About Author Visits Blog Books Events Contact Press Kit

Uncategorized

Chinese Take-out

I have this thing about Chinese. When I love it, I LOVE it. And when I don’t, buy yourself some earplugs, because I am not afraid to express my opinion. Needless to say, I’m always a little reticent to try new places. More often than not, I’m disappointed. So instead of eating Chinese, I dream of the good stuff from where I grew up.

The thing is, my husband doesn’t have my reservations. To him, it’s all more or less the same. He’s happy with whatever, he’d just like something.

So, tonight, I gave in. Called a few friends, got a few recommendations. And gross. Blah. Blah. Blah.Yicky. Picky. Snort.

“I’m sorry I even suggested it,” my husband said.

And then the epiphany came. From my own mouth even: “Well, you never know if you don’t try.”

I know, you’re all probably thinking, ‘Well duh!’

I wonder how many things I’ve not tried because I didn’t want to be disappointed. Learning a new skill. Sending off the next query. Taking risks with my characters. Bidding on that full manuscript critique over at Do The Write Thing. Whatever.

How about you? Is fear of disappointment holding you back?

Speak up:

16 comments

| TAGS:

Chinese food, disappointment, Do the Write Thing, husband

Winners!

I want to thank everyone for stopping in and entering my Kick-off Fiesta, and especially those of you who spread the word. Hey, twenty entries is a GREAT start for my first week! And wow, who knew that a guilt complex came with choosing a winner (even when I didn’t do the actual choosing)?

So, according to random.org, here are the winners:

1st Prize: One copy of Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market.

2nd Prize: One copy of Janette Rallison’s book Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To Do List.

3rd Prize: Two Willy Wonka Chocolate Bars with, count them, TWO chances to win a Golden Ticket.

Congratulations! And come back soon ya’ll, ya hear?

Speak up:

13 comments

| TAGS:

Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, give-away, Janette Rallison, Willy Wonka, winners

Awards, Tags, and Stuff

Last Chance to enter my Kick-off Fiesta is today! Easy peasy contest . . . just go leave a comment on that post. You don’t want to miss your chance to win some Willy Wonka chocolate which might hold a Golden Ticket! Entries end tonight, Wednesday, May 12 at midnight EDT.

So in other news, I have been inaugurated into the blogging world with my first award. Woo hoo! Lydia Kang gave me the Beautiful Blogger Award. Go check out her blog. She’s a lot of fun, and she does a Medical Monday where she describes bizarre medical disorders (she’s also a doctor). One of my favorite features!

So in the spirit of the award, I pass it on to:

Jessie Oliveros
B.J Anderson
Stephanie Thornton
Beth Revis
Laurel

And I was also tagged by Laurel to answer some questions. So here goes:



Where were you five years ago?
-Living in Kansas City where my husband had just finished his first year of medical school.
-One child (and I thought THAT was hard!)
-Attending my first SCBWI conference and getting my first manuscript critique from an editor (Let’s just say that I haven’t touched that ms since then).
-Joining my first critique group.

Where would you like to be in five years?
-Living closer to family with my husband OUT of residency and fellowships.
-Agented, published, and able to spend more time on writing.

What is on your to-do list today?
-Write this blog.
-Pick up my oldest from kindergarten.
-Take care of two cuties.
-Edit my almost-ready WIP.
-Critique some chapters for my critique group.

What snacks do you enjoy?
-Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Cream Pies
-Cereal
-Cereal
-Cereal
-And wait, did I say cereal?

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?
-Pay off student loans.
-Buy a house.
-Start a scholarship fund for my kids and extended family.
-Start a publishing company.
-Spend some time traveling and doing charitable work abroad.
-Boy, there’s too many things to list, but I’d love to do payback within the writing community.

I pass this on to the following bloggers:
Tricia J. O’Brien
Noelle Nolan
Lynne
Becca Rogers
Karen Zupancic

So just looking at my crazy days . . . what would you do with a full day to yourself? And since we’re most of us writers, let’s assume we’re NOT going to write. I think I’d go for a long walk. Maybe go visit some museums. Find a partner to play some tennis. Go shopping!

