Today, she is eight.
It's hard to believe that tiny baby with the big cheeks, that opinionated toddler, that wild and energetic 4-year-old, became the beautiful person she is now. So creative, kind, smart, and FUNNY.
Did I tell you she's writing, directing, and starring in a series of plays with her friends at school? Title of the first one is FARTMAN IN THE WEIRD WORLD.
:)
I love that she loves to wear dresses and sparkly things (even though I didn't). I love that she LOVES to read. I love that she is stubborn and strong-willed enough to make it in the world. I love that she is way smarter than I am, but the teachers commented on how kind she is to others and how fun she makes the classroom. I love that she tries new things and likes adventure.
I love my baby who is so not a baby anymore--and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
Happy Birthday, Child!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
CONTEST!
Photo at left from Flickr Commons. Isn't it adorable?
So this week I won a book (GEEKTASTIC), which gave me such a boost that I decided to return the favor. I'm going to give away a book!
Better, I'm going to give away an AMAZING book that freaked my mind right out with its fabulousness. I've got a lot going on right now, so I don't have much time to read. This book had me dragging it right along to meetings, reading in the 5 minutes before, reading under my desk "just to the next chapter", reading it while I was making dinner. Because pasta takes 20 minutes to boil, right? SCORE!
It's that compelling. It has totally unexpected twists, super-cool technology, a really intriguing character...
Yeah. You need this book. And I'm going to give it to you!
Contest is open for 24 hours, give or take--closing at noon MST tomorrow. Regular point system:
+1 for a comment below (don't forget email address!)
+1 for a tweet or retweet, or post on Facebook
+2 for a blog post about either THE BREACH or the contest
Ready? Enter! Post! Win!
So this week I won a book (GEEKTASTIC), which gave me such a boost that I decided to return the favor. I'm going to give away a book!
It's that compelling. It has totally unexpected twists, super-cool technology, a really intriguing character...
Yeah. You need this book. And I'm going to give it to you!
Contest is open for 24 hours, give or take--closing at noon MST tomorrow. Regular point system:
+1 for a comment below (don't forget email address!)
+1 for a tweet or retweet, or post on Facebook
+2 for a blog post about either THE BREACH or the contest
Ready? Enter! Post! Win!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Olympics Girl
I went into labor at 4 am on February 22, 2002. Right on the due date--2/22/2002. Auspicious, huh? Despite the fact that I was a first-timer, I was fairly calm. The pains weren't awful yet, so I knew it'd take a while. I tried to rest, got up, took a shower, and got everything ready. We headed to the hospital at 8 am.
The lovely doctors and nurses turned us right around and sent us home again. "Not even close" to delivery. It'd be at least 8 hours, probably. I was to relax and rest and pay attention to changes, and I would KNOW when it was time to go in.
It was 15 hours before we went back. For that whole day I labored, rocked in my mother-in-law's handmade rocking chair, thought about how different life would be tomorrow, and watched the Winter Olympics on TV.
She didn't come until noon the next day, the 23rd.
The next time the Olympics were on, she was 4. We watched, but life with a 4-year-old is crazy, especially around birthday time. I was planning a party, buying presents. Still I thought of that day with the Olympics, and my now-big girl.
She's turning 8 next week, and she's a smart, funny, active girl, interested in dance and acting and school. I love spending time with her. The other night we all curled up on the sofa together, watched figure skating and rooted for our favorites. She was big-eyed with awe watching the skaters, the snowboarders, the skiiers. I told her the story of our first day together with the Olympics, and we counted how old she would be for the next ones.
12. 16. 20. 24.
It goes so fast it's hard to stop and take stock, to realize how beautifully and remarkably things--children--change. But we're lucky. We have a marker that makes us stop, notice the time.
She's my Olympics girl, my very own winter miracle. This time of year I'm even more grateful for her.
The lovely doctors and nurses turned us right around and sent us home again. "Not even close" to delivery. It'd be at least 8 hours, probably. I was to relax and rest and pay attention to changes, and I would KNOW when it was time to go in.
It was 15 hours before we went back. For that whole day I labored, rocked in my mother-in-law's handmade rocking chair, thought about how different life would be tomorrow, and watched the Winter Olympics on TV.
She didn't come until noon the next day, the 23rd.
The next time the Olympics were on, she was 4. We watched, but life with a 4-year-old is crazy, especially around birthday time. I was planning a party, buying presents. Still I thought of that day with the Olympics, and my now-big girl.
She's turning 8 next week, and she's a smart, funny, active girl, interested in dance and acting and school. I love spending time with her. The other night we all curled up on the sofa together, watched figure skating and rooted for our favorites. She was big-eyed with awe watching the skaters, the snowboarders, the skiiers. I told her the story of our first day together with the Olympics, and we counted how old she would be for the next ones.
12. 16. 20. 24.
It goes so fast it's hard to stop and take stock, to realize how beautifully and remarkably things--children--change. But we're lucky. We have a marker that makes us stop, notice the time.
She's my Olympics girl, my very own winter miracle. This time of year I'm even more grateful for her.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
New York Roundup: Part 4, final portion!
So I've talked about the lunches and drinks and conference parts of the trip, which were amazing. But it was also my FIRST trip to New York--so I itched for the touristy. Victoria and Tiffany were old hands at the city, so they scoffed at our ultimate tourist plans, but Emily and I were determined. On Sunday we first took care of priority #1--socializing with Wonderful Writer Nova Ren Suma, and eating cupcakes.
Miss Emily!! (giggling)
Our fabulous Irish driver, Tye, and Dancer. Tye kept up an endless stream of Irish-flavored chatter even though he clearly must have known by then we were insane. (the giggling)
How cool is THAT? I took a picture just so I could show Courtney Summers. (LOOK, Courtney!)
And then we accidentally came across THIS:
You can see video of that sugary event at Tiffany's blog, far better than I could describe.
