Last Chance to Win!

Update! We have a winner!  With only 2 official entries, our players each had amazing odds... and the necklace goes to... Rachel Schieffelbein!  Please send me an email with your address, so I can send the necklace to you. 

Feedback Request: So many people told me of their acts of service recently (in person, via email, etc.), but only 2 of you actually commented here to officially enter the contest.  Was the prize not enticing enough? Did I not publicize the contest widely enough? Or were you all reluctant to publically toot your own horns?  Please let me know, so I can take that into consideration the next time I run a contest!

Thanks!!

Don't forget to post your comments for the March Kindness blog contest to win a handmade necklace!  I've had lots of people show and tell me about the acts of kindness they've performed this week... but you have to comment ON THE BLOG to be officially entered! 

My husband will pick a winner from all entries when he gets home from work tonight (5pm EDT), so you have until then to enter.  Remember: You can tell me about an act of service you've performed for someone, or something someone else has done for you!  Good luck!!

The Bag Lady Strikes Again!

I've been busily knitting plastic tote bags (out of recycled grocery bags) for my daughters' elementary school PTA auction, and I'm happy to announce that I've finally finished them all!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've been making bags and other items from recycled plastic bags (grocery bags, newspaper bags, etc.) - which is a great way to recycle and keep these things out of the landfills.  Several people have seen me making the bags and asked if I'd ever considered making them to sell.  So I agreed to donate several for the annual PTA auction*.  I made one bag for each grade level at the elementary school (PreK through 5th Grade, and the children in each grade will have the opportunity to sign the inner lining of the bag representing their grade level (to personalize the bags and make them truly representative of the grades).

After I finished knitting the bags for the auction, I started to wonder what else I could do, along the lines of knitting recycled materials, so I've been playing and experimenting with the plastic bags, as well as t-shirts and old blue jeans.  So far, I've knitted purses, scarves, necklaces**, water bottle carriers, bracelets and I'm almost finished making a hat.  I set up an etsy site, and I've put a few things up for sale there, so we'll see where this all leads.  And to think: all of this, because I needed to find a way to stop dropping and breaking my shampoo bottle in the shower at the gym!

*15th Annual CES Live/Silent Auction:

Saturday, April 14, 2012

The Lodge

2832 Nine Mile Circle @ Frederick Rd.

Tickets: $10 (available at the door - adults only, please)

Catering by Abundance Catering (light fare - beverages not included in ticket price)

** Don't forget to enter to win my March Kindness contest for a chance to win one of my necklaces for FREE!! (update to March Kindness rules here)

March Kindness - Updated Rules! - Win a Handmade Basketball Necklace!

Update:

After much thought and consideration, I've decided to alter the rules for my March Kindness contest.

You can enter in one of TWO ways:

1. Leave a comment here about an act of service that YOU perform for SOMEONE ELSE

OR

2. Leave a comment here about an act of service that SOMEONE ELSE has performed for YOU!

The act of service doesn't need to be big or spectacular.  Trust me, the littlest things sometimes seem monumental to the person who receives the kindness.  (My husband doesn't think his decision to alter our anniversary plans so I could take a step toward my writing goals was a big thing, but to me, it was HUGE!)

If you need ideas for the kinds of March Kindness acts of service that might mean the world to someone, check out this article (or read Jason F. Wright's amazing book, Seventeen Second Miracle)

Don't forget!  Small acts of service can lead to big rewards!  I can't wait to send my pretty necklace to one of you :)

(See the post below for ways to get extra entries in the contest)

March Kindness - Win a Handmade Necklace!

A little act of service can make someone's day!

The backstory:  Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in a Pitch Workshop with Brenda Drake, Shelley Watters, & Cassandra Marshall.  Unfortunately, I got distracted with my daily Mom chores and novel revisions, and I missed the deadline to submit for the workshop.  :(

But all was not lost! I was thrilled to see that I'd have another chance to enter my pitch for the March Madness Agent Pitch Match... Until I noticed that they would be accepting the first 50 submissions sent at noon EST on March 2nd.

My anniversary.

And my husband had already taken the day off of work to spend the day with me.

I wanted to cry when I realized I'd missed my second chance, before I even got to try, but my sweetheart takes priority. I couldn't cancel on him, when he'd already gone through so much trouble to plan the perfect day!

... And here's how I know my dear husband REALLY loves me:

Without giving it a second thought, he scrapped all of his plans for our anniversary and announced a new plan: He would help me get my pitch ready and sit with me while I watched the clock, so that I could hit "send" on my email submission at precisely noon. 

My submission was one of the first 50, so I got in!!  Now, I'm anxiously waiting to hear if I make it through the slush pile to advance in the Agent Pitch Madness...

But while I'm waiting, I have to celebrate!  I made this super-cute, March Madness-inspired necklace out of recycled plastic bags (and a cute basketball bead).  I want to give it to one of you!!

Here's how to enter:

1. Perform an act of March Kindness for someone you know - some act of sacrifice on your part to help someone else reach a personal goal.

2. Leave a comment on this blog to tell me about your act of kindness.

3. Make sure let me know, in your comment, how many bonus entries you are eligible for!

4. Be sure to leave your email address, so I can contact you if you win!

Bonus entries:
   * Follow my blog (+1)
   * Follow me on twitter (+1)
   * Tweet about the contest & your good deed with the hashtag #MarchKindness (+1) - be sure to tag me, so I don't miss your tweet!
   * Share the contest on Facebook (+1)

I will put all of the entries into a hat and have my dear husband draw a name on March 13th - the first day of March Madness.  Good luck!!!

Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone

I've really been enjoying the weekly conference challenges on the SCBWI MD/DE/WV "As the Eraser Burns" website:

You read my 30-minute-terrible-picture-book in response to the first weekly challenge, and I posted my pitch for the second week's challenge as a comment on the "As The Eraser Burns" blog.

This week, I'm playing catch-up and tackling weeks three and four at once:

Challenge #3 was to write a poem.  I used to love writing poetry (I even won a couple of awards and got 2 poems accepted into an anthology when I was in high school), but I put that away when I graduated.  For some reason, I told myself that grown-ups don't express themselves through poetry... or maybe I just thought my poetry was too juvenile.

