Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in ReadtoThink's LiveJournal:

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Friday, June 20th, 2008
12:07 pm	Five things on Friday 1. I had a wonderful time at Book Expo Canada on Sunday. I'm extremely lucky to have a publisher that truly believes in this book as well as my writing in general. Even though I thought she may have eaten something a little off that may have been playing tricks with her mind, when she said I'm a better writer than so and so. Okay. I think a lot of authors have doubts about their own writing and think 'my books will never be as good as so and so's' Especially when you see your own first drafts. My head is not going to swell or anything but it was nice to hear she thinks so. I'm also fortunate that Fitzhenry and Whiteside has a fantastic team of publicity people and that they like my books (or rather I've been told they like them). And no I'm not kissing up, they really are great. If I didn't believe it I wouldn't say it. 2. That silly voice wouldn't shut up so I think I've found her a story - or maybe she's told me what her story is - sort of. I don't know. All I know is now I have to write a book for her and have it done by Dec at the latest. Wouldn't be such a big deal if I wasn't in revision or first draft on four other novels. I'll manage though and I'm not going crazy over the building workload - yet. Just think if I sold all five of those novels I may be able to give up my day job - or maybe not. 3. I've sent off the first fifteen pages and a synopsis of Oh Brother for the critique for the workshop/retreat I'm heading to in a couple of weeks. OMG a couple of WEEKS. I'm terribly excited - okay not really - more nervous about making the trip than excited about being there but if you're going to the same retreat don't feel bad. Excitement is not my forte. I simply don't get excited. I'm very laid back and probably a little too straight up at times. I am thrilled to be able to meet people I've only known online. 4. While signing Libertad at the Book Expo I was able to get my card into the hands of a lot of teacher/librarians. Libertad is a book that should get me some school visits. It's much easier to book visits for the younger grades up here than for the high schools. 5. I have to work in an hour and 1/2 and suddenly I'm very tired. (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
8:18 am	The voices in my head I'm not talking about the kind of voices that tell you to go rob a bank and stuff like that I'm talking about the kind of voices that writers hear. The kind that start whispering their stories in your head. The kind that start by saying things like, "I begin this under protest" (from Walking on Glass) or "I found him in the garage on a Sunday afternoon" (Skellig). Sometimes I hate those voices, like lately for instance when I have so many other stories I'm working on and this one particular voice keeps chatting away. I have to tell her, at least I think it's a her, "shut up" "wait your turn". "There are other things that need to be finished and YOU don't even have a story yet" - and she doesn't - she just says the same thing over and over again. It's haunting. Maybe when I'm least expecting it she'll go on with her story but for now she needs to just shut up so I can finish writing the things I need to write. Any of you all having the same problem? (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, June 6th, 2008
8:17 am	Agentless June 1rst was my agent's last day as an agent. She's now officially retired from agenting. I probably could have been transferred to another agent at the agency, however I didn't ask. Not that it's not a great agency, it is. It's just that I don't feel I'll click with anyone else there and you really have to click. I loved my agent and I'm sad to see her go but I'm ready for a change. I'm not really worried. I've had agents request me to submit to them and I'm talking to one about representation. I don't know if it'll happen or not - we're just talking - getting to know each other a little. I make it sound like we're dating but they say agent/author relationships are so much like marriage and you don't just jump into marriage quickly - unless you're Pamela Anderson or someone like that and I'm not. So far I like this agent. I think we'll get along well. Editors like working with her too(I've been told by some editors) and her clients like her. Both are important. One of my publishers has also asked me to submit to her (obviously to the publisher not the agent)- even asked to see a picture book or two when I said that's all I have ready right now. A picture book sale would be cool as I don't have one of those yet. She may not love them though - who knows if I can really write picture books. I think I can, but you never really know until you sell one. For me anyway, pbs are harder to write well than novels. I think most novel writers find them harder. But pb writers probably find novels harder. Of course there are people like Jane Yolen who can write anything well and I'm sure it all comes with a lot of learning, work, revisions, rejections, and practice. So do you feel you're a better picture book writer or a better novel writer? (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008
8:25 am	The actual bag Here's the actual bag I'm drawing for on my site. There's a picture of the inside and the back posted on my site as well. If you're interested in winning it email me for details. You can put your name in to win the bag whether you want a pre-order kit or not. (Comment on this)
