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May 15th, 2008
09:16 pm - Louise Erdrich: Beautiful, Powerful Words
"Are you Louise Erdrich?" an elegant woman dressed in black asked me last night.
"No, but thanks for the compliment."
I have admired Erdrich's writing for over twenty years, and eagerly wait for each new book she publishes. The woman waiting to greet this famous author obviously hadn't looked at the author posters plastered around the lobby of Portsmouth, NH's beautifully-restored Music Hall, where two friends and I went to hear Louise Erdrich read from and speak about her new novel, A Plague of Doves.
I first heard Erdrich around 1984 in Los Angeles when I went to hear her read from Love Medicine in a small theatre where I sat in the front row and lost myself in her words. Erdrich continues to mesmerize, both through her voice and her words. Don't take my word for it. Listen to these wonderful interviews about writing this "multi-generational mystery: (with Liane Hanson on NPR and with WBUR's Tom Ashbrook)
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May 11th, 2008
09:57 pm - An Energizing Mix of Events
One of the things I most enjoy about my writing career is the variety of activities and tasks. On a daily basis, I work on different aspects of separate projects: brainstorming, research, plotting, writing fiction, writing nonfiction (articles or curriculum), revision, e-mails (editors, agent, publisher’s PR person, other writers), arranging school visits and bookstore events, fact-checking, pitching magazine ideas, marketing (including updates to my web site, blog posts, press releases, sending post cards) about upcoming events.
This past weekend was a full, energizing mix of events away from my office. Here’s the rundown:
Thursday I presented on Priscilla and the Hollyhocks to a group of wonderful students in the Shining Star program at Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center in Dorchester, MA. I was impressed by these third and fourth graders who attentively listened, acted out the story, and asked good questions. As always, I am touched by how young people respond to the injustice of slavery and the Trail of Tears.
Here's a photo of some of the kids with the hollyhock dolls they made of tissue paper, ribbon, and Tootsie Roll Pops.
Friday morning, I was one of four authors at the Cape Cod Writers Center’s “Breakfast with the Authors.” I gave a fifteen-minute presentation to a focused adult audience on the circuitous journey that led to my writing Priscilla. ("I really am getting to Priscilla!" I had to assure them as I told them about my far-flung Cherokee ancestor born in 1706, or the research behind my young adult historical novel.) Then I sat back to enjoy presentations by (as they are pictured below) David Surette (Easy To Keep, Hard to Keep In), Pat DePaolo (The Beijing Games), and Allison Daily (illustrator of Glassigator). After their presentations and a Q and A, I connected with several other SCBWI members who were in attendance at the Hyannis event.
Anne Elizabeth Tom, Executive Director of Cape Cod Writers Center invited me to lunch with Allison Daily, her boyfriend, Jake, and his grandparents. Athough writing brought us together, our conversation included discussion of U.S. response to China's growing economic domination, landscape architect Fletcher Steele, art therapy techniques, American architects working in Asian settings and more before I had to scoot out of the restaurant to go film a segment at a television studio in South Yarmouth. At the studio I chatted with host Shirley Eastman before we held a 28 minute conversation for the show, "Books and the World." Shirley's interview questions gave me opportunity to speak not only of my Cherokee heritage and the process of writing Priscilla, but also to mention two of my favorite make-a-difference organizations, Habitat for Humanity and Sierra Service Project. Twenty-eight minutes went by so quickly, I couldn't tell you everything we talked about, but I enjoyed my time with Shirley. A good interviewer makes the process easy, and,
I confess, I do enjoy talking about my work!
Saturday morning, I was Gayle Heney's guest on her cable television show, "Write Now!" Because Gayle's program is meant to inform and inspire other writers, Gayle focused our interview on how to work toward success as a children's author, use marketing techniques to build a career, and remain open to an editor's expert suggestions. (Given how Yolanda LeRoy's questions pushed me to deepen an emotional connection with Priscilla that vastly improved the book, I believe in a good editor's ideas. . .after I go through my defensive phase!) Gayle's careful preparation meant that she knew everything that could be gleaned about me from my website, blog, or publicity materials. As in the previous day's interview, time went quickly and we weren't able to cover everything that might have been pertinent to her audience. I made sure to plug SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) since that one group and its resources have probably been indirectly responsible for the largest percent of children's books published in recent years. I feel so fortunate to have had SCBWI providing workshops, conferences, critique groups and printed materials to help me learn the craft.
