I Am Insane

Update: I've completed the May Mid-Grade Madness challenge!! Actually, since I write my first drafts by hand and I haven't finished typing up my pages yet, I'm not 100% sure that I made the goal of 20,000 words in the 72 hours. But I finished my story, and with a little over 18 pages left to type up, I have a word count so far of 15,042. Averaging 250 words per page, I'd come out just under my goal, but so far, I'm averaging about 300 words per page, so maybe... :)

Just in case there was any doubt, I thought I'd put your minds at ease. Yes, I am completely insane.

Not only am I preparing for a move across the country in just a few short weeks (including tons of paperwork/interviews/massive amounts of red tape so that I can get medical clearance before my husband gets his official orders so we can start scheduling things like movers and housing at the next base), but I'm busy with all of the kids' end-of-the-school-year activities. I also agreed to make two of my recycled plastic knitted bags for my primary care doctor's nurses and I've promised several friends and family members that we'll get together for fun stuff before we move away. So I'm a pretty busy lady these days. No time for any extra time commitments. I have enough to do, thank you very much.

But, yeah. I'm insane.

Starting tonight, and for the next 72 hours, I will be participating in the May Mid-Grade Madness challenge from my local SCBWI chapter - to write a 20,000-word middle grade novel in only 72 hours. I've also promised that I will also participate in each of the eight challenges leading up to our next regional conference. And I'm still working on making the rounds in the Query Roundtable event, to comment on all of the entries. (I'll try to finish commenting on those entries this afternoon, before I start my 72-hour challenge.)

Do I have time for all of this? Probably not. Am I planning to scale back and let some of these extra challenges/writing activities go? Nope!

I'm a writer. It's in my blood. And by definition, that means I'm a little bit crazy. And I have to write. Even when it's a crazy time commitment and I have other things that I "should" be doing instead. My story pencils are calling my name, and I am compelled to answer them.

However, I will be letting all of the "non-essentials" go by the wayside this week. I won't be checking my email, twitter or facebook accounts. I won't be sitting in front of the television. I'm not cooking or cleaning. Laundry and dishes can wait. (My daughter made me promise I will stop to eat. - She even offered to pack a lunch each morning to put next to my writing chair so I won't have to stop mid-day for food. Only for a short dinner with the family each evening.)

Rest assured, on Thursday evening, when my 72 hours for the Mid-Grade Madness challenge have expired, I will take a break and check in online before I start playing catch-up on the conference challenges. I'll see you all on the other side! :)

Query Roundtable

This week, I'm excited to participate in the Query Roundtable event through Rachel Horwitz's blog. I've updated and revised my query (and my manuscript too, by the way) after the valuable feedback I received from those participating in The Writer's Voice competition, and I can't wait to hear your feedback on my new, improved query. Thanks so much for looking!


Title: KISSING FROGS

Genre: YA Contemporary

Word Count: 53,007

Alaina Andersen used to dream of growing up to be a princess, not the girl with the biggest boobs at Southbrook High. But other than her good grades, she’s afraid her DD-cup bra is the only thing anyone notices about her. Alaina has never been kissed, she’s never had a boyfriend, and she’s never even been out on a real date. Most boys are only interested in one thing, but Alaina is holding out for true romance.
 

She’s pretty sure that Shane Crawford is the perfect boy she’s been waiting for. Not only is he gorgeous, he’s sweet and sensitive, and he doesn’t gawk at her chest when he talks to her. Alaina believes that if she could win Shane’s heart, she could finally be recognized as more than just the sum of her parts. With the perfect boyfriend at her side, she might even discover where she belongs. But when Shane kisses her, then asks her to pretend nothing happened, she begins to think that nice guys only exist in the fairy tales she used to believe in. Picking up the pieces of her shattered fantasy, Alaina discovers that Prince Charming and perfect, magical kisses, aren’t the key to finding her own “Happily Ever After.”

