I love, love, love the writing community. As a debut, I have to say there's really nothing quite like the feeling of having a fellow writer cheer you on.
...Speaking of which, the fantastic Kathryn Erskine just posted an interview at her own blog! I love the mix of personal and professional questions she came up with...Get yourselves on over to Kathy's blog to check it all out!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
JACKET COPY FOR A BLUE SO DARK
What started out as a few lines of illegible handwriting on some scratch paper is now a novel nearing the end of development. Yup, that’s right, A BLUE SO DARK is in the last stages of proofing and is soon to head to the printer!
…The novel also has its own jacket copy—“jacket” being used figuratively, since the book’s coming out as a paperback. Here’s the official description:
Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura’s dad left them. Convinced that “creative” equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked—and together may offer an escape from her fears.
…The novel also has its own jacket copy—“jacket” being used figuratively, since the book’s coming out as a paperback. Here’s the official description:
Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura’s dad left them. Convinced that “creative” equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked—and together may offer an escape from her fears.
Monday, February 15, 2010
GUEST POST AT THE FIRST NOVELS CLUB
My very first guest post is now live at The First Novels Club!
...This post gave me the chance to break out of the question 'n answer interview format, and allowed me to write a few words about how I personally balance writing with the goings-on of life...
In all honesty, though, I've got a cheat (as I explain in my guest post)...I've got some insanely incredible financial support from my family. So my full-time job is writing...I don't have to balance writing and any other job. I know. Very, very, very Room of One's Own, isn't it?
...I'd love to hear from some fellow writers...especially those of you who are balancing writing, life, and work, and / or school...How the holy spellcheck do you guys do that???
...This post gave me the chance to break out of the question 'n answer interview format, and allowed me to write a few words about how I personally balance writing with the goings-on of life...
In all honesty, though, I've got a cheat (as I explain in my guest post)...I've got some insanely incredible financial support from my family. So my full-time job is writing...I don't have to balance writing and any other job. I know. Very, very, very Room of One's Own, isn't it?
...I'd love to hear from some fellow writers...especially those of you who are balancing writing, life, and work, and / or school...How the holy spellcheck do you guys do that???
Thursday, February 11, 2010
I NAILED IT!
The title of my second YA novel, that is. Yup, the romance that has always been tentatively titled PLAYING HURT is now officially titled PLAYING HURT!I know I posted a super-short synopsis before, but here’s a slightly longer version to whet the old appetites:
PLAYING HURT centers on two former athletes: Chelsea Keyes, a basketball star whose promising career has been catastrophically snipped short by a horrific accident on the court, and Clint Morgan, an ex-hockey player who gave up his much-loved sport following his own game-related tragedy.
Chelsea meets Clint (who’s working as a resort fishing guide) soon after arriving with her family for a summer vacation in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota. Sparks fly, igniting the pages, even though Chelsea has a boyfriend back home in Missouri…and even though Clint has sworn never to put himself in the position to be hurt emotionally again.
Their unlikely romance has the potential to heal their heartache and force Chelsea and Clint to realize just how timidly they’ve been living—but are they really ready to give themselves completely to one another? How will the weeks spent in another man’s arms play into Chelsea’s feelings for her boyfriend when she returns home? Will Clint allow himself to fall for a woman who’s bound to leave him at the end of her summer vacation? By playing hurt—entering into a romance with already-broken hearts—are they just setting themselves up for the kind of injury from which they could never recover? Will Chelsea and Clint pull away from each other before they have a chance to find out just how beautiful their story could be?
...Coming in March 2011!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
INTERVIEW WITH KATHRYN ERSKINE
I’ve been astounded—really, astounded by how incredibly welcoming the writing and book blogging communities are. I’ve been featured on enough reviewer’s and writer’s blogs lately that I thought it was time to return the favor. Soooo, I’m going to begin featuring interviews with fellow writers on my own blog.
I’m absolutely ecstatic to kick it off with an interview with Kathryn Erskine, author of IBHUBESI: THE LION, QUAKING, and the forthcoming MOCKINGBIRD (due out from Philomel on April 15, 2010).
Please tell us about your forthcoming novel, MOCKINGBIRD.
