School Starts!

When did high school buses start coming at 6:30 a.m. Uh, I would have never survived high school with that kind of wake up call. I remember clearly stumbling in the doors of WHS at 9 a.m. every morning. What has happened to the world! Oh, the humanity!

My two contracts for books and my other educational work is all because of the support of a wonderful writer. Kudos to Mara Rockliff! She rocks! Go buy Mara's books. She's awesome.

I'm supposed to hear back from one of the BIG eggs this week. The head chicken mentioned that the egg had not totally smashed at the bottom of the internet hill. Let's hear it for Humpty Dumpty and all the king's horses and all the king's men. Those guys really know how to put it all back together again.

Fun news, Gail Carson Levine is going to be in town and we're going to do lunch!

I've applied to Western Washington Advanced Class with Patti Gauch. Think happy thoughts, folks. My fairy dust is running low, help, JLC, do you have any extra?

Read books like someone does your dishes and laundry and write books like chocolate and ice cream are calorie free.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11

Blueberries

I went blueberry picking over the weekend. There's an abandoned blueberry farm a block from my house out in the wetlands. I live in the rural suburbs of Washington state. I've seen up to four deer at a time on street. I picked over two pounds of berries and the Js ate them like candy.

On the writing front, I've signed the contracts for my new books and am working on the project.

Celebration Time, Come On!

My contracts are in the mail for books 19 and 20. Whoop!!!!

Be Fearless

My new novel just got back from its first read and no major revisions are looming on the horizon!!! Chris Eboch is a fantastic writer and fabulous critiquer. I recommend her services.


I hope new doors swing open this week! I just have a good feeling. No reason why.


A Writing Tip:

Be fearless. Fear is one of the worst enemies of a writer. "I'm afraid no one will like this. I'm afraid that I'll never finish this. I'm afraid I'm wasting my time. I'm afraid my story is boring. I'm afraid to send my manuscript out. I'm afraid because they've always said no before". . . The list is endless.

Here's a question: Do you love to write? This is the question I ask myself when I'm really feeling the fear (lots of bills, four kids, few writing successes)-- perhaps I should stop writing and do something grown-up like work for an insurance company. My answer is always the same. I love to write.

Then I always see this picture in my head. It's a stream bubbling out of the earth that pours into a pool. The water is clear and spilling over the edges of the pool. Streams ripple down a mountain. The water is powerful. It moves sticks and stones and races downward. It finds its way to bigger streams, rivers. It reaches the ocean. I know the water is my writing. It will find its way. It will reach the ocean, then I'm not afraid.

Poor Traveler

I'm in bed and am sick -- fever, chills, headache, nausea. This is my vacation. I do not travel well. I'm staring out the window at blue Texas sky.

The writing is going OK, but the wobbling egg has splatted at the bottom of the internet hill. Waaah. I'm calling all the king's horses and all the king's men, but they didn't really do anything for Humpty-Dumpty and I'm not expecting much help for my poor egg. This is where you get up, dust off your knees, and start saving for a new bike. Anywhoo, my thought for the day:

It is not strength, but art, obtains the prize,
and to be swift is less than to be wise.
'T is more by art than force of num'rous strokes.

Alexander Pope.

I will keep at the art.