Book Review: FIRST DESCENT by Pam Withers

FIRST DESCENT by Pam Withers

Rex Scruggs feels more at home out on the river with his kayak than anywhere else.  He’s grown up in the shadow of his famous grandfather, Malcolm Scruggs, who was well-known for being the first to conquer several South American rivers.  Rex dreams of making a name for himself and carrying on his grandfather’s legacy by being the first to paddle down El Furioso, the one river Malcolm never completed.  The river proves itself to be a formidable opponent, but the class V rapids aren’t the greatest danger Rex will face.  As he grows close to Myriam Calambás, the native girl who agreed to be his guide on the river and who dreams of becoming a reporter so that she can tell the world about her families’ struggles, Rex gets caught up in the political struggle that she and the other indígenas face every day.  Struggling to maintain their independence and neutrality in the middle of a struggle between the paramilitaries and the guerillas who want to claim the land for their own use, Myriam’s people face daily threats to their lives, and Rex is soon caught in the middle of a war he didn’t ask to fight. 

Withers tells spine-tingling, adrenaline-pumping, action-packed story of finding your place in the world, even against impossible odds.  I wasn't sure about this book when I picked it up. Action/adventure books aren't usually my thing. But I was pleasantly surprised. Rex and Myriam are such strong characters that I felt like I was living the story with them, and I couldn't put it down!

Taming the Green-Eyed Monster

So, as you know, I've entered The Writer's Voice competition, and I'm so thrilled for the chance to compete against some amazingly talented writers in this contest. I've had a bit of positive initial feedback on my entry, but as the hours pass and I see more and more of the available 40 slots filling up with requests on the other entries, I have to admit I've felt more than one twinge of jealousy.

I realized that this was a perfect time to remind myself of the message from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's address in the most recent General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormon church).

Elder Holland said: "envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune‍ befalls us,‍ but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune‍ that befalls everyone‍ we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment! To say nothing of the chagrin in the end, when we find that God really is both just and merciful, giving to all who stand with Him “all that he hath,”²‍ as the scripture says. So lesson number one from the Lord’s vineyard: coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not‍ elevate your‍ standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live."

Of course, he's 100% right. Whether or not I get selected to work with one of these amazingly talented coaches, I've learned so much simply from the process of getting my submission ready for the contest. There's no need to down a quart of pickle juice simply because I wasn't the first one picked for a team (of course, that doesn't mean I wouldn't still be thrilled to get a comment saying I've been picked)!! :)

I'm so grateful for the love and support I've felt from my fellow contestants, and that's what really matters, in the end, isn't it? Thank you all for this amazing opportunity! You're the best!

(If you would like to hear the full talk by Elder Holland, I'm including the video here:)

Writer's Voice

The Writers Voice competition, run by the AMAZING Brenda Drake, Monica B.W., Krista Van Dolzer & Cupid, is inspired by the TV show "The Voice." I'm contestant #88. If I'm lucky, one of these brilliant ladies will choose me for her team, and with her help, I'll be able to polish my submission until it gleams and have a chance to be seen by 8 awesome agents! Wish me luck!!

Title: KISSING FROGS
Entry #88
Genre: YA Contemporary
Word Count: 52,071

Query:

Seventeen-year-old Alaina Andersen is waiting for her white knight to ride up and sweep her off her feet with the perfect, magical kiss. She desperately wants to be the princess, even though she feels like a frog, compared to the perfect, popular girls who used to be her friends. When Shane Crawford, the most gorgeous boy in school, shows interest in her, Alaina thinks she’s finally found her fairy tale, but the kiss is a disaster and happily ever after is nowhere in sight.

In true fairy godmother style, Alaina’s friend, Kendra, offers to help her become the perfect “princess.” But Alaina’s best guy friend doesn’t want her to change, and her sister doesn’t trust Kendra.  When Shane comes back, begging for another chance to win her heart, and the “mean girls” turn out to be true friends, Alaina wonders if Kendra might be more wicked witch than fairy godmother after all.

KISSING FROGS is Young Adult contemporary novel, complete at 52,000 words.

First 250:
I’m not exactly the fairy-tale princess type. Flowers don’t bloom at my feet, and birds don’t follow me around, singing happy little songs. I’m seventeen years old, and I’ve never even been out on a real date. So when my best guy friend, Jarod, pretends to be in love with me, it’s kind of fun to play along.

“Hi gorgeous, how was your day?” Jarod, met me at my classroom door and took my books.

“Typical Tuesday. Pretty boring. You?”

I sat on the wobbly old desk Mr. Finn kept outside his classroom, careful to avoid the pile of graded homework assignments stacked in the corner.

Jarod twirled the combination and yanked my locker open. “Well, I’m talking to you. I’d say it’s been a great day.” He wiggled his eyebrows and winked.