Here's the short answer: A girl with Asperger's must deal with the loss of her beloved brother, killed in a school shooting. The longer answer is that I wanted people to understand what it's like to have Asperger's and have to navigate through tough issues, which are tough for all of us, but even harder for those with Asperger's. I also wanted to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in school shootings, like the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007. And draw attention to the senselessness of it. And the hope that if we could all get inside each other's heads, maybe we could understand each other better.
What was the inspiration—what led you to write about Asperger’s? (And please tell us a little something about Asperger’s…I actually had to google it!)
My daughter has mild Asperger's. I think the easiest way to describe it is that people with Asperger's see the world a little differently so they're not always on the same wavelength as most of us and therefore, to us, they seem socially awkward (they may avoid eye contact, spin in place, shake their hands, interrupt, speak too loudly for the situation, laugh at the wrong places) and say inappropriate things (off-topic, too blatantly honest). They're not so good at "taking the hint," such as a co-worker trying to get someone to leave him alone, saying, "Don't you have some work to do?" ("No.") or "I've got some work to do." ("Oh."). Often there is some interest they have that's pretty intense and that's basically what they want to focus their time, attention, and discussion on, even if you don't. They may have sensory issues, too, feeling overwhelmed by noise, the way things feel on their skin, strangers, or just too many people in general. It's really a broad range of things and most people with Asperger's have some of these to some degree.
I’m absolutely ecstatic to kick it off with an interview with Kathryn Erskine, author of IBHUBESI: THE LION, QUAKING, and the forthcoming MOCKINGBIRD (due out from Philomel on April 15, 2010).
Please tell us about your forthcoming novel, MOCKINGBIRD.
Here's the short answer: A girl with Asperger's must deal with the loss of her beloved brother, killed in a school shooting. The longer answer is that I wanted people to understand what it's like to have Asperger's and have to navigate through tough issues, which are tough for all of us, but even harder for those with Asperger's. I also wanted to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in school shootings, like the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007. And draw attention to the senselessness of it. And the hope that if we could all get inside each other's heads, maybe we could understand each other better.
What was the inspiration—what led you to write about Asperger’s? (And please tell us a little something about Asperger’s…I actually had to google it!)
My daughter has mild Asperger's. I think the easiest way to describe it is that people with Asperger's see the world a little differently so they're not always on the same wavelength as most of us and therefore, to us, they seem socially awkward (they may avoid eye contact, spin in place, shake their hands, interrupt, speak too loudly for the situation, laugh at the wrong places) and say inappropriate things (off-topic, too blatantly honest). They're not so good at "taking the hint," such as a co-worker trying to get someone to leave him alone, saying, "Don't you have some work to do?" ("No.") or "I've got some work to do." ("Oh."). Often there is some interest they have that's pretty intense and that's basically what they want to focus their time, attention, and discussion on, even if you don't. They may have sensory issues, too, feeling overwhelmed by noise, the way things feel on their skin, strangers, or just too many people in general. It's really a broad range of things and most people with Asperger's have some of these to some degree.
Set the tone for us: If MOCKINGBIRD were a movie, what song would be playing during the opening credits?
And that's exactly what she does.
What would Matt, the main character from your previous novel, QUAKING, think of Caitlin, the main character in MOCKINGBIRD? What would happen if they were to, say, meet up in school, or take a class together?
Matt would like Caitlin very much because of her honesty and, as Matt would put it, her ability to cut through the crap. She would also consider Caitlin brave for saying what she thinks. If they were to meet, I think Caitlin would like Matt, too, knowing that she was a good, honest person. Just because someone has Asperger's and isn't so good with social cues does not mean they don't have accurate gut feelings about people; in fact, they can often be better at sussing out people than the rest of us.
What will your fans be pleased to find in MOCKINGBIRD? What will surprise them?
Do I have fans? You're very kind! I think readers will be pleased to find that it's a very easy story to read and understand. They may be surprised that there's as much humor as there is, considering it's about a girl dealing with Asperger's and the death of her brother.
What fuels you as a writer? What makes you get up every day and put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard)?
