Michele M. Thornton

Speak Up!

2010-09-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

Most of you in the writer community have heard and read a lot about the recent challenge from a Missouri parent to have Speak, The Twenty Boyfriend Summer and Slaughterhouse Five banned in his local schools.

Hear what Laurie Halse Anderson wrote in response to Speak being challenged and banned. Her poem speaks for itself. Thanks to Stephanie Perkins who posted this today.

Speak Up!

2010-09-23T11:14:00.001-07:00

Book me a room. Now!

2010-07-26T22:35:00.000-07:00

What are you waiting for? Book it. NOW.

Make this book a bestseller! Will it work for Shawn Klomparens?

2010-06-04T17:04:00.001-07:00

Stop by my group blog and find out how Catherine McKenzie is trying to make Shawn Klomparens a best selling author...all through social media!

More Barbie Madness

2010-06-02T15:50:00.001-07:00

I thought that two Barbie blog posts were perhaps two too many, but oh no, they were not.

Mattel was a tad off-track when they created this Barbie Athena doll and clearly went off the rails when they introduced a French designer created Foosball table. One would think someone would have reeled them in. I imagined some bigwig at Mattel board meeting might say "Hey, Barbie division, times are tough. People won't pay thousands of dollars for dismembered dolls playing air hockey, so get back to basics and make some toys that won't give kids nightmares." But they did not. Apparently, the meeting went more like this: "Hey Barbie division, good job! Let's see more disturbing things that won't sell."

And so the Barbie division went out and found another mad scientist...er...French designer...to do their evil bidding.

Here's what Margaux Lang and Mattel thought we'd shell out $800 for. (That's just the bracelet price--hey, Barbie isn't as cheap as she looks.)

A Barbie bracelet. Perfect for the serial killer in your life.

With matching earrings.

At least this time they didn't forget about Ken.

Show someone you care, with a Barbie breast-ring. If they put a pink Susan Koman ribbon on it, I'll scream.

Photos courtesy of Margaux Lang. Barbie is a registered trademark of Mattel, Inc. and is protected by the copyright laws of the United States and elsewhere.

I need a personal assistant...

2010-05-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

It's Fantasy Friday! (I just made that up.)
And since I've declared it Fantasy Friday, I've decided that I need a personal assistant and that it needs to be...drumroll, please...Bear Grylls!

None other than the brilliantly-self-promoting-British-Special-Forces-Everest-summiting-skydiving-rappelling-bug-eating-survivalist himself. He'd do all my dirty work for me, just like Cinderella, only with testosterone and pecs.

Oh, look here he is, hard at work already. He's such a good little personal assistant.

Here's Bear testing my mudbath at the Calistoga Spa.

"It better be exactly 99.5 degrees this time, Grylls."

(Photograph by Justin Stephens, from Outsider magazine)

Here he is fetching me another Caramel Macchiato.

"More caramel, Grylls, and step on it!"

One of his dicier missions is finding the best deal on paper towels at Costco.

"And don't come back until you've used ALL the coupons!"

He's really good at finding me the best parking spots.

"Hey Bear, if you have time for all that self-contratulatory hand slapping, then you have time to get my dry cleaning AND scoop out the litter box."

On special assignment to find all of my missing socks.

"When you've got all the pairs matched up, then you can organize my junk drawers."

Clearing the neighborhood of scary skinhead guys. (Ok, I dont' have any scary skinhead guys in my neighborhood, but isn't he cute defending my life?)

"Just wait there until I think of something else I need you do to. At ease, soldier...I said at EASE soldier. Well, he does take his job very seriously, I've got to give him that."

Photos from beargrylls.com

Creepy Kids

2010-05-04T15:23:00.001-07:00

Nothing scares me more in stories than a creepy kid, and while I have not yet written a story about one (or more), I hope to someday.

Maybe this picture from McMenamin's Hotel Oregon will give me the "in" to that story, because these tots are definitely Children-of-the-Corn-scary. (For more about this writing prompt, see my blog post in Pen Tales.)

What is more chilling than dapper little Damian from The Omen (who sometimes compels me to eat Thin Mints?)

No one can deny that innocence-turned-evil is one of the most powerful devices for sending chills up the spine, like with these lovelies from The Shining. (Cue ominous Latin chanting.)

Scary kids aren't just in movies. Check out these two, in the painting by Judith Leyster, A boy and girl with a cat and an eel. Even the cat is freaked out.

A final Disturbing Note:

I've never seen the 1960's horror flick Village of the Damned, but this kid looks very familiar. (See first picture. I will go in search now of a connection between the two. If you don't hear back from me by Friday, please alert the authorities.)

Thanks to The Horror Club for the disturbing movie images.

But wait...there's more...

2010-04-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

Barbie Foosball. Creepy and stylish! This is an actual product for sale (the creation of French designer Chloe something-or-other) and was, to my surprise, not found in Dexter's basement. I'm wondering will give me the worst nightmares, the maniacal Barbie grins, the amputated arms, or that much pink (shivers).

Berlin, June 4. Images via Getty

When I should be writing...

2010-04-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

I'm amusing myself with silly distractions. I have a 7 year old girl, so yeah, I get the occasional Barbie catalog in the mail. They are endlessly entertaining, but this one was just too good to keep to myself.

The madcap creative souls at Mattel must have been feeling a rare literary impulse when they created this interpretation of Barbie Athena. Interesting Aegis shield, emblazoned with...of course...Barbie! Why she looks a bit like a Roman Centurion in drag I have NO idea.

High Concept: what's your cup of tea?

2010-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

Posted today at Pen Tales on High Concept=High Quality.

So do you have a favorite High Concept book that has literary merit? One that is pure Hollywood drivel, but made for a great read anyway? Please share...

Happy Birthday, Elise

2010-04-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

This special bit of Jane Austin is just for you, Elise. I know what a rabid Austin fan you are! (snarf) (Warning, contains the F bomb)

More Cowbell!

2010-04-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

I think everyone needs to see this and to put a little more cowbell into their lives.

Wonderful stuff

2010-04-08T19:39:00.001-07:00

I like this so much I'm posting this on Pen Tales and here! Off to SCBWI Western Washington this weekend for a much needed infusion of creativity and fun!

My Life as a House Elf

2010-02-09T15:00:00.001-08:00

Too busy to blog...Dobbie must buy food for the good family. Then, Dobbie must write an email campaign for that kind and generous networking company, bring the small one to dance class, cook dinner for the masters. Dobbie loves her family, yes she does. And after that, Dobbie will return to writing email for the master's fine company and then, if she is very lucky, she will have the honor of cleaning the family's toilets. Dobbie is one lucky house elf.

(pssst. Does anyone have a spare sock they could give me?)

Smells Like January!

2010-01-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

January has arrived with a vengeance, and I mean that in a good way. It smells new and fresh, kind of like the interior of my SUV smelled before we took the kids camping last summer. So to start the year out, I'll share a few of the new-car-smelling-things that are on my mind.

First Draft of Porcelain Monkeys. I love and hate it. I'm really excited about the premise and the characters, but there are tons of plot issues that won't be ironed out until draft two. The challenge now is to work through the mess until it starts to resemble a novel. I based the working title on one of my favorite songs from the God of Great Lyrics, Warren Zevon.

Percy Jackson and Greek Mythology Mania. Speaking of Gods, does anyone else think that there is an impending trend of YA novels based on Greek mythology? Do any of the agents think so that are reviewing my last novel submission, based on The Odyssey? I can only hope. If Barnes & Noble is any indicator, with its tables of books on Greek mythology surrounding the Riordan display, Zeus could be the next Edward Cullen.

Teaching Resource Center. This year I am taking a larger role in helping my husband grow one of his businesses. Check it out, and please share the link with any teachers you know. There are lots of great classroom ideas here, in addition to fantastic products!

Happy New Year--The cute version

2009-12-31T14:29:00.001-08:00

The cutest Happy New Year I've ever heard....our sweet Sophie at age 2.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T10:18:00.000-08:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

The Princess and the Frog

2009-11-26T14:02:00.000-08:00

It's finally premier week for The Princess and the Frog, the first black Disney princess EVER. That's pretty exciting, but even better is the wonderful message behind the movie: that you should pursue your dreams, but dreams take hard work, sacrifice and planning to come to fruition. What an empowering message for young girls of all colors. This princess is not waiting around to be rescued...bravo Disney! Watch what the creators have to say:

NaNoWriMo, Still Plugging Away

2009-11-20T10:09:00.000-08:00

It's a little more than half way through the NaNo process, and I have to say it's been an eye opener. I'm nowhere near reaching the goal of 50,000 words, but that was never my personal goal. I decided to NaNo because I was stuck on starting this particular novel, and figured that plunging into it at break neck speed was as good a way as any to get things out of the world-building, character-building and thinking-about-writing stage and into the actual work of story building. And it has been.

In the process of speed writing scene after scene, I'm learning a lot about the characters I've created, what motivates them, what they want and where the are headed. I've also gotten my plot all messed up, forgotten who was doing what when, and have written bunches of sentences that are just plain awful.

I've learned a few things about my story. As with all learning, it's best done by doing, and in NaNo I've done some exciting new things and some really, really dumb ones. Here's my short list of wonderful/awful NaNo discoveries:

Argyle is the stupidest character name I've ever created
I have no idea what the cats are doing
I love Fenniman the trickster. He never would have emerged if I hadn't NaNo'd
Alpacas hum when they are happy and spit when they are mad.
Love triangles are interesting
My first gay character emerged, and she's pretty sassy

One challenge I'm having at this point is that my plot is a mess. I'm solving this by calling it "Draft Zero", and have decreed "Draft Zero" to be free of all plot constraints, because with a plot you have to decide what to leave in and what to leave out, and that's the job of Draft One. So, it's back to creating random scenes and throwing my characters together to see what interesting things happen.

Why I Love The Hunger Games

2009-11-16T15:57:00.000-08:00

Can you feel the tension?

