March Madness

Let the wild rumpus begin! Isn't that a great opening line for anything?  Thank you so much to the late Maurice Sendak for those wonderful words!

Indeed March will be a time of wild rumpusness!  It is a word, because I just typed it! :)  This is the month that I begin on the road to physical fitness.  Oh the journey continues!

In January I decided that in order to be the new me, I had to change.  I had to change my way of thinking.  I had to learn to let go and move forward.  Like I tell my girls, onward and upward!  I know that I can't be the best me I want to be if I am stuck in the same old patterns.  So off I went.

I signed up for two 5k races in May.  One of them is a run memorializing a young lady from my hometown who was tragically killed by a drunk driver just up the road from my house.  If you feel inclined and are near Independence come join the LBRun at Blue River Community College Campus.  The other is sponsored by the city of Independence and it is the at Waterfall Park-isn't that a beautiful name, anyway I digress.

So for March, and in the hope that spring will show up eventually, I am beginning to the physical training part of the new me! My eventual goal isn't to be a size zero---it is to be feel fabulous after I walk up two flights of stairs instead of feeling like I want to take a nap!

I am growing my wings---I will soar eventually! Wish me luck!  Any of you physically more fit friends have any advice?  Let me know! I am such a beginner at this fitness stuff!

I have been officially back in school since June 2011. I have earned more gray hairs, more wrinkles and more knowledge than ever! Right now I am struggling, like I have ever semester since I started, with the tug between perfection and progression. You see, I have made straight A's in my endeavors thus far and that is something that I am extremely proud of. Sometimes though I feel I put too much pressure on myself, and in turn of transference, on those around me, to be perfect. I have been really thinking about my drive for perfection and where it originates from.

 There is a drive in me to prove to myself that I am good enough. Good enough to be a mom, a student, a wife, a person. I feel a need to show all of those mean people of my younger days and those mean people of my present days that I am a great person.

 Why do I feel this drive? I think it is because I care. I care about mean people gaining so much from this world, while nice people tend to get trampled and walked upon. I care about mean people feeling they have a right to make others feel bad to make themselves feel better, not caring whom they have hurt. I care about mean people making this world a hurtful place. My conclusion? I need to quit caring.

 Not really. However, I do need to change what I care about. I can longer give an ounce of care to those people who feel a need to be snippy, allow people to hurt others, walk on other people's feelings and to laugh and smile at others pains.

 My focus needs to be on caring about those people who smile when they walk by you, even if they don't know you. I need to care about those people who will lend you a quarter at the vending machine when they see you rifling through your change to find one. I need to care about people who will ask you if you are okay when they see the light isn't there in your eyes.

 I need to care for those who care.

Favorites

I have often been asked what my favorite genre to read is, my favorite genre to write, who my favorite author is.......and my answer to all of these and those like them is I don't have one. Seriously. I don't have a favorite author. I don't have a favorite type to read or write. I love to read and write, period.

I love to read nearly everything. Last week I finished Andy Taylor's (of Duran Duran fame (insert girly giggle here) autobiography, Wild Boy, and it was such a fun read I finished it in a day. I love learning things about people I never knew before.

Right now I am finishing up Need, by Carrie Jones and yes I will continue reading the series because it to is a great fun read that captured my attention and imagination. On my list next to read is a biography on the great feminist/community activist Jane Addams. I am excited and hopeful that I can learn more about her.

I am always open to going to the library and picking up a book without knowing anything about it. Sometimes you get a dud, and sometimes you get an OMGoodness, What Have I Been Missing, moment. I live for those moments. They are like finding a dollar in the pocket of your winter coat when you put it on for the first time of the season.

I am also open to suggestions from people I know about great reads. So anyone have some suggestions for my book list? Yes, I know, I am a nerd, I do actually keep a list of to read and have read........I'll just walk away right now.....

Happy Reading!

A New Year, Beginning Yet Again

Some really smart person once said, "It isn't how many times you fall down, it's how many times you get back up."

This describes me perfectly. I fall down, a lot. No really, like a lot. I fall down physically a lot. I can trip over my feet, air, smooth concrete, well, you name it. I fall down mentally a lot. I obsess over small insignificant things, turning them over and over until I finally drive myself half crazy. Then I forget what I was worrying over. I fall down professionally. A lot.

