12/28/08
Happy Holidays!
Just to let everyone know that I'm alive and well and have been pretty busy, what with one thing or another. Some good, some not so good. But now I'm on the cusp of a New Year and of course, one of my resolutions (do I need more than one to keep track of?) is to be a more faithful blogster. So, please return in 2009 and see what's new and interesting in the life of this writer in her quest to Catch the Bad Guys! (Hint: a new project will be underway shortly. Resolution #2, I guess.) Blessings!
9/11/08
Snippets from the Scrapbag
In my "spare" time, I've been writing a column for a small local paper. It's kind of an off and on thing, but I thought it might work to post my scribblings to this site. The column is called SCRAPBAG, because in days gone by, people used to keep scraps of fabric in a bag to use in mending or making quilts. So, these are little snippets of thoughts from my brain. Here are a couple of the most recent.
I call him Jim, because he reminds me of a guy I knew who could be found each and every morning standing at the local Dunkin’ Donuts, jump-starting his day with high test coffee. (I almost changed my mind and renamed him “Mike,” after the gangly Olympic wunderkind with whom he has so much in common—especially an affinity for anything water. But, well, named is named.)
Each and every morning, I see Jim standing in the middle of Lower Bear Lake or in the reedy fringe, his body perched high on stork-like legs. I like his summery suit of pale blue and white, almost like a seersucker. Ready for the office. Thin neck crooked, he peers into the depths as if contemplating the day’s assortment of pastries. Let’s see. Sunny? Bass? Hmm. Maybe too much of a tangle with that one. Then, suddenly the neck uncrooks and a sharp beak stabs the surface of the water, returning seconds later with a flapping piece of breakfast. A few quick gulps and he’s back to his musing. If I get too close, he flaps his huge wings and skims off to a more remote spot.
The past month or so has been excellent for early walks, before the day heats up and I find more excuses than I need not to get out and stretch the muscles. I, like Jim, need a jolt to get my day going. And it’s good to be out among the rest of the world, whether it’s Jim or the man who moseys along with his two elderly dogs or runners and cyclers or the little clutch of ducklings who seem a bit small for this time of year. The other day, I thought I saw a kingfisher, and a couple of deer paused on the path that leads to the house. We all paused, politely waiting for the other to pass, but I won that round and they eventually wandered off. Then, there are the smaller wonders—gossamer spider webs or a leaf that has already turned bright red or slanting rays of sunlight piercing the trees like golden fingers. I have to remember to bring my camera. Once in a while I have captured a special image to upload onto my jigsaw puzzle web site. It’s fun to put them together, recreating the moment piece by piece.
A few times this week, we’ve taken the longer bridle path through the woods. There are more ups and downs than on the lake trail and my muscles eventually feel the strain. I take comfort in the thought that I’m doing them some good. I’ve taken the time to stretch before my walks lately, which seems to make a difference. Sometimes I make a game of it, standing Jim-like on one leg to see if I can balance, but keeping close to something solid in case I topple.
It’s been a gorgeous summer for being outdoors. I’ve visited quite a few places, some purporting to be paradise, but nothing can compare to a splendid day in Northeast Ohio. I think if we could ask Jim, he’d agree.
“See? This is why I don’t want to get old.”
It was July 4, 2008, and my son and I were standing on the aft deck of a boat that was cruising along the Kona Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. Up top, a couple of surfer dude-looking guys were scanning the ocean for a pod of spinner dolphins that had been lazily digesting their nocturnal meal of squid as they swam. The intent was to position the boat ahead of where the dolphins were moving so that we could all jump off.
On the boat were perhaps fifteen or twenty people, ranging in age from about ten to—well, me. We were all excited to see these gentle beasts of the sea up close and personal. I was especially happy to be doing it with kids and grandkids. It would certainly be an adventure to share.
