It's no secret that my new book is based on an actual camp, the camp I went to as a child and the one my daughter attends now: Camp Birch Knoll in Phelps, Wisconsin. And it's also true that the story was inspired by some real life events. But the story is fiction. And the characters are fiction. Really and truly!
Which is why it surprises me when I hear that people are trying to figure out who they are in the book. I've heard from campers and staff, friends of mine and friends of my daughter. Everyone has a theory as to who's who in the book.
It's kind of funny. I guess if someone wants to see themselves in my book, there's nothing wrong with that. But I figure I should set the record straight. So here I go...
1. The friendship triangle of Jemma, Tammy, and Brooke was inspired by a friendship triangle my daughter was in her first summer at camp, but it was also inspired by several different friendship and love triangles I experienced in my own life. The actual characters of Jemma, Tammy, and Brooke sprung from my own imagination.
2. The Darby-Todd relationship wasn't based on anyone at all. But Darby looks a little like one of my counselors at camp, Julie Goldsmith. And Todd, the hunky ski-boat driver, is a combination of all the cute ski-boat drivers I've ever had crushes on.
3. Just like Jemma, I once got to ride in the boat with the cute ski-boat driver, and I was totally embarrassed due to a booger hanging out of my nose.
4. Also, like Jemma, I had to learn the difference between "winning" and "earning" the Firelighter award. (I was Firelighter my third summer of camp.)
5. Eddie, the camp director, is a little bit like Gary, the current Birch Knoll director, and a little bit like Ed, Gary's dad, who directed camp when I went there. But Eddie is really just Eddie. And Maureen is Maureen. I make stuff up. That's why I'm a fiction writer.
6. Delaney isn't based on anyone in particular. But I really like her.
7. Kat and Annie look a lot like my best camp friend, Debby Lebold.
8. There is no such thing as the Star Lake Cup. I made that up. But I did compete in a sailing race on a blustery day, and Debby and I did capsize and almost sink our boat. Her sister, Jenny, came to our rescue.
9. I tried to name as many characters as I could after my daughter's and my camp friends. I even gave Firelighter to one of my friends who totally deserved it but never got it: Jennie Cohen. That was fun.
10. One thing that Jemma Hartman and I have 100% in common is how much we love camp. Best place on earth.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Happy! Happy! Happy!
1. My son's Bar Mitzvah is this weekend!
2. My daughter is coming home today!
3. I'm drinking a yummy cup of Island Coconut coffee.
2. My daughter is coming home today!
3. I'm drinking a yummy cup of Island Coconut coffee.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Book Launch Parties
So far I've had two terrific book launch parties for JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE. I have to tell you the truth... I get terrible jitters before these events. I worry that nobody will show up or if they do show up that I'll have nothing interesting to say. So far neither one of these things have occurred. :-D
It makes me realize, yet again, that I have married the best man on earth. Alan totally knows how to handle all my author insecurities and worries and excitement. He never gets rattled or sucked into my emotions, but he listens to me and assures me in his loving and humorous way. Thanks Bud!
Here are some pix from the first party* at the Barnes & Noble in West Bloomfield, Michigan:
And here are some from the second party* at The Book Stall in Winnetka, Illinois:
Big thanks to everyone who came out to these events and asked such good questions and applauded and laughed at all the right times! I still have one more book launch party* coming. It will by May 31 at 2 pm at the Deerfield, Illinois Barnes & Noble. Hope to see you there!
*My sons say these are not parties. They are book signings. But I disagree. We have a crowd of people. And fresh baked cookies. And laughter and love. Sounds like a party to me.
It makes me realize, yet again, that I have married the best man on earth. Alan totally knows how to handle all my author insecurities and worries and excitement. He never gets rattled or sucked into my emotions, but he listens to me and assures me in his loving and humorous way. Thanks Bud!
Here are some pix from the first party* at the Barnes & Noble in West Bloomfield, Michigan:
A terrific turnout!
Meeting a reader from Ann Arbor
And here are some from the second party* at The Book Stall in Winnetka, Illinois:
Check out this awesome crowd. I'm showing a picture of the camp that
inspired Camp Star Lake in JEMMA HARTMAN.
Signing books!
