If you're not in the mood for a downer, skip this post.
So, my cousin, who is only in her late 40's, who had been very very sick (all her life kind of sick - on dialysis - kidney transplant, heart problems from that and the harsh meds, then cancer) just died this morning. I used to be much closer to her and the rest of the family when I still lived in Jersey. But since we've been out here (11 years now), I've seen that side of my Dad's family very seldom - you know, the occasional wedding, baby shower, funeral. Her husband died last year. They have two children in their early twenties. It's terribly sad. And just a few years before her husband died, her Dad passed away (my Dad's brother), and a year before that? Her mother. And several years before that, her sister, my cousin Kerry, NYPD, was in a near fatal car accident that was a miracle she survived (her boyfriend did not). And when their brother Matthew was 18 and engaged to be married, was shot and killed by a random gunman on bridge. On his way to the beach for a vacation.
Don't you think that this family got a little too much of the bad shit when portions were being rationed? I do.
Makes my other bad news seem like a joke. The one editor considering my manuscripts passed on them. All 3.
Hopefully there isn't much truth to bad things happening in 3's because I really don't want any more bad stuff this week.
Death has a way of keeping things in perspective. Life's super short - enjoy it as much as possible as often as possible. And don't postpone anything. Make that phone call. Send that letter. Give that hug. Say I love you. We only go around once without a warranty.
- Mood:
sad
I got a letter in the mail on Saturday from SCBWI letting me know that I have received a Letter of Commendation for the 2008 Barbara Karlin Grant for picture book writing, for my truck picture book. Woohoo! I was one of five writers to receive honors out of about 200.
So, while I'm floating, it's a reserved excitment. You may or may not recall, I actually received this same honor for the 2007 Grant for my shoes manuscript....for which I'm still trying to find a great home. So, I will put this in my cap as recognition, but am wiser about the 'imminent publication of my work' -- which seemed to not so immediately follow the receipt of the award.
I'm thrilled nonetheless and since I have a phone call scheduled this week with one of the lovely editors who is considering this particular manuscript, at least I have an interesting tidbit to give her as a selling point. I wish I could just say, "Will you PLEEEEASE just buy this manuscript? I've worked hard - really I have!" :)
In other writing news, I worked on my YA for a whole hour tonight, assessing the damages that are being caused by removing a character, merging 2 characters, making the sibling older instead of younger, and making the Dad stay home instead of the Mom. Oh, and changing the career of the girlfriend's father, which unravels the whole party scene. It's my problem, I know. But thought you'd appreciate the hell I'm in to make this novel the best it can be.
Happy writing!
I said to them, "Today was a really nice father's day, wasn't it?" And my 5 year old stopped and said, "Yes, Mommy, it was a beautiful day. Let's pray." I asked if he wanted to start. And with a mouthful of chicken nuggets, hands clasped, he began, "Thank you Dear God, for the blessings of this day. And we take care of Jesus. And thank you for everyone. Amen."
Need I say more?
- Mood:
calm - Music:don't know why, Norah Jones
I'm feeling inspired and rejuvenated about my novel. It def. took a couple weeks for the critique to sink in and feel helpful, over a feeling of, was this a collossal waste of time? I've given my MC a more concrete goal and he has a definite PLAN. Now it's my job to mess with that plan (insert evil laugh here). But the more I thought about his plan, the more I realize I really love my character. I actually really love his Dad too, but had him working so much he was hardly around. so, I thought, why not mix things up a bit? New plan is that Dad is at home - Mom works too much. It's all coming together.
Bonus: I've emailed a littany of questions to my high school guidance counselor friend to see if my new PLAN is viable. Also meeting with an expert tomorrow morning to gather more research/ideas over coffee. Nothing like talking about pediatric oncology over a latte. sheesh. It's heavy stuff, but I know it will be totally worth it!
Look out manuscript, here I come. Ready, set, write!
BTW, anyone see the cry-fest on American Idol tonight? Puh-lease!