Due to the lights on the set, Gayle and I both appear much more red-headed than in person. Lucille Ball, anyone? (Actually, this studio's restrooms are named "Luci" and "Desi," a nice touch I appreciated.
When I know when the "Books on the World" and "Write Now" interviews will air on various networks, I'll post that information on my web site.
This week, my work's focus will be marketing: spreading the word to my California network about upcoming June events in four cities there. And hopefully, I'll find some time to write, too! As you'll hear more on this blog, I am looking forward to several other writing events (my own, and supporting/learning from other writers) in the next two weeks, as well. So stay in touch!
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May 2nd, 2008
05:25 pm - History as Storytelling
Last night I had the privilege of hearing Doris Kearns Goodwin speak. She spoke at a whirlwind pace with a high energy level, yet she was easy to follow because she is first and foremost a storyteller. I loved hearing how she learned story arc as a six-year-old: while her father was at work, Doris listened to all the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball games and recorded the plays so that when her father came home, she could tell him “every play of every inning.” He wanted more than who won; he desired the story of the game.
Goodwin is brilliant. Even in the Q and A, she spoke at a brisk pace, drawing from an immense knowledge of many things (Lincoln, FDR, LBJ, JFK, baseball). Her gift as a storyteller kept the audience closely tethered to her narrative since for her, history is anecdotes and stories, not facts and figures.
Since my favorite writing and reading is historical fiction, I was impressed by Goodwin’s ability to tell a good story in an informative way.
Even though her speech in some ways summarized her latest book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, I am ready to plunge into its 754 pages. (I doubt I’ll read the extra 150 pages of footnotes and index after that). Of course, the fact that this book is the choice of one of my book groups for May is motivating even without her speech!
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April 29th, 2008
10:47 pm - Recent good reads
Just as when I was a child I was reluctant to compliment one current favorite book in favor of another beloved novel, I won't mention every book I love in this blog. With that caveat, of the many books I've read or listened to on tape the past couple of weeks, these books stimulated my thinking in a variety of directions:
A Curse Dark As Gold by Elizabeth Bunce
As a child, I approached the story of Rumpelstiltskin with a mixture of repulsion and fascination. This wonderful story is related to, but not dependent on the old fairy tale. Charlotte Miller’s personality and world are vivid, believable and totally engrossing. I’ll never think of this fairy tale in the same way; Bunce’s version is far more compelling than that of the Brothers Grimm.
Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney
This gripping story of a courageous girl named Anazandra who is caught up in the events told long ago Homer’s Iliad. Strong, loyal, and resilient, the protagonist tells her perspective on what may be a familiar story in some ways, but is made new in this retelling.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, Steven L. Hopp, and Camille Kingsolver. With combined wisdom from personal experience and research, these family members share their year of eating locally. I was impressed by the lyrical writing, concrete suggestions and good doses of humor, as well as the challenge I will take for my own consumer and eating habits. The audio CD version has a terrific interview with Kingsolver in which she explains how she found the arc of her nonfiction story. As always, Kingsolver makes sense in her writing and explanation of her writing process.
Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World by Diane MacEachern
I’ve already made a large percentage of the changes this book calls for (organic food, hybrid car, paying carbon neutral offsets) but MacEachern does a good job in presenting her rationale for the changes and giving resources for further action.
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April 28th, 2008
03:17 pm - “Messing with” historical figures
When I first moved to New England almost three years ago, I tried a book group that met at a nearby library. Their book choices intrigued me. When I arrived at the first meeting I discovered thirteen older adults (I was younger by more than twenty years than the youngest among them) who’d been meeting for years. I liked the way they dug into the chosen book, unafraid to express opinions, to disagree, to say things erudite or outrageous. After that first meeting, I was invited to join them for lunch. I’d been adopted, and have enjoyed this particular book group ever since.