Speak up:

13 comments

| TAGS:

award, question tag

Another Give-away!

The Ron Empress, Victoria, is having a giveaway over at her blog. Go check it out! She’s giving away Guy Gavriel Kay’s latest novel, “Under Heaven.” The novel got a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and looks to be a good one.

Don’t forget to enter my own give-away. You have until midnight EDT on Wednesday, May 12!

And a thanks to Kirsten Hubbard at Wandergirl. I won the book Hold Still by Nina LaCour AND a moleskine sketchbook in the epic Spread the Awesome event! It feels awesome to win guys. Seriously, go enter!

Speak up:

4 comments

| TAGS:

give-away, Guy Gavriel Kay, Kirstin Hubbard, Publisher's Weekly, Under Heaven

Salad Dressing Faux Pas

Anything drive you up the wall? What are your pet peeves?

Speak up:

11 comments

| TAGS:

fewer, grammar, less, salad dressing

Beginner’s Blunder

Don’t forget to enter my CONTEST! You can enter until Wednesday, May 12, midnight EDT .

Warning: This is a scary story. Readers with weak stomachs, or who cringe easily might want to stop reading now.

So a good hard four months of writing, and it was done. My very own, very first book! It was beautiful. A classic. Destined for greatness. I just knew it.

My darling husband gave me The Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market so I could learn all about the submission process. And boy did I do my homework. I picked just the right agent, and sent off my perfectly-written and copy-edited query, and can you believe it!? She requested a partial!!!

If only I had spent so much time on my book. Seriously, are you ready for this? I’m more than embarrassed to admit it.

I sent my first draft.

No, not by accident. Just because I really thought my book was that wonderful. *blush*

I guess my first hint that my book needed work should have been the pained look on my mother’s face whenever I asked what she thought of it. That was 8 years ago, and I think I’ve learned a little bit since then, but I still look back and wonder, WHAT WAS I THINKING!?!

Anyone else out there make a now-laughable beginner’s blunder? I mean, surely I’m not the only one. . . . right? . . . RIGHT?! I’d love to hear your stories.

Speak up:

11 comments

| TAGS:

beginner's blunder, The Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, writing

Kick-off Fiesta!

As promised, to kick-off my blog, a writerly give-away. Hurray for free stuff!

To enter, all you have to do is be a follower and leave a comment on THIS blog entry. Easy peasy. If you care to spread it around, you get total brown-noser points. But it won’t earn extra entries in this random drawing of names.

So the prizes:

1st Prize: A copy of Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market

If you already have it, or don’t need it, mention it in the comments, and I’ll make sure you don’t win it.

So this book is what started me on the path. After I finished writing my first book, my husband gave it to me for my birthday, and I’ve been learning ever since. Wow, I was so ignorant back then, but more on that next time. I definitely recommend it for all starting out children’s writers.

2nd Prize: A copy of Fame, Glory, and Other Things on My To Do List by Janette Rallison. Here’s the description from Ms. Rallison’s website:

A PC school principal turns West Side Story into a comedy of errors.

Sixteen-year-old Jessica dreams of Hollywood fame, and when Jordan moves into her small town, she dreams of him, too. He’s a movie star’s son, and hey, he’s gorgeous to boot. Jordan has always wanted to get out from the shadow cast by his superstar father, but now that he and his mother have moved so far away from LA, how can he get his divorced parents back together? Jessica convinces Jordan the way to get his father to come for a long visit is to be a part of the school play. And if she’s “discovered” in the process, all the better. Things go wrong when she lets Jordan’s secret identity slip, and grow even more disastrous when the principal tries to change West Side Story into a gang free, violence-free, politically correct production. 

Seriously, I was crying from laughing so hard. I confess, I had my doubts when I started it, but I liked her other stuff, and so I tried it. SO glad I did. Fun, hilarious read. Just so you know, it’s paperback, but only because it’s not available in hardback.

3rd Prize: Of course I saved the best for last. CHOCOLATE! And not just any chocolate. This is Willy Wonka chocolate with not just one, but TWO chances to find a Golden Ticket and win a trip around the world!