He dropped his backpack on the bottom shelf and handed my flute to me. Turning back to my locker, he tore down the list Kendra had taped to the inside of the door.

“How many times do I have to get rid of this?” he demanded.

I shrugged. “Kendra says…”

“Kendra’s evil.” He tore the paper in half. “Why do you believe her lies? You do not have a big nose!”

I pulled the ponytail holder out of my hair and bent my head, letting my curls fall down to hide my nose. “Kendra’s trying to help me become a better person,” I mumbled. “I can’t improve myself if I don’t know where I need work.”

Confidence and Creativity

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you forget to remember that you can't do it. 

Luckily, I have lots of friends and family members who forget about my limitations on a regular basis, and I've discovered many hidden talents as I've worked to accomplish the things that my loved ones simply assume I already know how to do.

Need a custom-made hat in the shape of a U2 spy plane? 

Someone to fix your leaking toilet or install a new ceiling fan in your bedroom? 

Your favorite earrings broke and you need someone to fix them for you? 

Your daughter has egg allergies.  She feels left out at Christmas time when all of her friends are decorating sugar cookies, and you wish someone would invent an eggless sugar cookie recipe? 

School starts in two days, and you just found out that the dividers for the stalls in the newly remodeled pre-K bathroom won't be in until next week.  You need a temporary solution in place by tomorrow?

No problem.  "I bet Veronica can do that for us.  She's good at figuring things out."

Sometimes, it's a little overwhelming, the way everyone simply assumes that I already know how to fix whatever problem they're facing.  And I've thrown my share of temper tantrums as I stomp around, complaining to anyone who will listen, about the mile-long list of tasks I have on my over-full plate.  Because, really, my time is valuable, after all.  I can't really afford to take time to do all of these things!

And yet, I'm grateful for the challenges.  I've learned so many valuable skills - things I never would have even attempted, if someone hadn't simply assumed that I already knew how to do it.

What super secret skills are you hiding from yourself?

Book Review: SPECTRAL

SPECTRAL by Shannon Duffy is amazing!!! It totally deserves 5 stars!!!! (If I gave out stars for my reviews, which, you know, I don't...)

Honestly, I read this book as a favor for a friend (the amazing Brenda Drake - if you haven't been reading her blog, you should!) and I was a little bit hesitant when I picked it up. I usually read YA contemporary novels, and I haven't been too impressed with the paranormal trend in YA lit. (I wasn't a huge fan of the TWILIGHT saga, and I'm probably the only person in the world who doesn't have any desire to read HARRY POTTER), so I wasn't sure if this book was for me. I began to read with a healthy dose of skepticism, determined simply to find a few good things to say about a book I was sure I wouldn't love.

But by the middle of the first chapter, I was hooked. I put my daughter on dinner duty and decided laundry could wait until I finished reading. This book was simply too good to put down! I've never been so happy to be so wrong!


Growing up in the witness protection program, Jewel has always lived on the fringes. Close friends are out of the question, as she never knows how soon she'll be moving again. But when she moves to Pomona Park, Florida, things start looking up. Not only does she find a true and fast friend in cute, bubbly Taylor, but she is immediately drawn to ultra-hot, super-sweet jock, Chase, who seems to really like her too. Jewel finally feels like a normal teenager.

But Jewel can't stop thinking about Roman, the super sexy bad boy, who may have all the answers she's been looking for, and the key to saving her life - if she can really trust that he isn't the enemy!
Take the magic and drama of the Twilight saga, weave in the romance of star-crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet and sprinkle on a healthy dose of "Who do you think you are?" to get a book that will keep you turning pages until the very end!

I fell in love with Chase the first time Jewel saw him outside the ice cream parlor, and I rooted for him to win her heart... but Roman was a seriously yummy distraction. What if he was really THE ONE? As Jewel struggles to discover the secrets of her family and who she really is, each boy plays a crucial role.

Forget the whole Team Edward / Team Jacob debate. Are you Team Roman or Team Chase?

What Inspires You?

Sometimes, I can be pretty fearless. I don't even think twice when it comes to putting on a silly costume and even posting pictures online for the whole world to see. I've gone cliff diving and swimming in the ocean. I've even told my kids the stories of my life's most embarrassing moments. But as you know, when it comes to my writing, I have a tendency to channel George McFly, from Back to the Future.

