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M.P. Barker



Last Updated: 11/17/2009

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Gender: Female
Status: Married
Age: 101
Sign: Capricorn

City: Farmington
State: Massachusetts
Country: US
Signup Date: 12/21/2007

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Tuesday, April 14, 2009 

Category: Writing and Poetry















Hi,
welcome to another episode of "As the Writers Juggle," in which we ask
writers to share their tips on the writing life. Today's guest is Anne
Broyles, the author of PRISCILLA AND THE HOLLYHOCKS (Charlesbridge, 2008) and SHY MAMA’S HALLOWEEN
(Tilbury House, 2000) and author, co-author or contributor of twenty
books for youth and adults in the religious field. Anne also writes
high school curriculum for youth groups and Sunday schools and is a
regular contributor to MERRIMACK VALLEY MAGAZINE. Two traumatic
incidents in Anne's life inspired her to make a leap of faith into a
career as a full-time writer, combining fiction and non-fiction writing
to feed both body and soul.

You can find out more about Anne at her website: www.annebroyles.com. Or read her blog on Live Journal: http://annebroyles.livejournal.com/

Q: Anne, you came to writing full-time after a career in the ministry. Can you tell us a little about that transition?

Anne: After
college, I attended seminary with a desire to write books and produce
films for my denomination, but that wasn’t a viable career option. So I
threw myself into local church ministry and loved it. From the first
year of my professional life as a United Methodist minister, I wrote
magazine articles and high school curricula in addition to my 60-hour a
week ministry. I couldn’t NOT write.

In
1996, as I madly typed away on an impending deadline assignment, I
received a call that a beautiful 21 year-old woman from our church had
accidentally overdosed on alcohol and heroin. I left my computer, drove
to the hospital, and spent the next twelve days going back and forth to
Bridgette’s hospital bed until we decided to take her off of
life support. Those were stressful days as I tried to do my other
church work, interact with my family and complete the writing
assignment. I felt an anguished push and pull between responsibilities,
and didn’t get much sleep.

In 1997,
an emergency surgery saved my life and kept me in the hospital for
eight days. Having almost died brought clarity. I realized that while
someone else could do my job as a church pastor, no one else could
write the stories in my head. Five months later I took early retirement
from ministry and began to write full-time. I’ve never regretted the
decision.

Q: So this was definitely both a spiritual and professional journey for you. How did your family react to your decision?

Anne: My
husband and kids have always been supportive. (They know how grumpy I
get if I don’t get to write regularly!) That first year I made myself
available to every editor I knew, and earned almost as much money as I
had in ministry. But I wasn’t writing what I wanted to write (fiction);
I was writing to pay bills. At the end of that year I chose to use part
of an inheritance to “pay myself to write” for one year. My mother
always encouraged my writing and I figured she would’ve wanted to be my
patron.

When my children were young, I
sometimes went away on writing retreat for a few days or a week to
immerse myself in a longer book project so that I could come home and
better use the bits and pieces of time I found. It was
easier to leave for a while than to get on track with little
uninterrupted time (my husband is a wonderful father, obviously). Each
family or situation is different, so writers can make adjustments
according to what works for them.

Now,
my kids are independent young adults, so it’s just my husband and pets
at home. I am also a Big Sister to a thirteen-year-old girl. I still
count on the support and encouragement of all my family members,
especially for those moments I am discouraged and I think I should give
up this writing career and “get a real (better paying) job.”

Q: What sacrifices did you have to make to take the plunge?

Anne: I
often had and still have to choose writing nonfiction over fiction
because that’s what pays the bills, but those assignments give me the
luxury of working from home, being my own boss, scheduling my time, and
squeezing in children’s fiction writing and visits. I work fifteen hours a week at Habitat for Humanity. The rest of my jobs are writing-related.

Q: About how many hours a day/week can you spend writing?

Anne: I
work on writing 4- 10 hours a day, six days a week but that includes
research, business, correspondence, preparing for school visits and
other presentations, traveling to give presentations, promotion (see
below) and encouraging other writers. Because of my magazine and
curriculum assignments there are days I don’t get to write or revise
fiction at all. I try to focus on and clear all of the other tasks off
my “to do list” so I can take several days in a row to do nothing but
work on a novel or picture book, but it’s hard to balance everything. I
don’t work for a page count per day, but tend to write fast when I am
focused.Q: About much of that time is spent on book promotion?

Anne:
I spend an average of at least an hour each day preparing promotional
materials, networking, contacting schools and enrichment councils,
updating my blog and GoodReads. In the months before and after a book
comes out, I sometimes feel swamped by the marketing demands. For
instance, with PRISCILLA AND THE HOLLYHOCKS, I sent emails and
postcards about the book to everyone I knew around the United States
and traveled to several states to publicize the book. Each
time I do a bookstore event, I send info to the pertinent geographic
database. I try to supplement the efforts of the publisher’s PR
department. For instance, when I discovered the New York Botanical
Gardens carried PRISCILLA, I did research and sent cards to all
the botanical gardens in the U.S. to encourage them to carry the book
in their garden shop.

Q: You're writing and marketing dozens of books plus nonfiction articles. How do you organize it all?

Anne: On
my office closet door I have index cards with the names of my 30
children’s books that are either 1) out to editors, 2) my current
focus, or 3) need more revision and work. I don’t expect to get all those books completed and sold before I die, but I will keep trying!

Q: So what does a Day in the Life of Anne Broyles look like?

Anne: A
typical day starts with an hour of Pilates, yoga, or cardio at 8 a.m.
Then breakfast, after which I check email and respond to ‘writing
business.” I usually have a to-do list for the day. Next,
I spend several hours of focused time on that day’s project, which
depends on whether I must work to an editor’s deadline or can choose my
fiction project. With 20 minutes off for lunch and a 30-minute exercise
break somewhere in the afternoon, I work until dinner, after which I
often work some more. I go to bed around 11 p.m.This describes a day
without social and family commitments.

Q: Very
busy! But I notice you take time out too keep in shape--a must when you
sit at a desk most of the day! What are your best places and times for
writing?

Anne: I spend most of my writing time in my office with a view of woods and fields and occasional wild creatures.


Q: What a great view! And her office is pretty nifty, too!










Anne: For
longer, complicated projects, I like to sit on my bed with papers
scattered around me: a queen-sized work space. And comfy! Because I
travel a lot, I write in airports and on planes, but that’s not nearly
as comfortable.

Q: How do you keep from losing your momentum?

Anne: I remind myself that no one else can tell the stories in my head. Q: What do you do when you get blocked? (Or do you get blocked?)

Anne:
I don’t think of it as getting blocked as much as needing a change. I’m
always working on multiple projects (magazine articles, curricula, a
couple of picture books, a YA novel), so when I feel fatigued with a
project or no sparks are flying, I switch and work on something else.

Q: Do you find it difficult to make the transition between your non-writing responsibilities and writing? How do you handle it?

Anne: I
actually like working at home because when I need a mental break, I
walk the dogs or put a load of laundry in or kayak when it’s warm.
Short breaks (usually 15-30 minutes) refresh my head and I feel ready
to work again. I try not to do housework or yard work or family
business in my designated writing time. I do get frustrated when my
not-writing-fiction jobs intrude on my “real writing” (as they often
do). I sometimes wish for a patron to fund me to write fiction
full-time. Or an office assistant to take care of all the writing
business would be wonderful, but that’s probably never going to happen.
I’ve learned to live knowing I may never feel like I have everything
done in my writing career or around the house.