King-Sized Read

2009-11-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

I'm breathless from unloading my trunk after a Costco run, and not just from lugging a 40lb bag of cat litter or wrestling with two shrink-wrapped 100 ounce jars of olives that should embellish my martinis for the next two years, but from this purchase:

Weighing in at five pounds, and with over 1,000 pages, it's a Costco-sized Stephen King novel! How could I resist?

It's been awhile since I've indulged in a little Stephen King--far too long. The last King I read all the way through was the Dark Tower series, which I loved. It has also been a long time since King took on a "big" subject, like he did in the Stand. I hope this lives up to my high expectations, and if the review from Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan is even close, I'll come away satisfied.

"Nobody yarns a “What if?” like Stephen King. Nobody. The implausibility of a dome sealing off an entire city--a motif seen before in pulp magazines and on comic book covers--is given the most elaborate real-life alibi by crafting details, observations, and insights that make us nod silently while we read. Promotional materials reference The Stand in comparison, but we liken Under The Dome more to King's excellent novella, The Mist: another locked-door situation on an epic scale, a tour-de-force in which external stressors bake off the civility of a small town full of dark secrets, exposing souls both very good...and very, very bad."

But I must not open this until I've finished NaNoWriMo right? RIGHT??

Friday Funny

2009-11-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Cindy Pon, who made me laugh out loud this morning on Facebook...

Zombies and Werewolves and Wraiths, Oh My!

2009-11-05T13:50:00.000-08:00

Pen Tales muses about the trend in book titles...

NaNoWriMo, Here I Go

2009-11-03T12:42:00.000-08:00

For several years now, I've watched writer friends sign up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and wondered what the heck they were thinking. Why would anyone blurt out a 50,000 word novel in one month? There's no editing allowed, for Pete's sake. It's a mad dash through the first draft, and you have to let the good, the bad, and the ugly sit there on the page untouched until December. Awful.

But I've just completed world and character building for a new novel and have found it terribly hard to get started with the actual writing of it. Hey, I'm BUSY. I have a job, a family, friends and the need to sleep on occasion. Things need dusting. Drawers need cleaning. I have to post on Facebook, email old high school buddies, harvest on FarmTown, catch up on Mad Men.

Yes, I've been procrastinating.

Don't ask me why I'd procrastinate on a project I'm really excited about. Perhaps it's fear of watching my beautiful idea swished around in my mouth until it looks like backwash. (Gross analogy, but in the spirit of NaNo, I'm letting it stand.)

Possibly, just maybe, Mr. Provost was right and I'm a little bit lazy. I need deadlines. I need NaNo. So, here I go, along with my writing group partners Elise and Jules, who inspired me to finally try this. If you are doing NaNo, come friend me at mthornton.

Watch out novel! I'm going to whip you out!

A Few of My Favorite (Horrifying) Things

2009-10-28T11:33:00.001-07:00

It's the season when vampires, goblins and witches roam the darkened streets in search of prey...er...candy. I love Halloween because I love to be scared, as long it's creepy-scared not omygod-we're-going-down-in-a-jetliner-scared. I get a thrill if I think something might be lurking, stalking, watching or waiting to pounce. I crave the chill that runs down my spine when a door creeks, a dog howls or a strange, dragging footfall paces the empty hallway just above my head. So, in honor of Halloween, the best holiday ever, here are a few of my favorite horrifying things.

Vampire Movies

I've always been a sucker for a good vampire movie. By good, I mean Bram Stoker's Dracula or Nosferatu. Twilight is titillating, not scary.

There will be no make-out sessions with THIS vampire.

Vincent Price

He would be scary reading the phone book.

Horror Comics

Tales from the Crypt, It's Midnight...The Witching Hour, and Creepy were always at the top of

my comic book stack. I still have dozens of them (including the one pictured) in a box in the basement somewhere. Lurking. Waiting.

Ghost Stories

I especially love strange and subtle ghost stories like The Others.

Nearly Everything Written

by Stephen King

He's a masterful writer who has caused me to lose more than a few nights of sleep.

But the thing that scares me most--in a distinctly non-delightful way, are clowns.

Call it coulrophobia if you will, but clowns make me want to crawl under my chair, hide my head under the pillow, and run screaming from the room. The only thing more blood-curdling than a clown would be an airplane full of clowns, headed for Las Vegas on a non-stop flight with a dozen babies and no alcohol.

First of all, clowns aren't funny. They are almost as unfunny as mimes and Punch and Judy shows.

I'm sure Stephen King shares my feelings. IT was terrifying. Well, the book was terrifying. The movie was just terrifyingly awful. But the story is set in a place I know fairly well, and my mother grew up in. She used to play near the standpipe when she was a girl. (King has stated that "Derry" Maine is a fictionalized version of Bangor).

Stephen King - Counting The Beat With Pennywise
by goldrausch

(I spent a while looking for a good IT video to post. That was probably a mistake, because now I will have clown nightmares. Maybe I'll have to read Salem's Lot before bed to cleanse my brain of clown images.)

Real Clowns are Scary, Too

I hope I never meet the sick and twisted mind of this criminal. Putting a dead deer on someone's front porch is a prank. Dressing it in a clown suit is just evil.

(from KMEG.com)

SIOUX CITY, Iowa—You'll never see this clown in the circus. Animal control officers in Sioux City, Iowa, say someone dressed a dead deer in a clown suit and wig and put it on a family's porch. Officers suspect it was a prank, considering Halloween is approaching, but they say it's not funny, safe or acceptable.

The deer was discovered Wednesday morning.

Animal Control Officer Jake Appel says leaving a dead animal is immature and illegal. He says officers will dispose of the deer properly.

Sioux City police have not opened an investigation.

No investigation, you say? Sounds pretty suspicious to me. I wonder if the Sioux City police department gives out balloons...

Autumn!

2009-10-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

This is definitely my favorite time of year. The house smells of baked apples, the breeze carries that hint of woodsmoke and snow to come, and the red and yellow leaves skitter and swirl across the driveway. What a great time of year to put on the fuzzy slippers and write something new and exciting.

Cute Wednesday

2009-10-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

Bella and Luna are a year old this month! Here's your dose of "awww" for the week.

Last November Today

Wordstock, Sasquatch, and a Break from the 'Burbs

2009-10-11T21:47:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was my day to attend the Portland literary festival Wordstock. I've blogged in detail over at Pen Tales, but here's a short list of the things I liked about it:

Books, lots of books, many signed
Writers, famous ones and those of us who aspire
Sasquatch
Starbucks

Wordstock did NOT have:

Soccer games
Minivans
Marketing deadlines
Laundry

It was a fabulous day made even better by coming home to homemade pasta sauce and meatballs (thanks, Mom) a husband who demonstrated my daughter's latest dance class steps so I'd be up to speed, and a daughter who was happy because she got to eat pie for breakfast. Why can't every Sunday be like this?

Blurg Scale=9

2009-10-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

The past week has been a rough one. On the Thornton Blurg Scale, it ranked a 9 out of 10. (Blurg is my moniker for anything that makes me want to make the queasy blurg sound.) It could have been worse: if someone had died, it would have scored a solid 10. But it was a raging 9, complete with broken hearts, a busted coffee maker, a nonfunctioning car, a fractured ego and a dash of despair for extra flavor. Sigh. So today's blog will be lighthearted, because I need a break from the blurg.

Yes, this is a real store, where they sell real superhero supplies.

Here's my wish list. I figure if I can get my hands on these three things, I'll be able to finish my new novel, get it published and into a second printing by Christmas.

But aside from the awesome storefront, they actually do really super things there. All proceeds from the sales made by Brooklyn Superhero Supply company benefits 826NYC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Go, check them out. Make a donation.

Do you have a baby, or know one? Check out Sweater and Swaddle, my knitting-quilting-everything-fabric artist friend Holly Barry's Etsy site.

And, writer friends, if you haven't checked out The Rejectionist, you should. It's the blog of a funny, outrageous and blisteringly honest editorial assistant.

Wordstock, Here I Come!

2009-09-29T22:17:00.001-07:00

Ah, a book and literary festival right here in Portland. I've wanted to go for years...this time I am. October 10-11, you'll find me at Wordstock.

My "To Do" List

2009-09-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

My lovely daughter Sophie gave me a "to do" list last night. Apparently, I need some help organizing my day. It reads:

Work
Put up Halloween decorations
Read to her
Work
Read to her

This came as a big relief to me, because I had a lot of other things on my version of the list, like "pay bills" and "work out" and "feed the cats". Glad I don't have to do any of those things now. Other things I'm glad to see off my list are: "get flu shot" and "cook dinner" and "volunteer for the PTSO".

She was kind enough to clarify that my work included writing, so I am free now to spend the afternoon world-building on a new story idea. In its broadest sense it's about immortality, and the notes have been flowing fast and furiously for several weeks now. I love this stage of writing!

Yeah, it was sweet, but seriously folks

2009-09-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

I'm sure most of you with TV sets have seen this precious moment about 1,000 times by now. And yes, I do enjoy a feel-good news story from time to time. And yes, the dad was very patient with his precocious little girl.

Apparently his kind behavior is so remarkable that he has been bombarded by media, even appearing on the Today Show. All for the kind of loving, patient act which mothers perform at least 100 times a day.

OK, fathers do too. But I bet that if the person who caught the ball had been a mother, no one would have taken a second look. I guess my point is that men get huge kudos for having basic parenting skills, and mothers get...Mother's Day.

So, here's to all you moms out there who regularly, and without fanfare, youtube videos or Matt Lauer, have been kind and loving and patient--even when your favorite silk blouse was used as a baby blanket, or your only good pair of shoes were put into the bathtub to see if they could float.

Percy Jackson the Movie

2009-09-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

Been waiting for this all summer.

With a little luck, it'll remind young adult book publishers that Greek mythology is not only fun, but sells a lot of books (and movie rights). Let the Mark of Courage auctions begin...!