Monday, May 19th, 2008
7:51 pm	Good, Bad, Ugly GOOD All the edits for Libertad are done. AND it's up on both Amazon and Chapters for pre-order. I'm offering a pre-order kit that includes: a postcard with all the book info on the back an autographed book plate a little information about Safe Passage - the charity a portion of my royalties from this book is going to - Safe Passage brings children out of the Guatemalan City Dump and into the Classroom so I'm VERY happy to be donating to them. and a Chance to win an autographed Messenger bag similar to (but not exactly like) the one posted below. It's 15"x11"x5". Email me or check out my website to find out how to get your pre-order kit and your name in the draw for the bag. BAD I'm coming down with a cold. I'm stuffed up, overtired and pretty much brain-dead so trying to write anything over the next few days is going to be useless but I'll do it anyhow. Ugly My daughter put one of her thin glue sticks in my desk with my chapsticks. I did not notice. Good thing it was washable. (Comment on this)
Monday, April 21st, 2008
12:53 pm	I've been Tagged Errr... thanks Art. I didn't know you were mad at me. Here are the rules: 1. Pick up the nearest book. 2. Open to page 123. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the next three sentences. 5. Once you've posted your three sentences, tag five people and post a comment to the blog of whomever has just tagged you. Therefore I will comment on Kathleen's blog . If I tagged you, you should be posting a comment on my blog. Nothing nasty. : ) Well the nearest book to me was the phone book. I didn't think it right to publish three phone numbers of people I don't know on the internet so the next book... Silent Witness. How forensic anthropology is used to solve the world's toughest crimes. Should be interesting. All 68 on board died on impact. When the bodies were eventually recovered, they were sent to the nearest morgue for autopsy and identification. In the case of a small airplane, such as the two - or four- seater, its size and the conditions common to tropical regions mean that months, or even years, may pass before it is located and eventually recovered. Hope no one is planning to fly on a small aircraft somewhere tropical. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
9:18 pm	Libertad cover The REAL cover for Libertad. Cover illustration by Pascal Milelli due out Fall 2008 (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, March 21st, 2008
10:37 am	The Act of Clearing your Head Now you wouldn't think that someone would WANT try to be empty headed (I know some people who are without trying). But lately (okay for the past ten or so months) I've been having a hard time clearing my head of clutter to get some 'real' writing done. There are moments when I seem to be able to get to that state of empty headedness but they are few and far between so I'm having to force my writing which moves the story forward but it generally shows in the ms. Granted in the last year there's been a lot of bad hits on my emotional state so it's understandable that I can't seem to clear my head. Not to mention the constant interruptions while I'm trying to write. Hubby just interrupted me now and so did C who is feeling better BTW. Hubby though had this delicious crab filled appetizer he just made (making up recipes - he should write a cookbook), so I don't mind that at all. There seems to be someone home all the time who needs stuff so I can't even get my exercise time in (which does seem to help clear my head - or send me into a fog depending on how loud the music is). Anyway, my head has been filled with thoughts other than those of my wips and I can't seem to get it on track. What do you all do to clear your head so you can get down to writing? (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, March 20th, 2008
9:10 am	Thankful Thursday things I'm thankful for this week: 1. My contracts for Libertad have been signed and sent. I hope to have a revision letter soon. 2. I put a deposit on a Highlights Foundation week long retreat for this summer - I'm still hoping I can get the time off of work but for right now I'm GOING. 3. C's bd was yesterday. We had a good day. She got her own sewing machine (it's what she wanted - she enjoys designing and making her own clothes) and was thrilled to use it yesterday to make a purse - she's eleven now (OMG!) She's sick today though - poor kid. 4. Today is the first day of spring - probably my favorite season. Now if we could just get rid of the 12 feet of snow still piled in our yard. (Okay maybe it's only 12 feet at the banks and in front of my kitchen window but at least four feet in the yard). It's snowing now but the sun is trying to poke out. 5. I don't work until 3:30 today so I might be able to write some. C is watching a movie and will probably sleep most of the day. 6. I beat MahJong Connect yesterday when I should have been writing but then did write Yay - http://www.addictinggames.com/mahjongconnect.html 7. I figured out something on Canary 8. I also finally figured out the start of a new novel I will not get into the plot or title. Just that it is a mystery. 9. My editor said she couldn't find much wrong with Libertad so when I do get revisions there won't be many. 10. This is a holiday weekend so I'm off tomorrow. (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