Either way, I've been itching to pick up my poetry notebook again in recent months.  The main character in my current novel is a poet, though she's too shy to share her writing with anyone.  Of course, stepping into her shoes on a daily basis as I write made me want to be a poet again.  I wanted to give Alaina's poems a chance to be heard.  So I was excited to see this challenge. 

I don't know if it's what they expected when they issued the challenge, but I stepped into Alaina's shoes and wrote a poem.

The world outside my window

is dull and brown.

Lifeless.

Barren.

Dead.

A single sparrow flutters

on a bare branch.

Lonely.

Confused.

Lost.

Then, the fog rolls in and earth

is a new place.

Dazzling.

Mystic.

Safe.

I open my door and step

out into Heaven.

That was fun!  I've missed writing poetry, and since I still have trouble expressing my poetic side in my own grown-up voice, I think I may step into Alaina's skin again in the future to write another verse or two...

Challenge #4 (this week's challenge) was much more scary.  The challenge was for writers to illustrate and illustrators to write.  I imagine that it wasn't as challenging for the illustrators, because most artists I know are inherent storytellers, but for me, this was a little beyond terrifying.  I always say that I write because I have an artistic mind, but not a single artistic bone in my hands.  But I promised myself I'd fulfill every challenge, so illustrate I must.  The challenge: draw a portrait of your main character.

Before I could take up my story pencil and apply it to drawing paper instead of my comfortable spiral notebook, I made my artist husband promise that he would draw a real picture of Alaina that I can post on the blog - so people will know what she's supposed to look like.  (He said he will.  That picture should be coming soon - I hope!) 

My picture turned out better than I thought it would, so I'm excited.  Maybe I do have one artistic bone in my hand after all :)

  

This terrifying challenge went so well (it only took me about 2 hours to draw that picture!).... I'm thinking I might be able to face some other fears as well.  Perhaps I'll even finish writing that dreaded synopsis I've been putting off...

When is a Child Old Enough to Make His Own Choices?

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about choices, and the consequences associated with them.  More specifically, how much should parents control the choices their children make?  How do we know when they’re ready to choose for themselves?

I have a friend who has a strict rule in her house: Any TV show, movie or book where the main character is significantly older than her child is strictly off limits.  The music of current teen pop stars is similarly banned.  She has a valid reason for this rule.  “My children aren’t ready to deal with the issues older kids are facing, and they shouldn’t be trying to emulate those characters.  And so many of the actors and pop stars grow up to make such bad decisions. I don’t want my children to think that’s okay.”

Another friend recently confided in me about some troubles she’s having with her son.  “He’s always been such a good child.  He never fought or questioned me when I told him to do something.”  Unfortunately, this young man was so well-practiced in the art of following without question that he began to let some questionable friends make his decisions for him.  Now, he’s facing some serious heartache as a consequence of his actions. 

So the question of parental protection from choice was already on my mind when I received a message from my Aunt.  My thirteen-year-old son had sent her a friend request on facebook, and she wanted to make sure I was okay with it before accepting.  She wrote: “I don't say anything I'm ashamed of, however I don't always speak Disney. That's why I wanted it to be your call.”

I agonized over the decision for about a week, going back and forth on the issue time and again.  She’s correct in her assessment of her posts: she often touches on issues that a child in the middle of the Disney age range shouldn’t have to deal with. However, her daily thoughts and insights on the beauty of life and love are truly inspirational.   Should I explain to my son that, while his Aunt loves him dearly, it would be better to wait for a while before officially “friending” her online?  When is a child grown up enough to start thinking about love and relationships and sex and alcohol and the pros and cons of going out clubbing vs. staying home, curled up by the fire with a good book?  At thirteen years old, my son is definitely not ready to be doing any of those things.

I thought about my friend with the rule about limiting the media her children are exposed to, as I contemplated my Aunt’s message: “By the way, it's your comfort level I'm concerned with, not mine. Kids today watch TV, see cable, have access to the Internet. It was much easier to protect and raise sheltered children when mine were babies than it is now.” 

She’s right.  It’s tough to raise sheltered children these days.  Questionable influences abound in every aspect of our lives.  Mom and Dad aren’t the venerated sources of wisdom that they used to be. 

So the question is: Do we tighten our grip and invest in high-tech content filters to control the things they see and hear as much as possible?  Do we choose their friends and closely supervise every social interaction?  At what age do we allow our children to start taking some responsibility for themselves?

Finally, my husband pointed out that I was making the issue much more complicated than it had to be.  It all boiled down to two simple questions:

Is my son old enough to experience the same things my Aunt talks about in her status updates?  Absolutely not. 

Is he old enough to be thinking about such things?  Of course!

My son is only 13 years old.  He’s not ready to go out into the world (virtual or otherwise) completely on his own.  But he’s not on his own.  I’m here, ready to act as a decision consultant whenever he has questions.  If I don’t allow him to begin thinking about the issues he’ll face as he grows up now, when I’m here to guide and direct and discuss the choices and consequences with him, how will he be ready to make the right decisions when he’s old enough to encounter more grown-up issues?  How will he learn to choose if I don’t give him the (supervised) freedom to do so?

The hardest part about being a mother is watching your child stumble and fall, knowing that you have the power to protect him from most of the pain and trouble he faces.  But just as a toddler can’t learn to walk until his mother stops carrying him in her arms, a teenager can’t learn to be an adult if he never learns to make grown-up decisions.

What do you think?  Is there a set age when children should be allowed to think about “grown-up” issues?  How (and how much) should parents protect and control the choices their children make?

Accepting the Challenge: Failing Fearlessly

If you know me, then you know I'm generally not afraid of making a fool of myself for the amusement and entertainment of others.  I love a challenge.  I love the way crazy challenges force me to come up with new and creative ways to do things.  Sometimes, I even set outrageous challenges for myself, just to see if I can do it.

When they announced that they'd be handing out an award for "Most Creative Costume" at our church Halloween party, I pulled out rolls of sparkly gold fabric and PVC pipe and turned myself into a "Trophy Wife."  Even though I was still recovering from my brain surgery and quite puffy from the steroids, the chance to get a laugh from friends and family was enough to make me climb up onto that pedestal!