Excuses, Excuses

2009-09-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged since May.

I was going to make a funny list of excuses, encompassing everything from the curious to the mundane, and then my writing partner Elise beat me to the punch. She's got a farm, you see. She has goats, a new pig, a vegetable garden the size of the Rose Bowl, a miniature cow, for Pete's sake. She wrote about her bloggy absence and managed, adeptly, to tie the whole thing to Magical Thinking.

I wanted to be profound today, really I did. I wanted to make a connection between my lack of bloggy creativity to the process of writing, the dips and pinnacles of artistic temperament, to the need for silent spaces in between the rush and rumble of my keyboard. But I have numerous marketing deadlines looming, not to mention catching up on edits and critiques, so this will have to suffice.

The dog ate my blog.

Bridget Zinn Auction

2009-05-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

If you don't already know this special person, you should. Bridget moved to Portland about a year ago, and I "met" her in the kidlit blogging community. She's a librarian and young adult writer, a health food enthusiast...and now a cancer patient. Although the words cancer patient bring to mind sad and tragic images, Bridget is anything but. She's a fighter and an optimist.

Bridget was featured in today's Oregonian.

As if battling cancer isn't enough to deal with, there are the enormous costs of medical care not covered by insurance. Please check out the silent auction for Bridget and bid, bid, bid! There are some one-of-a-kind items up for sale...first editions, artwork, vacations...you name it!

You can also follow Bridget on her blog.

But really, go BID. The auction closes on May 30.

Our Anniversary

2009-05-19T09:06:00.001-07:00

Happy 19 Years, Honey!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Can it be?? Finally?? A BLACK Disney Princess??

2009-05-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah and Hail Mary. Disney has finally created a black princess. Check out the trailer.

It only took about 75 years. Better late than never, Disney.

Tini Time

2009-05-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me will recall that my favorite adult beverage is a classic vodka martini. Shaken, not stirred, up, two olives, and very dry. Those apple-cranberry-chocolate-mandarin-lemon-and-god-forbid-espresso-infused beverages? Not martinis.

Thanks to the people at If It's Hip, It's Here, I've discovered some unusual new vodkas, and thought they might provide the ideal libations for reading YA, if I were a drink-and-read type. Which I'm not. Seriously.

Sit-n-spin while reading A Curse as Dark as Gold.

Make the perfect Bloody Mary for a midnight session of Twilight.

Food for thought while dipping into Charlotte's Web.

(I know, Charlotte's Web isn't YA, but I couldn't resist.)

Make mine a double during What I Saw and How I Lied.

Get a buzz on with Sutter and The Spectacular Now.

Laugh my Bu-tay off while Spanking Shakespeare.

Silver Phoenix Debuts!

2009-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Drop by Cindy Pon's blog to win prizes and check out her debut novel. I've got mine on order, and a book review will follow. I can't wait to read it! Gorgeous cover, eh?

My Favorite Rathersting

2009-04-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

My favorite fierce fairy was on Laini Taylor's blog today!

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

2009-04-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

True story. Not from The Onion.

Wind Tossed Chihuahua Found Safe; Owners Credit Pscyhic

Candice Williams and Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News

Waterford Township -- Two days after Tinker Bell, a six-pound chihuahua, blew away in high winds at the Dixieland Flea Market, her owners found her safe and sound about three-quarters of a mile away. The Rochester couple credits a pet psychic for the discovery.

"We were shocked when we found her," said Dorothy Utley, 72, Tinker Bell's mother. "You don't know how happy we were. We love her so much."

More than 50 volunteers helped Utley and her husband, Lavern, search for their dog, who blew away in 70 mph per hour winds Saturday.

After speaking with a pet psychic from Holly, Utley said she and her husband headed to a wooded field on the opposite side of Dixie Highway. There, they found Tinker Bell. The black and brown long-haired dog was very dirty and hungry.

"That dog was so happy," Utley said. "She just went wild. She was so hungry and we had to bathe her."

Market Manager Joe Goldberg said the whole event was phenomenal.

"It seems like (the dog) is her whole life," he said of Utley.

cstolarz@detnews.com (313) 222-2650

Build It...or Bend It?

2009-04-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

My writing group pal, Juliette Dominguez posted yesterday on Pen Tales about world-building. She found some wonderful material from Guillermo del Toro. I haven't seen Pan's Labyrinth yet, but I've just placed it at the top of my must-watch list.

Her post made me think about how I built Malika's world in Mark of Courage (which, thanks to suggestions from a very generous agent is undergoing some exciting edits). I feel like I cheated a bit on the world-building process, since my characters inhabit Homer's ready-made universe of The Odyssey. It's more like world-bending than world-building. The tricky part, of course, is to make familiar terrain new again, and seen from a unique perspective.

Which got me to thinking about world-bending literature. I've always loved fantasy, but never consciously realized that a fair number of my favorite authors in the genre took well-trodden myths and reworked them in fabulous ways: Marion Zimmer Bradley (Mists of Avalon), Neil Gaiman (Anansi Boys), Esther Friesner (Nobody's Princess), and Anne Rice (Interview with the Vampire), and Elizabeth Bunce (A Curse as Dark as Gold).

Juliette's post also made me Google Arthur Rackham, who inspired Guillermo del Toro, and whose work has always intrigued me. Think of the wonderful prompts these pictures provide for recreating some well known stories!

Pandora's Box The Three Bears The Valkyries

Little Miss Muffitt

Do you like world bending literature too? Tell me your favorites...

Missoula Children's Theatre

2009-04-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you have kids, chances are you've heard of Missoula Children's Theatre. They tour the country (and Canada, Europe and Asia) helping grade schools put on stage plays. In four short days, with only after school rehearsals, two amazing Missoula theatre folks (and a small army of parent volunteers) prepare approximately 65 kids ranging from K-5 to put on a show.

That's four days for auditions and rehearsals, with a performance (or two) on Saturday.

The most amazing thing is, the shows are good. The kids know their lines, they sing songs, they get on and off stage smoothly, and most importantly they have a fantastic time.

If your school hasn't availed themselves of this terrific program, you simply must check it out.

My little stinker, from Missoula Children's Theatre production of Robin Hood.

Tweet, Tweet?

2009-04-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

So, I'm tweeting now. But honestly, I'm not sure it's a productive effort. It's kind of cool to see what others are doing at any given moment, however I am hard-pressed to tweet about anything truly important or relevant. Kinda like this video I found on Current.com.

Do you Tweet? How do you use it?

Gaiman Defends the Darkness!

2009-03-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

The extraordinary Neil Gaiman defends darkness in kitlit in this insightful and very funny interview with Stephen Colbert. I borrowed this from NG's website. Enjoy!

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Neil Gaiman

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor

Mark Sanford
NASA Name Contest

Scrivener Rocks

2009-03-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

I posted this today on my group site, Pen Tales. Excuse the re-post here, but there's just not enough time this week! Must get back to using Scrivener!

I wrote my first novel in MS Word. Since it is set in Bronze-Age Greece, it required a fair amount of research. The end result was approximately 3.5 million word files and one handwritten journal containing research notes, character studies, experimental scenes, outlines, critique group notes for later consideration, etc, etc. My office wall was covered with printouts of Nubian Pharaoh's, Greek gods, maps, and photos of islands. Not to mention the long list of websites I've bookmarked. Although I couldn't find any empirical proof, I was starting to suspect that MS Word was created in the Bronze Age.

And then, PenTales member Ron mentioned Scrivener in his blog. Soon after, I discovered that PT'er Elise had started using it and loved it. So, I downloaded the free trial. I used it for about an hour, then bought the software.

It was like moving from stone carved tablets to an intuitive tool made by a writer, for writers.

Let me just say that I'm not getting paid to endorse Scrivener (but would entertain offers). I'm just a big fan. It's a bargain at under $50, it's easy to use, and it works.

It has so many features I can't go into them all, but the workspace is organized like a big binder that holds everything you need for your work in progress. My first-impression favorite features are the cork board, research folder, and export capability.

In the cork board, I create separate files, which look like index cards, for each scene. This makes it really easy to edit, rearrange, and organize the story. The research folder is pure genius. I can store notes, pictures and information for easy reference (ah, no more searching file folders for that photo of a modern reconstruction of a Greek Bireme), and the ability to export the story and have Scrivener do all the formatting work upon export.

There are a vast number of features I haven't used yet (like outlining and synopsis) but I was able to get up and running with the new novel in just a day. Now, it feels very natural to use Scrivener.

If you are a Scrivener user, what are your favorite features? Have you discovered any cool, little-known capabilities? Has anyone figured out how to save a web page to the research folder? Please, do tell!

Looking Forward

2009-03-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

The sun shining today in Oregon, and that in itself is worth blogging about. I'm feeling particularly optimistic, and not just because of the weather. (Admittedly, optimism has been a bit shy in my life lately, what with the dismal economy and the long winter.)

Today, however, the sun is out. I'm looking forward, and everything is bright, both literally and figuratively. In just one week my amazing Mom will be moving in, and it seems I've been waiting forever for her. I have some fun paid work coming in, and am making real progress on the agent front (no news yet, but stay posted).

The new story is coming along well. The process of writing it is so different than my first novel, which required intensive research and historical background. Since the setting for the new novel is contemporary, and written in first person, which frees me to create a first draft with a stream-of-consciousness that was not possible before. It's fun. Don't get me wrong--it's not good yet. But even though I loathe writing first drafts, I'm giving myself permission to play with this story, and it's a blast. I feel my character's voice coming through, and although I know this will go through many rewrites before it becomes what I want, the heart of it is there.

It's springtime.

Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave...

2009-03-04T14:22:00.000-08:00

Lately, lying has been on my mind. Why and how people lie and the results of those lies is a source of both disappointment and, strangely, inspiration.

There's an odd intersection in my life right now: I'm starting a new novel that deals with lies and their repercussions, while at the same time in my personal life trying to comprehend how a lie has managed to interfere with the life of a person whom I greatly respect for having high integrity.

