potluck lunch, which consisted of dishes like fried chicken, tuna salad, and hamburger-and-cheese filled biscuits.
On Saturday morning, we drove out to Lockhart for the Chisholm Trial Roundup. We have friends who own a grand old home on the parade route, so we sat out front in a row of folks with lawn chairs and soaked in the small-town charm. Watermelon and strawberry queens, church groups, monster trucks, bands, cheerleaders, girl scouts, cowboys on horseback. It was a boisterous event with a supportive crowd. It struck me, as someone travels a lot, that the participants and audience were about 1/3 black, 1/3 Mexican American, and 1/3 white. Music and dress styles reflected this diversity at times, didn't at others. Unlike many American history celebrations, there was nothing that made my inner Indian cringe. In any case, it's easy to imagine living in a small town with such a strong sense of energy and pride, but I'm afraid I'm a city girl. I like having my grocery store and hospital close by.
On Friday, we spoke to a TSU graduate seminar class of writing teachers in Round Rock. It was a friendly, enthusiastic group. We mostly told the stories behind our stories and made a few observations about the industry as a whole. Then we enjoyed a potluck lunch, which consisted of dishes like fried chicken, tuna salad, and hamburger-and-cheese filled biscuits.
On Saturday morning, we drove out to Lockhart for the Chisholm Trial Roundup. We have friends who own a grand old home on the parade route, so we sat out front in a row of folks with lawn chairs and soaked in the small-town charm. Watermelon and strawberry queens, church groups, monster trucks, bands, cheerleaders, girl scouts, cowboys on horseback. It was a boisterous event with a supportive crowd. It struck me, as someone travels a lot, that the participants and audience were about 1/3 black, 1/3 Mexican American, and 1/3 white. Music and dress styles reflected this diversity at times, didn't at others. Unlike many American history celebrations, there was nothing that made my inner Indian cringe. In any case, it's easy to imagine living in a small town with such a strong sense of energy and pride, but I'm afraid I'm a city girl. I like having my grocery store and hospital close by.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Multitasking
I've been grading VC packets and writing end-of-semester evaluations, coordinating upcoming events with planners, getting organized to promote Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006), and corresponding with my editor about copyediting questions on Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007).
I'm especially jazzed this week on the latter because one of my interior formatting suggestions seems to be a go (I had to write some new text and fiddle to make the line breaks work). Also, I'm starting to hear some raves from folks who've managed to snag the rare ARC. The next step will be reviewing second pass pages with (hopefully) all the corrections.
Miraculously, I'm also making time to continue writing. I've fulfilled my last set of revision goals on F&M, and I intend to continue tinkering on the new scenes in preparation for next week's critique group meeting. Because July will be so busy, I probably won't see them again until August, so I want to get some initial feedback on the more sweeping changes.
I'm especially jazzed this week on the latter because one of my interior formatting suggestions seems to be a go (I had to write some new text and fiddle to make the line breaks work). Also, I'm starting to hear some raves from folks who've managed to snag the rare ARC. The next step will be reviewing second pass pages with (hopefully) all the corrections.
Miraculously, I'm also making time to continue writing. I've fulfilled my last set of revision goals on F&M, and I intend to continue tinkering on the new scenes in preparation for next week's critique group meeting. Because July will be so busy, I probably won't see them again until August, so I want to get some initial feedback on the more sweeping changes.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Republic of Texas Biker Rally
This past weekend was the Republic of Texas Biker Rally in Austin. Think 4,000+ bikes converging on downtown for three roaring days.
Rumor has it that the event is the biggest income-earner of its kind for the city. Leather goods?
In any case, the streets are literally lined and swarming with bikes, bikers, and biker chicks. Sixth and Congress were closed off Friday evening for the parade, making it impossible for non-bike driving. On our way home from San Antonio, we had to get back on I-35 north and go to the other side of the Cap building before we could successfully cut back over to the west side. In East Austin, people were lined up on the streets, cheering the bikers on.
I don't notice the noise here at the house like I did when we had the apartment on Congress. Back then, I just resigned myself to a couple of days without sleep.
Next weekend is the Texas Pride Festival, celebrating the GLBTQ community, in Waterloo Park.
I love this town!
Rumor has it that the event is the biggest income-earner of its kind for the city. Leather goods?
In any case, the streets are literally lined and swarming with bikes, bikers, and biker chicks. Sixth and Congress were closed off Friday evening for the parade, making it impossible for non-bike driving. On our way home from San Antonio, we had to get back on I-35 north and go to the other side of the Cap building before we could successfully cut back over to the west side. In East Austin, people were lined up on the streets, cheering the bikers on.
I don't notice the noise here at the house like I did when we had the apartment on Congress. Back then, I just resigned myself to a couple of days without sleep.
Next weekend is the Texas Pride Festival, celebrating the GLBTQ community, in Waterloo Park.
I love this town!
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Ooo La La
GLS and I cruised down to San Antonio Friday evening for dinner with JFH and her husband at Paesono's. I gobble so much grand calamari that I hardly had any room left for my chicken marsala. Must climb back on treadmill ASAP.
Saturday morning we went to a bring-your-own-lunch, Austin area writer-illustrator get together at MD's house on the lake. I brought some spicy-tuna-and-avocado brown rice sushi from Whole Foods.
Attendees included CB, BXD, FH, LG (author interview), TC, AL (author interview), JL (author interview), JP, SP, MS and BY. Great publications on display included BXD's story in "Spider" and LG's latest release.
The fabulous AL brought me a powder blue University of Paris T-shirt. I am filled with the happy. My previous one has literally worn out since I bought it in, well, 1991. I did study abroad in Paris, focussing on European Community law and the French legal system. Ooo La La. Well, not the law part, but the Paris part.
That afternoon, I keyed in line edits and notes for revision on my master copy of F&M.
Last night, GLS and I watched "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," which had a wonderful supporting cast but was too much a repeat than a reinvention. That said, it's worth watching for Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, and John Rhys-Davies. Joel McCray is great, too.
Saturday morning we went to a bring-your-own-lunch, Austin area writer-illustrator get together at MD's house on the lake. I brought some spicy-tuna-and-avocado brown rice sushi from Whole Foods.
Attendees included CB, BXD, FH, LG (author interview), TC, AL (author interview), JL (author interview), JP, SP, MS and BY. Great publications on display included BXD's story in "Spider" and LG's latest release.
The fabulous AL brought me a powder blue University of Paris T-shirt. I am filled with the happy. My previous one has literally worn out since I bought it in, well, 1991. I did study abroad in Paris, focussing on European Community law and the French legal system. Ooo La La. Well, not the law part, but the Paris part.
That afternoon, I keyed in line edits and notes for revision on my master copy of F&M.
Last night, GLS and I watched "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," which had a wonderful supporting cast but was too much a repeat than a reinvention. That said, it's worth watching for Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, and John Rhys-Davies. Joel McCray is great, too.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Game Plan
Excellent progress. I've gone through the three critique letters and the three marked copies of the manuscript to pull together revision notes on my master copy.
Here's what I have to do for this round:
a handful of clarifications, in particular one related to motivation ("call to adventure");
move up some of the fantasy worlds' exposition (a challenge with two competing worlds);
insert two documents (love this as a device--one letter and one newspaper article);
expand and then move a scene so co-protagonists can meet earlier;
write four new scenes.
That should keep me busy for a while.
Here's what I have to do for this round:
a handful of clarifications, in particular one related to motivation ("call to adventure");
move up some of the fantasy worlds' exposition (a challenge with two competing worlds);
insert two documents (love this as a device--one letter and one newspaper article);
expand and then move a scene so co-protagonists can meet earlier;
write four new scenes.
That should keep me busy for a while.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Eerie, Indiana
Last weekend, GLS and I enjoyed watching what appears to be the only three episodes of a 1991 series, "Eerie, Indianna." It's cute and creepy in more of a suburban than small town riff way, as the title suggests. Worth seeing for the premier episode alone. Too bad the network didn't give it more of a chance. A cult following would've quickly developed and spread.
Today, I'm in Randall's, looking for a b-day card for my mom, and what greets me but a mega end cap with Sarah Dessen paperbacks and information on a contest to "win a phone call" with the author as well as a 2GB iPod Nano and a signed collection of her books. So long as the authors' royalties aren't reduced, I'm all in favor of books in grocery stores. Not everyone goes into bookstores (awk!), but everyone except possibly Bush Sr., goes into grocery stores. So, we can reach more readers that way. As a fellow author, it occured to me that the prize is a good one in part because SD is so witty and charming (exhibit her LJ). OTOH, I--who occasionally fall into idiot babble mode--might not be as good of a pick for such a promotion.
Today, I'm in Randall's, looking for a b-day card for my mom, and what greets me but a mega end cap with Sarah Dessen paperbacks and information on a contest to "win a phone call" with the author as well as a 2GB iPod Nano and a signed collection of her books. So long as the authors' royalties aren't reduced, I'm all in favor of books in grocery stores. Not everyone goes into bookstores (awk!), but everyone except possibly Bush Sr., goes into grocery stores. So, we can reach more readers that way. As a fellow author, it occured to me that the prize is a good one in part because SD is so witty and charming (exhibit her LJ). OTOH, I--who occasionally fall into idiot babble mode--might not be as good of a pick for such a promotion.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
"Feed Me, Seymour"
Feedback! There's something wonderfully inspiring, overwhelming, and heartening about getting thoughtful brainstorms, observations, criticisms, and questions from trusted early readers who care and are rooting for you.
I'm the lucky soul who received long letters and marked mss from my critique group this week (along with shrimp, cheese, crackers, strawberries, and iced cream--we don't believe in being "starving artists").
What I'm doing with them is reading slowly through each, transferring notes to a master print-out so that I can have it all in one containable version. So far, everything's clicking. You know, in the world of critique, there are comments that immobilize and comments that launch. I'm soaring! More on that later.
F&M is still fairly new and needing much love before sending to my editor, but I'm increasingly confident that if I apply myself I can get it in shape to send by December/January.
The big opponent is time. I have a busy summer ahead, and an even busier fall with the release of Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006)--short, intense window for promoting holiday books--and taking on six VC students. Basically, my psychology will have to be that working on the mss is my baseline, and I'm taking breaks to do other things.
For those wondering about the title of this post, it's a quote from "Little Shop of Horrors," which is not surprisingly one of my fave musicals.
I'm the lucky soul who received long letters and marked mss from my critique group this week (along with shrimp, cheese, crackers, strawberries, and iced cream--we don't believe in being "starving artists").
What I'm doing with them is reading slowly through each, transferring notes to a master print-out so that I can have it all in one containable version. So far, everything's clicking. You know, in the world of critique, there are comments that immobilize and comments that launch. I'm soaring! More on that later.
F&M is still fairly new and needing much love before sending to my editor, but I'm increasingly confident that if I apply myself I can get it in shape to send by December/January.
The big opponent is time. I have a busy summer ahead, and an even busier fall with the release of Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006)--short, intense window for promoting holiday books--and taking on six VC students. Basically, my psychology will have to be that working on the mss is my baseline, and I'm taking breaks to do other things.