When I choke up at the subject matter, I know it's incredibly important to me, which means both that I have something I really have to put into words and that I will probably write about it fairly well because I feel so strongly. The subjects tend to be weighty, and I know others are dealing with these issues, too. I want to give hope and encouragement -- there's always a way out, always someone who will help, even if that someone is yourself.
That, and computer games -- I want to show that there's still value and gratification in reading a book, living a story, and thinking. Just thinking.
What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
That initial surge of ideas and characters and (sometimes) plot which all come in such a deluge and my typing fingers can't keep up with my brain. It's so exciting to see a story being born. That whole creative blitz, and the neurons firing with new ideas and characters, that's the best part. I sometimes feel that I'm just a conduit and the story is pouring out and I'm the scribe. I love being the scribe.
What’s your favorite part of the publication process?
Holding a book in your hand. Kindles and iPads and recorded books are all great, but there's nothing like holding that three-dimensional object and seeing the words, hearing the pages turn, and even smelling the ink or newness that comes from a book.
How did you get your first book deal? An agent? Slush pile?
I was very lucky with QUAKING. It's a long story, but through a series of very fortunate events, I knew Patti Gauch already from a workshop and conferences, and had a chance to submit the manuscript to her. Through a series of unfortunate events, it took a while for the manuscript to get to her, back to me, back to her, etc. but in the end everything worked out happily.
What do you know now that you wish you knew as an unpublished writer?
Less is more. I laugh now at the cover letters I used to write where I widened the margins to maximize the number words I could squeeze in about all my non-accomplishments. With picture books, less is more, too. Certainly under 1,000 words, preferably fewer. And you don't need to explain all the pictures because you're taking away the artist's creativity. With novels, write everything you want but then go through and trim the fat. Of course, I'm a lawyer, so writing short is not my forte. Maybe others don't have this problem!
I love the fact that your work is always so topical. I really can’t imagine you ever writing anything “fluffy.” If you could branch out, try writing in another genre or for another age group, what would it be?
Funny picture books. Seriously! You're right that it's hard for me to write "fluffy" in a novel format. I tried that with a book that should come out next year but with every revision it became more serious and poignant. My sister read the final draft and called me in tears--from some highway in the middle of Montana where she finally found a cell signal--to tell me how beautiful and heartfelt it was. I thought, "Well, shoot, that was supposed to be my funny one."
Tease us, entice us—leave us a juicy tidbit that’s going to make us all run to the bookstore and grab MOCKINGBIRD off the shelf!
Well, here's something that amazed me -- Andrew Clements (FRINDLE) read it! Sharon Creech (WALK TWO MOONS) read it! And they loved it. Wow.
…Kathryn Erskine grew up in six countries, which gave her an appreciation for different cultures and seeing the world through other people’s eyes. Her books introduce readers to different worlds while tackling difficult subjects. Despite the weighty topics, in the end there is always hope borne out of community, wherever and whatever that community may be. You can visit her online at http://www.kathrynerskine.com/, or http://www.kathyerskine.wordpress.com/.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
CATHERINE RYAN HYDE BLURB
Okay, so this falls under the header of Unbelievable Stuff That’s Happened To Me Over The Past Year…
I got a blurb for my debut from Catherine Ryan Hyde. Yup, that Catherine Ryan Hyde. When she sent it, I kept thinking about sitting in the movie theater watching Pay it Forward…If somebody had told me back then that in a few years, Hyde would be reading my book and blurbing it, I probably woulda choked on my Junior Mints.
Anyway, here’s Hyde's blurb (which is now posted along with the A BLUE SO DARK book info on the Flux website):
I got a blurb for my debut from Catherine Ryan Hyde. Yup, that Catherine Ryan Hyde. When she sent it, I kept thinking about sitting in the movie theater watching Pay it Forward…If somebody had told me back then that in a few years, Hyde would be reading my book and blurbing it, I probably woulda choked on my Junior Mints.
Anyway, here’s Hyde's blurb (which is now posted along with the A BLUE SO DARK book info on the Flux website):
"A Blue So Dark is one of those rare books: It never shies away from the darkness yet still manages to find the light. A truly real, emotional, and honest read."—Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay it Forward and Love in the Present Tense
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
FIRST WRITING TIP OF 2010…
Throw nothing away. Really. Honestly. Nothing.