Lies are powerful, dangerous things. They have teeth, metaphorically-speaking. In my work-in-progress, lies have teeth, and not just metaphorically. I'm not talking about the kinds of small side-steps of the truth we tell to get out of going to a family gathering, or when we insist that our friend doesn't look fat in those jeans.

I'm thinking about the kinds of lies that are aimed at diverting the truth, obscuring what should be and replacing it with the desires of the liar.

Here are my own definitions of the more destructive sorts of lies.

Lies with Teeth:

Rumor, and her evil twin sister, innuendo
Deception
Exaggeration
Withholding information
Lying to yourself

These are just a few of the flavors I'm exploring! Any others to add?

My Hero

2009-02-26T10:36:00.000-08:00

I'm revisiting my completed novel, Mark of Courage and am preparing to make some big, fun edits! Yes, I love revising. LOVE. IT. It's amazing what a bit of perspective can do for you.

I've been having fun on the work-in-progress (can't tell you the premise, it's a secret) but I'm finding that several months away from MoC has given me a whole new set of ideas and improvements.

So, a short post. Thanks to Carrie Harris for this amusing distraction...and to Hero Factory for the fun. What does your hero look like?

Malika, my Hero (picture the background somewhere in ancient Greece):

The Thin Mints are Evil

2009-02-19T12:49:00.001-08:00

The Girl Scout cookies arrived yesterday. I did my part to support the local troop and the nice girl across the street who plays with my girls. But six boxes of cookies (yes, I'm a good neighbor) are not something I should have on hand. You see, I have a little problem with Thin Mints.

Can't. Stop. Eating. Them.

In my defense, I don't think it's all my fault. To put it bluntly, the cookies are evil. As a public service message, consider yourself forewarned. Eeeveeil. Furthermore, as part of the FDA's effort to accurately label food products, I'm recommending each box be marked with this:

Proof

I was compelled (think Damien from The Omen) to eat two more in the process of drafting this post. Let me clarify...Damien was compelled to push the Senator's wife over the balcony railing in exactly the same way I was compelled to eat three more Thin Mints, even though I feel kind of nauseous.

I think they have crack in them. So, when that cute neighbor girl oh-so-innocently knocks on your front door, peddling her little discs of minty chocolate addiction, Just Say No.

Can't you see him selling Girl Scout cookies? He's practically wearing the uniform, for Pete's sake. No, he's not a girl, but true evil knows no bounds.

On Critique Groups

2009-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

I've been in two writing critique groups now, and I've learned a bit about what makes them work and, well...what doesn't.

There are the obvious guidelines that all decent groups seem to follow--critique honestly but kindly, always praise what's working, encourage and bolster without patronizing.

Perhaps the most important element is trust. You are giving your writing partners a very personal, important and potentially valuable document. You are sharing your unique ideas, images and inspirations. You do this with the implicit understanding that they will treat it with the same respect you have for your craft.

When you choose people to share your life work with, choose carefully. Don't rush in. Here are a few tips that might make your critique group more productive, successful and happy.

1) Make sure you are all looking for the same thing.

What stage is your work in? Are you ready for copyedits or do you want overall plot, character and story comments? Does everyone want line-by-line critiques, or just general comments? Agreeing on these details ahead of time can be a real frustration-saver.

2) Invite new members to join for a trial period.

Most people will understand this is for their benefit as well as yours. You want to be certain that all members are on the same page, but that your group has enough diversity and alternate points-of-view to make the critiques truly valuable. Too much agreement can make for flat critiques that don't push your writing to the next level. Members who only praise and never do the hard job of pointing out problems may stroke your ego, but they won't improve your craft.

3) Create written guidelines.

This is really important if you are starting a new group, weather it's a laid-back "post whenever, critique whenever" group, or one that sets deadlines for responding to posted work. Clarifying expectations helps to ensure no one misunderstands the purpose of your group.

4) Speak up if you are not happy.

Confrontation is hard, but necessary, both in business, personal life and in our writing lives.

5) Give and you shall receive.

I've found I have learned just as much from critiquing another's work as I have from getting critiques on my writing. Spend the time each partner deserves.

6) Break up if you have to.

This is by far the hardest one to do. If you aren't getting what you need from a member or a group, either leave the group or ask the member to leave if there is a consensus. As with all relationships, this is never easy.

I've found both of the critique groups I've belonged to have been absolutely invaluable, and even though there have been some challenges along the way, every person I've worked with helped to improve my work, and I hope they feel the same.

By the way, Elise, Ron, and Jules, you guys rock.

A bit of sweetness for Tuesday

2009-02-03T09:36:00.000-08:00

I have no real reason for posting this except these pictures make me smile. That's my little girl, who got the honor of bringing the ballet teacher roses in the finale of the Nutcracker.

It's a good thing there were pictures, because it was a total surprise for me, and once she came on stage I couldn't see much of anything (Mom tears, you know). I usually have to watch her onstage through a veil of watery love-tears...quite sappy, but I just can't help it. I rely heavily on video and photos to actually see the dancing parts.

Etsy Fabulous!

2009-01-31T16:55:00.000-08:00

If you haven't checked out Etsy yet, that wonderful world of all things handmade, you simply must pay a visit. For Christmas, I found the perfect Harry Potter wand for my young Hermione, handcrafted out of wood and almost too good to give up.

My friend and cousin Holly Barry is a gifted textile artist. Check out her Etsy site., The Kingfisher.

Everything Old is New Again

2009-01-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

Today, I blogged at my writer's site, Pen Tales, about choosing hope over fear when it comes to writing. I was inspired by Obama's inaugural speech, and his optimism when it comes to the future of our country.

It's a message I needed to hear, and one I suspect many others did also. These are scary economic times, and I don't know a single person whose lives haven't been changed, either in small ways or in profound ones, this past year.

But it's also an opportunity. A time to return to basics, to family, and to what makes us a strong and united as a people. For my family, this is especially true. For years, my small nuclear family has lived in a house much larger than we need. Selling and moving...not an option in this market. But, we've devised a brilliant solution...one that used to be the common practice in our country and still is around the world--we will bring family into our house. My mother will soon be moving in, and with some luck so will my beloved cousins relocating from New Hampshire. We'll not only share the expenses, but share our lives in a much more intimate and meaningful way than most American families have done in decades.

The benefits will be countless, I'm sure. My daughter will love having her Nana here every day, and so will I. I'm one of those lucky folks--I truly enjoy my mother's company, and we've lived hundreds of miles apart for far too long. My cousins are also my dearest friends. We'll band together to get through the rough economic times...just like they did in days gone by. Everything old is new again.

Three Quick Book Reviews

2009-01-16T07:53:00.001-08:00

Life continues to be extraordinarily busy, so I'll post three quick book reviews today.

The Possibility of Sainthood, Donna Freitas

This was an enjoyable read, funny and light-hearted. Like an antipasto plate, it was tasty, but didn't over stuff.

What I admire most about Freita's writing is the voice of

the main character, Antonia, a girl who aspires to become the first-ever living saint. Antonia is sweet and genuine, without being sappy--a tricky balance that Freitas has pulled off perfectly.

In high school I spent a lot of time with my best friend's big Italian Catholic family, and the characters populating Antonia's world were familiar and charming.

Chains, Laurie Halse Anderson

One of my favorite MG/YA writers, Anderson has produced another amazing story, this one about a slave girl during the Revolutionary War. Handling a main character that is a slave is tricky business. Having faced that challenge in my own writing, I know it's no easy task to create a character that is compelling and drives the story when her situation is essentially one of powerlessness.

Anderson has handled it brilliantly, and Isabel comes through as strong, resourceful and brave. It's a must-read and likely a strong contender for the Newbery.

A Curse as Dark as Gold, Elizabeth C. Bunce

Charlotte Miller is left to run the family wool mill after the death of her father, and makes a bargain with a strange man who can spin wool into gold.

I wasn't sure I'd like this one at first...as far as folklore goes, Rumplestiltskin was never a tale that sparked my imagination. But Bunce has written a masterpiece of historical fantasy here, using a light touch with the fantasy elements, and creating a rich fabric (if you will) of story. I loved it because it's so much more than a retelling of the folk tale. Charlotte Miller is complex and fascinating, and Bunce's writing is gorgeous.

Pen Tales Launches!

2009-01-14T05:05:00.000-08:00

My amazing critique group started a blog this week. It's called Pen Tales, and in it we will take turns discussing craft, posting book reviews, interviews, and talking about the path to publication and beyond. Check it out.

A Few Random Tidbits:

We saw the sun yesterday. Yes, that's big news for us in January in Portland, Oregon. Expect to see it again today. All hail the yellow orb.

This picture reminds me of my new favorite show, Heros. I'm a latecomer (don't watch much TV) and have picked this up on cable...well, I'm hooked. Almost done with season one and there's only a few weeks until season three airs! I must get the remaining shows from Blockbuster! I love a series that isn't predictable, and this one is hard to pin down. Who are the good guys? And the bad guys aren't all that bad. Well, except for Sylar. I can't imagine he's going to redeem himself.

Voodoo Doughnut

2009-01-09T10:39:00.001-08:00

Too busy editing to post anything this week except this: how can something that looks so gross taste so darn good? These were from Portland's infamous Voodoo Doughnut.

The orange one is filled with mango creme and topped with powdered Tang. And it's good. Go figure.

New Year's Eve Bash

2009-01-01T15:02:00.000-08:00

I don’t like New Year’s Eve. In fact, you could call me a New Year's Eve Basher. I typically avoid crowds, and I think New Year’s Eve brings out the worst in the majority of people. Attending NYE parties is a tricky balance between drinking enough so you can tolerate the normally nice folks who overindulge, yet not drinking so much that you become one of them. Not drinking isn't an option. Being sober at a NYE party is about as much fun as watching the Sound of Music with the volume muted. (And what was up with Julie Andrew’s haircut in that movie?)
Maybe I dislike New Year’s Eve because of all the babysitting I did in high school. Watching these normally respectable upper-middle-class parents reel home at three am, reeking of booze and cigarettes was a turn-off of the highest order. I remember one recently divorced mom in particular who finally came home at dawn, and not alone. She had three small children, one still in diapers. Even though I wasn’t exactly an angel in high school, I knew that was seriously off-base.