For those wondering about the title of this post, it's a quote from "Little Shop of Horrors," which is not surprisingly one of my fave musicals.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
X-Men: The Last Stand
"X-Men: The Last Stand" exceeded my expectations tonight at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. I'd (falsely) heard it was preachier than the last two, which was daunting to consider. Marvel always tends to the preachy anyway. But nope, not so. I was impressed that the franchise moved the storyline forward in ways that made thematic sense, and the casting of Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast was flat-out brilliant. Needless to say, I had popcorn--with real butter--for dinner.
In other news I'm in the midst of grading one VC packet this weekend and planning to read, speaking of beasts, Beast by Donna Jo Napoli (Atheneum, 2000).
In other news I'm in the midst of grading one VC packet this weekend and planning to read, speaking of beasts, Beast by Donna Jo Napoli (Atheneum, 2000).
Friday, May 26, 2006
The Hudsons
Last night GLS and I joined KA (author interview), her husband, and his brother at Waterloo Ice House to hear The Hudsons, an amazing Austin-based band that plays there on Thursday evenings.
The music is as funny as it is smart, at a volume, as GLS said, "where you could hear it through you ears, not your teeth." The three male members of the band all were fantastic, but I'd count myself most a Phoebe fan. She's an incredible musician, singer, and entertainer.
On the restaurant, if you're a burger person, order that. Stay away from the grilled taco chicken salad. It doesn't taste bad, but it's more like shredded lettuce with a hint of chicken a dollop of guacamole and a dollop of sour cream. I'm not sure if they forgot the cheese, or it was simply too scant to be spotted.
Between sets, KA ran with me across the street to what she's calling "The Museum of Modern Food" where I picked up some brown rice sushi--spicy salmon with avocado and tempura shrimp.
It was fabulous to see KA, who gave me a big hug, which made a not-so-great day instantly better.
Update: I smothered the pork with guacamole. I can eat anything with guacamole.
The music is as funny as it is smart, at a volume, as GLS said, "where you could hear it through you ears, not your teeth." The three male members of the band all were fantastic, but I'd count myself most a Phoebe fan. She's an incredible musician, singer, and entertainer.
On the restaurant, if you're a burger person, order that. Stay away from the grilled taco chicken salad. It doesn't taste bad, but it's more like shredded lettuce with a hint of chicken a dollop of guacamole and a dollop of sour cream. I'm not sure if they forgot the cheese, or it was simply too scant to be spotted.
Between sets, KA ran with me across the street to what she's calling "The Museum of Modern Food" where I picked up some brown rice sushi--spicy salmon with avocado and tempura shrimp.
It was fabulous to see KA, who gave me a big hug, which made a not-so-great day instantly better.
Update: I smothered the pork with guacamole. I can eat anything with guacamole.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
With Apologies to Wilbur
Probably the biggest news is that I've agreed (after much negotiation) to eat pork tenderloin for dinner tonight. I'd given up mammals after reading GLS' Tofu and T. rex (Little Brown, 2005)(author interview) in manuscript for the billionth time in 2004.
One of the point of view characters is Freddie Murchison-Kowalski, a die-hard vegan. Though I've spent most of my life along the cattle trail (Chicago, KC, Oklahoma, Texas), much to the horror of my carnivore husband, Freddie really got to me. I haven't eaten a mammal since. Not that she'd approve of my carnage to fish and fowl, but nevertheless, one can't dismiss such a literary impact lightly.
GLS, whose fault this is, has dutifully cooked us non-mammal dinners for some time, but he began begging recently for at least a tad more variety... I'll let you know how it goes.
Quiet catch-up day otherwise. The highlight was lunch with DD, a VC graduate and former Austin SCBWI RA.
I look forward to the three-day weekend. I'll spend some of it grading and working on my summer lecture, but of course I've already bought my tickets for "X-Men: The Last Stand" at Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. I'm also considering seeing "Thank You for Smoking" as I enjoyed the book by Christopher Buckley.
Spooky News & Links
Thanks to Spookycyn LJ syndication subscribers Debbi of One Writer's Journey: The Bumpy Road (for her cheers about my forthcoming releases) and Beverly Jean of Never Too Old: Mema Beverly Stowe McClure Becomes a Writer (for the shout-out on my upcoming Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006)).
One of the point of view characters is Freddie Murchison-Kowalski, a die-hard vegan. Though I've spent most of my life along the cattle trail (Chicago, KC, Oklahoma, Texas), much to the horror of my carnivore husband, Freddie really got to me. I haven't eaten a mammal since. Not that she'd approve of my carnage to fish and fowl, but nevertheless, one can't dismiss such a literary impact lightly.
GLS, whose fault this is, has dutifully cooked us non-mammal dinners for some time, but he began begging recently for at least a tad more variety... I'll let you know how it goes.
Quiet catch-up day otherwise. The highlight was lunch with DD, a VC graduate and former Austin SCBWI RA.
I look forward to the three-day weekend. I'll spend some of it grading and working on my summer lecture, but of course I've already bought my tickets for "X-Men: The Last Stand" at Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. I'm also considering seeing "Thank You for Smoking" as I enjoyed the book by Christopher Buckley.
Spooky News & Links
Thanks to Spookycyn LJ syndication subscribers Debbi of One Writer's Journey: The Bumpy Road (for her cheers about my forthcoming releases) and Beverly Jean of Never Too Old: Mema Beverly Stowe McClure Becomes a Writer (for the shout-out on my upcoming Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006)).
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Bluebirds Forever
Last week I flew to KC to pick up a few momentos of my Grandma Dorothy, who died in late January. Those familiar with my short stories will remember her from "The Naked Truth," featured in In My Grandmother's House: Award-Winning Authors Tell Stories About Their Grandmothers (HarperCollins, 2003), a fine anthology, which went out of print almost instantly. See my Story Behind The Story.
I'd hoped to walk through Grandma's little house one last time, but it had sold to a minister and his wife, who'd closed on it just days before I arrived.
My grandmother was a collector of ceramic bluebirds, and I brought home a few of them, mostly those I'd given to her over the years. There were a few other items--notably including the trivet which reads "Dorothy's Kitchen"--but the bluebird symbol is the one I'll associate with her most.
I saw various family members and friends while I was in town. I also read Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper (Simon Pulse, 2006)(excerpt), which is one of the books I'll be talking about at the VC MFA summer residency, and watched "Aquamarine" (2006).
My KC dining recommendation is the barbecue catfish at Jack's Stack at Union Station.
Comic of the Week: Green Arrow #62
I'd hoped to walk through Grandma's little house one last time, but it had sold to a minister and his wife, who'd closed on it just days before I arrived.
My grandmother was a collector of ceramic bluebirds, and I brought home a few of them, mostly those I'd given to her over the years. There were a few other items--notably including the trivet which reads "Dorothy's Kitchen"--but the bluebird symbol is the one I'll associate with her most.
I saw various family members and friends while I was in town. I also read Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper (Simon Pulse, 2006)(excerpt), which is one of the books I'll be talking about at the VC MFA summer residency, and watched "Aquamarine" (2006).
My KC dining recommendation is the barbecue catfish at Jack's Stack at Union Station.
Comic of the Week: Green Arrow #62
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Sneak Peeks: Santa Knows and Tantalize
My amazing web designer debuts new pages on my site for Santa Knows (Dutton, September 2006)(cover art) and Tantalize (Candlewick, March 2007). Click on the title links for flap copy, etc.
The Steve Bjorkman's illustrations for Santa Knows are incredible. I especially love the workshop scenes, which juxtapose the traditional and 21rst century in fun, busy, holiday ways.
Note that the Tantalize ARC has "teaser," not final cover art. I'll let you know when the final art is posted and keep you updated on related book news as it emerges.
See more on all of this at Cynsations.
The Steve Bjorkman's illustrations for Santa Knows are incredible. I especially love the workshop scenes, which juxtapose the traditional and 21rst century in fun, busy, holiday ways.
Note that the Tantalize ARC has "teaser," not final cover art. I'll let you know when the final art is posted and keep you updated on related book news as it emerges.
See more on all of this at Cynsations.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Swamped
Swamped! That's what I was feeling as I tried to wrap my mind around doing both my talk on retellings for the upcoming VC residency and an article on YA gothic fantasy. Right now, F&M is in the hands of my crit group, but it sails back to my lap (along with three sets of feedback) on the 30th. Given the upcoming demands of my competing so-called non-writing life, it occurs to me that I actually can't do all of this happily and simultaneously.
At this point in my career, it makes more sense to focus on turning in a new gothic fantasy novel mss to my editor than a related journal article. I'll still do the article, but down the road (provided another author in the genre doesn't beat me to it, in which case--hey!--I'm available for quotes). In fact, I'll probably do a GF talk for the winter residency, in which case competing to-dos can become compatible ones. I'm so spazzy. Sometimes I need to give myself permission not to do something, at least for the now.
Thus ends my deep thoughts for the day.
At this point in my career, it makes more sense to focus on turning in a new gothic fantasy novel mss to my editor than a related journal article. I'll still do the article, but down the road (provided another author in the genre doesn't beat me to it, in which case--hey!--I'm available for quotes). In fact, I'll probably do a GF talk for the winter residency, in which case competing to-dos can become compatible ones. I'm so spazzy. Sometimes I need to give myself permission not to do something, at least for the now.
Thus ends my deep thoughts for the day.
Gruene River
Lovely weekend! FH joined me for lunch (bleu salads) at the South Congress Cafe Friday and then we shopped afterward at Uncommon Objects, just down the street. Then it was off to the UT Club with GLS and AB for shrimp and cheese. On Satuday, GLS and I escape to the nearby German-antiquing-honky tonk town of Gruene, brunched at the Gruene River Grill, and then stopped for a snack (won ton soup and the rare fried crab won tons) at Suzi's on North Lamar back in Austin. Yesterday was quiet. I worked out, formatted up a few interviews, and corresponded a bit with my web designer. This is my version of taking the weekend off. I may not sound like "off," but I assure you, it's an improvement.
This morning I'm rewriting a couple of long-sitting Native American picture book manuscripts as early readers. I've actually been tweaking for a few days, but now I'm armed with critique comments. Not many--a couple of suggestions to make the protagonist and/or language more active and to move one scene. The stories seem to work better this way. They're both highly illustrable, but not the sort of pow! illustrations picture books seem to require these days.
Spooky News & Links
On Spookycyn LJ syndication comments: to WriterRoss, I hope you found a deal at the Coldwater Creek sale; to MoniqueMadigan, I'll definitely let y'all know what I think of The Eyre Affair (Penguin, 2001)--it has been sitting while I finished up Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park (Clarion, 2006)(excerpt); also waving to BeverlyJean in North Texas.
This morning I'm rewriting a couple of long-sitting Native American picture book manuscripts as early readers. I've actually been tweaking for a few days, but now I'm armed with critique comments. Not many--a couple of suggestions to make the protagonist and/or language more active and to move one scene. The stories seem to work better this way. They're both highly illustrable, but not the sort of pow! illustrations picture books seem to require these days.