Some of the yummy treats I baked for the party.
Big thanks to everyone who came out to these events and asked such good questions and applauded and laughed at all the right times! I still have one more book launch party* coming. It will by May 31 at 2 pm at the Deerfield, Illinois Barnes & Noble. Hope to see you there!
*My sons say these are not parties. They are book signings. But I disagree. We have a crowd of people. And fresh baked cookies. And laughter and love. Sounds like a party to me.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Do You Know Bridget Zinn?
All of my books stem from a question. For JEMMA HARTMAN, the question was, "What happens when you find out BFF doesn't always mean forever?" And although that's a good question, and I should probably be thinking all about JEMMA because it is brand-spanking new, today I'm thinking about the question that sparked JULIA'S KITCHEN. That question was, "Why does God let bad things happen?"
And the reason I'm thinking of that is because I just found out about Bridget Zinn. Have you heard about Bridget?
She is a non-drinking, non-smoking, carcinogen-avoiding, young vegetarian who wears sunscreen every day. In the month of February, three things happened to Bridget:
1. She landed a fantastic agent for her young adult novel.
2. She got married.
3. She found out she had Stage Four colon cancer.
Can you imagine?
In JULIA'S KITCHEN, Cara decides that sometimes bad things just happen, and that God is crying right alongside us. I have no idea if that's what Bridget thinks, but I kind of hope so. I hope she is surrounded by friends and family who are lending their support and humor and love. I hope she finds strength and courage to battle her illness. And I hope she doesn't go broke in the meantime.
Like many Americans, Bridget has insurance, but it doesn't cover everything. So a group of authors who were impressed with Bridget's friendliness and radiant joy (even now) got together and organized an online auction to help Bridget cover some of her out-of-pocket medical costs. Now you can help. You can bid on signed books, manuscript critiques, original artwork, etc. Check out some of the great items. I think you'll be impressed. Please bid if you can. It's a simple way to make a difference in someone's life.
And the reason I'm thinking of that is because I just found out about Bridget Zinn. Have you heard about Bridget?
She is a non-drinking, non-smoking, carcinogen-avoiding, young vegetarian who wears sunscreen every day. In the month of February, three things happened to Bridget:
1. She landed a fantastic agent for her young adult novel.
2. She got married.
3. She found out she had Stage Four colon cancer.
Can you imagine?
In JULIA'S KITCHEN, Cara decides that sometimes bad things just happen, and that God is crying right alongside us. I have no idea if that's what Bridget thinks, but I kind of hope so. I hope she is surrounded by friends and family who are lending their support and humor and love. I hope she finds strength and courage to battle her illness. And I hope she doesn't go broke in the meantime.
Like many Americans, Bridget has insurance, but it doesn't cover everything. So a group of authors who were impressed with Bridget's friendliness and radiant joy (even now) got together and organized an online auction to help Bridget cover some of her out-of-pocket medical costs. Now you can help. You can bid on signed books, manuscript critiques, original artwork, etc. Check out some of the great items. I think you'll be impressed. Please bid if you can. It's a simple way to make a difference in someone's life.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Having Fun with Book Trailers
Here's another book trailer I made for Jemma Hartman, Camper Extraordinaire (edited with the help of my son, Sammy).
Disclaimer: Jemma is a fictitious character, and Camp Star Lake is a fictitious camp that bears a close resemblance to the very real and very wonderful Camp Birch Knoll. We were all just having fun here!
(Watch in HQ for best viewing.)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sheri J Has Won a Book, and You Can, Too!
Congratulations to Sheri J, who is the next winner in the Countdown to Camp Contest. Sheri wrote about a huge storm at her camp where they lost power for four days and ended up brushing their teeth with bug juice. You gotta love it!
Now that my books and prizes have all arrived, I am starting to send out the prize packages to the winners.
Here's what Sheri and three other winners should be receiving in the mail this week:
Two tattoos, a deck of cards, a bracelet, a pen, a postcard, a piece of stationery, a bookmark, and of course, a book!
Next week I'll be drawing the final winner, so enter now! All you have to do is send me an e-mail or leave a comment on my blog or facebook group with a camp memory.
