May 26, 2010 – 12:23 pm
It’s always fabulous to discover a new writer. This past week I devoured Sarah Dessen’s novel ‘Along for the ride’. Ms. Dessen is the author of eight previous books and her work is gathering lots of attention.
This book focuses on the lives of two teen misfits, Auden a brilliant academic, a product of a restricted childhood and Eli a young man attempting to recover from a tragic episode in his past. Together, the fellow insomniacs explore the nocturnal world of their local town. Their quest is for Auden to discover the delights of her missed childhood and for Eli to move forward in his life.
This author has created a page-turner that will appeal to the adult reader as well as teens. I enjoyed Sarah Dessen’s voice and her ability to capture the challenges of teens as they search for their paths in the world.
Who have you discovered lately?
April 28, 2010 – 9:13 am
My dad’s mantra soared into my brain this week. For years I heard his favourite refrain ‘When in doubt, go back to school’. And I have to say that message has worked for me. While taking courses I’ve always discovered things about myself and ideas about life that help me make better sense of my world.
This evening I’m thrilled to take part in a course entitled Writing, Editing and Publishing Young Adult Fiction offered by The University of Victoria. The instructors are Sarah Harvey, the teen fiction editor at Orca Books and the author of four books as well as writer Robin Stevenson, author of seven books. This is a hands-on creative writing workshop geared for adults who are interested in writing fiction for teen readers.
Initially I was on the waiting list and I’d decided that all hope was lost. However, just this week, I received a phone call, and now I’m registered!
This is meant to be!
April 16, 2010 – 6:52 am
I was trying to understand one day, why I find inviting family and friends to our dinner table so interesting. Then I realized what my emotions were all about.
When we sit down together to share a meal, not only are we swapping family stories but we are using dishes and other items from relatives that are no longer with me.
At my last party, everything was displayed on an immense bright blue tablecloth from Lima, Peru. We used my mom’s fabulous silverware mixed with dynamic FiestaWare from Arizona. We passed a bowl filled with vegetables that a friend carried in her backpack all the way from Thailand. We admired my Auntie’s gold plates and other collectibles from friends. Every item on the table had a story.
That’s the reason I like entertaining. I remember the love and joy that I shared with that person. And for that period of time, I have a personal reminder that they existed and contributed so much to my life.
Truly I do have a Table of Memories. Do you experience the same kinds of feelings when you think about some of the dishes you use?
March 10, 2010 – 1:56 pm
That thousands of people would be reading a novel where the Point of View Character is …
a dog.
Yes, you’ve guessed correctly. I’m speaking about Enzo, the beloved canine in Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain (HarperCollins Publishers, 2008).
Above everything, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a love story. Enzo is in love with his human family. And his owner, Denny is in love with his wife and daughter and the art and sport of racing cars.
Readers have used such comments as uplifting, entertaining and inspirational. Susan Wiggs has noted in her praise for the book – “It’s a heartfelt story of hope, redemption, and the transformative power of love.”
This book squeezed my heart. There were a few moments when I didn’t think I could read further as I was connecting so strongly with the plight of the dog and his owner. All in all, an unusual novel.
Have you had the opportunity to read this novel? Or have you started a book where you didn’t think it was a love story but then suddenly at the heart of the book – it transformed into a love story?
I’m interested in your reflections.
February 6, 2010 – 12:01 pm
Chinese New Year this year falls on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2010. What a wonderful alignment of events!
This is The Year of the Tiger – with the focus on courage, power and optimism. I like these descriptors as it seems they are the qualities that one requires for maintaining focus in the writing business.
‘Courage’ reminds me that I can keep going – one day at a time, one paragraph at a time, one page at a time.
‘Power’ reminds me, that I am in control of my writing. I choose the topic, I choose the characters and I choose the plot. (Sometimes with great ideas provided by other writers or by craft books.) But it is important to remember that although I don’t have any control of the ‘publishing business’ I certainly can be in charge of my own writing. I am therefore, powerful.
And of course, optimism. There will always be a writer around the corner who writes faster and has more success. Writing is a humbling enterprise. I have to be thankful for the prolific, excellent authors because they keep readers coming back to search out more books. Hopefully, one day, my book will be one of them.
What do you think of courage, power, optimism and writing?
January 19, 2010 – 10:57 am
A huge bookstore, a cafe and time. Last weekend I had the first two elements. I could have stayed in the Barnes and Noble store for a day. However, after quick power shopping I exited with two great magazines, Shambhala Sun and Writer’s Digest. As. well as four new books.
