Lotus Rising

My Top 10 from 2011

2011-12-31T13:47:00.000-05:00

I've sure missed my blogging buddies. This busy life is keeping me from my regular blogging, but I felt the need to at least share my favorite reads from this year. I hope you all have had a wonderful year of reading. Mine was so amazing. Apparently, I've gotten much better at picking out great books. There were so many I really loved that didn't make the list, but for me these were the best of the best.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
Stonefather by Orson Scott Card
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
With A Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

If you haven't read these, give them a try! I may have to do another post that covers the second tier. You don't want to miss those either.

Happy New Year!

Books read in 2011

2011-12-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

1. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
2. Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
3. Matched by Ally Condie
4. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
5. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
6. Being Sixteen by Allyson Braithwaite Condie
7. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
8. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
9. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
10. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
11. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
12. Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan (Book 1) by John Flanagan (Aussie Challenge)
13. Q & A by Vikas Swarup
14. Liar by Justine Larbalestier (Aussie Challenge)
15. Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
16. The Knife of Never Letting Go: Chaos Walking: Book One by Patrick Ness
17. Exposed by Kimberly Marcus (reread)
18. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
19. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
20. Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley
21. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
22. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
23. Stonefather by Orson Scott Card
24. Stoney Creek, Alabama by Jennifer Youngblood and Sandra Poole
25. The Paper Rose Club by Jennifer Youngblood and Sandra Poole
26. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
27. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
28. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
29. Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
30. Maggie's Door by Patricia Reilly Giff
31. Water Street by Patricia Reilly Giff
32. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
33. Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
34. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
35. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
36. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (reread)
37. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
38. Monarch by Michelle Davidson Argylle
39. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
40. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
41. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
42. Memento Nora by Angie Smibert
43. Divergent by Veronica Roth
44. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
45. The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
46. Saraswati's Way by Monika Schroeder
47. The Sweetest Thing by Christine Mandelski
48. You're Wearing That? by Deborah Tannen
49. Possession by Elana Johnson
50. With A Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo (re-read)
51. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
52. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
53. Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
54. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
55. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
56. Wake by Lisa McMann
57. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
58. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Not your everyday thriller: Monarch by Michelle Davidson Argylle

2011-09-29T10:14:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: I was an early beta reader for this book.

Synopsis/set up: Nick is a CIA operative betrayed by someone he trusted. Now he's on the run from his enemies and his friends. He doesn't know who he can trust, and so he seeks out someone from his past who can hide him until he sorts things out. Lillian owns the reclusive Monarch Inn and a bit of Nick's heart.

What I thought? I enjoyed this book in large part because of Michelle's signature writing style: vivid to the point of being cinematic. AND It's a page turner. If you like thrillers, it'll be right down your alley. If you don't, you may still like it. There's a nice romance, plus, it's so easy to get sucked into these characters' lives. Michelle paints them in such a way that you feel like you know them. They are fully fleshed out with backstories and complex motivations. The good guys aren't completely good, and the bad guys aren't all evil. They are human and their actions are understandable--even when they do something horrible.

Hellllloooooo!

2011-09-13T11:02:00.000-04:00

Anybody out there? I'm baaaaaaaack! It's been a much longer break than I intended, but about the time I was going to start back with blogging, we got an 11 week old puppy. I'm not sure what I was thinking in agreeing to another dog, but he's adorable and sweet and pretty dang smart.

So... He's been a great addition to the family, but it's been like life with a baby in the house. Finally, he's getting pretty well trained, and life is settling back in around me. Whew.

With my break, I found that I was getting more writing done in addition to everything else. It just went to show me how much my blogging was interfering with my writing. Soooo. I've decided to only blog once a week. If I have something burning a hole in my pocket, I might add a 2nd post on occasion. How was everyone's summer? How are you feeling about blogging these days?

Life takes charge

2011-03-21T10:54:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone. It's always been my policy that, when my everyday life needs me, the first thing to get set on the back burner is my blog. With ACTs and my homeschoolers' needs and everything else that is popping up. I'm going to have to take a break for a few weeks. There's nothing wrong. It's just that there are only so many hours in a day. See you when I get back. I hope everyone is enjoying the beginnings of Spring! It's sure lovely around here.

Friday's photolife--Time at the barn

2011-03-11T08:34:00.000-05:00

Wednesday's answer and winner: It is a mounting block with two levels. If you look closely you can see the hoof prints in the gravel of the path beside it. The first to get it right was Stina Lindenblatt, but it's not just for the disabled. Using it helps keep the saddle padding, etc., in place when you mount. They're not necessary, but they're nice. I rarely used them when I was young, but I don't get on a horse these days without one.

I almost used this picture, but I thought it might be too hard. What do you think?

On to the photolife:

My kiddies (and myself for that matter) have a particular love for horsey kind. We have spent tons of time over the years at barns hanging with the horses. I don't usually take a lot of pictures there though. Sure, every now and then I will, but, when there, it's more about the enjoyment of the experience than keeping a record of it. There's just something about these amazing animals. Time with them is uplifting. It's no wonder there are great rehabilitation and therapy programs that use horses.

My youngest with a pony she has a soft spot for.

The youngest grooming one of the sweetest ponies on the planet. She wasn't riding that day just wanted to come while her brother rode.

I love how different riders express their individual personalities.

We find ourselves reflected in their eyes.

Application to writing? I've often wondered if I should write stories with horses. I almost included them in one WIP but ended up cutting the horse person. She was extraneous to the main plotline, and I found I only put her in because I wanted to include someone like her. That should be a clue, eh? They say you should write what you know. What do you think? Should I do a horse story?

What in the world?

2011-03-09T06:56:00.000-05:00

Hint: The background can help.

Monday=Book Review Time--For the boys out there

2011-03-07T09:08:00.002-05:00

Up for today: Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan (Book 1) by John Flanagan

Why I bought it? This question should probably be more along the lines of why I read it. I actually bought this several years ago. It was something my daughter picked out at the bookstore. Barnes and Noble--I think. I finally read it because my son kept pushing it on me.

Synopsis/Set up: 15 year old Will wants more than anything to be chosen as an apprentice to the battle school, but he's rejected for his slight size. He ends up being chosen as the Ranger's apprentice, and he's not sure he's happy about it. He learns that his natural talents and size are a perfect fit for the Rangers. It's the story of a kid finding his place in the world.

What I thought? I'm getting to be a big fan of all these Australian authors who have been showing up on our bookshelves recently. This is a fantastic read for a boy, and I didn't want to put it down either. The characters are great, fully realized with strengths and weaknesses. (On a side note: as a mom, I was glad my kids read it. The heros are the kind that I like my kids to identify with. Working hard, doing their best, striving to do what is right. But not perfect. Real.) The setting is detailed and you feel like you're really in a medieval environment. It's an engrossing, fun read. Flanagan's style reminds me a lot of Louis L'Amour--a non-western Louis L'Amour for kids and teens. Here's a great video of Flanagan talking about why he wrote this series and his writing in general.

My Rating: **** 1/2 out of 5

My Daughter's Rating (16 yr. old): ***** out of 5, She read it several years ago and kept recommending it to her brother until he read it.

My Son's Rating (14 yr. old): ***** out of 5, "It's wonderful," he said when I asked for his comment. He used to be a reluctant reader. (Can I tell you how happy I am to be able to say he "used to be"?) After he read the Percy Jackson series and finally realized that he could like reading, I was searching high and low for something else he would love. His sister brought this out for him and pitched it again. He bit this time and loved it. He has even taken up archery as a result of reading this novel and all the ones that follow. I recently bought 8 and 9, and 10 comes out in April.

Cleanness Score: 3 out of 10, This is mostly for the violence. There's enough to make it exciting for the older boys and teens--not so much that younger boys can't enjoy it. As for language, there may have been a mild expletive here or there, but there was nothing jarring to me. I wouldn't have a problem with my 10 year old daughter reading it, but she hasn't yet. She's busy reading Rick Riordan.

Break

2011-02-28T07:35:00.000-05:00

I'm going to need to take a blog break this week. See you next Monday.

Being on a Panel

2011-02-25T08:57:00.000-05:00

Wednesday's answer and winners: I was at the WNBA (not basketball but books) Panel on YA Literature in Charlotte, NC. I was actually on the panel and my illustrious co-panelists were (drumroll please) Tracey Adams (agent extraordinaire--she and her husband run Adams Literary), Beth Revis (up and coming author of Across the Universe), and Carrie Ryan (established author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves, and The Dark and Hollow Places). The moderator was Snow Wildsmith.