Q: I think you've covered most writers' first three wishes: 1) a sugar-daddy (or mommy); 2) a personal assistant; 3) a house elf.

What helps motivate you and keep you on track? Are you self-motivated or do you need outside naggers to help?

Anne: I
am totally self-motivated by the desire to write and get more work
published. I set my own deadlines even if no editor is waiting for my
work. My agent has a monthly “reading week,” so I often try to have
something new to her so I test out my ideas before I am too immersed in
a project.

Q: How do you deal with distractions—either outside or inner procrastinatorial/avoidance issues?

Anne: I’m
resolved this year to more clearly separate out “writing” from “writing
business/tasks,” and to designate certain times for Internet use.
Otherwise, Facebook and email could eat up an hour or two. I just read
Cory Doctorow’s blog on this topic (http://www.locusmag.com/Features/2009/01/cory-doctorow-writing-in-age-of.html) and it inspired me to make necessary changes. Q: Yes, Facebook and all that other social networking stuff can be a HUGE time sink! Do you feel you have enough time for non-writing hobbies or activities you’d like to pursue?

Anne: Yes,
I spend long hours writing, but that is balanced out with lots of
physical exercise (yoga, Pilates, cardio, hiking, kayaking or
snowshoeing, depending on the season), reading (numerous books a week,
since I am a fast reader), going to movies and plays with my husband,
mentoring my Little Sister, getting together with friends, studying
Spanish, travel. I need to balance my mental and physical and emotional
energies. I also am a high-energy person with no young children who
need me at this stage in my life.Q: What advice would you give to others struggling with writing and time management issues?

Anne: Don’t
squander your gifts. You’ve got this one life, however long, so choose
how you want to live it within the confines of your reality. That said,
be gentle with yourself. It may be that other things are more important
at this stage than your writing, and that’s okay, too.

Q: Well-said, indeed! Are there any other issues or ideas you’d like to mention?

Anne: I
think it’s crucial to participate in a critique group. I count on my
two groups for challenge, support and resource-sharing. Writing doesn’t
have to be a lonely profession; there’s a great writing community in
children’s lit and SCBWI.

Thanks, Anne! Your story is an inspiration in so many ways.



3:46 PM 
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Wednesday, April 08, 2009 





Hi,
welcome to another episode of "As the Writers Juggle," in which we ask
writers to share their tips on the writing life. While many of our
previous guests have written about juggling full- or part-time jobs
with their writing careers, this week's guest, Jessica Burkhart,
jumped into her full-time writing career right out of college--a brave
move indeed! Now 22, she says she started freelancing at 14 to feed her
lip gloss addiction. (And if you know how well fiction-writing pays,
you'll know that earning enough to buy lip gloss is pretty impressive!)
Her first two middle grade novels, TAKE THE REINS and CHASING BLUE (CANTERWOOD CREST), are available now and are the first installments in a series of eight. Visit Jess online at her Website or the Canterwood Crest series Website .


Q:
When did you decide to take the plunge? Was there a deciding moment
that convinced you it was time to strike out as a full-time writer?

Jessica:
I went right from college to writing full-time. I'd wavered between
being a full-time writer and going to grad school, but ultimately
decided to take the big step and be a full-time writer. The intense pub
schedule that I'm on with books coming out bi-monthly would have made
it a little difficult to juggle both. :)

Q:
A book every two months--now that's impressive, especially to someone
like me who writes excrutiatingly slowly. What hurdles have you had to
overcome?

Jessica: Since
I got the book deal, I've had to deal with a few negative comments
about my age. I've had a couple of people say that I haven't worked
hard enough or long enough to "earn" a book deal. They have the
misconception that I sat down, wrote a book and got an agent in a week.
Um, no! I freelanced for five years before I wrote Take the Reins.
My rejection pile is ENORMOUS and that doesn't even count the e-mailed
rejections or editors who never responded. It didn't happen overnight.
Trust me.

Q:
(Looking at own rejection pile...) Oh, I trust you on that--been there,
done that (though at a much, much older and more decrepit point in my
life...)!

Tell us a little about your writing routine. You must be pretty disciplined to work under such tight deadlines.

Jessica:
When I'm working on a draft, I try to hit at least 2000 words a day.
When that's done, I can move onto something else, but I must hit that
goal. So, if I want to play around on the Internet and work, it'll take
me that much longer to meet my word count. The mind games of, "Oooh!
When I reach my word count, I'm technically done for the day" works
well for me and it keeps me from procrastinating too much. On my best
days, I can average 3500-4000 words a day. I usually write seven to
eight hours a day when I'm in crazy-draft mode to meet my deadline.

Q:
That's something like 15 pages a day. I'm impressed! And then you have
to go out and sell those books, too. About how many hours a week do you
spend on book promotion?

Jessica:
Wow. I honestly don't even know. If I had to ballpark it, maybe 12-16
hours a week. I count blogging, vlogging, doing interviews, visiting
local stores, responding to e-mail, seeking horse blogs, etc. I try to
keep up a steady stream of promotion and not do everything in a week
and then disappear.

Q: Okay, so what's the secret to staying so organized? Can you describe an average day for us?

Jessica: Okay!

Average day: 6:30-7am-Up and I stumble to my laptop and turn it on. I check Facebook, read e-mails and browse LiveJournal. I start typing by eight and work until The View
comes on. That's my cue to get away from the desk, move around and have
that second cup of coffee and/or soda depending on the day.

I take a break for lunch and catch up on blogs. After lunch, it's back to writing, editing, checking copyedits or doing promo.

I take my next break around 3pm and shut down my now overheated laptop. I usually watch General Hospital (hello, it's awesome!), look at my calendar, make a list of things to do and work on editing any printed drafts that I have.

I'm back on my computer at four (with Oprah on in the background) and work 'til dinner. I'll take a couple of hours to chill and read or go outside.

After
that, I keep going until ten or eleven depending on where I am with my
deadline. If I'm being super-obsessed with work, I'll take printed
pages to bed and work on them 'til midnight. If I'm feeling good about my pace, I'll read until eleven-thirty or so and then pass out.

Q:
Yeah, I'd pass out, too--that's a pretty full day! But it's good to see
that you schedule regular breaks. Do you have a favorite time or place
for writing?

Jessica: I
do my best writing in early afternoon. I'm too fuzzy in the morning, so
I really get going around 10am. I love writing in my room, but I get
sleepy on my bed. So, I'm usually in the living room--either on the
floor or on the couch.

Q: How do you keep from losing your momentum?

Jessica: It's
just in me not to stop. I want to be a writer for the rest of my life
and I'm only just getting started. I use the goals and dreams I have
for myself to propel my writing. It motivates me to sit at my desk for
hours.

Q: Do you ever get blocked? What do you do to get unstuck?

Jessica:
I've never had writer's block (thankfully!), but I have had times when
I've been too excited or distracted with something going on in my life
that I just can't write. So, I don't try to force it. I take a day off
to address whatever is going on with me and then I'm back at it. I
don't want to waste all day sitting at my laptop if I just can't work.

Q: Is there anything that comes between you and your writing?

Jessica:
I don't have kids or another job, so I write full-time. Perhaps the
biggest hang up is dealing with family drama and I'm slowly learning
how to pull back from that.

Q: Ah, family drama! I don't think any of us can escape that.

What helps motivate you and keep you on track? Are you self-motivated or do you need outside naggers to help?