Spooky News & Links
On Spookycyn LJ syndication comments: to WriterRoss, I hope you found a deal at the Coldwater Creek sale; to MoniqueMadigan, I'll definitely let y'all know what I think of The Eyre Affair (Penguin, 2001)--it has been sitting while I finished up Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park (Clarion, 2006)(excerpt); also waving to BeverlyJean in North Texas.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Taking It Easy
My VC packets are in the mail, and I've pulled some materials to begin thinking about an article for one of the library journals. My eye is bothering me once again, though, so I don't think I'm going to do much more than that today. I've already formatted up two interviews for Cynsations to run this week, and it's beginning to occur to me that I don't really have to work constantly. F&M is in the good hands of my crit group. I'm reading a wonderful novel, Long Gone Daddy by Helen Hemphill (Front Street, 2006). I may also call the doctor once Blizzard jumps down from my lap.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
The Sky Is Falling
Well, it was. Actually, it was mostly trees and parts of trees. A series of strong storms have hit Austin, most notably Thursday and Friday nights. At one point we had 70 M.P.H. winds, which split tree trucks all over the city.
That's tornado-force winds, only they were moving straight instead of in a creepy circular motion, which was meager comfort to the big-eyed kitties cowering beneath my bed.
Last I heard BY and FH still didn't have power (along with tens of thousands of others east/central).
Which is of course not to imply that our social lives were affected. GLS and I hosted LL (the George V.,Paris lobster-and-chicken dish) on Friday night and went out with AB (Suzi's North, followed by tea at her place) on Saturday.
We also actually ventured outside Central Austin to the Barton Creek Mall, where I did the ladies-shopping thing at Victoria's Secret, which has become a checkout nightmare. (Do you have our card? No. Do you want our card? No. You don't want to save $100/year? No. Can we have your home phone number? No. You don't want free coupons? No.) I mean, really. From now on, I'm ordering my undies online. I also picked up new headphones for my iPod, and GLS got a couple of pairs of khaki shorts from Foley's.
That's tornado-force winds, only they were moving straight instead of in a creepy circular motion, which was meager comfort to the big-eyed kitties cowering beneath my bed.
Last I heard BY and FH still didn't have power (along with tens of thousands of others east/central).
Which is of course not to imply that our social lives were affected. GLS and I hosted LL (the George V.,Paris lobster-and-chicken dish) on Friday night and went out with AB (Suzi's North, followed by tea at her place) on Saturday.
We also actually ventured outside Central Austin to the Barton Creek Mall, where I did the ladies-shopping thing at Victoria's Secret, which has become a checkout nightmare. (Do you have our card? No. Do you want our card? No. You don't want to save $100/year? No. Can we have your home phone number? No. You don't want free coupons? No.) I mean, really. From now on, I'm ordering my undies online. I also picked up new headphones for my iPod, and GLS got a couple of pairs of khaki shorts from Foley's.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Happy Cinco de Mayo
Last night, GLS and I hit a signing at the Barnes & Noble Sunset Valley. I picked up a copy of Texas Ghost Stories: Fifty Favorites for the Telling by Tim Tingle and Doc Moore (Texas Tech University Press, 2004). TT is one of my fave Texas authors and a first-rate speaker.
In other news, I'm vexed to discover that the University of Kansas "has announced it will no longer use the Jayhawk logo on official letter head and business cards because the bird is 'too fun and informal.'" I'm a graduate in news/editorial and public relations of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and I love the Jayhawk! Source: Sports Illustrated (May 8, 2006), which incidentally has a cover article on LA.
Spooky Link
Stuff on My Cat: "Stuff + Cats = Awesome." Big thanks to the heavenly LB for this one!
In other news, I'm vexed to discover that the University of Kansas "has announced it will no longer use the Jayhawk logo on official letter head and business cards because the bird is 'too fun and informal.'" I'm a graduate in news/editorial and public relations of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and I love the Jayhawk! Source: Sports Illustrated (May 8, 2006), which incidentally has a cover article on LA.
Spooky Link
Stuff on My Cat: "Stuff + Cats = Awesome." Big thanks to the heavenly LB for this one!
Monday, May 01, 2006
God on the Highway
I've been driving I-35 north and south for some twenty years, but what really struck me this past weekend is how strong of a showing that religion was making along the way these days.
The number of churches, big and small, is noticeably up, and many were under construction for expansions. So too were the number of billboards with a religious message. A very few were hostile, along the lines of "embrace Jesus or regret it forever." Yikes. But most were of the "I believe in you. -- God" variety.
I think all this is fascinating. I had passing references to church in two my previous books. Rain's family from Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins, 2001) includes a Bible quote in the context of a memorial and church-going (the protagonist is avoiding church after the death of her best friend; she's angry and self-isolating in her grief). Likewise, Ray and his grandpa from Indian Shoes (HarperCollins, 2002) are church-going, though the references are in passing (for example, Ray refers to what he wears to a wedding as "church clothes"). I've actually fielded a lot of comments--some praise and some surprise--that these contexts exist in my books, and as a reader, I've noticed that nods to faith and/or its practice are more rare in American children's literature than our national lifestyle would suggest. I wonder why. I'm not talking about preachy-ness in books, which I agree is a huge turn-off, but rather simply the reflection in daily life. Hm.
In any case, the trip was for my cousin's wedding reception, which was lovely. Also, the catfish at the Cracker Barrel is pretty good.
The number of churches, big and small, is noticeably up, and many were under construction for expansions. So too were the number of billboards with a religious message. A very few were hostile, along the lines of "embrace Jesus or regret it forever." Yikes. But most were of the "I believe in you. -- God" variety.
I think all this is fascinating. I had passing references to church in two my previous books. Rain's family from Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins, 2001) includes a Bible quote in the context of a memorial and church-going (the protagonist is avoiding church after the death of her best friend; she's angry and self-isolating in her grief). Likewise, Ray and his grandpa from Indian Shoes (HarperCollins, 2002) are church-going, though the references are in passing (for example, Ray refers to what he wears to a wedding as "church clothes"). I've actually fielded a lot of comments--some praise and some surprise--that these contexts exist in my books, and as a reader, I've noticed that nods to faith and/or its practice are more rare in American children's literature than our national lifestyle would suggest. I wonder why. I'm not talking about preachy-ness in books, which I agree is a huge turn-off, but rather simply the reflection in daily life. Hm.
In any case, the trip was for my cousin's wedding reception, which was lovely. Also, the catfish at the Cracker Barrel is pretty good.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Cut Ellipsis
Hooray! I just emailed my editor my first pass notes for Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007). They consist of a few style questions--"Homo sapiens" in italics? "web site" or "website?"--a few corrected key-in glitches, a few clarifications, a wee bit of normal neurotic author fiddling, and--cough--the cutting of no less than 102 (if I counted correctly) ellipses. 102!
Some are snipped to periods, others changed to dashes or commas, and a few floaters just zipped right out. And it's so funny and embarassing because I remember a note on the copy edits gently hinting something about the multitude of ellipses, and I just couldn't see it, but wow!
In the typeset version, it not only looks like overuse or an affectation but a literal swarm. They're everywhere! It's a horror novel unto itself!
I found a couple of other funny affections, one for 7 A.M. or 7 P.M. as a time reference and even more oddly, one for 2:43 P.M. (used twice to indicate different days in the space of two pages).
Some are snipped to periods, others changed to dashes or commas, and a few floaters just zipped right out. And it's so funny and embarassing because I remember a note on the copy edits gently hinting something about the multitude of ellipses, and I just couldn't see it, but wow!
In the typeset version, it not only looks like overuse or an affectation but a literal swarm. They're everywhere! It's a horror novel unto itself!
I found a couple of other funny affections, one for 7 A.M. or 7 P.M. as a time reference and even more oddly, one for 2:43 P.M. (used twice to indicate different days in the space of two pages).
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Coldwater Creek
Unless you wear women's clothes, this may not be the post for you. But I just thought I'd mention that the Coldwater Creek online outlet is offering 50 to 80% off everything right now. I like Coldwater Creek for a lot of reasons. One is that, so far as I can tell, they are curvy-friendly. Also, they sell a lot of acetate-spandex travel knit, which frankly, is a godsend if you're living in a hot climate like Texas or spead a lot of time on the road or, like me, both. If you spend quality time the floors of convention centers for teacher-librarian conferences, I suggest you stock up, and I also suggest you kiss goodbye your four-inch heels for those venues due to the ouch factor.
First-pages reading for Tantalize (Candlwick, 2007) is ongoing.
Sending smooches to SM! Thanks for the amazing card; I'll write back soon!
First-pages reading for Tantalize (Candlwick, 2007) is ongoing.
Sending smooches to SM! Thanks for the amazing card; I'll write back soon!
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Six Feet Under RIP
I watched the series finale of "Six Feet Under" this weekend, and I was struck again by the theme that everyone, everything ends. There's such a tendency to deny mortality or to find it depressing, but I don't. If I could live forever, why would I need to focus on any particular story now? Mortality is a gift. In any case, the episode was strong, inspiring, and I'm glad I watched the entire series.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Eastside Poets
I gratefully handed off F&M to my supportive critique group last night, and I have no intention of looking at it again until I hear back from them next month. We served both deep dish (spinach and cheese) and thin crust (sausage and mushroom on whole wheat) pizza from Mangia for dinner. I had a Greek salad, which I'm sure paled by comparison.
Comments on the chapter of F&M that I read included: much laughter; a couple of suggested jokes, both of which I'll try to work in; "I like the international flavor;" "I like the traditional mixed in;" "a total riot;" and "I love T. He rocks. He rules."
Today, after I worked out this afternoon, I started reading my first pages for Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007). I'm sure this will be my primary preoccupation for the weekend. So far, I have spotted a ridiculous overuse of the ellipses.
Tonight, though, GLS and I had dinner with RK (author interview) and his wife (a retired immigration attorney; she had this fabulous turquoise thing going on) at Eastside (had the mushroom, chicken avocado soup), followed by a drink at the Driskill. They're in town from L.A. for a poetry event.
Comments on the chapter of F&M that I read included: much laughter; a couple of suggested jokes, both of which I'll try to work in; "I like the international flavor;" "I like the traditional mixed in;" "a total riot;" and "I love T. He rocks. He rules."
Today, after I worked out this afternoon, I started reading my first pages for Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007). I'm sure this will be my primary preoccupation for the weekend. So far, I have spotted a ridiculous overuse of the ellipses.
Tonight, though, GLS and I had dinner with RK (author interview) and his wife (a retired immigration attorney; she had this fabulous turquoise thing going on) at Eastside (had the mushroom, chicken avocado soup), followed by a drink at the Driskill. They're in town from L.A. for a poetry event.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton
Production is ongoing for Tantalize (Candlewick, March 2007). I received my first pages on Tuesday. They look like book pages! What is it about professionally typesetting text that makes it read so much better?
In any case, this is my last chance to make major changes before it will cost the publishing company money (translation: put on the thinking cap now). I have critique group tonight and a dinner tomorrow, so it'll be a focus of this weekend.
Last night I read Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton (Jove Books, 2006), and I think it came out only in paperback because it's more like a really long short story--sort of a slice-of-life piece on the Micah-Anita relationship. The upshot is that Micah is a quality guy who's been through a lot and is devoted to Anita. It looks like Danse Macabre (Berkley Books, July 2006) will be a more traditional blockbuster. I look forward to it.
In other news, I had a lovely lunch yesterday with JW (author interview) at Enoteca Vespaio on South Congress. Try any of the salads. I have a brunch today at Magnolia on Lake Austin Boulevard.
In any case, this is my last chance to make major changes before it will cost the publishing company money (translation: put on the thinking cap now). I have critique group tonight and a dinner tomorrow, so it'll be a focus of this weekend.
