Y IS FOR YES

Continuing with the Author ABCs...

The most important word an author needs to sling around is YES.

When an agent says she needs a proposal for a sequel: YES

When an editor says she needs the revisions by next Monday, and it's late Friday afternoon, and you were planning to go on an overnight date with your husband: YES

When a library wants to book your program, but doesn't have the funding: YES

When a striving writer asks you to read their first draft, and you don't really have time, but you remember being a striving writer... heck, you still ARE a striving writer: YES

When a brand new book blogger requests an interview: YES

Of course there are times when the answer needs to be "no," but choose wisely, my friends. You will get much farther in this writing business with YES.

X IS FOR X FACTOR

Continuing with the Author ABCs...

Okay, X is a tough letter to deal with. I considered "Xanadu," because it's such a cool word AND the best books invite us into a magical, unique, extra-special world... but then I decided it's not just about the world. It's about the characters within the world.

Which means, ultimately, it's about the magical, unique, extra-special undefineable something that exists within the AUTHOR.

And here's the thing: we've ALL got the X factor. Every single one of us. It just takes a little digging sometimes, a little re-frame, some dust and polish.

For instance, Hester Bass, author of THE SECRET WORLD OF WALTER ANDERSON composes original songs and sings at her school visits. Thomas Lakeman, author THE SHADOWCATCHERS (and others) uses theater techniques and will even dance (badly) to get a point across.

And while I can't do those particular things, that doesn't mean I don't have my own special thing to offer. And you do too.

Today, take some time to think about your own X Factor. Then tell me, because I want hear all about your magical, unique, extra-special undefineable selves. :)

DOUBLE ARC ALERT!

First up: THE MARK by Jen Nadol. I can't say enough about the main character Cass -- I want to know her in real life! This book tackles some heavy philosophical matters with such grace... I was thoroughly entertained and did NOT want this one to end.



Next: A MOST IMPROPER MAGICK by Stephanie Burgis. Stephanie's love of Jane Austen comes through loud and clear in Kat, the adorable, spunky unladylike girl who can't shake that magic mirror, even if she tries. Such a fun read!

BOOK CLUB

GREAT FRIENDS:



CREATIVE FOOD:



UNEXPECTED GIFTS:



It was a wonderful night -- kind of surreal talking about MY book, and holy goodness, was I ever touched and surprised by the sweet-family heirloom-totally appropriate-yellow quilt themed-one of a kind gift! I hung it right beside my desk so I gaze upon it all the time.

And for a girl who sometimes forgets to celebrate her successes, it was really wonderful to have friends make sure I didn't let this accomplishment slip by without sharing the joy!

Phyllis, Lori, Lisa, Randee, Vonda, Carol, Martha, Rhonda and Trina: Thank you thank you thank you!!!

FIVE FOR FRIDAY

1. Book club tonight. And we're talking about MY BOOK!!

2. NEW MOON tomorrow night. With the book club. We just can't get enough of each other. :)

3. Reading THE SMALL ADVENTURES of POPEYE AND ELVIS by Barbara O'Connor to Eric. Reading two Tenner ARCS to myself. And loving!!!

4. Thinking about turkey-n-dressing for Thanksgiving and missing my mother-in-law because she put so much LOVE in it, none of us wanted to leave the table ever.

5. Feeling like "grateful" is too wee a word for all I want to shove into it.

W IS FOR WRITER'S BLOCK

I was at a poetry reading recently during which someone asked the poet, "What's the cure for writer's block?"

And the poet said something along the lines of, I don't know because I don't get it.

We in the audience kind of rolled our eyes, because, yeah, right. And how un-helpful is that? It just seemed a high and mighty response to a really troubling issue for writers.

Here's my response: Get away from your desk. Go out into the world and find something interesting. Take a walk. Visit a museum. Fall in love. Spend time with a three-year-old or a ninety-three-year-old. Love the world, and you will be flooded with things to write about.