A few years ago, when my youngest daughter outgrew her toddler bed and needed a regular-sized bed, I decided to build one for her, rather than buying one.  Though I'd never built anything more complicated than a bookshelf, I didn't even hesitate before pulling out my power tools and getting to work.  The playhouse/loft bed that resulted was amazing, if I do say so myself!

When I got an invitation to participate in a chili cook off last year, and the rules stated that certain ingredients were banned from the competition, I proudly pulled out my crock pot and created a chili recipe to include every single one of the banned ingredients.  I entered my "Disqualification Chili" into the competition and received rave reviews!


I'm always up for a challenge, even when it means making a complete fool of myself, trying something I've never done before, or risking the scorn of others, who might not agree with my creative interpretation of the rules. 

Except when it comes to my writing.

That's when I hide away in my little corner of the world and cringe and cower and totally channel George McFly: "What if they tell me get outta here, kid, you've got no talent? I just don't think I can take that kind of rejection."  Why? Because all those other things don't really matter.  It's okay if I fail epically at something that's just a hobby or something completely silly.  But I've always wanted to be a writer, and what if.... what if.... what if????

That's why I was so grateful to see this challenge on the SCBWI MD/DE/WV blog: 

TODAY’S WRITING CHALLENGE #1:
We want you to fail.
And when we say fail, we mean FAIL EPICALLY. Epically, totally, and completely.
Write a short, picture book rough draft that is the epitome of your every fear. Cliche characters. Senseless plot. Ridiculous story line. Stuff that would make an editor absolutely cringe and share it with the rest of the office for a good giggle. Let your hair down. Embrace your fear of failure and run with it.
Go crazy. Get nuts. Don’t think!
And . . . you only have thirty minutes. Anything more than that and you’ll start thinking too much. You’ll over-analyze. You’ll let those nagging fears in the back door.
For example, here’s the title of my Epically Horrible Picture Book:
The Epic Adventures of Ricky the Road Kill Rattlesnake.
(I know, awesome, right?)

Fail on purpose?  And in a crazy way, so that if someone laughs at the silly story I write, I can smile because I want them to laugh?  Oh yeah.  Challenge accepted!!

So this morning, I set my timer for 30 minutes and wrote the worst picture book I could.  No meter or rhythm.  Forced rhymes.  No plot.  Boring character.  And it was fun!!  I'll let you enjoy my Epic Failure while I go tackle the next challenge.  If you want to accept the challenge and write a 30-minute picture book, I'd love to see it too.  Feel free to post the story (or a link) in the comments - remembering please that this is a family-friendly website. :)


Once upon a time,
There was a girl named Clara, who liked to rhyme.

Whenever she spoke with her friends,
She made sure her sentences had rhyming words on the ends.

Everyone thought Clara was clever and witty,
But though she could rhyme, she couldn't read, which was a pity.

One day, Clara decided to do something fun.
She wanted an adventure, a day in the sun.

(Never mind that the sky was cloudy and grey,
She wanted sunshine, so she would find a way.)

Clara boarded a crosstown bus.
The driver could take her to the beach, she thought, without any fuss.

If Clara could read, she wouldn't have made her grave mistake.
If only she knew how to read the signs, she would have known which bus to take.

Clara did not get to play at the beach.
The sand and waves were hopelessly out of reach.

Instead, she found herself stuck at the end of the bus route.
In a parking lot, full of buses, Clara wandered, but she couldn't find her way out.

All through the day, Clara searched the buses for the one
That would take her from the dreary lot to a place that was much more fun.

She searched and searched, but she couldn't find the bus that she sought.
"If only I could read these signs," she thought, "it would help an awful lot!"

When nighttime fell, poor Clara, still lost, started to despair.
"I'll never get home, and I miss my mommy.  Doesn't anybody care?"

Suddenly, a kindly stranger took Clara by the hand.
He helped her find the proper bus, because he was such a nice man.

As Clara rode away, she thought, "This day was such a waste!
I should've taken time to plan.  I skipped that in my haste!"

But now Clara is home, tucked into bed, safe and sound indeed.
And her next adventure will be much more fun, because by then, she'll have learned to read!

(Return to my list of "just for fun" stories)

Book Review: PERSPECTIVES ON THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT

In honor of African American History month, I thought I'd recommend a book I received recently:
Perspectives on the Montgomery Bus Boycott: Milestone of the Civil Rights Movement by Katie Marsico.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, unknowingly setting off the spark that led to the rise of the Civil Rights Movement.  With an in-depth look at the people and events surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Marsico provides young readers with a deeper understanding of this one small incident, and the role it played in the larger Civil Rights Movement.  Citing interviews with those involved, as well as news articles, police reports and legal documents of the time period, Marsico explores the perspectives on both sides of this volatile issue.  Marsico carefully presents the facts of the events in a fair and unbiased manner, so that readers can truly understand the complexities of the Civil Rights Movement.  A detailed bibliography and list of resources for further study will lead the reader to discover much more about the movement than he (or she) ever knew before. 

I didn't know, until I read this book, that Rosa Parks wasn't the first black person in Montgomery, Alabama to stand up to a bus driver when ordered to give up her seat to a white passenger.  I didn't realize she was deliberately chosen to be the face of the boycott.  I didn't realize that the organizers of the boycott originally weren't seeking to spark a nationwide movement toward civil rights.  They simply wanted fair treatment on the public transportation in their own city!  The wonderful thing about it all is that they didn't back down.  They didn't give up when the going got tough.  They kept moving forward, in the face of great persecution and threats to their personal safety, and because of their courage, the world is a little bit better today.

Here's to all the heroes - black, white, green and purple - who have the courage each day to stand up in the face of prejudice and bigotry.  Here's to all the heroes - famous or not - who stand up tall and proclaim: "We are all children of the same Heavenly Father.  We are all immensely valuable to Him.  And as heirs to our Father in Heaven, we all deserve to be treated with love, respect and kindness.  Superficial qualities are not important, because the Lord doesn't look on appearances.  He sees who we are inside!"

