Archive for October 2010
Borders, Books, and Pirates
Yo Ho Heave Ho! Posting’s been light this week because — wait for it — I’ve been in the land of mermaid and princesses. And survived to tell the tale. (Ariel survived my eye-rolling, too.) Before our arrival and departure, I spent some time in the airport bookstores searching for my “plane book” — a…
Read MoreI’m All About Strong Heroines (Unless They Have Fins, Not Feet)
Here’s a secret — my daughter, at the age of nine, has yet to see The Little Mermaid. And it’s not because I forgot, or couldn’t find it in my movie queue, or happened to overlook it at the dvd store. It’s on porpoise. (Cue the bad pun/mean mother music here.) When I was pregnant,…
Read MoreFive Bad Things About Heroines
So. Today’s post is brought to you by author Erin Blakemore. Erin lives in Colorado, is a (former) roller derby queen, and has a debut book out this week. Titled The Heroine’s Bookshelf, it’s an inspiring look at literature’s greatest and most enduring female characters, ranging from Laura Ingalls to Lizzie Bennet. Learn more and…
Read MoreWho's Your Heroine?
As a kid, I learned how to read relatively late — I think it was the end of first grade — but once I started, I couldn’t stop. I read everything that would hold still — cereal boxes, billboards, even The Thornbirds in fifth grade (I loaned that one to my teacher, Sister Mary Rose. …
Read MoreHello in Five Words
This week I’m obsessing about two things: plot and State of Play. As a writer, plot is where I work the hardest. I have a hard time saying hello in less than five words. Writing query letters killed me (if I could tell the story in one page, why bother with a 320 page novel?).…
Read MoreA Trying Day
Yesterday was a trying sort of day. I kept trying to write, but kept getting distracted. The slavering beast kept trying to remove the gutters from the house. (He succeeded, too, despite his bleeding gums.) My son kept trying to launch rockets onto inappropriate places, such as the top of the media cabinet,…
Read MoreI'll Show You Mine ..
It has been pointed out to me that asking what your favorite book is without sharing my own isn’t quite fair. So, here goes: I don’t have one. If you’ve been following along, you’ll have noticed that in my last post I mentioned I have an entire bookcase filled with favorites. So how can I…
Read MoreOf Turtles and Tales and Prize Number 2
So. Here’s a secret. I have a lot of books. There are books on the coffee table, books next to the bed, books by the bathtub, and a few left in random places like on the cellar stairs or on top of the puppy’s crate. But they are just the tip of the iceberg —…
Read MoreThat Sinking Feeling
“Would Columbus have discovered America if he’d said ‘What if I sink on the way over? What if I meet pirates? What if I never come back?’ He wouldn’t even have started.” Willy Wonka, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator I am, in the words of my best beloved, an Eyore. Give me good news,…
Read MoreHowling Hounds, Slavering Beasts and Prize Pick
My son and my dog are kindred spirits, separated mainly by species. They delight in causing chaos, and have a devil-may-care glint in their eyes at the most inappropriate moments. Like this: I’m frantically trying to get dressed in the 30 seconds allotted on the morning schedule when my son comes whipping into the bathroom.…
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