And while I'm here, I'd like to poke a hole in that whole "write every day" theory. You know those people you see on vacation who video every single moment? They are so busy trying to capture the vacation on film "so they can remember it" that they don't fully immerse themselves in the experience before them.

Well, for me, writing every day is just like that. It is my most fervent belief that the most important writing takes place in between sittings at the computer, in the quiet places, in the stillness. If you write every day, then those thoughts, feelings and ideas don't have time to properly marinate, they don't become a part of you. And let me tell you, they NEED to become a part of you to translate effectively to the page.

So, today, writers, let give ourselves permission to step away from the computer, to go out into the world and soak up some goodness -- to live a life worth writing about.

pic found here

BRAND NEW EMILY AND MORE

1. I just found out Ginger Rue, author of BRAND NEW EMILY is one of the Gingers I went to high school with!!

We were in this sorority-like group together called SAs (Service Association), and and I am just tickled that we are both introverted blondes who graduated class of 1988 Hewitt Trussvile High School and went on to publish our first midgrade novels within 6 months of each other! (She always was a little ahead of me :)

2. Billy Collins is coming to Birmingham! Southern Voices Conference, Feb. 18

3. Thanks to Corey-who-is-also-a-writer at Digital Marketing, my book trailer is almost ready! Now about distribution... goodness, do I have a lot to learn. Meanwhile, meet the Class of 2k10! Book trailer here.

4. I went to a wedding Saturday that was SO beautiful and SO romantic... the bride really did look like a princess. And my niece, who is an actual princess, was there too. Reminded me of my own sweet wedding, oh about 18 years ago.

5. Would the GOOD movies get here already?! Wanted to see COCO BEFORE CHANEL, but it was only showing past my bedtime. I am in need of a beautiful, emotional film....

ON ART AND SELFISHNESS

This week on Friday Night Lights, Matt, who is interning with a cranky artist, asked this question: what is the most important tool an artist needs?

And the answer was SELFISHNESS.

It sounds harsh, but it's also honest. Creating art does require selfishness. Ultimately, that's what art is about: the self. And that's who we should create for: ourselves.

That doesn't give us permission to be jerks, though. There's an art to the selfishness. It means we've got to carve out time to create, we've got to tell our kids, "No, Mom is working." We've got to tell friends we've had for twenty years that yes, we would love to get together, but no, we've got a deadline and just can't.

But then, at some point, we've got to come out of that cave and act like regular people. Which means remembering and expressing appreciation for those essential people in our lives who endure and support our creative efforts.

Otherwise we'll end up like the guy on the show, drunk most of the time, and alone. Or worse. And no art is worth that.

V IS FOR VOICE

Continuing with the Author ABCs...

So, voice. Really, it is my most favorite thing as a reader AND writer. And it's sort of difficult to describe -- it's kind of like the "it" factor Simon Cowell talks about on American Idol. When a book's got it, you know it. But it's sort of hard to say what IT is or how it came to be there in the first place.

All I know is that it's essential. And in my experience, you recognize it instantly. Like with the first draft of LEAVING GEE'S BEND, when I decided to change the main character in my Gee's Bend story to a girl. Then, quickly, decided to change pov from third person to first. All of sudden I had an authentic voice coming not from my head, but from the heart of my character. The difference was so profound and moving I can't adequately describe it here.

Okay, well, I guess it's like falling in love. You don't just fall in love with any old words on the page. It's got to be special. Voice is what makes a book special.

If you're having trouble with voice, keep at it. Yes, there are a lot of frogs out there. But there's also a prince....

IN WHICH I MENTION TWEEZERS

Diane over at The Book Resort is featuring a "Tenners Extravaganza" this month, and today I'm up! If you want to know how tweezers play into it, check it out. And while you're there, check out all the other great Tenner interviews!

