Highlights Fantasy Workshop 2012

This was under construction last year!

 

Last April, I attended the wonderful Whole Novel Fantasy Workshop put on by the Highlights Foundation.  It was such a great experience, and I am thrilled to say that they invited us back for a Fantasy Reunion Workshop this year!  The workshop takes place from April 29th to May 6th, and I'll be on a plane to the Highlights homestead tomorrow.  Just like last year, I will be posting daily summaries of our lessons and speakers all next week (provided the internet holds up, of course!)  

 

Returning this year are fantasy authors Laura Ruby and Anne Ursu, our faculty extraordinaires.  There are also some bonus guest speakers on the agenda, including agent Tina Wexler and editors Jordan Brown and Patricia Lee Gauch.  (In case you don't know, Patricia edited the Redwall series by Brian Jacques.  I am ecstatic to be getting the chance to meet her!)

 

If you didn't follow my trip last year--or if you want a preview of all the fun that's to come--here are my workshop posts from last year.

 

2011 Workshop Day 1 

2011 Workshop Day 2 

2011 Workshop Day 3 

2011 Workshop Day 4 

2011 Workshop Day 5 

2011 Workshop Day 6 

2011 Workshop Day 7 

2011 Meet the Faculty (Since this post, Ursu's Breadcrumbs has also been released.)

 

And yes, I will be bringing a camera with me to every meal to document the unbelievable food Highlights serves.  :)

 

Do check back daily to see what we're learning, reading, and eating!  I'm looking forward to sharing my time at Highlights with you!   

 

Note: Above photo of the Barn is from the Highlights Foundation website. 

COSCBWI Meeting April 2012: Panel Discussion

This month's COSCBWI meeting featured authors Linda Gerber and Nancy Roe Pimm and a panel discussion on book publishing.  Linda writes both middle grade and young adult novels and is the author of many books including Trance, the Death by Bikini mysteries, and her brand new Lights, Camera, Cassidy series.  Nancy writes non-fiction and is the author of The Indy 500: The Inside Track, Colo's Story, The Heart of the Beast: Eight Great Gorilla Stories, and The Daytona 500--The Thrill and Thunder of the Great American Race.  The authors shared their very different roads to publication and offered great advice to help aspiring authors find their own success.

Nancy first decided she wanted to be a writer when she was ten and wrote a book called, Horses, Horses, Horses.  (Sounds like my kind of book!)   She became a dental hygienist, but knew deep-down that she still wanted to write.  Her first big break was in magazine publishing, and then she turned her race-car knowledge into her first published book, The Indy 500: The Inside Track.  Her book contract wasn't the end of her path to publication, though, and she's triumphed over publishing houses closing, re-shopping (and re-writing) her books, and finding the strength to soldier on no matter what life throws her way.  Nancy told us that she loves doing research and that writing non-fiction is like a treasure hunt with all the information she finds.  She's met and interviewed many fascinating people and even had a disagreement with a gorilla over the title of her book!  Her #1 advice to aspiring writers?  Join SCBWI!

Linda's road to publication was a bit different.  She loved to write and joined a critique group that insisted all members had to actively submit their work to agents and editors.  The group made her take her writing seriously, and it was through this networking that she learned about the SASS book series.  Also known as "Students Across the Seven Seas," the books are part of a multi-author series about strong, dynamic teens around the world.  Since Linda lived in both Japan and Finland, it was a perfect series for her to jump into and allowed her to get her foot into the publishing door.  Her biggest advice to writers is to read ALL THE TIME and be connected with other writers.  You never know who will provide you with a contact or lead that will land you your first book deal!

After each author told their publication stories, they fielded questions from the COSCBWI members.  To brand-new aspiring authors, they advised that a writer needs to have a full manuscript complete before he or she queries agents and editors.  (A manuscript doesn't need to be complete for critiquing, though--and it's never too early to start!)  For those writers who are ready to submit, they recommended looking at books similar to what you write and researching who represents them.  And for any writer--newbie or seasoned--they recommended attending lots of workshops and conferences!

