Blogging. Everyone’s doing it. Some new author/book hot spots…
Bill Crider: http://billcrider.blogspot.com/
D.L. Garfinkle: http://dlgarfinkle.com/ — visit the blog
Janni Lee Simner: http://www.simner.com/desertdispatches/
Sarah Dessen: http://www.livejournal.com/users/writergrl/
Linda Joy Singleton: http://www.lindajoysingleton.com/ — visit the blog
Surfnet Kids Journal: http://blog.surfnetkids.com/
Conned by husband’s puppy-dog eyes into reading his manuscript one last time before he emailed it to the editorial assistant. Still very funny and surprising, which in itself after this many reads is remarkable. But I’m completely exhausted. It’s just from the focus required for line editing something as long as a novel and quickly to boot.
Big yawn.
Whew. Four hours straight of reading aloud Greg‘s next novel, TOFU AND T.REX (Little Brown, spring 2005) to check for any last minute copyedits. If you’re a writer, always make sure to read the entire manuscript aloud–periodically and definitely before sending in. We had four brains and pairs of eyes on it and needed all of them.
“Ray stood by Grampa, breathing in the lake air, warmed by the wind. He glanced from the glittering lights in the water to the glittering lights in the heavens.” –INDIAN SHOES by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Jim Madsen (Harper, 2002).
The Story Behind The Story for INDIAN SHOES has already been presented with my depth and detail than I ever could offer in a CWIM article published by Esther Hershenhorn (see below),
Sometimes I think you have to write your first novel before you can write anything else, and it’s in many ways a mixed blessing if it’s actually published. Basically, that manuscript helps you clear out everything that’s built up over the years.
I wrote my first novel while my picture book,
Continue Reading Author Reflections: Rain Is Not My Indian Name »
I’m hereby taking an intermission from my reminiscing to respond to the use of “middle America” as east-west coastal short hand for “narrow-minded” and/or “unsophisticated.”
Okay, now I’m about to demolish my dignity by pointing out that this rant is inspired by my landing on the “E! True Hollywood Story: Dirty Dancing” while, um, channel surfing.
“Sing like no one can hear you. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like no one is watching.” –from a plaque designed by artist Christina Holt; available from Signals
“As Moon kissed Sun good night, Jenna shifted her head on Grandma Wolfe’s shoulder. “I want to jingle dance, too.” –JINGLE DANCER by Cynthia Leitich Smith,
“No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else’s draft.” –H.G. Wells
I’m not sure about that, but if you want to really complicate the issue…. Ever try copy editing for your spouse?
Greg is on deadline to send his final draft of TOFU AND T.REX (Little Brown, spring 2005) to Amy,
As you know, I’ve given up all meat except fish/fowl, and so I had the turkey burger on wheat at Hyde Park Bar & Grill tonight. It was a “meeting” of my crit group, which involved no actual critting. That will be reserved for Sunday when we meet to hear G read TOFU out loud.
(By the way,
“One shoe can change your life.” –Cinderella, as quoted on a pillow at Emeralds.
I’m a “Cynthia” now, but once upon a time, I was–gasp–a “Cindy Lou.” Perhaps because I’ve heard every version–none of them clever–of “Cinderella, dressed in yella…,” I have something of an issue with the princess. I dislike the character, especially the Disney version (though the mice are darling) with only a few exceptions.