- Mood: rejuvenated
He invited me to his office and I went in. He told me how much he loved my picture books and was ready to sign me on that day. Unbeliveably, I hemmed and hawed. I think I've heard one too many lectures on 'your agent is your agent for life, so choose wisely'. Finally, I relented and it wasn't until I left his office, that I realized I should be excited.
The dream seemed to last forever and this guy was just wooing me. That just does not happen. He's a real agent too, whom I've never even seen a photo of. Maybe one day I'll meet him and see how close my imagination came to his likeness. His initials....BG. You take your best guess.
- Mood: full
That said, if you feel so inclined to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma society in reaching a cure, and also want to help me out with my fundraising, please donate to my campaign. http://www.active.com/donate/tntsvmb/SFl
If I raise half of my minimum before March 14, I get a cool sweatshirt and I promise to take a photo of me in it and post it here.
Thanks for anything you contribute! No amount is too small.
- Mood: optimistic
One was from a rather big name at a rather big house - she said, "...which I really enjoyed reading. I think this text is fresh and it's certainly well-executed." But her plate is full of truck books right now.
Another: opened with an apology for taking so long to respond (over a year, cough). "Well-written with some great rhymes, rhythmic and a fun read-aloud." But not right for her list.
The third: "I enjoyed the energy of your manuscript, but I'm afraid it is too similar in theme to one of our upcoming picture books (NAME HERE)." And I almost retitled mine to the EXACT same title. Wouldn't that have been funny...so, bad timing!
Then I got another rejection last week to a manuscript that I've since had a funeral for without a tear shed...which I submitted over 2 years ago!!! Talk about behind in reading the slush!
Anyway, thought you'd all enjoy my rejections as much as I did.
But how many editors can say they ran TEN miles last Saturday? Huh? Yes, I ran 10 miles. I'm a little proud of myself.
Now, onward and upward!
- Mood: loved
Week 1: lovely lady sat across from me and my open laptop and saw me scribbling on my notepad. Are you a writer? Yes, I said. Then she delved into a pitch about iPublishing. I said I was trying to sell it and wasn't planning to self-publish. She talked to me for 30 minutes and before I knew it, had to go pick up my kids.
Week 2: a local farmer had 'just bought a yellow Dell laptop like that' and ended up talking to me for a half hour. Again, by the time I finished chatting, I had to go.
Week 3: Some guy who teaches grad students and does biz consulting, saw that I was a writer and told me he woke up that morning with an idea for a screenplay. We talked about writing and screenwriting (which I know nothing about) for a good 40 minutes. The only saving grace about that day was that a little boy, about 5, walked over to me and said, "What are you writing?" And I said, "A story about a boy and his Nana walking to the bakery together." He said, "Oh. When will it be finished?" I said, "Soon, I hope." Then, about 10 minutes later he came up to me again and said, "Are you done with your story?" I just laughed and said, "I wish!"
Week 4: I opened up my laptop and wrote for 45 minutes straight. I finished a scene that was already dramatic, with a killer end and was so excited. And on Friday, I was able to work for 3 hours on NORMAL and I now have the first 100 pages strung together with no more GAPS. I write GAP and highlight it in green when I have two back to back scenes that need major glue between and suffer from a GAP.
Anyway, feeling pretty nervous and excited to attend the SCBWI Asilomar conference this Friday. It will be the first time anyone outside my critique group really, has seen more than 9 pages of this novel. I will get a professional critique of the first 30 pages and I'm terrified! But, like I said, also excited, for the feedback. I'm praying I'm at least on the right track! And I submitted the next 30 pages to my peer critique group at the conference, so hoping to be able to have a great base for the first big part of my book. The more I write, the more I want so badly to finish it so I can actually sit down and read it as a flowing story (as flowing as a first draft can be), and not as chunks here and there with gaps. It's a wild ride!
- Mood: excited
First thing to turn is me: I turn 35 tomorrow. I'm not really sad or worried or anything like that, becuase I realized a long time ago that you can't get stressed out about things you have zero control over. I'm just more in shock that I'm 35 already. I know I've done a lot, but you do start to think about your mortality, even if just a little bit, and not in a bad way, when you have a birthday.