Jessica:
No naggers necessary! *grin* I've always been pretty good with
motivating myself. I love being my own boss and I don't need someone
telling me to write.. And
I've said before that a couple of people from NYC would show up at my
doorstep and threaten to take away my favorite thing-my lip gloss
collection--if I didn't meet my deadline. So that keeps me typing away!
;)

Q: (Filing note to self on Jessica's lip-gloss addiction for possible blackmail use at a later date...)

How do you deal with distractions?

Jessica:
E-mail is definitely my biggest distraction. Instead of refreshing my
inbox every five minutes, I log into MSN and read the new message
alerts as they come in. When I do that, I can either choose to go read
the new email or ignore it and check later. That seems to work for me.

Q: You sound pretty driven. Do you feel you have enough time for non-writing hobbies or activities?

Jessica:
I do have enough time, but I'm being a neurotic workaholic writer and
I'm not giving myself much time for outside hobbies. I will soon, but
right now I'm trying to focus fully on my career. I'm just getting
started and I want to do the best job I can.

Q: What advice would you give to others struggling with writing and time management issues?

Jessica:
Treat your writing as a job and not a hobby. Make it that important and
encourage your family/friends to realize how serious you are about
writing. Whatever it takes to make time to write, do it.

Hmmmm....that
might be a tough one for me, since I have a hard time treating my JOB
like a JOB, never mind my writing ;) (Only kidding, boss, agent &
publisher!!)

Thanks so much Jessica. Oh, and about that lip gloss addiction? Check out Lip Balm Anonymous. They even have a 12-step program. And I don't think they're joking...


7:38 PM 
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Sunday, February 22, 2009 

Category: Writing and Poetry








Hi,
welcome to another episode of "As the Writers Juggle," in which we ask
writers to share their tips on balancing work, family, and the writing
life. This week's guest is Laine Cunningham. Laine is a novelist whose works cross boundaries of race, culture and religion. Her first novel, Message Stick,
is a brutal suspense thriller set in Australia's outback. The book won
two national awards and was supported by fellowships and arts residency
programs. To support her writing habit, Laine has owned and operated
her own publishing industry consulting business, Writer's Resource,
for fifteen years. She has been interviewed by CNN, MSNBC, and a host
of other media outlets as both a writer and a consultant.

Q: Okay, Laine, 'fess up. How do you support your writing habit?

Laine:
My dirty little writing habit is supported entirely by my business,
Writer's Resource. Since my office is home-based, I have about a
ten-second commute from the breakfast table to the office. There are
times I need to travel for research, to meet with clients or to conduct
seminars which averages out to a few hours every week. Despite all the
moaning and groaning about the bad economy, 2008 was a banner year for
my company. I've averaged about 50-60 hours per week for the business.

Q: So your "day-job" is still writing-related. What other time-consuming responsibilities are you involved in?

Laine:
As few as possible! I do volunteer for my local homeowners association
but really that's an every-other-month thing. I am a member of two
writer's groups and help individuals with their projects (both during
the creation process and during marketing). I also meet every month
with a small coallition of fellow authors for marketing sessions. We
brainstorm new ideas and share information, what works, what doesn't.

Q: You went from the corporate world to running your own business to support your writing. When did you decide to take the plunge?

Laine:
I was working for a corporation in a very cushy job as a technical and
production editor. The politics and the fact that I didn't have time to
write was killing me. I walked out one day, cashed in my 401K, and
wrote full-time for the next year. The memoir I wrote won an award the
following year. Then I needed to figure out how to finance this new
lifestyle, and started up Writer's Resource. So although I haven't
achieved "full-time writerdom" for my own works, I do write all day for
my clients. I find that it helps me learn, grown and, of course,
network! Perfect solution, if you ask me.

Q: So you
write to support your writing. Were there any personal or family issues
you had to worry about when you made that big leap to strike out on
your own?

Laine: Nothing like that here. My only
companion is my dog. He's very supportive! Every time I come home with
groceries, he tells me what a great hunter I am! My friends are very
supportive of me. They understand why I travel so much (in support of
the writing process) and we see each other whenever we can...no
pressure or hurt feelings if I can't see them terribly often. It's
really amazing how people who don't live the writing life can still be
very supportive and understanding.

Q: I hear you about the dog--the only love money can buy! What sacrifices did you have to make to take the plunge?

Laine:
See 401K comment above! Also lost my health care benefits after COBRA
ran out. I've rectified the insurance situation and am working toward
starting a retirement fund this year.
I've also moved a great deal.
While writing my first novel, which took four years, I moved...let's
see...five times. From California to Minnesota to Virginia to North
Carolina (with a few local moves in between). That makes for a lot of
long-distance friendships and the need to spend years building new
local friendships.

I don't "go out" much in the way most people
think of going out. But I do spend a lot of time on the powwow trail
dancing at Native American gatherings. That connects me to part an
important part of my heritage and I do get to socialize with all the
great folks who come together to dance. And that's a three-season
activity, nearly every weekend at the height of it.

Q: Powwows--that sounds really exciting! What a great way to connect with your Native American heritage.

What conflicts or hurdles have you had to overcome?

Laine:
The working-in-a-vacuum mode. It doesn't impact the work; in fact, it
helps me focus on getting the big-concept ideas down on paper,
especially when you're talking about novels. But it does lend itself to
self-doubt. Is this good enough? Will it sell? Am I good enough?
Yadda-yadda. Every writer has to learn how to turn off that switch!

Q: Yeah, that working-in-a-vacuum really sucks, doesn't it? (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

About how many hours a day can you spend writing?

Laine:
When the consulting workload is managable, I average two hours a day
first thing in the morning on my own novels. Production is usually
about five pages. I handwrite all first drafts, enter it on the
computer, then edit by hand on the hard copy. About once a year I take
off for thirty days to do nothing but write. Those days I can do up to
twenty pages during creation work, or about six to eight hours of
editorial work. In one hour of editing, I might do as little as a page
or two per hour on the initial draft. In the last stages, I can do as
much as ten pages per hour.

Q: I like that idea of taking a month off for just the writing--especially when you're in the editing stage.

What about promotion? About how much time do you spend on that?

Laine:
Two hours per day average. In less than three months of pre-publication
marketing, I've netted a mention on MSNBC and quotes in multiple
large-circulation regional newspapers, and hundreds of blogs and book
review sites. The campaign is working into the second phase,
post-publication marketing (the launch date was Jan 20, 2009) so things
are looking great!

Q: That's great! Sounds like
you're a promotional dynamo! How do you organize it all? Can you
describe an average day-in-the-life-of-Laine?

Laine:
First two to four hours of the morning are always writing time. Whether
that's for myself or a client depends on my workload. Consume one pot
of coffee during this time.

Q: Note to self...caffeinate before writing...

Laine:
Then I spend a half hour to two hours answering email and checking
internet analytics, doing quickie research on potential new marketing
ideas, blogs, reviews, etc.
Lunchtime! 1/2 hour
Wrap up any small details - 1/2 to one hour.
Post office run/groceries/whatever - 1/2 to one hour
Make
a cup of tea (or two) and work on client research, editorial projects,
and similar tasks - two to three hours, sometimes four
Exercise: walk or hike with dog - one hour
Check email, begin novel marketing - one to two hours.
Final email, any administrative duties (invoicing, filing, shredding) - one or more hours
Yes, by now it is about 8 p.m. or so. Shut down office and do household chores - one hour
Cook dinner, watch news, do some yoga, read newspapers/magazines - one hour
Bed
by 11 p.m. or 11:15. Up at 7 (OK, alarm goes off at 7. Sometimes I hit
the snooze button more than once. Usually up by 7:30 a.m.).
For the
past year, this schedule has been seven days a week to keep up with
client projects and still be sane enough to write fiction. Often the
schedule on the weekend is less client work and waaaaaaay more novel
writing, plus sleeping late on Saturday morning to catch up from the
week's efforts. When I'm not at a powwow, of course!

