Category Archives: Writing

Birthday Edition

On the eve of my hubbadobubbaboblah birthday: tucked my son into Pre-K, FB’d (i.e. avoided yoga), did yoga, even Superman, even V-ups, edited poems, sighed at the unicycle, edited poems, zoomed the boy to karate testing for his green stripe … Continue reading

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February Mini-Break

This visit, Dana Point-by-the-tru-la-la-ocean was hotter than Reseda by 1, February-heatwaving degree. 79 vs. 78. So of course we escorted my father into the minivan and drove to The Pilgrim and admired its masts and restoration for the gazzilionth time … Continue reading

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Quote For The Weekend: Early Edition (Due To Colds, Flu, Pediatric Dental ER’s, Close-Family Close Calls, Going Away For The Weekend & A Unicycle That Still Needs Mastering…)

Try, fail. Try again, fail better. —Samuel Beckett In Sunday’s typically heat-knit twilight, I glance up from pinching pie crust into old-fashioned, part curtains patterned in fat cherries. A palomino trots down my street, its rider guiding with the blithe … Continue reading

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And The Seat Moved

My sliced finger salved and bandaged, wiping cat gak off my bare foot, it was about then I remembered my promise to learn to ride the unicycle before my next birthday, so I went outside, snatched up my son’s helmet … Continue reading

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Quote For The Weekend

In order to write the book you want to write, in the end you have to become the person you need to become to write that book. ― Junot Díaz Today I am a 56 year old academic who wrote only … Continue reading

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Beach Break

This was last weekend, all Winter beachness, crisp, clear light, air cold enough for us to wear sweaters we haven’t seen in over a year, sweaters with jeans and sweats and bare feet as we ran on glassy beach, Anacapa, … Continue reading

Posted in Fiction, Me and Us, Poetry, Santa Barbara, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

This Just In

Rhapsodomancy has officially announced the reading I’m participating in on Sunday, February 3rd, 2013, 7:30p.m. Be there! And have a sidecar with me afterwards.  Or, you know, a martini. The Good Luck has just the right amount of dim and … Continue reading

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Reading List 2013 (So Far)

This morning my husband burst through the front door, yanked the tiny earphones out of his ears and, flushed from his post-run endorphin rush, declared: The Death Of Bees, we must own it! The Death Of Bees, by Lisa O’Donnell (check out … Continue reading

Posted in Adult writing, Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, Poetry, poetry reading, Writing, YA Novels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

2013: Resolute

1. Stand taller. 2. Be wiser. 3. Mother better. 4. Honor date nights. 4a. find a babysitter after 5 years of not        4b. either more or less caffeine @8pm any Friday night—search for successful eye-propping balance! Ha ha! Fun! 5. … Continue reading

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Holidaze

Seabiscuit. I’m working backwards—Seabiscuit with a cheesecake glopped in cognac whipped cream. Also called Vital Precedence due to a greed it’s important (vitally so) to indulge this time of year. A dozen kids galloping around our yard, dogs weaving between (or dodging) Ninja … Continue reading

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Quote For The Weekend: Christmas Poem Edition

Full Howling Moon Southern California’s brittle December 24th: swells, surfboards, fire-skin, a holiday bbq by a slide-dunked swimming pool blooming algae, all palms standing by–city logo, city tattoos. The Hollywood Hills Gelson’s Market evacuates delicacies when a parking lot palm … Continue reading

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Mother Nature Wins

Around here, the skies are flannel and pursed. We can wear sweaters and scarves, for once, as we bring in our trash barrels from alleys. Pulling in the second recycling barrel, enjoying the feel of my silly polka-dot rain boots I … Continue reading

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Beads, Snowflakes, Hopeful Friends

But you can only stay fused to your child’s side for so long. And there are a million poems to read in dark times—and then there are simply no poems, no words. None. A friend realized this and went to Newtown, … Continue reading

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Quote For The Weekend: Seriously, WTF

I was going to publish a post 2 days ago, but after returning home with my preschooler from his Christmas/holiday/everything party, I heard about Newtown, CT. And then I made the mistake of logging onto Facebook and reading posts from “friends” … Continue reading

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Quote For The Weekend (Super Late Edition)

This time of year is also, always, about how against all humanly odds, there was enough oil to keep the Menorah lit after the temple in Jerusalem was sacked. And how–well, you know the pitch: let there be light, and … Continue reading

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, Quotes, Writer quotes, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, Writing Publications, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gopher Genius

Today, over on Nebula, writer Beth Hull’s website, Colonel Shifty offers up some vital, handy-dandy definitions  of publishing terms. Secretly (or not) I am hoping that Colonel Shifty’s next post will be to announce the launch of his gopher T-shirt line–perhaps similar to … Continue reading

Posted in books, Children's Books, Fiction, Steps In Promotion, Writer quotes, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, Writing Publications, Writing Tips, YA Novels | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Quote For The Weekend (The After The Turkey Edition With Cats & Corn Pudding)

What greater gift than the love of a cat. —Charles Dickens We returned to find the dummy comforter on our bed upchucked on, the real bedding beneath saved (mwahaha!), a puddle of cat pee under the slopsink in the laundry … Continue reading

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And May All Your Turkeys Be Bright

It is 197-something and there are cats on the kitchen counter pulling apart the cooked bird with their claws and fangs. It is 199-something and a slobbery Rottweiler mix has hold of a turkey leg and the entire baking pan with turkey … Continue reading

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Fiction, Santa Barbara, Writer's Angst, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Quote For The Weekend (Strickland Speaking–W/Swedish Au Pair)

You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be — I had a Mother who read to me. –Strickland Gillilan Who read to me: Mother, great-grandmother, grandmothers, godmother, great … Continue reading

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, Quotes, Writer quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Writing Advice

Just when I think I’ve read it all (which usually means it’s time to read more), the YA Muses post this. Loads of advice from debut authors. In fact, all week the Muses have been posting helpful writing advice from … Continue reading

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Space Aliens Blow Up Fast Food Joints

Or: Writing In Increments (daylight edition) Between the post-workout shower and the trip to Redbox to return movies you suddenly noticed on the bookshelf as you craned your neck to see if your leg was straight as it pulsed to … Continue reading

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, dog, Fiction, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Good Morning Boo

I know it’s a grand revising day when I sit down at the computer to check email, but end up obsessed with the Word document on the desktop instead, until my son reminds me it’s time to brush his teeth so … Continue reading

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Quote For The Weekend (Batman Edition)

The Joker: No, nooooo. I don’t want to go back to jail, Batman! Batman (in remarkably, even slightly eerily calm voice): I know. But—you’re the bad guy. The Joker: Yeah, I know. I’m the bad guy! But—but—AHHHHH! (repeated screams) Batman: Robin? … Continue reading

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Quote For The Weekend (About Ends Edition)

I really don’t think life is about the I-could-have-beens.  Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don’t mind the failure but I can’t  imagine that I’d forgive myself if I didn’t try. —Nikki Giovanni Recently Write Naked posted this quote … Continue reading

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Nebula

As I work insanely on revising and getting used to my new progressive reading glasses (gah!), I urge you to pop over to Beth Hull’s website and read what she has to say about pitching agents and matters of that … Continue reading

Posted in books, Children's Books, Fiction, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress, YA Novels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments