May 21, 2008

Just Droppin' In...

I wanted to make sure to put in an appearance...I was out of town all weekend endur--I mean, enjoying family fun time, which evidently makes me ill, since I now have a head cold. That's my excuse, and I'm stickin' to it. If I still feel bad tomorrow, I might have to put off this week's Toon Thursday, which makes me sad. But sometimes it has to be done.


I'm hopelessly behind on blogs, too, but I've got a few links for y'all. One is that the 2008 Children's Choice Book Award winners were announced--YA-wise, the major (though unsurprising) bit of news there was that J.K. Rowling won the Author of the Year Award. Did I mention I wasn't surprised? Yeah.


Next, a few Narnia-inspired news bits. On Cynsations, Cynthia Leitich Smith interviews Herbie Brennan on his latest editorial project, Through the Wardrobe: Your Favorite Authors on C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. He contributed an essay, along with Ned Vizzini, Sarah Beth Durst, Brent Hartinger, Elizabeth Wein, and many others. It sounds like a fascinating project if you're a Narnia fan. Secondly, though there are a few spoilers, you won't want to miss Fuse #8's Caspian vs. Caspian--Betsy's take on comparing the book to the movie is quite amusing. If you haven't clicked that link yet, let me just say this: Susan + Caspian + tongue action.


On the writing front, though I'm working on finishing a first draft, I'm also going back to revise my last "finished" draft with an eye to characterization, since those are the types of comments I received (when I received any) from agents. In addition to good old-fashioned brainstorming--writing down any and every idea, no matter how ridiculous--I'm also going to do some writing exercises from a book I like called What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter. It's just one of those books I randomly picked up ages ago, but it's helpful for sparking ideas. Anybody out there have writing-related books whose advice they swear by?

Labels: ,

1 Comments:

Anonymous Susan T. said...

A. Fortis, I just read a wonderful series of essays about writing and cleaning houses, (!) by Nancy Peacock. It's called "A Broom of One's Own: Words on Writing, Housecleaning, and Life" (Harper Perennial, 2008). It's wise and funny. Peacock used to clean houses for a living. One of my favorite books of the year.

5/21/2008 5:06 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home

Read All About It

I love SBBT... because when you read the interviews, you find out all the skinny on the real world of writing and illustrating for children. For instance, now I know about...

The REAL YA Mansion...um, Farmhouse:Delia Sherman @ Chasing Ray

Four words: Pink. Bible-toting. Buses. No, really. Ingrid Law at Fuse #8.

Penguins. Wings. And one REALLY awesome book on the power of shoes. Polly Dunbar @ Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Visiomutation = coolest goddess power EVER.Tera Lynn Childs @ Bildungsroman.

Staying on my toes! Siena Cherson Siegel @ Miss Erin's place.

Even mid-revision, he's witty. I kind of hate him for that. Barry Lyga @ A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy.

================================
BONUS GREAT YA INTERVIEW!
================================
Kelly Bingham candidly answers questions @ MotherReader's. Don't forget to sign up for the Third Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge and maybe-perhaps-possibly win a copy of her great book, SHARK GIRL, or other creative, happy-making prizes!

Labels: ,

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

May 20, 2008

Fun 'n' Sun: The Summer Blog Blast Continues!

Many of you enjoyed our interview yesterday with R.L. LeFevers, whose intelligence and wit made our interview with her so much fun. We hope you enjoyed her talk on writing process as much as we did, and that you'll make a point of stopping by Shrinking Violets to continue to help Robin and Mary celebrate the independent bookstores we all know and love.

We LOVE the Summer Blog Blast Tour, because it's a chance for us to celebrate books and the people who love them, write and illustrate them and enjoy them. It's not just a celebration of books, it's a celebration of ourselves as readers, too! You know, our blog tour's not over yet. Stops along the way today include:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes @ Writing & Ruminating,
Robin Brande @ HipWriterMama,
Susane Colasanti @ Bildungsroman,
D.L. Garfinkle @ A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy,
Susan Beth Pfeffer @ The YA YA YAs,
Sean Qualls @ A Fuse #8 Production,
and Ben Towle @ Chasing Ray.

If you missed the humble yet brilliant author David Almond's comments yesterday at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, GO. Read. ALL of the interviews -- including Jackie's with Susan Beth Pfeffer -- were amazing. Go on, now. And take your sunblock.

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

May 19, 2008

Bonus YA Positivity!

Hat tip Bookshelves of Doom, YA is on the top of the see-saw at the moment. We're informed it keeps the publishing world afloat. And apparently, the film industry, too. (Thanks toSF Signal for the link.)



Of all the YA books-turned-movies I've seen trailers for in the past three months, this one has the most promise. And... Bill Murray.

Labels:

3 Comments:

Blogger a. fortis said...

Okay. Seriously? Gave me chills!! And hurray for Bill Murray!

5/19/2008 10:18 AM  
Blogger Macy O'Neal said...

Another movie to eagerly anticipate -- along with Twilight!

5/19/2008 7:07 PM  
Blogger TadMack said...

Books with more THINGS in them than people? More...say, devices? Those work really well translated into film (with the possible exception of I, Robot, since they apparently DIDN'T READ THE BOOK. *cough*), and I have a teensy spot of hope for this one.

5/20/2008 1:10 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home

May 18, 2008

The Summer Blog Blast Tour: The Fabulous LeFevers


Welcome to the 2008 Summer Blog Blast Tour at Finding Wonderland!

We were awfully taken with Cybils Sci-Fi/Fantasy Nominee Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. It's a novel with mystery, magic, adventure, sinister villains, cool Egyptian artifacts, a moody Victorian London setting, cool cover art and—perhaps most important—an inquisitive and indomitable heroine. Theodosia Throckmorton is brave and intelligent, and like many of us writers, she's also an observer. Through Theo's eyes, author R.L. LaFevers brings this rollicking tale of intrigue and magic to life.

When she's not wearing her author hat, R.L. LeFevers is also a professional cheerleader! Only, without the flippy skirt and the pom-poms, Robin relies on her experience in the publishing industry to gives encouragement and support to introverted authors. Together with fellow author Mary Hershey, in 2007 this busy lady launched Shrinking Violets Promotions, and the website tagline says it all: Marketing for Introverts.

It's no surprise that we were eager to interview this author, and we're thrilled to death that she agreed to answer our questions! So, without further ado...



FW: First off, it's important to ask how far along you are with the SEQUEL to Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. Reader greed is perking here: just how long do we have to wait?

Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris is all done and will be out Nov. 1, 2008, only a few more months! I’ll be signing ARCs at BEA and will begin posting teaser chapters on the Theodosia website beginning in September. So not too much longer!

FW: And please join us in applauding wildly for the world wide web debut of the new Theodosia cover art! (Please note that all cover art is used courtesy of Houghton-Mifflin, all rights reserved.) YAY! Wow! This is GORGEOUS! Illustrator Yoko Tanaka rocks the house! Thank you very much for letting us say YAY with you! Now, back to our prying questions...

Edgar Stilton, the most junior curate in the Museum is a lightning rod for the weirdness that goes on there… Theodosia's noticed. Can you drop a hint about Edgar? Will we see him again? Is anyone else like Theodosia naturally? Are you?


Ah, Edgar Stilton. I just adore Edgar. And yes, readers will be seeing him again. He has an even bigger part to play in Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris. There is much more to Edgar than meets the eye.

As for your question as to whether or not anyone is like Theodosia, and more specifically, am I like Theodosia, I would have to answer with a qualified yes. Kids have amazing powers of observation and are still highly in tune with their own gut instincts. They often “see” or sense things that most grown ups miss. They haven’t gotten around to shutting down or ignoring large parts of their own experience if it doesn’t logically fit in with their preconceived ideas of reality or logic. It’s one of the reasons I love writing for children.

When I was a kid, I could always tell if someone had been in my room while I was gone, even if nothing had been disturbed. I could walk into a room where everyone was cheerful and pleasant and would KNOW that there was deep animosity between them. I can feel when someone is looking at me, and 90% of the time I know who is on the phone when it rings.

The thing is, when I do school visits and I ask the kids these same questions, a huge majority of them raise their hands indicating they’ve had similar experiences. But most adults discount this sort of sensory input or method of “reading” the world. And I thought, wouldn’t it be fascinating to read about a kid whose ability to do that was actually critically important? And in fact, maybe even instrumental in keeping the adults around her safe? Thus Theodosia was born.