In June, after receiving a negative critique and then never receiving a promised critique over my WIP I quit writing. I shelved it and decided to return to school. Something else that I had shelved. While I write in my classes, a lot, I knew I was missing something. I couldn't put my finger on it.

After my fall finals were over and I had time on my hands I was bored and a bit antsy. I didn't know what to do with myself. I couldn't decide what the problem was. Then I found it. I was daydreaming, which I do a lot, and a great story came into my brain. I could see the characters, the plot, and well, everything. I wrote it down in a very rough outline. I sat back and it was my Oprah A-HA moment. I had been missing my creative writing. I missed it a lot.

So guess who's back? I am not writing to be published, although that would be really nice. I am writing as an outlet for my creativity, my daydreams, my thoughts, my feelings and my experiences. I am writing because that's what I am. I am a writer.

Let the Reading Season Begin!

So as I tie shoes, sign papers, make lunches and send my daughters off to school with a kiss and an I LOVE YOU, I begin to switch back into my reading mode. My mind starts making lists that my fingers have to write down about which books I want to read. Back to school time is the kickoff season for our family to start really reading again.

Summer is great. There is so much to do and my soul yearns to be outside enjoying the fresh air and warm sun. My family is constantly on the go, enjoying trips to amusement parks, water parks, the zoo, walks on trails and anything else that gets us out of the house. Summer is release for us Missourians. Most of our winters are long affairs with bitter cold and various types of wet cold precipitation. So when the warm winds come and the sun stays around longer we embrace it with a passion.

Then school starts and we start getting into a more academic mode. This means reading, writing and critical thinking of various types. Our minds start wandering to books, libraries and bookstores. We begin discussing books we want to read and need to read. My husband looks forward to kickoff time for the NFL and his daughters and wife looks forward to quiet Sundays, curled under the warm blankets reading a enthralling book.

So this book season I have two main goals. The first goal is to read all the Mark Twain and Truman Reader nominee books. These lists are read by my two older children as well. I have been pleasantly surprised by some books on both of these lists in the past so I cannot wait to see what I'm in store for this year. I will post the list of nominee books at the end of this post.

My second goal is one I plan on writing more about in the near future. I am on a mission to discover the very best Post-Apocalypse/End of Earth type of book for both adults and young adults. I must admit this has been a while in the making. I have been wanting to do this for a while now, but those sneaky vampires and weres just got a hold of me and wouldn't let go. While I still love them both, I'm feeling a need to be prepared for 2012-so I must read about the end of earth as I now it. Of course getting addicted to TNT's new show Falling Skies didn't help in this need. It only made it worse.

So any suggestions for me? I would love to hear them!

Mark Twain Award 2011-2012 Nominees:

The Potato Chip Puzzles by Eric Berlin
Secret of Zoom by Lynne Jonell
Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret
Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur
Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z by Kate Messner
Faith, Hope and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry
Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford
Storm Chaser by Chris Platt
Mudville by Kurtis Scaletta

Truman Reader Award 2011-2012 Nominees:

Invisible Lines by Mary Amato
Double Eagle by Snead B. Collard III
If the Witness Lied by Caroline Cooney
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Adventurers Wanted: Slathbog's Gold by M.L. Forman
The Shifter by Janice Hardy
The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler
The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan
Pop by Gordon Korman
Jane in Bloom by Deborah Lytton
The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel
Bull Rider by Suzanne Morgan Williams

Writers write!!

Writers write. I have read this repeatedly from published authors, respected editors, and professors. They observe and they put those observations on paper.

So I took a break and now.....I write. I write daily. I write in a observation journal, a personal journal, essays for school and for fun. I write notes to my children. I write recipes in a notebook. I simply write.

Today I was watching my daughter at her cheer practice and I had to open my calendar to jot down an idea that occurred to me. Yeah! I am back to being inspired and not caring what anyone else thinks of my writing.

I am writing to learn. I am writing to get better. I am writing to enjoy myself. I am writing to release my creativity.

There is no secret to writing. There is just repetition and learning from your previous writing. If you open yourself to that learning your writing improves.

So once again I am writing. I am already feeling better.

So many changes!

So like the weather in Missouri, I am constantly changing. I change my hair, re-arrange my furniture, paint walls and even the outside of the house constantly. Always in search of the next thing to capture my interest. This change though has been stupendous!