Perhaps it was years of working retail that made me a New Year's Eve Basher. When I managed a clothing store, a young woman came in on January second. She was wearing a waist-length rabbit fur jacket (all the rage in the 80’s). Under the jacket was an evening dress. She’d purchased it on December 31 and wanted to return it. Did I mention that she was wearing the dress? Now, it was not uncommon for women to try to return evening wear after they’d had their night on the town, but this one was unusually brazen, or stupid, or both.
After some arguing and veiled threats on her part, she removed the dress, threw it at me, and put the jacket back on. That left her clad in stockings and a waist-length rabbit fur jacket. Would you be surprised to know she wasn’t wearing underwear? I thought not. I should also mention that our cash registers were in the center of the store, elevated on a stage and lit dramatically…so the entire universe had quite an eyeful. I thought this was hysterically funny, but pointed out that it was an ineffective way to get my cooperation.

Perhaps my aversion to New Year's Eve was sparked the year I was pathetic enough to go on a blind date. If any of you are considering doing this, I highly recommend you choose an activity that is more fun and rewarding, like bathing your cat, or cleaning the floor mats in your car. About 1/2 hour into the evening I discovered that blind-date-boy had just been dumped by his fiancée. Three days before. In between the appetizers and Champaign he broke into tears thirteen times. Yeah, now that I think about it, that was probably the final straw in my New Year’s Eve bail of hay.

Disclaimer: in the unlikely even that my neighbors are reading this, I had a lovely time at your house last night, and it was heaps of fun. No one was obnoxious, no one smoked, and there weren’t any rabbit fur jackets in sight. Seriously.

I suppose that, knowing my aversion to New Year’s Eve, you won’t be surprised to learn I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions are far to easy to make in the misty haze of five glasses of cabernet, and by February they usually have all the appeal of a desiccated Christmas tree dumped unceremoniously at curbside. I hate to see my aspirations in the gutter, so I avoid the temptation to make grand proclamations just before the ball drops.

I like to set goals instead, because I rarely abandon my goals. My writing goals for the upcoming months include putting the polish on my manuscript rewrite, digging deep into two new writing projects, and finding the right agent. My writing critique partner, Ron, has similar goals.

Are you a resolution-maker? Do you keep them? Do you love New Year's Eve or...not so much?

Have a Cozy Christmas!

2008-12-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

And yet More SNOW

2008-12-20T21:33:00.000-08:00

All right. If you are from the Northeast or Midwest or any mountain region, don't bother comment and tell me what a whimp I am. I know I'm a whimp. Despite growing up in Connecticut and Maine, I have spent my adult life in non-snowy places.

The thing is, it just doesn't snow this MUCH in Portland, Oregon. It JUST DOESN'T.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow...Please, Make it Stop

2008-12-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, it was quaint. White fluffy stuff came down in usually snow-deprived Portland, and everyone was happy. There was no school for the girls on Monday, and we had plenty of food, wood, and electricity to snuggle in quite comfortably.

Tuesday, it cleared enough to stock up on necessities (food and adult beverages) and pick my Mom up from the airport and grab a Christmas tree. Then, things got icy. More snow. More happy snuggling. More eating and drinking.

We've been housebound for five days now. I've missed my daughter's Nutcracker performance, and her school holiday party. The girls, whom I once found so charming and sweet, are wearing on me. I'm sure I'm getting on their nerves too. I can tell because they are starting to avoid me. So, when I woke up this morning to melting ice, I was elated. Finally, we'd get to do one of the many holiday outings I'd planned: tour the Pittock Mansion or visit Voodoo Doughnut.

Then, it came back. That white stuff. Falling stealthily, quietly negating holiday mansion tours and freaky doughnuts. Sigh.

So, it's off to Safeway and Starbucks and the video store instead. More food, more adult beverages. And, with a little luck, I'll have some time later to get back to the manuscript!

Is There Anybody Out There?

2008-12-11T13:48:00.000-08:00

Don't you hate it when you blog and blog and no one comments? You check your Google Stats, and lots of people blurked, but no one bothered to leave a note. It's like cooking a nice dinner and not getting any "mmm's" or "ah's"...they just snarf it up and excuse themselves.

I've been guilty of this, too. Serious read-and-run syndrome. So I decided to turn over a new leaf last month, when Motherreader and Lee Wind were kind enough to host a Comment Challenge. The purpose was get all of us in the Kidlitosphere in the habit of commenting more often on each other's blogs.

And it worked! Not only am I in the habit now of commenting at least three times a day, but I've had more folks visit and comment on my blog, too. It's made me a better, more consistent blogger, and I've discovered some new friends in the process.

Here are a few of the nice folks I've met:

Jen Robinson's Book Page

Plus, I won a prize! Lee informed me that my name was drawn, and I win this cool SCBWI light up pen. Now, my words will be literally illuminating. (Snarf).

West Linn Sunset

2008-12-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Sunday night brought colder weather and a storm from the west...what a sunset!

Why do Women Love Vampires?

2008-12-06T11:05:00.000-08:00

Sarah Haskins explores why women love vampires. Thanks to Big A, little a for finding this!

Let this be my first and only post on Twilight.

What does Your Jesus Look Like?

2008-12-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

Since I saw that fab stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar on Tuesday night, I can't get Jesus off my mind.

I started thinking about how paintings and pictures of Jesus always say more about the society that produced the image than about the man himself. So, during a completely unproductive writing afternoon, I went in search of Jesus. Here's what I found.

Dan Fogleburg Jesus

"I am a living legacy to the leader of the band."

Bee Gees Jesus

"Whether you're a brother, or whether you're a mother, you're stayin' alive, stayin' alive..."

Odysseus Jesus

"Seriously, I think we're almost in Ithaca!"

Subcontractor Jesus

"I promise, I'll have the deck finished by Friday."

Notice anything odd about these men? They're all caucasian.

Not surprising, I guess, since the artists were probably Europeans. But really, people. Jesus was from Jerusalem. He was a Middle Easterner.

I'm guessing he would have looked more like this:

Like I said, I'm not a beleiver, and it's safe to say I stand a more than a decent chance of not making into heaven. But if Jesus does exist, I sure hope he can sing, because a Lenny Kravitz Jesus would totally rock.

Sweet Jesus!

2008-12-02T13:25:00.000-08:00

Forgive the blasphemy, but Sweet Jesus! I finally saw a live production of Jesus Christ Superstar last night, and it was amazing. It starred none other than Ted Neeley, the star of the Norman Jewison film from 35 years ago. Let me say that again, people. Thirty Five Years Ago.

This is important, because I took my lovely goddaughter to the show. She is eleven. The same age as I was when the movie came out.

Oh, excuse me, I have to take a call.

I'm back now.

It was Father Time. He said, "Tick, tick, tick."

What a jerk.

So, anyway. At the tender age of eleven, I completely memorized the soundtrack to JCSS. And, I still remember Every. Single. Lyric. You could throw me on the stage and I could spit out any role: Mary, Jesus, even Caiaphas. I'll admit, last night it was hard (HARD) not to sing along, but I managed to reign in my fervor and just lipsync the parts. I think the woman next to me thought I'd had a bit too much holy wine, but I didn't care. I was in heaven. So to speak.

Lest you think I'm a religious person, I'm not. Sure, when I was eight I wanted to be a nun, but ever since, not so much. Now, I appreciate this story for its heroic quest qualities, and as hero quests go, it's a doozie. A nearly impossible but noble goal. Deception and betrayal. Unrequited love. A test of the heroes mettle.

And Ted Neeley? At sixty-something Ted's a tad old to play the 33 year old Jesus, but hey, it was TED. He was a wizened Jesus, a Gandolfian Jesus, perhaps even a Dumbledorian Jesus, but his voice still rocks.

I loved it.

I Like My Faeries Scary

2008-12-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

I like my fairies scary, and my fairy stories with plenty of peril and adventure, along the lines of Laini Taylor's Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer. Magpie Windwitch is one tough cookie, and the evil she battles threatens to change the world forever. Cool.

But I do realize that this might be too much for younger readers in 1-3 grades.

My six year old daughter, for example, has been captivated (I think captured, actually) by the many fairy series books out there. My girl, who usually leans more toward Harry Potter and the Warriors for read-to-me books, has recently been lured by those ice-cream-colored sparkly covers (which sometimes have evil little necklaces shrink wrapped to them).

She is understandably attracted to these. I personally think there might be charm spells involved, but I can't prove it. Nevertheless, when she sees one, she HAS to have it.

See?

Pretty.

These books are, admittedly, sweet as cupcakes sitting there on the bookstore shelf, and they look ever-so-tasty. But just like pink cupcakes, they often fail to satisfy. I adore Barker's illustrations, but the stories don't deliver. Even the jacket flap copy makes me yawn.

This is one of my least favorite. Don't be fooled by the Amazon instructions to Look Inside! There's nothing there.

Rainbow Fairies are not at all scary. Yes, they get a bit testy at times, but are quickly returned to their state of over-the-top-bliss as soon as their problem is quickly resolved. The author is Daisy Meadows, which makes me snarf, and is thankfully a pseudonym for four different writers. Rainbow fairies weren't enough for cupcake besotted first graders, and now there are pet fairies, weather fairies, jewel fairies, and on and on. Sigh.

Lest you think I'm being snobbish, I've actually purchased the entire Rainbow series for my daughter, who eats them up. Then, we follow with a more hearty meal of The Tale of Desperaux or Ramona. To balance out her literary diet of course. One can't live on cupcakes alone.