FW: (See, that phone thing! I do that too! I knew there was a reason I really loved Theodosia. That's a really cool premise for a novel! - Tad)

Theodosia bears a resemblance to other Victorian-inspired heroines of children's literature: Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart, the girls from Joan Aiken's Wolves of Willoughby Chase. What drew you to writing about this type of character? Who are some of your writing influences?


Many of my early reading influences were British, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbitt, Lewis Carroll, Tolkien. Frances Hodgson Burnett. However, what drew me to Theodosia’s character were the reasons I stated in the above question: wanting to write about a girl who could sense things—vitally important things—that the adults around her couldn’t. Then I had to work backwards from there. What sort of environment would lend itself to creating the most conflict for a girl with these abilities? What sort of culture would provide even more conflict by stifling her or curtailing her freedom – both to move about and be heard? Then once I realized her parents would be Egyptology specialists, I had to set the book in a time when exciting finds were still being made.

FW: Do you remember the first words of Theodosia that you wrote? Did you change them, or did the first scene remain mainly the same? What sparked your interest in Egyptology?

I studied the small black statuette in front of me, wrinkling my nose slightly when I finally caught a whiff of the curse it contained. “Aha! I knew it!” I said, speaking out loud in my excitement. My words clattered around in the cavernous room before dissipating into the air and floating away in a swirl of dust motes.

Curses have a particular smell to them. It’s a subtle smell, and it can take a while to zero in on it, but once you’ve experienced the smell of ancient magic, you never forget.


Those are the first words of Theodosia that I wrote. And while I did begin the book with her sensing the curse on the statuette, I created a lot more context around it. My first drafts tend to be fairly bare bones—get the juice of the story down, then go back and fill in around it.

My interest in Egyptology has always been strong. Also, it seems to me that the Egyptian practices are the foundation for so many of the subsequent magical disciplines and theories, that it just seemed the biggest well to draw from.

FW: Writing a novel in the Victorian setting yet from a modern perspective surely required a huge amount of research. What were some of the resources you used to fill in the vivid details of Theodosia's world?

Books that I found invaluable:

  • Inside the Victorian Home by Judith Flanders

  • A New England by G. R. Searle

  • What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew by Daniel Poole


A website that was particularly helpful was: Victorian London.
And then, of course, Google. My personal best friend.

FW: Let's talk writing challenges. Was it difficult to maintain consistency of tone and Victorian use of language while also writing a book that would appeal to contemporary readers?

You know, initially there weren’t a lot of challenges with this book — it was simply a “just for fun, just for me” project. Since writing is my favorite form of recreation as well as my job, I often have different projects going. At the time, I was working under contract on a trilogy, and Theodosia was my “down time” project. So I didn’t really think in terms of challenges while writing the book, but more like trying to solve a puzzle. It was my muses’ playground, so if it became hard, I let it go for a while and came back to it when I’d figured out how to make it fun again. The entire first couple of drafts were fairly stress free, and by the time I was done with those, the story had sort of “set” and it was either going to work as is or not. Of course, once I realized it was something I wanted to submit, it required a bit of shaping and polishing.

I did do a bit of juggling with the tone and language of the book. I heard Theodosia’s voice very clearly in my head, and early on I decided since I was writing historical fantasy rather than non-fiction, or even historical fiction, my aim was to evoke the time period rather than faithfully recreate it with 100% accuracy. I was very careful to consult with dictionaries and etymology guides to be sure that the words she was using were in fact in use at the time, as I wanted to avoid glaring anachronisms. However, while she speaks somewhat more formally than we tend to do today and she uses language and words that are true to her time, I also wanted her voice to be accessible to modern readers. If there were choices that had to be made between recreating true Victorian speech or making her accessible, accessible won. My own feeling is, when I am telling a story, everything I choose to include or use must serve that story, rather than the story serving as a vehicle for historical accuracy, or a thematic lesson of some sort.

FW: Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos contains elements of adventure, mystery, history and fantasy. Did you set out to write a book of a particular genre? What was the germ of the idea that became this book—what inspired you to write it? Did its crossing of genres make the process of finding a publisher difficult?

I actually didn’t set out to write a book combining all these elements. I knew it would be a historical fantasy and that was about it. The germ of the idea was that ancient artifacts still had magical power clinging to them, and there was a lone girl who had the ability to sense this. And I wanted her to have a grand, sweeping adventure—like so many boys in children’s literature get to have.

