Jen K Blom - Children's Author

Watch out, Berlin! And Germany!

2012-12-10T10:26:00.001+01:00

Well, the secret is out. Mostly.

Last week I:

- Gave notice to my job.

- Started a company.

- Finished the official webpage for said company.

Let me introduce MY NEW COMPANY (which already has customers ohmahgawh!):

TRISKELE LITERARY SERVICES

This is right up my alley, and the entire thing has fallen into place with an ease that frankly astonishes me. I guess they're right when they recommend to do what you love!

This doesn't mean I'm stopping writing. What this means is that I now have a job that enables me writing time on the clock AND an excuse to read anything I can get my hands on.

So YAY for me! And YAY for Germany, this is gonna be awesome for all of us!!!

New Book! New Book! New Book!

2012-11-08T10:03:00.002+01:00

So the secret is out - I've sold a new book!

And it's a German National!

I contacted Ernst Klett Verlag some time back, and heard back from my (now) editor some months later. They wanted some Western-tinged ideas for their readers, and I was happy to oblige! We worked out all the details, including the title, and I'm thrilled to say that

OUT OF THE WILD: Billy and the Red Horse Challenge

will be released by ERNST KLETT VERLAG in June 2013 here in Germany! I love this book - it focuses on a brilliant aspect of the horse world! I'm so excited!

Timeline of a Love

2012-08-28T21:51:00.001+02:00

I have talked about this particular book of mine before. Here's its timeline:

1. Had initial idea right after finishing Possum Summer's first ever draft. The boy's eyes, man! They spoke to me.

SIX years ago.

2. Started rough draft immediately. Wrote in the train and at home. Only bother-er was my shadow cat, who insisted on sitting on my lap.

3. Halfway thru and hit a brick wall. This was before plotting had occurred to me. Too stubborn to stop writing it, so I blundered thru it and wrote the end. Decided I wasn't good enough yet to do it justice. Set it aside.

4. Let's be clear: I wanted to read this book. I loved the subject material and it was an alternate history/ fantasy, which wasn't in my field (contemporary animal/human relationships)

5. Let it sit for the next five years, where a kid, a huge move, new jobs and oh yeah, Possum Summers publication had me working on other things.

6. With the sale of my second book, I began to think about it again. I had done everything everyone wanted, I didn't have a new book out (my choice, I won't do another book on synop again!) I wanted to write something for me, purely for my pleasure.

7. So in January of this year I started brainstorming.

8. Today, I think I finally finished what I need to have before I start this rewrite: a strong chapter layout, extensive worldbuilding notes, and the will to see it properly finished.

I start the rewrite tomorrow night and I am so excited.

Have you ever had a book like this?

Crazy. two times in a week!

2012-07-04T12:09:00.003+02:00

Last night, I finished something.

Let me back up.

I am a super impatient person. Like, IMPATIENT. I always want things to be done yesterday, and it's never worked out for me in writing even though I try to MAKE it. Oh, and -

I also really like to control things. ALSO another place where me and writing don't mix.

So I've had to learn some things. And I think, I really do think, that I have learned them with the last revision of this book, SCAR-FIN. (I've talked about it before).

I'd like to take a moment and write down a couple things for myself to read when I'm agonizing over the next revision (of this book or any other) (because there's always a new revision coming up).

Dear Jen:

1. Good job, man. It wasn't easy, but you got it done.
2. Have patience. No one is going to publish this book, because it is YOUR book. You wrote it.
3. Do not despair. There is light at the end of the tunnel, even if you can't see it now.
4. You think it's done? Read it like a really mean reader. THEN see if you're happy with it.
5. Let it sit. Get great readers, and have them read it mean.
6. MEAN IS KEY.
7. It needs to be flipping AWESOME, yo. Good ain't good enough.
8. When in doubt, use the Dr Pepper as your carrot. *hee-haw!*

Patience, grasshopper.

You made it.

I'M BACK!

2012-07-02T17:46:00.003+02:00

*knock knock*

*Clears throat*

This thing on?

*waves*

HI!!!!!!

How have you guys BEEN?

I know it's been a long time no hear on this blog, and for that, I'm sorry. But we've recently made some changes in our lives that allow yours truly to have two hours in between work and kid duty purely to write and revise and be well, a writer, so I decided I would put this baby blog back to work!

I would ask you, though, to click on over to FB and "like" my author page if you want! Or not want!

My Facebook page

I'll be here much more regularly, now.