Last night I read Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton (Jove Books, 2006), and I think it came out only in paperback because it's more like a really long short story--sort of a slice-of-life piece on the Micah-Anita relationship. The upshot is that Micah is a quality guy who's been through a lot and is devoted to Anita. It looks like Danse Macabre (Berkley Books, July 2006) will be a more traditional blockbuster. I look forward to it.
In other news, I had a lovely lunch yesterday with JW (author interview) at Enoteca Vespaio on South Congress. Try any of the salads. I have a brunch today at Magnolia on Lake Austin Boulevard.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
The Sea of Monsters
GLS and I attended RR's signing at BookPeople tonight. His latest is The Sea of Monsters (Hyperion/Miramax, 2006). Great reading, great turnout. Excellent event. Had big fun chatting up some goddesses (Athena, Hera, and even Zeus, King O the Gods--really) from Matthews Elementary in Clarksville.
While at the store, I also picked up The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: The Ultimate Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed by Karen Elizabeth Gordon (Pantheon, 1993) and Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton (Jove Books, 2006). By the way, did the latter come out in hardcover and, if so, why didn't I see it earlier?
While at the store, I also picked up The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: The Ultimate Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed by Karen Elizabeth Gordon (Pantheon, 1993) and Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton (Jove Books, 2006). By the way, did the latter come out in hardcover and, if so, why didn't I see it earlier?
Monday, April 17, 2006
First Bite
GLS, as usual, was my first reader on F&M. He didn't seem to find any major structural or character issues, which at this stage is possibly as unsettling as validating. We did brainstorm on a few treatments of specific plot points, though, and I'll key in changes accordingly.
Two members of my crit group are teachers, so I'm not even going to consider tossing it their way until I get the all-clear on their schedules. But I will share one of the new scenes at group later this month.
Now, what I really need to do is let it sit, sit, sit. The next couple of weeks will be mostly devoted to writing a talk and a couple of articles. Or maybe writing a couple of articles, one of which will be a talk. Once I'm "in" a novel, not working on it is almost painful. Big drama-queen sigh.
Two members of my crit group are teachers, so I'm not even going to consider tossing it their way until I get the all-clear on their schedules. But I will share one of the new scenes at group later this month.
Now, what I really need to do is let it sit, sit, sit. The next couple of weeks will be mostly devoted to writing a talk and a couple of articles. Or maybe writing a couple of articles, one of which will be a talk. Once I'm "in" a novel, not working on it is almost painful. Big drama-queen sigh.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Happy 80th, JW
Took my fabu new 'do from Bo Salon (2004 S. Congress) to JW's 80th b-day party in Buda this weekend at the Manchaca Firehouse Cafe. Luminaries in attendance included: AB (author interview), FH, BY, DHA (author interview) and TS. The family served fried fish, french fries, hushpuppies, cole slaw, and cakes decorated to look like JW's cover art. JW is the author of Earthscapes and The World According to Rock.
GLS and I passed Easter Sunday quietly, watching "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe," which seemed appropriate enough. He made shrimp creole for dinner.
I've had a sort of rough weekend. My eye was bothering me again, though it's better now. I'd also like to thank TLS (author interview), NW (author interview), LB (author interview), EB, CPK, SP, LG, FB (author interview) for their words O wisdom and LR (author interview) for that and the extra TLC. Most appreciated.
GLS and I passed Easter Sunday quietly, watching "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe," which seemed appropriate enough. He made shrimp creole for dinner.
I've had a sort of rough weekend. My eye was bothering me again, though it's better now. I'd also like to thank TLS (author interview), NW (author interview), LB (author interview), EB, CPK, SP, LG, FB (author interview) for their words O wisdom and LR (author interview) for that and the extra TLC. Most appreciated.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Thinking Ahead
Oh, how I love royalty checks! I'm not so organized as to know when they are coming, so from my perspective, they appear as if by magic with an untold amount of money. This time around I'm earmarking a healthy chunk of the earnings to pay for my publicist for Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006). I consider it an investment in the future.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Cornish Game Hen and Shrimp
In 2001, GLS and I took my advance from Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins, 2001) and, after ALA-Chicago, flew to Paris. To the George V Four Seasons, to be precise. We still bask in memories of the experience.
At the hotel restaurant, we had the most divine chicken-and-lobster dish, which GLS replicated for me (using shrimp instead of lobster and Cornish game hen instead of chicken) tonight using a recipe from Chubby Hubby: One Pot Meal: Musings on Food, Wine, and Marriage.
I'm now halfway through grading VC packets and, going through the mail, found a lovely thank-you note from DCR (author interview). I had a chance to chat with NJO at KWH's signing at BookPeople yesterday, and NJO mentioned how much she loved DCR's workshop in conjunction with Austin SCBWI. I've heard great things about this event from a lot of the participants. DCR is a gem!
At the hotel restaurant, we had the most divine chicken-and-lobster dish, which GLS replicated for me (using shrimp instead of lobster and Cornish game hen instead of chicken) tonight using a recipe from Chubby Hubby: One Pot Meal: Musings on Food, Wine, and Marriage.
I'm now halfway through grading VC packets and, going through the mail, found a lovely thank-you note from DCR (author interview). I had a chance to chat with NJO at KWH's signing at BookPeople yesterday, and NJO mentioned how much she loved DCR's workshop in conjunction with Austin SCBWI. I've heard great things about this event from a lot of the participants. DCR is a gem!
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Gregory, Shrimp, Shrimp, Sushi, and Six Feet Under
AB (author interview) invited us to the U.T. Club for a Friday shrimp siesta.
Then on Saturday, GLS and I hit KWH's signing of Waiting for Gregory, illustrated by GS (Henry Holt, 2006) at BookPeople (author interview). We three had sushi and so forth afterward at Musashino.
We had an interesting conversation about voice, about whether it can be taught. I think it's a matter of courage, that we all have voice worth hearing within us, but sometimes it's a struggle to find the courage to let our voice (as manifested in character) be heard.
I was sorry to miss MM's talk on non-fic at Austin SCBWI today, but the schedule had already filled.
Grading is ongoing. Tonight we're also beginning to watch the final season of "Six Feet Under" on Netflix.
Then on Saturday, GLS and I hit KWH's signing of Waiting for Gregory, illustrated by GS (Henry Holt, 2006) at BookPeople (author interview). We three had sushi and so forth afterward at Musashino.
We had an interesting conversation about voice, about whether it can be taught. I think it's a matter of courage, that we all have voice worth hearing within us, but sometimes it's a struggle to find the courage to let our voice (as manifested in character) be heard.
I was sorry to miss MM's talk on non-fic at Austin SCBWI today, but the schedule had already filled.
Grading is ongoing. Tonight we're also beginning to watch the final season of "Six Feet Under" on Netflix.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Dead Lines
Deadlines. Dead Lines. Lines of the Dead. Hm, beware of gothic fantasy authors on deadline and where their minds may go.
My students' packets are due this weekend, so my self-imposed deadline for finishing my second first draft of F&M was today. I'm happy to say that all (known) scenes are written. I was going to read it tonight and key in, but real life intruded. It'll have to wait until I'm done grading, and then I'll let it sit for two weeks. During that time I'll prepare a talk and hopefully write two articles.
Call it a plan!
My students' packets are due this weekend, so my self-imposed deadline for finishing my second first draft of F&M was today. I'm happy to say that all (known) scenes are written. I was going to read it tonight and key in, but real life intruded. It'll have to wait until I'm done grading, and then I'll let it sit for two weeks. During that time I'll prepare a talk and hopefully write two articles.
Call it a plan!
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Scrumptious Signing
Tonight GLS and I attended the first signing of debut YA fantasy author JW (author interview) at Barnes & Noble Sunset Valley. It was quite the event! JW went all out, offering chocolates, raffle prizes, and a cookie cake to her guests. It was JW's first-ever author signing, and she handled it with great grace and charm. Luminaries in the audience included VJ and JL.
This afternoon I got one scene written on F&M and then, though I had time to try another, found the well dry. The setting for the next one up is particularly impressive, so I did some online research to try to trigger my imagination. GLS suggested an alternative that may accomplish the same goals for the scene without the complication/diversion. On the theory that sometimes the least complicated solution is the most effective, I'm going to try that first.
This afternoon I got one scene written on F&M and then, though I had time to try another, found the well dry. The setting for the next one up is particularly impressive, so I did some online research to try to trigger my imagination. GLS suggested an alternative that may accomplish the same goals for the scene without the complication/diversion. On the theory that sometimes the least complicated solution is the most effective, I'm going to try that first.
Postal Purgatory
Did I say I had three scenes to go on this draft of F&M yesterday? Funny, I wrote a four-page scene today, and when I was done, I still had three to go. Hm. How did that happen?
Today I also had a Stephen-King-esque post office experience. It was the line that would not end, peopled by people with whom I did not want to spend eternity. One postal worker, four empty registers at the main desk. There was a cranky factor.
Forty-five minutes later, I climbed into the Olds, turned on the ignition, and looked behind me just in time to see two cars behind me crash into one another. Needless to say, my quick trip to the P.O. took longer than anticipated.
On the upside FH and BY came by tonight with lovely flowers and red wine to chat writing, reading, and life for a while.
Today I also had a Stephen-King-esque post office experience. It was the line that would not end, peopled by people with whom I did not want to spend eternity. One postal worker, four empty registers at the main desk. There was a cranky factor.
Forty-five minutes later, I climbed into the Olds, turned on the ignition, and looked behind me just in time to see two cars behind me crash into one another. Needless to say, my quick trip to the P.O. took longer than anticipated.
On the upside FH and BY came by tonight with lovely flowers and red wine to chat writing, reading, and life for a while.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Three To Go
GLS and I took a break last night, and I tried a cup of the shrimp gumbo at the Shoal Creek Saloon on North Lamar. It's a tad pricey at $5.25, but the shrimp are huge, fresh, and worth it.
I spent this morning formatting a couple of incoming author interviews on Cynsations and then keying in the last of of the changes from the read-through. This afternoon I wrote one of the four last scenes--three to go!
Dinner tonight at P.F. Chang's, largely because DHA stuck it in my head at her signing this past weekend. Kung Pao shrimp with peanuts on brown rice.
I spent this morning formatting a couple of incoming author interviews on Cynsations and then keying in the last of of the changes from the read-through. This afternoon I wrote one of the four last scenes--three to go!
Dinner tonight at P.F. Chang's, largely because DHA stuck it in my head at her signing this past weekend. Kung Pao shrimp with peanuts on brown rice.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Spike Versus Dracula
I've finished reading through F&M, and I believe that I have four scenes (that I know of) to write. I still need to key in my notes from this time through, but I'm going to try to have the new stuff written before I receive VC packets on Friday.
By the way, I was reading over at AL's blog that her 18-year-old son thinks she's vain for hosting a website about herself. She takes it in stride, but I suggest Spookcyn readers surf over to offer some TLC (especially any of you who've ever been criticized by a teenager, whether you were one yourself at the time or not).
Also, am I the only one who thinks clocks that automatically switch to Daylight Savings Time are creepy?