I decided, at nearly 40, to go back to school and pursue a degree or two. Yes I said or two. I am thinking of double majoring in English and History. I am thus far having so much fun and learning so many things! I've discovered that I am pretty good at this school thing.

The other thing I've discovered is that I am good at writing. I've always loved writing fiction, but now I am also enjoying writing essays. I don't always like the subject but I love the writing process.

I am discovering how to write effectively. Writing strategies are making the process so much easier. Fiction is no harder or easier than scholarly writing but can be approached similarly.

I never stopped writing fiction. I did however begin to question myself and the worst thing of all, I began to listen to all those people who were negative about my writing. I slowed down and re-evaluated. During the reflection I learned one thing. I love to write. So write I will.

Here's to Routine!

“How do you write, work and have a family?” This is the question that I was asked yesterday by a friend. The answer is how can’t I? Those things are essential to me. Writing allows me to express myself and release my creativity, my children allow me to love and be loved unconditionally and work gives me the opportunity to provide for my family and my writing.

While I didn’t say the above to her, I simply said “A routine.” Routines allow me to do all three. I’m a creature of routine for the most part.

This can be both good and bad. As a mom, routines are vital to a smooth household. At least they are for mine. I notice the girls tend to do a lot better with a routine than without and I, as a mom, tend to be a more relaxed parent.

Being a mom I have to be careful with routine as well. Sometimes certain situations and certain children require some thinking outside of the routine. It can be fun to go outside your normal status quo sometimes. Bedtime around here is based on a routine, but during the summer that goes out the window as we enjoy different activities.

As a writer being in a routine is wonderful for the process of writing. I have regular times of writing, such as cheer and gymnastic practices. I have a way that I like to do things. I like to revise at times, write at others, and brainstorm at even other times.

Routine can also hinder my writing. I don’t want my work to be predictable. I want it to capture someone’s attention and keep it. My words should take you on a journey, and you should wonder what is coming next. If someone reading my work knows what is coming then they are going to get bored. They are more than likely going to put down my book and that’s bad. I don’t want that…..

As a reader I want the unexpected. I don’t want to pick up a book and know what comes next in the story. There are very rare times when I have known exactly what was coming and actually enjoyed the book, mostly because I’ve fallen for one of the characters (hello Edward Cullen—insert smile here—and how are you?). When I get bored while reading, which is few and far between, I finish the book but I never recommend it to anyone.

But there’s a certain comfort in picking up a book that belongs to a series and having the routine of that character remain constant. Drastic changes in the characters can be unsettling. Losing the things that made your audience fall in love with your character can cause those readers to walk away.

So while I enjoy my routines, I also crave that unexpected that comes around the bend to shake things up, especially when I can write it. I love those ideas that just make you go “WHAT?” or “WOW, I didn’t see that coming!” That’s my goal.

So here’s to routine! Here’s to spontaneity! Here’s to closing your eyes, holding on tight and enjoying the ride, in life and in reading. Most importantly in writing!

So Many Books.....So Few Dollars......

So on my vacation I had lots and lots of time to read and it was heaven. Purely heaven. I had a lot of new books to catch up on and I enjoyed them. However, like most of you, I’m on a budget and therefore, there were a few books that I have yet to buy and read. I’ve begun making a list of these books as I come across them so I won’t forget them when I do get the opportunity to buy one or two or six…..

Below you will find my Young Adult fiction list. I love to read Young Adult genre books of all kinds but am not limited to them. I love all genres for the most part and while my list at home is rather lengthy I decided to limit my list on the blog. For the most part I tried to stick to one book per letter but seriously there are some great books out there so a few of the letters got more than one. Heck, a few of the letters could have a whole page to themselves, but I restrained myself.
I would love to hear what your additions to this list might be.

One of the best things in the world is when someone suggests a book to me that I’ve never heard of before and I end up loving the book. It is like finding money in the pocket of my winter coat when I pull it out after a long hot summer. Pleasant, unexpected and it puts a smile on my face to recommend it to someone else.

Happy Reading!