Here's what the professional reviewers have said about JEMMA so far:
"Any child who has ever lost a friend will relate to Jemma's inner turmoil. Ferber has drawn a realistic main character who experiences pain and discomfort when Tammy continually rejects her. The plot moves along swiftly, and Jemma’s first-person narrative rings true, as do the issues and the camp experience." Publisher's Weekly
"For all the tweens who believe in BFF but find out, to their great disappointment, that it isn’t for everyone, this is the book for them." Kirkus
"The author of Julia’s Kitchen (2006) offers here a lighter story for a slightly younger audience. Ferber has a fine ear for preteen dialogue and concerns, and her descriptions of overnight camp activities (especially sailing and waterskiing) will strike a chord with readers." Booklist
Confession: I am never really sure if what I'm writing is any good at all, so even though I'd like to say I don't care about reviews, the truth is, I do. That's why I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief right now and pinching myself a few times as these lovely reviews roll in. Yay!
Now that my books and prizes have all arrived, I am starting to send out the prize packages to the winners.
Here's what Sheri and three other winners should be receiving in the mail this week:
Two tattoos, a deck of cards, a bracelet, a pen, a postcard, a piece of stationery, a bookmark, and of course, a book!
Next week I'll be drawing the final winner, so enter now! All you have to do is send me an e-mail or leave a comment on my blog or facebook group with a camp memory.
Here's what the professional reviewers have said about JEMMA so far:
"Any child who has ever lost a friend will relate to Jemma's inner turmoil. Ferber has drawn a realistic main character who experiences pain and discomfort when Tammy continually rejects her. The plot moves along swiftly, and Jemma’s first-person narrative rings true, as do the issues and the camp experience." Publisher's Weekly
"For all the tweens who believe in BFF but find out, to their great disappointment, that it isn’t for everyone, this is the book for them." Kirkus
"The author of Julia’s Kitchen (2006) offers here a lighter story for a slightly younger audience. Ferber has a fine ear for preteen dialogue and concerns, and her descriptions of overnight camp activities (especially sailing and waterskiing) will strike a chord with readers." Booklist
Confession: I am never really sure if what I'm writing is any good at all, so even though I'd like to say I don't care about reviews, the truth is, I do. That's why I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief right now and pinching myself a few times as these lovely reviews roll in. Yay!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
CAbiDeb Won a Free Book!
Congratulations to CAbiDeb, the next winner of my Countdown to Camp contest. CAbiDeb wrote about the time she went to a sailing meet at a boys' camp and there was no wind. She said, "We tied our boat to a boys boat, which was a big deal when you went to an all girls camp, and spent the day lazing on the lake and trying to finish the race!" Sounds like fun to me. And since she learned to sail at camp, I think she'll really enjoy reading about Jemma's sailing exploits in JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE.
CAbiDeb, please e-mail me at brenda at brendaferber dot com with your snail mail address so I can send you your prize package.
In other news, I've been busy busy busy lately with lots of fun stuff, most notably spring break in Florida, some other travel, and preparing for my son, Sammy's, Bar Mitzvah. In the midst of all this, my book will be coming out so soon! I've got half-finished to-do lists all over the house. It would probably be smart to consolidate them all to one list, but that would require cleaning and organizing, something that is definitely not on any of my lists. Oh well. I'm sure everything will get done eventually. At least I hope so!
In the meantime, I wanted to recommend three terrific books that I read over spring break.
3 WILLOWS by Ann Brashares. She's the author of The Traveling Pants books, and this book, about three girls growing up the summer after 8th grade, really touched my heart. Can't wait to read more about Ama, Jo, and Polly. (Plus, willow trees have always been my favorite trees, so I loved all the random facts about them sprinkled through the story.)
LOOSE GIRL by Kerry Cohen. Kerry writes young adult fiction, but this is a memoir about growing up as a promiscuous young woman. I so admire Kerry's courage to write her story. She sheds light on an issue that many women don't know how to discuss. This is a great book for mothers and teenage daughters to share.