Comic O the Week: a hard-fought battle. Runners-up were Batman: Legends of the Dark Knift #202 and Ultimate Spider-Man #92 (could anyone with a magnifying glass please tell me what Kitty says to Peter when they are reunited to prove she's her?); but the winner is: Spike Versus Dracula #2!
Comic Observation O the Week: any superhero whose code name ends with "lad" has a short future.
By the way, I was reading over at AL's blog that her 18-year-old son thinks she's vain for hosting a website about herself. She takes it in stride, but I suggest Spookcyn readers surf over to offer some TLC (especially any of you who've ever been criticized by a teenager, whether you were one yourself at the time or not).
Also, am I the only one who thinks clocks that automatically switch to Daylight Savings Time are creepy?
Comic O the Week: a hard-fought battle. Runners-up were Batman: Legends of the Dark Knift #202 and Ultimate Spider-Man #92 (could anyone with a magnifying glass please tell me what Kitty says to Peter when they are reunited to prove she's her?); but the winner is: Spike Versus Dracula #2!
Comic Observation O the Week: any superhero whose code name ends with "lad" has a short future.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
I See Imaginary People
GLS and I were crusing home from Dragon's Lair tonight after an afternoon of novel writing. I'm reading over my WIP up to this point, fact-checking and preparing to address the skipped scenes.
Anyway, we're passing the Johnson Creek Greenbelt and my mind's eye produces my first clear image of my co-protagonists. I could "see" them standing side by side in the darkness. They're that real to me now. Finally. Hooray! And whew.
Today's scribbles in the Chicago journal from ERC include a note about T's wardrobe and the weather as he and D leave her place.
Anyway, we're passing the Johnson Creek Greenbelt and my mind's eye produces my first clear image of my co-protagonists. I could "see" them standing side by side in the darkness. They're that real to me now. Finally. Hooray! And whew.
Today's scribbles in the Chicago journal from ERC include a note about T's wardrobe and the weather as he and D leave her place.
Friday, March 31, 2006
I Love the Nightlife
It's Friday night, and I've just keyed the last of my world guide, research, and character notes into my F&M mss. I'm in the bedroom suite on the denim futon with Bashi, the smaller of my two gray tabbies. He's resting on a Pendelton blanket, avidly watching Blizzard, my puffy white cat, enthusiastically chase a medium-sized blue sparkle ball. My tea glass is empty, even the ice has melted, and though I can't see him, I know GLS is writing a new scene in the library. He has classical music playing (Mozart), which is generally a good sign. I'm off to print. Fact-checking and new scenes to follow!
I have no idea what other people do for fun.
I have no idea what other people do for fun.
Haven Gallery
Last night GLS and I split a chicken, garlic, tomato pizza on whole wheat at Mangia on Lake Austin Boulevard. That was good. It also was the third night this week that we went out instead of staying home and writing. That was not so good. My bad, as the kids say (do they still say that?), as I'm a full-time writer and after a nice afternoon of productivity, I'm more likely to urge us to go play. That's not helpful to GLS though who has a day job. Not that he's complaining, but I resolve to be a better co-author-wife in the future.
Today I played hooky a bit myself, grabbing a hybiscus tea at Magnolia Cafe with AB and then doing a bit O shopping on Sixth Street. We stopped by Positive Images (1118 West Sixth) and Haven Gallery & Fine Gifts (1122 W. Sixth), which recently replaced the Pecan Street Emporium. I urge Austinites to visit Haven Galley and welcome the new business. The remodel is almost as gorgeous as the art--almost! Lots of price points. Definitely a must-see destination!
I'm off to workout and then it's back to F&M!
Today I played hooky a bit myself, grabbing a hybiscus tea at Magnolia Cafe with AB and then doing a bit O shopping on Sixth Street. We stopped by Positive Images (1118 West Sixth) and Haven Gallery & Fine Gifts (1122 W. Sixth), which recently replaced the Pecan Street Emporium. I urge Austinites to visit Haven Galley and welcome the new business. The remodel is almost as gorgeous as the art--almost! Lots of price points. Definitely a must-see destination!
I'm off to workout and then it's back to F&M!
Thursday, March 30, 2006
The World Stage
I've now successfully at least scribbled in notes from my world-building document into F&M, though of course I'll keep the former handy for reference.
Though there are essentially three main settings for the story, it also takes place quite literally around the globe, which is a wonderful opportunity and also heightens the research/fact-checking burden. The first thing I'm going to do after I key in tonight is to read through and highlight anything I might want to double check and do so before continuing with new scenes. I'm positive I'll also do it again down the road, but there's nothing more disconcerting to the obsessive than having a place name with 16 letters that I can't pronounce, let alone be sure I've spelled correctly.
What was interesting to me about this part of the process--integrating the research and character/fantasy element brainstorms--was that there was clearly a place in the manuscript for each piece of new information. I wouldn't guess that would be true. It seems more likely that I'd end up with a lot of extraneous stuff. Maybe upon revision some will be cut back out, or maybe the subconscious is more savvy than I give it credit.
Also, falling under the category of karma, my apologies to the boisterous phone solicitor who wanted my support in response to the horror of "dark themes" in children's/teen programming and literature. I was perhaps a tad cranky at having my work interrupted by your request for support. That said, you might want to trim gothic fantasy authors from your call list.
Though there are essentially three main settings for the story, it also takes place quite literally around the globe, which is a wonderful opportunity and also heightens the research/fact-checking burden. The first thing I'm going to do after I key in tonight is to read through and highlight anything I might want to double check and do so before continuing with new scenes. I'm positive I'll also do it again down the road, but there's nothing more disconcerting to the obsessive than having a place name with 16 letters that I can't pronounce, let alone be sure I've spelled correctly.
What was interesting to me about this part of the process--integrating the research and character/fantasy element brainstorms--was that there was clearly a place in the manuscript for each piece of new information. I wouldn't guess that would be true. It seems more likely that I'd end up with a lot of extraneous stuff. Maybe upon revision some will be cut back out, or maybe the subconscious is more savvy than I give it credit.
Also, falling under the category of karma, my apologies to the boisterous phone solicitor who wanted my support in response to the horror of "dark themes" in children's/teen programming and literature. I was perhaps a tad cranky at having my work interrupted by your request for support. That said, you might want to trim gothic fantasy authors from your call list.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Beautiful Lady of the Lighthouse
I quite enjoyed the remake of "Yours, Mine, and Ours," but of course I love sappy movies. The "beautiful lady of the lighthouse" story though was a bit over the top, though. Yowza.
Too much of today was spent working on the website. A lot of the old-time content is from back before I had a consistent style, and not long ago, a grad student complained that not all of the early interviews were fully annotated. I spent about four hours on clean-up duty today.
In book news, my CP editor faxed me the "before" TOC pages for Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007), and my, are they long! Is it front matter or a novel unto itself? I look forward to the "after" version, due ASAP. My agent's assistant also emailed about a secondary rights request for Indian Shoes (HarperCollins, 2002), and I still need to take a closer look at that. Intrinsically, though, I love the whole concept of secondary rights.
DT (illustrator interview) also stopped by to pick up a stack of my books on writing and illustrating graphic novels/comic books. I hope they're of use to him.
Too much of today was spent working on the website. A lot of the old-time content is from back before I had a consistent style, and not long ago, a grad student complained that not all of the early interviews were fully annotated. I spent about four hours on clean-up duty today.
In book news, my CP editor faxed me the "before" TOC pages for Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007), and my, are they long! Is it front matter or a novel unto itself? I look forward to the "after" version, due ASAP. My agent's assistant also emailed about a secondary rights request for Indian Shoes (HarperCollins, 2002), and I still need to take a closer look at that. Intrinsically, though, I love the whole concept of secondary rights.
DT (illustrator interview) also stopped by to pick up a stack of my books on writing and illustrating graphic novels/comic books. I hope they're of use to him.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Delicious Day
What a delicious day! I had the honor of lunching with the fabulous ERC, her very cute husband, and their son along with DHA and GLS at Green Pastures in South Austin, complete with peacock sightings. I'm not sure about everyone's lunch, but I had the grilled pesto chicken with avocado on yellow rice and ERC had a chicken salad with Macadamia nuts, cranberries, and manchego cheese, followed by creme brule for desert. GLS had what he said was the best steak he'd eaten in a restaurant in some time. ERC also gifted me with two small Chicago-themed journals just perfect for working on F&M.
I came home to an e-note from my CP editor, informing me that the Table O Contents Table was too long to fit on two spreads without it looking cramped. They didn't want to stretch to three because it's just too much to page through before the story starts. I replied that: "I'm firmly against anything that is insanely tight and off-putting. It reminds me of a dress I can't/shouldn't quite fit into--most ill advised. " In any case, it dawned on me that the reason the dates were there in the first place had been more for my own temporal reference than a carefully thought-out design element. I won't miss them, and I agree that it's best to play up the menu headers more as these go more to the flavor of the novel, so to speak.
VJ stopped by this afternoon to chat, and it was a pleasure to see him. Then ERC and her family also stopped by, also to chat (and for directions to Musashino, Hoover's, and the East Side Cafe). GLS and I grabbed dinner afterward at Hyde Park. I had a turkey burger with Gouda and mushrooms and the most fantastic Mexican bean soup.
I'm off to watch the remake of "Yours, Mine, and Ours." I loved the original, so I'm curious.
I came home to an e-note from my CP editor, informing me that the Table O Contents Table was too long to fit on two spreads without it looking cramped. They didn't want to stretch to three because it's just too much to page through before the story starts. I replied that: "I'm firmly against anything that is insanely tight and off-putting. It reminds me of a dress I can't/shouldn't quite fit into--most ill advised. " In any case, it dawned on me that the reason the dates were there in the first place had been more for my own temporal reference than a carefully thought-out design element. I won't miss them, and I agree that it's best to play up the menu headers more as these go more to the flavor of the novel, so to speak.
VJ stopped by this afternoon to chat, and it was a pleasure to see him. Then ERC and her family also stopped by, also to chat (and for directions to Musashino, Hoover's, and the East Side Cafe). GLS and I grabbed dinner afterward at Hyde Park. I had a turkey burger with Gouda and mushrooms and the most fantastic Mexican bean soup.
I'm off to watch the remake of "Yours, Mine, and Ours." I loved the original, so I'm curious.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Twilight
It's dark and dreary today, perfect for getting things done. I finished integrating character brainstorm notes into my mss, and it was so covered with scribbles that I decided to go ahead and key them in before moving onto mythology. This way, I can at least see what I'm doing.
Spooky News & Links
Don't miss today's Cynsations interview with Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight (Little Brown, 2005).
Cheers to JK and VJ!
Spooky News & Links
Don't miss today's Cynsations interview with Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight (Little Brown, 2005).
Cheers to JK and VJ!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
More Kaley To Come
The weekend's guest star was DCR, who was in town from Wichita giving a workshop for SCBWI Austin. We picked her up Sunday morning at the Hotel San Jose, swept by the wine department at Whole Foods, and then brought her home to our dining room.
GLS served pink gazpacho with shrimp and deviled crab with cucumber sandwiches on whole wheat. She shared the good news that Darby Creek is publishing three more Kaley books, and we got a sneak peek at the cover art.
AB will be joining us for dinner.
Last night we watched "My Fair Lady" for the umpteenth time because GLS was looking for inspiration on the ball scene in his WIP.