Today I led that group’s discussion on Afternoons With Emily by Rose MacMurray. Two participants in particular were appalled that this author had chosen to present Emily Dickinson in what they perceived as an unflattering light.
“I felt protective of Emily,” one woman said. She felt that her beloved poet had been maligned, misinterpreted, misunderstood.
“What gives an author the right to make up stuff about someone just because they’re dead?” another person asked. "It's not fair to mess with their lives when they can't defend themselves.
I explained how I love reading and writing historical fiction because the novel can sometimes draw a reader into wanting to know more about the real person or time period. For me, the inclusion of people who actually lived provides a fascinating backdrop to any work of fiction.
“Why can’t a writer just write about what is known to be true? Or can’t they just leave real people out of their fiction?” one book group member protested. “Readers of this book won’t want to read Dickinson’s poetry. They’ll remember her as controlling and unstable, not as a great poet.”
I confess that I did not warm to MacMurray’s characterization of Emily Dickinson, which I will add to the body of other works (including her poetry) that help me discern who the poet might have really been. Since we live near Emily’s own stomping grounds, I encouraged everyone to visit the Homestead, Emily Dickinson’s home in Amherst. I’ve found it quite moving to see her small bedroom and to gaze at the pint-sized gauzy white dress the poet wore.
Is “making stuff up” just something that those who don’t write will never comprehend about those who do write? Any of us who include historical figures in our work research diligently to assure accuracy, yet the fact remains: we did not personally know these people, and even if we had, what we write would only be our own interpretation even of a good friend. Fiction is biased by what details we choose to include and our own take on the world about which we are writing. Good nonfiction should present a balanced view of its subject, yet even there, doesn’t the author’s point of view sometimes color the voice?
The author can never know how the book, or its message will be received. All we can do is tell one truth (whether 100% fictional, or including realistic, historical details) in a way that makes sense to our story. Isn’t it up to the reader to read with a critical eye and ear, to expand from one book to other sources that provide differing viewpoints? To search out their own understanding of Emily Dickinson or Sitting Bull or Queen Elizabeth?
Writing plus Reading: an unpredictable amalgam.
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April 24th, 2008
10:59 am - Mulligrubs and Gamboling Foxes
Sometimes we learn new words that are so vivid and perfectly descriptive, it’s hard to find the right place to use them appropriately. I’m still looking for the perfect object to describe as “scintillescent”, which somehow seems more vivid than its meanings: “Sparkling or glittering.” I’ve also not yet fit in the noun “mulligrubs,” which is not for the faint-of-heart, since how can one say that word without feeling grubs between one’s teeth? (By the way, it means: grumpiness; colic; low spirits or an ill-tempered person.)
As a children’s writer, my books haven’t exactly called for any of my characters to have the world weariness and pessimism of “weltschmerz.” Unexpectedly, my work space gives me a chance for ethology (the study of animals' behavior in their natural environments). And out of that, I’ve been able to use some great words.
My office window looks out on a large grassy field bordered by wetlands and forest. Most days, several White-tailed Deer stop by to graze in the field, including at this time of year, fawns who play tag and elicit word use such as leap, frolic, prance, and scamper. Other, tamer words do not do justice to the movements of these gentle creatures who joyfully leap into the air with their white ostrich feather tails, and thoroughly distract me from the work at hand.
Worse distractions lately have been two fox kits who spend hours each day on the grass, sunning themselves like reddish sphinxes, rolling back and forth like indolent cats, and teaching me about red fox behavior. We can often get quite close to Ms. Braveheart, the kit who appears to be as fascinated with us as we are with her. Fifteen, twenty minutes pass with us watching each other until it is usually the humans who break off contact. Mr. Shy, on the other hand, likes to keep a distance.
This morning, the two fox kits ran out onto the field like soccer players ready for the big game. Weaving around the field with an invisible ball between them, the siblings were so entertaining, I had to grab my camera and rush outside. Mr. Shy saw me and ran a short distance away to lie down and poke his head through blades of grass to watch me. Ms. Braveheart continued to skip around the field, heading toward the dirt road that cuts through the property. A UPS truck barreled down the road toward her as she blithely began to cross the road. Visions of reddish-brown fur smashed against the road caused me to wildly wave my arms at the UPS driver who, just in time, braked. Ms. Braveheart looked up to see what must have felt like a huge, noisy behemoth attacking. She ran one way, then the other across the road, turned around and headed back across the field, galloping toward her sibling. When she arrived at his side, she plopped down. “Whew! That was a close one!” I could almost imagine her saying, or the foxly equivalent.