A Recommendation and a Chance to Win Free Books!

Recently, I've had a few close friends ask for my advice in getting their books published.  While I don't yet have an agent or a publishing contract myself (I'm still in the beginning stages of the process - finding the nerve to send out queries to literary agents), I'm happy to share the things I've learned.

The best advice I can give aspiring authors (like myself!) is to get to know other writers.  I've learned so much from my associations in the SCBWI (Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and the MWA (Maryland Writers' Association)!  Get involved in a good critique group, with other serious writers who will have the courage to tell you when your beloved manuscript just isn't very good yet, and who will have the skills to tell you what you can do to improve it.  Good critiques, while not always pleasant, are absolutely essential to a serious writer!

I've also advised friends to utilize the immense amount of information available on the Internet for writers.  A quick google search will give you pages upon pages of blogs and websites full of tips, tricks and techniques.  You can take online writing courses (some are free, some require a small fee), enter writing contests, read interviews, the list goes on and on! 

One of my favorite writing resources is the blog Literary Rambles.  The interviews with literary agents on this blog have been ever so helpful in my quest to find an agent of my own.  Almost every agent I've considered querying has done an interview here, and while it's always a good idea to verify any information from an interview with the submission policies on the agent's official website, Literary Rambles is a great jumping-off point in the research process.  In addition, they've posted some great interviews with authors, book reviews, even Q&A sessions with middle grade readers!  They've just hit the 2,000-follower milestone, and they're running a great giveaway contest (through the 28th)!  Head on over, check out the site, and enter the contest while you're there :)

Other websites/blogs I've found helpful:  (This is by no means a full list, just a sampling of what I've discovered in my searches.)

8 Fiddly Things You Can Do to Your Manuscript to Make Your Editor's Day

Verla Kay's message board for Children's Writers and Illustrators

Katie Davis: Author/Illustrator - Webinars

WriteOnCon

Seven Ways to Turn Writer's Envy into Inspiration

Authors Make Their Own Success

Good luck & Happy Writing to you all!

One Simple Life

Just before Christmas, I attended the funeral of a man who impacted my life more than he probably ever knew.  John Harris, who served as a Bishop in the Catonsville Ward (now the Ellicott City Ward) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, helped to ease my transition from California to Maryland three years ago.

Bishop Harris was the first person I met here in Maryland (other than my realtor).  When I flew out in November 2008 to sign the papers for our new house, a friend back in California advised me to call the Bishop of our new ward to let him know we were going to be coming soon.  A quick search of the church website told me that our new house was located within the boundaries of the Catonsville Ward (a congregation of the Mormon church), over which Bishop John Harris presided. 

Our conversation was short (perhaps 5-10 minutes at most), but I introduced my family and gave him our new address.  I explained that we would be moving into our new home in mid-January.  He was polite.  He said he was very glad I’d called, and he looked forward to meeting the whole family in January.  It was one of those conversations you have millions of times, where you say the same old things and no one really thinks about it.  (Just like, when someone asks how you’re doing, the acceptable response is always “Fine.”)  I returned to California without another thought about it. 

However, over the next few weeks, as we prepared for our cross-country move, I received phone calls and emails from other members of the Catonsville Ward.  Bishop Harris had passed my information along to several people and encouraged them to call and answer any questions we might have about the area.  By the time we arrived in Maryland, we had friends waiting to welcome us.

When one man (who has since become a beloved friend of our entire family) approached me and said “I think I need to get to know you better.  I’m trying to figure out why Bishop Harris thinks you’re so wonderful,” I realized that Bishop Harris wasn’t simply spouting the appropriate polite phrases when we met.  He truly was glad to meet me and excited to meet the rest of my family.  My fears melted away, and I knew we’d be fine here in our new home.

Ironically, we didn’t ever develop the kind of close friendship with Bishop Harris and his family where we’d get together over dinner and board games.  We didn’t spend any time together at all, outside of church activities.  But each one of us knew that Bishop Harris loved us and thought we were worth something.  And because we felt like he thought we were kind of special, we began to act like we really had something to offer our new friends.  My shy, introverted daughter came out of her shell and found the courage to let her talents shine.  My rambunctious son discovered that people still knew who he was, even when he stopped clowning around and let his serious side show.  I realized that I didn’t have to kill myself trying to be everything for everyone.  People liked me just because I was me.

I’m certain that John Harris never knew how much he changed my life.  I don’t think many of us realize how the little things we say and do will alter the lives of the people we meet.  But the little things really do matter, and a kind word spoken sincerely can make the world a better place.

On Becoming a Bag Lady

It all started when I dropped my shampoo bottle in the shower at the gym, completely shattering the lid, and rendering the bottle unusable.

I repeated the mishap two days later with a brand new bottle of shampoo.

When I dropped and broke a third bottle only a few days later, I decided that I needed to do something!  The next time I went to buy a new bottle of shampoo to keep in my gym bag, I also looked for a bag that I could take into the shower with me.  I wanted something that I could hang from the shower to hold my shampoo and prevent further costly mishaps. 

I expected to easily find the perfect thing: a sturdy bag with a long handle to loop over the shower - one that would hold up in the repeated soakings of my daily showers while allowing the water to drain quickly, so I wouldn't have to worry about carting a dripping wet bag home with me.  I was certain I'd find several options to choose from, and I decided I'd pick the least expensive bag, even if it wasn't the cutest one.

To my surprise, I couldn't find anything that fit my needs.  After a few weeks of searching, I realized that I'd have to make my own bag. 

I remembered seeing someone years ago with a crocheted bag made out of recycled grocery bags.

  The plastic "yarn" was waterproof, and the holes that naturally result from the crocheting process would allow water to drain easily.  I didn't know how to crochet, but I was learning how to knit.  If someone could crochet with plastic bags, surely I could knit with them!  Best of all, my bag would be free!  I had plenty of plastic bags lying around, and I figured I could whip something up in no time - a few days, or maybe a week.  After all, I was getting quick with my knitting needles.  I made a scarf for my dear husband in only two weeks, and I didn't need the bag to be anywhere near as long as a scarf!