I found ‘The Art of Racing in the Rain’ by Garth Stein (Harper), ”This Charming Man’ by Marian Keyes (Avon) and ‘True Colors’ by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin’s Griffin). As well, I located a non-fiction reference book, ‘The Constant Art of Being a Writer’ by N.M. Kelby (Writer’s Digest Books).
I am so excited. Fresh material. I’ve already consumed ‘True Colors’. I had to know what happened. It was a page-turner for sure. I was so appalled at the treatment of one of the characters that I had to race to the ending. I went to bed with my eyes sore, I hadn’t finished the book and couldn’t sleep. Finally, after tossing and turning, I got up and read until the end. I was hooked. Whew!
Have your read anything lately that you couldn’t put down?
December 31, 2009 – 12:44 pm
I love New Year’s Day and the month of September. I guess it’s because I like to start afresh with new writing supplies. I love my 2010 day planner and it’s a treat to find other office stuff to help me focus on my writing. I love paper, stickies, high-lighters, journals, notebooks, and recipe cards.
I feel the same excitement in September. In fact, for a long time, September was the start of my year. Even though I’m no longer working in schools, I still enjoy that September exhileration of launching into something new.
I love New Year’s because I remember that anything is possible. Anything. And goals are the way to go. Somehow the whole concept of a goal seems more attainable than a resolution. I guess I’ve broken enough resolutions to not want to ‘go there’.
I am working on my goals today and certainly most involve writing. However, my key word for this year is ‘balance’. When my life is balanced then I’m able to observe, able to make better sense of my world and able to write.
So for my friends out there – if you need to remind me – BALANCE is my mantra for the year.
What are you thinking about as we approach the new year?
December 16, 2009 – 11:37 am
I’m working hard in the pool these days. I’m re-connecting with my body and along the way re-connecting with my mind.
I’m feeling more alert, more enthusiastic and more energized. Of course, I know that there’s a tremendous correlation between the body and the mind. But sometimes one has to ‘get out there’ and ‘do it’, instead of reading and thinking about one’s exercise plan.
I’m surrounded by many folks older than me. And they’re an inspiration. They’re golfing, cycling, walking, hiking and playing tennis. Life has not always treated them kindly. They’ve had surgeries and illnesses. They’ve suffered through losses.
But they get up in the morning and start anew.
For the next few months, my pathway to better brain fitness will be through re-awakening my body.
What about you?
December 8, 2009 – 11:13 am
This past week I met an elderly woman in a small library close to where I’m living. Initially we didn’t speak and then we started making conversation. She looked like the kind of woman, a grandmother, probably a great-grandmother who might be searching for knitting magazines or a Reader’s Digest. A huge cloth book bag dangled from her arm.
“Dear, you look like a reader,” she said.
I nodded.
“Have your read this book? She rummaged around for a few moments in her bag and hauled out ‘The Lovely Bones’ by Alice Sebold. “What do you think?”
I gulped. Was she really reading such a hard-hitting novel? ”Ah yes, I’ve read it. It’s a tough slog, grim. Have you finished it?”
She shook her head. “I only read it in the afternoons. It’s too scary to read when it gets dark outside.”
“Yes.” And I felt strange. Embarassed at my assumption that because she was decades older than me, and looked a certain way, that she would only be interested in a certain kind of writing.
If I’m lucky and have good health and live to her age, hopefully I’ll be reading challenging novels as well. I walked home slowly, thinking about how I’d categorized her.
P. S. for those who haven’t read ‘The Lovely Bones’, Susie is a young girl who tells the story of her murder-and its aftermath-as she watches from heaven.
Have you made any assumptions lately?
December 1, 2009 – 2:48 pm
Sometimes you just have to write. And today I did. And it felt good. After weeks of fussing, reading, thinking, Googling, pondering, charting etc. I finally tackled my new novel. I thought I knew where it was going. I sort-of-do and sort-of-don’t. And I’m learning that’s okay.
All writers have some sort of process and after a number of years I’m beginning to understand mine. I have to allow myself the opportunity to just ‘get it down’. The editing, the chopping, the finessing comes later. After all, you can’t edit a blank page. I have to remember that writing can be fun. And it is. Sometimes. But most of all, it’s the most challenging enterprise I’ve embraced.
No one is making me write. I simply have to do it. So, keeping that it mind, I think I’ll revisit my work from this morning.