PILLARS OF THE EARTH by Ken Follett. This enormous book is one of my dad's favorites, so I decided to take it on when I knew I'd have a lot of time on my hands. I don't read that much fiction for adults, and I certainly don't read that many 973 page books, but I'm so glad I read this one! I love stories that take place in the middle ages. Such an interesting time! Follett created the most evil character I've ever known... William Hamleigh. Ick. Gives me the chills just to type his name. But this book was filled with goodness and love, too. And I really want to go visit European cathedrals now!
And here's a bit of good news... One of my favorite children's lit blogs, Fuse #8 by uber-librarian Betsy Bird, actually mentioned JEMMA HARTMAN today. Check it out!
CAbiDeb, please e-mail me at brenda at brendaferber dot com with your snail mail address so I can send you your prize package.
In other news, I've been busy busy busy lately with lots of fun stuff, most notably spring break in Florida, some other travel, and preparing for my son, Sammy's, Bar Mitzvah. In the midst of all this, my book will be coming out so soon! I've got half-finished to-do lists all over the house. It would probably be smart to consolidate them all to one list, but that would require cleaning and organizing, something that is definitely not on any of my lists. Oh well. I'm sure everything will get done eventually. At least I hope so!
In the meantime, I wanted to recommend three terrific books that I read over spring break.
3 WILLOWS by Ann Brashares. She's the author of The Traveling Pants books, and this book, about three girls growing up the summer after 8th grade, really touched my heart. Can't wait to read more about Ama, Jo, and Polly. (Plus, willow trees have always been my favorite trees, so I loved all the random facts about them sprinkled through the story.)
LOOSE GIRL by Kerry Cohen. Kerry writes young adult fiction, but this is a memoir about growing up as a promiscuous young woman. I so admire Kerry's courage to write her story. She sheds light on an issue that many women don't know how to discuss. This is a great book for mothers and teenage daughters to share.
PILLARS OF THE EARTH by Ken Follett. This enormous book is one of my dad's favorites, so I decided to take it on when I knew I'd have a lot of time on my hands. I don't read that much fiction for adults, and I certainly don't read that many 973 page books, but I'm so glad I read this one! I love stories that take place in the middle ages. Such an interesting time! Follett created the most evil character I've ever known... William Hamleigh. Ick. Gives me the chills just to type his name. But this book was filled with goodness and love, too. And I really want to go visit European cathedrals now!
And here's a bit of good news... One of my favorite children's lit blogs, Fuse #8 by uber-librarian Betsy Bird, actually mentioned JEMMA HARTMAN today. Check it out!
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Congratulations Anna Z!
Anna Z. is the second winner in the Countdown to Camp contest! As soon as she e-mails her snail mail address to brenda at brendaferber.com, she will receive an autographed copy of JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE and lots of other fun stuff to bring to camp.
Anna's memory was all about sheet sliding at Camp Birch Knoll. She said, "I was going down with one of my cabin mates and we were going so fast that we both fell of the slide!"
Sheet sliding was one of my favorite memories from camp, too. For those of you who haven't experienced it, imagine a giant slip & slide on a huge hill with dishwashing soap and water. Fun, right? I loved it so much that I included it in my book!
Keep the camp memories coming! (Take a minute to read all the awesome memories already posted.) If public comments aren't your thing, you can always simply e-mail me. I'm picking a winner every week until the book comes out.
Anna's memory was all about sheet sliding at Camp Birch Knoll. She said, "I was going down with one of my cabin mates and we were going so fast that we both fell of the slide!"
Sheet sliding was one of my favorite memories from camp, too. For those of you who haven't experienced it, imagine a giant slip & slide on a huge hill with dishwashing soap and water. Fun, right? I loved it so much that I included it in my book!
Keep the camp memories coming! (Take a minute to read all the awesome memories already posted.) If public comments aren't your thing, you can always simply e-mail me. I'm picking a winner every week until the book comes out.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
First Contest Winner and First Review
Congratulations to Kate, the first winner of the Countdown to Camp Contest! Kate will be receiving an autographed copy of JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE as well as lots of other fun stuff to use at camp (like pens, stationery, cards, tattoos, etc.) Kate, I hope you have a daughter or niece who goes to camp! Please e-mail me your snail mail address so I can get your prize to you.