Then Em and I set off for our next Big Plan, the carriage ride through Central Park.
It was all that I wanted it to be--we giggled the ENTIRE TIME. I took 5 million pictures of Central Park from the carriage, but they're probably the same as every other person's pictures of Central Park in winter. These are my two favorites:
Miss Emily!! (giggling)
Our fabulous Irish driver, Tye, and Dancer. Tye kept up an endless stream of Irish-flavored chatter even though he clearly must have known by then we were insane. (the giggling)After the ride we hoofed it ourselves up the street to see Radio City--just because I saw the sign. Along the way (while stopping to warm up our frozen fingers), we saw this place:
And then we accidentally came across THIS:
And headed back to Times Square, because Em hadn't been there yet. Yay more Toys R Us in Times Square! And M&M's sign, to keep up the candy theme.
And then, my friends, it was time to get our cold selves back to the hotel, order Chinese takeout, and crash. And then time to go HOME!
I've been home for a week, and I love being back in Montana, back with my wonderful family. But I admit I do miss my New York peeps, and my Team Sparkle girls.
Next year we'll have to try somewhere else!! Any suggestions?
Monday, February 08, 2010
New York Roundup: Part 3
How many parts IS this? you ask.
Patience, Grasshopper, I answer. As many as it takes.
Yes, I did take some cold medicine. Why do you ask?
So, Friday of NY trip. I was so thrilled to be invited to lunch with V, Agents Extraordinaire Joanna Stampfel-Volpe and Suzie Townsend, and one of Suzie's cool clients. We had mexican food at Dos Caminos, which was YUM. Even better was the conversation, which was almost all books and writing and YA. The waitress asked us at one point to please stop talking about TWILIGHT or she would be forced to buy it. O_o Such kindred spirits!
Some conferency stuff, and then Team Sparkle rested until it was time for KidLit drinks. That was so fun!! I felt so New-Yorkish all dressed up with cosmo in hand. (It was an Irish pub, but I could not resist the call of the cosmo) The place was a bit too crowded to say hi to all the people I wanted to, but I did get to meet SF Agent Jennifer Laughran (literaticat) and fab authors Shana Silver, Jen Hayley, Suzanne Young, and many more!
We were completely taken over by laughing more than once, which is always healthy for the soul.
THEN we decided to take a midnight trip up to the top of the Empire State Building.
My favorite part of telling this story is that every single person, New Yorker or not, says "I didn't know it was open that late!"
It IS. It was nearly empty. And so much fun!
Saturday I had complete Picture Fail, but it was a jam-packed full day, the actual SCBWI conference. Highlights:
And look, they took video! Check it out! http://www.yahighway.com/2010/02/nyc-publishing-tips-movie.html
We finished up the evening with a group dinner with the most excellent crew from the Blueboards.
See? There is so very much to talk about it *requires* many posts. One more to come!
Patience, Grasshopper, I answer. As many as it takes.
Yes, I did take some cold medicine. Why do you ask?
So, Friday of NY trip. I was so thrilled to be invited to lunch with V, Agents Extraordinaire Joanna Stampfel-Volpe and Suzie Townsend, and one of Suzie's cool clients. We had mexican food at Dos Caminos, which was YUM. Even better was the conversation, which was almost all books and writing and YA. The waitress asked us at one point to please stop talking about TWILIGHT or she would be forced to buy it. O_o Such kindred spirits!
Some conferency stuff, and then Team Sparkle rested until it was time for KidLit drinks. That was so fun!! I felt so New-Yorkish all dressed up with cosmo in hand. (It was an Irish pub, but I could not resist the call of the cosmo) The place was a bit too crowded to say hi to all the people I wanted to, but I did get to meet SF Agent Jennifer Laughran (literaticat) and fab authors Shana Silver, Jen Hayley, Suzanne Young, and many more!
THEN we decided to take a midnight trip up to the top of the Empire State Building.
My favorite part of telling this story is that every single person, New Yorker or not, says "I didn't know it was open that late!"
Saturday I had complete Picture Fail, but it was a jam-packed full day, the actual SCBWI conference. Highlights:
- I cried--openly--at Libba Bray's keynote speech. It was so what I needed to hear right then.
- The Writing Fantasy breakout with Arianne Lewin, a Disney/Hyperion editor. Intriguing stuff.
- The Literary Fiction breakout with Alvina Ling, who I follow on Twitter. Extremely useful. The book I'm writing now is definitely on the literary/commercial straddle.
- Jacqueline Woodson's inspiring speech, particularly her reading aloud her beautiful writing
- Peter Sis's fascinating life story
- Jim Benton's creative and stimulating talk, illustrated (Happy Bunny!)
And look, they took video! Check it out! http://www.yahighway.com/2010/02/nyc-publishing-tips-movie.html
We finished up the evening with a group dinner with the most excellent crew from the Blueboards.
See? There is so very much to talk about it *requires* many posts. One more to come!
Friday, February 05, 2010
New York Roundup: Part 2
Part 2, with more pictures!
So on Thursday last I set out by myself on the streets of New York to find the FinePrint offices. Agent Janet had given me detailed walking instructions, which I diligently printed out and put in my coat pocket.
And lost before I left the room.
I LAUGHED out loud when I realized this, because it was just so ironic and yet typical of me. Fortunately I remembered most of the directions, and figured out the rest. I successfully made it. The intern said, "Oh YES!" when I said my name. *beam*
I had the pleasure of meeting Stephany Evans, Colleen Lindsay, and several very cool interns, and giving Joanna Stampfel-Volpe a quick hug before Agent Janet and I set out on a surprise adventure.
"You'd better laugh when you see this," she said, "or I'll disown you." She studied me. "Never mind, you're going to laugh."
Reader, I laughed. She maneuvered me through my first subway trip, and stood me right here.