Do you ever ask yourself:
If I died tomorrow, does my family know just how important they are to me?
Will my kids know how much I loved them?
Did I make a difference in some small way in the world or someone else's life in my time here on Earth?
What could I be doing better? Why not start improving now?
Do I like the way my life is going and if not, I need to fix it.
Have I shared my gifts with the world? Is there more I could be doing with those gifts?
I pondered this on my 8 - yes - 8 mile run on Saturday. I'll post about it soon, but I've joined Team in Training and I'm going to run the San Diego Rock-n-Roll marathon in June. Can't remember if I posted about that or not.
Second thing to turn: I turned a frustrating situation into an opportunity. That editor that I loved and was emailing with who just left her house, is now critiquing one of my manuscripts. I decided, she may help me get my ms in great shape, then land somewhere and ask me to submit it to her. Or even my other stuff. She also gave me a new name for an editor at her old house and recommended I resubmit - so perhaps it will breathe life into something there...
Thirdly, I'm turning up the heat because my house is freezing right now! Stay warm everyone.
- Mood: mellow
Yes, hubby and I and the boys took a spontaneous day-trip to the snow last weekend and on the way home, stopped for dinner in a farming/milking town (we know because as soon as we got outside, the air smelled like manure) called Escalon, California. We are huge Mexican food fans and have been pretty lucky at just about every Mexican restaurant in our state. Though, admittedly, not all Mexican restaurants are great (especially as great as Taqueria Los Charros in our little home town). Anyway, I ordered the chicken burrito platter and the waitress, who was Mexican, asked me, "Gravy, no gravy?"
I am certain I looked at her sideways and answered, "Do you mean red sauce?"
She sort of answered me, saying "Yes, red sauce. Gravy."
Never before had I heard any Mexican sauce referred to as gravy, but I just went with it. Well, folks, this place was Mexico meets Bob's Big Boy. They slathered my two poor helpless chicken burritos in THICK BEEF GRAVY. I kid you not. I think I even heard them scream, Save Me! They're about to throw in a side of biscuits!
So, if you're driving through Escalon, stay in your cars, keep your windows up and whatever you do, don't stop for Mexican food!
I think King Arthur in Monty Python said it best when he said, "Run away! Run away!"
Fortunately, we had had such a great day in the snow, I just let the gravy thing slide. On a better note, we had a BLAST tubing down tiny snowy hills with the boys. I was so happy to be outside spending time with them. My 4 year old only wanted to 'go down again by myself' and my 3 year old was content eating snow and building a snow man. (after walking up the tubing hill three times he said, "Mommy, I'm tired. I think I'll just stay here and make a snowman." At least he knows what he wants and isn't afraid to say so!
- Mood:
bouncy
I apologize - I wanted this clip to go with my Almost Famous reference, but LJ was not cooperating!
Monkfish liver, anyone? (BTW, this is a Monkfish)
Yes, that was the first course of Omakase sushi (chef's choice) that hubby and I decided to get on our date night the other night. BBQ eel is usually as off the deep end I go when it comes to sashimi, so the fact that I was eating things I had never thought possible was a big step for me. The meal was actually very very good and they went easy on me. (I told them no uni). Hubby got the 'head clam' and the ultra raw shrimp. I passed on the shrimp head that was only exoskeleton, but did eat the egg custard with several 'surprises' awaiting me at the bottom. I did have to chew very quickly on a piece where the skin was unfortunately part of the delicacy. It was like a rubberband. All in all, it was an adventure washed down with hot sake.
Marathon update: Went to TNT kick-off meeting on Saturday and decided that I was still going to run the marathon. I've run Sat, Mon, Tues, and Wed., between 3-4 miles each day. I even ran to my voting office yesterday to get in my vote.