Q: That's definitely a full day. What are your best places and times for writing?

Laine:
First thing in the morning. Access the subconscious better than later,
after I've dealt with a million details and my conscious brain is in
full control.

Q: How do you keep from losing your momentum?

Laine:
I keep my eye on the prize...that big book deal that will allow me to
stop consulting and free up more time to travel, research, write, write
write!
Plus, I've lived the other side of the American dream. It
just about killed me. There is nothing else I can do in this world and
live well, healthy and happy.

Q: What do you do when you get blocked? (Or do you get blocked?)

Laine:
I don't get blocked, not really. I go for long walks whenever I'm
trying to figure things out. Move the body, I always say, and you move
the mind.

Q: Do you find it difficult to make the transition between your consulting work and your own writing? How do you handle it?

Laine:
Always put the most important things first. The little things always
get done whenever. Writers must understand that they need both sides of
their brains...at different times...to write well. The intuitive side
is all about the first draft, accessing the flow. The judge must be
silent at that time! Then you have to switch gears for editing, to
bring the judge in to work through problems. To solve the problems the
intuitive side must come back with the flow for revisions.

Switching
can be done by changing locations. For example, I have two dedicated
spaces in my house. One room is the office; the other is for writing
only. The spaces are decorated differently, each has its own supplies
so I don't have to walk back into the other space for paper or pens,
and each has different lighting. Everything about the spaces triggers
my mind to do one thing or the other.

Q: I like that idea.

What helps motivate you and keep you on track? Are you self-motivated or do you need outside naggers to help?

Laine:
Self-motivated, obviously. I'm motivated, again, because I've had the
corporate success and found it to be deadening. This is what I must do;
no choice.

Q: How do you deal with distractions-either outside or inner procrastinatorial/avoidance issues?

Laine: Turn off the phone! Only check email at certain times of day! Can't stress those enough.

Q: Yeah, email is a real time sink! Do you feel you have enough time for non-writing hobbies or activities you'd like to pursue?

Laine: Clearly, the answer is no. However, I'm willing to make the short-term sacrifice for the benefit of the rest of my life.

Q: What advice would you give to others struggling with writing/job/time management issues?

Laine:
You'll never "find" time to write; you must make it.Thirty minutes a
day is enough. Really! The more you write, the more brain cells become
involved in the writing process. It's like any other skill...playing
piano, working the stock market, whatever. The more consistant you are
about your practice, the easier it becomes.

Q: Any other issues or ideas you'd like to mention?

Laine:
You know, I walked out of that corporate job because I was working
about sixty-five hours a week. My schedule now is the same but it's
different. Yes, I get tired. But I couldn't be happier or healthier.
I'm doing what I want to do...helping others and helping myself in a
very, very tough industry.

One of my goals when I reach
"full-time writerdom" through my novels is to set up some sort of
program where authors can come together and help each other. It's so
tough doing this on your own...and even if you're married and have a
house full of kids and extended family, if they aren't artists or
writers themselves, you're still very alone.

I have been able to
take a first step with this. I'm sponsoring a novel award through a
regional literary magazine. We haven't worked out the details yet but
writers can go to The Blotter Literary Magazine's website
to check for dates. I think we'll be offering the first award at the
end of this year, perhaps as early as the fall. I don't have the
infrastructure to do it myself yet but the magazine's going to handle
all the details...I'm just putting up the cash!

That's great that you're able to give something back to help your fellow writers. Thanks for the inspiration, Laine!


11:26 AM 
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Sunday, February 15, 2009 