*I had a clip here of George McFly, explaining why he never lets anyone read his stories, because he fears rejection... but I couldn't figure out how to get it to play without tons of advertisements popping up, & if it annoys me, I'm betting it annoys you too, so I deleted it.*

I write my stories... then I send them to my critique partners and revise and repeat. But when it comes to sending my completed manuscripts out to the professionals - agents and editors who have the power to reject me - I can't help wondering: "What if they don't like them? What if they tell me I'm no good?"

Sometimes, that fear is strong enough to make me want to put down my story pencils, close my notebooks and find a less terrifying job - something like snake wrangling or shark documentarian. At times like this, I have to find ways to keep myself moving forward.

I have a few silly tricks that I fall back on when I need a confidence boost. First, I go back and read the twitter feed of @GoslingLitAgent. His corny, cliched romantic comedy-type encouragement makes me smile and gives me the shot of confidence I need to write my next query letter.

I did a happy dance around my room when he responded to one of my tweets - mentioning me by name!! - back in February. (I took a screen shot and made it into my desktop image on my laptop!)

. @vbartles Hey Girl, you got that courage and that's all you need.
— Ryan Gosling (@GoslingLitAgent) February 2, 2012

I don't know who is really behind this account, and although I sometimes entertain myself with playing the guessing game, I honestly don't want to know who @GoslingLitAgent is in real life. The power here is in not knowing. I can read his tweets and tell myself: There is an agent out there who will feel this passionate about my book. She/He is out there somewhere, waiting for my query to arrive, and I can't give up until I find that agent.

Next, I play some encouraging music. Nick Jonas' rendition of Michael Buble's hit "Haven't Met You Yet" (as seen on the NBC TV show "Smash") makes me feel all giddy and excited about my mystery agent.

Ironically, I've loved this song for years, but it wasn't until I heard Nick Jonas sing it on "Smash" that I heard the lyrics as a reflection of my search for the perfect literary agent. Maybe it's because the TV show is about a group of artists struggling to find a voice... Or maybe it's because it was another song by Nick Jonas that inspired me several years ago to sharpen my very first story pencil and start writing. Either way, I often play this song on repeat, listening to it for hours while I work through a tricky revision or gather the nerve to send out a query letter.

Two weeks ago, I added another song to my routine: "One Thing" by One Direction. Because someday, I'll find the agent who reads my manuscript and says "You've got that one thing!"


If that doesn't work, I go back to read the personalized, encouraging rejection letters I've received so far. And I remember the horribly devastating rejection I received after the first contest I entered. Realizing that I've received praise and condemnation for the same story gives me hope. When agents and editors say that this business is highly subjective, they aren't kidding! I can't give up simply because I haven't met my manuscript's soul mate yet!

So what are the silly tricks you employ to keep your courage up? What inspires you to face your greatest fear? When all else fails, surround yourself with good friends who tell you you're amazing :)

p.s. Sorry about the commercials in the videos. If anyone knows how to take the advertisements off (without bending any rules or anything), I'd love to know!

Book Review: THE APOTHECARY

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

When Janie Scott’s Hollywood scriptwriter parents fall under scrutiny during the McCarthy trials of the early 1950’s, the family moves from Hollywood to London to escape persecution from the U.S. federal marshalls.  Janie feels awkward and out-of-place until she meets Benjamin, the son of the local apothecary, who dreams of becoming a spy.  When the apothecary suddenly disappears, Benjamin’s spy games start to feel too real.  Janie and Benjamin must discover the truth and find a way to rescue his father, using the information they find in the ancient book the apothecary asked them to keep safe.  They discover that magic and science are closely related, allies might be found in the least likely of places, and sometimes taking the impossible path is the only option. 

Carefully weaving elements of mystery and intrigue, magic and fantasy into the tapestry of a very real historical setting, Meloy tells a captivating story about having the courage to do the right thing, even when it seems impossible. 

The first few chapters were a little slow as Meloy set the stage for the story, but by the end of chapter six, I couldn’t put the book down.  If you enjoy historical fiction with a twist of magic, this book is for you.

I'm Amity - What Faction are You?

I love a book that makes me think.  One that asks questions that make me ponder long after I’ve finished the last chapter.  A book that makes me wonder: what would I choose? Who do I want to be? DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth is one of those books.
I have to admit, I was hesitant to pick it up.  I loved HUNGER GAMES by Susanne Collins, I devoured MATCHED by Ally Condie, and I enjoyed UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld… but as my close friends and family can tell you, I’m the kind of gal who likes to focus on the rainbows and bubbles of life.  I can only handle so much dystopia before I go screaming for something bubbly and pretty!

