The Holly and Molly Show

I hope that you are reading your SCBWI Bulletin. Check out my bonus material for my article "Phoenix Rising". Also check out Holly's article. Holly Cupala, my wonderful friend, wrote about MySpace and networking. Holly is the reason that I have a MySpace. From cookie parties, to long phone chats, occasional munching of hamburgers, posting on each other's blog and always being there in the thick and thin of life, knowing Holly has helped me get all out of my shell. I want Holly's books to be published more than mine. I can't wait to get my copy of Brimstone Soup as soon as someone in publishing world wakes up to her freaking absolute genius. We met in Peggy King Anderson's class just about six years ago. Holly knew immediately that we were destined to be friends. I knew that we would be friends when she told me she'd seen every episode of Star Trek. Shh. I think we are both characters or parts of characters in each other's books.

Next to the great joy of writing books is the pure joy of making friends, remember that as you go toward that goal of publication.

I read The Plain Janes! Whoa, the terrorist attack shocked Jane touched my life. I'd have been so P.L.A.I.N. in high school and actually did some of that in college. My poor bike ended up welded at the top of a giant sculpture in front of the Academic Building. Once, I got this column of hundreds of red and yellow balloons filled with helium. They were part of an architectural exhibit. I asked for the balloons after the exhibit and they gave them to me! I ran for hours with a mountain of balloons up and down the hallowed paths of A&M; I've never had so much fun --please note --will be a BIG KID my whole life.

I've added Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson to the reading list. Is it true that M. T. Anderson is her brother? (OK, authorities are chiming in and saying this is a myth.) I will have to continue to celebrate the genes of Aaron Eckhart, Paul Fleischman, Brian Selznick, Rose Wilder Lane, and Crescent Dragonwagon. Do you know any others? I have cool genes, too. My sister is the awesome Lee Kuruganti.

I'm going to see Becoming Jane later at the local theater. I'm going by myself and I'm going to munch popcorn. So much fun. I'd probably buy cable if there were a Jane Austen channel.

"Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery."

“Why not seize the pleasure at once, how often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparations.”

Jane Austen