I don’t know that this mix of genres made it hard to find a publisher. I do know that a number of editors who read it loved a lot of things about it, but there was always one thing that held them back. One publisher wanted Theo to be American, another felt she wasn’t vulnerable enough, and yet another wanted more historical detail and setting. But I wasn’t comfortable making those changes. Then my agent had recently met Kate O’Sullivan from Houghton Mifflin, and decided she would be a good match. She was (and is) The Perfect Editor for Theo and me.

FW: You've written several other novels, including The Falconmaster, which is an old favorite. Do you think you'll ever revisit historical fantasy fiction? What else (other than the next Theodosia) are you working on now?

I actually think I’ll focus more and more on historical fantasy, mostly because of the type of fantasy elements I prefer to write about: fantasy that has its roots in historical truths. History is so rich with the elements we consider fantastical today, that I like to go back and play with those. The thing is, what we consider “fantasy” today, was actually believed by earlier cultures and societies as truth or explanation or scientific discovery. By using these threads and expounding on them, I feel like it grounds fantasy in reality and gives it more of a “that could really have happened” feeling to it. Plus I just adore history. My husband teases me and says I only write fiction so I’ll have an excuse to do research!

In addition to beginning Theodosia Three, I’ve just finished up a chapter book about a young boy who is sent to live with a distant cousin of his father’s, and finds himself thrust into all sorts of new adventures. It takes place in the 1920s, before much of the current political climate and turmoil, so it’s historical as well.

FW: That sounds exciting! You mention on your blog that you're not a fan of the idea of writing every day, and wrote that early in your career you were juggling parenthood as well. What has changed about your writing process? What is, for you, a successful writing day?

You know, I’m really not a fan of writing every day and I get rather tweaked when I hear people say you have to write every day to be a “real” writer. Well, that works for them, and hallelujah, I say. But it doesn’t work for everyone, and I strongly feel that everyone’s process is individual and has to work for them. I do think, in the very beginning especially, it’s important to commit to regular writing time in order to build some discipline and stick-to-it-iveness, which are hugely important in any writing career. But writing regularly can also mean devoting large chunks of time on the weekends, or devoting your entire summer to writing. It doesn’t have to be butt in chair every day.

I mean, think about it. So many transformative, creative processes require stewing time, or fermenting time, or even gestating. Pick which terms work for you, but the point is that sometimes a quiet, fallow mind is needed for the ideas to fully develop. Forcing yourself to write daily—if it’s not a natural part of your process—can interfere with that.

When my kids were younger, I wrote every day, many times a day. When they were napping, while I “watched” soccer practice, when they watched a video. However, the truth is, writing in snatches like that lets you develop some writing skills, but not others. I think sometimes it can be hard to go deep in those circumstances, to really immerse yourself in the world you’re writing about. Which can be a big drawback. As the kids got older I ended up with bigger, more solid chunks of writing time, which allowed my writing to grow further.

A successful writing day involves rolling out of bed, grabbing a cup of coffee and heading over to my writing spot—a rocking chair in our living room that looks out over the valley. I’m barely awake, but my subconscious is feeling very chatty due to all the good down time it had during the night. I usually write by longhand or on my Alpha Smart, whose keyboard is more comfortable for me than a laptop. Plus, there are no distractions such as email or the internet. A good day means six to eight pages in that morning burst, then maybe another page or two during the day when something else occurs to me. Depending on the project, I’ll spend the later part of the day on research or polishing what I already have or, quite often, working on plotting out what comes next and refining that in more detail.

My absolutely favorite part of writing is when the idea first begins forming and I get to play with it, massage it, watch it grow. It reminds me so very much of being a kid and playing in that fully imagined way that kids do. I love it.


FW: How did you and Mary Hershey come up with the idea of Shrinking Violet Promotions? If you could only give one piece of advice to introverted writers out there, what would it be?

Mary Hershey and I had many conversations (whine sessions, really) talking about how critical author promotion seemed to be and how difficult it was for us, both of us being introverts. As we talked and strategized and gnashed our teeth, we commented that we couldn’t be the only ones having this difficulty. The majority of authors, after all, are introverts. Too bad there wasn’t a support group for us introverted writers struggling with the concept of book promotion. We looked at each other for a long moment. Duh. We realized that we should start one, and that it would be a great way to give back to the writing community at large since we both feel very strongly about how incredibly generous and supportive the writing community has been to us.