Meanwhile, I am pushing my way through the last forty pages of Excellent Editor's edits on ESCAPE FROM FIRE MOUNTAIN. Huge changes going on... I'm at that point where my mind is working way faster than my fingers. This could be because I have been so busy catching up from my lovely long weekend, that I haven't had all that much time to be here, at the computer.

Today. I promise.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

1. My nephew Christopher who fell down a ventilator shaft six weeks ago comes home from the hospital today!

2. My mom is here. Fabric has been bought and as soon as possible the sewing machine will be humming.

3. We leave for Lake Guntersville today, where my amazing sister and sister-in-law will join us for scrapbooking and photography and food and other fun I probably shouldn't mention here.

4. My 2010 calendar is positively bulging! Thank you teachers and media specialists and parents who've invited me for school visits. It's gonna be fun!

5. My mouth is still garlicky from the spanakopita and other Greek wonderfulness I shared with Lindsey Leavitt and Kerry Madden at Do Di Yos. Yum!

U IS FOR US

Continuing with the Author ABCs...

As much as we writers spend time alone at a keyboard (or notebook or whatever), being an author is really about collaboration -- about taking the "me" and turning it into an "us."

This is not always easy, because let's face it, we writers generally like solitary. But when you get lucky and there's an agent whispering in your ear, or God bless you, and Excellent Editor, oh my, that is when the magic happens.

I really had no idea how much trust is involved in the Author/Editor relationship, or how the simple act of someone caring enough about my story to ask questions and make insightful comments would help that story become so much more.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, ignore that fierce desire to hold your story close to you and not change a thing. Allow the US to happen. You will look back on the experience with such joy and gratitude as you watch your story-seeds grow under all that Excellent Editor TLC.

And here's something else: as hard as it is, especially if your are introverted like me, involve others in your process. Tell people what you're doing, even when it's in the early stages. Let them be a part of your adventure. People will care about your project if only you'll invite them in...

picture found here

MEET THE CHARACTERS

Well, we have a winner of the GO YOUR OWN WAY HALL OF FAME CONTEST. But before we get to that, I want to share some pictures with you.

First, here's the whole class dressed up like characters from LEAVING GEE'S BEND. Don't they look wonderful?!

Here are some who chose to dress like Mama or Daddy or Baby Rose:

Next up, we have Ludelphia Bennett, the hero of our story:

Then Ludelphia's brother, Ruben, who has a secret:

Watch out for Mrs. Cobb and that shotgun!

Now meet Etta Mae, aka "the girl in the yellow dress":

And last but not least, Doc Nelson and Mrs. Nelson (Ludelphia meets them in Camden):


I was so touched to see so much creativity and enthusiasm from Mrs. Young and these kids! What a special day. Thank you, Mrs. Young's Yacht Club!!!

And now, drumroll please: the last ARC of LEAVING GEE'S BEND goes to... GLENDA BYARS of Gadsden, Alabama!! And I'll be sending $52 to the Gee's Bend Foundation. Thanks, everyone, for your wonderful suggestions! I will continue to invite nominations to the GO YOUR OWN WAY HALL OF FAME, and you can find the latest list here.

LAST CALL: GO YOUR OWN WAY HALL OF FAME

Mary Lee Bendolph, Bars and Blocks, 2003

Quick update, as call to nominate a character in a book or real life who goes his/her own way and possibly win an ARC of LEAVING GEE'S BEND ends November 1!

Newest additions:

BOOKS

Anne Shirley (ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by L.M. Montgomery)
Christy Huddleston (CHRISTY by Catherine Marshall)


REAL LIFE

Father James Edwin Coyle

Complete list (so far) here. Thanks, everyone, for your participation! And don't forget: for every entry I am donating $1.00 to the Gee's Bend Foundation!

LETTERS FROM MY FIRST READERS!

Mrs. Young at Inverness Elementary School has been a dear friend and champion of my writing for a long time, so it just seems right that she should be the one to introduce the world to Ludelphia and LEAVING GEE'S BEND.