YA update: I've written two very critical scenes in my YA while running the past 2 days. Dying to get some time on the computer (more than this) to actually put it down on paper. But very excited! As Kate Hudson said in Almost Famous: "It's all happening." BTW, that is probably my favorite movie. If you have not seen it - you're missing out!
Picture book submissions update:
- queried 2 houses this week.
- Got one rejection on a pb that I had sent out over a year ago(!).
- have 4 submissions ready to send out in tomorrow's mail.
- heard back from the editor who left the one house on who I should follow up with
[Error: close lj-embed tag without open tag]
- Mood:
productive
Here's a link to an article I just wrote on Independent Bookstores if you all are interested!
10 Great Independent Bookstores and Why They Matter
http://www.education.com/magazine/articl
- Mood: content
Orange The Fish, our orange betta fish, died this week. He very sweetly swam into the VW Bug-type car we have in his tank, to pass his last moments on the Earth. The boys and I decided it was only proper to have a funeral service for Orange and bury him in the backyard. So I scooped him out of the car and carried him outside in our coffee filter (a disposable one, of course). I asked the boys to say a few nice words about him and O said, "We loved you Orange. Bye Bye Orange (waving)". W, my little guy, said the same. Then we dug a small but a more than sufficiently deep hole for a fish, in our backyard soil and buried him. As soon as the dirt was smoothed over, the boys said, "Can we dig him up to look at him again?" I promptly said NO.
Bummer on the publishing front - one of the editors I had started to have a relationship with, albeit an email relationship, left her publishing house. I've asked her to keep in touch and let me know where she lands next, but I just feel like that was a lot of time wasted at that house. Ah well. But i mailed off 3 or maybe it was 4 manuscripts last week, so I'm just continuing to get my stuff out there.
Hubby's travel web site successfully launched their alpha launch this week and the stress level around here has lifted significantly. They have a lot more work, but his employees are happy and I think that was the most important thing to him. Go Hubby!
On a better note, I've only got a few more articles to write for my freelancing gig and one of them I finished today. It was supposed to be a 700 word article and it ended up more like 1200! Subject: 10 Great Independent Bookstores and Why They Matter. How could I write less than 1000 words on such an important subject. I also included 2 that are children's-only indie bookstores, one from the next town over. Felt good to spread the word. I'll let you know when it runs.
My lovely parents are visiting this week and they are so laid back and fun, I'm already getting sad to see them go (they just got here yesterday). The boys adore them and I couldn't ask for more. So fun to see my Dad getting the boy time he never got as a Dad. (I have one older sister). I feel so blessed to have them around.
I now have nearly the first 100 pages of my YA in good shape - meaning it actually flows now - and am working to put the rest together by end of Feb, my original goal. I wonder if I'll write all my novels like this. Gosh, I hope not. But maybe I write like I talk - going along fine, tangent, circle back, tangent, progress, end. It's all becoming clear to me now!
- Mood: cheerful
Someone check my head to make sure it still has some gray matter inside please.
About 2 weeks ago I signed up to run the June 1 San Diego Rock-n-Roll marathon. Yes, I did. I will be training through Team in Training, so at least it will be for a good cause. In case you want to come watch me hobble over the finish line. We'll be in Mexico the week before, so at least I'll be a tan hobbling runner.
I also have been making great progress on my YA, but not as much as I would have liked at this point. My goal is to have the first draft DONE by the Asilomar conference in Feb. I have about 10 miles to go in marathon terms. Each time I think I just need a little bit of glue to put some scenes together, I end up writing another 5 pages. Not that I'm complaining, I just keep surprising myself with how many holes I have! Wait, he wouldn't know that about her after one date, kind of moments. But it's all good. I submitted the first 30 pages for prof. critique and am trying to get the next 25-30 in shape for my peer critique onsite. I'm glad I signed up for it becuase who knows where I'd be with it!
I also have let one of my freelancing gigs go. They began doing more and more of the writing in-house, so the pay became abismal for the number of words they wanted and experts they wanted quoted. I have a few more articles in this contract, but then I'm done. And actually, I'm totally okay with it. I'm excited to have time again to focus just on writing and submitting.