My one piece of advice to introverted writers would be this: Don’t feel you have to do it all. Pick three areas you can comfortably manage (a website, printing up bookmarks, and volunteering for your local SCBWI chapter, say). As you become comfortable in those duties (and you will) then later you can find stretch goals for yourself. But whatever you do, don’t risk letting promotional duties kill your creative drive.

FW: We're enormously grateful that you've stopped by. This has been both fun and informative, and we're grateful for the support system you've set up for writers like us. Also, we can't wait to get our hands on your next book! Thank you so much for your time! We wish you the very best as you continue to write amazing, entertaining, arresting and absorbing young adult books.


Don't go too far! This party is just getting started. There's nothing like the smell of sunblock and books in the summertime, so slide on your sunglasses and keep reading.

More author and illustrator goodness can be found on blogs all across the 'sphere today; check out these links for more 2008 SBBT Monday goodness:


Adam Rex @ Fuse #8,
David Almond @ Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Dave Schwartz @ Shaken & Stirred
Elizabeth Scott @ Bookshelves of Doom
Laurie Halse Anderson @Writing & Ruminating
Susan Beth Pfeffer @Interactive Reader.



Mad props go to Colleen of Chasing Ray for organizing the Kidlit Blogging Fabulosity all over again into the blog-blasting beast it periodically becomes. Thanks, Colleen!

Labels: ,

7 Comments:

Blogger Kelly Fineman said...

They often “see” or sense things that most grown ups miss. They haven’t gotten around to shutting down or ignoring large parts of their own experience if it doesn’t logically fit in with their preconceived ideas of reality or logic. It’s one of the reasons I love writing for children.

How wonderful is that?? I'm so very much impressed by this interview and the marvelous questions. And the answers are swoon-worthy!

5/19/2008 7:08 AM  
Blogger a. fortis said...

Thanks, Kelly! This was one of the most fun interviews we've done, I think.

5/19/2008 10:09 AM  
Blogger Erin said...

This was a FANTASTIC interview. It seriously rocked. Thanks, gals!

5/19/2008 11:04 AM  
Blogger Jackie Parker said...

AWESOME Guys! Thanks!

5/19/2008 12:29 PM  
Blogger Jules at 7-Imp said...

What a lovely and well-laid-out interview. And you've added to my reading list.

And, um, WOW WOW WOW to Yoko's art work. I'm going to go back and explore her site some more. Great, great covers.

I agree with Kelly about that comment on writing for children, which is similar to what David (Almond) said today, huh? Cool symmetry goin' on here.

5/19/2008 9:19 PM  
Blogger Vivian said...

I picked up a copy of Theodosia last week. After reading this great interview, I'm looking forward to it!

I love what Robin has to say about her writing process and writing with young kids.

5/20/2008 10:44 AM  
Blogger Patty P said...

Great interview. I love Theodosia and have to say the new cover is divine! Robin is one clever writer. I love her advice about the writing process. That everyone has a different process and that creativity is awakened in different ways.

5/20/2008 6:42 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home

May 16, 2008

Blasting OFF!!!!

...They're Authors. Illustrators. Both. They're professional, funny, introspective, irreverent, bold. Bright. Some of the best of young adult literature interviewed and honored by some of the best in the kidlitosphere. It's the 2008 Summer Blog Blast Tour and once again,
It's All About the Books!


Adam Rex, David Almond, R.L. Lafevers, Dave Schwartz, Elizabeth Scott, Laurie Halse Anderson, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Ben Towle, Sean Qualls, Susane Colasanti, Robin Brande, Debby Garfinkle, Delia Sherman, Ingrid Law, Polly Dunbar, Tera Lynn Childs, Siena Cherson Siegel, Elisha Cooper, Dar Williams, Jennifer Bradbury, E. Lockhart, Mary Hooper, Varian Johnson, Jincy Willett, John Grandits, Meg Burden, Gary D. Schmidt, Javaka Steptoe, and maybe more...


...COMING NEXT WEEK TO A BLOGOSPHERE NEAR YOU!