A stir in the water to the left signaled that we had found the pod. Several dolphins had surfaced, some skimming the water in the traditional arc, others leaping into the air with the twisting motion that gave this particular species its name. Fascinated, we watched for a while, then the boat put on a bust of speed to get in front of them. The engine came to a halt and the signal was given to enter the water. We had been told to just lay flat on our stomachs and use our flippers. Flailing hands might scare the dolphins.
I’d like to say I gracefully eased into the water, but from a foot or so above the water, a splash is inevitable. I managed to get my mask and snorkel in place and took off after those already moving away. Head down, hands at my sides, I paddled along, my eyes shifting from side to side. Then I remembered that the surfer dudes had said to look down.
Suddenly, there they were, several feet below me, moving along like huge silver bullets. I didn’t even think to be afraid. They looked so peaceful and for sure, they weren’t interested in the rather odd shaped pink fish up above. Movement to the side of me. A trio of dolphins swam by about a yard away. I almost could have reached out and touched them. One had a neat, circular bite mark near its tail, the result, we discovered later, of an encounter with what’s called a “cookie cutter” shark. As they passed, one playfully nudged another with his nose and they all disappeared into the murky distance. Moments later, more dolphins appeared. I tried to swim after them, but of course it proved futile. My muscles are no match for theirs.Back on board, the excited chatter began. “Did you see…?” “Did you hear them talking?” Everyone had a story.
Five separate times, we were privileged to enter the dolphins’ world. I didn’t want the day to end. Which what had prompted my comment to my son.
At some point, we both agreed, everything will come to an end. The trick is to stretch it out as far as you can. So far, I’ve been blessed with the healthy genes that seem to run in my family, although I’m beginning to understand what my mother meant when she often said, “If they only knew how much effort it takes to look this good!”
Old is what you make of it. Live it to the max. Do some kind of work. Play. Laugh. Learn something new every day. Eat right. Make your body move as much as possible, even when it hurts. Read. Help somebody else. Have friends. Have faith. And hope. And love. There’s no better way.
I call him Jim, because he reminds me of a guy I knew who could be found each and every morning standing at the local Dunkin’ Donuts, jump-starting his day with high test coffee. (I almost changed my mind and renamed him “Mike,” after the gangly Olympic wunderkind with whom he has so much in common—especially an affinity for anything water. But, well, named is named.)
Each and every morning, I see Jim standing in the middle of Lower Bear Lake or in the reedy fringe, his body perched high on stork-like legs. I like his summery suit of pale blue and white, almost like a seersucker. Ready for the office. Thin neck crooked, he peers into the depths as if contemplating the day’s assortment of pastries. Let’s see. Sunny? Bass? Hmm. Maybe too much of a tangle with that one. Then, suddenly the neck uncrooks and a sharp beak stabs the surface of the water, returning seconds later with a flapping piece of breakfast. A few quick gulps and he’s back to his musing. If I get too close, he flaps his huge wings and skims off to a more remote spot.
The past month or so has been excellent for early walks, before the day heats up and I find more excuses than I need not to get out and stretch the muscles. I, like Jim, need a jolt to get my day going. And it’s good to be out among the rest of the world, whether it’s Jim or the man who moseys along with his two elderly dogs or runners and cyclers or the little clutch of ducklings who seem a bit small for this time of year. The other day, I thought I saw a kingfisher, and a couple of deer paused on the path that leads to the house. We all paused, politely waiting for the other to pass, but I won that round and they eventually wandered off. Then, there are the smaller wonders—gossamer spider webs or a leaf that has already turned bright red or slanting rays of sunlight piercing the trees like golden fingers. I have to remember to bring my camera. Once in a while I have captured a special image to upload onto my jigsaw puzzle web site. It’s fun to put them together, recreating the moment piece by piece.
A few times this week, we’ve taken the longer bridle path through the woods. There are more ups and downs than on the lake trail and my muscles eventually feel the strain. I take comfort in the thought that I’m doing them some good. I’ve taken the time to stretch before my walks lately, which seems to make a difference. Sometimes I make a game of it, standing Jim-like on one leg to see if I can balance, but keeping close to something solid in case I topple.