The foxes have given me opportunity to use “gambol” and “cavort” when they play, and especially when they hunt. One day, Ms. Braveheart hunted through the tall grass, very much like a cat with her body tensed low, moving forward inches at a time. Suddenly, she leapt straight up into the air with a vertical leap NBA dunk champ Dwight Howard would envy. She powered down into the earth from that leap nose first into some unsuspecting mole’s hole, and came out with a gray rodent with whom she toyed for several minutes before trotting off with the not-yet-dead animal between her teeth. Did she proudly take the mole back to the mother fox? “Ma! Look what I caught!”
Ready to expand your vocabulary? Try A Word A Day ( English or Dictionary.com (Spanish). Those of you brave enough to learn words in Yoruba, Czech or Bislama will have to find your own resources.
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April 21st, 2008
08:08 am - Is there a green-eyed monster in children's lit?
What happens when two friends share similar dreams, and only one person's dreams come true?
Over the weekend I went to see a production of Itmar Moses' play, "The Four of Us," a two-person show about childhood friends who share a dream to write professionally. In the early years of their friendship they mutually promise to take the other one out to dinner whenever the first big sale occurs. The show begins with dinner at an Indian restaurant as they celebrate Benjamin's sale of his first novel. David, an aspiring playwright whose only success has been a regional theatre production of his play in Indiana, is stunned to discover that his friend's book deal netted him over two million dollars. Little by little, a ravine cracks open between them. The struggling playwright feels the distance as Ben enters a world of worldwide book tours, celebrities, movie rights. Can their friendship stand the test? What was their relationship based on, anyway?
My experience (personal and from that shared by other children's writer friends) is that children's literature seems to lack some of the drama that may occur more naturally in other creative fields. Each writer's ideas are so unique, their style so individual, that an editor isn't usually comparing apples to apples. Two writers each composing a novel about a teenage girl on a road trip will inhabit her world with different characters, landmarks, emotional issues. Yet the bottom line may be that a given editor or house will only take one "teenage girl road trip" novel in a given period of time. So if I send in my absolutely spectacular novel to Editor after one of my colleagues sends her similar novel to the same editor, I have little chance of mine getting published.
That may not lead to personal jealousy as much as to the sadness that one writer's long-time project never sees the light of day because hers came in second in the race. This isn't an unusual occurrence, yet I see the children's writing community as embracing, supporting, playing cheerleaders for each other as writers and for the books that children need to read. The very nature of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) is to provide encouragement, professional training, and support.
In this spirit of collegiality, I haven't seen much of the green-eyed monster in others or myself, yet it may just be hidden well. Perhaps I'll find out when it is my book that is forsaken in favor of a friend's (or chosen over theirs), or my contest entry that loses to a colleague's (or wins). Until then, I hope to continue to cheer for other writers and celebrate their books.
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April 19th, 2008
09:01 pm - Revisions, also known as the old "Show, Don't Tell"
Looking for something non-writing related, I reread an old journal today and found words I wrote in early 2004 as I revised Priscilla and the Hollyhocks. Now that the book is published and I've been reading it aloud to groups at school and bookstores, it was fun to realize that although much of the book remained unchanged from the first time I sat at a computer to write the book in one two-hour burst, an editor's encouragement to layer the story emotionally helped shape the book as it is in print:
Yolanda LeRoy at Charlesbridge likes Priscilla and the Hollyhocks, but wants more emotion. I don't immediately know what she means. I think people back than didn't talk about their feelings in the same way we do now. How can I make it more emotional?
The first day working on revision I felt fidgety. How could I possibly make changes and still have integrity of the voice?
