Still Going...

I’m still plugging away. In anticipation (hoping) of more educational writing gigs in the fall, I’ve been thinking about stories I could write and submit. I’ve started a few, but they are just festering ideas right now.

Most of my writing time has been spent in revisions and reading. I’m sprucing up one of my novel’s characters and polishing picture books.

Great Reads…

I just finished reading The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman. And wow! I had bought the trilogy at a Scholastic Book Warehouse sale out of curiosity. I had seen the movie and wondered if the book deviated from it much. They seemed to follow the book pretty well, but I need to watch the movie again to be sure. Setting aside the religious controversy surrounding the book, it's a well crafted story, thick in plot and intrigue, and an excellent study for novel writers.

Illustrating…

In the past week, I’ve been drawing in my head. Okay, that sounds weird, but if you can write in your head, can’t you draw in there too? Eventually, I hope to start journaling some of my sketches.

No more teachers, no more (text) books…

My kids are living it up since school let out last Tuesday. They’ve been watching movies, playing games, and reading lots and lots of books. If only they weren’t sick. Yup. We’ve been shut up in this house since last Wednesday. Sickie boy number two spiked a fever of 104 degrees on Wednesday, and he’s been battling the little cold beasties ever since. I only hope I don’t get it too.

The kids’ school has a summer reading contest, and both boys are determined to win the top prize this year. We have a little competition between the kids, even though I told them that the school awards the prizes based on grade level. Boy #1 (9 yr old) is mad that the boy #2 (6 yr old) is reading mostly picture books and easy readers.

What are they reading this week?

The 6 yr old:

1. Geronimo Stilton
2. Dr. Seuss
3. Berenstain Bears
4. Magic Tree House

The 9 year old:

1. Geronimo Stilton
2. Animorphs
3. Series of Unfortunate Events

I love having a couple of little readers in the house, but if they keep going at this rate, they will have read our whole collection of children's books by the end of summer.

Wall of Shame and other things

I’ve continued on my weightloss efforts, and I managed to squeak off a few pounds, but not as much as I would like to. My weights are posted, and I’m very thankful that the woman managing the blog didn’t post my last name along with my weight. Is that shameless?

Since I’ve taken on the job of Cubmaster, my exercise regime has really faltered. Laurie Halse Anderson, in two speeches she gave at two different conferences, stressed how exercise helps a writer focus and write constructively. I did notice a difference when I was exercising, and even though I have tons of time conflicts that keep me from the gym, I have no excuse. I need to resolve to do something again. The weather is nice. I have a bike and exercise equipment collecting dust in the basement.

Time to Make a Change

Change is good, right?

We change our underwear. That’s good. We change our toothbrushes. That’s good too. And sometimes, we change ourselves, for better or worse.

I decided I need a change of body. Since I can’t trade in the parts that don’t work quite the way I’d like them too, I need to trim down so people can’t say "this or that" is a weight issue. It’s a little difficult when you have BIC (butt in chair) disease, a condition that you have willingly inflicted upon yourself in order to hone your writing skills. But who says a person needs to give up the life of a writer to trim some fat.

Wall of Shame:
Okay, at first glance, people don’t guess how much I weigh, and it’s not a bit of information I care to share. So, in the interest of keeping myself motivated to lose those extra pounds, I’ve joined a contest along with a friend and a bunch of her family members to lose the biggest percentage of weight by December 31st. Every week, I report my weight and pay $5. Fun Fun.

My first week was sabotaged by a wonderful writing conference with lots of food and chocolaty desserts. Luckily, I didn’t gain any weight. I didn’t lose any either. My weights for the first two weeks are posted (with my name) on a blogger’s wall of shame. Sorry. I’m not sharing the link either. Wish me luck!

Now for the Creative Part:
Before the summer is over, I plan to add the special something to my middle grade novel that an editor recommended during my one-on-one critique at the NJ SCBWI conference. AND… I plan to use it as a learning experience in my study of children's illustrations.

My other goals include polishing and revising two picture books based on the recommendations by Cynthea Liu (thanks to her Red Light Green Light contest) and completing an illustration portfolio (and posting it on my website).


So, ready, set, here I go!

Busy days

Illustration attempts…
I did it. I cleared off my messy art desk in the basement, where the creepy spiders like to lurk, and I sat down to work. It only took a couple minutes for the cats to notice I was downstairs, and they mewed and rammed the door until I opened it. Only Penny, my long-haired cat came out.

She sniffed the floor, rolled around, tried to hop in the puppet theater, and then decided to check out what I was doing. I would have loved to hold her, but then I wouldn’t get any work done. So, she hopped down and explored while I worked.

Before I started getting pinged by Cub Scout emails, I managed to get 3 pages of a book dummy and part of a storyboard finished. I was hoping to do more, but I guess I need to think in small steps. Tomorrow, I’ll try to finish the dummy and the story board (after my library work). Then, I’ll take a stab at illustrating my cousin’s chapter book.

I love black and white illustrations. Last year, I took a chapter book / middle grade novel illustration workshop with Patrick Collins, Art Director for Henry Holt. It was fabulous! I am hoping to build a small portfolio before I go to the NJ SCBWI conference in June. Wish me luck!


Weeds!
If the weeds didn't choke anything I placed in the garden, they'd be kind of pretty to leave in there, especially the ones with the yellow flowers.

I love gardening (the veggie kind), but I really hate the weeds. They have invaded and taken over my garden space, and I dread the task of clearing them out. On the brighter side, my chamomile is up and there is a lot of it. Tomorrow, in my spare time, I’m going to harvest some of it.


Scouts scouts scouts…
I am up to my ears in Cub Scout stuff. I get at least five scout related emails a day now and at least one phone call. Now, if only they could make a flattering uniform for women that stayed tucked and buttoned… it would be nice if I didn’t need to wear a shirt underneath during the summer.

Scouts, Writing, and Frogs, Oh MY

A Scouting I will go…


Did you know that the Boy Scout program was modeled after The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling? I didn’t before my kids joined.

When my boys asked to join Cub Scouts, I was thrilled. My husband—not so much. The Cubmaster at the time convinced me to be a Tiger Den Leader. It was a scary idea at first, but it grew on me. I’ve been a den leader for three years now. The boys know me and sometimes joke around as if I’m not there. (excellent opportunity for story fodder) One of my scouts even called me “dude.” I’ve never been duded by a kid before.

My older son is now a Webelos, and my little one is a Wolf. They love Cub Scouts. So, when we found out that nobody wanted to be Cubmaster, and the pack would fold without one, I made a decision. Some may call me crazy, but I volunteered to be Cubmaster. Wish me luck. I have big shoes to fill. (My Webelos are very excited about it, by the way)


The Writing Life…

I will be stubborn. I will not give up. And I’ll revise until my fingers lock up or fall off. Then, I’ll type with my nose.

After the incredible responses from my local MG/YA critique group, I have redirected my writing focus. I’m working on my YA science fiction novel again.


Frog…

The frog is making croaking sounds. He is definitely out of hibernation, and I’m thinking about buying a few friends for him.

Cynthea Liu's Library Lovin’ Challenge

Do you love libraries? I do. I buy a lot of books, but I also check a lot out from the library. When I didn’t have money to spend on books as a kid, I could always rely on finding something to read.

Cynthea Liu is participating in the Library-Lovin’ Challenge organized by author writerjenn. As a thank you to the libraries, she is donating 10 cents to for every comment made on Cynthea's blog up to $100. So, hop on over and make a comment. She is giving away signed bookplates and a couple of lucky people will win a signed copy of her newest book, Paris Pan Takes a Dare.