As you can see, I was low man on the totem pole, and people didn't come to hear my depths of wisdom about YA lit. Even still, I hope I added a few good things and some comic relief. It was a lot of fun. Samantha Vérant was the first to list 3 people in the picture and Patti was the first to guess where. Honorable Mention to Alexa who gave every detail about where I was. Y'all are on the ball. Go check out their blogs if you haven't. There's great stuff there. N.B. Tracey Adams is Kimberly Marcus' agent and that's where I heard about the book I reviewed on Monday.

Alexa actually asked for a recap of the event and so, since I know you time is limited, rather than do a photolife post today, I'm linking you to Carol Baldwin's post about it. Wow. Lots of links. Enjoy.

Where in the world is Lotus Girl?

2011-02-23T10:38:00.001-05:00

The "where" may be hard unless you were there or heard about it, but you can also win by giving me the names of 3 of the people in the group shot.

Hint: There was book signing going on at the end.

If you missed Monday's book review, you really should go back and check it out. You don't want to miss this book.

Monday=Book Review Time--Terse and Gripping

2011-02-21T09:50:00.003-05:00

Up for today: Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Why I bought it? I didn't actually buy this one. It's not out until tomorrow. Disclosure: Kimberly Marcus' agent gave it to me when we were on a panel together last week and asked me to review it.

Synopsis/Set-up: Photogirl, Liz, captures life and people in exposed moments on film. She is a senior in high school and wants to study photography in college. (Those of you who have been following this blog for a while or know me at all will understand how that was enough to pique my interest.) In the aftermath of a fight she and her "forever-best" friend, Kate, have at their monthly sleepover, their friendship seems to be unraveling. As secrets are exposed about the source of the friction, Liz is left questioning herself and all those closest to her.

What I thought? I LOVED this book, and it's not just because of the photography references (although I enjoyed those immensely). At the beginning I liked the clever ways the author put things and the spot on teen voice. As I got deeper into the story, it was as if my heart were being gripped in a fist that kept getting tighter and tighter. I'm sure my lips were thin and pale. The story is terse and gripping. It has been distilled down to its raw essence and is so compelling in its honesty that I think people will be talking about it for a long time. I found it incredibly thought provoking and enjoyed the different perspective on its hot button topic. I don't want my review to be a spoiler, so I'll stop there. Disclosure #2: I love books in verse (if they are done well), and this is in verse. Don't let that stop you from reading it, if you think you don't like that form. This is a well told story and the verse flows extremely well--like tightly honed prose with a little something extra. I'm rereading it right now, and I rarely reread anything any more. With all the great books out there, who's got time to reread? And yet! Here I am rereading. I'll grant you it is a quick read (even if you find yourself rereading certain pages over and over) but still...

My Rating: ***** out of 5. If you couldn't already guess, I'm breaking out all 5 stars for this one. Rare for me these days, but that's how much I liked it. In fact this is one of the 3 books (that's our limit) I will take to recommend for my book club when we make our selections in June for next year's reads.

Cleanness Score: 5 out of 10. This is mostly for the themes, but nothing is shown explicitly. There are very few incidents of language and nothing super strong. This is something I think teens would do well to read, but if you are a very conservative parent, you may want to read it first. It won't take you long. I wouldn't have any problem with my teens (16 and 14) reading it, but I wouldn't give it to my 10 year old yet.

Friday's photolife--Aspects of an icon

2011-02-18T07:39:00.001-05:00

Wednesday's Answer and winner: Hannah Beth was the first to get The Washington Monument. Congrats.

On to the Photolife:

When I'm taking pictures of iconic subjects like The Washington Monument, I like to capture as many different elements of them as I can.

With this view, everyone probably would have known exactly what the subject was.

This one would have been pretty obvious too.

It's good to get distance shots with other elements like the trees here.

Or up close, showing the variations in color in the surface and things like the security wires or even chips in the stone.

Here's a part that many of you may have never seen before. You have to go inside for it.

Another more obscure aspect. This is of the floor mosaic inside. I love that the stars are brass. These kinds of details are fascinating to me.

Getting up close and personal we can see what an icon is made of. Its mortar and imperfections.

Application to writing? This concept goes so well with characterization. It's important to include as many different aspects of our characters as we can to add dimension and authenticity to them. Show how most people see them. Their strengths and weaknesses. What they're like on the inside and out. What they're made of.

What in the world?

2011-02-16T07:28:00.000-05:00

Hint: This could be a "Where in the world?" too.

Monday=Book Review Time--A few of my favorite love stories

2011-02-14T08:28:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! In celebration I thought I'd list some of my favorite books and movies with romance rather than my regular book review. I'm sure I'll leave out some great ones, but these are what come to mind today. If you enjoy a heart flutter or two, you might want to check them out.

Classics
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Persuasion by Jane Austen
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Recent
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
Stargirl and Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, it's still an engrossing love story.)
Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
Old Magic by Marianne Curley

Movies
Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle version, but most any version will do)
North and South (Pitter pat)
Bride and Prejudice (The best spin on P and P ever! If you like musicals.)
Dear Frankie
Becoming Jane
Young Victoria
Return to me
Notting Hill
Sleepless in Seattle
The Prince and Me--not the sequels

Tell me some of your favorites in the comments.

Friday's photolife--UP close and wacky

2011-02-11T09:48:00.001-05:00

Wednesday's answer and winner: It was indeed a pinewood derby. I thought the track was pretty slick. My son went to the regional and this was the track they had there. Congrats to Nisa for being the first in with the answer.

On to the Photolife:

Think about the way you take pictures of kids. Do you shoot them straight on with a smile? Are you shooting down at them with them looking up? It's a standard take for adults. I like to get some pictures like that, because it's the most common way I see them.

BUT. It's also nice to get down on their level.

OR, if you want something with more impact get below them and shoot UP. Let them get crazy. Don't forget to get close and fill the frame with their wackiness.

Application to writing? It can be good to include different perspectives of your characters--different aspects of who they are and how others perceive them. I like to include some of the funny things they do. It can infuse your writing with humor, and every book needs a little humor--even the most serious or maybe especially those.

What in the world?

2011-02-09T06:53:00.000-05:00

Hint: I was there for my son.

Be as specific as you can.

Monday=Book Review Time--Steampunkin'

2011-02-07T08:32:00.000-05:00

Up for today: Leviathan and Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

Why I bought them? I had heard great things online about Leviathan, but I thought I wouldn't like Steampunk so I didn't buy it at first. I picked it up in the bookstore several times loving the cover and quality of the book. Debated it, thought about if one of my kids would like it, and put it back. Natalie Whipple raved about how good it was, so I finally decided to give it a chance. I got it up the next time I was at the Barnes and Noble. I bought Behemoth at the BN as soon as it came out.

Synopses/Set ups: Leviathan starts at the same point as WWI when Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife are assassinated. One of the main characters is their son Alek who is fleeing for his life. The other main character is Deryn, a girl masquerading as a boy to be in England's air force. The twist is that Alek is fleeing Austria in a Clanker machine (a sort of walking tank) and Deryn's ship is an enormous dirigible whale. The fun begins when their worlds (Clanker and Darwinist) collide. Here's a fun trailer that explains the difference in Clanker and Darwinist. 1:14. So not long. I love the ending line. Behemoth follows their continuing adventures. (I don't want to spoil anything.)

What I thought? Leviathan completely swept me away. The characters feel real and grounded even though the elements of the story are fantastical. The history is actually pretty accurate although there are many departures. Some of the criticisms that I heard about the book said that the characters come across a little young for their ages and the artwork (which is amazing and part of why I had to get the print books) seems to depict them that way as well, but that sort of thing didn't really bother me. The beginning is a little slow, but don't let that stop you. Once Alek and Deryn's stories merge things really take off. I loved it. Behemoth is equally well done.

My Rating: ***** out of 5 (for both), Rare 5 star books for me. These were two of my top favorites I read last year.

Cleanness Score: 3 out of 10, There is a little light language and some fairly mild violence and a lot of peril. All in all, it's fairly innocuous. I'm even considering letting my 10 year old read it. It's recommended for 7th grade and above.

Friday's photolife--document it all

2011-02-04T12:34:00.000-05:00

Wednesday's answer and winner: Ellis Island. (And yes I did go by it--I took that picture--but it wasn't open for tours at the time so we didn't get to go in.) Congrats to Domey Malasarn from The Literary Lab for being the first to get it right. I thought this one would be trickier. I guess my hint was a little too helpful.

On to the Photolife:

I'm a big proponent of documenting everything when taking pictures. It's kind of like when you're documenting your life including the prices of a gallon of gas or a loaf of bread the year you were born or telling stories about your dog's penchant for climbing trees (my mother had a dog that did that) or your favorite shoes in the summer. I love those sorts of details. Here's a picture that my niece took at a family get together.