Hi, welcome to another episode of "As the
Writers Juggle," in which we ask writers to share their tips on
balancing work, family, and the writing life. Our last three writers
all came from the world of children's literature. This week, we'll
switch genres and gears to get some time-management tips from high-tech
writer, editor, and webmaster Howard W. Penrose. An expert in electric
motor systems and in the Reliability, Maintenance, Energy, and
Environmental industry, Howard is the owner of SUCCESS by DESIGN
Publishing, Executive Director of the Institute of Electrical Motor
Diagnostics, Inc., and editor and webmaster for several technical
Websites (and that's only a few of the hats he wears!). Those of you
interested in green transportation might want to check out AllAmericanHybrid.com
and see what he's been doing in the field of hybrid cars. Anybody this
busy had better be organized, right? Right! Let's see how he does it
all.
Q: Welcome, Howard. Tell us a little bit about your writing background and how that fits in with all the other things you do.
Howard:
I am an independent consultant and publisher. I work with companies
such as General Motors on the design of hybrid and electric vehicles,
as well as projects related to maintaining GM manufacturing and
facilities equipment and energy conservation programs, companies such
as US Steel for facility condition-based maintenance and motor
management programs, and a number of other similar projects for
companies ranging from utilities to military and food processing to
mining. I do some work overseas for nuclear power companies and
factories in China, South Korea, Malaysia and Australia. I fired my
last boss in 2004 and went into business for myself. However, SUCCESS
by DESIGN Publishing was established in 2001; I expanded it to include
Reliability, Maintenance, Energy & Environment consulting in 2004. I am the publisher for several eZines, including the AllAmericanHybrid.com eMagazine and the Reliability, Maintenance, Energy & Environment eMagazine . We are expanding both from the newsletters they were through December last year to full eMagazines. The blogs include the AllAmericanHybrid.com blog , the Hybrid Tahoe blog , and the RME&E blog
. The primary purpose is to provide an avenue for response to the
different eMagazines. I evenly spend my time between writing,
publishing and editing, my hobbies, and my consulting work, also a
hobby. Writing provides about 15% of my income.
Q: I understand you've dabbled a bit in science fiction...
Howard:
I do write across multiple genres as well as publish. From 2001 to 2003
I had an online Science Fiction and Fantasy magazine which was more of
a hobby as more money went out than came in. However, I did publish
several ebooks with some of my own work and an anthology (Stories of Myth, Legend and Future: SBD SF&F 2002 Anthology) as well as How to Become Your Own Publisher
and a couple of technical books. In all I write and publish through
magazines and conferences over twenty-six professional papers per year
and at least one book per year. In 2008, fourteen magazine articles,
eight conference papers, fifty-two editorials and eMagazines,
operate/own four Websites, Web Editor-in-Chief of a major professional
Website (330,000 members), self-published two books, wrote a number of
reports and studies, and quite a few blog posts.  
Q:
Wow! That must keep you hopping. Tell us a little bit about the
Websites you manage--it sounds like you're dealing with some really
cutting-edge technological stuff.
Howard: The websites I would like to mention are: AllAmericanHybrid.com
and an associated eMag (first one out on the first Tuesday in
February). I am the owner and webmaster. I have an Editor-in-Chief who
now selects the content. We launched the site on January 5, 2009, and
we are still adding quite a bit of content. I am getting encouragement
from GM, Meyers Motors, and Tesla motors on this site – it is
self-funded right now, but I am expecting it to be profitable by
summer. We are also fully sponsoring a high school electric race car,
which is pretty fun! http://www.motordoc.com
is my professional website and associated with my Reliability,
Maintenance, Energy and Environment eMag which has been in circulation
with a variety of formats to 7,000 subscribers since 1997. We are
working on expanding it and the number of subscribers in 2009. http://www.motordiagnostics.com
is my archive site for a number of white papers that cover technical
topics and the Motor Diagnostics and Motor Health research study. There
is information on my work related to Skilled workforce. http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/deis
is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society (IEEE-DEIS) Website. I am
the Web Editor-in-Chief. The Website is a large project that has been
in progress since August, 2008, with the developers in the Netherlands
and the editorial staff in Europe, Australia, Canada, USA, and Asia.
The site is officially released to the public on February 6, 2009, at
6pm EST. For the first three sites, I am Webmaster as well.
Q:
You must be pretty organized to keep all those responsibilities
straight Could you give us an idea of how you manage your time?
Howard:
I spend an average of two hours per day writing, or more. As I travel a
fair amount, I get written drafts of work and ideas flowing on
airplanes, airports, or think through an article on long drives
(average four+ hours). I spend approximately ten hours per week on book
promotion – sometimes more. I am normally up
around 6 a.m. and in bed by about midnight. While I do not always work
from waking to sleeping, I do spend a significant amount of my time
"working." It is hard to describe how I
manage my day. First, I have been actively writing since I was nine,
wanted to be a writer since I was thirteen, headed a different path
when I discovered how well it paid, but kept my passion to the present.
By developing drafts in my head and short sketches on paper, through
years of practice, my first draft is often my only draft with only a
little editing. In the 1990s, I would average an article or news item
once per week and eventually got to the point where I can put out a few
thousand words a day on subjects I have an interest in. However, if I
have a particularly challenging project I may put writing to the side
for a few days or a week or two. A typical
day includes setting up breakfast and coffee with a notebook nearby. I
will sort through my day and create a to-do list noting anything that
is time-dependent, such as a speaking engagement, consulting work,
teleconference, etc. It is important to begin to figure out a balance
of time such that you do not assign too much or too little work for the
time you have allotted.
Q: Yes,
underestimating how long things takes is definitely a big pitfall for
me. Tell us a little more about what a typical day looks like for you.
Howard: On a day like today, my schedule looked something like this:
6:30 a.m.: organize my day;
7-8 a.m.: respond to emails;
8-10 a.m.: teleconference with client to discuss research and report results;
10 a.m-noon: work on report for GM facilities related to maintenance;
30-minute lunch – no work;
12:30 – 1 p.m.: answer emails;
1 – 3 p.m.: complete GM facilities report;
3-3:30 p.m.: answer emails;
3:30 – 5 p.m.: work on IEEE website;
45-minute dinner;
5:45– 7:30 p.m.: Organize information for Detroit Auto Show article –
images, press releases and notes, sketch out order of article;
7:30 – 9 p.m.: answer this email;
 9 p.m.: review day and organize for tomorrow, answer remaining emails, relax.
Q:
That's a pretty full day--and now I feel guilty for taking so much of
your time! You're not tied to the computer all day, though, are you?
Howard:
I will usually work in ten-minute sessions on my exercise bike during
the winter – randomly to get things moving, or hour walks when the
weather is above freezing.
Q: When and where do you prefer to write?
Howard:
My best places and times for writing tend to be early in the day and at
a desk with a little background music. The genres range based on my
mood (anything but country or hip hop/rap). I try to match the music to
my mood and the type of writing I am doing. If I am writing a "debate"
piece, or controversial, it will be something like electronica or
metal/hard rock. If it is a research piece, it will often be meditation
music or "seasons."
Q: It sounds like music really helps you keep your momentum. Do you have any other techniques for keeping the flow going?
Howard:
Practiced meditation, turning off TV, turning off phone or email,
turning off IM. If I have to concentrate on a specific subject I will
get out white boards and put my notes together across the room. I have
also set up my desk to look over a pond and fountain, which is soothing
and not distracting. If I am writing on an airplane, I will use an iPod
and music to block out everything else. If I am trying to think, I use
pen and paper--for some reason that generates thought versus typing.
Q:
Charting out your notes is a really good idea--it helps you see the big
picture. It sounds like writing longhand helps when you get stuck, is
that right?
Howard: When have a bout of
writer’s block, I will sit with a notebook and pen and write by hand.
Literally anything, could be a to-do list, grocery list, and then I
start writing down exactly what pops into my head. After a while things
begin to make sense. Whatever I do, I just think about whatever the
topic is and I do not force anything.
Q:
So free-writing is a big help for getting the flow going again. Do you
have any trouble with transitions between your writing and all your
other work?
Howard: I have had no trouble with the transition. I have been going back and forth for over twenty years.
Q: What helps motivate you and keep you on track? Are you self-motivated or do you need outside naggers to help?
Howard:
Self motivated: meaning that I am disciplined enough to drive myself.
If I feel I am slipping, I fall back to to-do lists. I will set goals
and pursue them. I used to have to write them down at least once per
day until they were ingrained. Now I just focus on the goals I have set
and keep myself going in that direction. In fact, when viewing my
writing, all of my work at any given time will relate to what I am
doing and the topics will directly relate to each other. When I start
something, I need to finish it.
Q:
I admire your drive. I'm very good at writing to-do lists...it's the
doing that I have to kick my butt about! How do you deal with
distractions—either outside or inner procrastinatorial/avoidance issues?
Howard:
I just get things done or get rid of distractions. I set a location and
turn everything off with the exception of music. However, there are
days when I even feel that is an issue and I need to work in silence. I
also trained myself to ignore a ringing phone. Drives people nuts if I
am talking on stage and I am the one who forgot to turn my cell phone
off, I will usually let it ring with only a few exceptions. Once I
looked at who it was, answered the phone on stage, and told the person
I was speaking then asked the audience to say ‘hi.’ It was great!
Q:
I love it! Gotta love that caller ID, too. It definitely makes it
easier to ignore the phone. What advice would you give to others
struggling with writing and time management issues?
Howard:
Organized steps, to-do lists, organization, time limits. I will usually
keep an eye on the clock or may even use the calendar in Outlook to
organize my day. The pop-ups are a great reminder if you are typing. I
never use a timer, for some reason they distract me. I need to keep
looking to see how much time is left and it can disrupt my train of
thought.
Q: You're so right. Lists
and time limits and breaking things down into smaller steps help me,
too--when I make myself stick to them! Any other issues or ideas you'd
like to mention?
Howard: Multi-tasking
and dealing with everything at once. What to do when everything happens
at once or when it all goes wrong. Are these easy or difficult? I
thrive on stress. Once in a while when things happen all at once it is
a break from routine and rapidly solving issues can be exhilarating.
The biggest thing is learning how to prioritize on the fly and when to
just let some things go.
Q:
Hmmm...and from what our previous guests have said, one of the things
we should let go is housework ;)....Speaking of prioritizing on the
fly...One of your books is called Physical Asset Management for the Executive (Caution: Do Not Read This On An Airplane). So of course I just have to ask--why shouldn't we read this book on an airplane?
Howard:
The statement about not reading the book on an airplane actually has to
do with Chapter 4.7. Chapter 4 discusses instances when reliability and
maintenance of assets goes wrong and the results. Section 4.7 relates
to personal airline travel experiences related to R&M (Reliability
& Maintenance). In my weekly newsletters when I was traveling
forty-three weeks per year, at least one leg of a flight would have
some type of major problem that delayed or cancelled the flight. I
would write about each instance in my weekly newsletter and actually
gained a reputation such that when people recognized me they would ask
if they should change the flight. These days whenever some R&M
issue happens wherever I am, it is usually attributed to my being
there! The problem relating to airlines actually has to do with the
qualifications of the people doing the work, in particular when airline
maintenance is outsourced. Right now all 747 maintenance is performed
in China and most wide-body planes are maintained in Venezuela. In each
case, the technicians are usually not FAA certified nor do they report
maintenance issues.
Q: Now I
get it. You definitely don't want to know all the things that can go
wrong when you're 20,000 feet in the air! Or you at least want to be
sure you have Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger for your pilot. Thanks so much, Howard. You've definitely inspired me to get better organized.