A tiara! On the wall of the subway station!
Nah, she doesn't know me AT ALL.
In further proof, she took me to a chocolate restaurant for lunch, Max Brenner's. Chocolate!Restaurant! I ordered this:
I know. Two of us (*raises hand*) had not seen it before, and two of us SANG TO EVERY SONG.
We have video, somewhere.
The next morning we were meant to go do touristy stuff, but we kind of stopped at Dylan's Candy Bar. And stayed there, for an hour or two. We browsed, bought presents, bought chocolate, and had cupcakes.
And they browsed and tweeted on their Blackberries. (caption: What Team Sparkle REALLY does)
So on Thursday last I set out by myself on the streets of New York to find the FinePrint offices. Agent Janet had given me detailed walking instructions, which I diligently printed out and put in my coat pocket.
And lost before I left the room.
I LAUGHED out loud when I realized this, because it was just so ironic and yet typical of me. Fortunately I remembered most of the directions, and figured out the rest. I successfully made it. The intern said, "Oh YES!" when I said my name. *beam*
I had the pleasure of meeting Stephany Evans, Colleen Lindsay, and several very cool interns, and giving Joanna Stampfel-Volpe a quick hug before Agent Janet and I set out on a surprise adventure.
"You'd better laugh when you see this," she said, "or I'll disown you." She studied me. "Never mind, you're going to laugh."
Reader, I laughed. She maneuvered me through my first subway trip, and stood me right here.
Nah, she doesn't know me AT ALL.
In further proof, she took me to a chocolate restaurant for lunch, Max Brenner's. Chocolate!Restaurant! I ordered this:
Yes, I did. It was AMAZING. Add in coffee and talk, and a very happy conversation about my new book, and it's hard to top that.
And it was only my first full day!!
But that night the rest of the Team Sparkle contingent--my lovely Emily Hainsworth and Tiffany Schmidt--arrived, and we hoofed it to a diner. Then we came back to the room and ate from a whole desk full of snacks, mostly sugary, and watched a RAINBOW BRITE movie.
I know. Two of us (*raises hand*) had not seen it before, and two of us SANG TO EVERY SONG.
We have video, somewhere.
The next morning we were meant to go do touristy stuff, but we kind of stopped at Dylan's Candy Bar. And stayed there, for an hour or two. We browsed, bought presents, bought chocolate, and had cupcakes.
And they browsed and tweeted on their Blackberries. (caption: What Team Sparkle REALLY does)
And then V and I set off for our most glamorous lunch with Joanna and Suzie Townsend. But that will be tomorrow!
Thursday, February 04, 2010
New York Roundup: Part 1
I think it's kind of lame when people start every post apologizing for how long it's been since they posted--so I won't do that. I've been busy, and y'all get that, right?
Late Monday night, I got back from my marvelous, mind-blowing Trip to New York City for SCBWI. It's taken me this long to catch up and gather myself (and my pictures) enough to START talking about it, but I think I'm ready now. To start, at least.
I was a little nervous heading in. I felt silly being nervous, because I've lived in cities, and I've navigated cities--London, Paris, Rome--by myself before. But this was New York. THE city. What if I got immediately lost? Mugged? Marked as The Idiot from Montana?
Fortunately I shared my row on the plane with a kindred spirit--I swear we chatted for four out of five hours--so she and I hung out until our bags came. I thought I might have muddled the bus/shuttle to the hotel, but it worked out fine. A quick phone call to Agent Janet (as she made me promise to do) and her assurances that I could call her Anytime while there made me feel a buffer of protection, and welcome.
And then I got to the Team Sparkle Room, and all was right with the world. Practically coming home, that.
Our hotel, the Grand Hyatt, was sandwiched between Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building. It was amazing. This is the view that greeted me straight off the bus.
Not iconic or anything, right? V (the amazing Victoria Schwab) and I (first ones there) went to a fabulous, rather luxurious Italian dinner at Fabio Picollo Fiore. Highly recommend, particularly if you're feeling gossipy. :)
The next day we checked out Grand Central by daylight, along with Times Square.
I ran into a certain agent in Toys 'R' Us there!! She even had her trident ready!
Okay, not really. But I DID have an amazing lunch with Agent J that day. THAT, and the arrival of the rest of Team Sparkle, will have to wait for the next post. :)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Dash in and out
Wow, it's really been that long since I blogged, huh? Day-am.
I have been VERY BUSY. On the list of craziness:
I have been VERY BUSY. On the list of craziness:
- Child did get a part in the play! A small part, but add rehearsals to our schedule. :) (still, very excited!!)
- Started edits for SALVAGED. For some reason this is going very slowly, probably because of the rest of Life right now, but I have notes and know where to start.
- Am in my new office, but still dealing with other people moving + cleanup of old space + organizing
- Covering a co-worker's impending maternity leave, so am handling a large bit of the campus alumni magazine work. Must have it ready to go to the printer before I go to...
- NEW YORK! I'm leaving for SCBWI a week from tomorrow!! Eeek! I am insanely bouncy about this, but also have a whole mess of planning/packing/rounding up loose ends to do before then...
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Worry Balls and Yay
Hi y'all!
Yesterday Child went on the first school ski trip of the year, so I transformed instantly into Ball of Worry.
This is normal for me on any field trip, but worse with skiing just because I *don't* ski. I've been a couple times, but I pretty much suck at it, and Child is already far, far better than me. So I don't go along and get in the way--I let her go with her teachers and ski instructors and get my exercise worrying my ass off all day.
So I picked her up with great relief yesterday--except that the answer to "How was skiing?" was "Good. Except when I fell and twisted my knee." *limp limp limp*
ARGH.
I don't think it's bad--it's not swollen or discolored or anything--but it's her first injury like that, so we're watching it. Hopefully it's just a strain or a pulled muscle. We'll call the doc if it's not better soon.