Vivia la writing, yo! And I'm glad to be back!

So yeah, me and Bankstreet?

2012-04-11T15:12:00.002+02:00

BFFS FOREVER. LIKE THIS.

LIKE THIS:

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK COMMITTEE at the Bank Street College of Education strives to guide librarians, educators, parents, grandparents and other interested adults to the best books for children published each year. The all-volunteer committee includes educators, librarians, authors, parents and psychologists who share a passion for and expertise in the world of children’s literature. Young reviewers from all over the country, ages 2–18, read and evaluate many of our books as well.

In choosing books for the annual list, reviewers consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes. Nonfiction titles are further evaluated for accuracy and clarity. Each book accepted for the list is read and reviewed by at least two committee members and then discussed by the committee as a whole.

Holy crap on a STICK, people!

POSSUM SUMMER MADE THE BEST OF 2012 BANKSTREET LIST! OMGsOMGsOMGsOMGsMGsOMGs!

Looks like it's pizza tonight!

I'm interviewed at the OWL!

2012-03-28T08:43:00.001+02:00

Jill, the fantabulous owner of the OWL for MG books, interviewed me, and she's hosting a giveaway of a signed hardback of POSSUM SUMMER and a LOOKBOOK!

You don't want to miss this.

Go check it out!

2012-03-11T16:24:00.001+01:00

Just because it's so cool, I present

Ratatouille, the snow-boarding possum!

Favorite lines from books - the Alex Bledsoe edition

2012-01-24T12:55:00.002+01:00

I'm starting a small little blog subject every once in awhile with the most awesome topic of "favorite lines". Because everyone has a favorite line, right? Somewhere?

My particular problem is that I have no clear-running favorite. But ... but ... others do!

And I have the lovely and talented Mr. Alex Bledsoe on my blog today to discuss his. And it's TOTALLY AWESOME.

Take it away, sir.

----

Recently on Facebook, novelist Jacquelyn Mitchard asked for people's favorite lines from books. At first I was tempted to go with my favorite joke, a line from Elmore Leonard's novel Get Shorty:

The guy who sung the national anthem was doing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Which wasn't exactly true, Chili thought, standing at the edge of the deck looking down.

Or my favorite snappy comeback, from Robert B. Parker's Ceremony, in which private detective Spenser tells some thugs he's already disarmed twice before:

“Next time it might be easier if you just mail me your guns."

But I realized she wasn't asking for funniest lines, but best. And there's only one contender for that . It's from Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness. And no, it's not, "The horror...the horror!" It's actually an earlier line from Mr. Kurtz, when he's delirious:

"I had such plans!"

In the context of Conrad's novella, this line encompasses everything evil, base and primitive, hiding in plain sight in the form of the "enlightened" European, Mr. Kurtz. It also stands in for the whole colonial impulse that drove the European Caucasians into Africa, convinced they were so superior they'd be seen as gods by a grateful populace and, when that didn't happen, still convinced they were right to embark on programs (pograms?) of genocide. After all, this is the same Kurtz who wrote a lengthy treatise on how to enlighten the native tribes, then scrawled over these fine typed lines, "Exterminate all the brutes!"

To be fair, I always hear the line in my head the way Anthony Quayle reads it on the audiobook. His Kurtz voice sounds a lot like Patrick Stewart (not deliberately, since this was recorded in 1969). But while that may be the first reason I noticed it (much like "noticing" Hamlet's soliloquy the first time you hear it performed), it's stuck with me because of the richness it conveys about the character, the story and humankind in general.

We all have regrets ("such plans!"), and we all have secret atrocities scrawled across the enlightened thoughts of our lives that we'd love to carry out in a world devoid of meaning, purpose and conscience. Luckily, we haven't quite reached that world yet, and like Kurtz, our plans will never see the light of day. But in fiction we can call them up, examine them, and see them for what they truly are: "the horror."

DONE! DONE! DONE!

2012-01-10T14:42:00.002+01:00

I haven't had much to say about this revision other than it kicking my butt. It was hard to do, for some reason, which is the funny thing. I mean, I'm a HORSE PERSON. I love horses. Why all the whinging and fuss about REVISING A HORSE BOOK?!

Well. It's a different thing writing something that your editor wants and you know will be good, and not the "horsie!!" lust drivel you have had in your head for ages. Frankly, this revision was like pulling teeth. But I showed up every day, and I put my hours in, and I do believe it's better than it was before.

I'm DONE with the revision, baby!!