It’s been a gorgeous summer for being outdoors. I’ve visited quite a few places, some purporting to be paradise, but nothing can compare to a splendid day in Northeast Ohio. I think if we could ask Jim, he’d agree.
“See? This is why I don’t want to get old.”
It was July 4, 2008, and my son and I were standing on the aft deck of a boat that was cruising along the Kona Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. Up top, a couple of surfer dude-looking guys were scanning the ocean for a pod of spinner dolphins that had been lazily digesting their nocturnal meal of squid as they swam. The intent was to position the boat ahead of where the dolphins were moving so that we could all jump off.
On the boat were perhaps fifteen or twenty people, ranging in age from about ten to—well, me. We were all excited to see these gentle beasts of the sea up close and personal. I was especially happy to be doing it with kids and grandkids. It would certainly be an adventure to share.
A stir in the water to the left signaled that we had found the pod. Several dolphins had surfaced, some skimming the water in the traditional arc, others leaping into the air with the twisting motion that gave this particular species its name. Fascinated, we watched for a while, then the boat put on a bust of speed to get in front of them. The engine came to a halt and the signal was given to enter the water. We had been told to just lay flat on our stomachs and use our flippers. Flailing hands might scare the dolphins.
I’d like to say I gracefully eased into the water, but from a foot or so above the water, a splash is inevitable. I managed to get my mask and snorkel in place and took off after those already moving away. Head down, hands at my sides, I paddled along, my eyes shifting from side to side. Then I remembered that the surfer dudes had said to look down.
Suddenly, there they were, several feet below me, moving along like huge silver bullets. I didn’t even think to be afraid. They looked so peaceful and for sure, they weren’t interested in the rather odd shaped pink fish up above. Movement to the side of me. A trio of dolphins swam by about a yard away. I almost could have reached out and touched them. One had a neat, circular bite mark near its tail, the result, we discovered later, of an encounter with what’s called a “cookie cutter” shark. As they passed, one playfully nudged another with his nose and they all disappeared into the murky distance. Moments later, more dolphins appeared. I tried to swim after them, but of course it proved futile. My muscles are no match for theirs.Back on board, the excited chatter began. “Did you see…?” “Did you hear them talking?” Everyone had a story.
Five separate times, we were privileged to enter the dolphins’ world. I didn’t want the day to end. Which what had prompted my comment to my son.
At some point, we both agreed, everything will come to an end. The trick is to stretch it out as far as you can. So far, I’ve been blessed with the healthy genes that seem to run in my family, although I’m beginning to understand what my mother meant when she often said, “If they only knew how much effort it takes to look this good!”
Old is what you make of it. Live it to the max. Do some kind of work. Play. Laugh. Learn something new every day. Eat right. Make your body move as much as possible, even when it hurts. Read. Help somebody else. Have friends. Have faith. And hope. And love. There’s no better way.
8/20/08
NEW BOOK!
Join me in welcoming Twitcher McGee, a mouse with a problem. Food. In this case, a decided lack of. But one magical Christmas night, a tree appears outside Twitcher's mouse hole. And it's decorated with cheese! Who has been so thoughtful of a small, grey mouse? In short order, he finds out.
This is my first attempt at doing my own illustrations, but I think kids will enjoy them.
Anyway, the publication date is September, 2008, the price is $4.95 and they're available from Dragonseed Press, P.O. Box 23266, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023.
This is my first attempt at doing my own illustrations, but I think kids will enjoy them.
8/10/08
Erin and Friends
I wish this was me, body-wise. It's my granddaughter, but I was in the water, too, experiencing the same thing. Erin is one of those people who immediately attract animals. She was having a wonderful time just playing with these spinner dolphins. And they with her, I think.
7/16/08
Happy Summer!