I have no words for this one. And yet, bought it for my daughter. The things we do.

I did find one series, however, that has some grit.

Australian writer Emily Rodda's Fairy Realm series are well-written stories, not overly sweet and not too scary for more sensitive young readers. They have real tension, and an ongoing story that takes the main character through adventures that have consequences in both the fairy world and the "real" world.

In fact, they're so much better than the other stuff out there, I don't even mind if they come shrink-wrapped with an evil little necklace.

Kitty Names!

2008-11-30T07:46:00.000-08:00

I received lots of wonderful suggestions for kitty names. Charlotte/Fern and Lyra/Pan were two of my favorites, but you know how these things go. The family starts playing with them, I suggest Lyra and Pan (several times, receiving blank stares in return) and lo, entirely new names come out of thin air.

They are now Bella and Luna.

However, the entirely new names seemed strangely familiar to me. For days, this churned around in the back of my head, and then I realized where I'd heard them before--my writer friend Elise Murphy acquired some kittens not long ago and named them Bellatrix and Luna. Doh!

Before you accuse me of cat-name-plagiarism, my hubby came up with the names, completely unaware of Elise's choice. Bella and Luna stand.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Elise, what can I say. You are great at the naming thing. My next novel will feature Rachel and Jimmy. Just kidding.

Happy Thanksgiving from Some of My Favorite Authors!

2008-11-26T10:54:00.000-08:00

Some of my favorite Kitlit authors have arrived just in time to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

From left to right: Rick Riordan, MT Anderson, Susan Cooper and JK Rowling

Thanksgiving Meme

2008-11-25T16:00:00.000-08:00

I pulled this from my writing buddy Elise, who got it from writer Stephanie Blake.

I'll play!

1. Sweet potatoes? With or without marshmallows?
Yes, without marshmallows. With butter and maybe brown sugar.

2. Green bean casserole?

Just the green beans, with herb butter.

3. Turkey or ham or turkducken or tofurkey?

Turkey. Ham is for Easter. Rack of Lamb is for Christmas. Yeah, lots of Butter.

4. Pumpkin, apple, or pecan pie?

Pumpkin and apple. Even better with coffee the morning after. mmmm.

5. Cool whip or real whipping cream?

Oh, please. If I'm going to eat that many fat calories, gimme the real deal.

6. Do you ever watch the Macy's day parade?

Yep, every year.

7. Do you take a nap after dinner?

Hah. You'll notice almost NONE of the women will answer yes to this one. Thanksgiving is not a relaxing holiday for the cooks in the house. NO.

8. Do you participate in Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving sales)?

No way. I worked too many years in retail for that (shivers at memory).

9. What are you most thankful for?

My family, good health and friends. And the Internet. Um, and Butter.

And I'm adding one of my own:

10. Favorite use for leftovers?

Turkey enchiladas.

Play along!

Name Nominations!

2008-11-23T10:37:00.000-08:00

We welcomed home two new kittens! They're just six weeks old and oh so cute. Right now, we affectionately call them black kitty and gray kitty.

Um. We could do better.

We are trying to think of some wonderful girl names (if they are from Kidlit, all the better). So far I've only come up with Kit and Ruthie (American Girls).

We clearly need your help. So, please make suggestions, following these simple guidelines:

There will be no non-name names. If you were going to suggest Boots, Fluffy or Charcoal, please save those for your stuffed animal collection. Or your boyfriend.
We've also ruled out Thelma and Louise (SO 1990).
Ditto with Lucy and Ethel, because no one wants to be called Ethel. Not even a cat.
No Disney characters, especially princesses. Because I have to keep food down.

So what are you waiting for? We NEED your help. Don't let these kitties be forever known as Black Kitty and Gray Kitty! Donate a name today...(I think it's tax deductible in California).

Word Clouds as a Writing Tool

2008-11-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Tabitha Olson at her blog writermusings for finding a writerly use for this interesting applet that creates word clouds.

Wordle provides a visual representation of the words used most often in a text. You can copy and paste actual chapters from your WIP into it, and voila! A word cloud. For one thing, it's just plain fun. But as Tabitha points out, it gives you a powerful visual representation of the words you use most often.

I decided to compare Chapter 1 and 21 of Mark of Courage, my young adult historical fantasy novel. You can see that while my main character, Malika, remains the most frequently used word, other characters have come forward in the later chapter. Makes sense.

I also see that I need to take a look at how often I use the words 'like' and 'just'.

What does your word cloud look like?

Chapter 1

Chapter 21

Buy Books for the Holidays

2008-11-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm buying books for the holidays! After all, isn't one well-considered book so much better than another wine-bottle-opener-tire pressure-gauge-emergency-car-window-breaker tool? Yes, of course.

It's all part of my mission to educate the adult world on just how much fantastic literature is out there undiscovered, because adults just don't shop the YA aisles for great reads. And they are missing so much! Here's just a few of my gifty choices...no hints about who these are for!

Ender's Game, Card

Olive's Ocean, Henkes

Octavian Nothing, Anderson

Hunger Games, Collins

Rules, Lord

Speak, Anderson

The Book Thief, Anderson

Feed, Anderson

What other great titles should I add for my adult friends? Any suggestions?

A Few Random Things from My Weekend

2008-11-16T21:06:00.000-08:00

Meh: it's the new yadda, yadda, yadda.

Times Online reports that Meh has been chosen for the 30th anniversary of the British published Collin's English Dictionary. According to the Times:

"'Meh' started out in the US and Canada as an interjection signifying mediocrity or indifference and has evolved, via the Internet and an episode of The Simpsons, into a common adjective meaning boring, apathetic or unimpressive in British English."

It's nice to know we can influence British culture.

One of the benefits of living in Oregon is the fabulous natural surroundings even close-in to the Portland metro area. This weekend, we took the kids to see the salmon spawn along Eagle Creek in the Columbia River gorge.

In New England, I could appreciate this wonder only through scratchy school science movies. Seeing them in person? Definitely not a Meh moment.

Win The Magician's Book!

2008-11-13T08:34:00.001-08:00

If you are a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia, then you might want to check out The Magician's Book...I know I've added it to my to-read list.

As luck would have it, the fine folks at bookdads.com are having a contest! Enter by November 25 to win a copy...

Farewell Sweet Pea, Cats in Literature

2008-11-10T20:34:00.000-08:00

We found her in our front bushes 18 years ago in our first rental house. My husband and I were recently married, and our daughter would not be born for another 12 years. In human terms she was nearly 100. Today, she decided it was time to join her litter mates in that Great Big Field of Mice in the Sky, or wherever it is that good kitties go when they die.

Eighteen years is darn good for a stray cat. Still, somehow it went by a little too fast.

In honor of Sweet Pea (and Toonces and Newman, both of whom preceded her--but not by much) here's a list of my favorite cats in literature:

The Cat in the Hat, from the book of the same name

Rum Tum Tugger, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

Bagheera, The Jungle Book

Bluestar, Warriors series

Grimalkin, Macbeth

Mrs. Norris and Crookshanks, Harry Potter series

Ratha, Ratha's Creature

Skippyjon Jones, from Skippyjon Jones

Tom Kitten, The Tale of Tom Kitten

Please feel free to add your favorites.

Balancing History and Fantasy

2008-11-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

I've just started reading Black Ships by Jo Graham, and if you are a fan of historical fantasy, it's a must-read. Her research is impeccable, the characters are engaging and the settings are richly detailed.

It got me thinking about choices. In my work-in-progress, Mark of Courage, I'm constantly seeking the right balance of historical fact and believable fantasy, which is trickier than it seems.

Mark of Courage is the story of Malika, an escaped Nubian slave girl who flees Troy along with a band of child-thieves, meets up with Odysseus and is tasked by Athena to protect the goddess's beloved general. Malika is no mere slave, of course, and discovers along the way that she has a destiny that goes far beyond saving Odysseus.

Now, there have been many wonderful books set in ancient Greece and Egypt (Nobody's Prize/Nobody's Princess by Elizabeth Freisner, Maia of Thebes by Ann Turner and Pharaoh's Daughter by Jules Lester, to name just a few). These authors chose to write their stories as straight historical fiction, leaving out the magic. I've chosen to incorporate the magic, the gods, and the monsters into my story, so reading Jo Graham's book is a real revelation.

My task is complicated by the fact that it's based on Homer's Odyssey, which is, in itself, more fantasy than history. In addition to the obvious encounters with some of the most famous monsters in mythology, Odysseus' behavior is, at times, almost inexplicably weird. He makes a lot of irrational decisions, which I attempt to explain in the context of my main character's story so that it makes sense in the world I've created.

I'm wondering if any other writers out there are trying to create this kind of balance in their historical fantasy novels? Chime in...I'd love to hear how you are finding the right balance.

Obama fun

2008-11-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Alright, I'm moving on! Back to work...
(Video humor courtesy of The Onion)

Yes, We Did.

2008-11-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

Barak Obama, 44th President of the United States.

This morning, my six year old daughter watched as Obama took the stage with his family. Upon seeing his daughter, she said "Hey, she kinda looks like ME!"

That will be one of my sweetest and happiest memories ever.

VOTE! I mean it!

2008-10-31T05:30:00.000-07:00

Why the obnoxious Simon Cowell poster? No, I'm not a fan of American Idol, even though I think Simon's kinda cute even when he's making an ass of himself.

Here's what it reads:

66 million votes from callers nominating their favorite singer exceeded the total number of votes ever recorded during an election for president. Vote for something that MATTERS!

One of my earliest memories of politics in this country was watching Richard Nixon resign to avoid impeachment. (Yeah, I'm that old.) I learned from an early age that there are a lot of scoundrels in government. Later in life, I learned there are a lot of scoundrels in business, too.

While we have to wait and hope that the marketplace (or the attorney general) eventually weeds out the liars and cheats in business, it's up to us to weed them out of government. We elect 'em, we can

kick 'em out. One thing Richard Nixon taught me was that each person in this country is held accountable for his or her actions, even those who hold the highest office.