Linda and Nancy shared some of their favorite writing resources, too, like Query Shark, the Miss Snark archives, Verla Kay's Blueboards and Harold Underdown's Purple Crayon website.

Linda left us with one last piece of advice to remember: "You can't edit a blank page!"  Now go write!

For more information on the authors and their books, do check out their websites!
Linda: lindagerber.com and lindagerber.blogspot.com
Nancy: www.nancyroepimm.com

For more information about COSCBWI, please check out the website at: www.coscbwi.org

Hope to see you at next month's meeting!

Note: The cover image for Colo's Story is from amazon.com and the cover image for Lights, Camera, Cassidy is from barnesandnoble.com.

Exciting Art News!

Hello everyone!  Remember back in February when I said I'd have some exciting art news to share soon?  Unfortunately, that news came to a screeching halt with my manuscript-theft shenanigans.  But now that I've cleaned up that legal mess, I'm happy to announce that...

I've joined the online art community, deviantArt!

Yes, I've finally crossed off one of those goals from my New Year's resolutions list and taken the plunge into joining an art network! 

If you'd like, you can check out my brand new profile and galleries of artwork here.  My Deviant ID is "Seeburglar," and if you're a member, too, I'd love to meet you!

From now on, I'll be posting a good chunk of my artwork to my deviantArt gallery instead of my blog.  Featured pieces will still be posted here, but all of my fan pieces (and plenty of Bannock characters) will primarily live there.  I've added the link to the side bar and invite you to please check out my Deviant account anytime you'd like.  :)

I'm excited to have all of my art under one roof and thrilled to start making new art acquaintances!  Hope to see you there! 

Note: The above logo is from Wikipedia and owned by deviantArt.

Recipe: Fettuccine alla Ronco

Featuring everyone's favorite culinary helper:

There are several things you can count on this time of year: tulips, marshmallow Peeps, and leftover Easter ham.  If you're like me and get tired of eating ham sandwiches, then I have a treat for you!  My mother-in-law gave me this wonderful recipe for Fettuccine alla Ronco that is both delicious AND easy to make!

Fettuccine alla Ronco

To make this dish, you will need:
-12 oz of fettuccine
-1/2 cup butter
-1 cup cooked, sliced ham
-1 cup frozen peas
-1/2 cup light cream (I used half and half)
-1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-pepper to taste (optional)
-1 friendly kitchen octopus

Serves 4 of your favorite people.

STEPS
~Get your friendly kitchen octopus from his tank and make him wash his tentacles.  When he finds out what you are cooking, he's going to get excited.  VERY excited.  Squeeze-you-half-to-death-with-his-tentacles excited.  (Octopi love pasta dishes as the jiggly noodles remind them of themselves.)

~Once your octopus has calmed down, boil a pot of water for the fettuccine.  Cook according to directions on the box.  (If you are like me and could only find a 16 oz package of fettuccine, do not make the entire box and assume things will "work out fine."  I assure you, they won't.)

~As the fettuccine is cooking, you can start preparing the sauce.  While you melt the butter in a saucepan, instruct your octopus to cut the ham into thin, 1-2 inch slices.  (Make sure he cuts off all the fat and skin.  Those parts are just gross.)

~After the ham is cut up, defrost the peas in the microwave.  (Octopi consider peas to be the perfect projectiles.  DO NOT let him throw peas at you.  Put him in his time-out corner if you have to.)

~Once the butter is melted, add the cream, ham, and peas into the saucepan.  Heat it over low, stirring often.  (If it looks disgusting, you are doing it right.)