I hope everybody didn't give up on me when they clicked on my blog address and found--hah! Nothing new! (Okay, I just snuck one in that had been saved and not posted in May. So sue me.) But that's the problem with summer. No nose-gnawing winds to keep one inside writing things. Since the Big Freeze left, I've been out and about, planting seeds, visiting family and friends, and just generally making memories to keep me warm when I'm back inside shivering inside my woollies.
I just returned from a five week trip--my longest ever. The first few nights home I found myself waking up wondering where I was and in what direction the bathroom might be, just in case I had to make fast tracks. I think I'm over that and the jet lag and it actually feels like I have a whole new wardrobe! Try wearing the same things over and over for 35 days! (In case you're wondering, yes, I did toss them in somebody's washing machine every so often.)
Anyway, where I was, mostly, was Washington State. For three weeks I stayed with our youngest son and his family in the Tri-Cities area on the eastern (and dry) side of the mountains and had a great time crawling around the floor playing trains with PJ, who is three. I'm obviously not three. My muscles told me that every time I tried to get up. I finally convinced PJ that I had "old bones" and couldn't follow him indefinitely. We came to an acceptable compromise where I could sit on the front steps sometimes.
After that, Pat and I drove through the Snoqualmie Pass to the western or wet side, although it was actually kind of nice there for a change. We regrouped our suitcases and then headed for Hawaii for a week. My first time ever. Beautiful. Stunning sunsets, tiki torches, lush vegetation, and mai tais. Hawaii, if you've never been there, seems almost like a foreign country. Although once you master "aloha" and "mahalo," you're pretty much home-free in the language department, there is a decidedly different look to street and town names. It's like the founding fathers got feeling giddy and just started throwing vowels and accent marks into perfectly good words. Kilauea, Honolulu, Hawai'i, a'ama--and those were the easy ones. They actually had three kings named Kamehameha. In all honesty, one you mastered some of them, they were kind of fun to say. I'm still trying to figure out the Hawai'an name for Place of Refuge, which is a sanctuary and historical site. Don't try it when you've had a few mai tais: Pu'uhonua o Honaunau. Also, almost everyone tells you, steer clear of poi, which is a purplish paste that is the staple food of the Hawai'ians. My kindergarten paste tasted better.
On the Fourth of July, we boarded a boat and went out in search of dolphins. And that's another story for when I get my pictures. Until then, aloha!
I just returned from a five week trip--my longest ever. The first few nights home I found myself waking up wondering where I was and in what direction the bathroom might be, just in case I had to make fast tracks. I think I'm over that and the jet lag and it actually feels like I have a whole new wardrobe! Try wearing the same things over and over for 35 days! (In case you're wondering, yes, I did toss them in somebody's washing machine every so often.)
Anyway, where I was, mostly, was Washington State. For three weeks I stayed with our youngest son and his family in the Tri-Cities area on the eastern (and dry) side of the mountains and had a great time crawling around the floor playing trains with PJ, who is three. I'm obviously not three. My muscles told me that every time I tried to get up. I finally convinced PJ that I had "old bones" and couldn't follow him indefinitely. We came to an acceptable compromise where I could sit on the front steps sometimes.
After that, Pat and I drove through the Snoqualmie Pass to the western or wet side, although it was actually kind of nice there for a change. We regrouped our suitcases and then headed for Hawaii for a week. My first time ever. Beautiful. Stunning sunsets, tiki torches, lush vegetation, and mai tais. Hawaii, if you've never been there, seems almost like a foreign country. Although once you master "aloha" and "mahalo," you're pretty much home-free in the language department, there is a decidedly different look to street and town names. It's like the founding fathers got feeling giddy and just started throwing vowels and accent marks into perfectly good words. Kilauea, Honolulu, Hawai'i, a'ama--and those were the easy ones. They actually had three kings named Kamehameha. In all honesty, one you mastered some of them, they were kind of fun to say. I'm still trying to figure out the Hawai'an name for Place of Refuge, which is a sanctuary and historical site. Don't try it when you've had a few mai tais: Pu'uhonua o Honaunau. Also, almost everyone tells you, steer clear of poi, which is a purplish paste that is the staple food of the Hawai'ians. My kindergarten paste tasted better.