When I first decided to try my hand at a YA, I mined my old notebooks and journals from high school, rereading old descriptive paragraphs, poems, short stories, and character sketches in order to reconnect with my teen voice.
As soon as I realized just how much the fifteen-year-old me sounded to the (by then) almost thirty-year-old me, I was off and running. Those old notebooks really gave me the fuel to write the first draft of A BLUE SO DARK. A few of the poems I wrote as a teen even made their way into the manuscript (though I tweaked them a bit to fit the goings-on of the novel).
Those old spiral-bound notebooks were really just indispensable. Really. I can’t imagine starting that first YA novel without them…
Now, though, I’m at the point that I look at my old stuff and think, There’s gold in them thar hills…And I wonder how I can manage to hang onto it all and avoid being on an episode of Hoarders…
When I first decided to try my hand at a YA, I mined my old notebooks and journals from high school, rereading old descriptive paragraphs, poems, short stories, and character sketches in order to reconnect with my teen voice.
As soon as I realized just how much the fifteen-year-old me sounded to the (by then) almost thirty-year-old me, I was off and running. Those old notebooks really gave me the fuel to write the first draft of A BLUE SO DARK. A few of the poems I wrote as a teen even made their way into the manuscript (though I tweaked them a bit to fit the goings-on of the novel).
Those old spiral-bound notebooks were really just indispensable. Really. I can’t imagine starting that first YA novel without them…
Now, though, I’m at the point that I look at my old stuff and think, There’s gold in them thar hills…And I wonder how I can manage to hang onto it all and avoid being on an episode of Hoarders…
Friday, January 22, 2010
INVERVIEW WITH NIXA HIGH ASPIRING WRITER
Okay, this is just cooler than cool: Sam, a Nixa High aspiring writer who runs the blog One Sparkling Star, recently contacted me for an interview.
(For those of you not in the SW Missouri area, Nixa's literally spitting distance from my home in Springfield.)
I'm just so thrilled to know local readers are getting revved about A BLUE SO DARK!
Here's a taste: When asked to describe A BLUE SO DARK, I told Sam:
I have to say that when Crissa-Jean Chappell (author of TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER) sent a blurb for A BLUE SO DARK, I was really proud that she used the word “funny” to describe the book’s voice. I think that really proves that I managed to fully round-out Aura’s character. I mean, if we see bits of her humor in a book that deals with such a serious subject, then we’re seeing the full picture of Aura’s life…she’s more than just an artist or the daughter of a schizophrenic. She’s her own person.
For more, head on over to One Sparkling Star...
(For those of you not in the SW Missouri area, Nixa's literally spitting distance from my home in Springfield.)
I'm just so thrilled to know local readers are getting revved about A BLUE SO DARK!
Here's a taste: When asked to describe A BLUE SO DARK, I told Sam:
I have to say that when Crissa-Jean Chappell (author of TOTAL CONSTANT ORDER) sent a blurb for A BLUE SO DARK, I was really proud that she used the word “funny” to describe the book’s voice. I think that really proves that I managed to fully round-out Aura’s character. I mean, if we see bits of her humor in a book that deals with such a serious subject, then we’re seeing the full picture of Aura’s life…she’s more than just an artist or the daughter of a schizophrenic. She’s her own person.
For more, head on over to One Sparkling Star...
Monday, January 18, 2010
REALER AND REALER
…Yeah, realer. Oh, what a vocabulary I have…
Seriously, though, get this: my bio and author photo are up on the Flux website, along with a synopsis, blurbs, etc. for A BLUE SO DARK. Oooh, I swear, this whole published author bit actually does keep getting realer and realer.
Seriously, though, get this: my bio and author photo are up on the Flux website, along with a synopsis, blurbs, etc. for A BLUE SO DARK. Oooh, I swear, this whole published author bit actually does keep getting realer and realer.