But she got up again after falling and skiied down the hill. And then went up the lift and skiied down again before going home. So it can't be that bad, right?
But there was GOOD news yesterday too. We'd found out on Monday that last night there were auditions at the kid's theatre for JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. In spite of her crammed dance schedule, Child really really wanted to go and try. I figured with her restricted schedule and the 50+ kids who tried out, we wouldn't hear back again.
But nope, this morning we checked the list. She got called back! On her first audition ever!
And so it begins... :)
Callbacks tonight, and we shall see!
Yesterday Child went on the first school ski trip of the year, so I transformed instantly into Ball of Worry.
This is normal for me on any field trip, but worse with skiing just because I *don't* ski. I've been a couple times, but I pretty much suck at it, and Child is already far, far better than me. So I don't go along and get in the way--I let her go with her teachers and ski instructors and get my exercise worrying my ass off all day.
So I picked her up with great relief yesterday--except that the answer to "How was skiing?" was "Good. Except when I fell and twisted my knee." *limp limp limp*
ARGH.
I don't think it's bad--it's not swollen or discolored or anything--but it's her first injury like that, so we're watching it. Hopefully it's just a strain or a pulled muscle. We'll call the doc if it's not better soon.
But she got up again after falling and skiied down the hill. And then went up the lift and skiied down again before going home. So it can't be that bad, right?
But there was GOOD news yesterday too. We'd found out on Monday that last night there were auditions at the kid's theatre for JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. In spite of her crammed dance schedule, Child really really wanted to go and try. I figured with her restricted schedule and the 50+ kids who tried out, we wouldn't hear back again.
But nope, this morning we checked the list. She got called back! On her first audition ever!
And so it begins... :)
Callbacks tonight, and we shall see!
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Some Girls Are Tiara Day!!
Happy 2010, everybody!!
Today is a Very Special Tiara Day, in celebration of the release of my good friend Courtney Summers' AMAZING new book, Some Girls Are.
I was lucky enough to have the chance to read an ARC of this book a month or so ago. I went into it knowing it was dark and edgy, that it might hurt a little. I'd gulped up CRACKED UP TO BE (which was just named a Cybils Finalist!), and it had shaken me in the best possible way...and I knew this was darker. What I didn't know was how REAL it was.
Today is a Very Special Tiara Day, in celebration of the release of my good friend Courtney Summers' AMAZING new book, Some Girls Are.
I was lucky enough to have the chance to read an ARC of this book a month or so ago. I went into it knowing it was dark and edgy, that it might hurt a little. I'd gulped up CRACKED UP TO BE (which was just named a Cybils Finalist!), and it had shaken me in the best possible way...and I knew this was darker. What I didn't know was how REAL it was.Courtney's writing is amazing in that it absolutely does not hold back. At All. You feel as though you're right there, experiencing the hell of high school and being 16 or 17, and the ridiculous ways girls treat each other. Bullying didn't just touch me...it was a significant part of my school experience for many, many years, and it shaped me like so many others. What's fascinating about this book is that Regina, the main character, is firmly on BOTH sides of bullying. You see how she fell into it, and you see how you could yourself in that situation. Then you see, with Regina, how horrible those cutting remarks can be on the other side.
Courtney's writing is never sappy, never condescending, never a bit anything but a true sucker-punch. I don't always like to read the really tough stuff, but I loved this book. More, I'm blown away by the skill of the writer.
You don't want to miss the boat on this one. Check it out now, and keep an eye out for her next!
Happy SGA book birthday, Courtney!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Let There Be Happy Dancing
I did it, I did it, I really really did it! *DANCING*
I beat my goal (December 31) and finished the first draft of SALVAGED today! Just now! WooHOO! Boy this draft is a DRAFT and will need a real major cleanup, but yeeHAW. I have a real end and everything!
So you want to know what this book is about? Don't you? Don't you? *happy grin* Here 'tis:
SALVAGED
by Susan Adrian
Sixteen-year-old Annika (Annie) has never used a computer or a cell phone. She's never watched TV, slept in a real bed, or kissed anyone but Xander. Until now.
Annie's always lived in The Community, an ultra-environmental commune tucked in the canyons of San Diego, led by her idealistic, maybe-crackpot dad. What they can't grow or raise they salvage from the wasteful people of "the wild". You'd be amazed what you can find back of a restaurant. But Annie's sister Zilla runs away with Xander, and Dad sends her to drag them back.
To find them Annie has to venture into the wild by herself, into an alien culture of excess. When she crashes a company picnic she meets Bryan, a cute, rich boy who thinks she's homeless. She lets him think it, lets him help. All she needs is a couple days to get Zilla and Xander.
But once she finds them, Annie's not so sure she wants to return, much less force her happy-go-lucky, impulsive sister back under the strict Community rules. The wild is much more complex and captivating than she imagined. And there's Bryan, who's also just a tiny bit captivating. But if she doesn't bring them home soon, Dad will come after them himself. And the last time that happened...that's the one thing Annie won't let herself think about.
Can Annie be salvaged? Does she want to be?
I beat my goal (December 31) and finished the first draft of SALVAGED today! Just now! WooHOO! Boy this draft is a DRAFT and will need a real major cleanup, but yeeHAW. I have a real end and everything!
So you want to know what this book is about? Don't you? Don't you? *happy grin* Here 'tis:
SALVAGED
by Susan Adrian
Sixteen-year-old Annika (Annie) has never used a computer or a cell phone. She's never watched TV, slept in a real bed, or kissed anyone but Xander. Until now.
Annie's always lived in The Community, an ultra-environmental commune tucked in the canyons of San Diego, led by her idealistic, maybe-crackpot dad. What they can't grow or raise they salvage from the wasteful people of "the wild". You'd be amazed what you can find back of a restaurant. But Annie's sister Zilla runs away with Xander, and Dad sends her to drag them back.