Kate's memory of marching around her cabin shouting "Burn them bras!" reminded me of a fun tradition at my camp (Camp Birch Knoll) that I chose not to include in JEMMA HARTMAN. It's called Bra and Underwear Night. One random night each summer, all the girls run around camp in their (you guessed it) bras and underwear. Such fun! It usually ended up in skinny dipping in the lake or dancing on the hill. I remember buying a bra specifically for that event before I even needed to wear one! Our camp was girls only, but there were some male staff members. I wonder why we never felt self conscious about them seeing us like that. I suppose it was because we felt so free at camp, so completely confident and comfortable. Just another example of the magic that is camp.
In other news... JEMMA HARTMAN has been reviewed by Kirkus! They said, "For all the tweens who believe in BFF but find out, to their great disappointment, that it isn’t for everyone, this is the book for them." And "The emotional turmoil plays out against a lovingly depicted month at summer camp."
This is JEMMA'S first review, and I'm pretty psyched about it because really, is there a tween out there who hasn't been disappointed by a BFF who turns out to not be so F? I think not! Therefore, if you do the math, this book is for EVERYONE! And the whole impetus for writing this book was to lovingly depict summer camp, so I hope this means I succeeded.
It's not too late to enter the Countdown to Camp Contest. I'll be choosing a winner every week until the book comes out. I'd love to get more kids to enter the contest, so please spread the word to young people in your lives. And if you've already entered, there is no need to enter again. Your name might still be drawn.
Kate's memory of marching around her cabin shouting "Burn them bras!" reminded me of a fun tradition at my camp (Camp Birch Knoll) that I chose not to include in JEMMA HARTMAN. It's called Bra and Underwear Night. One random night each summer, all the girls run around camp in their (you guessed it) bras and underwear. Such fun! It usually ended up in skinny dipping in the lake or dancing on the hill. I remember buying a bra specifically for that event before I even needed to wear one! Our camp was girls only, but there were some male staff members. I wonder why we never felt self conscious about them seeing us like that. I suppose it was because we felt so free at camp, so completely confident and comfortable. Just another example of the magic that is camp.
In other news... JEMMA HARTMAN has been reviewed by Kirkus! They said, "For all the tweens who believe in BFF but find out, to their great disappointment, that it isn’t for everyone, this is the book for them." And "The emotional turmoil plays out against a lovingly depicted month at summer camp."
This is JEMMA'S first review, and I'm pretty psyched about it because really, is there a tween out there who hasn't been disappointed by a BFF who turns out to not be so F? I think not! Therefore, if you do the math, this book is for EVERYONE! And the whole impetus for writing this book was to lovingly depict summer camp, so I hope this means I succeeded.
It's not too late to enter the Countdown to Camp Contest. I'll be choosing a winner every week until the book comes out. I'd love to get more kids to enter the contest, so please spread the word to young people in your lives. And if you've already entered, there is no need to enter again. Your name might still be drawn.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Countdown to Camp!
Sure, I'm still wearing my winter coat, hat, and gloves, but I've got summer camp on my mind because JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE will be out in just 6 weeks!
In order to celebrate, I'm hosting a contest. With prizes! Each week until the book comes out, I'll be giving away an autographed copy of JEMMA HARTMAN as well as some other fun camp items. To enter, all you have to do is tell me your favorite camp memory. Post it here in the comments, or send an e-mail to brenda at brendaferber.com. The memory can be funny, embarrassing, poignant, or ridiculous. It can be about day camp, overnight camp, or any other kind of camp you attended.
I can't wait to hear all your stories! And I hope you'll enjoy reading mine.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Fan Mail Excerpt...
I think this might be my favorite line in any fan letter I've received to date...
I really liked the book JULIA’S KITCHEN, but then I wanted to stop reading the book because Janie and her mom died. I started crying. But I decided to keep on reading because if I didn’t I’d have to watch the Basketball game.
Thank goodness for girls who don't want to watch basketball!
I really liked the book JULIA’S KITCHEN, but then I wanted to stop reading the book because Janie and her mom died. I started crying. But I decided to keep on reading because if I didn’t I’d have to watch the Basketball game.
Thank goodness for girls who don't want to watch basketball!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Do You Have a Creative Genius?