Here's some examples of what they sent me:

A drawing of "The Witches of Gee's Bend"


A drawing of "The Red Cross"


And here are some quotes:

My favorite part was "When Ludelphia was in Mrs. Cobb's barn."

Something new I learned was "never ever run away from home. Gee's Bend is a real place. every Quilt tells a story."

Something I have in common with Ludelphia is "She keeps sekrets like me. I take care of my sister. i help my mom."

If I could tell my story in a quilt, I would use this kind of cloth: "1. Velvet 2. soft 3. cotten"

Sweetness, I tell you! And tomorrow the whole class is dressing up like characters from LEAVING GEE'S BEND for "Dress Like a Book Character" Day for the Anti-Drug Campaign! Will share pictures.

THANK YOU, JAN!!!!

T IS FOR TELL

Continuing with the Author ABCs...

We writers get all sorts of advice, and some of is even good. But it can also us astray.

For instance, the whole bit about action, how we've got to get in there and hook our reader, and keep things happening so they'll keep turning the pages.

Well, one of the biggest things I had to work on in revisions of LEAVING GEE'S BEND was too much action, not enough breathing space. Which is where the "tell" part of writing comes in. So my readers wouldn't be overwhelmed by all that action, so they would be able to process it and not feel like they were on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. I mean a wild ride is great and all, but you've got to take time afterward to recover. Use this space to tell the reader how your character is feeling, what they're thinking, what they see, hear, touch, taste. This is every bit as important as showing.

And it brings to mind something else on my Bucket List: take a class on storytelling. The verbal art of engaging people in a story. I want to be able to do that. Meanwhile, I'll keeping listening to Kathryn Tucker Windham. Her CD "God was Just Practicing When He Made Men" is one of my all-time favorites.

MENAGE A MONDAY

Today I'm trying to take down some of the paper-piles on my dining room table.

But I keep thinking about the crazy socks my youngest son wore to school today, for "Sock it to Drugs" Day. He's the first of my kids to actually participate in such an activity. Yeah, he's cool that way.

As for me, I think I'll go put on those toe socks my sweet sister gave me a few years back. That will give the girls at Girls, Inc. something to giggle about when I go talk with them later about LEAVING GEE'S BEND. It even sorta fits the theme, as one of the things the Red Cross sent Gee's Bend the winter of 1933 was socks. Hmmm... now the wheels are turning...

I'm super-excited about the return of Friday Night Lights to cable. This is the ONLY show I really watch. Wednesday night. Riggins. Be there.

AND I just bought this for my grandmother who is turning 92. I just wish I could be there to watch her open the box and ooh and aah over it like it's the Best Thing Ever. What a sweet girl she is!

Wishing all of you a happy Monday.

READING FRIDAY

So I am writing this post ahead of time, because Friday I have reserved for reading.

See, I'm taking this Newbery class through ALSC, in which we are asked to read a Newbery title from each decade. This week we are on 60s, 70s, 80s. Trouble is, I am still behind one title from last week (30s, 40s, 50s) -- THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND, which I remembered loving, but didn't remember why.

Well, for those of you who also need a refresher, it's historic, about learning to live in a new world, and there's a slow romance brewing. Good stuff...

Also this week I have read (listened to) Beverly Cleary's DEAR MR. HENSHAW. All wannabe writers should read it, as it's about a wannabe writer. Lots of gems in there.

So two and a half Newberys to go before next week gets here. And oh, the stack is so tall on my nightstand! Hoping to whittle that sucker down a little.

Anybody else reading today?

S IS FOR SHOW ME

Continuing with the Author ABCs... whew, getting there!

So, S. We've all heard the golden rule of writing: Show, don't tell. But what does it really mean?

Well, I heard editor Cheryl Klein at MidSouth conference last month describe it this way: when you you show what's happening, or rather dramatize... you are allowing the reader to REACT to the scene rather than just taking the author's word for it.