To find them Annie has to venture into the wild by herself, into an alien culture of excess. When she crashes a company picnic she meets Bryan, a cute, rich boy who thinks she's homeless. She lets him think it, lets him help. All she needs is a couple days to get Zilla and Xander.
But once she finds them, Annie's not so sure she wants to return, much less force her happy-go-lucky, impulsive sister back under the strict Community rules. The wild is much more complex and captivating than she imagined. And there's Bryan, who's also just a tiny bit captivating. But if she doesn't bring them home soon, Dad will come after them himself. And the last time that happened...that's the one thing Annie won't let herself think about.
Can Annie be salvaged? Does she want to be?
Almost there!
I'm here! I had a LOVELY Christmas, and hope you did too (if you celebrate)!!
I'm just headdown trying to finish this draft. If all goes *well*, this week, my pretties.
*cackle*
(of course I'm in my right mind, sheesh)
I'm just headdown trying to finish this draft. If all goes *well*, this week, my pretties.
*cackle*
(of course I'm in my right mind, sheesh)
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry CHRISTMAS!!
Eeeeee!! It's almost Christmas! It's almost Christmas!!
*bounces around the room*
I adore Christmas--it always has been my favorite day of the year. Yet I really had no idea how magical Christmastime could be until I had Child.
Every morning, when I go in to wake her up and give her morning hugs, I point to the calendar right next to her bed.
"How many days until Christmas?" I say.
The past few mornings, she didn't even have to look. "THREE!" she would say, give a little squee, and throw her arms around me. Her eyes are so alive with pure happiness they hurt, in the way that all aspects of parenting hurt just a touch--the knowledge that this lovely, perfect moment will pass.
But I savor those moments. And her excited discussion about where Santa might be *now* (she loves the NORAD tracker), and reminders that she needs to make sure to go to bed early tonight so Santa can come, and LOOK there are presents under the tree ALREADY but there will be MORE and will I help her wrap her presents for Gram and Opa tonight?
Last night, curious, I asked her what she was looking forward to most about Christmas. She's 7, almost 8, and a sharp little kid--I never know what's going on in that head. Did she love the music, the candles, the decorations? One year she told me she loved the Christmas lights best. Or was it the hope of presents? The excitement of surprise?
She thought carefully, her arms around her knees. Then she said, "Spending the day with my family. And giving other people presents."
"Yes," I said, and gave her another hug. "That's really the best part of all, isn't it?"
And it is. May all of you who celebrate it have a magical, merry Christmas filled with family and giving, and love. I feel so, so blessed--because I will.
Merry Christmas!
*bounces around the room*
I adore Christmas--it always has been my favorite day of the year. Yet I really had no idea how magical Christmastime could be until I had Child.
Every morning, when I go in to wake her up and give her morning hugs, I point to the calendar right next to her bed.
"How many days until Christmas?" I say.
The past few mornings, she didn't even have to look. "THREE!" she would say, give a little squee, and throw her arms around me. Her eyes are so alive with pure happiness they hurt, in the way that all aspects of parenting hurt just a touch--the knowledge that this lovely, perfect moment will pass.
But I savor those moments. And her excited discussion about where Santa might be *now* (she loves the NORAD tracker), and reminders that she needs to make sure to go to bed early tonight so Santa can come, and LOOK there are presents under the tree ALREADY but there will be MORE and will I help her wrap her presents for Gram and Opa tonight?
Last night, curious, I asked her what she was looking forward to most about Christmas. She's 7, almost 8, and a sharp little kid--I never know what's going on in that head. Did she love the music, the candles, the decorations? One year she told me she loved the Christmas lights best. Or was it the hope of presents? The excitement of surprise?
She thought carefully, her arms around her knees. Then she said, "Spending the day with my family. And giving other people presents."
"Yes," I said, and gave her another hug. "That's really the best part of all, isn't it?"
And it is. May all of you who celebrate it have a magical, merry Christmas filled with family and giving, and love. I feel so, so blessed--because I will.
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christmas Craziness..& the Antidote
My workplace has exploded with insanity.
See, we're moving to a new building over the next 2 weeks. Yes, CHRISTMAS weeks. And the Bureau I work for has been in our current building since our inception in 1919. A passel of geologists in the same place for 90 years.
You think we have some stuff? Maybe some rocks? Rooms full of equipment and publications?
You'd be right. And geologists don't want to throw ANYTHING away.
It's an all-new building, and most of the furniture isn't set up yet. But the campus has decided to go the cheapest way and hire students to move us over Christmas break. So we have 30 football players and U-Haul trucks ready to move--with only 2 weeks to do it--but we can't move in yet. Servers are going today, I hear, so we'll have no access to printers or networks anymore. The geologists, seeing the truck, are realizing they finally have to pack up their (ahem) STUFF, so they're scurrying like mad ants.
Oh, and it's 3 days to Christmas. *eeep*
Anyway, all is not lost, because I have the antidote to all this insanity:
--Christmas Cheer
--and CANDY.
Christmas Cheer consists of filling my office with Christmas music as I pack and soothe staff, of pausing to check if my packages have arrived yet...and most of all, remembering Child's happy squeal-and-hug this morning when she counted off the 3 days left.
The candy? Last night, to help soothe, I made My World-Famous English Toffee.
Here's the recipe, if you'd also like to be world-famous! (especially for jmartinlibrarian!)
Susan's English Toffee
(make on a dry day: humidity messes with the consistency)
1 cup roasted unblanched almonds (the bags of slivered almonds at the store will do nicely)
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or a little more, because it's chocolate)
Sprinkle 1/2 almonds in a 9 x 13" glass baking pan. Melt butter on the stove, over medium heat. When completely melted, add sugar, brown sugar, and water to butter, mix. Cook and stir occasionally to boil to 300 degrees (hard crack) on a candy thermometer. (you DO need a candy thermometer! It needs to be exactly that temperature) Remove from heat, stir in soda fast. Pour & spread over almonds. Cool 5 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate pieces over the toffee, spread evenly. Sprinkle the rest of the almonds on top.