On the Fourth of July, we boarded a boat and went out in search of dolphins. And that's another story for when I get my pictures. Until then, aloha!
5/5/08
STAYING BETWEEN THE LINES
This must be my week/month/year for weird things. The other day, I was pulling out of the driveway to run an errand when I noticed this little piece of paper stuck under my windshield wiper.
My first thought was that it was a parking ticket, so you can imagine my relief. But then what was it doing under my wiper blade? I flipped it over and found--
My first thought was that it was a parking ticket, so you can imagine my relief. But then what was it doing under my wiper blade? I flipped it over and found--
Another puzzle for me to solve. But it didn't take me long to figure out that this was a rather civil form of road rage. Obviously, I hadn't parked my car cleanly within the space marked. I tried to think, but couldn't even remember exactly where I'd been in the past few days. Just about every parking lot I go to has room for about a gazillion cars. The other thing was that if there's anybody who's a "between the lines" person, it's me. I took great pride (still do) in neatly coloring in my coloring books. This person must have been seriouisly ticked off to grab whatever was handy--some box--rip off part of it and furiously scribble "Yellow lines!" I'm assuming it was a male. I hope he didn't fire his secretary or something when he got to work. Sheesh. Get a life.
And by the way, if there are any of you still onfused by "entropy plaza," here's a picture of it. Notice the "order into chaos?"
4/30/08
OF SHOES AND DEAD MICE
Wow! It's been quite a long time since I tapped out a new message, hasn't it? Many things going on these days.
I was going on an errand one day a while ago and had come to an intersection onto the main highway. Lying in the street was a white sneaker. A fairly new one, and small, perhaps a child about six or eight. I chuckled as I thought of the kid who liked to go barefoot nonchalantly tossing the sneaker out the car window as the car rolled to a stop and how the mom would probably tear up her house looking for it later that day or the next. Of course, if it had been my kid, it wouldn't have been so funny. Socks not returning from the washing machine were bad enough.
On my way home from my errand, coming to the intersection again from a completely different direction and on a different side road about a half mile south of the other side road, I saw another sneaker. White. Small. New. Now my writer's mind kicked into high gear. Possible scenarios: Mom put both sneakers on the roof of the car as she was hustling everybody off to soccer practice. Then forgot about them. Sneakers eventually fell off. Except--how did the second sneaker survive the turn? Or did the kid dangle the second sneaker by the shoelace for a while before letting go? Was this an abduction and someone was trying to leave a trail? Better than breadcrumbs, certainly. Weird.
Of such everyday events are stories made. Perhaps the errant sneakers will eventually find their way into a book or story. One never knows.
The worms are officially dead. Well, actually, a couple survived, but they went into the compost heap to see if they'd fare better with even more neglect.
And the mice are gone. All four of them. We caught three of them--one still alive, but doomed to spend the rest of his days hopping around with a tiny crutch, like Tiny Tim Cratchitt. The last mouse had spent the last four years attached to my computer. When it didn't move anymore, I suspected foul play, especially when I took it to the computer store and it worked fine there. The tech, however, suggested I might want to get a backup, just in case. Smart man. Back home, the mouse still wouldn't work, but the new one did. I'm glad I got it, too, because I just purchased a new laptop and will need one there.
Hope you're enjoying the trans-seasonal weather wherever you are!
I was going on an errand one day a while ago and had come to an intersection onto the main highway. Lying in the street was a white sneaker. A fairly new one, and small, perhaps a child about six or eight. I chuckled as I thought of the kid who liked to go barefoot nonchalantly tossing the sneaker out the car window as the car rolled to a stop and how the mom would probably tear up her house looking for it later that day or the next. Of course, if it had been my kid, it wouldn't have been so funny. Socks not returning from the washing machine were bad enough.