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

An Agreeable Destruction


Last week I mentioned that I am living sandwiched between construction projects -- the roof seven stories above me, and the demolition across the street. As much as I find the noise and dust intrusive, I expect it's nothing compared to how intrusive the elementary school across the block must find it. It looked, this morning, like the teachers had all finally given in to the lure of the big machines, and brought the kids over for a squint.

About seventy five kids - between the ages of first and fourth grade - got to march out from their classroom, cross the street, eel up the sidewalk and line up at the fence that separates their playing field from the construction site. The workers seemed a bit nonplussed for a moment, and there was a pause and a helmet-to-helmet consultation between hard-hatted gentlemen, probably asking one another what was meant to happen next. Then, with almost visible shrugs, they went back to work. They fired up the Caterpillar and pulled down some I-beams.

CRASH!

Engines whined. Metal shrieked. Children jumped around and screamed. It was enormously satisfying noise, wanton destruction, large machine maws gaping and crunching and metal sheeting crumpling like construction paper. The applause and cheers of the audience rose. Something that was meant to be destroyed was going down big time. Joy was uncontained.

Perspectives on destruction vary as we age. Perhaps it's because the older we get, the more we know enough about loss. Little kids are gleeful to knock down blocks and kick over sandcastles, but just a little bit older, and the inexorable march of the tide brings desperate wailing, moat digging, and shrieks as the sandcastles go back out to sea. It's hard to see things destroyed without reverting to the nostalgia of when they were new. Maybe most of us hold on tightly to what is, knowing the transient nature of circumstance, sensing the breathless balance of life against the razor-edged teeth of disaster, we've learned to be prepared at all times to mourn.

Is that any way to live?

Another Postponement of Destruction

Banging out the kitchen door, I kicked

before I saw it a thick glass baking dish

I'd set outside for dogs the night before.

It skidded to the top step, teetered, tipped

into an undulating slide from step

to step, almost stopped halfway down, then lunged


on toward concrete, and I froze to watch it

splinter when it hit. Instead, it kissed

the concrete like a skipping stone, and rang

to rest in frost-stiffened grass. Retrieving it,

I suddenly felt my neck-cords letting go

of something like a mask of tragedy.

I washed the dish and put it in its place,

then launched myself into a rescued day.

-- by Henry Taylor from Understanding Fiction: Poems 1986-1996, Louisiana State University Press, ©1996



If you want more of Henry Taylor's particular kind of poetic brilliance, here are a handful more from the Beltway Poetry Quarterly. Two Writing Teachers are hosting the Poetry Friday extravaganza today, please stop by.


The Weekly Standard talks poetry today, rolling words on its tongue with a languid, liquid verbosity -- viva la agenbite!

Labels:

13 Comments:

Blogger Sara said...

I'm never this lucky. My dishes always smash. Although there was that one time when my sister accidentally sprung the side of my crib, launching ME into the air, and my dad caught me. Or so the family story goes...

5/16/2008 5:48 AM  
Blogger Tricia said...

As the mother of a 7-year old boy, I spend far too much time watching things torn down and built up. I keep hoping this phase will pass. There is just something so melancholy about watching the demise of a beautiful old building.

5/16/2008 5:55 AM  
Anonymous writer2b said...

Great point: little kids are destroyers, then we turn into--mourners/preservers/white-knuckle-grippers.

Your description of that school field trip is just fabulous. I'm still smiling as I picture it.

5/16/2008 7:07 AM  
Anonymous Liz in Ink said...

I love this post, the applause, the love of destruction, the rescued day. Poetry.

5/16/2008 7:13 AM  
Blogger jama said...

Great post -- especially liked your thoughts about destruction. The poem is brilliant -- must read more Henry Taylor!

5/16/2008 9:22 AM  
Anonymous Jenny said...

I love this post! I had never thought about the truth of what you said, about the ways in which our feeling about destruction change as we get older...

5/16/2008 11:10 AM  
Blogger Kelly Fineman said...

I loved that post. And like the voice in the poem, I felt my jaw relax as that dished rolled into the grass unshattered, without ever realizing that I'd tensed in the first place.

May I recommend those glamorous sleep shades for your eyes, or blackout blinds or curtains for your windows? (I saw over at Tricia's that the scarcity of daylight is starting to get to you - although I'd thought it would be light even later than what you said by now, since it's light until almost 8 here in NJ and again in the early part of the 5 a.m. hour.)