Done!

What a nice thing to write. Now I just have to adjust the first couple chapters some, add some bits and pieces, read thru it and then deliver to my betas. I'm going to have it done ON TIME!

The relief, it burns!

So now I'm off to pick up the kid and a Dr Pepper and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.

Because I DESERVE IT.

YAHOOOO!!!!

RESOLUTIONS 2012

2012-01-02T13:13:00.003+01:00

I have been seeing resolutions all over. And since I want to be more consistent (having let things slide while I screwed around with this stupid leg of mine) I'm starting today! Consistency FTW!

Here are mine. What are yours?

Resolutions

Author-related

1. Finish 2 stories (Operation Hitchcock AND Feathers). This includes:

. First draft

. Long and short synopsis

. Completely revised and ready to submit

2. Revise ScarFin. This is a book worthy of being sold and it's just sitting there collecting dust.

3. 1 blog post a week. That can't be that hard, right?

4. Promote and prepare for BLUE APPALOOSA (Holiday House, 2012) HEY YOU know any good horse review blogs? *ha ha*

5. Have implemented my "JKB takes Germany" workshops plan (more on this later)

Personal-related

1. By end of 2012 be pain-free and walking without ANY CRUTCHES!

2. Actively work on being more realistic in my expectations - aka "Denial-be-gone"

3. Mop my kitchen floor every other night (I know this is weird, but I have a SUPER HUGE hangup about the floor being clean and I am not so consistent always)

4. Pet the cats more.

5. Start Loki with horses. (Find a stable which will allow me to rent-a-pony, in which time I shall start to prepare Loki for her life as an Olympic gold medalist. No pressure. :) )

6. Actively make date nights (including babysitter!). Because my darling husband deserves a relaxing night every month or so. :-)

New Years Resolutions.

2011-12-30T12:35:00.003+01:00

Because dude, I haven't been here in forever!

But I have been snowed under. Luckily, things have cleared up enough that I can check in!

How you been?

Here's mine:

1. Revising. This book has been quite difficult to revise. It's the first book I've sold on three chapters, which I won't do again, I don't think. I like to have the time to think about the book as it comes out, and not write purely off a synopsis. So We'll See. I hope to have it finished by next week for crit buds to have a look at it. Keep your fingers crossed?

2. Resolutions. I have some, though they are yet unformed and not 100% "fest", as they say here. I'll post probably Monday about them. Then I can go thru the blogoverse and see what everybody else is doing. Ha.

3. Foot is still being a total ass. I wish I could get a bionic one. Not only would I be a part-cylon then (BSG FTW!!!!) I would have a foot that I could depend on. Because right now I still can't depend on this foot - and it's been a YEAR since I broke it tomorrow. Yeah.

OH YEAH!

And THE SPOTTED PONY has a new name! I really like it. It has a sort of timeless feel. Are you ready?

BLUE APPALOOSA

And it's coming out in 2012!!!! Cool, no?

Done rolling over

2011-11-07T20:58:00.003+01:00

If you know me in real life (or follow me on this blog, or twitter, or have liked me on Facebook), you'll know I'm a pretty easy going girl. Stubborn, but relatively easy going. I listen to people in charge, pay my taxes, and do what I'm told to do (when it comes to health stuff) without a whimper. I regularly ignore the new media things my hubs swears at me about, then pick them up later and act like it was all my idea. (ha!)

You might know I have been struggling with a broken leg that rapidly developed some rather ... unusual ... complications this last year, resulting in three surgeries, a VERY odd infusion, and more money spent on taxis than I care to count. Me (and my poor family) have been thru the wringer, and I've been pretty severely depressed this year.

Welp, I got some new bad news today which means bad bone stuff going on happening into next year. And to be frank, it killed me. Just killed me.

This last weekend I scrambled around FRANTICALLY, trying to find something or someone to be strong for me, because all my strength was gone. Tell me that it would be okay, that I would make it. I am the mama, and the wife, right? I have to be okay. But all my fight had trickled away, and I was stuck looking at myself as a thirty-MUMBLE something, with a house, a job wanting me back, an energetic baby expecting 120% and a VERY long-suffering husband who needed me there for him too. You know, a life? Yeah. I'd gradually moved away from having one this last year.

And today, as I sat on my sofa reeling from the thought of more things being done to me that I wasn't sure I wanted, I realized something very important: I was sick of rolling over. Sick of letting others determine what is best for me and my leg, sick of not checking into what they want to do, sick. Sick, sick, sick.