I read an excellent article, '"The Song in the Story: Finding Your Writing Voice," which I hope will be the key for me to figure out Priscilla and the Hollyhocks. I believe in this book, love the story, and find the historical event compelling. I felt an electricity while writing the book and wrote in a different mode (jumping up and down from the computer, feeling phrases tumble from my brain almost unbidden) and style (sparse, poetic).
Yesterday I was ready to work and within a few hours felt good about the changes. I added several short scenes which I think make Priscilla's slave experience vivid (seeing her Ma carted off, feeling her 'insides a'quiverin'," feeling as "invisible as wallpaper" to plantation guests, standing on the auction block).
I didn't have Priscilla say much about her feelings, but showed her feelings (unable to wave goodbye to Ma, her beating heart "echoing the blows Master struck against black bodies," fingering hollyhock seeds and holding back tears).
I am so jazzed--totally energized by this revision.
Amazing now to look back and see what was not obvious then at the beginning of the revision of Hollyhocks. What projects am I now stuck on, caught up in the "how can I change this and keep the integrity of the work?" when something as simple as "Show, don't tell" might do the trick.
So much still to learn--
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April 17th, 2008
10:10 pm - I Can't Help It. I'm a ONE.
Yesterday I spent the day at an Enneagram workshop with the staff of the non-profit for whom I work. Many years ago, I attended another workshop and discovered that on this "personality system, I was a type ONE. That means I can celebrate the positive aspects of being a ONE: I'm decisive, organized, forthright, get things done, have a high sense of integrity, a natural leader, sport a can-do attitude, and am called THE REFORMER/PERFECTIONIST.
Oh, and on the other hand. . .ONES can be bossy, critical, goody-goodys. We tend to see the world only in black and white and need so much structure in our lives, we drive others crazy with our sense that we know how to get things done, and that way is OUR way.
Yesterday's workshop reminded me of what complex combinations each of us are. (And boy, are we having fun in our staff relationships as we try to put into practice what we learned about ourselves and each other!) Just as I claim all the positive things about myself, I must 'fess up to the negative, not as mea culpa as much as to accept the hodgepodge of my feelings and behaviors. This helps me relate to other people who are different personality types, none better or worse than my own, just different.
For my work as a writer, the day spent analyzing nine personality types and their myriad possibilities reminded me how even fictional characters are a cloth woven of many textures. I can read books on character development, meet diverse personalities in real life and the books I read, but what it comes down to is this: each character I create must spring off the page universal enough that readers can recognize her humanity as authentic, and unique enough that readers will remember her long after they 've read the last page.
For more information, here's the book by our workshop leader, Herb Pearce: THE POWER OF THE ENNEAGRAM (The Complete Idiot's Guide)
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April 16th, 2008
04:14 pm - Books Are Meant To Be Shared
I am a reader and writer at least in part because I grew up with access to a good public library and with plenty of books on my shelves. Here's a way to help kids who may not have easy access to books: Send an e-card and help build a child’s home library
In January, we announced an e-card promotion on The Literacy Site to generate
new books for children in need. Thanks to the support of site visitors like you,
this e-card challenge was the most successful to date! More than 6,500 e-cards
were sent, generating more than 6,500 additional books to kids who need them
most across the country!
To follow up on this overwhelming success, First Book, The Literacy Site and Pi
Beta Phi are thrilled to announce another opportunity to help generate more new
books for disadvantaged kids.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of National Library Week (April 13 -19, 2008)
for every “Free Book Promotion” e-card sent on the Literacy Site and opened by a
friend, one new book will be donated to a child in need, for a limited time.
Here’s how it works: Visit TheLiteracySite.com and send the “Free Book
Promotion” e-card to family and friends. When your e-card is opened, First Book
will provide a new book for a child in need, thanks to the generous support of
The Literacy Site and premier sponsor Pi Beta Phi.
So, what are you waiting for? Visit The Literacy Site and send an e-card
greeting to a friend, coworker or family member today!
http://www.theliteracysite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=6
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April 15th, 2008
08:09 pm - Human Brains, Female Cowbirds, and Children's Authors
Brain on.
Information received.
Information filed, ready for use.