I got 2 personalized rejection letters lately and that was nice, i guess. :)
I have to say, though, that I did have a wave of depression hit me early in the week. I wasn't sure where it came from, but all of a sudden, I said to myself, What if I write stories for years and nobody ever picks them up? Ever. It actually made me kind of sick. So, not going to think about it! Just got to finish this novel and see if anyone likes it first!
My wonderful Mom and Dad are visiting for a week this Wednesday and I can't wait to see them.
I register my little baby - okay he's now almost 5 - for kindergarten for 08 and I still can't believe it. I actually bit back tears at the school's open house when they talked about how amazing it is when your child starts reading to you. Okay - crying again!
I start my training next week. Wish me luck!
- Mood:motivated
On another high note, I got a lovely personal rejection letter from a big house. Well, okay, it was her personal form letter with some notes scribbled on the bottom - but that counts! She said my book was nicely written and a few other niceties. So, I have sent her another.
I'm feeling particularly good about another one I just finished about music and dancing (thanks bluemalibu!) and have already started sending it out.
And yesterday I wrote another pb. Funny, I had written a scene in my YA about the mc walking with his girlfriend down a certain street and he remembers walking that street with his Nana. While I loved the scene/memory, I stopped and thought, that might make a great picture book all on its own! So, I tried it out. We'll see what my critique group thinks. ;) If not, it can stay in my YA where it is - no effort wasted! I know I can't use it as a selling point in my cover letters, but my 4 year old liked it, then twenty minutes later asked me to read the Pop-pop story again. Then later that evening, requested it again. And my 3 year old asked to hear my music book. I have the best audience of all right in my little house!
Anyway, feeling really good and enjoying the process. And that's what it's all about right? The journey?
Cheers!!!
- Location:couch
- Mood: cheerful
So I went on my follow-up notes binge last week, asking editors about manuscripts i'd sent months ago.
Yesterday, after 3 hours of running errands in the POURING rain, I came home to a lovely message from a lovely editor on my answering machine. Of course, first my stomach did a flip. Not so fast...Turns out, she just received my follow up note, but had never received the manuscript I asked about. She also said she remembered meeting me at an SCBWI conference and talking to me about that manuscript and wondered why she hadn't seen it. (Wow).
THEN, remember that agent who so beautifully and nicely declined me as a client? I had mentioned in my note that he recommended I send that ms to her, which she said "has me curious" and she asked me to mail it to her again. She is anxious to see it and will be looking out for it. YEAH! I'm excited, but trying not to get too excited.
In the meantime, I've finished (nearly) another pb that I just love, and am excited to start sending out. Next week's goal is to finalize that one and start gluing together my YA. Anyone got any Elmer's?
So, it just goes to prove that the post office still does lose mail (important mail!), and that follow up notes get read and are worth the effort! Now let's hope she falls in love with my ms after all that!
- Location:sitting by the fire keeping dry
- Mood: hopeful
It's amazing how, on the road, everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others. There's this incredible sense of entitlement that goes along with highway driving. Am I right?
I was in four lanes of traffic - albeit light - and a woman in the right lane was forced to slow down due to a slow-moving truck in front of her. I looked to my left to see if i could move and let her in, but a car was coming up fast. So, I did what i thought was the next best thing - i sped up to get out of her way. Feeling good about my decision, I saw her get out from behind the truck and then move from behind me into the lane next to me - at a frenetic speed. When i looked over, she gave me the finger. WHAT? I just raised both hands in the 'What did I do?' gesture. I mean, are people really that self-absorbed that they think the world should adjust to their every whim, and that anything that doesn't adjust accordingly was meant as a direct affront? How can one tiny gesture raise one's blood pressure so much? I'm so bent that i'm now blogging about it. oh well.
Thanks for letting me vent. Happy new year and here's to others' keeping their fingers on the wheel.