I had this feeling a lot when I was writing, back before I was published. The "I can't TAKE another rejection" or "that critter must be smoking CRACK to not like what I wrote there! Hello!" but as Jim Butcher so eloquently (and recently) said, there ain't no free lunch.

I was done, pilgrim. The line had been crossed.

I would need to become an expert, just as I had to with my writing career. I could beat this with the right materials, the right background. The right doctors. And as I sat staring at my husband at our dinner table I felt a bit of ... strength, come back in. Purpose. I mean, it's gotten as bad as it can get, right, so what can I do? I can roll the eff over or I can meet this puppy head-on. And I'm done rolling, so I guess there's no other solution. I didn't let anybody tell me no about my writing, so why start with the leg? No way. And you shouldn't either, but that's a post for another day.

So since this isn't just an "author" blog, but "my" blog, I'm looking for answers. I want to know if you know orthopedists, bone docs, or anybody that has experience with bone cysts in long bones.

Because I'm dang dong done with it. The game is ON.

Good news, and bad news.

2011-11-02T12:01:00.002+01:00

Well, I covered this news pretty much here.

But to say that it was a pretty hefty bummer is failing to use my rather extremely awesome cursing powers. It sucks, guys. Sucks HARD. I had so much planned, I was so excited to see so many awesome kids, and meet librarians, and everything. And then this happened.

The irony is, "this" is what I've been struggling against all year: a broken leg from some ice that decided to make me cry UNCLE. Well, you win, leg. You win. Golf Clap. UNCLE. Do you hear me? UNnnnnnnnn-CLE! UUUUU NNNN CCCCC LLLLL EEEEE. I give in! You win! Okay?!!! OKAY YOU WIN. Now. Back off!

*ahem* I am attempting to regain my positive outlook. Dear readers of this blog, be warned: This Friday I have the MRI that will tell us if the weird semi-chemo infusion and surgery I had at the first of last month worked.

If you are reading this, cross your fingers for Friday for me? There is nothing I need more than a functioning freaking leg right now. Everything builds from that.

I will send you back warmth and light, in return. Or german chocolate. Your pick.

Guest post!

2011-10-26T10:27:00.002+02:00

Hey guys!

I'm over at Lorna's talking about how revision makes the book. Pop over and say hi! She is totally cool. :)

FALL!

2011-10-18T11:20:00.003+02:00

Here it is, Fall! How is October almost over? It's insane!

I've not been very productive this last month or so. I have to admit that since we're trying *again* to fix this stupid leg of mine, I've been really light on the writing/revising. Which is unfortunate, as I have three finished manuscripts my agent would like to have for January sitting here on my guilty conscious. So fail.

I think I might have tricked my head just now, though. I wrote my lovely agent that I needed to have times that she wanted them by. I always work better with deadlines, anyway, and maybe even in between PT and doctors and everything her "needing" them by a certain time will kickstart my mojo.

Have YOU seen my mojo? I appear to have lost it.

In other news, I'm nalbinding again, and making some great stuff - namely, thick socks for my winter wear, mittens for both me and Loki and hats, too. Oh, how I love Tomte hats with a little pompom. Loki does not like her mittens but I think her tune'll change once her little pinkies are freezing. Because something tells me this is going to be a heck of a winter.

"Just roll with it"

2011-09-12T20:24:00.002+02:00

Do you know that sentence?

You do - if you happen to have an 18 month old who is totally and completely beguiled by Toy Story. Toy Story 2 is the best, but Toy Story 3 ain't bad. And Toy Story 1 is oooookay, but it really needs to be faster moving.

Anyway.

I counted yesterday (when I had the best idea. Ever!) (I know I say that a lot) (But I mean it this time) (And the last times too) (anyway) that I'd been revising one book or another for the last EIGHT MONTHS. Eight. One book I wrote a first draft of (That I loved) (Let's not go there) in a month but it was really shoddy and it's been put on the shelf. That one doesn't count.

So eight months. And I'm staring at two other books right now I should be revising. And you know what?

I just don't want to.

It's not that I don't love them, or think they have potential. My agent adores both of them and dreams of big things happening to them. It's just I've been revising for so long. I need new creative juices. I need them like WHOA.

So I started a new book today. And it is nothing like what I usually write (well, one of the above books I should be revising? It's on that scale, I guess) and I don't care if it's marketable and I don't care if it makes sense. I will get the juices going again by revising/writing at the same time. Because I have to.