One of my writing sisters forwarded this video to me yesterday. It's a speech by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, about a wonderful way to think about the creative process. Very interesting and worthwhile 20 minutes...
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Girl's Gotta Dream...
I admit it... I dream of winning a Newbery! I also dream of having a NYT best seller, winning a National Book Award, having a shelf of books written by me, and being a household name.
In the meantime, I'm anxiously awaiting reviews of JEMMA HARTMAN, CAMPER EXTRAORDINAIRE (coming out in about two more months!) and trying my hardest to write my next novel and to make it better than my first two. Because the truth is, awards are out of my control, but improving my craft is something I can do.
Thanks to Lisa Chellman for the news about this video. And a Happy Birthday shout out to my niece Riley and author extraordinaire Judy Blume!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
My Attitude Today
It's not about making it through the storm. It's about dancing in the raindrops.
This inspiration is brought to you courtesy of comedian and cancer survivor, Robert Schimmel.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Writing Like a Reader
I'm sure you've heard of reading like a writer... today I'd like to talk about writing like a reader.
Here's how I read:
1. I read novels for kids. Therefore I write novels for kids.
2. If I'm reading a book and not totally in love with it, I'll stop. I definitely don't have to finish something just because I started it. The same goes for my writing. I write about 50 pages of a new novel before I realize I don't want to write it (usually), or I am absolutely compelled to finish it (rarely... exactly twice in my life).
3. If a book is suspenseful, I will stay up way too late to finish it. Or I might blow off everything on my to-do list to read it, with the rationalization that reading is part of my job. Similarly, I've found I need to create suspense when I'm writing. And my recent experiment with being a NYNNie taught me how to do that. I simply didn't allow myself to check e-mail, Facebook, or anything on the Internet until I had finished writing 2000 words each day. The suspense of wondering what e-mails were waiting for me kept me glued to my desk, writing like a fiend. With this strategy, it only took me a week (instead of my usual 3-4 months) to figure out I didn't want to write my new novel.
4. When I'm reading a book, I'm constantly thinking about where the author is going, how he or she is playing with my emotions, what might come next. When I'm writing, I often pretend to be a reader. I literally imagine turning the pages of my book, seeing what would come next if the story were finished.
5. I love books that make me laugh or cry. Books that show regular kids growing up and seeing themselves and the world in a new light. My aim, always, is to write books like that.
Here's how I read:
1. I read novels for kids. Therefore I write novels for kids.
2. If I'm reading a book and not totally in love with it, I'll stop. I definitely don't have to finish something just because I started it. The same goes for my writing. I write about 50 pages of a new novel before I realize I don't want to write it (usually), or I am absolutely compelled to finish it (rarely... exactly twice in my life).
3. If a book is suspenseful, I will stay up way too late to finish it. Or I might blow off everything on my to-do list to read it, with the rationalization that reading is part of my job. Similarly, I've found I need to create suspense when I'm writing. And my recent experiment with being a NYNNie taught me how to do that. I simply didn't allow myself to check e-mail, Facebook, or anything on the Internet until I had finished writing 2000 words each day. The suspense of wondering what e-mails were waiting for me kept me glued to my desk, writing like a fiend. With this strategy, it only took me a week (instead of my usual 3-4 months) to figure out I didn't want to write my new novel.
4. When I'm reading a book, I'm constantly thinking about where the author is going, how he or she is playing with my emotions, what might come next. When I'm writing, I often pretend to be a reader. I literally imagine turning the pages of my book, seeing what would come next if the story were finished.
5. I love books that make me laugh or cry. Books that show regular kids growing up and seeing themselves and the world in a new light. My aim, always, is to write books like that.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Puppy Update
A few people have asked to see updated photos of our mini-whoodle, Ozzy. He's now 4 months old and about 15 pounds. So incredibly sweet and wonderful! Even though he's a huge responsibility, I can't imagine life without him.
I'm just really really really wishing for a fenced backyard!
I'm just really really really wishing for a fenced backyard!
Playing with a stick in the snow. He LOVES the snow!
Ozzy giving love to Sammy.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Brag Time
Is it okay to brag for a minute about my son Sammy?
I promise, it will just take a minute.
But man, that boy can write!