I love all the details: the darkness of the foot imprints (they've obviously been well worn), the size differences (a nephew's and a niece's), that both shoes are Rainbows (an incredibly comfortable flip-flop that one niece swears by--in SC they know their flip-flops), etc.

Application to writing? It's important to give details of things that may seem trivial. It adds authenticity.

Where in the World is Lotus Girl?

2011-02-02T06:40:00.000-05:00

Hint: It used to be a first stop for many.

Monday=Book Review Time--A fairy tale twisted

2011-01-31T08:36:00.000-05:00

Up for today: Cinders by Michelle Davidson Argylle (review requested by Mary Kay)

Why I bought it? Michelle is a friend, and I love her writing. I have a signed copy. (Disclosure: I did some beta reading for her on this project.)

Synopsis/set up: This books begins with Cinderella in the palace, married to her prince. Royal life is not all its cracked up to be, and Cinderella wonders if magic can result in true love. Doubts creep in and lead her in unexpected directions. Not necessarily happy directions.

What I thought? The writing is incredibly well done, and, when you think that she didn't have all the infrastructure of traditional publishing, it just goes to show what a great writer Michelle is. (It helped her get a publisher for another book and then more, so obviously it's well written.) She does vivid like nobody's business. It's one of my favorite things about her writing. It's cinematic. The story line is unique--at times cool and clever, at times infuriating. It elicited strong reactions from me often visceral. I wanted to shake Cinderella or sit down with her and give her a good talking to or a shoulder to cry on. The twists and turns keep the reader engaged and guessing. I was surprised by the the ending but prepared for it all the same. The secondary characters are well drawn and realistic--no two-dimensional, paper-thin people here. In some ways, I think of this as a fairy tale that hit reality.

My Rating: ****1/2 out of 5.

Cleanness Score: 5 out of 10, This is written for adults and has a some pretty tame marital love scenes and there's some war type violence. This is a dark tale and has a healthy body count. I think it's fine for older teens. I wouldn't have a problem with my 16 year old reading it.

Friday's Photolife--editing

2011-01-28T10:58:00.000-05:00

Wednesday's Winner: This was my first time using Random.org. It was so nice. I assigned everyone numbers according to how many points they earned, then plugged those numbers into Random and voila! Today's winner is testament to blogging, tweeting, and facebooking to get extra points and so more chances to win. Congrats to Samantha Vérant. Email me at lacmoss (at) gmail (dot) com with your address, and I'll send the book out to you. It's actually the one that Beth is signing in Wednesday's picture.

On to the Photolife:

I love a good photo shoot. I think I've told you that the k-check of the shutter snapping calms me. I can find peace puttering around the yard, lying on the ground, or cozying up to a tree capturing little moments in time. I'm actually a bit of a purist. I like the shot I take to be the final one I'm going for. BUT. Lots of them aren't. Sometimes, to get what I want, I have to make it happen on the computer.

Here's a shot from one of our recent snow storms. You should have seen the splits I did to get it. Very acrobatic. This is the raw shot. It's really nothing special, but I had the bare bones of something to work with.

Here's a cropped and doctored version. It's natural and you may prefer it, but what I wanted was to highlight the leaf.

So... In this one, I photoshopped it in layers maximizing the color of the leaf and minimizing the color of everything else. Now the viewer's eye goes straight to the leaf. Its impact is much more powerful.

Application to Writing? I think of the photo shoot as a sort of rough drafting. It's wonderful to get things right in that first draft, but not everyone has that particular knack. I have a well known author friend who writes in such a way that his first draft is his final draft (other than minor copy edits). He insists that it keeps the writing fresh. I agree (mostly). It's like getting the framing, angle, and lighting perfect in a shot when you're taking it or being able to do minor edits to get it (like in the 2nd picture). I wish I could do it in my writing, but I'm much better at taking my raw draft and layering and tweaking to craft what I want. Some effects* (like in the last version of the photo) are only available through editing. Not everyone will like it better, but some will. It all depends on what you, as the author, want.

*An example of this in writing would be things like flashbacks or interwoven plot lines.

Where in the World is Lotus Girl? (with a seriously awesome prize)

2011-01-26T06:55:00.002-05:00

Today's picture should be extremely easy. In fact, I'll be shocked if you don't get it right after last week's posts.

The rules: This contest is for everyone (even internationally) who answers correctly not just the first to get it right. It will be weighted for those who get their answers in early (+5 for the first, +4 for the 2nd, +3 for 3rd, and +2 for the 4th) or tweet or post about it (+5--just send me a link or something for verification). The deadline is this Friday at 6 AM, Eastern Time. Oh, and to win you must be a follower.

The prize is a signed ARC of the NY Times bestselling novel, Across the Universe by the illustrious Beth Revis.

Good Luck!

Monday=Book Review Time--A bit of black humor

2011-01-24T12:28:00.000-05:00

Up for today: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

Why I bought it? I actually didn't buy this. I won it in a contest. Yay me! I'm so glad I did. I probably wouldn't have read it otherwise. I thought I wasn't a fan of necromancers and that sort of thing, but the blogger giving it away raved about how great it was, so I entered.

Synopsis/Set up: When goofing around at work gets out of hand and a taillight gets busted on the WRONG car, a new world opens up for Sam (full name: Samhain Corvus LaCroix--it's something, eh? and there's meaning in them there names). A world that may end up killing him. He's been an unmotivated average guy, but he discovers that he is actually a necromancer. Can he discover why his powers have taken so long to surface? Or save himself and his friends from the impending doom?

What I thought? With the title's spin on Elton John's Tiny Dancer* I figured I was in for a fun ride, but I had no idea how entertaining it would be. It ended up as one of my top 10 favorites of 2010 (a stiff (no pun intended) competition). Sam's voice and personality carry the day: witty and sarcastic but also lovable. He is trying to do the right thing. He is just as shocked at the events unfolding around him (death, mayhem, impending death, undead pandas, a talking head, etc.) as I was, even though others take them in stride. The big strength for me in this book was the humor. It kept me laughing all the way through. I love that it's a great book for guys. There are not near enough of these out there. If you like dark humor, do yourself a favor and read this. I seriously had a hard time putting it down.

*All the chapters, as a matter of fact, are headed with song titles (or variations on them) and very clever. I laughed out loud at some of them and chuckled later about points in the chapter that applied. Most teen readers won't recognize them all though as many of the songs are older ones. (Not even my daughter, who's a classic rock aficionado, recognized them all.)

My Rating: ****1/2

My Daughter's Rating: ****3/4, She said, "I really loved the book. There were parts that could have been written better, but it was still very, very good. The humor was pretty dark most of the time, but it was a good fit for me."

Cleanness Score: 6 out of 10, This is for your older teens. There is some language, violence, and a sort of skipped-over sex scene. I did let my 16 year old daughter read it.

It was a finalist for the William C. Morris Award that honors debut YAs. A seriously amazing debut novel.

A recap of how I rate books for anyone new:

* = Complete drivel. Not worth the paper it's printed on.

** = So, so. Has some redeeming qualities but is, essentially, a disappointment.

*** = An enjoyable read but nothing too terribly earth shattering

**** = Very enjoyable. This is where I'd recommend for others to read. I'd consider buying it.

***** = So much fun reading that I can't put it down or so compelling that I can't stop thinking about it. I HAVE to own this book.

*****+ = One of my all time favorite books. I know some people would think this is over the top, but then again sometimes I am that kind of person. I won't give many books this rating though.

Cleanness Score:

The cleanness score (CS) is because I have young family members that will read these reviews, and so I want them and their moms to know what they will get with the books I review, and I think that others of you out there picking books for your kids might like to know. (Is that enough ands?) That said--my scale is going to be from 0 to 10. 0 has absolutely nothing the least bit offensive in it and 10 is for those books that have very offensive material. (I think I can guarantee that there will be no 10s in any of my book reviews, but it will still be on the scale for gauging purposes.)

Friday's Photolife--A launch

2011-01-21T18:06:00.001-05:00

Sorry to be posting so late and not the full photolife post today--just a few pictures. My computer has been in the shop since Wed. morning (not long after I posted) and I just got it back a little while ago. Wow. Talk about a tough time for me.

Wednesday's answer and winner: Kudos to those of you who recognized Stephanie Perkins the author of Anna and the French Kiss. I thought the blue streaks would help. She posted last week about Beth Revis' book launch for Across the Universe and told how we finally got to meet in person. We've been blogging buddies for over 2 years. Beth and I met in person for the first time that night too. We've been blogging buddies for about 2 1/2 years. It was all very exciting. So... that's where I was. Congrats to RSJ for being the first to get it right.

Here are a few shots:

The bookstore was really cool. This is the window opposite the star scene from Wednesday's post.

Here's Beth signing my copy of AtU.