I love the way that mostly by accident, we humans learn new things every day (if not every hour). Okay, getting out a bird book and looking up the exact difference between the female Red-winged Blackbird and the female Brown-headed Cowbird is not accidental. But there was perhaps randomness to my husband and I standing at the kitchen window at the same time while our bird feeders were the neighborhood's evening happy hour. Among the 7 or 8 kinds of birds happily munching from our five feeders were blackbird and cowbird couples en masse. The males are quite distinct from each other: a Brown-headed Cowbird male is a glossy black bird with a chocolate brown head, his feathers so shiny, he could be in a shampoo commercial. The Red-winged Blackbird male's jet black body sports a red and yellow chevron on his shoulder. Their female counterparts are both dull brown, but the Red-winged Blackbird is a bit bigger and has a white eye line and streaked chest.
Okay, that's probably more information than you wanted to know about bird species. (That might change if you lived where we do and had so many entertaining birds consider you their favorite watering hole.)
This past weekend, while at the New England SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) annual conference in Nashua, NH, I had other, more striking moments where my brain was required to process new information. Most of us who shell out big bucks to attend a conference do so in hopes that we will learn new things. We just don't know what. And yes, for those of you who are sticklers for precise language, my signing up for a conference means it was NOT an accidental event, but let's just move on.
Highlights for me (Moments of high brain activity):
•Mitali Perkins' workshop on "Web-Savvy Ways To Generate Buzz About Your Books," in which I got enough info to keep me busy for months.I was grateful that Mitali occasionally said, "If you don't understand everything I'm saying, don't worry" and her gentle assurance that a lot of web promotion was knowing where to start ,and learning by doing. Thanks, Mitali!
•Emily Herman and Anne Sibley O'Brien's mind-expanding two-hour workshop on "A Writer's Toolbox." All of us create tools to help us through revisions (what would I do without different colors of index cards, magic markers, and a large floor space to lay out my cards?), but this workshop offered some new ways of looking at a book -in-progress that boggled my mind--and were practical, too. I felt like Pollyanna when she discovers the rainbow in a prism. Thanks, Emily and Annie.
As always, I am humbled by the generosity of other writers who take time to share what they know with their peers. Children's authors and illustrators are particularly unselfish in this way, and the act of sharing strengthens all of us and our work.
What about you? Learned anything new today?
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April 10th, 2008
03:16 am - Why I Try To Pay Attention
I'm not much of a Henry James fan, but since I was in grad school I've had this quotation from him posted near where I write: "Try to be one of the people on whom nothing is lost!" As noble and literary and sensitive as that sounds, I can't claim I am always that person. Like most people, I spend too much of the day in my task-oriented, induced stupor, paying attention to a long list of important things that I believe need to be done, doing good work, but only occasionally glimpsing all the details that shouldn't be "lost."
Jose Ortega y Gasset (whoever the heck he was) said, "Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are." Hey, again I plead humanity. Good moments: visiting all the donation sites to give toward free breast cancer exams and food for shelter animals and books for kids. Remembering the genocide that is happening in Darfur. Noticing that thirty robins are having a confab outside my office window. Not-so- good moments: being so lost in the research for my current book that I lose track of time and forget the rest of the world exists. Becoming so frustrated at computer problems that I yell at my neurotic cat when he will not stop talking to me. Taking a frivolity break to look up basketball scores on ESPN or WNBA.com.
As a writer I sometimes see things differently than other people may. When I notice a slant of light streaming in a window or hear the "peepers" singing in the wetlands, I immediately search for verbal images. Or I mentally see a character's facial expression, and find myself stretching my own face into that look to figure out a fresh way to describe the eyes, the mouth, the creased forehead. The irony of this is that while I'm attentively daydreaming these images I'm missing out on other details. Same with when my nose is stuck in a book. Though I may multi-task with the best of them, when it comes to paying attention, there can be only one task at a time.
One last quote, and this one makes the most sense to me as a writer. Mary Oliver said, "To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work." As a writer, as a human being treading lightly on this great earth, I'm still searching for balance, if it exists,between paying attention in the fictional worlds I create, in the personal life I live, and paying attention to the rest of the world where most people don't have the luxury of sitting in a quiet room and searching for the perfect word.
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