And so, if you are going to live in a place that holds you accountable, then be accountable.

Be counted.

Hopefully, if we all do our jobs well, we won't have to impeach any more presidents.

This post is part of an effort across the lit blogosphere to get out the message. Check out the master list here: Blog the Vote

The End!

2008-10-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

My fabulous critique partner Elise has finished her novel, Fortune's Girl. I've got the final chapter sitting on my desktop, and I can't wait to read it. I'm sure you'll be reading it someday too. After all those agent edits, editor edits, copyedits...ah but what am I saying? Today is for celebrating the work she's completed, not the work ahead of her!

Fortune's Girl rocks, Elise!

Join me in congratulating Elise! Post a comment on her blog.

The Ugly Face of Rejection

2008-10-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

Most people know that writers have to endure a fair amount of rejection in their careers (and if they don't I usually bring them up to speed on that point). Sometimes, someone asks me how I handle it.

Easy! After all, I'm pretty good at creating characters. I spend the better part of each day putting life and breath into people that don't exist. So, why not do that with potential agents?

When I first submit to an agent, I imagine they look something like this. Mysterious, and a little scary. Holding a powerful orb (or is that my career?) in his or her bloodless grasp.

For woman agents, I imagine her without the beard. Sometimes.

When I get a request for a partial, I have to change my imaginary agent because anyone who asks me for a partial is now my official hero.

I imagine him fighting for my manuscript, going head to head with other agents to see that the right famous editor reads my stuff.

If the agent is a woman, I still picture her as Brad Pitt. Because its MY story, OK?

And then there's the last kind of agent. The one who kept me waiting for six months only to tell me "thanks but no thanks".

That agent (and you know who you are) looks like this:

Oh, I should mention one other type of agent. The one that Never Responds.

Autumn Glories

2008-10-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you aren't lucky enough to be in New England this year, they are having a truly spectacular fall! If you need a mini-vacation this morning, pour yourself a cup of hot cider out my sister-friend Holly's flickr photos.

I'm Asking the Gods for a 34-Hour Day

2008-10-09T21:25:00.001-07:00

I've had it! I'm asking the gods, or Jesus, or my fairy Godmother (whomever can deliver, I'm not particular) for more time. Because twenty-four measly hours are simply not enough to work, pay bills, run errands, feed cats, give medicine to cats, bring cats to vet, clean litter boxes, eat, play with my daughter, talk to my husband, write a novel, weed the backyard, pull out the Halloween decorations before the 30th, dust, read, and sleep! It's not working for me, you hear that God? Krishna? Athena?

I want more hours in each day. Ten more, to be exact. Here's my short list of what I'd do with each hour, in no particular order:

Hour 1: sleep
Hour 2: exercise
Hour 3: alone time with hubby
Hour 4: call my Mom
Hour 5: play with my daughter
Hour 6: cook something new and wonderful
Hour 7-10: write, write write!

Oh, and perhaps, if the gods can deliver on this request, I'll build in some time to worship them or make sacrifices or get home before the clock strikes midnight...whatever their godliness/fairyness requires.

By the way, if this request gets approved you might want to be ready! What would you do with ten extra hours in the day?

Neil Gaiman Reads from The Graveyard Book

2008-10-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

How cool is THIS? Neil Gaiman is currently doing a tour for The Graveyard Book, and at each appearance he's reading one chapter! You can hear each installment here on his blog. And it's FREE! But buy the book anyway, it's marvelous.

Kidlitosphere Conference '08

2008-09-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

The second annual Kidlitosphere Conference happened this weekend, and it was packed with great information for anyone who blogs about kidlit.

It was a full day with a lot of amazing speakers, but two sessions were particularly helpful to me in my blogging infancy.

Kick Your Blog Up a Notch

Pam Coughlin, the extremely knowledgeable (and funny!) MotherReader, presented tips to increase traffic and readership. I especially liked her suggestions about the importance becoming part of the community by participating actively in it. One simple way we often overlook is to comment regularly and relevantly on other blog sites. She also stressed the importance of using your own unique voice and perspective in your blog. Her recommendation for anyone (especially for writers who should be spending most of their time working on their books, vs. blogging) was to consider joining forces on a group blog. Which tied in to the fact that if you really want more blog traffic, you need to be blogging every day: an intimidating prospect since I barely manage two blogs per week. The answer? Create a group blog.

Managing a Group Blog

Which leads me to Class of 2K8/2K9's session. Group blogs can be very effective, not only increasing your audience, but saving you, the writer, lots of time. When forming a group blog, start by answering three key questions:

1) What is your focus?

Author2Author is a group of writers in various stages of the path to publication, and each blogger discusses topics from their unique perspective. They are just one of many examples of a group blog that has a clear (and clearly stated) intent.

2) Who is your audience?

Class of 2K8 targets the gatekeepers (booksellers, teachers, and librarians). Again, they know exactly what their purpose is!

3) Keep it balanced

Keep your content balanced between internal and external subject matters, and reach out! Find ways that your blog can reach out to your community. You could have a designated topic where, for example, each participant could blog about their favorite independent bookseller--and of course link to them. The possibilities are endless.

One final note: Emily Whitman, if you're out there, look me up! I neglected to get your business card and would love to pick your brain some more about writing fiction based on Greek myths!

Banned Book Review: Deadline

2008-09-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

Deadline was my first Chris Crutcher book, and I plan to read them all.

There are a lot of reasons Crutcher's work have been challenged and banned over the years, but in my opinion all of them stem from fear of the truth. He pulls back the veil and shows the world as his characters see it, unadorned and in the plain light of day. Of course, for many that is a frightening prospect. Yes, there's a fair amount of cussing. But I think it's really the truth that frightens most book banners.

Deadline is the story of Ben Wolf, who at the beginning of his senior year in high school, finds out he has only one year to live. He has some big decisions to make. Not only does he decide to forgo treatment, he decides that his last year should be as normal as possible. So he doesn't tell anyone about his condition--not his parents, not his friends. He sets out to do a lifetime's worth of living in that one precious year.

I love Crutcher's sense of humor, and his characters are really well drawn. But I think what I like best about Deadline is the unconventional way Crutcher has Ben live that last year. At the beginning of the story Ben decides he's going to live his life to the fullest. As I was reading, I was almost dreading the predictable here--wild parties and no school. But for Ben it was so much more. He goes out for football. He challenges the dogmatic history teacher to the point of nearly being expelled. He tries for, and wins, his dream girl. And he learns that he's not the only person in town with secrets.

Even though I was well prepared for this classic tragic hero's end, Crutcher's deft handling of Ben's death brought me to tears. It was beautiful, honest, funny and incredibly sad.

Crutcher has said of his own work, "I write stories about real kids...who have come up through extremely difficult situations, and their behaviors and language relfect those situations. When we censor kid's stories, we censor those kids. We leave them behind. They become an afterthought, or nothing...the kids who have always been left behind."

Crutcher is adept at addressing the censors, and many of his responses can be found here, on his website. I suggest you check it out.

Book covers and body parts

2008-09-24T06:13:00.000-07:00

My friend Carrie Harris posted a blog that made me snarf my coffee this morning (ouch, thanks a lot Carrie). Give it a read.

Apparently she's afraid of all these book covers that feature only the torso of a model..thinks it's a trend teens, being teens, will pick up on. Her dark vision includes a planet overrun by evil torsos.

And I say, who cares about the torsos?? I mean, even I can outrun a container for internal organs.

I'm more worried about these:

I mean, seriously. They can run AND kick.

But THIS? Well, this one I might just let catch me.

I've Been Tagged-Can You Feel the Love?

2008-09-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Prince Balthazar for tagging me this week. Well, he sort of HAS to, since he's my critique partner. He's no fool--a happy critique partner is a kind critique partner.

Check out his blog--he's not only a fabulous writer, but a terrific blogger. And a natty dresser, too.

So, here's how this thing works. I tag whomever I want, and then answer a series of seemingly innocuous questions that the CIA can use to update my profile. Sounds easy!

First, my tag choices. I didn't choose Elise Murphy, my other fab critique partner because, well, she's already been tagged.

Black Threads in Kids Lit. Because there just aren't enough sites like this one.

Boys Blogging Books: It's nice to hear from some smart, saavy boys talk about what they like to read! I call it market research.

Bear Grylls: He gets my "manly man" award. Bear just rocks. Climb's 'em, eats 'em. What a guy.

GreekGeek: A great place for geeky Greeky fun.

And now, on to the questions!

1. What are your nicknames?

I never had a good nickname. Still bitter about that.

2. What was the first movie you bought on VHS or DVD?

I think it was Excalibur.

3. What is your favorite scent?

Fresh rain on asphalt. Which is good, since I live in Oregon.

4. What is one place you visited that you can't forget and want to go back to?

We'll always have Paris. But three days was NOT long enough.

5. Do you trust easily?

Not unless you have fur and whiskers.

6. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?

Think first, act later.

7. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?

The PTA. Sarah Palin. The end of peach season.

8. Do you have a good body image?

That depends on whose body I'm imagining!

9. What is your favorite fruit?

Nectarines. They are like sassy peaches without the hassle of fuzz.

10. What websites do you visit daily?

Prince Balthazar, Elise Murphy, Laini Taylor, Nathan Bransford, School Library Journal and many, many more. It's a bit of a problem.

11. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?

Starbucks' Doubleshot on ice. mmmm.

12. What kind of person do you think the person you tagged is?

Ron is funny, smart and a heck of a good writer. I bet he'd be fun to go shopping with.

13. What is the last song that got stuck in your head?

Fly on the Wall, Miley Cyrus. Not by choice.

14. What is your favorite item of clothing?

Big fuzzy robe.

15. Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?

If you like cardboard. C'mon, we all know that Honey Nut Cheerios are the bomb.

16. What would you do if you saw $100 lying on the ground?

Assuming it was lost and lonely? Take it. Spend it on 75 Starbucks Doubleshots on ice.

