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PB learns to ride the unicycle!
UPDATE: my unicycle hangs from a hook in our garage. Sometimes I tell it: I'll be back.January 1, 2025-
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Tag Archives: writing
SCBWI Retreat (San Simeon Edition)
I’ve been successful in tearing my eyes away from the ocean in order to revise my new novel, the same I’m taking to the Big Sur Children’s Writing Workshops and that placed (tooting my horn again) in the SCBWI Sue … Continue reading
Writing Retreat!
January is good.
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2024, caliornia coast, children's literature, fiction writing, middle grade writing, ocean, personal goals, writing
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NYE 2024
Survived Trader Joe’s this morning (oh–you too?). Watched closely by the cats, occasionally removing them from boxes, we de-Christmased the house. “WHAT ALREADY???” my friend texted. But we’ve had Christmas since 11/23, when we decorated our faux tree. As much … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, cats, children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, NYE 2023, personal goals, poetry, writer, writing
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Happy Everything Nice as we rocket towards 2024! Yours in beloveds, PB
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, cats, children's literature, domestic life, fiction, fiction writing, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, writer, writing
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Noel
When I close my laptop and the house isn’t stirring, not even a cat (or a teen), tiredx10 from walking the crazy girl earlier in the day, bleary-eyed from revising topics I must believe in because I keep on writing … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, children's literature, Christms 2023, fiction, fiction writing, middle grade writing, Noel, personal goals, poetry, writing
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INSERT HO-HO-HO HERE
Yours in staying active this holiday season, PB
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, children's literature, Christmas in California, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, poetry, writing
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Holiday Pteranodon
Welcome to December! aka Revisionmas! Which has everything to do with this photo. Yours in Christmas decorations up since Thanksgiving Day, a return to writing at night in addition to weekday dawns, and yours in the art and agony and … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged #amwriting, 2023, children's literature, Christmas Spirit, fiction writing, middle grade writing, poetry, Pteranodons, The art of revision, writer, writing
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So: November
Daylight Savings Time; my dad would have been 83 today; it’s 87F in my neck of the woods until maybe midweek; we are prepping for our son’s 16th birthday party–I have purchased glow-in-the-dark beachballs that can have the s*** pounded … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, Bambi, children's literature, Cujo, Death, dog training, fiction writing, middle grade writing, Mr. Beast cookies, November, parties, personal goals, Pets, pizza, poetry, revising, Teenagers, writing
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A Tardy Boo
Am late to every party. Sad, that. Happy last Halloween! Yours in using an awl to punch holes in your jack-o-lantern for a different effect, PB
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, Halloween 2023, middle grade writing, poetry, writer, writing
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Just Call Me: Revision
I’ve got a pretty good rhythm going revising: 2 kidlit/eco-fiction novels and 2 women’s fiction novels. I am a morning person now–not sure I’m TRULY a 5:30a.m. morning person? But that alarm seems to work if I want to feel … Continue reading
Hi, It’s Me, It’s I’m-Revising-It Me
Right now? I could be a NYTimes Connections puzzle, complete with the requisite 4 answers: Through-line. Grammar. Deep Breaths. In N Out French Fries. Hint: What PB Rippey does after Momming around town and pacifying the mini-zoo. Theme: Revision. Answers: … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, children's literature, Connections, fiction writing, Grammar, In N Out fries, It's Me, middle grade writing, mini-zoos, minivan moms, Moms, New York Times, personal goals, poetry, Taylor Swift, Wordle, writer, writing
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MONSTER PLACES 4TH
I went from stepping away (previous post) to receiving 4th place in this year’s SCBWI Sue Alexander Grant competition for my MG novel THE MONSTER AT ELIZABETH LAKE. I am beyond thrilled. Nothing like good news to keep my butt … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged #kidlit, 2023, fiction writing, kidlit, middle grade writing, SCBWI, Sue Alexander Grant, writer, writing
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July 4th ’23
Recently we drove from Valencia (mountains) to Ventura (ocean!!!) on the 126 Hwy, which took us through good old Fillmore (fields, strip malls/classic train depot…). My husband and I were stunned by the number of popup fireworks booths Fillmore displayed … Continue reading
May, June Swoon, Hi July
As June comes to a close, my son paused by my computer, touched my shoulder, whispered with dread: Mom–what’s the date today? I told him: Dude, it’s only barely almost July. He was clearly relieved the summer was still before … Continue reading
Monsters
Not a monster, but a Pteranodon (framed photo), and has everything to do with the novel I’m currently revising, which has everything to do with monsters–human, animal, extinct, imagined and otherwise. As I may have mentioned. Yours in continuous revision, … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged #amwriting, 2023, Dinosaurs, Elizabeth Lake, fiction writing, High desert, middle grade writing, personal goals, Pteranodons, revision, Southern California, writer, writing
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Festival Weekend 2023
I’m going. Are you? Sunday I’m helping out at the SCBWI booth. Both days have a great lineup of kidlit authors signing books. Poetry tent will be quietly rockin’. Lots to explore, as usual. See you there!
Posted in Writing
Tagged #amwriting, 2023, fiction writing, food trucks!, kidlit authors, LA Times Festival of Books 2023, Los Angeles, Middle Grade Fiction, poetry, USC, writing
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Spring Break: High Desert (Mojave Edition)
Last year I thought we’d spend this year’s spring break in Costa Rica, but Rte 66 and the Mojave National Preserve were shall we say more 2023 practical: I hate you Covid. Mitchell Caverns. Calico Ghost Town. The Jenny Rose … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, Alien movies, Calico Ghost Town, California High Desert, children's literature, Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch, fiction writing, Jenny Rose, Leaving Las Vegas, Mitchell Caverns, Mojave National Desert, Peggy Sue's Diner, poetry, Providence Mountains, Sheryl Crow, spring break 2023, writer, writing
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Fielding Distractions
SoCal rainstorms, SNOW!!!, and my (feels-like-95th) birthday have distracted me from completing important tasks since Valentine’s Day (also a distraction), such as wiping puppy noseprints from windows, or filling in gopher holes. However, I’m not distracted from my creativity–writing, submitting, … Continue reading
Posted in Writing
Tagged #amwriting, 2023, children's literature, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, SoCal snow, Valencia, women's fiction, writing
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O Loglines!
To be 100% honest, I hate writing them. I tell myself: fantastic writing exercise! Or: you’ve just written 5 potential maybe-winners! Or: it’s midnight WTH. And: time to pay somebody. Query letter, synopsis, logline are sometimes the ONLY bits in … Continue reading
Night Writing Paradise
If I was to write solely by night, every night I would want to do it here: Which is also here: Here: And especially here: Sadly, this installation is temporary. I did let them know I’d be happy to take … Continue reading
JANUARY 1, 2023
HAPPY WRITING NEW YEAR! PB
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, cats, Childrens Literature, fiction writing, good books, Happy New Year 2023, kidlit, Middle Grade Fiction, Pets, womens fiction, writer, writing, writing for adults
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O Holy Decor!
World’s tiniest Santa Claus tries to break into our house! Every night! Through January!
Posted in Writing
Tagged 2023, Christmas 2023, Christmas Decorations, fiction writing, kidlit, middle grade writing, Santa Claus 2023, writing
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A Breath of History
The last time I visited the Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood, my then-boyfriend and I ordered drinks from the Tropicana poolside bar, our waitress wearing a copy of Marilyn’s ‘Seven Year Itch’ white dress. We sipped alongside 2 Spideys and a Batman … Continue reading
December Writing Challenge
Each December agent Nephele Tempest reminds writers about her month-long writing challenge. Write. Every. Day. Even Christmas Day. Carve/axe/cement-drill writing time for yourself, even if only 10 little minutes. I’m in. Adding reading to the challenge–the tower of books on … Continue reading
Posted in Adult writing, Children's Books
Tagged 2022, children's literature, Christmas 2022, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, Pets, poetry, puppy mom, writing
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