I know, I know! It’s all I can do not to rip them open right now! Whoever wins will have to report back on whether they found a Golden Ticket or not. 😉

You all have until midnight EDT on Wednesday, May 12th to enter. Happy hunting!

Speak up:

20 comments

| TAGS:

Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, Chocolate, Fame Glory and Other Things on My To Do List, give-away, Golden Ticket, Janette Rallison, Willy Wonka

The Split . . .

Since I started this blog, I always knew I wanted to start a second one dedicated to writing. I visited lots of other writing blogs, debated the format with my husband, imagined the design and topics, and finally pushed it off, worried I’d have nothing of import to say. I kept waiting for inspiration . . .

and I finally got it: If I wait until inspiration strikes, I’ll never do it. 

Sigh. Not exactly what I’d hoped for, but there we are, nevertheless.

So I’m taking the plunge. Dedicating this blog to writing, and creating a new blog to keep my family and friends updated on my wildly exciting life as a wife and mother. (If I say it enough times, surely it will be true. Right?) You can link to it here.

I know, I can hear the groan . . . why not create a new one for writing, thus sparing many of you the pain of changing bookmarks and blog links, etc. But it’s selfish really. This way, I’ll already have a few followers to build from. 🙂 

If you don’t already follow me, feel free to join! And as a heads up, to celebrate the kick-off of my writing blog, I will host a writerly give-away on the next post. Woo hoo! Free stuff!

Thank you to all of my current followers, to all you other bloggers, my family, and all my friends who have been such a support and inspiration in this crazy dream I have of getting published.

Speak up:

12 comments

| TAGS:

give-away, publishing, writing

You Showed Me!

I can’t remember why Brandt was mad, but here’s the conversation:

Brandt:  I’m mad at you mom!

Me:  It’s dinner time. Come eat.

Brandt:  I’m NOT eating!

Me:  Fine. Come watch the rest of us eat, because it’s dinnertime and you will sit with us.

Brandt:  [arms crossed, sending daggers my way, stomps to the table] I’m NOT . . .

Then he saw what was on his plate. He threw me a furious look and tried again.

Brandt:  I’m ONLY eating my fish, and my broccoli, and drinking my drink. That’s ALL I’m eating!

Me:  Okay, Brandt. You win. You just eat that.

Speak up:

9 comments

| TAGS:

Brandt, broccoli, eating, fish, mad

A Trip to the ER

“Stop running!”

[I swear that’s my mantra these days–in more ways than one, but I digress.] That’s what I yelled right before the BOOM! Then came the crying.

“London pushed me!” Brandt was on the floor wailing and pointing back toward the room. London was hiding.

I picked up the one and started scolding the other. Then I saw it.

Blood POURING down Brandt’s face. I swooned. A moment of shock. I forced myself to think past the blood dripping on the carpet. And I admit it, I panicked. The word ‘hyperventilate’ comes to mind.

I sent an accusing look at London (I know, I know, bad parenting, but in the moment . . . well, yeah), and rushed Brandt to the bathroom. I pressed a wad of toilet paper on the faucet of blood. “Hold this and don’t move!” I ordered.

I grabbed my phone book and called my good friend: “So, Brandt-split-his-head-open,-and-I-need-to-take-him-to-get-stitched.-Somewhere.-I-don’t-know-where-yet,-but-could-you . . . ” I think I said it all in one breath.

Can I just say, thank goodness for good friends! She helped me find the address for the hospital, and kept the other two so I could keep my sanity.

To sum up, Brandt got seven stitches . . . and I’m sure a scar to match his other one. He was a brave little boy who didn’t wiggle, and didn’t cry at all while the doctor worked. The doctor was in awe: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a child sit so still for stitches before.”

Yup, this is my child who I had to carry screaming out of the store because he COULDN’T get a flu shot.

And now, I have finally joined the rank and file of true parents, having dealt with my first trip to the emergency room.

P.S. Dana, I didn’t think about taking a ‘Before’ picture till it was too late. Rats.

Speak up:

8 comments

| TAGS:

Brandt, Doctor, friends, London, stitches