Monthly Archives: November, 2014
The Late, and Always Great, Diana Wynne Jones
I discovered Diana Wynne Jones (1934-2011) in her twilight years. I think I bough Howl’s Moving Castle within the last ten years. But that started a flurry of reading and book buying to bring me up to speed. Diana Wynne Jones was an English writer who wrote many novels for kids. Howl’s Moving Castle, the …
Gratitude Fills Me
Gratitude. Gratefulness. Appreciation. Thanks. Thankfulness. That is what this time of year is all about, right? If you are in America, this is the time we celebrate Thanksgiving. A time where historically pilgrims gave thanks for their lives in the new world. And a time when we in the modern day are supposed to pause, …
Monday Morning Pick-Me-Up
Let’s face it. Mondays are rough. The end of the freedom that came with the weekend, the start of a long week, the return to work. To help ease you into your week, I would like to share a little something that made me smile. This guy has the BEST job ever!!
Banning The Giver of Memories
I have many books by Lois Lowry on my shelves. I started reading her when I was around eleven. A Summer to Die (1977) was the first book I read that dealt with the death of a child, and I felt so sad and so grown up in reading it. Having a sister of my own, …
An Editor Is A Writer’s Best Friend
I just completed the three month process of working with an editor on my book. Phew! 🙂 Many people, even some friends and family, have asked why it is such a long process to publish a book. I mean, you wrote it. So, can’t you just upload it to Amazon and push “publish?” Why all …
Monday Morning Pick-Me-Up
Let’s face it. Mondays are rough. The end of the freedom that came with the weekend, the start of a long week, the return to work. To help ease you into your week, I would like to share a little something that made me smile. I would love to just be able to sit down …
Finding Terebithia Again
I don’t remember how old I was when I first found Bridge to Terabithia (1977) by Katherine Paterson. I do remember how magical it felt then, and how magical it still felt when I reread it as an adult. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure, this Newberry winner is about two kids who become …
Self-Publishing is NOT a Consolation Prize
Before I began this journey to self-publishing my first book, I thought about going the traditional route. I researched publishers and query letters and agents. I wrote a half-hearted not-so-eyecatching cover letter and emailed exactly one agent. And I got a lovely letter back within 24 hours. It thanked me for sending my query letter …
Catching Fireflies 