On my way home from my errand, coming to the intersection again from a completely different direction and on a different side road about a half mile south of the other side road, I saw another sneaker. White. Small. New. Now my writer's mind kicked into high gear. Possible scenarios: Mom put both sneakers on the roof of the car as she was hustling everybody off to soccer practice. Then forgot about them. Sneakers eventually fell off. Except--how did the second sneaker survive the turn? Or did the kid dangle the second sneaker by the shoelace for a while before letting go? Was this an abduction and someone was trying to leave a trail? Better than breadcrumbs, certainly. Weird.
Of such everyday events are stories made. Perhaps the errant sneakers will eventually find their way into a book or story. One never knows.
The worms are officially dead. Well, actually, a couple survived, but they went into the compost heap to see if they'd fare better with even more neglect.
And the mice are gone. All four of them. We caught three of them--one still alive, but doomed to spend the rest of his days hopping around with a tiny crutch, like Tiny Tim Cratchitt. The last mouse had spent the last four years attached to my computer. When it didn't move anymore, I suspected foul play, especially when I took it to the computer store and it worked fine there. The tech, however, suggested I might want to get a backup, just in case. Smart man. Back home, the mouse still wouldn't work, but the new one did. I'm glad I got it, too, because I just purchased a new laptop and will need one there.
Hope you're enjoying the trans-seasonal weather wherever you are!
4/3/08
HAND TO MOUSE
Sometimes the "truth stranger than fiction" really hits home. It happened this week when I found little tracings of mice in my dishtowel drawer and butter dish, and tiny bits of pastel colored foil behind the toaster. Evidently, mice like chocolate Easter candy like the rest of us. But yikes! I thought. We can't have that. Really, we can't. A trip to Sears Hardware showed me there were all sorts of ways to get rid of Mickey and Company. I decided on a "no touch" trap that was reusable and was covered so you didn't even have to look at the end result. Not that I would have anyway. Sydney Carton was again on hand to take the far, far better course of tossing the body in the trash. We caught another one last night, but I've again left it for SC.
I also should note here that I think I killed my worms.
But I felt bad, you know? Here I am, all ready to publish a delightful Christmas story called Twitcher McGee and the Wonderful Tree--and it's all about a poor little mouse! I want to create such sympathy for Twitcher so readers will be hoping he gets his cupboard filled for the next year and here I am, not only taking away his food, but also his reason for needing it! I wonder if Walt Disney had that problem.
I also should note here that I think I killed my worms.
3/7/08
One Weird Week
I like to do my civic duty once in a while, so a few years back, I signed up to be a poll worker. Depending on what's on the ballot, it can be incredibly boring or else bustling with people eager to make their voices heard. Last Tuesday was the latter variety--all the more so because Ohio was in the national spotlight, especially for the Democratic Party. What made it a bit odd was that in this heavily Republican county, Democratic ballots outnumbered the Republican ones, 3-1. There was a little bit of "well, our side's candidate is pretty much sewn up, so let's see what we can do with the other side." One young thing asked what party one of the presidential candidates belonged to. Now, that's what I call a really informed voter.
Outside, meanwhile, the heavens had opened and rained down--well, rain. But the temperature was hovering around 32 degrees, so when I went out, I found my car looking like something by Swarovski. Fortunately, I had brought a thermos of hot water for tea during the day and had some left, so that went on the windshield and I was able to make it the short mile home.
Where I found the house lit by candles. No power. Shoot! That meant no American Idol--and no supper, either. (My husband had offered to cook something, but since the microwave was unavailable, the offer was off the table--literally.) For a couple of hours, we huddled around the fireplace, dreading the moment when we'd have to crawl into an ice cold bed. No electric blanket. No hot water, either. We're on a well and when the well pump doesn't work, the water doesn't flow. Like Sidney Carton, Pat decided that it was a "far, far better thing" to get in first. Smart man.