5/16/2008 12:39 PM  
Blogger Kelly said...

Great post, great poem, Tadmack! (Like the children, I sometimes feel great release in destruction.)

5/16/2008 1:04 PM  
Blogger eisha said...

My favorite part of this post is your phrase "eel up the sidewalk." It's perfect. I always got so tickled watching the preschool groups come for my storytimes, all marching in line two-by-two holding onto a long rope...

5/16/2008 6:01 PM  
Blogger Mary Lee said...

I'm just curious, which came first, the poem, or the post? And if the post, how did you find such a perfect poem?!?!

Your post dovetails nicely with Jama's, about the loss of the Hawaiian native culture.

At this point in the school year, I am finding myself in a build it up/tear it down predicament -- this family of learners that it took 9 months build will disintegrate in three weeks when they stampede (NOT "eel") to the bus that delivers them to summer.

5/17/2008 3:08 AM  
Blogger Cloudscome said...

Yes it is a sweet description of the field trip. My favorite part is "there was a pause and a helmet-to-helmet consultation...". I can just see it. And I'm glad to read that poem about an unshattered dish. Always something to celebrate! You are finding poetry in your chaos as usual.

5/17/2008 3:49 AM  
Blogger MotherReader said...

Wonderful post. The start of a story for you maybe...

5/17/2008 5:34 AM  
Blogger TadMack said...

Mary Lee - Actually poem and post occurred almost simultaneously! I heard all the kids outside, and then I sat down at the computer to choose my poem. It was a happy synchronization.

I struggle with liking destruction and finding cathartic -- I'm not a packrat, but I can see my urge to preserve and memorialize eventually becoming problematic. I'm embracing noise and destruction!

5/17/2008 7:48 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home

May 15, 2008

Toon Thursday: While We're on the Subject...

In our writing group this week, we've been talking a lot about flashbacks, and the thought-provoking post from Tami Brown at Through the Tollbooth has given us a lot of food for thought...as well as fodder for cartoons:



But enough about me. (You'll get MORE than enough about me if I ever get around to doing that meme...) Don't forget to go visit Jackie of Interactive Reader at her guest blogging gig on ForeWord--she's got some thoughtful musings up there about why we read blogs, and what keeps us reading.


A few tidbits from Jen Robinson: Did you know that this week is Reading Is Fun Week? I'm sure this is one of the many things I was briefly aware of and then forgot, so I'm glad that Jen reminded me. Don't miss the Athletic Book List the folks at Reading Is Fundamental have put together. Also, take a gander at Jen's 6 P's of Book Appreciation--it truly made me stop and think about what makes ME pick up a book and keep reading it. I agreed with a lot of what Jen said, especially with respect to the fact that it's VERY guilt-inducing to have a book lent to you and then not have enough interest in the premise to want to pick it up.


In fact, I have a nice handful of books on my shelf that people have lent me--some of which I maybe should read--but I can't quite summon the motivation to crack open: Sarah by JT LeRoy, State of Fear by Michael Crichton, The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell, Living History by Hillary Clinton. Actually, the only one I feel like I "should" read is the latter, but I do get consumed with guilt that somebody wanted my opinion on a book and then I've just been letting it languish, unread. What books are languishing unread on your shelves?

6 Comments:

Blogger TadMack said...

I do think the ferret-and-logging camp story is a novel in itself!!!!

...as to what I'm NOT reading... I can honestly say with great happiness, nothing. I've donated most of what was sitting or given it back to the lenders unread. Life is too short!

5/15/2008 2:22 PM  
Blogger Sara said...

Just the phrase "ferret biologist" makes me laugh.

I do think flashbacks are useful when you're drafting a novel, because they're a handy way of spilling all that background onto the page. But then you revise and find a better place for all that info.

5/16/2008 4:24 AM  
Blogger Jen Robinson said...

I had some Hillary Clinton book languishing for a while - I gave it away when I moved. I also have a bunch of novels aimed at adult audiences that aren't mysteries, and, well, I don't really read those. But there they sit!

I kind of want to hear more about the ferret biologist, though. That's a mystery in and of itself.

5/16/2008 8:09 AM  
Blogger Jackie said...

Thanks for the shout-out guys!