As it turns out, knitting with plastic bags wasn't quite as easy as I'd imagined.  First, I had to figure out how to turn those big, bulky (yet flimsy) grocery bags into long strands of yarn, strong enough to hold up to the abuse I knew my bag would take.

 Then, I had to come up with a pattern for the bag - something big enough to hold my shampoo, conditioner and body wash, but not so big that it couldn't conveniently hang up in the shower.

After much experimentation and several failed starts, I came up with a technique and a pattern that worked.  Roughly three months later, I had my bag!

The first one worked so well that I decided to make a bigger bag for my swimming suit and towel, and then I made an even bigger bag for carrying enough suits and towels for the entire family, in case we wanted to go to the pool or the beach.

By this time, people were starting to notice my unusual knitting projects.  A few people asked if I had ever considered making the bags to sell.  I laughed.  Of course not.  This is just a hobby, not a job.  Besides, who would actually pay for something so simple?  Something that didn't come from a professionally-developed pattern, just from the trial-and-error process of my amateur mind?

Then, a few months ago, I agreed to demonstrate my plastic knitting technique at my daughters' elementary school Environmental Fair.  I offered a small bag to be used as a raffle prize for the event, to help raise funds for the school.  As it turned out, holding a raffle at this event was against school district policy, so one of the organizers suggested that I put prices on my sample projects.  She was certain I could sell them all and make lots of money for the school that way.  I agreed to do it.

To my surprise, I sold almost all of the bags I'd made for the event, and people continued to contact me about the bags even after the Environmental Fair was over.  Before long, the demand for my little knitted plastic bags outgrew my supply of plastic to knit with (I can only go to the grocery store so many times in a week!) so friends started collecting bags for me.

I've made bags as gifts and I've even sold a few (although I still can't imagine ever turning my fun little hobby into a business).  Now, I'm in the process of knitting several bags for the Catonsville Elementary School PTA auction in April, and anticipation is already building for the bags.  I've already heard several people say that they're hoping to win one at the auction.  I'm simply trying to process the idea that something I've created could be the next fad here in my little corner of the world.

They say necessity is the mother of invention.  Who knew my clumsiness could lead to developing a talent I never realized I had?

PiBoIdMo Winner!

I did it!  I finished the Picture Book Idea Month challenge with 32 picture book ideas.   Some are fully-fledged ideas, some are mere scraps of a wisp of thought, one has already grown into a full first draft.  I didn't finish all of my goals for November, but I'm excited to announce that I did, in fact, finish the PiBoIdMo challenge (which turned out to be much harder than I initially anticipated)!

In other news, I also entered the MeeGenius Author's Challenge.  Voting is now open, and if I win this challenge, my daughters' elementary school gets a library of ebooks!  Please stop by and read my entry PHILIP'S NEW PENCIL about a boy who simply couldn't complete his math test because his pencil wouldn't stop talking.  If you love it, please vote for me and tell all your friends!

"Nothing Ever Happens to Me"

Last week, I went with my 7th grade daughter on a class field trip to the zoo.  Whenever I chaperone, my kids and their friends bombard me with questions, prompting story after story of my adventures when I was young(er).  This time was no different, and as we rode the bus to the zoo, my stories began.

Because we were going to visit the animals, naturally, I told stories about my various animal adventures.  And because the girls had just finished a debate over whether or not we would visit the reptile house, I pulled out my favorite snake stories.

I told about my junior high school science teacher, who had 2 giant boa constrictors that he would allow to slither through the hallways during class times, when the halls were empty.

I told about the time when I was working at the college print shop, and a snake reared up and hissed and struck at me when I tried to take a stack of papers out to the dumpster.  (It didn't bite me, didn't really even come that close before I ran away screaming, but this marked the beginning of my snake phobia.)

I told about the time, when my daughter was about two years old, that I took her to the zoo.  She wanted to pet the boa constrictor when the zoo keeper brought it out.  Being the amazing, wonderful, terrific mother that I am, and not wanting to pass my phobias on to the younger generation, I swallowed my terror, forced a few deep, steadying breaths into my lungs, and stood in line with her.  I even pet the snake with her, to show her little hands how to do it gently.  I didn't pass out from the fear, and my daughter still remembers it as one of the coolest experiences of her early years and proof positive that her mother loves her.  (Definitely worth it!)

At my daughter's prompting, I also told the girls about how my mother, back when she was a fearless tomboy, used to catch ribbon snakes and wind them around her neck and wrists as jewelry.  She would also catch tarantulas and carry them around on her shoulders.  And because she was such a thoughtful little girl, she never failed to find my grandmother and offer, "You can pet him, mommy.  He's so soft!"  Grandma never did pet a tarantula, but she must have been so glad to have the opportunity so often. :)

When I finished my tales, one of my daughter's best friends spoke up.  "You're so lucky! Why does everything happen to you?"

I asked what she meant, and she explained, "You always have so many cool stories to tell.  Why does the creepy, scary and cool stuff always happen to you? I've NEVER had anything interesting happen to me."

Before I could answer her, we arrived at the zoo, and in the chaos of finding our way into the zoo, along with about 200 other seventh-grade students, along with dozens of teachers and chaperones, our conversation was forgotten.  I wonder what I would have said, if I'd had the chance to answer then and there.  Probably something as mind-boggling as "I don't know."

Since then, I've pondered the question. 

Why do so many interesting things happen to me?  Do I possess some rare and wondrous quality that draws the universe's interesting vibes my way?  Probably not.  Am I exceptionally adventurous, going out of my way to find the cool and creepy elements in any given situation?  Not particularly.

But I'm a story teller.  I watch.  I pay attention.  I write.

Over the years, I've learned to pull the cool, creepy and interesting tidbits out of an otherwise mundane day, and weave them into a fun, true-life story, tailored to the interests of my audience.  And I'm not afraid to make myself look ridiculous in the retelling.

Everyone has fascinating stories to tell.  The trick is learning to watch for those moments. 

My daughter's friend (the one who thinks nothing interesting has ever happened to her) could tell about the time when she and her friends practiced "planking" on all of the play structures in the children's area of the zoo during their seventh-grade field trip. 