11:32 am	SCBWI Canada East Spring Thing Retreat April 25, 26, 27 - 2008 Registration OPEN NOW - SPACE IS LIMITED ***** ALL INCLUSIVE ******** Come kick those winter blues and Spring out of the Slush! SCBWI Canada East presents THE SPRING THING An all inclusive weekend retreat for writers and illustrators on the shores of Lake Simcoe. Kempenfelt Conference Centre, Barrie, Ontario. Speakers: Molly O'Neill, editor, The Bowen Press, an imprint of HarperCollins USA Tim Gillner, art director, Boyds Mills Press, Honesdale, PA Elizabeth Macleod, Author of over 30 books One-on-One ms and portfolio critiques, First pages and promo piece impressions session, WORKSHOPS Character development workshop with Molly O'Neill, what an illustrator needs to know about getting a picture book from conception to birth by Tim Gillner, EXTRA TALKS by both Molly O'Neill and Tim Gillner other sessions include a query writing session by Elizabeth MacLeod Small group peer critiques, mingling and networking opportunities...! (we are keeping this small so everyone has a chance to chat with the editor, art director, and speakers) Pricing details, event schedule, and registration form available at http://www.scbwicanada.org/east or by request to "ra@scbwicanada.org". Limited number of participants so if you're interested contact us ASAP. Email me for a brochure. (Comment on this)
Monday, February 25th, 2008
1:15 pm	Yay My agent has the contract for Libertad, with Fitzhenry and Whiteside - we knew it was coming (edited to add - actually I just heard it was back with the publisher already because it passed) and Libertad's planned release date is Fall 2008. What is it now? March - not quite. Okay been here, done this, so at least I know how it goes :) (Comment on this)
Wednesday, February 20th, 2008
7:51 am	Catchup Feeling a little out of sorts the last few days. Today I have a migraine and I have that dizzy feeling inside so I'm calling in sick. I hate to do it right now because I know we're short at work, but I don't want to make anyone else sick. Not to mention I'm having one of those days when every little thing is ticking me off - it all started when the dog decided he had to go out a 1/2 hour before my alarm went off. I HATE that and the irritation of it all is probably bringing on the migraine. I wouldn't want to snap at someone at work customer or co-worker. Other things. New York was fantastic. I finally got to meet some people I've only known online. It's weird when you've emailed/called/chatted back and forth for years and you get a picture in your head about what this person looks like. Then you meet in real life and they're nothing like you pictured them. Had lunch with my editor at HarperCollins. She's fantastic - sweet. We talked about everything but writing - which is what I wanted. Also met some other people I had never met before - Hi Pat, Marcy and Rick (who brought me with them to these really interesting and good restaurants). If you ever want a 16-person-portion-sized bowl of soup they can show you where to go. Went shopping a little during down times. I plan to go back with my kids for just a shopping/cultural trip. There were loads of museums right around the hotel. At the cocktail party, I met, Molly O'Neill who was really nice. Hopefully we can get her up here for one of our conferences. Rebecca Sherman- who I've interviewed - also nice and said she wanted to come up sometime. Mark McVeigh, Edward Neucarsumer - who I've also interviewed, Cheryl Klein - also interviewed - she's super nice. Conference I'm sure everyone has heard about the fire alarms during Saturday's registration. THAT was fun. I was lucky enough to be already downstairs taking registration so did not have to walk down 32 flights of stairs unlike some people. BTW you know writer's are nuts when they STILL come and register and eat/drink/chat/smooze while there is a fire in the building. Arthur Levine does a mean Marilyn Monroe Happy Birthday Mr. President (though instead of the Mr. President it was Jane Yolen) impression. Carolyn Mackler is a fantastic speaker as is Richard Peck. Niki Grimes opened the conference and although she speaks well it didn't inspire me or want to hear more or anything. I did buy two of her books though because she is a great writer. I missed Davie Weisner's speech because I had to take tickets for Mark McVeigh's talk. Mark McVeigh spoke about the new line at Aladdin for the tween market. It's heavily geared towards girls right now but he really wants more books geared towards boys. These books must be plot driven with a strong character and can have tough subject but must not glamorize it. They also MUST work for Scholastic book clubs. He also mentioned some books that Aladdin has recently published or books that are coming out soon. One of the series is called 10 Days by David Colburn. It's non fiction about the most important ten days of someone's life. He wants books kids want to read without prompting. Books that speak directly to the children reading them. Fun books that give the reader something. He thinks it does make a difference to say you're part of the SCBWI in your cover letter. Wants a cover letter. 100 word synopsis and the first chapter. SNAIL MAIL ONLY. Caitlyn Dlouhy spoke on voice. She loves a strong voice and feels even if the story is off a little she can work with the author on plot but not voice. Authors with strong voice - Francis O'Roark Dowell and Jennifer Bradburry. She takes a long time to get back to you on a submission (long enough she's afraid to look at response times on writer's boards) but says she will get back to you. That's all I have to say about NY. You know... the sky is actually blue. I forgot. Over the last month or so it's been grey and white - if you saw it at all through the falling snow. Too bad there's about six feet piled outside (not to mention the degrees) or I might have actually wiped away this headache by relaxing outside. I guess I'll have to settle for going back to bed. (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, February 3rd, 2008