17. What items could you not go without during the day?

My computer, and a few books, and my car. Oh, and ...wait for it...Starbucks Doubleshot on ice.

18. What should you be doing right now?

Getting my daughter ready for bed. Is it really That Late???

Banned Book Review: Olive's Ocean

2008-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

After reading this tender and insightful story of a young girl, Martha, and her reaction to the death of an acquaintance at school, I had to ask myself; Why on earth would anyone ban this book?"

Because it deals with death, coming-of-age, a first kiss? I can't imagine even the most sensitive reader would find anything in this wonderful story objectionable.

I was impressed with Henkes' ability to convey the feelings of Martha, a twelve year old girl who is haunted by the death of a classmate, one whom she didn't know well, but apparently was kind to once. Olive was a shy and retiring girl, who had no friends. Martha realizes that she must have played some important role, now forgotten, in the girl's life when her mother brings her a gift. It's an event which sparks Martha's journey away from the naivete of childhood. During the course of the book, she seeks to regain that innocence by returning to her grandmothers' beach house. But the vacation proves to be more enlightening than comforting, and Martha begins to see the world through more adult eyes. She commits to her dream of becoming a writer, understands that her beloved grandmother will not live forever, survives an idealized and sadly tarnished first love, and ultimately faces her own mortality.

Henkes does a masterful job of capturing Martha's voice and heart. And I loved the ending--which I won't spoil. But she is denied her goal, and has to grapple at the end with the ambiguity of life and the very grown up conclusion that there aren't always neat endings. Instead of getting to know Olive better, Martha learns to know herself better.

Henkes sums her growth thus:

"But in another way, the world had changed dramatically--because Martha understood for the first time that the world didn't revolve around her; that it was bigger than that, that is simply was, and would continue to exist without her.

This is the painful but liberating truth Martha discovers, as big as the ocean, as terrifying and as liberating.

Oregon Book Awards

2008-09-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have four new books to add to my ever-expanding Must Read list. The finalists of the 2008 Oregon Book Awards were announced today.

Here are the finalists in the Young Adult category:

Sara Ryan, The Rules for Hearts

Graham Salisbury, Night of the Howling Dogs

Roland Smith, Peak

Linda Zuckerman, A Taste for Rabbit

The awards ceremony is on November 9.

I'd love to be able to read all of them by that date, but think I will start with Night of the Howling Dogs, because I've been kicking around a story idea that is set in Hawaii, and also has some spiritual/magical Hawaiian elements, so I'd love to see what Salisbury does with that setting.

Banned book Review-The Giver

2008-09-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

This is the perfect way to start off my review of banned books! And timely, given all the flap this week about Republican VP candidate Palin and her suspicious (to say the least) censorship request while Mayor of Wasilla, AK. So, Ms. Palin, this one's for you.

In Lois Lowry's The Giver, twelve year old Jonas is living in a seemingly utopian world where there is no war, no hunger and no conflict. The rest of the world is referred to as Elsewhere. The story begins at an annual ceremony where the twelve year olds in the town are given their "life assignments". Jonas finds he's been assigned to assist The Giver. He soon discovers the dark truth behind his seemingly idyllic if boring life: that one member of the community has been tasked with holding all of the memories of the pre-utopian world, both happy and sad.

This book resonates with me, especially this week, in light of the Palin issue and with Banned Book Week on the horizon. It reminded me of just how misguided people are when they think they should protect the rest of us from books and ideas that may be painful, objectionable, or in their own minds, inappropriate.

It also hits home on another front. Just how high a price are we willing to pay for security? This society gave up everything, including their freedom. They weren't happier. Not in the sense that we think of happiness. They were safe, protected from disturbing news, ideas, and chaos. And they were also emotionally barren. Along with the loss of pain and sadness came the loss of joy and, ultimately they lost the ability to love.

Many people have commented that the ending to The Giver is somewhat ambiguous. I won't reveal it here, but I did hear the story straight from Lowry's mouth. (OK, I don't know her personally, but I did hear her speak on the subject last fall here in Portland.) She doesn't think the ending is ambiguous at all. The boy finds Elsewhere, and it's all he hoped it would be. She stressed that it is in fact a happy ending. But she welcomes all of the various interpretations that readers have concluded. She respects the creativity and intelligence of her audience. Unlike the many of well-intentioned Palin's out there who would protect us from our individuality.

I'll end with a quote from Lowry when she accepted the Newbery for The Giver.

"...each time a child opens a book, he pushes open the gate that separates him from Elsewhere. It gives him choices. It gives him freedom. Those are magnificent, wonderfully unsafe things."

Read a Banned Book

2008-09-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

September 27-Oct. 4 is Banned Books week. The American Library Association sponsors this event to bring attention to the large number of books that are challenged each year. And you won't believe the list.

My fabulous critique partner Elise Murphy got me started on this worthwhile project, and this fall, I'll be reading and reviewing:

Olive's Ocean, Henke

Deadline, Crutcher

The Chocolate War, Cormir

The Giver, Lowry

I'm not sure why, but some people feel compelled to try to do our thinking for us. Like JoAn Karkos of Lewiston, Maine, who sadly feels it's her responsibility to remove an offensive book from her local library. She checked out "It's Perfectly Natural" last year and won't return it (she's recently been to court over the matter). The book addresses sexual development and is written for kids. Thanks to Bookshelves of Doom, I saw this interview, where, unbelievably, Ms. Misguided compares herself to Rosa Parks. The same Rosa Parks who took civil rights into her own hands by bravely sitting in the front of a city bus? Yep.

Hey, do me a favor, JoAn! Don't do my thinking for me, and I won't tell you how to spell your name.

My Favorite Greek Things

2008-08-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

It dawned on me today (a classically Homeric 'rosy fingered dawn') that although my current work-in-progress takes place in bronze-age Greece, I've never blogged about it. But I've been writing it all day, and I'm really not in the mood to blog about it.

So, I thought I'd make a list of my Favorite Greek Things. Or, All things Greeky and Geeky.

My favorite modern resource on ancient Greece

Theoi, by far the most extensive internet resource for Greek literature and mythology out there.

My favorite Greek author

Since my WIP is loosely based on The Odyssey, I'd have to say Homer, of course.

(I'm thinking maybe he liked his wine.)

My favorite author who writes about Greek mythology

Rick Riordan. If you haven't read his Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, what are you waiting for?

My favorite Greek food

OK, I don't have one, I like them all! But these olives would be really great in a martini, don't you think?

Famous Greek Person

Tommy Lee. Yeah, bet you didn't know he was Greek.

My favorite Greek movie

Er, what?

My favorite Greek superstition

The evil eye.

Greek ships in the bronze age had eyes painted on their bows to ward off the evil eye. Even today in Greece, if you complement someone they may spit in your direction, in an effort to ward off the evil eye.

The Myth of Balance

2008-08-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

I was a little bit outraged last night. Some local reporter did a story on athlete Moms. These women are remarkable, by anyone's standards. But the theme of the story was finding a balance. These women all claimed to have found a balance between raising their children and pursuing their sport.

Bravo, chicas. But I don't buy a word of it.

Nope. I think they are full of it, forced into making statements about how "it's hard but we find time with our kids" because that's the line we've all been sold. We've been told to believe this balderdash by hard working women reporters who either don't have kids or lie to themselves and their audiences about "finding a balance".

Now, I'm a stay at home mom. I applaud and admire working Moms, so don't misinterpret what I say. But the fact is that any working Mom is hard pressed to get enough time with her children. It just doesn't happen for the vast majority. They get an hour, maybe two at the end of every day. Perhaps they can take off once in a while to attend a school event or help in the classroom, but most can't do that very often.

And can you imagine how it is for a world class athlete? Do they expect us to believe she really "balances" her 10-+ hours of training every day with kid time? It's the same problem working fathers have--there just aren't enough hours in a day for a committed work career and children. If you are the sole breadwinner, as my husband is, you have to choose work, almost every time. Same if you are a working mother. Which leaves you an hour or two a day for your family. It can't be helped, of course. Someone has to bring home the bacon, and often both parents do.

Don't think there's balance for us stay-at-homes either. My challenge is the just the opposite: I choose kids most every time, and am left with one or two hours a day (more if I rise at 4:30 am) to pursue my career. A little more when school is in session. But there is NO balance. I've all but given up my career to raise my daughter. Happily, but still.

The worst thing about it is that many women are made to feel inadequate if they can't live up to this nonsense that the media spouts.

What do you think? Have you found a balance?

I can dream, can't I?

2008-08-14T07:49:00.001-07:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Weird News Day

2008-08-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

In Bern, Switzerland, yesterday, a giant inflatable "sculpture" escaped the museum exhibit, wreaking havoc in the local town. The sculpture, pictured below, rammed into a local orphanage before being, um, scooped up and returned to the museum.

I have no reason for posting this, other than my own amusement.

Benign Neglect

2008-08-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, life is just like an orchid. The more you nurture, tease and baby it, the less responsive it becomes. This month, I managed to neglect my orchid long enough that it actually grew a flower spike! And an ant, apparently.

That's a first, and I've tried many times. But, alas, I was always too thoughtful, pampering the little dears until they were lulled into a sense of security that precluded all thoughts of blooming. But between family road trips and writing work, I've ingnored the orchid shamefully, left it in a hot window, and never watered it. And, here she is, in all her tender beauty. Now, if I can just leave the thing alone long enough to finish blooming!

I suspect a similar thing happens with kids. Sometimes we over nurture them, and when suddenly one week we are lucky enough to leave them to their own devices, they get good and dirty, forget to use sunblock, comb their hair and lo, some blooming happens! Here's a picture from our summer road trip just to prove it.

Now, if I can just get the same results from my manuscript, which has been lovingly neglected during the aforementioned road trip.

On a completely random note, Laini Taylor has created a cafepress site for the Kidlitosphere Conferece. Check it out.