She could tell about how they bought several large baskets full of french fries from the zoo's food vendor at lunch time, and shared them with their friends.  She could talk about how they kept going back for more and more french fries, everyone gorging on fried potatoes until they all declared that they never wanted to see another one as long as they lived.

She could tell the story of how her group was late getting back to the bus at the end of the day (and almost caused the entire seventh grade to get back to school too late to catch the buses home), because they were waiting for one member of the group to make a purchase at the gift shop.  She could tell about running across the parking lot from the zoo to the bus, with nearly 200 kids and dozens of teachers and chaperones all yelling at them to "hurry up or we'll be late getting back to school!"

And that's just one day!

So what about you?  Think about your last 24 hours.  What amazing stories could you tell?

Book Review: MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE

As you know, last week, the worst day ever turned into the best day ever, when I found out that I won a copy of Anna Staniszewski's debut novel: MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE.  (If you don't know what I'm talking about, read this post.)  When I received the book in the mail, I was so excited that I tossed my daily to-do list out the window (not literally. Littering is never a good idea!) and sat down to read.  I was hooked by the end of the first page, and I couldn't put it down!

MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE is the story of Jenny, a 12-year-old adventurer who spends her free time in one enchanted kingdom after another, helping magical creatures in need.  With corny, cliched nuggets of wisdom like "sharing is caring," Jenny saves fairies and elves and teaches unicorns how to share.  The job comes with its own unique dangers, and sometimes Jenny has to escape dragons who want to turn her head into a flaming volleyball or unicorns who run her down when she attempts to show them how to share the rainbow, but she used to love being an adventurer.

When Jenny is assigned to save the kingdom of Speak from the evil sorcerer, Klarr, who holds the land under a silence spell, she refuses.  Klarr is much too scary.  Jenny decides she'd much rather be a normal girl, worrying about normal things like schoolwork and tests and hanging out with her friends.  Someone else can deal with the psycho sorcerer.

But life as a normal girl isn't as idyllic as Jenny imagines, and the creatures of Speak will never defeat Klarr without her help.  She must face her fears and find the courage to keep fighting, even when she doesn't think she knows how.

MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE is one of the best books I've read in a very long time.  When I reached the last page, I couldn't wait to read it all over again!  Staniszewski weaves together the trials and insecurities every young girl faces with a long list of fantastical "what ifs" to create a magical world that draws you in and won't let go.  It was the perfect afternoon escape from my very own unfairy tale life!

Update 11/16/2012: Anna Staniszewski is running a giveaway contest on her blog right now (until December 12, 2012) for a chance to win your choice of either MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE or the sequel: MY EPIC FAIRY TALE FAIL, along with TWO other books!! Make sure to enter for your chance to win!

A Little Perspective Makes All the Difference!

Have you ever noticed that one unexpected thing can turn your whole day around, for better or worse?

On Tuesday morning, I woke up earlier than usual, refreshed, excited and full of energy.  I wasn't sick!  For the first time in nearly a month, I didn't have a sore throat, a headache and tired, aching muscles.  I knew the kids all had after school activities that afternoon, which gave me an extra hour and a half to catch up on the many things that I've let slide while I've been sick.  Since I was awake early, I took my time getting up, eating breakfast, checking my email and getting dressed for my weekly Temple day.

It didn't even phase me when my oldest two kids missed the bus.  I simply gathered up my younger daughters and drove all the kids to school.  (The older kids were even almost on time!)  When my son announced as he was getting out of the car that he'd left his homework on the table, I smiled and shrugged.  No problem!  I had just enough time for a quick detour back to the house before dropping my daughters off at their elementary school.  Added bonus?  I could also grab my cell phone that I'd left plugged into the charger.  And I could easily swing back by the middle school to drop off the homework on my way to the Temple.  It wasn't too far out of my way, after all, and I knew the quiet peace inside the Temple would more than make up for the crazy chaos of our suddenly hectic morning.

When I got home from the Temple that afternoon, feeling relaxed and spiritually refreshed, I had a quiet lunch and then got caught up on a few projects.  I even managed to finish my entry for the writing contest I've been working on for the past month, and I got it in just before the deadline!  Yes, Tuesday was definitely the best day I'd had in a very long time.


Then, as I finished submitting my writing contest entry and gathered my things together to go collect the kids from their various after school activities, my phone rang.  I smiled, recognizing the ring tone I'd created for my husband, and realized he must be calling to let me know he was on his way home from work - a little earlier than I had expected.  Could this day get any better?

His voice was a little strained.  "Honey, I'm on my way home, but when I get there, we're going to need to pray together for guidance.  I have some potentially bad news."

He told me that the Air Force is going through a force reshaping again, and due to a series of recent events, he's right smack-dab in the middle of the group most vulnerable to early separation.

I knew I shouldn't worry.  We've been in uncertain circumstances before - way too often to recount here.  It hasn't always ended up the way I wanted it to go, but it's always been, in the end, the absolute best thing for us.  The Lord knows what he's doing.  I trust Him.

Besides, I knew my husband's commanding officer would do anything in his power to protect my husband's job.  After all, just days ago, he was recognized as one of the key reasons that they passed their recent inspections with flying colors.  He's the go-to guy when programs need to be fixed.  They won't let him go without a fight.

Still, I felt like I'd been slammed up against a wall.  My amazing, peaceful day came crashing down all around me.  In a flash, the joy and tranquility dissolved, and I struggled through a dark cloud of fear and "what ifs."  Our bright, promising future suddenly seemed bleak and hopeless.


Yesterday, when I crawled out of bed, I was still seeing those dark clouds.  Not a single silver lining in sight.

Never mind the fact that my kids all got ready for school without fighting me, and I got to go to the gym for the first time in weeks.  By 7am, I already knew it was going to be a BAD DAY!

Since I've been sick and my gym routine has faltered lately, it took longer than usual to gather my things together.  I was late leaving the house, and arrived fifteen minutes late for my deep water jogging class.  I thought about skipping it altogether, but my lethargic muscles screamed for the opportunity to move again, so I trudged into the gym and changed into my bathing suit.  I tried not to notice that my favorite red suit was starting to wear through in patches due to the high chlorine levels in the pool, but I noticed it anyway.  Oh well.  I couldn't do anything about it now - my other suit was at home. 