My A to Z list of YA books to read:

A—ANGEL STAR BY JENNIFER MURGIA
B—A BLUE SO DARK BY HOLLY SCHINDLER
C—CRESCENDO BY BECCA ROBERTS FITZPATRICK
D—DEAD TOSSED WAVES BY CARRIE RYAN
E—EON: DRAGONEYE REBORN BY ALISON GOODMAN
F—FADE BY LISA MCMANN
G—GONE BY LISA MCMANN
H—HUSH, HUSH BY BECCA ROBERTS FITZPATRICK
I—IF I STAY BY GAYLE FORMAN
J—JEALOUSY BY LILITH SAINTCROW
K—KISS OF DEATH BY RACHEL CAINE
L—LINGER BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER
M—MOCKINGJAY BY SUZANNE COLLINS
N—NO MORE US FOR YOU BY DAVID HERNANDEZ
O—THE ORANGE HOUSES BY PAUL GRIFFEN
P—PARANORMALCY BY KIERSTEN WHITE
Q—THE QUEEN OF SECOND PLACE BY LAURA PEYTON ROBERTS
R—THE RED PYRAMID BY RICK RIORDAN
S—SEA BY HEIDI KLING SHIVER BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER SECRET YEAR BY JENNIFER HUBBARD
T—TORMENT BY LAUREN KATE TWELFTH GRADE KILLS BY HEATHER BREWER
U—THE UNINVITED BY TIM WYNNE-JONES
V—VAMPIRE ACADEMY LAST SACRIFICE BY RICHELLE MEAD
W—WAKE BY LISA MCMANN WINTERGIRLS BY LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON
X—X-ISLE BY STEVE AUGARDE
Y—YOU BY CHARLES BENOIT
Z—MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC BY GABRIELLE ZEVIN (yes I totally cheated on this listing LOL)

Vacation Time!

Today is the last full day until my vacation starts on Friday. I am over the moon with excitement and anticipation for my vacation this year!

Of course that brings up the question—Should I write on vacation or take a break and recharge? I've never been one to be set on rules about my writing. I write when I write. When I feel inspired I can write for hours at a time. When I’m struggling I try to write for at least five to ten minutes and then stop. The only thing I do try and continue to do every day is to write for a little bit.

On my vacation that changes and more times than not all of my jobs, writing included, get pushed back to make room for fun, relaxation and simply resting. It is the time to be with my family, give myself time to catch my breath and make memories.
If I get truly zinged by a wonderful idea I will rush for my notebook, jot it down or record it on my phone for use later. So I don’t ignore everything-I just don’t explore them on vacation.

When I get back and resume my writing full-time I am always amazed at how much energy I have and how the enthusiasm has returned full-force. The ideas and words just seem to flow.

So here’s to everyone’s summer vacation this year! I hope you too find a chance to recharge and happy summer!

Spark of Creativity

This weekend my middle daughter asked me why I wanted to write. I gave her the usual answer of how much I love to be able to express myself, having something that has lived in my imagination come alive and take form on paper (or screen) and because it makes me smile. She nodded and we went about our Saturday. There was something about the question that stuck with me though. Something more about why I wanted to write.

What had been that initial spark? Was there one thing that jumpstarted my writing? I thought about it overnight and into Father’s Day. As we waited for our table for our Father’s Day dinner it hit me. I knew exactly the moment I wanted to be a writer. I was reading Go Ask Alice by Anonymous when I was eleven.

Yes eleven was probably a bit young for that particular book but I was blessed with a mother who didn’t really believe in restricting books and the arts from her children based upon age. I remember the day I got Go Ask Alice. I had gone to a garage sale with my grandmother. She was an avid glass and Avon bottle collector and we scoured the garage sales for finds. While she was inspecting a table of breakables (as we call them), I was immediately drawn to the huge table of books stacked upon one another. Now, if I could have had my way, we would have taken that whole table home. However, as it was my grandmother and being concerned with cost (can you imagine?) I was limited to one book.

I spent at least an hour reading the backs of the books and putting them in three piles, Keep, Nope, and Maybe. Then I narrowed through the Maybe and Keep piles until I was down to two books, Go Ask Alice and Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews. I asked for both of them and was told quickly it wasn’t going to happen. Finally I left with Go Ask Alice. I devoured that book in one sitting. I didn’t move until I finished the book.