We struggled through the next day, or rather, I did. He went to work. I sat in front of the fireplace and knitted and read and listened to my MP3 and stoked the fire. I had a school presentation later that night a short distance away. Luckily, they had power. It was just hard getting dressed. It's truly amazing how cold everything gets--clothes, utensils, toilet seats--ugh! After the presentation, we hit a neighborhood restaurant and lingered over our dinner, enjoying the warmth. By the time we got home, the power had been restored--not soon enough for American Idol, though. The furnace was sounding a little grumbly, but it had been doing that for several days and we'd already gotten a couple of quotes for a new furace, maybe in the summer.
Forget summer. The next morning, the furnace was dead. Dead, dead, dead. And it was cold. Cold, cold, cold. Except for a small electric heater, which we set up in the office. The guy who was coming out with our quote was in the right place at the right time. He could do the job the next day, so it was his.
I'm still barricaded in the office while the snow (another blizzard thing expected) piles up outside. March has definitely come in like a lion. I've been going over manuscripts and checking out blogs and doing online jigsaw puzzles. Everytime I leave to get something in the kitchen, I'm reminded of how frigid it is out there. The furnace guys promised us heat by tonight. Winter. You gotta love it.
Outside, meanwhile, the heavens had opened and rained down--well, rain. But the temperature was hovering around 32 degrees, so when I went out, I found my car looking like something by Swarovski. Fortunately, I had brought a thermos of hot water for tea during the day and had some left, so that went on the windshield and I was able to make it the short mile home.
Where I found the house lit by candles. No power. Shoot! That meant no American Idol--and no supper, either. (My husband had offered to cook something, but since the microwave was unavailable, the offer was off the table--literally.) For a couple of hours, we huddled around the fireplace, dreading the moment when we'd have to crawl into an ice cold bed. No electric blanket. No hot water, either. We're on a well and when the well pump doesn't work, the water doesn't flow. Like Sidney Carton, Pat decided that it was a "far, far better thing" to get in first. Smart man.
We struggled through the next day, or rather, I did. He went to work. I sat in front of the fireplace and knitted and read and listened to my MP3 and stoked the fire. I had a school presentation later that night a short distance away. Luckily, they had power. It was just hard getting dressed. It's truly amazing how cold everything gets--clothes, utensils, toilet seats--ugh! After the presentation, we hit a neighborhood restaurant and lingered over our dinner, enjoying the warmth. By the time we got home, the power had been restored--not soon enough for American Idol, though. The furnace was sounding a little grumbly, but it had been doing that for several days and we'd already gotten a couple of quotes for a new furace, maybe in the summer.
Forget summer. The next morning, the furnace was dead. Dead, dead, dead. And it was cold. Cold, cold, cold. Except for a small electric heater, which we set up in the office. The guy who was coming out with our quote was in the right place at the right time. He could do the job the next day, so it was his.
I'm still barricaded in the office while the snow (another blizzard thing expected) piles up outside. March has definitely come in like a lion. I've been going over manuscripts and checking out blogs and doing online jigsaw puzzles. Everytime I leave to get something in the kitchen, I'm reminded of how frigid it is out there. The furnace guys promised us heat by tonight. Winter. You gotta love it.
2/27/08
Why I Self-Publish
One of the difficulties of writing for children is that if you want to be published, you have to write for adults--the editors who select books to publish, the librarians who select books for the library shelves, and the adult who select books for kids to read. Left to their own devices, I'm not sure kids would have picked a lot of the books that are out there today. Thankfully, we have writers like the late and beloved Madeline L'Engle and J.K. Rowling who, despite enormous amounts of rejection letters, were finally able to convince some adult that kids would enjoy their books. And enjoy, they do and have and will. For a long time to come.
It's good to be published by a traditional house. They pay you money and produce (mostly) a product to be proud of. If they don't do a lot to promote it, well, that's business these days. It's even become common for the author to be required to come up with a marketing plan for his/her book. So, if you've decided to commune with the self-publishing muse, you might also look up SCORE, an organization that helps small businesses get noticed.