And since I did start it, you want to know what happened? The world was brighter, the wind fresher, the child's laughter FROM WATCHING THAT DAMN MOVIE AGAAAAAIN was sweeter...and I even had some ideas for the revisions I will be doing alongside my new lovely.

So I'm just going to roll with it and do it. What about you?

Movin' on ooooover

2011-09-07T19:29:00.003+02:00

Hey guys!

Well, MS is officially turned in. Revisions to PANIC continue apace, while thoughts are being given to fleshing out the beginning of SCAR-FIN. The Oklahoma Showdown students are busily creating their entries, and I'm sending out big care packages to certain libraries in Oklahoma tomorrow. Good things, all!

Let me tell you, having an excellent agent in this business is more valuable than rubies.

I'm changing stuff around on Facebook. As you all know (who've followed my blog for awhile), I have a little rugrat nick-named Loki. And it's none of her doing that her mama is a slightly mental children's writer with a book published, and more coming.

I have lots of friends, and if you're reading this, I consider you a señor coolio too. However. I have decided to go ahead and make my Facebook profile private - that means, only IRL close friends and family can see it.

Why? Well, I've gone paranoid.

I post a lot of pictures of my kid on there, and I've changed in my outlook regarding her public life on the internet. At first I thought, does it really matter? She's like 18 months old, will she know or care? But she might. And after reading some horror stories about regular children's pictures showing up on paedo websites - having been traced back to Facebook as the original source - I have become EXTREMELY paranoid. Thus the switch.

The more I think about this, the happier I am. I want to interact with everyone, but I need a place where my family back in the US can see pics of da Lokster, and unfortunately, even the computer illiterate members have Facebook accounts (and for those family members reading this, of COURSE it is not you I'm speaking of here! Ahem).

So I have a question for you - would you do me a favor and go and check out my author page on Facebook? If you like it, "like" it!

Is there anything you'd like to see? Not like to see? Have you ever considered going private?

If you want the real extrovert online me, I'd suggest my twitter feed. Plus, I pretty much live off that thing. Regarding Facebook, I promise not to spam the snot out of you, and I won't EVER "SUGGEST" that you like that page via a note thru Facebook. (Only here. Ha!)

whohoo!

2011-09-02T13:00:00.002+02:00

Whohoo!

THE SPOTTED PONY has been turned into my lovely lovely editor! It is now officially DONE! (Well, until she reads it and everything starts again).

Hooray!

What's up next for me?

1. The OKLAHOMA SHOWDOWN. Have you checked out the Facebook page? (and liked it?) Have you been to the website?

2. Revising SCAR-FIN - which consists of getting my lovely synod done and some sparkling chapters.

3. getting a surgery that i do not want to think about oh no oh no oh no

4. Ordering Bookmarks for teh Showdown! Yay!

5. Fixing everything that needs doing! (ugh)

That's me! How about you??

Stuttgart Library Day!

2011-08-24T09:50:00.002+02:00

Hey guys!

Remember when I said I had a cool thing coming up in Germany? Well, they announced it!

I'm taking part in the first SCBWI Stuttgart Library Day (24 September 2011, 12-17:00)

I'll be discussing favorite animal characters, and how to write a believable one. We've got two amazing illustrators and two other authors, one of which, ANGELA CERRITO, is a long-time online buddy. I'll finally get to meet her!

So. Excited!

In other awesome news, MS is finally done. It only took me six months to revise. Sigh. But I do feel it's the better for it. I've already had a beta email me in a panic that she couldn't find anything wrong. That is a nice feeling.

Hope your week is going well!

The OKLAHOMA SHOWDOWN Begins!

2011-08-04T14:53:00.002+02:00

Hey you guys!

I'm super excited to announce that the OKLAHOMA SHOWDOWN has begun!

Well great, you say. What is it again?

I wanted to throw a state-wide party for kids that have read my book. They'll write up a short Lookbook entry (basically a diary page) of some aspect of life on a farm. Their classes will vote on the best one, and the winning classes will get some MAD prizes! We're coming to Oklahoma in November to personally deliver them, too!

If I'm sparse on the blog, it's because all my energies are 100% focused on this little endeavor. :-) I want it to be a success!

CHECK IT OUT HERE >>

Art imitates life

2011-07-20T08:59:00.002+02:00

Ever heard that before?

Let me back up.

Last December while on a walk with my baby Loki, my husband, my mother in law and brother in law (with his girlfriend) I managed to slip on flat (ice) ground and break my leg in three places.