I walked out to the pool and climbed in, barely noticing that the water wasn't freezing, as it usually is.  Normally, I would be grateful for such a blessing.  Yesterday, I couldn't make myself care.  My friends teased me about my extended absence, and even though I knew they love and missed me, the good-natured ribbing was almost too much.  I had to fight the tears that threatened to spill over.  Only 9:15am, and this was already shaping up to be the worst day ever!

I'd been looking forward to getting together with my friends for knitting club.  I've missed more Wednesdays than I can count lately, with my illness and various doctor and dentist appointments for the kids.  Unfortunately, I left the knitting project I'd so carefully set out that morning sitting on my dining room table.  I knew I could still go to the knitting club and visit with my friends.  I've missed them, after all.  But really, without a project to work on, what was the point?  Yep, worst day ever!

I took my car in to get the tire fixed (it's been leaking air), and they wanted to charge me for the repair, even though it was covered under the road hazard warranty I'd paid extra for when I bought the tires not many months ago.  Then, the 45-minute repair took just over two hours.

I couldn't even work on my NaNoWriMo writing goal while I waited in the overcrowded waiting room, because they had the TV tuned in to soap operas and daytime talk shows at such a high volume that I couldn't even hear myself think! 

When I finally got my car back, they informed me that both my front and back brakes were dangerously low.  I should make an appointment to bring the car back in for a repair as soon as possible.  Great!  There was no way this day could get any worse!

As I pulled into my driveway, I noticed a large box on my front porch.  The nook I'd been waiting for to replace my defective one had arrived right on time.  I took a deep breath and brought it inside.  At least one thing had finally gone right!  If nothing else, I could curl up with a good book and pretend that this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day had never happened.  I carried the box inside and pulled out my "new" (certified, pre-owned) nook.  I plugged it in to charge the battery - and nothing happened!  After hours of charging, I later had to admit that they'd sent me a defective nook to replace my defective nook!  I just couldn't catch a break!

I glanced at the clock and saw that I had just enough time to eat a quick lunch before my kids came home from school.  I popped it into the toaster oven to warm up, then answered the phone when it rang.  The dentist's office was calling to yell at me because I had questioned a recent bill.  Apparently, the amount they'd charged when I was in the office (telling me I had paid in full) didn't take into account the fact that they used a type of filling for my daughters' teeth that isn't covered by my insurance ("many policies don't cover this type, and we simply can't take the time to verify which items will or won't be covered prior to providing service.  You should have verified that yourself.")  When I had the audacity to ask that they use the type my insurance will cover for any future fillings, she reamed me for my bad parenting skills.  Apparently, if I really cared about my children, I would use the expensive, non-insured type! 

As politely as I could (I admit that I may have been a little more snappish than I meant to be), I explained that I didn't have time to argue, and I ended the conversation.  Then, I ran back to the kitchen to rescue my lunch, that was already starting to burn in the toaster oven.  As I tried to quickly pull it out, my lunch crumbled into a hundred tiny pieces, littering the bottom of the toaster.  I managed to save about half of it, and I tried to be grateful that I had something to eat, but really, I was just counting the minutes until I could crawl back into bed and forget that this day had ever happened!

As I finished the last bites of my smaller-than-anticipated lunch, the kids came home from school.  I took a deep breath, started them on their homework, and retired to my writing corner, determined to salvage the day by getting at least a little bit of writing done.

No such luck.

Within seconds of sitting down, I leaped up again and ran downstairs to rescue my youngest daughter, who was screaming in terror, as if she'd discovered a dead body.

She had!

My cats had killed a mouse and brought it into the library, leaving it right next to our favorite beanbag chair.  I tried to be grateful that they hadn't brought in a live mouse.  After all, they were doing what cats are supposed to do, right?

While I calmed my daughter, I persuaded my son to grab a plastic bag and remove the offending body from the house.  He took it to the outside trash can, then returned to wash his hands - only to discover that my thoughtful cats had also left a dead mouse as a present for us on the bathroom rug!  (Now, my youngest is convinced that the only safe room in the house is her bedroom.  She keeps the door closed, and the cats aren't allowed upstairs.)


I gave up on trying to salvage the day.  I told the kids they could eat as much Hallowe'en candy as they wanted, and I went upstairs so I could call my husband at work and cry in private.

While I waited for him to answer his phone, I pulled up my email.  The first message waiting for me in my inbox was from Anna Staniszewski (author of MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE), informing me that I won an ARC of her book!

I read the email to my husband, and he laughed.  "You are so lucky!  You always win these book contests.  If I were a gambling man, I'd tell you to buy a lottery ticket!"

And you know what? He's right.  I am so blessed.  I may have the most UNFAIRY TALE LIFE kind of day from time to time (don't we all?), but I have friends and family who love and care for me, and I really have just about everything I could want.

Besides, I'm getting a free copy of one of the books at the tippy-top of my wish list - one that, by the title alone, fit the theme of my day to a tee.  How could any string of bad day events compete with amazingly good news like that?  Yesterday was THE BEST DAY EVER!

NaNoWriMo, PiBoIdMo, and General Writing Craziness

Happy November, everybody!

This is the month when writers and aspiring authors everywhere set crazy writing goals, and sometimes achieve them.

First, the month of November is known in writing circles as National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo.  This is when we pledge to write a 50,000-word novel within one month's time.  It's a goal that can only be achieved by turning off that internal editor and letting the writing flow, even if it's not perfect (which, I guarantee, it won't be).  By the end of November, you should have a full first draft of your next novel (or at least the first 50,000 words of it), and presumably, you will start revising it on December 1st.  (I don't care who you are, NO ONE writes a fully polished, ready-to-publish first draft.  Anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something.)