Her explanation couldn't have come at a better time for me. Because in my revisions of ESCAPE FROM FIRE MOUNTAIN, according to Excellent Editor's notes, I was asking the reader to take my word for how they should feel instead of working to CREATE the feeling. (As my editor writes, "doesn't feel earned.")

Which means I can't tell the reader Cass and Havi are inexplicably drawn to each other. I have to show that happening, I have to create scenes in which that attraction is evident, I have to give the reader concrete evidence in dialogue or action that proves they are drawn to each other, making it not inexplicable at all, but there in black and white for the reader to see.

And it's hard. Showing is hard. Sometimes simply because it's hard to find innovative ways to express certain emotions, like a character's fear or nervousness. (Found in the margin of Excellent Editor's latest mark-ups: "stomach is doing lots of things." Which means I've got to break out the sweaty palms or somesuch. :)

But when showing works... oh man. Now THERE'S a good feeling. And yes, those are the books I am most attached to as a reader. So this week, I challenge you to show me. Not the money -- the story.

And stay tuned for next week's T post... all about why we must also TELL (drawn from my own hard-learned lesson in writing LEAVING GEE'S BEND).

"GO YOUR OWN WAY" HALL OF FAME UPDATE

Wanted to share some of the latest nominations to the "Go Your Own Way" Hall of Fame. Contest runs through November 1st, so send me your entries (email, blog comments, FB comments or tweet them @Irene_Latham)!

I'm looking for characters in books and real life who go their own way. Nominees will find a permanent home on a page of my website (currently here, but list is growing so fast, I will soon launch a very special Hall of Fame page!) Then I'll put all the names in a hat (or bowl or pumkin or dog dish), and the winner will receive an ARC (Advance Review Copy) of LEAVING GEE'S BEND!

This contest was launched through my very first Irene's Adventures in Writing newsletter, which will be an occasional (quarterly at best) publication full of contests and suggested adventures and poetry and news and great quotes and basically stuff you don't want to miss... sign up here.

Oh yeah. For every entry, I am donating $1.00 to the Gee's Bend Foundation. Total is at $24 so far. Keep those nominations coming!

Drum roll please....

BOOKS:

Amelia Bedelia (AMELIA BEDELIA by Peggy Parish)
Huck Fin (THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN BY MARK TWAIN)
Stephen Dedalus (A PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST)
Frodo (LORD OF THE RINGS BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN)
Sam (LORD OF THE RINGS BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN)
Trosclair (TROSCLAIR AND THE ALLIGATOR by Peter Huggins)
Aaron Cash (IN THE COMPANY OF OWLS by Peter Huggins)
Charley (TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY by John Steinbeck)
Luther T. Farrell (BUCKING THE SARGE by Christopher Paul Curtis)


REAL LIFE:

Mary E. Walker (fought for women's rights during the Civil War)
James Dean (actor)
Randy Pausch (author)
Jeanne Goforth (CEO of Scrollworks)
Lily Rodman (nominated by her mother, Mary Ann Rodman)
Leah Marks (nominated by her father, Barry Marks)
John Steinbeck (author)

R IS FOR RAW

Today I will continue with the series of Author ABCs...

I sat on a panel of writers at a conference recently, and I was really bothered by the information being dished out. Basically there was this idea being tossed about as fact that to get published, manuscripts had to be PERFECT. More specifically, the comments made indicated that agents/editors will read to the first typo, then they'll toss the manuscript.

Okay, first of all, there is a time for perfection, and it sure isn't at the point of submission to an editor or agent. I would be willing to bet that the typo in the scenario was in a manuscript already unloved, and merely ONE reason to toss it. If that manuscript had been raw, but with goodness and potential, I suspect the editor/agent would have overlooked the typo.

As poetry editor at Birmingham Arts Journal, that's what I do. I am way more interested in content, particularly raw emotional content, than I am in spit and polish. I mean, an author can polish the life right out of a piece. I'd much rather read something raw and work with an author to improve it.

Also, in my own experience of pretty much learning on the job with this whole writing business,I can tell you with certainty that the manuscript that sold for LEAVING GEE'S BEND was a mess. A raw mess full of heart. I'm just glad my agent and editor were able to see it shining forth from a million mistakes that were often more than just typos.

Wishing all of you the same good fortune!

TUESDAY A.M. PROJECT

So I joined Birmingham Quilters Guild last month, and one of the first projects for new members is to create a quilted nametag.

You should see some of the amazing nametags these quilters wear... yes, it's a wee bit intimidating. But I'm not afraid to make mistakes, and I really like getting things done, so.... I attended part of a workshop (led by the gracious and delightful Elsie) in which I proceeded to make MANY mistakes and yes, did get my own quilted nametag almost done.

Then my mom came into town. And we looked over my project and discussed all the ways I could make it better. (Have I mentioned my mom is an AMAZING seamstress?) And I decided to start over.

Here's how it went the second time around:





Thanks, Mom!

WHY TODAY IS A VERY GOOD DAY

Any time ANYONE is celebrating poetry, I am totally on board. So, yay for poetry! Yay for National Poetry Day in Britain! And it's perfect timing too. Because this weekend will be chock-full of poetry and poets and all things wonderful and delicious.

First up: Birmingham Arts Journal reading/release party tonight. It is always so much fun to meet the contributors after I have fallen in love with their words. I always come away thinking, wow, the world is an amazing place.

Friday: The First Annual Gulf Coast Poetry Tour. I'm joining in the fun on the last leg of the tour, at Art Walk in Mobile. Many thanks to Rob Gray who is awesome. If you know him, I don't have to explain.

Also tomorrow: a workshop with Lorna Dee Cervantes. I am SO EXCITED to learn from Lorna. And I've been in a bit of a poetry slump since completing the historical women's series. I need some new juice, and I bet Lorna is just the gal to bring it.

Then, on Saturday, I'll be talking about WRITING WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW with the Pensters at Fairhope Public Library. Which reminds me. Need to work on speech.

Wishing everyone beautiful words today.

TWO ARC ALERT!

In the past week, it has been my good fortune to read two more books written by Tenners:



FORGET-HER-NOTS by Amy Brecount White is all about the magic of flowers with a healthy dose of love and poetry thrown in for good measure. I loved learning the language of flowers and wanted to BE Laurel at the very end of the book.



THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY is just what you'd expect from the ever-amazing Kay Cassidy. It's all about girl power and the secret lives of cheerleaders. Readers will love Jess in this super-fun read!

Next up: 1930 Newbery-Award winning HITTY Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field and Dorothy P. Lathrop for the class I am taking from ALSC on the past, present and future of the Newbery Award. I've learned so much in just a few days!

Q IS FOR QUESTIONS

Wow, raining here. A lot. Makes me wish I was under a tin roof somewhere tucked away in the woods. More on that later.

Continuing with the Author ABCs...

When you're writing, every story starts with a question: "WHAT IF?" What if I lived in 1932 Gee's Bend? What if I was blind in one eye? What if my mother got sick and there wasn't a doctor? What if I was only ten years old and was barefooted and had never been out of Gee's Bend?

Then it's just a matter of asking "WHAT NEXT?" over and over and over again, until you've created a story that makes the reader so eager to know the answer to the question that s/he keeps turning the pages.

When you're revising, it's all about questions too. Or at least it has been in my experience, with one Extremely Excellent Editor. She doesn't rush in and try to fix things for me, she asks questions so that I can find a way to fix it myself. Questions like "WHY?" and "WHAT FOR?" and "REALLY?" (That last one always makes me smile.)

Also, did you know "questions are not an effective storytelling device"? Yeah. I've had to cut a gazillion questions in my current wip. (Apparently I really like asking myself questions and think characters should too.)