Note: I always panic when I make this and think the consistency is wrong, because at first it's chewy. But if you let it sit until morning, it will be *perfect*. Should melt in your mouth!
Let me know if you make some. Enjoy!!
See, we're moving to a new building over the next 2 weeks. Yes, CHRISTMAS weeks. And the Bureau I work for has been in our current building since our inception in 1919. A passel of geologists in the same place for 90 years.
You think we have some stuff? Maybe some rocks? Rooms full of equipment and publications?
You'd be right. And geologists don't want to throw ANYTHING away.
It's an all-new building, and most of the furniture isn't set up yet. But the campus has decided to go the cheapest way and hire students to move us over Christmas break. So we have 30 football players and U-Haul trucks ready to move--with only 2 weeks to do it--but we can't move in yet. Servers are going today, I hear, so we'll have no access to printers or networks anymore. The geologists, seeing the truck, are realizing they finally have to pack up their (ahem) STUFF, so they're scurrying like mad ants.
Oh, and it's 3 days to Christmas. *eeep*
Anyway, all is not lost, because I have the antidote to all this insanity:
--Christmas Cheer
--and CANDY.
Christmas Cheer consists of filling my office with Christmas music as I pack and soothe staff, of pausing to check if my packages have arrived yet...and most of all, remembering Child's happy squeal-and-hug this morning when she counted off the 3 days left.
The candy? Last night, to help soothe, I made My World-Famous English Toffee.
Here's the recipe, if you'd also like to be world-famous! (especially for jmartinlibrarian!)
Susan's English Toffee
(make on a dry day: humidity messes with the consistency)
1 cup roasted unblanched almonds (the bags of slivered almonds at the store will do nicely)
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or a little more, because it's chocolate)
Sprinkle 1/2 almonds in a 9 x 13" glass baking pan. Melt butter on the stove, over medium heat. When completely melted, add sugar, brown sugar, and water to butter, mix. Cook and stir occasionally to boil to 300 degrees (hard crack) on a candy thermometer. (you DO need a candy thermometer! It needs to be exactly that temperature) Remove from heat, stir in soda fast. Pour & spread over almonds. Cool 5 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate pieces over the toffee, spread evenly. Sprinkle the rest of the almonds on top.
Note: I always panic when I make this and think the consistency is wrong, because at first it's chewy. But if you let it sit until morning, it will be *perfect*. Should melt in your mouth!
Let me know if you make some. Enjoy!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Winner of OTTO GROWS DOWN!
Good morning!! In spite of the fact that it's Monday, I am awake and fairly cheery.
It took me a good 2 hours to get that way, but NEVER MIND about that. :)
I LOVED your stories. They made me smile too! Thanks for playing. The winner of OTTO GROWS DOWN, offered by the lovely Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, is...
Trish!!
Congrats, Trish! Send me an email and we'll get the book to you.
You guys, I am so excited about Christmas. I'm just saying.
It took me a good 2 hours to get that way, but NEVER MIND about that. :)
I LOVED your stories. They made me smile too! Thanks for playing. The winner of OTTO GROWS DOWN, offered by the lovely Joanna Stampfel-Volpe, is...
Trish!!
Congrats, Trish! Send me an email and we'll get the book to you.
You guys, I am so excited about Christmas. I'm just saying.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Are you Ready for Another Contest??
You know you are!!
Joanna Stampfel-Volpe generously hosted a contest here with me last week, but she's decided THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. She wants to give away MORE to you guys!
This one is for some lucky kiddo--so moms out there, get on this! Joanna and I are giving away one copy of OTTO GROWS DOWN, a picture book by Michael Sussman.
From an Amazon review:
"Michael Sussman's first children's book is a humorous take on sibling rivalry and suitable for preschoolers and up. In the story, six-year-old Otto is celebrating his birthday when he gets upset at all the attention being given to his infant sister Anna. He wishes that she was never born and soon enough finds his wish coming true in the strangest manner - time moves backwards, and very soon, Anna is sent back to the hospital and Otto finds himself getting younger and younger. As he grows 'down', Otto begins to grow 'up' and learns the lesson of appreciating having a sibling." (reviewer z hayes)
Doesn't that sound cool?
This contest will be open a little longer, since we're all busy: until 8 am MST Monday morning. So you have all weekend to link, and get yourself more entries!!
Rules:
Joanna Stampfel-Volpe generously hosted a contest here with me last week, but she's decided THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. She wants to give away MORE to you guys!
This one is for some lucky kiddo--so moms out there, get on this! Joanna and I are giving away one copy of OTTO GROWS DOWN, a picture book by Michael Sussman.
"Michael Sussman's first children's book is a humorous take on sibling rivalry and suitable for preschoolers and up. In the story, six-year-old Otto is celebrating his birthday when he gets upset at all the attention being given to his infant sister Anna. He wishes that she was never born and soon enough finds his wish coming true in the strangest manner - time moves backwards, and very soon, Anna is sent back to the hospital and Otto finds himself getting younger and younger. As he grows 'down', Otto begins to grow 'up' and learns the lesson of appreciating having a sibling." (reviewer z hayes)
Doesn't that sound cool?
This contest will be open a little longer, since we're all busy: until 8 am MST Monday morning. So you have all weekend to link, and get yourself more entries!!
Rules:
- For 1 point, post a comment below with at least ONE thing that makes you smile about any member of your family: sibling, child, spouse, parents, whatever. It's a celebration of what's good about families, even crazy ones!
- An additional 1 point for tweeting OR Facebooking the contest
- An additional 2 points for linking to this contest on your blog!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Kelly Gay contest winner!