That night I put pen to paper and started writing down ideas, thoughts, cares, concerns, characters, etc., anything and everything. I haven’t stopped yet. I never really thought of it as a career though, more of a love. It was my release and a time when my imagination could be allowed to run wild. I was one of those kids that adults would say they had their heads in the clouds. I daydreamed while I walked.

Go Ask Alice is still listed as being Anonymous though now is mostly believed to be by Beatrice Sparks. It is listed as a work of fiction though was presented much differently in the early 1970’s when it was published. It deals with a fifteen year old girl’s battle with addiction and the myriad of problems that comes with this battle.

It completely captured my attention and had me paying attention to people around me from that moment on. I started to “people watch” and speculate on what their stories were. I wondered about everyone from the grandmotherly lady behind us in the shopping line to the boy who sat behind me in class and pulled on my braid during silent reading. I started writing down those musings and giving them voices.

I still have that much battered copy of the book and am planning to re-read it this summer. I wonder what it will spark this time!

Last Nerve

Writer’s block, frustration, short attention span, impatience, and lack of sleep. Put those things together and you will have me at least once during the week. On those days I have to find other ways to release my creativity before it threatens to explode and throw creative juices all over the place. Appetizing huh?

Notice how I said one day of the week is normal for me to be completely frozen creatively? Yeah well this week has been particularly rough. I have experienced those things at least four times already this week. I wasn’t feeling my stories-any of the five-and my music was all old and overplayed, well, in short everything was getting on my last nerve.

That poor last nerve, it has been severely tested over the years, but never as badly as this week. So in a last ditch effort to save it I turned to painting my house. Yes, yes, you heard me. I am painting my house. Now it is mid-June in Missouri-usually the weather is pretty and not too warm so painting should be fairly easy. OH NO! Mother Nature decided she needed to take a shot at my last nerve. She has sent scorching humidity-packed days followed by thundering loud rainstorms at night. So painting the outside was out.

AH-HA! I outsmarted the old broad, and decided to paint the inside instead. I have been up to my eye balls in turquoise, pink and purple paint, not to mention spackle compound, tape and paintbrushes. After much ooohhhing and aaahhhing over my daughters' choices for their rooms, I set to working. There is something very calming about painting-until you hit the trim work. My last nerve almost didn’t make it through the trim painting. I do have some very cute pictures of my five year old though who fashioned a WalMart plastic bag into a lovely paint romper, complete with smirk!

So in the middle of this painting I an idea smacked me. It hit me so hard that I had to get off of the ladder, which was killing my feet anyway, so now I have a battered last nerve and sore feet. I ran into the kitchen, grabbed the envelope that my cell phone bill was in and jotted down my idea. So then what happened? I didn’t want to paint anymore, but now I have bedrooms torn apart and have to finish them. Painting is getting on my last nerve----

Re-Write Purgatory

As I type this I am in the middle of re-writing my WIP#1 and am knee-deep in choices. What scenes are strong enough to keep versus those that are weak and don’t help the story along? Which dialogue is essential or that dialogue that can be edited out?

Many, many, many times I allow myself to stew on these choices and let them sit in my head for a few days. That way I can go through the various scenarios and endings and decide from there where I would like the story to go. Sometimes I can cut one line of a scene and it suddenly just clicks and I know where I am headed again. Other times it is a whole page or two and I still don’t care for the scene.

At this point I absolutely adore my characters and their story, but I am going to have to make a tough choice on which way the story goes. I had written it to end one way and the more I think about it, the more I don’t care for the ending. So I’ve decided to re-write the entire ending and see if that is more palatable to me.
Re-writes can be both exhilarating and tedious. When a scene clicks the ideas, words and thoughts just seem to flow out of my fingers and onto the screen. Other times it is a slow wade through the muck and mire to get where I need to be. I am great at writing the big picture but details tend to bore me to write. Not a great quality I know. It’s something I’m working on and getting better at. Heck, what can I say, I have to force myself not to read the last chapter of my books for the ending when I get antsy about the way the story is going. I have yet to do that, but the idea is always tempting me.

Re-writes can tend to be overwhelming at times. There are so many ideas, thoughts and scenarios that jumble around in my head and not enough space to utilize them all. When this happens, I open another file that I have labeled IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE and put them in there. I find this to be a great resource for me. Currently I have about five works in progress and I review my written notes and IDEAS folder regularly for inspiration if I feel stuck.