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Sunday, January 25, 2009 

Category: Writing and Poetry

Hosted By:
Hitchcock Academy Community Center

When:
Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Where:
Hitchcock Academy Community Center
2 Brookfield Road
Brimfield
01010

Description:
Authors Night Fundraiser and Silent Auction featuring M.P. Barker (author of A Difficult Boy), Judith Jaeger (author of The Secret Thief), and many other local authors!

Click Here To View Event
10:07 PM 
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Monday, January 19, 2009 
Hi, welcome to another episode of "As the Writers Juggle," in which we ask writers to share their tips on balancing work, family, and the writing life. This week's featured writer is Rosanne Parry. Rosanne is a member of the Class of 2k9 and author of the middle-grade novel Heart of a Shepherd (Random House, Jan 2009) and the picture book Daddy's Home! (Candy Cane Press, Mar 2009).

Q: Hi Rosanne! Thanks for joining us and congratulations on your upcoming releases! Tell us a bit about all of your responsibilities and how you keep them straight.

Rosanne: I’m going to telescope these questions into one answer. My principal and favorite occupation is raising my four school aged kids. I have aging parents near by. Sometimes they help me. Sometimes I help them. It’s a pretty even give-and-take at the moment, but that balance will shift my way eventually. I have a part-time teaching job that is flexible. If I want more hours, I contract to teach more classes. If I need more time to write and less money, I can scale back. In addition to the novels and picture books, I sometimes write curriculum and do parenting articles for magazines. I do volunteer work every week in a variety of places. I need exercise every day or I get little else accomplished, and my husband and I have a long-standing habit of a date every Friday night.

I wake up at 6:30 and go to sleep well past midnight most nights, so I’m working at one of the above mentioned jobs 18 hours a day. I don’t have a regular writing schedule. I might work 12-15 hours a day for a few weeks when I’m revising, or six hours a day when I’m plodding along with a first draft, but when I’m in between projects I may only write short practice pieces and work on promotion. I seldom write less than three hours in a day.

Q: I'm impressed that you still have time to write in between everything else. Sounds like LATE to bed and EARLY to rise is part of the secret. I like the idea of a date night to keep your relationship fresh. It's easy to neglect spouses when you're so busy (just ask mine!).

What are your best times and places for writing?

Rosanne:I love to work outside, especially in my tree house, but I’ve learned to write anywhere and any time I have available.


Q: What a gorgeous spot! No wonder you're inspired. I think I have tree house envy.

How do you keep from losing your momentum?

Rosanne: I try to set an attainable goal for the project at hand. For example, I just finished a first draft of a new novel. I did about a chapter a week or 700-1000 words a day for five months. I also try to do things that keep the character in mind even when I’m not writing. I’m working on a character that plays the violin, so I practice mine every day, just to keep my head in that character.

Q: Wait a minute! You play the violin, too? That's amazing!

What do you do when you get blocked? (Or do you get blocked?)

Rosanne: I don’t think of it as being blocked. If I don’t know what to write next I put a note in the text—“more about what she is thinking here,” or “characters run from the Sorbonne to the Montmartre train station, describe scenery here.” That way I can do the research or reflection later and stick it in.

Q: That's a good trick. I'll have to remember it when I get stuck.

Do you find it difficult to make the transition between your non-writing responsibilities and writing? How do you handle it?

Rosanne: Transitions are pretty easy for me. I tend not to think of inspiration or mood as having anything to do with the actual nitty-gritty of writing, so I don’t have to psyche myself up in order to write.

Q: What helps motivate you and keep you on track?

Rosanne: Need of money is motivation aplenty, and I really like to write so it’s not hard to make time for that. Housecleaning is a whole other story.

Q: Ah-ha! More ammo for the "Successful writers don't do housework" thesis!

How do you deal with distractions—either outside or inner procrastinatorial/avoidance issues?

Rosanne: I’ve learned to trust my memory. If a scene is strong enough I’ll remember where I was going with it if I get called away in the middle. If I can’t pick up the thread of a scene after I’ve been called away, my reader won’t be able to either, so I might as well let it go and start over with a stronger scene.

Q: Do you feel you have enough time for non-writing hobbies or activities you’d like to pursue?

Rosanne: Nope, I don’t have any hobbies. I genuinely enjoy the things I do for exercise and I love to write, so I don’t feel a pressing need for other hobbies

Q: Outside of playing the violin, that is... ;)

What advice would you give to others struggling with writing/job/time management issues?

Rosanne:I’m not sure I have any sage advice here. Writing is hard. If I didn’t love it I would have given up ages ago.

I think you're speaking for all of us writers there! It's definitely a labor of love.

Thanks so much, Rosanne. You need to have a balanced life when you're writing in a tree house!
7:42 PM 
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Thursday, December 04, 2008 

Category: Writing and Poetry
Hosted By: Old Sturbridge Village
When: Friday Dec 12, 2008
at 5:00 PM
Where Old Sturbridge Village
1 Old Sturbridge Village Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
United States
Description:
Old Sturbridge Village

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9:36 PM 
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Thursday, December 04, 2008 

Current mood:  sleepy
Category: Writing and Poetry
Feeling the pinch this holiday season? That economic crunch making your wallet a bit thin? Save some money by celebrating a true old-fashioned New England country Christmas.

Don't waste your money on presents, and leave all those evergreens outdoors where they belong. On December 25, go to work or school as usual. Oh, and if you're an employer and your staff takes the day off? Fire their little heathen butts!

Wait, wait, you say--that's not old-time New England; that's Ebenezer Scrooge before the three ghostly visitations. Well, old Mr. Scrooge would have fit right in with pre-Civil War rural New Englanders. Forget all those Currier & Ives visions of rosy-cheeked children hanging their stockings by the chimney with care and Clement Moore's "Visit from Saint Nicholas." Moore was a New Yorker and--gasp!--an Episcopalian--not quite as horrifically heathenish as a Catholic to those staunch Puritanically-descended New Englanders of the early 1800s, but pretty darned close.

While Christmas was being celebrated in the South and in some of the big northern cities like New York and Boston (which had growing populations of Catholics, Episcopalians, and non-Anglo immigrants), out in the New England countryside, Congregationalists and Baptists ruled the religious roosts. Like their Puritan ancestors, they wanted to distance themselves from anything that smacked of Catholic ritual--especially holidays that they considered to be ancient pagan celebrations thinly veiled in Christianity. In the 1830s and 1840s, rural New Englanders viewed Christmas celebrations with curiosity, mistrust, and sometimes open hostility. Businessmen were annoyed and frustrated when they went into cities like Boston and New York and found some of the stores and offices closed for Christmas. Some ministers even preached anti-Christmas sermons, arguing that Christmas celebrations (especially those involving large quantities of alcohol) did not honor Christ's birth, but were profane mockeries of true Christianity. But eventually Christmas infiltrated the countryside, too--hey, who can resist a chance for a day off work, a big pig-out, and presents, too?