And the winner of a signed copy of The Better Part of Darkness is:
Christopher S. Ledbetter!
Congratulations, Christopher!! Email me at susan dot adrian at yahoo.com to claim your prize!!
Don't forget, tomorrow I'll be giving away a copy of a lovely picture book, OTTO GROWS DOWN by Michael Sussman!
Christopher S. Ledbetter!
Congratulations, Christopher!! Email me at susan dot adrian at yahoo.com to claim your prize!!
Don't forget, tomorrow I'll be giving away a copy of a lovely picture book, OTTO GROWS DOWN by Michael Sussman!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Interview & Giveaway with Author Kelly Gay!
~*CONTEST CLOSED*~
I'll announce the winner in a bit! Stay tuned!
Hi all! It is a giveaway FESTIVAL here. So let's dive in to an interview with Enchanting Urban Fantasy Author Kelly Gay, who stopped by to tell us about her debut novel (on shelves now!), THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS. We're also giving away a signed copy!
I'll announce the winner in a bit! Stay tuned!
Hi all! It is a giveaway FESTIVAL here. So let's dive in to an interview with Enchanting Urban Fantasy Author Kelly Gay, who stopped by to tell us about her debut novel (on shelves now!), THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS. We're also giving away a signed copy!
Susan: Hi Kelly! First, congratulations on the release of your first book! How's it feel so far?
Kelly: Thanks Susan! And thanks for having me on your blog! My book being ‘out there’ in the world feels awesome, scary, exciting, surreal… you name it. A book debut fits that whole rollercoaster analogy incredibly well.
Susan: I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy yet (I will, ASAP!), so could you tell us a bit about the story?
Kelly: Sure. The book is set in Atlanta about a decade after the discovery of heaven-like Elysia and hellish Charbydon, two alternate dimensions, which are home to beings that inspired our myths of angels, demons, gods, and monsters. Now they live among us, and it’s Charlie Madigan’s job to police the off-world sector and keep the peace, but when a new off-world drug is released, an ancient threat emerges, and her ex-husband makes a terrible bargain to win her back, there’s nothing in heaven, or hell, for that matter, that Charlie won’t do to set things right.
Susan: Charbydon and Elysia…aha. A student of the classics, eh? Can you talk about how classic mythology shaped the world you created? How have you diverged?
Kelly: Yeah. I’m a sucker for all things ancient and classical. I was reading Herodotus when I was ten years old. The Histories is still one of my all time favorite reads.
I really wanted to base my world on the ‘what if?’ questions I always had when reading mythology. What if some of these myths were based in obscure ancient truths and these truths were passed down, generation after generation, traveling across cultures until they became the foundations of many different civilization’s myths? Myths diverged, became different, expounded upon, but what if originally they’d been based in fact, in early man’s sightings, in visitations, in the meddling of Elysians and Charbydons in our early history? That question is answered in my fictional world and in the city of Atlanta. The Elysians and Charbydons have been visiting our world for eons, meddling, using our world as a neutral ground and sometimes as a battleground. And now that science has discovered the existence of these dimensions from which they hail, they can no longer hide, they had to come out and admit their presence. Each being in these worlds inspired different myths. The nymphs of Elysia along with the sidhé fae and the darkling fae from Charbydon inspired some of the Celtic myths. The angelic-looking Adonai and sirens inspired tales of angels. The jinn, demons, and so on…
Susan: I'm fascinated with the idea of an urban fantasy heroine who's also a single mother (I love Vicki Pettersson's take on that too, but I'm sure it's very different). Can you talk about the balance she has to strike? How has your experience as a mother influenced that part of the story?
Kelly: Ooh a Vicki Pettersson fan? Me too! LOL. But, yeah, mine takes a totally different path to motherhood. The thing that makes Charlie who she is at the start of BPOD is that fact that her personal life has been very much like someone you might know; someone who has gone through school, gotten married to their high school or college sweetheart, had a child early on, and who works for a living. Charlie has been a mom to her daughter for eleven years now. It has shaped who she is and defines what is important to her. It’s made her a mature, determined, protective woman. And since she’s been in the workforce while also being a mom, she’s already found a decent balance between work and motherhood. It’s become second nature—hard some days, but it’s the norm where Charlie is concerned. (Thought, events in BPOD change the norm somewhat.)
But the balance nowadays is shifting as her daughter, Emma, approaches the age where she wants independence and will fight for it. Charlie is in the midst of learning how much to let go while still maintaining her tight bond with Emma. It’s a scary time for Charlie because she knows things happening now between them could define their relationship later in life. It’s a struggle for sure, wanting to protect but knowing you have to let go of some strings in order for your kid to grow and learn from their own mistakes. And, in this regard, I do find I draw on experiences with my own mother and with my daughter as well, a daughter who is getting very close to the stage Emma is at right now. Lord, help me! J
Susan: I'm not *cough* unfamiliar with the balance of motherhood and writing myself. How do you juggle those roles, which can both be so time-demanding?
Kelly: Oy. It’s hard, I won’t lie. When my son, who just turned 2, entered the mix, it really became a struggle to carve out quiet time, and enough time to be productive and turn out material at the pace I’d been used to. One of the things I’ve learned is that I have to accept it. I can’t stress and fight against that fact that I must stop writing to tend to a need that arises. I used to get frustrated when I had to stop mid-creative streak. But, I’ve since learned to chill, and I stopped trying to work when they’re home, or even when they’re playing quietly (though I will do things like blog posts, email replies, and answering interview questions, LOL). And since I’ve made that little rule, I’m able to enjoy the time spent with my family without wanting to finish that sentence or rework that paragraph. When they’re at school and daycare, that’s when I sit my butt in the chair and work. If there’s a tight deadline and I need to work in the evenings or weekends, then I make sure I’m not the primary caregiver at that time, and I’ll go outside of the house, wake up early, or wait until everyone is in bed.