For months, I passed DIVERGENT on the shelves of my local bookstore and the library.  I was tempted to pick it up, simply because anything written by someone named Veronica already has a giant plus going for it (right?)… but I didn’t want to immerse myself in yet another “look at how horrible society will be in the not-so-distant future” series.  So I left it on the shelf.  I didn’t even pick it up to skim the first page.

Until, a couple weeks ago, I started seeing people tweeting about the upcoming sequel, INSURGENT.  People were choosing their “factions” and joining teams, and I wondered what the hype was all about.  So just for kicks and giggles, I did a google search to figure out what all of these “factions” were.

In Roth’s dystopian world, society has divided into 5 factions, each determined to make the world a better place by embracing one specific value.  Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent).  I immediately knew that I would choose Amity.  From the Amity Faction News blog, I found this definition.  “The Amity faction values peace and friendship. Artistic, creative, and musical, this faction focuses on peacekeeping, harmony, and farming.”  Other than the fact that I can kill a plant just by looking at it (serious black thumb) and would never survive as a farmer, this defines me.  So I declared myself a part of Team Amity and joined the hype for the upcoming release of INSURGENT, promising to write a blog post all about why I chose the Amity faction.

But wait!  I still hadn’t read DIVERGENT! I realized that, even though I wasn’t trying to join the Candor faction, I wasn’t comfortable with promoting a book (or series) I honestly knew nothing about.  So I scoured my local library… but every copy was checked out, and the waiting list was long.  I could go buy the book, but did I really want another dystopian novel on my library shelves?  I decided I’d rather wait a few days to see if I could find a copy.

Finally, this weekend, I got a notice in my email that the library had a copy of DIVERGENT on hold for me.  I picked it up and read the first five chapters.  But when I set it down for a second, my daughter immediately picked it up and didn’t want to give it back. I had to buy a copy so that we could read it at the same time!

As I followed Tris on her journey of self-discovery, I found myself questioning my faction choice. Would I have been happier in Candor? Erudite? Dauntless? Abnegation? I don’t think I’m the only initiate to wonder if I chose the right faction for me.  I watched Tris and her friends go through similar struggles as they tried to make sense of this new phase in their lives….

But I’m happy to report that, at the end of the day, I’m proud to be a part of the Amity faction. It’s truly where I belong. And besides, Four thinks I’m beautiful J

(If you don't know what that all means, go read the book! I promise you'll love it!)

What Easter Means to Me

Easter is one of my favorite holidays.  I love the flowers and the cute stuffed bunnies, and chocolate eggs, of course, but that's not what makes this day so special.  Because this day is about so much more than bunnies and baskets, chocolate and candy...

I wanted to write an eloquent and inspiring message about what Easter means to me, but the atoning sacrifice of Christ is so awe-inspiring, I find it difficult to put my feelings into words.  Instead, I thought I'd share with you one of my favorite Easter messages from Jeffrey R. Holland, an Apostle of Jesus Christ and one of the General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormon church).

This is what Easter means to me.

My New Author Website!

Yay!

I'm so excited to announce my shiny new author website!  I'm still uploading content to a few of the pages, but it's so beautiful, I couldn't wait to share!!

Take a look and tell me what you think!

The address is super easy to remember - http://vbartles.com

Book Review: THE LIST

 Every year, right before homecoming, a list with eight names is posted all over school.  Two girls are chosen from each class: the prettiest and the ugliest girls at Mount Washington high school.  Each year, the girls of Mount Washington High hope that they might be the lucky one chosen as “prettiest” and worry that they might be singled out as “ugliest.”  No one knows who is behind the list, or how the girls are chosen, but everyone knows that the labels, once applied, will change the lives and status of these eight girls forever. 

More and more, young women in our society are faced with the message that who they are and what they are worth depends upon the clothes they wear, the trends they follow and the size or shape of their bodies.  But the old adage that "beauty is only skin deep" is a complete and total lie. True beauty doesn't exist on the surface.  It really is what's inside that counts.