Us mugging for the camera (Thanks for taking the picture, Snow.) and Stephanie is right: Beth totally has princess hair. It looked so cool. I told Beth that we look like we could be related. What do you think?

Steph's husband, Jared, took this picture of Steph and me. Check his composition out. He's put our faces in the power spot. Thanks, man!

It was a fun time. Here's Beth enjoying her time in the spotlight.

I'll be back next week with my regular schedule. Hopefully there will be no more computer glitches. Have a great weekend.

Where in the World is Lotus Girl?

2011-01-19T10:38:00.000-05:00

I'm finally back. Yippee! AND it's Wednesday, so here's a tricky Where in the World? for you to get us back in the swing. If you've been paying attention to the world of books you may be able to get it right off. Good luck!

Hints: The picture on the windows is very appropriate and if you recognize the fabulous author in the lower left corner, that could help you. She was there and blogged about it.

Books Read in 2010

2011-01-19T10:37:00.000-05:00

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (reread)

3. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

4. Paper Towns by John Green

5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

6. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

7. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

8. Sanctuary by Meg Cabot

9. Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

10. Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

11. When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

12. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

13. Two-way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

14. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

15. Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

16. Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie by Maggie Stiefvater

17. Massacre at Mountain Meadows by Ronald W. Walker, Richard E. Turley, Jr. and Glen M. Leonard

18. Fire by Kristin Cashore

19. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (reread)

20. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

21. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (reread)

22. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (reread)

23. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (reread)

24. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

25. The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

26. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

27. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

28. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (reread)

29. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

30. Runaway by Meg Cabot

31. Heist Society by Ally Carter

32. These is my words by Nancy Turner

33. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

34. Pendragon Book Ten: The Soldiers of Hallaby DJ McHale

35. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Booksby Azar Nafisi

36. Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

37. Wake by Lisa McMann

38. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

39. Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

40. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

41. The short second life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

42. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

43. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

44. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

45. Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

46. Cinders by Michelle Davidson Argyle

47. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

48. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

49. Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones

50. House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones

51. Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush

52. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

53. This Time Together: Laughter and Reflectionby Carol Burnett

54. The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying out of the Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman

55. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

56. Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

57. Being of Two Minds by Pamela F. Service

58. Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

59. Across the Universe by Beth Revis

60. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

61. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

62. Pegasus by Robin McKinley

Kissing 2010 goodbye

2010-12-17T10:50:00.000-05:00

Wednesday's answer and winner: It was the Hope Diamond. It's at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. I wish the lighting were better. I've seen pictures where you can really see the color. Alas, this is not one of them. I blame museum lighting and a thick sheet of glass. The first to get it right was Alyssa. Way to go! I'm sure she's been looking at a lot of diamonds recently since she gets married tomorrow. Here's wishing you the best in nuptial bliss, Alyssa. I'm so excited for you.

2010: It's been a great year. Pivotal for me. I feel more like an actual writer. I attended my first writer's conference. I had some serious agent interest in my WIP until I pulled it back in for more edits. (It really needed them.) I've realized I don't need to be racing to the finish line. (Major realization!) I'll finish when I finish. It's one of the luxuries you have as a beginning writer. I just need to make the story right. I had a major plot epiphany (at the afore-mentioned conference) and have been working on it ever since--slowly, I'll grant you, but I'm insisting that family and personal commitments come first.

So...

Farewell, 2010. Kisses! You've been a good friend.

Happy Holidays to all of you out in the blogosphere. I'll see you in January.

What in the world?

2010-12-15T06:53:00.001-05:00

How would you like something like this for Christmas?

What's its official title?

Monday=Book Review Time--My top 10 for 2010

2010-12-13T08:33:00.001-05:00

This is for the NEW reads this year. It wouldn't be fair to include the rereads. Since this is my last week blogging for the year I thought I'd go ahead and do this even though the book I'm reading (Orson Scott Card's Pathfinder) is pretty good and could end up in the top 10, but seeing as how I'm not finished, the jury is still out. I'm going to cheat a little and put series books together.

Leviathan and Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Air, and House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
This Time Together (on CD) by Carol Burnett
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

There are so many close runners up. I had several I initially put in that I ended up replacing. The list went back and forth for a while, but these are the ones that completely swept me away. 4 of them are even debut novels. Go newbies! The biggest surprise to me was Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride. It was not one I had been eagerly awaiting. It showed up on my doorstep one day from the publisher. (I think I may have won it in a contest.) I'm going to do a review of it early next year. So clever and funny.

There you have it. If you haven't read these, you should at least check them out and read a sample to see if they can entertain you as much as they did me.

Friday's Photolife--Life is Fleeting

2010-12-10T09:07:00.001-05:00

Wednesday's answer and winner: Yes! It was a wrestling tournament. Congrats to Samantha Vérant! She was very quick on the draw (nice cliché). The actual venue was the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC. It was a special tournament where only the top 2 or 3 in each weight class from each state were invited. One of those was my amazing nephew.

My kids and I were coming home one evening about a month ago and the sky was an astounding, eerie kind of cool. This was during some powerful storms that were passing through. I was kicking myself that I didn't have my camera with me. I knew my cell phone wouldn't be able to do it justice, so I just hurried home thinking I'd get what I could when I got there.

I rushed into the house grabbed my camera and dashed immediately into the front yard. At 6:04:12 I got this photo:

At 6:05:37 It has dissipated to this.

At 6:05:55 to this:

After that it was completely gone. If I'd stopped to change lenses or think I'd have gotten nothing. As it was I'd already missed the most amazing stuff (not being prepared with a camera in my car--shame on me--but that's another discussion), but at least I got something.

In photography, as with most things in life, you must (cliché alert) strike while the iron is hot.

Application to writing? Snap up opportunities when they come your way. Talk to that agent at a conference. He may not be there next time you walk by. Sign up for critiques when they are offered (if you need critiques). If you delay, the time may have passed or things may be filled up before you (cliché alert again) pull the trigger. Learn to act quickly or your chances may pass you by.

Where in the world?

2010-12-08T07:04:00.000-05:00

I'm not looking for the specific venue just what kind of event.

Monday=Book Review Time--I'll take mine gripping with a twist

2010-12-06T09:09:00.000-05:00

Business: I'm back from my Thanksgiving blog break (yeah I know it was only supposed to be one week) for a couple weeks before I take another break for Christmas. I'm also back to blogger's commenting system. Ugh! While there were positives to Intense Debate and Disqus, they ultimately didn't do it for me--too many downsides. Anybody out there want to get up a petition with me for blogger to improve their system?

On to the Book Review:

Up for today: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Why I bought it? I didn't although I do have it pre-ordered through Amazon and still plan to get that one when it comes out, because I want the hardback. I think I entered every contest there was to win the ARC, and eventually Penguin sent me one. Woohoo! Persistence pays off sometimes.

Synopsis/Setup: Amy is cryogenically frozen with her parents for a 300 year journey across the universe. She is awakened and almost killed 50 years before the arrival date. When one of the other frozens ends up unplugged and dead, Amy and Elder, the cute, rebellious leader in training on the spaceship, work to uncover the truth before anyone else is killed.

What I thought? The sample first chapter that Beth Revis provides here hooked me so much that I did my best to get an ARC. I "couldn't" wait for the January release. 1-11-11. I was not disappointed. The rest of the book delivers what chapter one promises. It was a gripping ride. Gripping, I tell you! I was completely swept along with Amy and Elder's tale. It was seriously one of the hardest to put down books I've read in a long time. Plus, there is a lot of depth and richness to these characters. No cardboard cutouts here. And the twists and turns of the plot! I was prepared for them but totally didn't see them coming, and that was incredibly refreshing.

My Rating: *****, Yep that's right folks. 5 stars. I haven't given one of those in a while, but this book had me so entertained I can't give it less.

Cleanness Score: 6 out of 10, There is a little bit of mild language and violence (as you would expect in a murder mystery), but this score is mostly for some sexual situations that take place on the ship around Amy and Elder in one part of the story. They are integral to the plot and described in a more clinical way, but some parents may object. If you are a very conservative parent, you may want to read it first. I definitely wouldn't give it to my 10 year old. This is more of a PG-13 read.

Friday's Photolife--Pick your distance

2010-11-19T07:57:00.004-05:00

Wednesday's Answer and Winner: It was the Pompidou Center in Paris or as Domey Malasarn said the Centre Pompidou. Kudos to Elaine for giving the theory behind it with her comment: "Design is uniquely flared when they create it with the inside on the out!"

Business: Next week with all the holiday doings and goings on I'm going to unplug. I hope you all have a terrific Thanksgiving (US) or week (everywhere else). In further business, I'm going to give Intense Debate a little more time. I'm still not sold on it, but I like being able to link to specific comments. Remember to click "links to this post" to comment (such a bad downside).

On to the Photolife:

We're going to put the traditional side by side with the modern (or is that post-modern?) for this so you can have whichever view of Paris you prefer. When documenting something like the Pompidou Center or Notre Dame, it's good to remember to get close-ups,

middle range shots,

and shots of the whole (or as much of the whole as you can get).

Application to writing? I'm going to come at this from a little bit different take today because I read a very interesting post yesterday that has me thinking. Scary. I know. It was about an experiment into kids reactions to various books by Shelley Moore Thomas. Go read it. Think about your reactions to the Pompidou Center and Notre Dame. Which do you like more? Are these two buildings both valid forms of artistic expression? Pleasing everyone is impossible. Not even chocolate can do it. Write what appeals to you. If you like it, then chances are there is someone else who will like it, too. Just make sure it's written well.

What in the world?

2010-11-17T07:03:00.000-05:00

Today we have a "What in the World" and a "Where in the World" all wrapped up in one picture. Be as precise as you can.

Hint: Some love it. Some hate it.

Monday=Book Review Time--Howl

2010-11-15T08:49:00.001-05:00

Business: I'm moving on to the Intense Debate commenting system today. It will get about a week like Disqus. I was completely disgusted with Disqus in the end. Friday I couldn't get it to let me comment at all. So sorry about not commenting. FYI: Now that I'm switching systems, I've lost all the comments that were made on Disqus. UPDATE: You'll need to click on the "links to this post" to comment. I'll see if I can't fix that. *rolls eyes*

Up for today: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones--requested by Mary Kay.

Why I bought it? I bought this a few years ago for my daughter from the recommendations of several nieces who loved it and thought she would. They said I should read it. I didn't at the time. Silly me.

Synopsis/Set up: In Ingary, the Witch of the Waste turns Sophie Hatter into an old woman. Sophie sets off to make her fortune and ends up working for the mysterious Wizard Howl in his moving castle. She makes a deal with the fire demon, Calcifer, that he will break the spell on her if she gets Howl to free him.

What I thought? This book is so charming and clever and witty. I loved it and couldn't put it down. All of the characters are 3 dimensional. Sophie is wonderful. I adore her. A friend described Howl as being like the Scarlet Pimpernel (but actually vain). I love that description. There's more depth to him than you see at first which is lovely to discover as you read. The book reminded me of Harry Potter at times (but this one came before HP). It's incredibly creative.

My Rating: ****1/2 out of 5. I think I may have given this 5 stars on Goodreads. It was very close for me.

My Daughter's Rating: **** out of 5, She said she saw the movie first and kept expecting to book to be as light hearted as the movie and there were a lot more serious moments. She loves the movie and has seen it over and over. I still haven't watched it, and she is giving me a hard time about it. Yeah. Yeah. Eventually.

Cleanness Score: 2 out of 10, You're pretty safe with this one, but there was a little mild language and a couple sort of adult things like drinking that I'm not sure little kids would get. That said. I wouldn't have a problem with my 10 year old reading it.

There are two companion books/sequels Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. I read both and enjoyed them immensely.

Friday's Photolife--One of the Crowd

2010-11-12T08:33:00.002-05:00

Here's me in the Hall of Mirrors.
Don't you love the funhouse quality of the mirrors?

Wednesday's answer and winner: It was the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Who knew this would be way easier than kudzu? A lot of you guessed Versailles. The first to say the Hall of Mirrors was Natalie Whipple. If you haven't checked out her blog, you should.

Business: Intense Debate is finished with its update for blogger, so starting Monday I'm going to try that commenting system and you can see what you think.

On to the Photolife:

In a popular tourist destination like Versailles, you're always having to deal with the crowds. When taking pictures, sometimes it's good to embrace them. Hey, you stood in that line for hours. Why not show all those people?

Show them even in your individual shots. They're hard to avoid so why fight it? (I used to fight it really hard.) It's all part of the experience.

The garden was teeming with other tourists.

Don't let it stop you from recording your journey and capturing the day. Why avoid them?

It makes for a lonely picture.

Here's the gate for Versailles with all the people coming and going. Who cares that I didn't know any of them. It's all part of the experience.

Application to writing? When writing a scene in a crowded place, "show" the crowd and be sure to include how it impacts the characters. I love it when someone from an anonymous crowd becomes important later or is someone I recognize. In Sarah Dessen's books, she includes cameos of characters from former books. It's like a nod to those who've read previous novels.

Where in the world?

2010-11-10T07:01:00.000-05:00

We've done a lot of What in the Worlds lately. How about a "Where" this time? Where was I? Be as specific as you can.

Hint: People were waiting in line to see this place.

Monday=Book Review Time--These is My Words

2010-11-08T08:49:00.001-05:00

Up for today: These is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 Arizona Territories by Nancy E. Turner (Review requested by Mary Kay.)

Why I bought it? We read it back in the Spring in my book club. I ordered it through Amazon.

Synopsis: As the subtitle suggests the book is told in journal entries. It was inspired by the author's great grandmother but departs from the real life story significantly. Sarah Agnes Prine is 17 at the start and learning to read and write (Her writing improves as the story progresses.) and wants to tell who she is so if anyone finds her bones they'll know a little something about her. Her writing project grows into a family saga of settling the Arizona Territory. Sarah is larger than life--full of vibrancy, spit, and fire. She shoots better than most men. Her life is at times harrowing and at other times hilarious. Sarah takes it all in stride with pluck. There's romance eventually for her and that is well done. (I don't want to give any spoilers because I enjoyed having it unfold for me without knowing any details ahead.) So I'll stop there.

What I thought? I enjoyed the book quite a lot. More than I thought I would. It is incredibly vivid and well researched. I felt like I was right there along with Sarah settling the new territory. It feels very authentic. In the "facts check" portion after the novel Ms. Turner tells what is and isn't based in history. I felt like I learned a lot about the era.

My Rating: ****1/2 out of 5

Cleanness Score: 3 out of 10, This is mostly for violence and the deaths/dangers that occur. It is aimed at adults, but I wouldn't have any problem with my teens reading it.

Friday's Photolife--Tweaking to death

2010-11-05T07:00:00.002-04:00

Wednesday's answer and winner: It was a shed being devoured by kudzu. The first to get it right was Sharon K. Mayhew. It grows around here (NC) like wildfire. Here's the story of how it first got here from Japan and what our government did to help it spread (crazy). Now we're trying to figure out how to get rid of it (you gotta love that some herbicides actually help it grow) or use it. I've heard tell of people trying to make a sort of gasoline out of it.

Update on the commenting: I'm going to give it a week. There are things I like about it. There are things I don't like about it. One of the things I really wanted was for it to email you notification specifically when I write a comment back to you and not necessarily when everyone commented. Let me know if that's working for you. I think for the pictures that's something you will have to do, but it bothers me that you have to do anything but comment, so I'm still not sold.

On to the Photolife:

It'll be quick because there was so much business this week. With all the new changes on my blog, I've been tweaking up a storm (when I'm really supposed to be cleaning--ah, NaNoCleMo, I'm trying, but I just had to completely change the look of my blog two days in. I had to. I'll catch up. I promise.)

You've seen this. It's before the latest yellow tweaking. (That for some reason barely shows up on Blogger. Great. Must tweak more. Now it mostly just looks dingy. Maybe it would be better to go back to the crispness of this one.)

How would it look on this background?

Maybe fine. Maybe it's better on the background it has now. Tweaking may be a disease with me. Tweak it till it screams, till it bleeds, till the flies are swarming and I'm swatting them away so I can tweak some more until it's a pulverized bit of dust.

Application to writing? Sometimes we can tweak something too much. When that happens, it's better to just start over. Fresh. Too much tweaking can suck the life and spontaneity right out of our prose.

Do any of you find yourselves in my same tweaking shoes?

What in the world?

2010-11-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

Change 1: I've been playing around with a new look for my digs. What do you think? I haven't completely settled on things. I'm not terribly happy with the background picture (although it's beautiful), but I'd like to have the lotus blossom at the top with a bit of a color change. I may, in the end, put one of my own pictures in the background, but for now I'm going with one provided by blogger.

Change 2: I've always liked the commenting system on LiveJournal and wished that Blogger's was more like it, so I've decided to try a different comment system that is more similar to LJ's, if I can get it working. Let's all cross our fingers. I wanted to try Intense Debate, but it's closed to blogger for a while so I'm going to use Disqus. When I uploaded it all my former comments are gone. ACK! We'll see if I can get them back. I emailed Disqus. I had understood that wouldn't happen. Hopefully this won't be a disaster.

UPDATE: I just checked, and it appears that Blogger still has the comments. They just don't show up here for some reason. Whew!