(Flux Author Photo, By John Schindler II)
I can only imagine how I’ll respond the first time I walk through a bookstore and see A BLUE SO DARK on the shelves. I hope the store will have nice, cushy, soft carpeting to catch my fall when I pass out…
...And by the way, didn't my brother do a fantastic job with the author photo?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
BART'S BOOKSHELF
Okay, you've got to check this one out...My interview at Bart's Bookshelf, that is!
You know, I drag my feet so terribly about technological advancements...I still love my vinyl. And typewriters. And doesn't the quiet of films like Revolutionary Road seem so incredibly appealing? No TV squawking, no phones bleeping from purses and pockets...Ah, the good old days...
Except, I gotta admit, it's pretty incredible that writers can interact with readers, reviewers, etc. from anywhere in the world all with the click of ye olde mouse. Yeah. Okay. So maybe I'll have to quit dragging my feet quite so much...
Head on over to Bart's Bookshelf for the latest!
You know, I drag my feet so terribly about technological advancements...I still love my vinyl. And typewriters. And doesn't the quiet of films like Revolutionary Road seem so incredibly appealing? No TV squawking, no phones bleeping from purses and pockets...Ah, the good old days...
Except, I gotta admit, it's pretty incredible that writers can interact with readers, reviewers, etc. from anywhere in the world all with the click of ye olde mouse. Yeah. Okay. So maybe I'll have to quit dragging my feet quite so much...
Head on over to Bart's Bookshelf for the latest!
Monday, January 11, 2010
BIRTHDAY LOOT
Looking for the perfect gift for your writer friends? Try out these Guatemalan Worry Dolls, which I got for my own b-day this weekend. I’m not joking. Deadlines, subplots, staying in voice will no longer be a source of worry with these little guys under the pillow…Of course, making significant progress on a revision does tend to cut the worry out, too, so….well…
Other cool stuff I got for my birthday? 100 followers on this blog! I just wanted to let everyone know how incredible it’s been getting to know you through your comments and by reading your own blogs. What can I say? Book bloggers rock…
Other cool stuff I got for my birthday? 100 followers on this blog! I just wanted to let everyone know how incredible it’s been getting to know you through your comments and by reading your own blogs. What can I say? Book bloggers rock…
Thursday, January 7, 2010
FIRST INTERVIEW OF 2010!
I so love these interviews. Got a fantastic interview that's just been posted at MarjoleinBookBlog!
What do I like most about writing for young adults?
If I could be a character from my books for a day, who would it be?
To find out, get yourselves on over to Marjolein's blog!
...By the way, is anybody else feeling like 2010 is going to be the year? You know...the year, as Charlie Brown might put it, that you finally do kick that football?????
What do I like most about writing for young adults?
If I could be a character from my books for a day, who would it be?
To find out, get yourselves on over to Marjolein's blog!
...By the way, is anybody else feeling like 2010 is going to be the year? You know...the year, as Charlie Brown might put it, that you finally do kick that football?????
Monday, January 4, 2010
GROSS!
I thought for a while I might be becoming a winter person. Yeah, well, that’s over. Five inches of snow over the weekend makes me want to snarl like a Rott at an approaching mailman.
…And, sure, I’ve got too much stuff to do for the weather to matter. I know—so A BLUE SO DARK is going through proofreading. Okay. And so I need to revise PLAYING HURT. Sure. So I’ve discovered, over the past few months, that anybody who thinks writing is a leisurely occupation is (as we’d put it here in the Ozarks) a complete and total idgit.
Right. So I’m tied to my keyboard. But couldn’t I be tied to my keyboard just as easily in Turks & Caicos???
Right. So I’m tied to my keyboard. But couldn’t I be tied to my keyboard just as easily in Turks & Caicos???
Saturday, December 26, 2009
ONE MORE '09 TIDBIT
I've got one more interview for '09, over at The Neverending Shelf...
These first few interviews have been such a blast...I've been hit up with such thoughtful questions...and A BLUE SO DARK isn't even out yet!
...I'm so anxious to get A BLUE SO DARK in your hands...
Happy New Year, everyone. Look out, 2010!
These first few interviews have been such a blast...I've been hit up with such thoughtful questions...and A BLUE SO DARK isn't even out yet!
...I'm so anxious to get A BLUE SO DARK in your hands...
Happy New Year, everyone. Look out, 2010!
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