The whole publishing process is full of questions, many of which don't have answers. It's definitely a hurry up and wait kind of business. Infuriating at times, but great too, for those of us who can appreciate a little mystery in life.

And let's not forget the pitch, the very first and probably most common question asked of writers: WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?" or "WHAT'S YOUR BOOK ABOUT?" Yeah. Tougher than it sounds.

WELCOME HOME!

After five long years, the quilts of Gee's Bend will be back in Alabama, at Berman World Museum, starting TOMORROW!! Check 'em out!

Also, as part of Banned Books week, Andrea Cremer, author of forthcoming NIGHTSHADE, posted something by yours truly on her blog today. Scroll back, because I love smart, thoughtful, history-loving Andrea's posts. Can't wait for the start of The Witches' War Saga!

FINALLY FALL

Today is a great day. Why, you ask? Because finally FINALLY it is not raining, and when I went out to collect the morning paper, I actually shivered. Love it!

I had all sorts of wonderful adventures over the weekend, starting with a visit to the Carter House in Franklin, Tennessee, with wonderful writing compatriots Pat Weaver, Sheila Renfro and Jana Hutcheson. I found out there are lots of Civil War stories that still need to be told, and when I spied the above trail of mushrooms, I just couldn't resist pretending to be a mouse or frog or cricket and getting way down low for the shot.

Aside from exchanging books (my to-be-read pile is positively towering now) and talking about writing and life in general, Pat gave me this family heirloom:



I know! Amazing, right? Pat thinks her husband's mother quilted it sometime during WWII, out of genuine sack-cloth. So yes, it may not be a Gee's Bend quilt, but this work of LOVE is totally traveling with me as I go to schools for LEAVING GEE'S BEND.

We had fun and learned a lot at MidSouth SCBWI conference in Nashville. I came away inspired to write FAST, thanks to Caroline Cooney. If an opportunity arises for you to hear Caroline speak, don't miss it! Really a goldmine of information.

And to all those who, like Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich a.k.a Bemi, author of Eighth Grade Superzero (which I can't wait to read!), get to work with editor Cheryl Klein of Arthur A. Levine Books, wow, you lucky dogs, you! It was great to see friends and make new ones. I was especially happy to finally meet Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, author of Autumn Winifred Oliver Does Things Different. I'd love to get her to Alabama for a historical fiction workshop.

I skipped out early (and missed P.f. Chang's with friends -wah!) so I could hang out with my little brother and his sweet family, who live just a hop away from Nashville -- so very good to see 'em!

And now I'm contemplating a POV change from first person present to third person past. Stay tuned...

P IS FOR PATIENCE

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful, thoughtful comments about my book banning experience. Our world is a fascinating place.

Now. Continuing with the Author ABC's...

I should admit right up front that patience is not one of my virtues. I don't like to wait, I like to get things done NOW. And while that means I can easily handle deadlines and am a genius at multitasking, it also means I have regrets. For all those times when I wasn't patient.

Like when I dashed off a manuscript before it was ready. Or submitted an unworkshopped poem to a contest and won third place, when a workshopped poem might have won me first place. Or answered an email quickly, to get it off my to-do list, then thought about it and wished I had responded another way.

So, patience for me as a writer means being patient with myself most of all. There is nothing I can do about the glacial pace of the publishing industry. And let's face it, I'm not going to change my personality -- I am, and always will be impatient. I just have to be okay with making mistakes.

Getting there. :)

IS "AFTERBIRTH" MY "SCROTUM"?

So I've just had my first experience with book banning. Turns out, some members of the "committee" at a local elementary school who were considering my book for an event were offended by the inclusion of "afterbirth" in LEAVING GEE'S BEND. The committee decided not to invite me for the event.

Last time I checked, we ALL come into this world the same way. Afterbirth is part of the deal. And it's one line of dialogue, ONE LINE, included as a way to tell the reader something about the character and setting of the novel.