Please comment, and we'll see if it's worth it. Since I'm a bit up in arms, I'll give you something fairly easy to ID.

So what do you think this is? Hint: Southerners have an advantage.

Monday=Book Review Time--A link and a play

2010-11-01T06:48:00.004-04:00

Good luck to all the NaNo-ers out there. I'm in the middle of edits, so I'm doing a NaNoCleMo. You got it--cleaning for 2700 minutes this month. You can keep tabs on my progress in the right column.

On to the review:

The next book request I had was for Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. Since I already talked about that, I'll just provide the link (If you have any questions, just ask.) and gush about a play that my husband and I went to this weekend.

The play was The Foreigner by Larry Shue.

The Premise: It's a farce about a young Englishman who, in an attempt to escape his life and troubles for a few days, visits a friend in rural Georgia. The friend puts him up at a lodge (He's military, and guests aren't allowed on base.) and, hoping that everyone will leave him alone, tells the owner that he doesn't speak any English. Hilarity ensues not to mention intrigue.

I was wary when we went. I'd heard great things about this show, but the last one we'd gone to that was touted as being incredibly funny was painful. To my great delight, this one was fantastic. The writing was so well done--clever with unexpected twists. The actors did an amazing job. I couldn't recommend it more. Laughter abounded. Whew! If it comes to your town, check it out. If you're in Winston, it's here through Nov. 7th. Go see it. You won't be disappointed.

When I was looking for a picture, I found out that Larry Shue died in a plane crash the year after this play debuted. Sad. Before he died though it won 2 Obie Awards and 2 Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Friday's Photolife--changing up an icon

2010-10-29T10:01:00.006-04:00

Wednesday's answer and winner: We only had one person get it right this week. Congrats, Crimey! The answer was the Empire State Building.

On to the Photolife:

Here are a few more views. I love getting different views of famous things. Lighting and angle are great ways of changing up something that is very familiar.

Put the sun behind you and it's all lit up. Include the name so people will know what it is. (For less familiar things this is nice for you as well. I've been known to take pictures of street signs and exhibit names just so that I will know where I was and what I've taken when I go back a couple years later. Now a lot of cameras have GPS and will log that info but it is still nice to have the name in some pictures.)

Put the sun in the picture and get a sunburst and a rainbow, AND with this angle from a little farther away it's much easier to identify. How would you have fared on Wednesday if I'd used this picture?

Wait for a change in ambient light, and include surrounding buildings. It's especially nice when you get a reflective surface like the building on the right to continue the sky or some other element of the photo. With this angle, I bet most of you would have known what the building was.

Application to writing? When describing a scene, think about how familiar you want things to be or how you can change up something that everyone knows. e.g. image 1: the glowing window strips ascending into the blue..., image 2: the sunburst painted a rainbow..., image 3: the window washers hung in the evening's reflection with the Empire State Building looking on...

What in the world?

2010-10-27T06:40:00.003-04:00

Hint: A different angle would make it more obvious.

Monday=Book Review Time--sans Richard Armitage

2010-10-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

Up for today: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (Today's review requested by Mary Kay. If you see anything you'd like reviewed in the Books Read in 2010 list, just let me know. I have 4 in the queue right now.)

Why I bought it? I had seen the BBC version with Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe and adored it. If you haven't seen it yet, put it on your netflix queue. You'll thank me later. I got the Norton Critical Edition with all the footnotes and commentaries through Amazon.

Synopsis: Margaret Hale is uprooted from the idyllic life she has lived in the south of England and moves to the fictional town of Milton in the north when her minister father leaves the Church of England. The abrupt descent into relative poverty is very difficult for her as is the change of lifestyle from the agrarian south to the industrial north. She sympathizes with the workers in the cotton mills and their plight. When she meets the owner of one of the mills, Mr. Thornton, they clash over class issues. (This is different than the movie. It is much more subtle.) He falls for her, but she feels he's completely inappropriate for her. There are a lot of political and social issues along the way, but, ultimately, this is a story about love.

What I thought? I loved it. Some of the things that I didn't like in the movie were different in the book. Very nice. I love the Mr. Thornton in the book more than the one in the movie (even though I think Richard Armitage plays him brilliantly). It has a slow start and a quick finish, but despite those drawbacks, I still love it. Gaskell tells a wonderful story full of flawed, yummy characters. Even Charles Dickens liked Gaskell's work. (They were contemporaries.) Since I read it the first time (this was a reread), I've read all of Gaskell's finished novels, and all were enjoyable--some more than others.

My Rating: ***** out of 5

Cleanness Score: 3 out of 10, This is more for themes than anything else. I thought about giving it a 2, but there is some violence and a suicide (off scene) and several natural deaths. It's a book intended for an adult audience, but I wouldn't have a problem with my teens reading it.

Friday's Photolife--Outings

2010-10-22T09:40:00.005-04:00

Wednesday's answer and winner: Y'all are so smart. This week Alyssa was the first to get the answer right. It is, indeed, an apple press to make cider. Or in other words a cider press. In today's photolife I've included a view of the whole thing so you can see the process.

On to the Photolife:

Documenting outings is often in the details. Here are a few pictures from a family get together apple picking in Virginia. (There are tons more pictures, but this just gives you an idea.) Autumn is my favorite season. The crisp air. The vibrant colors. The falling leaves.

Apples.

Cider.

Look at the color of that cider--caramel, golden brown with a tinge of red. We strained it then boiled it--and partook. Taste bud heaven.

When we take pictures of outings, it's good to include as many aspects as we can. The cider dripping off the press into the pan, my nephew-in-law climbing a ladder into the trees to knock the apples down,

roasting marshmallows (my daughter and two of my nieces),

another daughter who was obsessed with the tractor we used to haul the apples from the orchard to the fire pit and cider press,

my take-home-cider waiting under my chair for the ride home along with a bag of apples, my daughter's poncho (that I knitted), and my backpack.

The memories are in the details.

Application to writing? One of the things I've been thinking a lot about lately is how putting specific details into writing makes it more vivid and sucks the reader in more and more. The aroma of the cider boiling, the crispy charcoal taste of the burnt marshmallows, the red-orange glow of the apples in the sunset, the sputtering chugs of the tractor, the buzzing whine of the go-cart, the nip in the air of evening setting in, the dirt under my fingernails.

What in the world?

2010-10-20T09:43:00.002-04:00

Guess away--three views of the same contraption...

Hint: My fall crush.

Monday=Book Review Time--Taking me back

2010-10-18T10:31:00.004-04:00

I interrupt the regular schedule of reviewing your requests for a selection of my own.

Up for today: This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection by Carol Burnett

Why I bought it? I actually didn't buy this one. A friend recommended it highly and lent it to me on CD.

Synopsis: Carol Burnett tells humorous vignettes and memorable moments from her life starting at her childhood and continuing through her rise to fame and beyond.

What I thought? There's a reason I'm breaking my regular schedule for this. I LOVED it. I highly recommend listening to this one. Carol Burnett narrates. She tarzan yells, sings, chuckles, and you chuckle along. It's completely enchanting. It took me back to watching her show as a little kid. If you are a fan of Carol Burnett, you will love this. If you've never heard of her, you will still get a kick out of her stories. Her first experience with a mugger had me dying laughing. There are serious moments, too, and I cried a few times--then again, it's easy to make me cry.

My Rating: ***** out of 5, for the CD at least. I think it would be the same for the book.

My daughter's rating: **** (she said no one takes a kid seriously if they rate something a 5--so take her seriously--she'd never heard of most of the names Carol throws around and still really enjoyed it.)

Cleanness Score: 4 out of 10, There was a little mild swearing, and a couple places where she talks about adult topics but nothing obscene. My 16 year old listened to most of it with me.

Friday's Photolife--Let it be easy

2010-10-15T12:08:00.006-04:00

Wednesday's answer and winners: Great job this week. The first to answer correctly was Carolyn V with water lily, but in my head I was thinking lotus because of things like Lotus Rising and Lotusgirl, so, since Yat-Yee was the first to give that answer, she also gets a nod.

On to the Photolife:

Recently I watched the videos that go along with my Aperture program (like Photoshop but for Mac). Now I've been using it for quite a while--trial and erroring my way through tweaking my pictures. While trying to adjust the lighting on the picture below (for a stinking long time) and not getting what I wanted, I finally decided to watch the videos. All of them together took maybe 20 minutes (probably more like 10). And voilà:

the picture the way I wanted it. I learned how to use the presets. I thought I knew how to use them before. I didn't, and I wasted tons of time trying to recreate what I could do with them in seconds. SECONDS! Seriously. Seconds.

By learning the tools I have at my disposal, I made my life a lot easier.

I can just slide my curser down the presets and choose various options.

It even shows me what the picture will look like in a thumbnail image.