When I first had the idea for The Secret in The West Woods, I sensed right away that it would just be an exercise in futility for me to peddle it to the big houses. It was regional, and I hadn't even had much luck with things that were more general. But because I love books that are set in areas I know (Les Roberts' mysteries set in Cleveland, for some) and because The West Woods park was just beginning to be developed, I felt there would be a match. Turned out I was right. The Park District is one of my staunchest supporters and carries the book in their nature center.
Wanting to keep the price competitive, I elected to publish the book myself, rather than going with a print-on-demand house. My science fiction novel, Me Two, republished by iUniverse, costs $14.95--a little steep, I thought, for a paperback. So, with a little nest egg I'd inherited from my mother, I jumped. Not completely knowing what I was doing, I might add.
But I learned. I learned about ISBNs and bar codes and paper and type face and typesetting and bindings and finding an illustrator (a very hard and expensive lesson). I found a class of fourth graders and had them read the manuscript. Their teacher was extremely helpful. While the class read the book and made their own notes, she made notes on their reactions. As a result, I lopped off about ten pages of the first forty. The kids' letters made my day. They were overall positive (one said he liked it better than Harry Potter!), but they also didn't mince words if they didn't understand something or thought a passage dragged. I owe them a large Thank You!
So, the book finally arrived--forty-some cartons of it, which we moved (where else?) to the basement. Over the years, I've managed to break even and then some. Through school visits and sales, I saved up enough to print a second book, The Christmas Dragon. I did a much, much better job finding an illustrator, but of course, you always fall down in some other area. No harm done. Well, some, but I'll know better next time.
Is my writing the stuff of legends? Of course not. But I like to think they're reasonably good stories that kids will like. I've gotten lots of nice feedback on both books. (Not that I'm likely to hear the other side, given that it's tough for the self-published to get reviewed.) And I'm probably going to do it again this year.
It's good to be published by a traditional house. They pay you money and produce (mostly) a product to be proud of. If they don't do a lot to promote it, well, that's business these days. It's even become common for the author to be required to come up with a marketing plan for his/her book. So, if you've decided to commune with the self-publishing muse, you might also look up SCORE, an organization that helps small businesses get noticed.
When I first had the idea for The Secret in The West Woods, I sensed right away that it would just be an exercise in futility for me to peddle it to the big houses. It was regional, and I hadn't even had much luck with things that were more general. But because I love books that are set in areas I know (Les Roberts' mysteries set in Cleveland, for some) and because The West Woods park was just beginning to be developed, I felt there would be a match. Turned out I was right. The Park District is one of my staunchest supporters and carries the book in their nature center.
Wanting to keep the price competitive, I elected to publish the book myself, rather than going with a print-on-demand house. My science fiction novel, Me Two, republished by iUniverse, costs $14.95--a little steep, I thought, for a paperback. So, with a little nest egg I'd inherited from my mother, I jumped. Not completely knowing what I was doing, I might add.
But I learned. I learned about ISBNs and bar codes and paper and type face and typesetting and bindings and finding an illustrator (a very hard and expensive lesson). I found a class of fourth graders and had them read the manuscript. Their teacher was extremely helpful. While the class read the book and made their own notes, she made notes on their reactions. As a result, I lopped off about ten pages of the first forty. The kids' letters made my day. They were overall positive (one said he liked it better than Harry Potter!), but they also didn't mince words if they didn't understand something or thought a passage dragged. I owe them a large Thank You!
So, the book finally arrived--forty-some cartons of it, which we moved (where else?) to the basement. Over the years, I've managed to break even and then some. Through school visits and sales, I saved up enough to print a second book, The Christmas Dragon. I did a much, much better job finding an illustrator, but of course, you always fall down in some other area. No harm done. Well, some, but I'll know better next time.
Is my writing the stuff of legends? Of course not. But I like to think they're reasonably good stories that kids will like. I've gotten lots of nice feedback on both books. (Not that I'm likely to hear the other side, given that it's tough for the self-published to get reviewed.) And I'm probably going to do it again this year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)