It reminds me of the hoopla surrounding Susan Patron's Newbery-Award winning THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY. Of course on a very miniature scale.

Laurie Halse Anderson is also battling this issue. See here for recent details.

What's to be done about it? I don't know. As authors, we go into this knowing our words will not please everyone. But "afterbirth" ?? Come on!

For an interesting take on Banned Book Week, check out this post (also where I got the photo).

A HIGHER CALLING

I have a new favorite writing quote. I found it in the latest issue of Writer's Digest magazine, thanks to my sister who has given me a gift subscription for oh, about ten years now. Every writer needs a sister like that.

The quote is near the end of an article about creating characters, which is my current challenge as I work to better develop the relationships in ESCAPE FROM FIRE MOUNTAIN (with the help of Amazing Agent).

Okay, I can't put it off any longer.

"Your highest calling is not to sell books or get famous, but to awaken mercy within your readers."

- Steve Almond

Mercy, people! I love it!!!

A POEM BY LUDELPHIA

Ever written a poem in the voice of your main character?

I'm working on one, using the "I am from" exercise (which I adore and have used many times with students) set forth in ON WRITING ALONE AND WITH OTHERS by Pat Schneider.

For George Ella Lyon's "Where I'm From," click here. Everyone should give this kind of poem a shot -- there is absolutely no wrong way to do it!

So here's my off-the-top of my head start. It's just a list really. I'll set about organizing next.

I Am From

by Ludelphia Bennett

the triangle of denim over my right eye
scraps of cloth torn from Mama’s apron
a curve in the Alabama River
orange dirt that likes to settle right between your toes
every quilt tells a story
needle and thread in my pocket
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Ruben’s fishing pole and Etta Mae’s yellow dress
a sliver of hickory that went flying form Daddy’s ax,
then had to go and land square in my eye
Mama always said
and Delilah braying like there’s no tomorrow
cornshuck mattress
newspaper plastered walls
Aunt Doshie and broken eggs
cotton fields


Roundup is at at Becky's Book Reviews . Check it out!

O IS FOR OMG

OMG There's an email from an agent in my inbox!

OMG She likes my story, she really likes it!

OMG The revision letter is NINE PAGES LONG. Single-spaced.

OMG I can't do this. I don't know how to make this character work. I don't know why I wrote that. I don't know how to fix it. I don't know I don't know I don't know.

OMG That's it! I can do this, which will set up that, and everything else will fall into place!

OMG I am so SICK of this story. I can't keep going. I just can't.

OMG I am totally using that (tidbit overhead in the restroom at KFC) in a story.

OMG [Insert favorite author's name here] blurbed my book!

OMG The deadline is when?!

OMG I haven't eaten or exercised or whittled away at the mound of laundry or gone to WalMart. And now it's time to pick up the kids!

OMG The cover! The cover!

OMG My mother is reading my book. My kids are reading my book. My husband is reading my book. Strangers are reading my book!

FOUR ARC WEEKEND

I gotta say: Tenners are awesome. What a feast of reading I had this weekend! And such eclectic fare!! I am completely inspired to write MORE and BETTER after reading these books:

THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN by Josh Berk. A Sherman Alexie-esque novel with a wonderfully funny self-deprecating boy voice. And tender too! DON'T MISS THIS ONE.


THREE RIVERS RISING by Jame Richards. Historical fiction written in verse -- do I have to say I absolutely ADORED this novel?? Great characters, and the story soars above the historical facts in a way I totally admire and strive for in my own writing. LOVED it.


The Naughty List by Suzanne Young. A FUN cheerleaders-as-spies story. I rooted for Tess all the way and will be interested to see what happens next in the series.


The Line by Teri Hall. A futuristic story full of imagination and suspense. I really did NOT want this one to end... and there's orchids! PAGE-TURNER.