In THE LIST (available April 1, 2012), Siobhan Vivian explores the dangers of applying superficial labels to people, even when the labels are the kind we usually think of as "positive." THE LIST follows this year’s eight girls through the homecoming week, and as we witness their reactions and follow their interactions with their classmates, we can see that the labels we give each other don’t really mean anything at all.  Being known as “prettiest” may be more of a curse than a blessing, and the “ugliest” girl might be truly beautiful.  Every girl who has ever felt the pressures of trying to fit in, every girl who has struggled with the Disney Princess mentality, every one who has ever wondered why she has to be sexy to be worthwhile, will find herself in the pages of this book.  It should be required reading for every 7-12th grade girl (and anyone who knows a teenage girl)!

Disclaimer: Because my 11-year-old daughter always asks about language, when books are recommended to her, I will warn you that one of the characters in THE LIST uses coarse language fairly frequently, in the chapters from her point of view.  I personally prefer books without the profanity, but the story of this book was so well-written that I felt comfortable recommending it to my daughter anyway, knowing that it would open important topics of discussion between us.

Thinking Again

Update: As promised, I've tackled Challenge #7 on the As the Eraser Burns blog, and I've updated my "About Me" page. - One more challenge to go!!

Here we are, beginning week seven of the eight-week pre-conference challenge on the SCBWI MD/DE/WV blog... and I've finally completed Challenge #6.

This challenge, to write a complete story (title, beginning, middle, end) with no more than 200 words (actually, they gave us a grace window - we could go up to 221 words), wasn't as scary as past challenges have been... yet it took me a week to pick up my story pencil and get started.

What was holding me back? A variety of factors, actually.  In this past week, I've worked on polishing my pitch for my finished manuscript, tackled the scenes I've been avoiding on my work in progress draft, put together an arrangement of knitted/crocheted flowers for a friend (my deep water jogging instructor at the local Y) who recently had open heart surgery (no, I didn't knit all of the flowers myself, all but 2 were created by the others in our knitting group, but I did create the stems out of a recycled pool noodle!)...

I had lots of excuses for procrastinating on this challenge, and they were all good excuses.  But a good excuse is still just an excuse.

Really, it all came down to one simple fact: To me, a 200-word story says one thing - Picture Book.

Now, I have lots of ideas for picture books.  I've written a couple, and they're in varying stages of revision.  Most of my ideas are still simmering, not quite ready to put to paper.  I could pull one of those out for this challenge...  However, I promised myself, at the beginning of this challenge series, that I would hold myself accountable by posting my challenges either on this blog or in the comments area of the original challenge post.  And if I post one of my favorite, fun picture books, I'd be shooting myself in the foot in regard to publishing that book. 

So I spent the week brainstorming, trying to come up with a story idea that I didn't care about enough to make it worth trying to publish. I'm sure you're not surprised to hear that I couldn't make myself care enough to actually write any of the story ideas I came up with! 

Finally, last night, I realized that I was crippling myself with my preconceived notions. The challenge didn't specify a picture book. I could write to any age range!  So I pulled out two of the supporting characters from my YA novel and wrote one of their essential scenes (one that is crucial to the backstory of the novel, but doesn't actually belong in the pages of the novel)!  Coming in at 203 words, I give you...

The Breakup

Kendra threw her phone across the room.  Jarod cringed as it smashed against the wall next to his head.

“Don’t be mad, Ken. We both know it’s not working.”

Kendra glared. “She’ll never love you. You’re fooling yourself.”

“This isn’t about Laina. You and I don’t belong together.”

“You know she slept with Scott, right? Last weekend, she got drunk and threw herself at him. Your perfect little angel isn’t as sweet and innocent as you think she is.”

Jarod grabbed his jacket and stood up.  “You’re poisonous. You can’t stand to think someone else might have something you don’t, and you destroy anyone who lets you get close.” He shrugged and stepped outside. “I don’t know why Laina puts up with you, but I’m done.”

Kendra slammed the door and collapsed on the couch.  Alaina was going to win again.

She picked up her phone and snapped the case back together. She punched in a number, taking a few deep breaths to compose herself.

“Alaina?” she purred, “I wanted you to be the first to know I broke up with Jarod. I finally told him I could never be with someone who spreads vicious, false rumors about my best friend.”

Now, on to Challenge #7: the Author Bio.  This one is much scarier than even the illustrating challenge, because I know how to write about fictional people, but what do I say about myself???

I made a commitment, though. Watch for my "About Me" page to be updated soon!

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

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?