For more than you'll ever want to know about Christmas in old New England, read these two articles at the Old Sturbridge Village Website:

Interpreting Christmas Traditions by Tom Kelleher

Christmas in New England Before 1860 by Jack Larkin

So don't stress over the holidays! Just tell your friends and family that you want to celebrate a traditional Christmas, just like they did back in the good ol' days, when all the men were strong, all the women had no rights whatsoever, and all the children worked 80 hours a week.

----------------------
On the other hand, if you don't like your Christmas fantasies ruined, you can indulge them by checking out Old Sturbridge Village's Christmas by Candlelight, December 12-14 and 19-21. You can find out more about how Christmas was and wasn't celebrated in American cities and villages, how the celebration made its way from cities to the countryside, and learn the origins of some of our Christmas customs. And, best of all, if you come on December 12, you can come and say "hi" to me when I sign copies of A Difficult Boy at the OSV Bookstore! For information about the program, go to www.osv.org and click on the link for "Christmas by Candlelight."

(Can't make it to Sturbridge Village? Head over to my website , where you can find a list of booksellers carrying autographed copies of A Difficult Boy. Most of them will ship books to you.)

-------------------

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

Of course, the perfect Christmas gift is always a book...especially if it's mine! But if you've already bought my book for yourself, your family, and your friends, you might get some gift ideas from this list of some of the books I've enjoyed over the past year or two:

10 GREAT BOOKS FOR ADULT READERS -

Dennis Lehane - The Given Day (William Morrow) - The parallel stories of two men--one white and one black--caught up in the turmoil of post World War I Boston, from the influenza epidemic to red-baiting to the Boston police riot. Amazing historic research, fabulous characters, wonderful story-telling--my favorite book of 2008!!

Michael C. White - Soul Catcher (William Morrow) - A complex and wonderfully told story of a slave catcher and the runaway who challenges his path in life. My favorite book of 2007!

Judy Jaeger - The Secret Thief (Behler) - While helping her grandmother clear out her house, Connie Gray discovers that her family's history isn't quite as she's been lead to believe. A great read from a terrific new author!!

Khaled Hosseini - A Thousand Splendid Suns - Two Afghani women face unbelievable obstacles in their attempt to survive, first the Soviet invasion, then the tyranny of the Taliban.

Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina - Mr. & Mrs. Prince (Amistad) A wonderfully detailed biography of Lucy Terry Prince (America's first African-American poet) and her husband Abijah that brings Lucy and Abijah and their world to life. Beautifully told--this book will make readers completely re-think their pre-conceptions about blacks in New England.

Karen Shepard - Don't I Know You? (Harper Perennial) - A young single mother is killed, her body discovered by her 12-year-old son. The story is told from the point of view of three different characters, and each one gives you a different twist on the story and a different possible suspect.

Ted Kerasote - Merle's door: lessons from a freethinking dog (Harvest Books) - A man and his dog, with insights into dogness and a twelve-hankie ending.

Suzanne Strempek Shea - Sundays in America (Beacon) - The author spends a year exploring different Christian Sunday celebrations, examining her own views on faith in the process.

Melva Michaelian and Lorene Morin - A Walk on the Wide Side: Pride and Plumpness (XLibris) - A humorous celebration of diva-sized women and a wry commentary on America's obsession with thin-ness.

Anna C. Bowling - My Outcast Heart - (ebook - Kindle edition from Amazon.com) - Left alone after the sudden death of her grandfather, Tabetha Small finds she must rely on a mysterious stranger if she wants to keep her home.

17 BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULT READERS - for readers 12 and up ("up" includes adults, remember!!)

Jennifer Bradbury—Shift (Simon & Schuster/Atheneum) - Best friends go on a cross-country bike trip, but only one returns.

Teri Brown—Read My Lips (Simon & Schuster/Pulse) - Serena is a a deaf skater chick who uses her amazing lip-reading ability to infiltrate the popular crowd, take down a secret sorority and tame the school rebel.

Elizabeth Bunce—A Curse Dark as Gold (Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine) - In this retelling of "Rumpelstiltskin," the miller's daughter of the fairytale comes to life as a young woman determined to save her family and her mill--whatever the cost. (Great for fans of romantic fantasy)

Terri Clark—Sleepless (HarperCollins/HarperTeen) - Teen psychic, Trinity Michaels, is being stalked in her sleep by a killer; if she dies in her dreams she'll die for real. (Great for fans of edgy, horror-tinged mysteries.)

Marissa Doyle—Bewitching Season (Henry Holt) - While making their debuts in 1837 London a pair of twin witches rescue the soon-to-be Queen Victoria from a dastardly plot...when they're not looking for Lord Right. (Great for fantasy and romance lovers)

Debbie Reed Fischer—Braless in Wonderland (Penguin/Dutton) - Allee Rosen falls down the rabbit hole and lands in the fab lane when she gets snapped up by modeling agents and whisked away to glamorous South Beach. Will the model life go to her head? (Great for fans of funny, edgy contemporary fiction)

Donna Freitas—The Possibilities of Sainthood (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) - To Antonia Lucia Labella, saints are like Catholic royalty and she wants her day as princess (and maybe a kiss from that cute boy down the street, too)--if only the Pope would just respond to her letters! (Great for those of you who remember Catholic school!)

Liz Gallagher—The Opposite of Invisible (Random House/Wendy Lamb) - A Seattle teenager wrestles with the difference between a crush and love, and love and best friendship.

Daphne Grab—Alive and Well in Prague, New York (HarperCollins/Laura Geringer) - Manhattanites Matisse Osgood and her artist parents move to upstate New York when her father's Parkinson's disease worsens, and Matisse must face high school in a small, provincial town as she tries to avoid thinking about her father's future.

Lisa Schroeder—I Heart You, You Haunt Me (Simon & Schuster/Pulse) - A novel in verse about love and grief in which a fifteen-year-old girl's boyfriend, who is dead but not gone, is keeping her from moving on. (Great for reluctant readers.)

Regina Scott—La Petite Four (Penguin/Razorbill) - Lady Emily Southwell and her three dearest friends plan to take London by storm until they run afoul of a dashing young lord who may have more up his sleeve than a nicely muscled arm. (Great for fans of Regency romance)

Brooke Taylor—Undone (Bloomsbury/Walker) - A troubled teen fulfills the five enigmatic last wishes of her daring best friend only to discover the dark secrets of a shared past that she never knew. (Great for fans of edgy, dark fiction)

Zu Vincent—The Lucky Place (Front Street Press) - When you look at growing up through Cassie's eyes, you see it differently.

D. Dina Friedman - Escaping into the Night ( Simon & Schuster) - Thirteen-year-old Halina Rudowski narrowly escapes the Polish ghetto and flees to the forest, where she is taken in by an encampment of Jews trying to survive World War II.

Michelle Kwasney - Baby Blue (Holt) - Still grieving and guilt-ridden over her father's drowning, twelve-year-old Blue is dealt another blow when her older sister, Star, runs away to escape their stepfather's violence against their mother.