I tell you what. I've not EVER had pain like that.

After I couldn't get surgery on it because it took so long for the ambulance to get to me (looong story but boy was it icy!) and had to wait and then had to live with the grandparents (which was awesome, don't get me wrong, but not MY house and not MY rules), I was at wit's end. Every month I thought "Oh, the next month will be okay; I'll be 100% better soon!"

Well, here we are, almost 7 months after and I have to say: It doesn't get better like how you see on the telly. It's a long, slow process, with setbacks, and the occasional reward just to keep you going. There aren't Disney endings for this sort of thing.

Like this week, for the first time since it happened, I don't have pain in my leg when I sit. It took me seven months to get here. I've learned from this, though.

Learned patience, and the fact that sometimes you have to just deal, and the fact that others WILL care for you if you let them. Also, little 1 year old babies and broken legs don't deal, and that I HATE being dependent on taking a pain pill just to function - but that they do sometimes help. I've also learned that depression can practically destroy a person, and keep her so frustrated and despairing that she'll turn on anybody and anyone to make it go away. But it won't.

I still have a ways to go, but at least I can mostly walk now. I can't wait to run, but thanks to my experiences throughout this thing I know it will take more time.

You can bet your farm these feelings and experiences will make it into one of my books someday.

Big fat spider sitting on a web

2011-07-18T18:57:00.002+02:00

Hola, compadres!

How goes it?

How is the writing coming along? Life?

I've decided to take a more relaxed attitude to the blog. Back in the day (ie before publication) it was that. Just meanderings, writing updates, and baby stuff. More calm. Then the publication got all up in there and well, it wasn't much fun trying to be Ms. Popular. I'm no good at it.

I was no good at it in high school, I'm no good at it now. (And I didn't care in Middle Grade, which is probably why my mind's stuck there writing wise). But the difference between then and now is that I realize - hey. It's a life, it's my life, and it won't end if I am not the super most popular writer blogger person of all time.

This, my friends, was a revelation for me.

So I'm going back to fun. Slightly rambling, cat pictures, goofy Loki, and book stuff too - but just not all of it. Also? My book signing reading thing is coming up on Saturday, and I'm getting mad nervous. Already, you ask?

Oy yae. << (yes)

I have already had a dream where I go to stand in front of everyone and I look down to see I am a naked mother fertility figure. Oh yes. Just not a good mental image (and it woke me up).

So if I make it fun, I reckon I can bring myself to get back on here more often. That's what I'm a gonna do.

A review so nice

2011-07-14T22:43:00.003+02:00

I posted it well, everywhere.

But this one is a keeper. :) I'm posting it here so I can always find the link. Because it made me cry.

BOOKS AND BEASTS

REVIEWS

POSSUM SUMMER

This.

"I have to say, since this an animal-centered blog, that for animal lovers Possum Summer is both wonderful and heartbreaking. The beauty and harshness of life get equal weight. There are a couple of emotionally wrenching scenes and a climax that is, literally (at least for me) breathtaking."

And this.

"P's world is the farmland of western Oklahoma, and she is the kind of stubborn, tomboyish heroine we expect. The tone reminds me strongly of books like Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows. (Even Charlotte's Web - although none of the animals talk.)"

News and thoughts

2011-07-05T13:08:00.002+02:00

I am mean to this blog. I know it.

But life has taken me by the forehead and slammed me into the wall. I know, I know. I got myself into this craziness! So I'm just flowing as much as I can and dealing with the rest.

Mostly by Dr Pepper and M&Ms.

I have a lot of random news, but nothing like super amazing. I'm having a signing in Berlin at my favorite indie. I have a big talk coming up (perhaps?) as soon as we finalize everything. I pick up my book's bookmarks today. And beautiful posters my hubs made for the signing. Insane.

LOKI IS WALKING. Well, practically. She does so much! It's so amazing to say to myself, 'Holy cow, I COOKED THAT UP. And she is amazing!' (It's all her daddy's doing). She has a new babysitter!

My revisions are finally starting to come along! I had to stop being a diva and saying that I needed so-and-so long every day to do them, and just accept the fact that it needed to happen in the in between times. So I'm doing that.

And damn if I don't think that this has the potential to be a really, really good book. As long as I keep my eye on the prize and stay patient.

That is my worst problem right now, staying patient. I get anxious and want to cut in line, but the line cuts back. It's a real problem but I'm really trying to be better.