I've taken up the NaNoWriMo challenge a couple of times.  The first was in 2007, when my husband and I decided to write a book together, alternating chapters.  Our idea was fun: a historical novel with a hint of time travel and a young boy who comes to understand the importance of his heritage.  Our research was solid (that was my dear husband's favorite part of the process!).  Unfortunately, the motivation wasn't quite there.  We stalled out when it was his turn to write his third or fourth chapter, and I didn't want to simply take over the project we were supposed to be working on together.  By the end of the month, our poor main character was stuck in time-travel limbo.  Hopefully, we'll go back and rescue him one of these days.

In 2008, I took up the challenge once again, sort of.  I was in the middle of a cross-country move, and I knew that November would be entirely dedicated to packing and all of the moving craziness, so I moved my NaNoWriMo up a few weeks.  I started in mid-October, counted out 30 days on the calendar, and gave myself a deadline.  I wrote my first 50,000-word novel in less than a month, and I told myself I'd have a publishing contract by the next November, at the latest.  Well, that hasn't happened quite yet, but thanks to some great advice and encouragement from an amazing editor, I've finally started working up the courage to try submitting my work, and I've gotten some positive response so far.  (Fingers crossed!)  I'm not going to make any "I'll have a contract by this date" sweeping declarations this time around, but I will promise that I'm not giving up.  I'll keep submitting and working and writing and learning until it happens.

This year, I've discovered something new.  As not all writers are novelists, we also have Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo - logo by Bonnie Adamson, isn't it great?)!  The challenge?  Come up with 30 picture book ideas in 30 days that you will then turn into actual picture book manuscripts throughout the coming year!  I've decided to accept this challenge this November and combine it with a modified NaNoWriMo challenge. 

So my goal for this November: I'll write 1,700 words each day this month, for a total of just over 50,000 words by month's end, but instead of working on something entirely new, I'm going to keep working on the projects I've already started.  I have a novel I'm already working on.  I finished the 1st draft a little more than a week ago, and if prior experience tells me anything, I'll have a lot of writing to do on that draft once I get the feedback from my first-round critique partners next week.  I also want to finish the picture book ideas I have already swimming around inside my head, to make room for the ideas I'll be adding to the mix this month!

What are your goals (writing or otherwise) for this November?

It's Amazing What You Can Do When You Forget That You Can't!

October is a crazy busy month at our house.  Fall field trips for school, music performances and lessons, church youth group activities, after school clubs, boy scout camp outs, and a whole host of projects around the house keep us running nearly nonstop.  For some reason, we're busier in October than in any other month of the year, and I almost wonder if I'll even have time to stop and take a breath.

Yet, every October, I volunteer to take on a massive project that makes me (and everyone around me) question my sanity by mid-month: making Hallowe'en costumes for my kids.  They have to present me with their final costume choices no later than October 1st, giving me nearly a full month to work on putting them together, and then I devote every spare moment (and some of the hours normally devoted to things like sleeping and eating) to creating the perfect Hallowe'en disguises.

Every once in a while, the kids look at the calendar, analyze the time commitments of the many appointments we have scheduled throughout the month, and take pity on me, choosing simple costumes that require a minimum amount of effort to throw together.  We've had princesses (Cinderella was easy, making a custom wig for Rapunzel with a yarn braid long enough to drag on the ground while posing for pictures, but short enough to easily carry with the trick-or-treat bag so my Dear Daughter didn't trip on it was more difficult), several Jedi Knights (basic Jedi costume: easy; creating a padawan braid out of my real hair and finding a way to attach it to my son's close-cropped haircut for an authentic look: a little more challenging).  We've also had some dinosaurs, a bride, and a mermaid or two.

Some of the costumes my kids have requested seem simple at first, but are deceptively challenging.  Like the time my son (then 4 years old) wanted to be Buzz Lightyear.  When he requested it, I readily agreed.  I thought it would be the easiest costume ever!  Toy Story was immensely popular, and there were Buzz Lightyear costumes everywhere!  But, my son didn't want to be like the other Buzz Lightyears out there.  He insisted that his costume had to be red and blue, instead of the familiar green and purple.  (The pattern I found was much more complicated than it looked in the picture!)

But my favorite costumes to make, ironically, are those that make me want to tear my hair out and scream in frustration before giving up and checking myself into the nearest mental institution.  Dear Daughter #2 is good at challenging my creativity when it comes to costume construction.  This year, after much thought and consideration, she decided that she wanted to be a Singing, Dancing Cowboy Seahorse.  No amount of searching gave me any patterns for seahorse costumes, and I wasn't convinced that I could figure it out.  I couldn't even find a pattern that I could alter. 

But she was so excited about her costume idea!  She told everyone that she was going to be a Singing, Dancing, Cowboy Seahorse, and that I was going to make the perfect costume for her.  If I couldn't pull it off, she would be disappointed, and I'd have to swallow my pride and admit defeat.  I bought lots of extra fabric, knowing that I might need it in case of failed attempts, and then I spent nearly two full weeks brainstorming ideas (I couldn't figure out the tail - how do you make that big tail that curls from behind without giving her something she's going to trip over all night long?), and I'm excited to announce that the costume was ready just in time for last night's Trunk-or-Treat activity at church!

Every October, as I'm in the midst of constructing the crazy costumes, I have well-meaning friends and family members who tell me that I need to take control of things at home.  "You need to lay down the law.  Give them a few options to choose from, if you must, but your kids need to learn to choose more traditional costumes.  It's not fair for them to expect you to create these crazy things every year.  Your time is valuable."

My friends are kind of right.  My time is valuable.  And it's important to budget that time wisely.  But I'm glad my children are willing to step out of the box once in a while.  I'm glad they're not afraid to do something different.  Wouldn't life be boring if we were afraid to take the time to figure out new ways to do things?  I've discovered that I can do so many things I never would have even tried - simply because my children, my husband, my parents, siblings, friends, and acquaintances simply assume I can figure it out.  "We really want to (insert major creative project here), but no one knows how to do it."  "Oh! Veronica can do that!  She's a creative type!" 

Sometimes, it drives me bonkers when someone asks me to do something I obviously cannot do... but it's kind of amazing when I try to do it anyway, and almost always discover that I can do more than I thought I could.

And the Singing, Dancing, Cowboy Seahorse costume turned out great :)