Here's a look I wouldn't have thought of for this shot, but I loved it when I saw the thumbnail, so...

Application to writing? 1. Learn the tools of the trade and use them. My writing life has become so much easier since I learned how to use things like "track changes" and "Find..." in Word (one of my tools). AND 2. Listen to those who know what they're talking about and learn from them. I've been reading a book the last few days that has had some excellent advice. I wish I'd read it a year ago. There's some amazing advice online for free. Here's an excellent post from Georgia McBride for newbies.

What in the world?

2010-10-13T10:00:00.002-04:00

After the last few hard ones, I thought I'd try something a bit easier. Obviously, it's a flower bud but what kind?

Hint: I have a warm place in my heart for these.

Monday=Book Review Time--Another impressive debut novel

2010-10-11T09:13:00.004-04:00

Up for today: The Help by Kathryn Stockett (This review requested by Mary Kay.)

Why I bought it? Several friends had recommended it, and I'd heard a lot of buzz online about it, so I downloaded it to my Kindle.

Synopsis: Set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, the book follows the lives of 3 women, two black maids, Aibilene and Minny, and one white woman newly graduated from college, Skeeter. In alternating chapters each woman tells her own story. Eventually, they come together to work on a super-secret project--one that exposes the hidden lives of the well-to-do whites, and, of course, fallout ensues.

What I thought? I enjoyed this book immensely. I found the way the dialect was written at the beginning very off-putting, but after a while I got used to it. (A friend said that she had listened to it on CD and that the reading was wonderful--which would take care of the crazy spellings, etc. If I had it to do over again, I'd listen to it.) That said, the dialect itself was spot on, and, having grown up in the south, I'm a hard one to fool on southernisms. The food (oh my gosh, it made my mouth water), the weather, the names (I even had a friend in high school whose nickname was Skeeter), the set up of the houses, the interaction of the classes and races was all well done. It's obvious the author knows the south.

The characters are so engrossing that the book is very hard to put down. There's tons of humor and plenty of poignant moments, too. These characters have stayed with me even though sometimes I wish there had been more rounding out of the white characters. (I know there were plenty of mean white women with maids and insensitive ones and oblivious ones, but there were also kind ones and ones that were mean sometimes and kind other times. It would have been nice to see more of those.) A great first book for this author and a nice one for book clubs.

My rating: **** out of 5. Up until about 3/4 of the way through, it was 4 1/2 to 5, but I feel like Skeeter's story got the bum's rush at the end. I still recommend it highly because her story wasn't my favorite part. I loved the tales from "the help." They were priceless, and I wouldn't be surprised if every single one of them really happened somewhere.

Cleanness Score: 5 out of 10, This is kind of vague in my head because it was back in January that I read it, but I don't remember anything very offensive. There was some physical abuse and language and a lot of adult themes, but this is another book intended for grown ups that teens could easily read.

FYI: They are making a movie of it that will be out next year. It will be interesting to see how they put it on the big screen.

Friday's Photolife--What's your angle

2010-10-08T09:42:00.005-04:00

Wednesday's answer: Sorry, there were no winners. I didn't realize this would be so tricky. It was an icehouse. Fill it up all winter, and you have ice throughout the spring and summer. Cool, huh? This particular one was Jefferson's at Monticello.

On to the Photolife:

Do you always take pictures straight on? Here's one (mostly straight on) at a WWII memorial in Annapolis, MD.

How does the impact of the picture change when shot from a side angle?

Do you think about your vantage point when taking pictures? Try it sometime. No fancy equipment required. Just break out your point and shoots. This is more about where you put yourself and the camera.

Shoot from above (I was on a balcony above my cute nephew.)

or below (I knelt at the bottom of the column that was part of James Madison's icehouse.)

or dog level. (I held the camera down around my ankles and clicked--talk about literally pointing and shooting.)

Take this colorful street.

Think about how the angle changing

alters what the picture says or your reaction to it.

Application to writing? Telling stories from different points of view can dramatically or subtly change the impact of what you're saying. If a scene isn't working for you, try it from a different POV or, if you'd rather keep your story at one POV character, try giving him a different perspective. e.g. For one scene in my WIP I had my POV character on a balcony overlooking the action on the street below rather than at street level. Think about how her perspective would have been different if I'd put her looking out a basement window.

What in the world?

2010-10-06T10:26:00.003-04:00

What is it?

Here's a view through the bars.

Good luck!

Hint: Wealthy people often used to have them.

Monday=Book Review Time--translating life

2010-10-04T10:26:00.004-04:00

Up for Today: Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok (This review requested by Yat-Yee Chong.)

Why I bought it? It was September's read for my book club, and I downloaded it onto my Kindle.

Synopsis: Kimberly Chang is a brilliant student, but, when she and her mother arrive in New York City from China, she can only speak her 5th grade English--i.e. not much--and her mother speaks none. Beginning 6th grade is a challenge to say the least. They live in an apartment in a condemned building (lots of companionable roaches and rats and no heat)--arranged by her mother's sister. (With family like her who needs enemies?) They work in the sweatshop of the aforementioned loving sister and her husband and survive as best they can. I don't want to give any more away, because this story is lovely to discover as you read. If you want a bit more, you can go to Jean Kwok's synopsis on youtube.

What I thought? I loved this book. The writing is beautifully wrought--amazing for anyone but especially someone who's first language was not English. What an incredible debut novel. It is vivid like nobody's business. There is such authenticity to it that sometimes it feels like memoir (and at times perhaps it was a bit. Kwok did experience some of the same things when she moved to NYC from China.) I was completely transported. I cried and laughed, mourned and rejoiced along with Kim. The way Kwok deals with Kim's fragmented understanding of English (at first) is so well done that it brought back my own experience learning French. I'm in awe of Kwok's writing. Awe, I tell you.

My Rating:****1/2 out of 5, It was almost a 5, but there were a few things that held it back. Still a fabulous read.

Cleanness Score: 4 out of 10, for some mild language, some incidental drug use, and a not over done sex scene. This is a book intended for adults, but I think most older teens would be fine reading it.

Friday's Photolife--to flash or not to flash

2010-10-01T11:48:00.005-04:00

Wednesday's answer and winner: Erinn guessed a beach in South Carolina. That's as close as it got without being wrong. So congrats to Erinn. The full answer is Hilton Head Island, SC. The greens in the hint was for all the golf courses. The 2nd picture highlights the tidal wetland, and the 3rd picture is for the spanish moss that you see everywhere there. Savannah, GA, from Samantha Bennett, was actually a very good guess. It's not very far from Hilton Head and has some significant similarities.

While I was taking pictures there one night, I had a bit of a dilemma. It was almost dark and the building with the indoor pool was beautifully reflected in the small pond encircling it. To flash or not to flash? I tried both. You may be surprised to find out that the first picture is the one

with flash

and the 2nd is without. The light wasn't able to reach the building before the shutter closed so the only thing that caught the light from the flash is the grass. For the second I leaned against a pole to hold the camera steady. With a flash on you lose most of the natural light in your shot.

Sometimes that's what you really want to show. Here's an example from Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

With the flash you see all the details of the railing and the golds and grays of the stage, but there's no way that you would know that

the archway was lit up with blue light. Without the flash you see that but can't make out the same level of details. As a photographer you have to decide which one you prefer or take both (which is what I usually do) and use both later for something like this. You know I'm always thinking of you.

With--you show the bellhop directing people to the elevator in the Tower of Terror,

or--without--you create a ghostly vision of the same scene.

With--you show the exact material of the ball at Epcot,

or--without--you emphasize how the ball glows.

With--you show how the path at Epcot is made with some paving stones that seem to sparkle,

or--without--you show how they light the path in the darkness.

When we take pictures, we are always faced with this choice (whether we realize it or not).

Application to writing? When setting a scene, we should decide what we want our description to do: give specific details of the surroundings or set a mood.

Where in the world?

2010-09-29T14:02:00.000-04:00

On Friday's post someone asked where I took those pictures. You know that's going to lead to--Where in the world was Lotusgirl?

So... See if you can figure it out with these picture clues.

Be as specific as you can.

Good luck!

Hint: There are lots of greens there.

Friday's Photolife--Fogging up

2010-09-24T08:53:00.005-04:00

Wednesday's update and answer: Anette was the first to guess the Louvre on Wednesday's post, and Jenna was the first to reference the "big glass triangle." No one actually gave me the name though. It's part of Les Pyramides or The Pyramids. The glass pyramids at the Louvre that some think are an abomination and others love. I wonder if they ever have problems with the pyramids fogging up. How's that for a segue?

This summer a friend was annoyed that she couldn't get pictures at the beach because her camera always fogged up, so I thought I'd address this issue. It has a simple solution: plan ahead. Yeah, yeah, and patience doesn't hurt either.

