My brain is currently soaking up information in the research phase.

I wrote a good query letter, which passed muster (or mustard as I used to say) and now I need to come up with the layouts and proposal.

Petroleum history is quite revealing.... I understand current politic much better given what I have learned.

And on a side note- I got a very encouraging email from an editor who wants me to do some revisions. Problem is- she's not so specific and I'm worried I might do them wrong and blow my chance.

But, I'm going to try. I'll think about it for a while... then get to work.

Current Location: watching tv
Current Mood: anxious

My publisher, Sylvan-Dell, is right next door to the Simon Schuster booth.

Day 1 it killed me with jealousy.
Day 2- I only stole a few glances in the morning, but by the afternoon, the green monster had worn off. I was busy selling like a mad woman.

But it set me off- I wanted to figure out what my next picture book for SD will be. If you get the right piece accepted there - it's fully supported with so much stuff, you can't help but be successful.

I also pitched at two publishers who want to see proposals ASAP.

Then got home to have an assignment in my email from a magazine.

What? It's like the excitement of Christmas all at once. I just have to tell myself. Christmas is good.... Christmas is good. It's not scary at all... do not hyperventilate, you can get it all done in time and people will like the result.

I think I better go get ready for day 3- the feeding frenzy.

Current Location: on the couch with coffee- 5am
Current Mood: anxious

It's been a busy month of craziness.... please forgive the lack of posts.

I went to one of my favorite events of the year, TLA. It is book heaven for me. This is the place publishers show up to push their wares, and the place the librarians we love come to buy, or become interested to buy.

But this year, I have a home at Sylvan-Dell, my publisher. I stood for several hours yesterday proclaiming the wonders of my house.

But here the cool thing- they have reallllllllyyy cool stuff to sell to support the book, and alot of it for free. We also have a super e-book support that can flip the book back and forth between English and Spanish, audio, etc. It is so cool, and the customers were wowed about it. Check it out when you have a chance:

http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/ Look in the right hand corner for all the tools!

Just imagine having a bilingual story time. Your reader can be an English speaker, but have a project scene behind with the Spanish version of the book. The reader can speak in English and then use a Spanish audio. Way super cool. S-D is a picture book house, but these online tools are magnificent and a great promotion tool for the actually book. I'm really excited to see what Moose will be doing.

The other funny thing, is that we still haven't found a wonderful name for the Moose book (all too long). So every time someone asks me, I make up a new name. We're up to twenty or so titles. Very funny.

The other great find of the day was author and illustrator Melanie Watt of Scaredy Squirrel. I found the book at the Kids Can Press booth. I laughed so hard I begged to by the book. It's so whimsical you laugh over and over again!

More info to come
love,
me (with tired feet)

Tags: tla day 1
Current Location: TLA
Current Mood: energetic

I read a nice article today in Redbook (Feb 08, I think). The woman was talking about baking, and how at an early age, she tried to gain her cocaine addicted mother's attention by baking her a cake... and it soured.

My own childhood was mixed. Wonderful opportunities with loving relatives, decent education, mixed with an alcoholic father and thus dysfunctional family.

But, I know two things. My fourth grade teacher, Velma Lee Williams, was a magical person. I told her I wanted to be a writer and I made her a birthday cake.

I revealed in the attention it garnered. Ms Williams took the cake to the teacher's lounge. That mystical place we all wondered about. Teachers I didn't know complimented me. I felt like Miss America.

It was a Duncan Hines German Chocolate cake mix with milk chocolate frosting from a can. But, it was made with every ounce I love and admiration I had in my heart.

To me, cake means love. Cake means words and writing. Cake is Ms Williams.

Dammit, cake also means extra large pants. Some things in life just aren't fair.

Current Location: in bed
Current Mood: mellow

Okay, so I did learn something this weekend. I've heard about morning pages for a long time (The Artist Way), but never done them consistently. I'm going to do it for a while- it's a nice way to brain flush, and I did it while completely sleepy, so I only would have been sitting on the couch watching the same weather report five times, so no wasting time.