For me re-writes are an opportunity to throw those great memories into a story. Those little details that might stick with a reader. I love when a writer makes a character compatible to me in some way. It could be a gesture such as turning their wedding ring on their finger when impatient, or their quick tongue that unleashes sarcastic clips of speech. I add those details on my re-writes more times than not.

So I’m back to the details today…..Julia, Clint, Sarie, Amie, Cam, Micah and Danjal, here I come!

Favorites

This past Saturday my oldest daughter asked me to drive her and two friends to the local mall. I obliged willingly, knowing that my presence would not be required or appreciated and I could slip across the street to the local book store. No children, and a free trip to the book store, who would turn that down? Not me!

As I walked into heaven, also known as the book store to mortals, I inhaled deeply. Have I mentioned my love affair with the written word? If not, I have one. It’s a small one, but intense nonetheless.

I wandered through the aisles, wide-eyed and wistful, mentally adding titles to my “Want” list. My fingers traced the spines of the various titles and my eyes drank in the pretty covers. I am going to need at least two more jobs to pay for the many books on my list. Or my husband is :P.

That’s when I spied it. The very thing I didn’t even know I was looking for. The Summer Reading book table in the center of the main aisle, piled high with the books I’ve loved to read over the years. A Tale of Two Cities, Tom Sawyer, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and so many more. I wanted them all. My head hurt from the many choices, and my hands ended up hurting from picking up book after book and then my arms were aching from the load.

Eventually I settled on four. I bought Catcher in the Rye, Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and The Outsiders. My heart ached every time I had to make a choice between books. I didn’t want to give any of them up. Needless to say, more trips to the book store are planned.

The choices I made were based partly on my two older girls. They both are fanatic readers and have already started summer reading lists for the Mark Twain Awards, but I want them exposed to so many more titles beyond the new ones. I am a strong believer in the classics. They have withstood the test of time for a reason.

I remember the first time I read The Outsiders. I immediately wanted to be a Greaser and fell hard for the Curtis brothers. Wuthering Heights? Catcher in the Rye? Pride and Prejudice? All of the ideas that capture today’s hearts in books can be found in these classics. We may modernize the stories, twist them and flip them a bit, but the foundations are all there for what we continue to write today.

These books have the power to transport you to another time, another place and surround you with people you love, you hate and that you love to hate. How powerful is that for a person, especially a young person?

So this has me to thinking, wondering what other titles I want to have around for my children and myself to enjoy. Any suggestions? I’m making my list and my husband is perusing the want ads as I type!

Yeah!

A long holiday weekend is upon us and I am all set to enjoy it! In between festivities I have about thirteen books to read. While I am known for my passion of reading in my family and have finished books in one sitting, even I am not that good with only three days.

I am planning on reading Charlaine Harris' newest Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampires series installment Dead In The Family. I have two other series books to read as well Spirit Bound from Richelle Mead's Vamp Academy series and Burned from P.C. and Kristen Cast's House of Night series. Will I get to all of them? A big NO will go here.

There is one reason for that fact. For some reason I have to go back and re-read all of the books in the series before reading the new one. Why? I think the biggest reason is the fact that I don't want to miss any little nuance. Since I am a fan of series books I tend to read a lot of them and being that I am so busy at times, I do forget certain items. It irritates me when I read the newest book and have forgotten something and I get lost in the story for a bit.

Now most author's will make an effort to remind their readers of the bigger plot lines, but they can't remind you of everything, otherwise it'd be the same book again :) So instead I re-read the series and refresh my memory of all those small things-hey now that reminds me of how much I adore Blink-182. See how easily I can be side-tracked?

So this weekend will be devoted Sookie, Jason, Vampire Bill, Eric, the twin Fairies and all of the other special characters that Ms. Charlaine Harris has brought to life in her Sookie series. I know I will be enjoying my weekend, and I hope you all enjoy yours!

Character Love

In my work in progress #1 (shall be shortened to WIP1 from here on out) I am absolutely enthralled with my main character, Julia. She's dynamic, strong, and witty. The problem I am encountering is how to flesh her out to the reader so that all these qualities come shining through.

She's gone through struggles, had some obstacles to climb, and can be somewhat caustic about those things. I have had several re-writes of this WIP due to her qualities not being apparent enough. Dialogue,as I have found, is a great way to get more of her through.