On a happier note, I sent out 4 follow up notes to editors today and wrote half of my Road Trip guide review for the travel site. whew!
Not sure why, but I just feel it. My year for writing. For finishing my novel. For getting that contract. For connecting with that perfect agent. I feel like I know more about children's publishing going into this year and I have such a fabulous network of writers and illustrators - even if I don't ever see you in person, you're in my network (LJers)! Just before I left for FLA (which by the way was 8 days of 80+ degrees and sunshine!), I got the nicest most frame-able rejection letter from an agent ever. He was so complimentary of my writing, offered me editor names who may like my stuff, and expressed interest in my novel - that I should send it when it's done. Sure, it could be all talk and 'letting me down gently', but they are so busy, I just figure he didn't have to go out of his way to be so nice, so he must have really meant it. Maybe I just need to believe that right now. Doesn't matter.
I never thought receiving a technology gift would move me to tears, but my husband bought me a laptop (it is yellow-isnt' he sweet?) for Christmas and my eyes filled up. We have a home computer and I complained one day that I just felt a little chained to my desk and sometimes I can't 'get in that creative place' when I'm sitting at the desk in the kitchen where I also pay bills, get distracted by the continuous notifications that someone is online, etc., and that I wished i had a laptop so I could write anywhere. SO - we totally did not need another computer. But his gift showed me that he really does believe in me and what I'm doing and that meant more to me than anything. It also gave me a newfound faith in my own writing. Funny how that happens, isn't it? Now I really need to get a contract!
Starting this new year I am going to follow up with every editor who has been using my manuscripts as door stops or placemats or napkins and remind them that they are sitting on the next best thing(s). ;) Then I'm going to finish my novel. Then I'm going to finish 2 picture books I've started. Then I'm going to polish said novel and start querying.
I'm gaining momentum (like my crazy clothes dryer is right at this moment - not kidding, it sounds like a plane taking off) and nothing can stop me. 2-4-6-8, here I come 2008!
- Location:at my desk but not for long!
Christmas has taken over my life and I haven't even begun the Christmas cards...every year I struggle to get the
$%^_@! addresses printed correctly on the tiny labels. I have a feeling this year will be no different.
At least I'm done buying and wrapping and shipping gifts everywhere!
My 4 year old was a dragon in his preschool's performance of The Nutcracker last week. It was everything you'd imagine a preschool play to be and more. Quite impressive, actually. His stage debut lasted all of 4 seconds and those by far were the proudest of his little life! My 3 year old was sad to not participate. He wanted to be a hyena on stage. Which, after looking closely at how twisted the Nutcracker really is, would probably make the story a bit lighter.
Does anyone know how long it usually takes an agent to respond to a query? This is only my second agent query ever, and the first, I got a rejection within 24 hours....for this gentleman, it's been a week. Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?
I still haven't heard back from the publisher to whom I had emailed my manuscript, even after an email follow up a week ago. Come to think of it, I haven't been getting much of any mail from 'the other side', so I'm going to assume everyone is in stressed holiday overdrive and no one's reading or responding to anyone, like myself.
I polished the first 30 pages of my YA in order to send for critique at Asilomar (due 12/17!). I'm actually so sick of looking at those 30 pages, that I was inspired to write 2 new scenes this week.
My plan is that starting in the new year I either go gangbusters to find an agent, or make a plan of action for submitting multiple manuscripts and really getting my work in their faces again. Pretty soon they'll have to pay attention, even if it's to say - please, stop!
I've worked a lot on my latest picture book and it's really coming along and is quite funny, I must say. Looking forward to finishing that too.
I'm organizing a contest for the teens in my church to answer: What's the craziest, meanest, worst, etc. thing you've done as a teen, or have seen another teen do? All anonymous of course. They just have to let me know they participated and stick their response in a box. All who participate will get something. Wonder if it will fly or flop.
And, my main writing goal is to finish the first draft of my novel by end of February.
Now, back to my Christmas letter....
Profile
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
writearoundsue- writearoundsue
Syndicate