He just completed a first draft of a 150-page fantasy novel. And he is 12-years-old.
Here's a little excerpt...
------------------
"We have a very interesting assembly planned for you today, kids," began the principal of New Longance Elementary School. "These people volunteered to teach you about the dangers of alcohol and dr--"
He was interrupted by a faint rumbling noise. Thinking it was only thunder, he continued. He had barely finished his sentence when another rumbling noise echoed through the big auditorium, this time louder. Some of his students were starting to notice, looking around to ask their friends if they heard it too.
For a brief moment, the principal thought of the infamous Rock Man. He was more a legend than fact, knowledge of his sightings being spread through rumors on street corners. But one thing was for sure; a lot of people had died in the past couple of weeks in this small town.
------------------
The whole manuscript is filled with humor, tension, action, emotion and a character arc with true depth. I'm sort of flabbergasted. And oh so proud!
I promise, it will just take a minute.
But man, that boy can write!
He just completed a first draft of a 150-page fantasy novel. And he is 12-years-old.
Here's a little excerpt...
------------------
"We have a very interesting assembly planned for you today, kids," began the principal of New Longance Elementary School. "These people volunteered to teach you about the dangers of alcohol and dr--"
He was interrupted by a faint rumbling noise. Thinking it was only thunder, he continued. He had barely finished his sentence when another rumbling noise echoed through the big auditorium, this time louder. Some of his students were starting to notice, looking around to ask their friends if they heard it too.
For a brief moment, the principal thought of the infamous Rock Man. He was more a legend than fact, knowledge of his sightings being spread through rumors on street corners. But one thing was for sure; a lot of people had died in the past couple of weeks in this small town.
------------------
The whole manuscript is filled with humor, tension, action, emotion and a character arc with true depth. I'm sort of flabbergasted. And oh so proud!
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Book Look
My latest Book Look column for the Prairie Wind is online. I wrote about The Pout-Pout Fish, by Deborah Diesen, and if you haven't read that book yet, I suggest you head to the bookstore today.
Here's a little preview...
I’m sure you’ve all heard the advice not to write a picture book in verse. Yet you can probably name at least a dozen rhyming picture books that you or your kids or grandkids adore. So what’s the deal? Why do editors tell novice writers to stay away from verse?
The answer is they don’t believe you can do it well. And maybe that’s true. (I’m pretty sure I can’t do it!) But if you have poetry and song and rhythm and rhyme in your soul, and if you understand story structure and the format of a picture book, and if you have an idea that is both fun and meaningful and not at all preachy, there is no reason you can’t master this form. Deborah Diesen did it with her first picture book, The Pout-Pout Fish. And we all can learn something from this well-crafted tale.
In other news...
I've hit my word quota for three days in a row. I'm on a roll!!
Here's a little preview...
I’m sure you’ve all heard the advice not to write a picture book in verse. Yet you can probably name at least a dozen rhyming picture books that you or your kids or grandkids adore. So what’s the deal? Why do editors tell novice writers to stay away from verse?
The answer is they don’t believe you can do it well. And maybe that’s true. (I’m pretty sure I can’t do it!) But if you have poetry and song and rhythm and rhyme in your soul, and if you understand story structure and the format of a picture book, and if you have an idea that is both fun and meaningful and not at all preachy, there is no reason you can’t master this form. Deborah Diesen did it with her first picture book, The Pout-Pout Fish. And we all can learn something from this well-crafted tale.
In other news...
I've hit my word quota for three days in a row. I'm on a roll!!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year!
Tomorrow I start NYNN (New Year, New Novel). I'll be attempting to write 2000 words per day, six days per week, in an effort to complete a first draft of a new novel. I made a rule for myself that I'm not allowed on the internet AT ALL until I've completed my word goal for the day. I'm afraid there will be very few days this month when I'll be checking e-mail, reading blogs, playing on Facebook, or updating this blog. Boo hoo! But won't it be worth it? A first draft in a month? It sounds like heaven.
May 2009 bring us a revived economy, pride in our president and country, good books to read, peace on earth, and joy and laughter with our family and friends.
May 2009 bring us a revived economy, pride in our president and country, good books to read, peace on earth, and joy and laughter with our family and friends.
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