GLS served pink gazpacho with shrimp and deviled crab with cucumber sandwiches on whole wheat. She shared the good news that Darby Creek is publishing three more Kaley books, and we got a sneak peek at the cover art.
AB will be joining us for dinner.
Last night we watched "My Fair Lady" for the umpteenth time because GLS was looking for inspiration on the ball scene in his WIP.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
The Whole Brain
Today I made an effort to begin integrating my world-building into F&M. I'd written the rough draft first, then let it cool while I did research and side-writing work on character, setting, and fantasy elements.
I'd thought about drafting the handful of scenes I'd skipped ("not working, don't force it; keep going") in the manuscript first, but I had so many notes on them from having done the side work that it made more sense to start there.
I did have an initial rush of overwhelmed-ness at the enormity of the task, the puzzle-work. I decided to begin by trying to figure out where and how the co-protagonists' traits and back-stories fit into the larger whole, help advance the story, and/or should be ignored as irrelevant.
Basically, I have two sets of writing on this same manuscript--one that is rooted in story as it flowed from my fingertips (more subconscious) and the other as I brainstormed, read, and took notes (more conscious). Integrating them is sort of like doing brain surgery on myself.
But I just poured myself a glass of iced tea, curled up on the futon in the upstairs sitting room, opened both documents, and began with the first reference first and so on.
Spooky News & Links
Technovelgy: "where science meets fiction.""Explore the wide variety of inventions and ideas of science fiction writers--over 975 are available on Technovelgy (that's tek-novel-gee!). Use the Timeline of Science Fiction Invention or the alphabetic Glossary of Science Fiction Technology to see them all, look for the category that interests you, browse by favorite author/book or check Science Fiction in the News and watch sf come to life."
Cheers to BH!
I'd thought about drafting the handful of scenes I'd skipped ("not working, don't force it; keep going") in the manuscript first, but I had so many notes on them from having done the side work that it made more sense to start there.
I did have an initial rush of overwhelmed-ness at the enormity of the task, the puzzle-work. I decided to begin by trying to figure out where and how the co-protagonists' traits and back-stories fit into the larger whole, help advance the story, and/or should be ignored as irrelevant.
Basically, I have two sets of writing on this same manuscript--one that is rooted in story as it flowed from my fingertips (more subconscious) and the other as I brainstormed, read, and took notes (more conscious). Integrating them is sort of like doing brain surgery on myself.
But I just poured myself a glass of iced tea, curled up on the futon in the upstairs sitting room, opened both documents, and began with the first reference first and so on.
Spooky News & Links
Technovelgy: "where science meets fiction.""Explore the wide variety of inventions and ideas of science fiction writers--over 975 are available on Technovelgy (that's tek-novel-gee!). Use the Timeline of Science Fiction Invention or the alphabetic Glossary of Science Fiction Technology to see them all, look for the category that interests you, browse by favorite author/book or check Science Fiction in the News and watch sf come to life."
Cheers to BH!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Foundation
I love spring, love cocooning with my WIP.
I just read the second first draft of F&M, after cooling time to work on world building and to grade VC packets, and I've now keyed in the initial changes--many tweaked for consistency.
This past sweep, I fiddled excessively with names, ethnicities, and hometowns. Likewise, I decided one character conflict just wasn't necessary--snip! And of course once snipped, the thread must be pulled out of the whole.
The good news is that it isn't totally wretched. Don't get me wrong. It is partially wretched--quite a lot actually--but I can see the potential in it.
I have a foundation.
Cheers to UK!
I just read the second first draft of F&M, after cooling time to work on world building and to grade VC packets, and I've now keyed in the initial changes--many tweaked for consistency.
This past sweep, I fiddled excessively with names, ethnicities, and hometowns. Likewise, I decided one character conflict just wasn't necessary--snip! And of course once snipped, the thread must be pulled out of the whole.
The good news is that it isn't totally wretched. Don't get me wrong. It is partially wretched--quite a lot actually--but I can see the potential in it.
I have a foundation.
Cheers to UK!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Writer's Workout
I've amped up my workouts by another 15 mintes this week. I have a treadmill that folds up against the wall in my dressing room, and I click around my iPod to listen to mostly 80s music as I go. One thing about having the beast of the machine in the house is that, unlike the gym, I can't pretend it doesn't exist or that I can't fit it into my schedule. Mostly, though, I'm just relieved that it hasn't turned into a clothes hanger.
Much of what I do--reading and writing--is fairly sedentary, and a couple of years ago my blood sugar was showing it. I was borderline diabetic, which basically scared me straight. I've revamped my diet to become more nutritious, too (Spookycyn readers have no doubt noticed my adoration for cuisine, sensualist that I am), but I find that regular, intense walking has been the greatest thing I've ever done for my health, including my stress level.
Maybe it's the mind/body connection, but I feel as though I'm writing better, too. In any case, I have to bring a Post-It notepad and pen with me, so I can scribble ideas as they arise. All the blood rushing around seems to inspire my thought process. Or perhaps it's the sweat, thinking in water, as I always seem to get a lot of ideas in the bath/shower, too.
Yesterday I had a long chat with AS in the morning, and speaking of food, that evening GLS and I stopped by Magnolia Cafe on Lake Austin Blvd. for dinner (scrambled eggs and mushroom soup), followed by tuna sashimi at the Four Seasons Lobby Lounge on Town Lake.
Today, I had lunch (Kung Pao shrimp with brown rice) with new voice HH, who's a VC MFA grad. Ausinites, be sure to give her a warm greeting if you spot her at a local SCBWI event!
Much of what I do--reading and writing--is fairly sedentary, and a couple of years ago my blood sugar was showing it. I was borderline diabetic, which basically scared me straight. I've revamped my diet to become more nutritious, too (Spookycyn readers have no doubt noticed my adoration for cuisine, sensualist that I am), but I find that regular, intense walking has been the greatest thing I've ever done for my health, including my stress level.
Maybe it's the mind/body connection, but I feel as though I'm writing better, too. In any case, I have to bring a Post-It notepad and pen with me, so I can scribble ideas as they arise. All the blood rushing around seems to inspire my thought process. Or perhaps it's the sweat, thinking in water, as I always seem to get a lot of ideas in the bath/shower, too.
Yesterday I had a long chat with AS in the morning, and speaking of food, that evening GLS and I stopped by Magnolia Cafe on Lake Austin Blvd. for dinner (scrambled eggs and mushroom soup), followed by tuna sashimi at the Four Seasons Lobby Lounge on Town Lake.
Today, I had lunch (Kung Pao shrimp with brown rice) with new voice HH, who's a VC MFA grad. Ausinites, be sure to give her a warm greeting if you spot her at a local SCBWI event!
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
More Flap
My original quote for the back flap bio on T was stupid, according to GLS. He of course didn't say "stupid." He said something like "do you really need anything here?" and "can't you just use something from the author's note?" But I can translate.
Fear not! By the end of dinner, I had something much better. More conversational, less contrived, less trying, if you know what I mean.
This afternoon I sent it to my CP editor with some trepidation as I'd also fiddled with the first-pass front flap copy. What she'd had was wonderful; I just didn't want to give away quite that much of the story, especially since it's supposed to be suspenseful. So, I massaged a wee bit. This made me a little nervous, but the reply I got was quite enthusiastic, using words like "LOVE" in all caps and "off to copyediting." Hooray!
Fear not! By the end of dinner, I had something much better. More conversational, less contrived, less trying, if you know what I mean.
This afternoon I sent it to my CP editor with some trepidation as I'd also fiddled with the first-pass front flap copy. What she'd had was wonderful; I just didn't want to give away quite that much of the story, especially since it's supposed to be suspenseful. So, I massaged a wee bit. This made me a little nervous, but the reply I got was quite enthusiastic, using words like "LOVE" in all caps and "off to copyediting." Hooray!
Monday, March 20, 2006
Flap Quote
My CP editor wrote today with her first pass at the flap copy, a request to give my bio a once-over, and to invite me to offer a quote about T.
Okay. I can talk about T for hours, but in just a few lines--not catalog copy kind of lines? Something else. Theoretically, thoughtful-but-kicky genius author lines?
I have something. Does it sound stupid? Maybe it sounds stupid. I'll ask GLS tonight at dinner if it's stupid.
Let me break this down: Am I supposed to be speaking to prospective reviewers, target readers (14-up), the nice people who'll want to burn me at the stake for writing it? Forget the latter; everbody knows they don't actually read. The business person in me says that I should spin for the grown-ups, highlighting the deeper thematic undertones, but my inner adolescent says to forget all that, trust YAs to figure it out, and just roar.
Spooky News & Links
Congrats to DHA on all the starry attention for An Egg is Quiet (Chronicle, 2006).
Good luck to AB on her upcoming talk!
Okay. I can talk about T for hours, but in just a few lines--not catalog copy kind of lines? Something else. Theoretically, thoughtful-but-kicky genius author lines?
I have something. Does it sound stupid? Maybe it sounds stupid. I'll ask GLS tonight at dinner if it's stupid.
Let me break this down: Am I supposed to be speaking to prospective reviewers, target readers (14-up), the nice people who'll want to burn me at the stake for writing it? Forget the latter; everbody knows they don't actually read. The business person in me says that I should spin for the grown-ups, highlighting the deeper thematic undertones, but my inner adolescent says to forget all that, trust YAs to figure it out, and just roar.
Spooky News & Links
Congrats to DHA on all the starry attention for An Egg is Quiet (Chronicle, 2006).
Good luck to AB on her upcoming talk!
Saturday, March 18, 2006
St. Pat's Weekend
I am partly Irish (thank you, great-grandpa Ernest), but I'm afraid my celebratory efforts were arguably lacking yesterday, especially compared to the festive DMF in Shanghai.
The hands-down highlight of the day though was watching a pro fireworks display from the sunroom window. It was in celebration of 20 years of SXSW in conjunction with the free Friday concert at Town Lake Stage at Auditorium Shores.
Today I'm back to work on F&M. GLS made a convincing argument that Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007) readers might assume F&M, if also set in Austin, was set in the same fantasy world, which is not the case.
It's difficult, though, because I'm a visual writer, and if I can't "see" the scene unfold, it's that much harder for me to craft it. So I'm trying to move the next draft to Chicago because it's a major city that I love, and I have lived there in the past.
(This isn't the kind of story that would take place in a small town or even someplace like Kansas City or Okie City).
He mentioned a northern suburb that I'll research, and I'll try both a neighborhood scene as well as one on the lake front, along Streeterville. Most of the rest of the story would take place in fantasy locales anyway.
I also had a chance to go through my comments from last week's crit group. At this very early stage, they've been around long enough to know the most important thing is offer the encouragement to keep me writing and I've been around long enough to go with it.
Various comments: Love the modern twist. So today, so traditional. Wow, that's neat. Maybe the animals should go silent in the woods next time. Modern architecture is disappointing. Dublin, Ireland or Dublin, Ohio? Cut the rest of the family from the cemetery. Baseball card collection, not baseball collection. Not a lot of humorous books like this. Page turning. Readers will know he's a smart ass so they'll want to see how he gets out of this uncomfortable situation. Spell out bloodlines. Stakes are high. So real. Do parents think he can do it? Depressing but good. Fun for reader. Fresh.