12:19 am	Procrastinating again... Yes. So I've been playing around with photoshop and made a cover for a novel that's been sitting on a certain editor's desk for ummm.... way way too long. Long enough that we've written it off even though she was taking it up higher. We (er... meaning my agent and I not two of me) haven't poked her again simply because we have other things going on with other novels of mine. Anyhow, this was fun. Today I signed the contracts for my chapter book/early midgrade presently called Claude Hyder Master of Disguise. So Yay that's done! Well the signing part. I'll still have edits I'm sure. Bought my blackberry Thursday. Almost bought the HTC touch but they didn't have it. I've been told the cracking screen thing is no longer a problem but I love my blackberry so I'm happy anyhow. Was supposed to pick up my passport Thursday but we had so much snow I wouldn't drive down to Toronto - they are sending it priority post so hopefully it'll get here on or before Wednesday. If not I don't need it to cross the border as I'm going by land - not air. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
8:59 am	Mock-cover Not the real cover as right now my publisher is thinking folkart kind of cover for Libertad and it'll be months before I have a real cover and maybe even a while before a real publication date - but I've been procrastinating on writing researching and looking at kid pictures for my work in progress to find the perfect 'face' for my character and found this picture in stock photos. I thought it was perfect for that novel. So until I have a real cover I'll use this. (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, January 28th, 2008
8:20 am	Blackberry or HTC? Okay, I need a new phone and phone plan. I already know which company I'm going to deal with I just need to figure out if I want a Blackberry or HTC? Any thoughts? (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, January 20th, 2008
9:30 am	Snow, snow and more snow It's been snowing for two days with no end in sight. Last night my hubby cleared off the deck. This morning when I went to let the dog out he took two steps and came back in. Guess he figured it wasn't worth the work because the snow came up to his back. My dog is 27 inches at the back. He's a BIG Labrador. The snow banks almost come up to my hubbies shoulders - he's six feet tall. We should be dug out in an hour or so and we have a snow blower. I pity the person who doesn't. (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, January 17th, 2008
9:09 pm	Rollercoaster Recap It seems my life has been one these last few months. Sept. Cathy passed away. School started. things at work picked up - holiday rush. Oct. I sold an article and found out an editor wanted one of my midgrades Still waiting on that contract - still hoping she wants it- never know things could change but for now I'll take the I want it. (Don't think I mentioned either of these). Nov. my agent received a contract for another of my novels from a different publisher - this one is a chapter book. (Don't think I mentioned this either). I started booking interviews for the CWIM article. My computer crashed. Oiy oiy oiy. Dec. Got my computer back. My father died. Trip to BC. Trip home. Christmas. Work work and more work. Jan. New Years Eve (not tech. Jan but close enough) concert in the park - cold but awesome. Band was amazing. Had a fantastic time. Back to work - getting ready for inventory. Friday 11 - received an email from my agent saying a publisher wanted another one of my YA's. I'm very excited about this one as I put a lot of time into researching it (like two years) and I LoVE the mc and his story - not to mention the story is based on the journey of a real boy. We did stocktaking yesterday - long process. I was so tired when I got home but I came home to a FANTASTIC email from my editor at HarperCollins saying that WALKING ON GLASS is a 2008 YALSA Quick pick! Thank you to all of the YALSA QUICK PICK committee members who voted for Walking on Glass. Today I went to Toronto to file my passport application. (Got lost on the way to the office but found it anyway). The application was filled out for a few months and I've had my pics since Dec. but I was booked with work and unexpected things so I didn't get down there. Today I was really lucky because I was in and out - filled it out online and it saved HOURS of waiting time at the offices. So I had extra time and went shopping - ALWAYS a good thing but maybe not for my wallet. Found these incredibly cute shoes at Nine West but they didn't have any in my size - I'm like a size 7 cnd sizing they were sold out. Found another pair - sold out. One last pair - also sold out. I left the store new-shoeless and disappointed. I have to go back to pick up my passport in two weeks maybe they'll have my size then. After that I'm off to the SCBWI midyear in NYC. Should be fun. Then it'll be mid Feb. and work should calm down and I'll have more hours to finish up the novels I'm working on - if I don't have a lot of revisions on the things I may have just sold. I'm glad I didn't do this all on a full stomach. I would have surely thrown up - of course the ride may not be over yet. Anyone else been on a ride lately? (12 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, December 17th, 2007