~When the buzzer goes off indicating your noodles are cooked, your octopus will go wild.  Drain the noodles and place them in a large mixing bowl.  Put a portion of the noodles aside and give them to your eagerly waiting cephalopod.  He will dance around the kitchen with them and likely wear them like a hat, wiggling and giggling and having the time of his octopus life.  (If you disobeyed me and made the full 16 oz package of fettuccine, shame on you for not following instructions.  At least your octopus will thoroughly enjoy the extra 4 ounces of noodles.) 

~When your octopus tires of frolicking with his fettuccine, pour the heated sauce mixture over the noodles in the mixing bowl.  Add the Parmesan cheese and instruct him to toss it gently.  (NOT in the air like confetti.)

~Add pepper if desired.  (Octopi hate pepper.  It makes them sneeze, and I'm guessing you do not want ink in your dinner.  Don't say I didn't warn you.)  

~Serve the dish to your hungry family and return your octopus to his tank.  (He'll probably fall asleep immediately.  You'd be tuckered out, too, if you danced with all that fettuccine.)

~Enjoy!

And that is how you make Fettuccine alla Ronco!  Easy-peasy, right?  (Especially if you have an amazing kitchen octopus!)   

Yummy!

Oh, and in case you are wondering what "Ronco" means, I have no idea.  I assumed it meant "ham" until I looked it up and found out that it is not the Italian word for anything.  I'm declaring "Fettuccine alla Ronco" now means "Fettuccine with Awesomeness."   :)

What are some of your favorite dishes to make with Easter leftovers?

Happy cooking!
   

Good News and Bad News

It has certainly been quiet around here lately.  You may be wondering where I've been.  Well, I have some good news and some bad news.

The bad news: On February 28th, I discovered that an online critique group I was in got hacked and my manuscript, The Beast of Bannock, was stolen and leaked to the internet.  Yes, my pride and joy, my baby, my product of five years of hard work, was just sitting on the internet, available for all the world to use and abuse.

It was awful.

The good news: After several stressful weeks of submitting letters, seeking legal advice, clearing caches and shedding many tears, I am happy to say that my manuscript is finally safe, sound, and mine again. 

As you can guess, this situation consumed much of my time and energy over the past month.  I am very fortunate, though, that I caught the theft and was able to take action before more serious damage was done.        

If you are a writer, please Google yourself and your manuscript titles right now.  Make sure your work is safe and secure.  I don't want this to ever happen to you. Words can't do justice to how truly wretched it feels to have your hard work taken from your hands and exploited by others.  This experience made me feel so vulnerable and helpless, frustrated and devastated.  I felt like a mama bird with an empty nest; like a shepherd who failed his sheep; like macaroni without any cheese.

Coincidentally, words also can't do justice to how truly wonderful it feels to be "whole" again.  :) 

It feels just like this...

Soon, I will be posting about the actions I took to resolve the many issues that resulted from this theft and how you can fight copyright infringement.  I couldn't have done it alone, though, and I am extremely grateful for my support system and everyone who helped me through this difficult time.  Muppet movies and Chinese buffets work wonders for turning frowns upside-down.  An extra-special thanks also goes to my hubby who handed me tissues, listened to my curses, and administered hugs in large doses.

I'm looking forward to putting this all behind me and getting back to my normal life--including lots of blogging!  Here's hoping to brighter days, more smiles, and smooth sailing from here on out.  

COSCBWI Meeting March 2012: A Chat with Mindy McGinnis

This month's COSCBWI meeting featured author and librarian Mindy McGinnis and a chat about her road to publication.  Mindy's YA debut novel, currently titled, Not A Drop To Drink, is slated for release Fall 2013 and came after ten years of hard work pursuing publication.