Spooky News & Links
Congratulations to VJ, whose debut novel Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid (Genesis Press/Black Coral, 2005)(excerpt) is listed as #6 on the Essence Best Seller List for Paperback Fiction.
LJS offers an excerpt from Shamrocked (2005).
Sending cheers to LR (author interview)! Happy belated b-day to LB (author interview)!
The hands-down highlight of the day though was watching a pro fireworks display from the sunroom window. It was in celebration of 20 years of SXSW in conjunction with the free Friday concert at Town Lake Stage at Auditorium Shores.
Today I'm back to work on F&M. GLS made a convincing argument that Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007) readers might assume F&M, if also set in Austin, was set in the same fantasy world, which is not the case.
It's difficult, though, because I'm a visual writer, and if I can't "see" the scene unfold, it's that much harder for me to craft it. So I'm trying to move the next draft to Chicago because it's a major city that I love, and I have lived there in the past.
(This isn't the kind of story that would take place in a small town or even someplace like Kansas City or Okie City).
He mentioned a northern suburb that I'll research, and I'll try both a neighborhood scene as well as one on the lake front, along Streeterville. Most of the rest of the story would take place in fantasy locales anyway.
I also had a chance to go through my comments from last week's crit group. At this very early stage, they've been around long enough to know the most important thing is offer the encouragement to keep me writing and I've been around long enough to go with it.
Various comments: Love the modern twist. So today, so traditional. Wow, that's neat. Maybe the animals should go silent in the woods next time. Modern architecture is disappointing. Dublin, Ireland or Dublin, Ohio? Cut the rest of the family from the cemetery. Baseball card collection, not baseball collection. Not a lot of humorous books like this. Page turning. Readers will know he's a smart ass so they'll want to see how he gets out of this uncomfortable situation. Spell out bloodlines. Stakes are high. So real. Do parents think he can do it? Depressing but good. Fun for reader. Fresh.
Spooky News & Links
Congratulations to VJ, whose debut novel Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid (Genesis Press/Black Coral, 2005)(excerpt) is listed as #6 on the Essence Best Seller List for Paperback Fiction.
LJS offers an excerpt from Shamrocked (2005).
Sending cheers to LR (author interview)! Happy belated b-day to LB (author interview)!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Tantalize Preliminary Page Samples
"If you like us, tell your friends.
"If not, tell your enemies."
--written in chalk on a sign at Amy's Ice Creams
at Sixth and Lamar in Austin, Texas
(that's what I call win-win marketing)
"If not, tell your enemies."
--written in chalk on a sign at Amy's Ice Creams
at Sixth and Lamar in Austin, Texas
(that's what I call win-win marketing)
The big news this week is the arrival of some preliminary page samples of Tantalize (Candlewick Press, March 2007), so I can get an idea of how the various interior design elements will look. I'm entirely wowed but still soaking them in. First, there's nothing like professional typesetting to make a manuscript start to feel like a book, which in itself--at least for the author--is thrilling. But this manuscript had a number of opportunities for design, and clearly, CP is taking everything to the highest level, really investing in a vivid reader experience. The only thing missing was the Table of Contents, which apparently will come after they get the page count nailed down. Design and production quality are two of the aspects of the house that have always impressed me, so I can't say I'm surprised. Yet I so much appreciate that they really "get" the story, its world, and have the artistic ability-commitment to reinforce that perfectly.
GLS and I have a pact to celebrate any and all tangible progress on the writing front, so we celebrated this great landmark Tuesday night by splitting a Mediterranian platter at Jeffrey's.
Crit group was last night at AB's (author interview) house, and she served chicken chili with Fritos and berries or peach pie a' la mode for desert. As usual, it was a fun and thoughtful meeting. We're a lively bunch--three men, two women; three of us with law backgrounds, two with teaching. Everyone gets along, has a good sense of humor, and really applies themselves both to listening and offering feedback. It's an excellent dynamic.
Today I had lunch with CB, who had some questions on the soon-to-be published front, at Suzi's China Grill-Shoal Creek. That reminds me, if you're not already reading his blog, I highly recommend it. I also had a Lesley sighting while driving down South 1rst, near the School for the Deaf. He was sporting a hot pink halter top, thong, cowboy hat and boots. Quite fetching.
Beyond that I have finished grading my second round of VC packets, and so now it's back to F&M. I'm finally going to spend a few days on that character work I kept talking about and then start revising the second first draft. Yikes.
Spooky News & Links
Thanks to EH (author interview) for the hand-y bookmark and mini journal as well as to AS (author interview) and NR for their e-cards! Cheers to SC (author interview)!
Monday, March 13, 2006
Magical Moments
Am in deep VC packet-grading mode; one to go. Took breaks today only to walk on the treadmill for 45 minutes to the soundtrack from "Rocky II" (go ahead, mock me) and have sake sashimi, an avocado bomb, and edamame at Suzi's North.
Cheers to the curvy lady with the long blond hair and low-cut, bright red red dress, smoking a cigarette and sitting at the cocktail table outside Cippolina on West Lynn yesterday evening. The effect was magnificiently Marilyn.
While I'm talking West Lynn, cheers, too, to the owner of the pink sedan with various pigs glued to the exterior, parked outside Anthony's Laundry & Dry Cleaners at the same time. Thanks for keeping Austin weird!
I also was charmed by the four-or-five-year-old fairy princess in the crown, glitter wings, and long gown on Duval late this afternoon.
And more personally, thanks to GLS for fixing the faucets in both upstairs bathrooms as well as the baseboard of the kitchen cabinets. Ah, the finer things in life!
Cheers to the curvy lady with the long blond hair and low-cut, bright red red dress, smoking a cigarette and sitting at the cocktail table outside Cippolina on West Lynn yesterday evening. The effect was magnificiently Marilyn.
While I'm talking West Lynn, cheers, too, to the owner of the pink sedan with various pigs glued to the exterior, parked outside Anthony's Laundry & Dry Cleaners at the same time. Thanks for keeping Austin weird!
I also was charmed by the four-or-five-year-old fairy princess in the crown, glitter wings, and long gown on Duval late this afternoon.
And more personally, thanks to GLS for fixing the faucets in both upstairs bathrooms as well as the baseboard of the kitchen cabinets. Ah, the finer things in life!
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Green Pastures
KA, GLS and I spoke at a successful panel on YA Writing and Literature at AWP. I offered an overview of the field, touched on its history, and then focused on trends, especially in the context of multiculturalism. GLS talked about humor--how to write it in books with substance, and KA offered a "sermon" on who YA readers are today.
Our moderator was the lovely LV, who introduced the topic by showing cover art from Nancy Drew books through the ages.
Afterward, LV's husband joined our group for a long, leisurely lunch at Green Pastures. Spotted: one white peacock. I had the gaspacho with shrimp (and coveted KA's cesar salad with tempura lobster--she was kind enough to share).
Last night, GLS and I watched the syndicated episode of "Star Trek: DS9" where Worf and Jadzia are married in traditonal Klingon style. My husband, who is a trekker (which is what they prefer to be called) informed me that some real-life people really do get married this way, and I didn't entirely believe him until I tried Google and found photos. Since I saw "Star Wars: ANH" more than 350 times (paid admission--granted, many of these for only $1) in the theater as a kid, I personally find the whole thing romantic.
Spooky News & Links
Beyond Nancy Drew: Girls' Literature in the Sallie Bingham Center For Women's History and Culture at Duke University. Bibliography compiled and written by Rabia Geha and Kelly Wooten and edited by Amy Leigh.
Thanks to KR for her suggested agent-related writer links!
Our moderator was the lovely LV, who introduced the topic by showing cover art from Nancy Drew books through the ages.
Afterward, LV's husband joined our group for a long, leisurely lunch at Green Pastures. Spotted: one white peacock. I had the gaspacho with shrimp (and coveted KA's cesar salad with tempura lobster--she was kind enough to share).
Last night, GLS and I watched the syndicated episode of "Star Trek: DS9" where Worf and Jadzia are married in traditonal Klingon style. My husband, who is a trekker (which is what they prefer to be called) informed me that some real-life people really do get married this way, and I didn't entirely believe him until I tried Google and found photos. Since I saw "Star Wars: ANH" more than 350 times (paid admission--granted, many of these for only $1) in the theater as a kid, I personally find the whole thing romantic.
Spooky News & Links
Beyond Nancy Drew: Girls' Literature in the Sallie Bingham Center For Women's History and Culture at Duke University. Bibliography compiled and written by Rabia Geha and Kelly Wooten and edited by Amy Leigh.
Thanks to KR for her suggested agent-related writer links!
Friday, March 10, 2006
Too Early To Howl
Thursday night night GLS and I swung over to Hyde Park Bar & Grill for dinner (lentil soup and turkey burger) and then cruised across town for one drink at the Four Seasons.
On the way, I spotted a redheaded, bearded werewolf-looking fellow at sunset walking along the sidewalk, approaching the corner of 38th and Duval.
Yesterday was a quiet but productive one. I got quite a bit of correspondence and website management done, then read my first VC packet.
Looking forward to this morning's presentation at AWP!
Sending cheers to TLS!
On the way, I spotted a redheaded, bearded werewolf-looking fellow at sunset walking along the sidewalk, approaching the corner of 38th and Duval.
Yesterday was a quiet but productive one. I got quite a bit of correspondence and website management done, then read my first VC packet.
Looking forward to this morning's presentation at AWP!
Sending cheers to TLS!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Juggling Hats
I timed myself at 13 minutes, not including the very short readings, for my AWP speech, so I'm feeling pretty comfortable with that. (We're supposed to keep it under 20 but preferably about 15). I also decided to mention the Norton Anthology of Children's Literature for those seeking more information. KA graciously offered to put together the visuals and bibliography, so we should be all set. GLS and I have a date to practice tonight. I need to remember to make 10 copies.
I was going to wait until after grading packets to start in on character work, but I'm just going to go ahead. I can grade in the days and work on the novel at night. I pulled four character craft books to glance through first, just hoping they'll gear my brain in that direction. These were the ones I found on the shelf: Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood (Story Press, 1998); Creating Characters Kids Will Love by Elaine Marie Alphin (Writer's Digest, 2000); Dynamic Characters by Nancy Kress (Writer's Digest, 1998); The Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda N. Edelstein (Writer's Digest, 1999). LOL! You'd never guess I quit my day job in 1998, eh?
Sending cheers to PM!
I was going to wait until after grading packets to start in on character work, but I'm just going to go ahead. I can grade in the days and work on the novel at night. I pulled four character craft books to glance through first, just hoping they'll gear my brain in that direction. These were the ones I found on the shelf: Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood (Story Press, 1998); Creating Characters Kids Will Love by Elaine Marie Alphin (Writer's Digest, 2000); Dynamic Characters by Nancy Kress (Writer's Digest, 1998); The Writer's Guide to Character Traits by Linda N. Edelstein (Writer's Digest, 1999). LOL! You'd never guess I quit my day job in 1998, eh?
Sending cheers to PM!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Riding the Waves
Hurrah to the driver of the compact turquoise car covered with 3-D sea creatures headed south on Lamar at 5 p.m. yesterday! Thanks for keeping Austin weird!
GLS made a particularly yummy dinner last night--a tomatillo-based gaspacho with shirmp. We also served sliced Fuji apples with low-fat Vermont cheddar and sliced smoked salmon. AB was our guest, and it was lovely to see her.