Dialogue can be a tough road to write. Knowing when and how much to include versus letting the story unfold is a fine line. I will read the dialogue out loud to myself to hear how it sounds. Another option is to read it to my audience, also known as daughters, and get their take on it. One can always tell how good it is by quickly glancing at their faces. Squinted eyes and puckered mouths are a no-good indicator, and smiles and nods are a good job indicator.

So with Julia, while I want her to be tough, I need her to be soft at times as well without seeming weak. She's become an extension of myself at this point, with me often thinking, "Wonder how Julia would react to that situation," when I think of a new angle.

I have a main character (MC) in WIP#3 that I'm not in love with. In fact, I'd rather pull her hair at times she frustrates me so much. However, being the pacifist that I am I refrain from pulling hair or deleting her and continue to plug away. We just don't mesh. She's my antithesis in nearly every aspect and that makes her more fun to write. Cadence is making my hair go even more silver and she's not even real.

Her story is moving along more quickly at this point just because I can't anticipate how she will react to the situations I put forth, which makes it exciting and new to write.

Character love can be both good and bad. You can't be so involved in the character that you forget the story lines, and you can't be so against a character that you don't write appropriate situations that will challenge the reactions of your MC. As I said previously, what a fine line!

Now I'm off to write for WIP#4 where I have yet to decide what my character is truly like, her voice hasn't been defined yet. Oh, the fun stuff (rubbing hands eagerly here!).

Are you serious?

To the above question yes I am serious. I am serious about my writing, even if I have to squeeze in a few sentences here and there in my busy days. However, recently I have come to realize that I can't just be serious about my writing. I have to show that I am serious about the business of being a writer and being published.

While reading the many editor/author blogs out there I have come across more than a few that recommend showing my serious ambitions on being published by joining writing associations that correlate to my genre of writing. I would love to join SWBCI and other associations, I really would, but at this point in time it just isn't financially possible to do so. It is placed on my "Saving For" list that I have generated. I will join because I believe it to be a invaluable source of information and an incredible resource tool for young adult authors.

Until then I will remain focused and centered on my writing and continue to try to improve my skills. I know that one day I will not only be a member of the various associations but I will be a PUBLISHED member of those associations.

To have or to have not......

The allure of holding a new book in my hands is addictive. I love my books. I eagerly anticipate going to the bookstore, be it the nearest Barnes and Noble or the Sam's club and searching for that book cover that catches my eye or that new release I've been dying to read. The drive home with my new book requires my windows to be down and the radio to be turned up as a reflection of my uplifted spirits. No matter how hard of a week I've had, a new book can always lift me out of my funk.

Once I've arrived at home, cleaned the house quickly, done the dishes, wrangled my youngest into the bath, listened to the drama of my two older girl's lives, and watched a few innings of my husband's latest sports passion, I finally get to lay back and crack open the new book. I can honestly say that there are few other things in life that can compete with the crisp pages of a new book and reading that opening paragraph. Okay, books are my vice-my only vice. Okay, okay, after Diet Coke and Twizzlers.

As I watched another mother at my daughters' cheer practice last week, I couldn't get past how pleased she looked with her Kindle. Technically it is a book, but is it? Hmmmmmmm. I watched her as she smiled at parts that she read, but she never turned a page. The lady next to her asked her what she was reading and when she told her they both gushed about how wonderful the story was. Hmmmmmmm.

It seems cold and impersonal to me. This ebook/digital book thing. I know it is the thing of the future, but I just don't think I could ever give up that feeling of owning a new book. Is it the same to purchase the story electronically as it is to drive out and pick up a copy that you can hold in your hands? The book jacket making you wonder how it relates to the story inside. Hmmmmmm.

I just had to know so I asked her the above questions. Surprise of surprises she agreed with me! Not only does she love having the actual book, she is addicted to buying books as well. The only difference is that she buys books that she's not sure she will like electronically. If she loves the story she will then go out and actually by the book. If not, then she's saved the trouble of having gone out to get it. Makes sense to this busy mom.

Things in the publishing/book industry are changing rapidly to keep pace with this world that are changing at breakneck speed. I guess I've finally realized that ebooks and digital options are not the threat and the enemy I had painted them as. Instead they are options and who doesn't like options?