Mindy's story was inspiring and very informative, and boy is she funny!  (We were laughing for most of the meeting!)  She told us that she always knew she wanted to be a writer and started her first book in college.  Then she made the newbie mistake of thinking it was publishable right away (who isn't guilty of doing that?) and sent it off to agents, promptly receiving scores of rejections.  After a while, she put that first novel away and wrote a second one, only to earn more rejections.  But she wasn't ready to give up yet!  When she decided to invest her time in online groups and critique partners, she learned what she was doing wrong, figured out how to make her book kick-butt, and finally scored an agent!  (Hooray!)  She was offered representation by Adriann Ranta at Wolf Literary, but her journey wasn't over yet.  After many rounds of submissions to publishing houses, more rejections, and some more revisions, her book earned multiple offers and went to auction on its last-ditch submission round.  (What a relief!)  And if that wasn't awesome enough, she scored a two-book deal with her new publishing house! 

Now, Mindy is eagerly awaiting revision notes from her editor at Katherine Tegan/Harper Collins and will soon begin the oh-so-long process of actual publication.  Her Dystopian novel's premise about a future without plentiful water sounds spectacular and you can read her teaser here.

So how did Mindy escape the slush pile to score an awesome agent and two book deal?  She attributes her success to two things: the reading revolution and her online network.  As a librarian, Mindy saw the massive effect Stephanie Meyer's Twilight had on today's teens.  Before, only nerdy bookworms (like myself) frequented the school library.  But now, reading is cool and teens gobble up books left and right, including the Homecoming King at her school.  This change has created a big demand for great MG and YA books, and therefore a demand for great writers.  (See?  There is hope for the rest of us!)

Mindy's online network was essential in her path to publication, too.  Mindy takes part in a number of online blog groups and sites such as Agent Query Connect and From the Write Angle.  The sites helped her learn about the publishing world, craft a winning query, and put her in contact with the critique partners who ultimately made her book ready for submission.  Mindy encouraged everyone in our group to get out there and network.  There are countless wonderful sites to explore and connections to make all just a mouse click away.  She encourages blogging and Twitter, too, to create an online presence for yourself.  (Just be careful what you post, she warns.  Whatever you say can come back and haunt you...)

You should definitely check out Mindy's blog, Writer, Writer Pants on Fire.  You can find her on these other sites as well:

Book Pregnant
Friday the Thirteeners
The Lucky 13s
From the Write Angle
Agent Query Connect

These are all very informative sites and quite fun, too!  And I can guarantee, Mindy's words will certainly make you laugh.  :)

Best of luck to Mindy and her debut novel!  Can't wait to read it in 2013! 
          
For more information about COSCBWI, please visit the website at: www.coscbwi.org.

Hope to see you at next month's meeting!

Happy Birthday "Beast of Bannock!"

 

Five years ago, I opened a blank document, took a deep breath, and wrote, "The moon rose bright in the purple sky over the distant mountains, casting a pale glow like a blanket over the sleeping valley."  It was the very first sentence of what ultimately became The Beast of Bannock.  As cliche as it may sound, it was truly one of those life-changing moments where nothing would ever be the same again.  

 

Now, half a decade later, I'm still toiling away on this same manuscript.  And while that first sentence has gone through countless changes (as have 99.9% of the other sentences), the heart and soul of Ellis' story remains the same.

 

You're probably asking two questions at this point: "Why?" and "Are you insane?"

 

To that, I answer with a shrug and, "Quite possibly."

 

This is a bittersweet time for me.  On the one hand, I can't believe I've spent five years on this manuscript!  On the other hand, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE SPENT FIVE YEARS ON THIS MANUSCRIPT!  When I wrote that first sentence, I had no idea that the path to publication would be so winding, boulder-strewn, and filled with hidden snake pits and cobras that bite your tushy.  (Metaphorically speaking, of course.)  It takes a special kind of disposition (and yes, a touch of insanity) to keep climbing that mountain even when there's no guarantee you'll ever reach the summit.

Despite five years of daunting odds and tushy-biting cobras, I'm still not ready to give up on Ellis--not yet.  For reasons I can't put into words, I still believe in this one imaginary boy and want nothing more than to share his story with the world.

 

So close your eyes and make a wish, Ellis.  Maybe this year it will come true.