3:20 pm	My Dad I'm sitting here thinking of all the great things I could say about my dad and I find myself overwhelmed with things I'd need to write. So overwhelmed I'm blank. Anyone who knows me would find this odd because I'm a person who keeps several novels in her head at once. I don't know where to start but I guess I'll start by saying what kind of person my dad was. I think most everyone loved my dad. He was the kind of person that put his family and friends above all. (and there are a lot of us). He was the kind of person that if he saw someone's tires wobbling on their car on the highway - he'd not only let them know but he'd stop and help him fix it even if it meant being late for wherever he was going. He was the kind of man who would come and give you a hand or come and pick you up or drive you around even if he wasn't feeling well - and he wouldn't tell you he wasn't well. To everyone who knew him Dad was invincible - strong. Dad would live for a long time. We have seven kids in our family. We don't always get along. Some of us are overly sensitive others - some are not sensitive at all - (I'm probably somewhere in between) But we all have a little snark. He was our peacekeeper. He was my greatest support too. With whatever I did, dad believed in me more than I believed in myself some days. He was there when I had a particularly bad day and I could call him up and just chat. He was also there cheering me on with each sports award, good grade, and later on each article acceptance and book offer. I knew whatever he was proud of me. Dad passed away Monday Dec. 10th. We spent a week at Mom's and I kept expecting to see Dad walking up the stairs. It was odd he wasn't there. Now I'm back home and I still expect to hear his voice at the end of the phone - my parents home is in BC - I am in Ontario. I can still hear his 'Hello' in the way he always said 'hello' drawing out the first part. I'll always hear him, see him - in my memory. In my heart Dad will be alive forever. I'm proud to say he was my father. Love you Dad. (10 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, December 9th, 2007
9:47 pm	YAY! I have my own computer back and it looks like the computer guy was able to save almost everything - that needed to be saved anyhow. Er... now I can get on those deadlines. yay... got to love that. I really do. I was probably getting grumpy at home and work due to lack of real writing. Do all writers get grumpy when they can't get that writing time in or is it just me? (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 6th, 2007
10:49 pm	Interviews,articles and computers Not in that order. Let's start with the computer - still waiting on mine. I think it has to do more with the weather and getting to where it is and getting parts to where it is more than anything. Hopefully I'll have it back soon. Jess's laptop is nice but we can't find my copy of WORD - it has a trial of the brand spanking new WORD on it. It sucks and I can only use it thirty times or something like that. It's supposed to last three months - thirty times for a writer is like um.... yeah two days? So I'm totally saving it for when I really need it - like for the article due next month. Stupid thing (not the article the new WORD). And there's no spell check or if there is I have no idea where it is and nothing is where it's supposed to be. I hate hate hate it. I'm going to get a Mac next computer - I swear. At least then I'd expect to have to learn a new program instead of relearn one I've been using for years. Stupid microsoft. Speaking of articles I've finally started writing it. I would normally have it done by now but this computer thing threw off everything. Yesterday I interviewed one agent he mostly reps writers but at the end I found out he reps illustrators too. I'm interviewing another agent for illustrators giving her more illustrator related questions but it's nice to know they both rep them - not that I'm an illustrator - maybe in my dreams but in real life I can't draw a circle (didn't want to say straight line - it's so cliche - though I can't draw one of those either). Anyhow... we got along smashingly - I think and were pretty comfortable talking to each other - though I'm not looking for an agent as I already have one - this guy was nice - and easy to talk to. It's the first time I've interviewed someone using a recorder - NO I am not putting the interview online. A few things I've learned: Make sure the cat is somewhere where it can't meow to come into the room in the middle of the interview. The speaker phone records better if the speaker part is not faced down. When you move something by a recorder (like a phone) it plocks - good thing I still heard the agent on the recording over the plock - I remembered what word he said at that time anyhow. It's good to still take notes (which I did) even if you're recording because recorders -or at least this one -don't pause when playing back and you have to start all over again. It also takes an hour to rewind a few seconds. and lastly On a recorder I sound like a ten year old - so if I ever have to read/record one of my midgrade novels to put online I'm all set. Also interviewed a couple of editors for this article - those were through email. But I've talked to a few editors on the phone before and some of them sound like a ten year old's too so we would have been phone fine anyhow. Ummm... LIKE OMG I think our language and grammer would have been like way better than a conversation between two ten year olds on the tape though, right? Yah, I like really think so. Don't even like go there, okay? (Comment on this)