Inspired By........

I often wonder who or what inspires other writers in their stories and writing. Some authors weave such fantastic tales filled with vivid locales and wild characters that transport me into their worlds so completely it is mildly painful to stop reading. When I'm done with a book of that impact I think about how the author came up with all of it.

In my writing, I am inspired by two things more than any other. One being music and the other being my children and their friends. These two things can spark an idea in my head and my imagination is off to the races. I know that I need to jot them down quickly or I will forget the angles that I've thought of.

My children and their friends will give me specific idea for a story or a character; the girl who was left out because of a misunderstanding, the giddiness of having a substitute teacher, or maybe that smile the boy you like gave you before boarding the bus at the end of the day. Those things can sometimes be lost to us adults as we have already experienced those things. As a young adult writer I believe those genuine little touches to be endearing and authentic to a reader. As a young adult reader, those moments often stick with me longer than some of the bigger plot lines.

Music inspires me differently. Instead of a specific incident it moves me to feeling a certain way. Throw on some Black Eyed Peas and I'm pumped for a fun scene. Fall Out Boy or Hawthorne Heights awakens that wistfulness in me for more insightful plots. Need to inject some angry or intensity in the story? Easy enough, just play some 30 Seconds to Mars or Escape the Fate.

Combine the two elements and I have a recipe for writing with feeling, authenticity, and honesty. Every single book I've ever loved has had all three of those things. You can't force those things, you can't fake them or it shows in the story. While I am far from perfect in my writing, I do feel that I have those three items. I can always improve my writing fundamentals, but not the emotion of the words I put on the page.

Have a great weekend!

The Value of Awards

The Mark Twain Award is given annually to a book written targeting children in grades four through eight by the Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL). In my daughter's school the children are awarded with a trip to a children's/young adult book festival for reading the books that are nominated for this award. They have read wonderful books through this program and come home with suggestions for me. It has led me to some wonderful books that I may not have ever known even existed.

One such book I just finished is Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret. This is a true story about the author's childhood experience with Polio and how it affected her and those around her. The book was easily written, which as any writer will tell you, meant it took a lot of hard work to achieve. While reading, you can almost feel the dread and fear that any child must have felt with this disease. You can also understand the paranoia that accompanied polio. Although this is a past nominee I had somehow missed it and am thoroughly happy to have read it.

I was pleased that not only do my children love the Percy Jackson books of the world but they also love the non-fictional tales of real people and their real life experiences. This will help ensure that they become well-read and informed as they grow into adults. The great thing about the Nominees for the Mark Twain Award is that they represent so many different types of books. Blown Away by Joan Hiatt Harlow is a story of a unannounced hurricane ripping through a community in the mid-1930's. A great ghost story is represented in Mary Downing Hahn's Deep and Dark and Dangerous.

Award programs such as the Mark Twain Award, the Newberry Award, the Caldecott Award, etc., are essential to exposing our children to experiences outside their circles of life. They are also vital for authors in terms of getting their work out to a larger audience of readers.

My children and I have enjoyed the 2009-2010 Mark Twain Award Nominees. We are now gearing up for a summer of reading the recently released list of the 2010-2011 nominees. I have included both lists of nominees below. Thank you MASL for another wonderful year of books.

2009-2010 Nominees:

The Story of Jonas by Maurine Dahlberg

Bravo Zulu, Samantha by Kathleen Benner Duble

Garden Of Eve by K.L. Going

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn

Blown Away by Joan Hiatt Harlow

Gabriel's Horses by Alison Hart

Friendship for Today by Patricia McKissack

The Big One-Oh by Dean Pitchford

Paint the Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Way Down Deep by Ruth White

This year's winner was Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn.


2010-2011 Nominees:

Seer of Shadows by Avi

The Magic Half by Annie Barrows

Margret and Flynn by Kathleen Duey

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Go Big or Go Home by Will Hobbs

Stolen Children by Peg Kehret

School Spirit by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Safe at Home by Mike Lupica

The Totally Made up Civil War Diary of Amanda MacLeish by Claudia Mills

Bringing the Boy Home by N.A. Nelson

The Leanin' Dog by K.A. Nuzum

The Mysterious Case of the Allbright Academy by Diane Stanley

Happy Reading!!!