Susan: Now. Tell me about this YA series. (please)
Kelly: Yay! I’m so excited about this project! DARKNESS BECOMES HER is the first novel in the series, and it will debut in Spring 2011 from Simon Pulse, with a second book a year later. I call the series, ‘GODS & MONSTERS’, but I’m not sure yet if that will change. It’s dark, urban fantasy, set in a post apocalyptic-like New Orleans that has been forsaken and abandoned by the government and most of its inhabitants due to two massive hurricanes that destroyed the city a decade earlier. It's now become a sanctuary for the supernatural, a place run by the Novem, nine of the oldest (and strangest) families in New Orleans.
My heroine, Ari, is a pretty tough and independent teen, with some unique qualities. She’s searching for answers, clues to an obscure past that leads her to New 2 (what folks now call New Orleans). With the help of some misfit kids and teens living in an abandoned Garden District mansion, Ari discovers a curse that has stood since the time of the gods, one that is beginning to stir inside of her and ignite the age old war between gods and monsters.
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this story. It’s dark, lush, and has a gothic feel. The city is decaying, ebbing back into the swamps, so the atmosphere is very creepy. And I'm blending some ancient mythology (the gods) and the vampire, witches, & shapeshifter mythos (the monsters) together, connecting them with an ancient curse that lives inside of my heroine.
Susan: What have you found different about writing YA versus adult UF? Does one voice or the other come more naturally to you?
Susan: What have you found different about writing YA versus adult UF? Does one voice or the other come more naturally to you?
Kelly: So far, I‘ve been able to fall quite easily into the voices of both Charlie and Ari. I’ve been writing young adult for a few years now, so I feel really comfortable stepping into the YA role. In fact, the manuscript I was shopping before BPOD was a YA, and I figured eventually I’d hit with one of the genres and either debut as an adult author or as a YA author. But I think it turned out just right because this new YA is much stronger than the one I’d been shopping earlier.
****
Thanks so much, Kelly! Now, let's give away a copy of that lovely, dark UF, shall we? For this one I'm going to make you work...well, a TINY bit. With the holidays, I won't make you work hard.
To enter:
- For 1 point, post a comment below with the name of your favorite mythological creature. Classic myths, modern myths, whatever you like!
- An additional 1 point for tweeting OR Facebooking the contest
- An additional 2 points for linking to this contest on your blog!
- This is a one-day-only thing: Entries must be in by tomorrow at noon mountain time.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Why I Love Ya
Dear Fabulous Agent Shark (not-so-secret identity Janet Reid):
I've always loved your enthusiasm. The way you chuckled to yourself when you read my opening pages, standing there in the lobby of the Sheraton. The request for a full, given only the way you could give it. (Remember, it started out, "What the hell is wrong with me that I wasn't leaping all over this the day you sent it?" I laughed out loud.) The way you gulped down my book in one day and offered that night. That unbounded enthusiasm, that love for MY story...the way you *got* it, even the tiny little references...how could I ever turn that down?
I couldn't, of course. You made me wait for the other agents, but in the end I knew who I'd choose.
I love the way you've stuck with the book, with me. It hasn't been easy, I know. It didn't go right away, and still didn't, and still didn't. Not for lack of trying. I bet a lot of other agents would've given up by now, figured they were wrong and it was a lost cause. Not you.
I love that when I email you, fretting, you may very well roll your eyes over there in New York, but I can't tell it from your emails.
I love that every time I talk to you on the phone I get the renewed sense that you love this book, that you're not done yet.
I love that when I fret about the book I'm writing now, you get all Buddha-like and say "I have confidence in you." And when I worry that it's not commercial enough, you remind me that you love what I write.
I love that you have a close-knit cadre of clients I can hang out with on Twitter, that feel like my brothers (and couple of sisters). I love that you're on Twitter too.
I love that you're on my side.
I'm so very glad to be on your team.
Love,
Susan
**Note: This is part of Unofficial Official Agent Appreciation Day, a fabulous idea of Kody Keplinger's. Because sometimes agents get a bad rap, we wanted to join together to surprise our agents with a little love. A list of participating blogs will be available here: http://lisa-laura.
I've always loved your enthusiasm. The way you chuckled to yourself when you read my opening pages, standing there in the lobby of the Sheraton. The request for a full, given only the way you could give it. (Remember, it started out, "What the hell is wrong with me that I wasn't leaping all over this the day you sent it?" I laughed out loud.) The way you gulped down my book in one day and offered that night. That unbounded enthusiasm, that love for MY story...the way you *got* it, even the tiny little references...how could I ever turn that down?
I couldn't, of course. You made me wait for the other agents, but in the end I knew who I'd choose.
I love the way you've stuck with the book, with me. It hasn't been easy, I know. It didn't go right away, and still didn't, and still didn't. Not for lack of trying. I bet a lot of other agents would've given up by now, figured they were wrong and it was a lost cause. Not you.
I love that when I email you, fretting, you may very well roll your eyes over there in New York, but I can't tell it from your emails.
I love that every time I talk to you on the phone I get the renewed sense that you love this book, that you're not done yet.
I love that when I fret about the book I'm writing now, you get all Buddha-like and say "I have confidence in you." And when I worry that it's not commercial enough, you remind me that you love what I write.
I love that you have a close-knit cadre of clients I can hang out with on Twitter, that feel like my brothers (and couple of sisters). I love that you're on Twitter too.
I love that you're on my side.
I'm so very glad to be on your team.
Love,
Susan
**Note: This is part of Unofficial Official Agent Appreciation Day, a fabulous idea of Kody Keplinger's. Because sometimes agents get a bad rap, we wanted to join together to surprise our agents with a little love. A list of participating blogs will be available here: http://lisa-laura.
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