Carrie Jones - Tips on Having a Gay (Ex) Boyfriend (Flux) - Belle, a high school junior, expects to marry her long-term boyfriend one day until he tells her and their entire small Maine town that he is gay, and both face prejudice and violence even as they enter new relationships and try to remain friends.

Sarah Aronson - Headcase (Roaring Brook) - Seventeen-year-old Frank Marder struggles to deal with the aftermath of an accident he had while driving drunk that killed two people, including his girlfriend, and left him paralyzed from the neck down.

15 BOOKS FOR READERS 9 AND UP (older readers will love these books, too, though!!)

Ellen Booraem—The Unnameables (Harcourt Children's Books) - A boy and a goatman defy the establishment in a fantasy about belonging, the dangers of forgetting history, the usefulness of art, and the importance of wind control. (If you liked Lois Lowry's The Giver, you'll love this one!)

Jody Feldman—The Gollywhopper Games (HarperCollins/Greenwillow) - In the beginning there were 25,000 contestants; in the end, just five. Does Gil Goodson have what it takes to win The Gollywhopper Games? (If you liked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you'll love this book!)

PJ Hoover—The Emerald Tablet (Blooming Tree Press) - Benjamin Holt's discovery of a new world explains his extraordinary powers, but also presents him with a challenge which changes his purpose in life forever. (Great for fantasy lovers)

Jenny Meyerhoff—Third Grade Baby (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) - Third grader Polly Peterson can't wait to finally lose her first tooth, but then she learns that third graders are too old for the tooth fairy.

N. A. Nelson—Bringing the Boy Home (HarperCollins) - Two young boys...an unforgiving jungle...one shared destiny.

Stacy Nyikos—Dragon Wishes (Blooming Tree Press) - Dragon Wishes follows two girls across time on their quests for the greatest gift the last of the world's ancient dragons protects in the ominous Damei Mountains.

Sarah Prineas—The Magic Thief (HarperCollins) - A pickpocket and a wizard team up to solve a mystery of disappearing magic. (Great for fantasy lovers.)

Courtney Sheinmel—My So-Called Family (Simon & Schuster) - Leah Hoffman-Ross has a secret: she has a donor instead of a father, and now she's going in search of her half-siblings . . . even if she has to hide it from everybody else.

Laurel Snyder—Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains (Random House) - A snarky milkmaid, clumsy prince, sniffly prairie dog, and feisty milkcow venture deep into the Bewilderness, where they learn the value of friendship, honesty, government, and lunch.

Barrie Summy—I So Don't Do Mysteries (Random House/Delacorte) - Sherry, short for Sherlock, wants more mall time, less homework and a certain boy, but instead gets recruited by her mother's ghost to prevent a rhino heist at San Diego's Wild Animal Park.

Kristin Tubb—Autumn Winifred Does Things Different (Random House/Delacorte) - Autumn Winifred Oliver, the feistiest girl in all of Appalachia, struggles against the formation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as it threatens the home that her family has farmed for generations.

Nancy Viau—Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head (Abrams/Amulet) - Sam is a ten-year-old, rock-loving scientist who must learn to keep a lid on her explosive temper so she can go on a "dream-come-true" trip to the Grand Canyon.

Annie Wedekind—A Horse of Her Own (Feiwel & Friends) - In one tumultuous and life-changing summer, fourteen-year-old Jane Ryan loses the horse she loves and is asked to help train a damaged, dangerous horse who used to be a champion. (Great for horse-loving girls)

Michelle D. Kwasney - Itch (Holt): After the death of her beloved Gramps, Delores "Itch" Colchester and her grandmother move from Florida to an Ohio trailer park, where she meets new people and, when she learns that a friend is being abused by her mother, tries her best to emulate her plain-spoken grandfather.

D. Dina Friedman - Playing Dad's Song (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) - While wrestling with memories of his father, who died when the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001, eleven-year-old Gus, born into a family of musicians, starts taking oboe lessons, begins to compose music, and joins his sister in auditioning for a school musical.

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Whatever holidays you celebrate, I hope they're happy!
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Tuesday, June 24, 2008 
Who doesn't love free books, right? Well, this week you have two ways to win a bunch of Class of 2k8 books.

Way 1 - The Hard Way (well, only a little...for those of you who like a challenge)
Go to the Class of 2k8's contest page and answer ten questions about characters from this quarter's 2k8 releases. A random drawing will be made from all the correct entries and the winner will receive three of this quarter's books. Deadline is June 30.

Way 2 - The So Easy You Can Do It In Your Sleep Way
Bop on over to the Class of 2k8 blog , where our Blog Moms are interrogating...er, interviewing an assortment of book reviewers. Find out what makes them tick or ticks them off... And enter our drawing by leaving a comment on the blog. Every day we're giving away two 2k8 books. Deadline to comment is June 29.

Improve your chances of winning by entering both drawings, because, as the Scarecrow says in The Wizard of Oz..."Some people do go both ways."
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Friday, June 13, 2008 

Category: Writing and Poetry
I recently received an interesting comment on my Red Room page that I'd like to offer up for discussion:

"Do the two boys in your historical novel have real-life counterparts? And if not, why did you choose two young males as lead characters, as opposed to two females or a male and female? At the heart of my question is why you would otherwise select young males to write about in depth. Perhaps you had brothers? Granted, children are perhaps more in their own unique class as callow pre-adults than than they are either male or female to any strict degree, but for a writer to readily fathom the soul of a child, a child of the same sex as the writer should be a much easier task.

"Wouldn't you predict difficulties if a woman were to write "Lord of Flies" or a man tackled "Little Women?"

"I'm not being critical. My curiosity is in effect betraying my own doubts that I could credibly write a novel about two pre-teen, or teenage girls."

It's not as if I'm the first writer in the world to have protagonists who are the opposite gender from their creator, but still, it did make me think.

Now, my feeling is that sometimes writers choose their characters; sometimes the characters choose the writer. For me, the latter is usually the case. Sometimes the characters who choose me happen to be male, sometimes female.

No, I've never been a boy (except perhaps in a previous incarnation, if you believe that kind of thing). I've also never been an abused indentured servant living in the 19th century, and I'm no longer a child. Does that mean that I had no right to write about these characters? Should I be restricted to writing only about white American females who grew up in the suburbs of New England in the late 20th century? What's the point of writing fiction if one's stories must be confined to one's own life experience? The fun and challenge of writing for me is to try to "fathom the soul" of someone who isn't like me and explore how that person's thoughts and feelings are different from mine.

Sure, I did wonder if my male characters would be credible. I tested them out by not using my first name when submitting A Difficult Boy to editors or agents. Some took the safe route and refrained from putting a Mr. or Ms. on their responses (we're not counting the form letters, here, but the ones who really read the story). Several male readers, however, believed the book had been written by a man. So at least some readers felt that I'd gotten the point of view right. I guess you'll have to read the book yourself to decide whether you agree :)

I've certainly read books by male authors with female protagonists and thought, "A woman would never act like that." But I've also read some that were totally convincing. Take Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain--I felt that the female characters were spot-on and were actually more interesting than the male characters. And what about Madame Bovary, Anna Karenina, Tess of the d'Urbervilles? Or, on the other hand, what about Ethan Frome, Harry Potter, The Accidental Tourist, Mary Stewart's Arthurian novels, Dorothy Sayers's Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries?

Readers, can you come up with a list of your favorite books written by authors whose gender or race, ethnicity, background, etc., is different from their protagonists? Writers, how do you feel about creating characters who are very different from your own personal background?
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