5/16/2008 10:23 AM  
Blogger DaviMack said...

Nice! I wonder about how it is that in the present she's young & in the past she's old ... but, you know, maybe it's a sci-fi book or something?

5/16/2008 10:36 AM  
Blogger a. fortis said...

Yeah...well...uh...it was sort of like, she was supposed to be dowdy in her past as a schoolteacher...also, when you've only drawn her head at about a third of an inch high, and you're in a big hurry...

5/16/2008 9:06 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home

May 14, 2008

I Can Count Them On One Hand

Five Things: brought to you by Kelly, who felt she should share the joy. Since A.Fortis is working her head off today, I'll take one for the team.

What were you doing five years ago?

Wow, 2003. I was living in Santa Rosa and driving a very long way to Oakland to my first year of grad school. I was reading Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried and doing a lot of wincing as it by turns horrified me and blew me away with its consistent and descriptive narrative style.

What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?

  • Untangle this chapter's plot knots currently strangling my manuscript,

  • See if that weird wet spot on the floor in the guest room is still there, and find out what caused it,

  • Shop for lightweight walking shoes (sandals),

  • Call the chick from the Property Bureau (actual name of company) and arrange to see flat,

  • Scrub the bathtub and finish the wash.


(Yes. That's my VERY exciting life. Aren't you glad you asked?)

What are five snacks that you enjoy?

  • Ryvita crackers - just about any kind,

  • Dry Kashi Lean cereal, (Stop laughing)

  • 84% Dark chocolate and crystallized ginger

  • Watermelon drizzled with lime juice and sprinkled with cinnamon (Seriously)

  • random juice bars



What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?

  • Buy land on the West Coast and build a straw bale or a passive house

  • Keep bees and goats and make candles and cheese if I felt like it, otherwise write,

  • Open a summer camp for homeless and foster kids (and hire my mother),

  • Pay off my college debt, and the school debt of my immediate family,

  • Set up a philanthropic fund which invested so that it was making money while giving it away to people who want to go to school.



What are five of your bad habits?
Really, we could go all day with this one.

  • Biting my nails,

  • Being snappish with people I consider stupid,

  • Considering people stupid (Being critical),

  • Worrying too much about ridiculous things,

  • Not enjoying myself



What are five places where you have lived?

  • San Francisco, CA

  • Healdsburg, California

  • Deerpark, California

  • Pacheco, California

  • Glasgow, Scotland



What are five jobs you’ve had?
Only the semi-abnormal ones are any fun...


  • Strawberry weeder, My first job, 6th grade

  • House cleaner, For an elderly woman down the street, 8th-10th grade

  • Program Director and Rodeo Clown (summer camp, six years of this)

  • Laundry supervisor

  • Senate reporter (college paper)



The next question is which five people am I tagging... I'm not tagging five people; I've seen this around and know everyone's done it... except maybe Little Willow. And you?

Labels:

3 Comments:

Blogger Kelly said...

Thanks for playing, Tadmack.

I hope you found some good sandals!!

5/14/2008 2:40 PM  
Blogger Little Willow said...

Hee hee. Someone tagged me this morning, and I responded at her blog rather than posting it at mine. Here you go:

What were you doing five years ago?

Working

What are five things on your to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?
Work
Read
Write
Type
Consider

What are five snacks you enjoy?
Fruit and veggies - like corn, bananas, green grapes - as well as granola and bread

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?
Establish my own production company
Produce my own TV shows, films, and plays
Open a no-kill shelter
Donate money to causes I support
Save money/make investments so I can donate more money

What are five of your bad habits?
Not setting aside time for myself
Likewise, not giving myself enough credit/consideration
Writing in my head, rather than on paper/on computer
I don’t know what else

What are five places where you have lived?
Same state

What are five jobs you’ve had
Webdesigner
Bookseller
I’d like to be a known actress/singer/dancer/writer to the point at which I can do that full-time

I didn't write or type up stuff today. Boo.

5/14/2008 8:39 PM  
Blogger Cloudscome said...

Tadmack I think I love you. Let's get all the poetry princesses to be billionaires and live in a commune together. I mean a writer's retreat center with goats and bees and stuff. We can eat watermelon drizzled with lime and cinnamon honey in the afternoons. We can give away scads of money that we really don't need.

5/15/2008 11:56 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home