After I work out, I still need to key in various points of information from my mss to my world guide. Then I'll switch to AWP prep. I'm making a decision to skew from more of a focus on the history of YA to what it is today and just refer the audience to additional reading. That's more my area of expertise anyway, though I'll give the history a contextual nod to start off. I'm also planning to briefly read from my first novel, Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins, 2001)(10-up), Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today edited by Lori M. Carlson (HarperCollins, 2005)(12-up)(editor interview), and My Road Trip to the Pretty Girl Capital of the World by Brian Yansky (Cricket, 2003)(14-up) as examples of YAs at the different age subcategories.
Sending cheers to DHA!
GLS made a particularly yummy dinner last night--a tomatillo-based gaspacho with shirmp. We also served sliced Fuji apples with low-fat Vermont cheddar and sliced smoked salmon. AB was our guest, and it was lovely to see her.
After I work out, I still need to key in various points of information from my mss to my world guide. Then I'll switch to AWP prep. I'm making a decision to skew from more of a focus on the history of YA to what it is today and just refer the audience to additional reading. That's more my area of expertise anyway, though I'll give the history a contextual nod to start off. I'm also planning to briefly read from my first novel, Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins, 2001)(10-up), Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today edited by Lori M. Carlson (HarperCollins, 2005)(12-up)(editor interview), and My Road Trip to the Pretty Girl Capital of the World by Brian Yansky (Cricket, 2003)(14-up) as examples of YAs at the different age subcategories.
Sending cheers to DHA!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
World Building Is A Big Job
No matter how much I'm aching to get to it, I'm going to have to push back character-specific work until after I grade VC packets and speak at AWP this weekend. Today, I need to read through my mss and plug all indicated character, mythology, and setting information into my world guide. Tomorrow, I'm going to re-read MC's book for my AWP talk in case that lends itself to any tweaking.
Looking forward to seeing AB (author interview) at dinner tonight!
Thanks to TB (author interview) for the lovely card!
Looking forward to seeing AB (author interview) at dinner tonight!
Thanks to TB (author interview) for the lovely card!
Monday, March 06, 2006
Tantalize Publication Date Moved Up to Spring 2007
Those of you who read Cynsations may recall my recent post that the publication date for Tantalize has been moved up from fall to spring of 2007.
I'm excited, nervous, a jumble of emotions, even though that's still a year away. I can't wait to get that initial glimpse at the cover art concept, which my editor suggested might be within the next month or so. CP does a top-notch job at production--one of the reasons I'm so thrilled to be working with the house.
I'm also feeling a tad more pressure on writing F&M as I'm contemplating a companion book for T, too. No matter, each mss will take the time it takes. I'm pleased with my productivity lately.
Incidentally, on my Spookycyn LJ syndication, BSM (LJ) alludes to a good point about the circumstances surrounding cats sitting on manuscripts to facilitate sales. Note that she says she'll "let" Sugar sit on her manuscript. The opportunity is there, but the decision remains the cat's. Writers are not to plop cats on manuscripts or slip manuscripts under cat beds. This is cheating the magic, which is perilous at best.
I'm excited, nervous, a jumble of emotions, even though that's still a year away. I can't wait to get that initial glimpse at the cover art concept, which my editor suggested might be within the next month or so. CP does a top-notch job at production--one of the reasons I'm so thrilled to be working with the house.
I'm also feeling a tad more pressure on writing F&M as I'm contemplating a companion book for T, too. No matter, each mss will take the time it takes. I'm pleased with my productivity lately.
Incidentally, on my Spookycyn LJ syndication, BSM (LJ) alludes to a good point about the circumstances surrounding cats sitting on manuscripts to facilitate sales. Note that she says she'll "let" Sugar sit on her manuscript. The opportunity is there, but the decision remains the cat's. Writers are not to plop cats on manuscripts or slip manuscripts under cat beds. This is cheating the magic, which is perilous at best.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Research Resumed
Decided to keep going with the research rather than trust my frazzled brain to know the subject. That said, I fairly zoomed through books on the second, more familiar mythology. This was essentially review, refreshing, compiling a checklist of sorts, and I still ended up with about six pages of scribbled notes to key into my world guide.
Of the mega stack, seven books turned out to be especially helpful, and I'm keeping them under my nightstand so that the knowledge can sink into my mind as I'm sleeping (call it "wishful thinking"). I also poked around a little online and found a site with fantastic photographs for setting reference.
Tomorrow I'll organize it all and move onto character building--protagonists first.
Of the mega stack, seven books turned out to be especially helpful, and I'm keeping them under my nightstand so that the knowledge can sink into my mind as I'm sleeping (call it "wishful thinking"). I also poked around a little online and found a site with fantastic photographs for setting reference.
Tomorrow I'll organize it all and move onto character building--protagonists first.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
If A Cat Sits On Your Manuscript, It Will Sell
"You will discover an unexpected treasure."
--most recent fortune from a cookie at Suzi's China Kitchen
Publishing legend has it that "if a cat sits on your manuscript, it will sell."--most recent fortune from a cookie at Suzi's China Kitchen
I'm not sure where I first heard this, but I prefer to believe it, especially because I have four cats and that greatly increases my odds.
[I'm not an expert on the success rate of dogs, rabbits, gerbils, etc., but as an optimist, I'd be hopeful].
I mention this because Leo Galilei, my tawny Egyptian Mau, sat on F&M this evening.
In other news, found an additional research tape from the History Channel. Will watch it tonight and start in on characters tomorrow.
By the way, spent a ridiculous amount of time/thought today debating with GLS on the gender of an animal character. He thought it should be male. I thought it should be female. Guess what? She's a girl. And for legitimate logic reasons revealed by today's research.
Moving Pictures
Today's research includes watching: an A&E Biography that, incidentally, featured one of RS's magical illustrations; an episode of "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom," narrated by LG; and a feature from The History Channel.
Video/DVDs are especially useful for, say, notetaking on noises that animals make. Also, sometimes hearing (as opposed to reading) information triggers different kinds of ideas.
I also received an out-of-print, horridly written picture book that has some color photographs that will be useful for describing one of the major settings in the mss. I'll take a look at that later.
Video/DVDs are especially useful for, say, notetaking on noises that animals make. Also, sometimes hearing (as opposed to reading) information triggers different kinds of ideas.
I also received an out-of-print, horridly written picture book that has some color photographs that will be useful for describing one of the major settings in the mss. I'll take a look at that later.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Research Fiend
One major research area is done for now. I also have a document, sort of a "world guide," that's divided into: characters; mythology; setting; and timelines. It's about 18 pages, some of which are blank, and includes a cast roster and to-do list. I had tons of related books, but two were infinitely more useful than the rest. I've got about 3,400 words of notes, just getting started. Feeling some eagerness to get through this part so I can do some character work, but all in good time (and no doubt a break for grading packets in between).
Thanks to HB for her get-well wishes; and yes, I did look quite cute in my eye patch (I'm 100% better know; the eye really does heal quickly). Thanks also to LZ for mentioning From Romance to Realism: 50 Years of Growth and Change in Young Adult Literature by Michael Cart (HarperCollins, 1996), which I agree is outstanding.
Sending out thank yous to a few folks who've been above-and-beyond supportive this past week or so: GLS (author interview), EH (author interview) at SCBWI-Houston, and KA (author interview) at Kerbey Lane Cafe.
Thanks to HB for her get-well wishes; and yes, I did look quite cute in my eye patch (I'm 100% better know; the eye really does heal quickly). Thanks also to LZ for mentioning From Romance to Realism: 50 Years of Growth and Change in Young Adult Literature by Michael Cart (HarperCollins, 1996), which I agree is outstanding.
Sending out thank yous to a few folks who've been above-and-beyond supportive this past week or so: GLS (author interview), EH (author interview) at SCBWI-Houston, and KA (author interview) at Kerbey Lane Cafe.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Logic Hound
My brain is melting, really leaking out of my ears.
Today, I'm working on the some of the logic aspects of my WIP, which among other things involves figuring out the timeline, both in the sense of centuries and the passing of one night, the sunrise and sunset times, and compiling an international backdrop to the mythology. I also researched baby first names from particular eras and surnames specific to time and place.
I've made great progress with the topic research, which has also offered much inspiration for rounding out the protagonists' backstories. One more subject to finish up (I've got two more books to check for now), one to go, and one that is mostly review.
Thanks to KWH for her kind condolences.
Today, I'm working on the some of the logic aspects of my WIP, which among other things involves figuring out the timeline, both in the sense of centuries and the passing of one night, the sunrise and sunset times, and compiling an international backdrop to the mythology. I also researched baby first names from particular eras and surnames specific to time and place.
I've made great progress with the topic research, which has also offered much inspiration for rounding out the protagonists' backstories. One more subject to finish up (I've got two more books to check for now), one to go, and one that is mostly review.
Thanks to KWH for her kind condolences.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Naming Characters
It's supposed to reach 85 degrees today. The sun is shining. My redbud and daffodils are in bloom.
I'm working steadily on the WIP while letting the actual mss cool. I took another look at the character names. I wasn't wholly satisfied with the surname of one of the alternating POV protagonists and that stopped me until I could find one. Obsessive behavior, no doubt. Along the way, I ended up changing the names of four more characters.
Considerations in naming characters:
Vary in terms of first letters;
Very in terms of numbers of syllables;
Vary in term of the sounds they make (vowels and ending letters have great impact);
Consider the meaning of the name (but not in a too-obvious way);
Consider the age of the character (don't give a "new" name to an octogenarian)
When applicable, consider names' geographic/ethnic history (whether thematic or not; hey, it's a diverse world).
Here's an example of the names from Jingle Dancer (Morrow, 2000): Jenna, Grandma Wolfe, Great-aunt Sis; Mrs. Scott, Cousin Elizabeth. Note the variety of syllables, sounds, etc.
This reduces reader and, for that matter, writer confusion as well as adds resonance. I don't go crazy with it so as not to seem forced, but I do think about it.
Two of the minor characters in my WIP have similar names, but the meanings fit each, they never appear in a scene together, and in many ways they're supposed to be mirrors anyway.
I'm working steadily on the WIP while letting the actual mss cool. I took another look at the character names. I wasn't wholly satisfied with the surname of one of the alternating POV protagonists and that stopped me until I could find one. Obsessive behavior, no doubt. Along the way, I ended up changing the names of four more characters.
Considerations in naming characters:
Vary in terms of first letters;
Very in terms of numbers of syllables;
Vary in term of the sounds they make (vowels and ending letters have great impact);
Consider the meaning of the name (but not in a too-obvious way);
Consider the age of the character (don't give a "new" name to an octogenarian)
When applicable, consider names' geographic/ethnic history (whether thematic or not; hey, it's a diverse world).
Here's an example of the names from Jingle Dancer (Morrow, 2000): Jenna, Grandma Wolfe, Great-aunt Sis; Mrs. Scott, Cousin Elizabeth. Note the variety of syllables, sounds, etc.
This reduces reader and, for that matter, writer confusion as well as adds resonance. I don't go crazy with it so as not to seem forced, but I do think about it.
Two of the minor characters in my WIP have similar names, but the meanings fit each, they never appear in a scene together, and in many ways they're supposed to be mirrors anyway.
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