I've also discovered I'm a bit of a snob with writing tourists- and I vow to change. The conference was mostly newbies and retirees. I found myself being perturbed... because I wanted more complex info, not just "don't send in clip art."

But, I forget, writing is for everyone. The joy of the word. The happiness in shared story is how we reach out. It's not all meant for publication (yes, even me- as I preach to my own choir). Some stories are only for mother to child whispered in the dark, over and over again until sleep knocks us both out.

Those stories get no medals or royalty checks- but they are important.

Now, back to the coal mine.

Current Location: still in the dark
Current Mood: mellow

I am at a conference today and tomorrow. The poetry reading tonight was nice, but the afternoon session was.... lacking.

The unnamed presenter whined... presented topics outside of topic, and was just plain wrong about a few things.

When we introduced ourselves, I gave my experience. Turns out, I was the only professional in the room besides the presenter, and a few self published people.

Thoughts in my mind wandered. Where is my opportunity....

we'll see tomorrow. I must open my mind... there is always something.... I didn't drive all the way out here for nothing.

Current Location: BFE
Current Mood: disappointed

On Friday, I met with my "inperson" dfw group for critique. usually we are low in production, with only one of the four presenting. We like the company and the bagels (yeah einsteins).

But, we were digging to find a way to make my manuscript better. While I understand "show, don't tell" I stumble with it when using a 1st person POV. Julie found a perfect way for me to find it.

"You are always using ' I saw, I feel, etc.'"

Wow. Boom. There is was.....all over the manuscript~ You have to use a little but of I, but jezzsh, I was in overkill.

But, makes it easy to find. Sentence by sentence, I rearranged, looking for powerful verbs, poignant description, and uses every sense I could (except ESP- which is totally another book). It took me a week to do fifty pages and send off to the agents.

Now, another 100ish pages to go. Onward!

Current Location: K-thuckthing at my desk
Current Mood: k-editing (I wants a k-mood)
Current Music: the rain out my window

I was driving back from the grocery store this morning, and it is bitterly, windy cold. Yesterday it was up to 80 degrees, so our bodies are all confused.

In my alley, I saw a tree, but it looked strange. Upon closer examination, every mourning dove, chickadee, and tit mouse were clinging together. Fluffing their wings, jumping from branch to branch, just trying to seek shelter and warmth. The limbs seemed to pulsate rather than sway. It was very cool to observe.

When I got home, my dog whined and moaned around my desk as I began my rewrites on another project. Pee-pee? I asked. No. Food? His answer is always yes, but he is a liar. His blanket had been washed and not properly placed back on the floor next to my desk (the turkey has three beds, one in each room I hang out in). I flopped it back to the floor and watched him burrow in and sigh in that doggy way. Heavy, relieved, as if all is right in the world.

So, I was thinking about book #1- which has alot of religious themes that I try not to be preachy about.... heck I have weird views myself about God. I like to have faith, and don't need it to be explained. I like old fashioned church services with a liturgy. A heavy handed organist. A cantor.

I grew up with a conservative Lutheran and Catholic family. I now hang out at a Presbyterian church, but haven't joined. I just like the spirituality of it all. And, just like my characters, I have often been so mad at the creator that I have stopped contact for years. Now, I chat often. I like the idea of something bigger than me. I feel protected and guided... even when lost.

enough,..... back to the coal mine as edits need to be done!

Current Mood: calm

February 14, 2002 is my writing anniversary. It's the day I decided to look internally to pursue my goals... not to some sort of external goal.

Six years later, I have three novels under my belt, a picture book coming out, and I write full time. I would have never guess this for myself.

For once, I proud to say, I did good.

Yeah for me. Now I have to go finish cleaning the toilet and getting my outlines done. :-)

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Soundtrack to Wicked the musical

I finally gave in and got some antibiotics on Saturday.

Writing is going slow, but things take time with new characters.

I read a beautiful book and cried like an idiot, Same kind of different like me. You should read it too.

Now going to bed early.

Current Location: in bed
Current Mood: calm
Current Music: the sound of my drippy nose