For this picture, I walked directly out of the air conditioning into the steamy, humid air, pointed and shot. The temperature difference will fog the camera up every time. It'll happen going from hot to cold as well.

The trick is to leave your camera out in the atmosphere where you plan on taking pictures for a while before you start. For the 2nd shot I left the camera out on the balcony for about 10 minutes and everything defogged. The length of time needed is directly proportional to the difference in the temperatures. Sometimes it could take as long as 30 minutes but not usually.

Application to writing? When you sit down to write, plan ahead. Do whatever research you need before you write. It may help lift the fog of how a scene should go. It may even give you some ideas you hadn't thought of. In writing a scene about a catatonic person, it was nice for me to know that they can do more than just lie still in a bed. There was a lot more scope for the imagination.

What in the world?

2010-09-22T11:57:00.003-04:00

Here you go.

What in the world is it? If you know where in the world it is, extra kudos to you. Hint: If you know the where, you're more likely to know the what. Is that vague enough for you? Have fun figuring it out!

Monday=Book Review Time--A little Thievery

2010-09-20T09:27:00.007-04:00

Back by popular demand--Book Reviews. I was surprised to find that it's been almost a year since I did a book review. I'm going to be reviewing those y'all asked for before I move on to other things. The first request was for something by Elizabeth Scott from Terra of Terra Garden. So...

Up for today: STEALING HEAVEN by Elizabeth Scott

Why I bought it? At first, I read an Elizabeth Scott book because I was checking out what kind of things her agent represents. By the time I got to this book I was choosing them because I enjoyed reading what she writes. Her style reminds me of Sarah Dessen's (which I love). I downloaded this on my Kindle because it had a high rating, and I thought the premise sounded interesting.

Synopsis: Danielle, AKA Sydney (or whatever her mother chooses), and her mother are thieves who target the wealthy. They move from town to town stealing silver and keeping a low profile. That means no friends, no one who can turn them in. When they end up in the beach town of Heaven, Dani feels at home. She makes friends and even meets a guy (a cop). Complications ensue. Dani ends up having to chose between the life she's always known with her mother and the new one she's building.

What I thought? So far, this is my favorite Elizabeth Scott novel. I really enjoyed it. It's charming and Dani's plight is irresistible. The characters are fully developed--vulnerable and yet strong. The romance is very well done. Greg (the cute cop) is wonderful.

Star Rating: ****1/2 out of 5

A recap of how I rate books for anyone new:

* = Complete drivel. Not worth the paper it's printed on.

** = So, so. Has some redeeming qualities but is, essentially, a disappointment.

*** = An enjoyable read but nothing too terribly earth shattering

**** = Very enjoyable. This is where I'd recommend for others to read. I'd consider buying it.

***** = So much fun reading that I can't put it down or so compelling that I can't stop thinking about it. I HAVE to own this book.

*****+ = One of my all time favorite books. I know some people would think this is over the top, but then again sometimes I am that kind of person. I won't give many books this rating though.

Cleanness Score: 5 out of 10, There is a little language and a reference to a sexual encounter. (This is to the best of my memory. It's been a while since I read it.)

Friday's Photolife--Patience

2010-09-17T10:07:00.002-04:00

In taking a picture, light is key. In a studio you can manufacture exactly the light you need when you want it, but outside it's not that easy. Nature has a way of doing whatever it wants, but it is often fickle. Most of the time all you have to do to get different lighting is wait. Patience. Ugh. Yep, that.

In this picture, the clouds had my subject completely in shadow,

partially in shadow,

and then the sun finally got through. Different times of day will give a whole array of color changes on a subject as well. Think of Monet's studies of the Rouen Cathedral. For this photo shoot, I didn't subject those with me to that kind of patience.

Application to writing? When describing something outside, remember how the lighting will change the colors or create patterns. e.g. The clouds wove lace shadows over the grass...

Winner and the new line up

2010-09-15T10:29:00.003-04:00

The winner of the 200 post contest is Yat-Yee. Congrats! Just send me your info at lacmoss (at) gmail (dot) com and let me know how you want your prize, and I'll get that out to you.

Since so many of you like the book reviews, I'm going to bring those back. If you see anything in my books that I've read this year (in the right margin) that you would like reviewed, let me know, and I will do those first.

There were quite a few of you who liked the "Where in the world?" segment, so I'm going to try a Mini-Where in the world? or What in the world? as a regular feature on Wednesdays. For this one I won't be offering prizes other than announcing you and linking to your blog (if you have one). I will occasionally do the full week one with prizes.

The new schedule is:

Monday=Book Review Time

Wednesday's What/Where in the world?

Friday's Photolife

Does this work for, y'all?

Monday's Montage: Oh, Tony!

2010-09-13T09:49:00.005-04:00

*Don't forget to enter the contest from last Monday if you haven't already. The deadline is tonight at midnight.*

Those of you who know me understand that I'm a fan of music in a big way. Most all kinds. I have a special place in my heart for the old stuff. I'm loving the resurgence of it with singers like Michael Bublé. Over the weekend my husband and I went to a Tony Bennett concert. Can I tell you how wonderful it was? He was something else. At 84--he still had it. He can totally still wail. There is nothing wrong with his pipes. What a charismatic performer! I know that he had to have performed that same show thousands of times, but still it felt like he was doing it especially for us.

Here's just a small sample. What you'll find, if you watch videos of Tony Bennett is that he is so much better performing in front of an audience than in a studio setting (but the quality of the video is not usually very good). I love his phrasing and rhythm.

Friday's Photolife--Taking it Wide

2010-09-10T09:35:00.002-04:00

Don't forget to enter the contest on Monday's 200 post, if you haven't already. The deadline is Monday, Sept. 13 at Midnight Eastern time.

Who's up for a little photography? Raise those hands high! You know you've missed it.

Using a wide angle setting on a camera is great fun. Even simple pictures like this one can be more dramatic.

Get super close with a wide angle view. The perspective can be wonderfully skewed.

Or show way more than you can get in a regular shot. I always feel there's more action in wide angle shots even when it's just a couple of cacti standing around.

Application to writing? Before describing a scene, think of the whole as if you were looking through a wide angle. See what the different perspective makes you think of and try to capture that on paper.

200

2010-08-20T00:39:00.006-04:00

Summer is over. Alas. Life is returning to normal. It is time to forsake the freedom I embraced back in June and get back to work. *cracks the whip*

But first...

Let's celebrate! I'm at 200 posts, Baby! *happy dance* How about a little contest for all my beloved followers?

Rules:

1. Pick one of your favorite posts I've done or favorite things I do and tell me why you like it. If you'd like to see me add something or put something back in my lineup you could put that. (I'm planning out how I'm going to structure my posts for the fall and want to be sure and include the things you like.)

2. Be a follower. (If you're already a follower your name will go in the pot twice.)

Prize: $25.00 Gift card from Barnes and Noble or Amazon

I'm looking to increase my followers this year so here's the deal: If I get to 200 followers by the end of the contest, then I will double the prize. So spread the word!

*For those out of the US, I will send you the book of your choice in the same price range.

You've got a week. The contest will end Monday, Sept. 13th at Midnight Eastern time.

Winner and answers

2010-07-12T11:26:00.003-04:00

Patti Nielson won! Woohoo! One of our lovely Canadian neighbors was the first to guess Thomas Jefferson's home. Patti, let me know which way you would like your prize.

We stayed in Charlottesville, VA and visited Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd president and writer of The Declaration of Independence--so many amazing things there--Jefferson was a very clever man), Montpelier (home of James Madison, our 4th president--that's where the templed hill was), Ashlawn-Highland (home of James Monroe, our 5th president--the house with the coolest dining room table), and the Michie Tavern (that's the place with the 4-seater privy and the heated plate)--if you ever get the chance to eat there, take it, and drink the apple cider. It's delicious as is the food.

Honorable Mention to Mary Kay who figured out all the specifics before they were announced. There were some interesting facts in Friday's comments.

Where in the World was Lotus Girl? Part III

2010-07-09T08:56:00.003-04:00

Hint: Our trip was very appropriate for the 4th of July. We visited a few different places but all around the same city where we stayed.

This is a 3-D sundial. So cool.

This tree had to be taken down a few years ago when it was only 17% alive. This daughter and I were amazed at the size of it. There was a bowl in one of the souvenir shops that was made from it. Gorgeous and so unique, but with a price tag of $1800.00, it stayed in the shop.

Does this one help?

Or this one. I was so thrilled when I found this pool. You know how I like me some reflections.

There were some amazing vistas

and clever things. This is a warming dish. You pour hot water in the little spout and cap it, and it keeps your food hot. So cool.

A four seater privy. You gotta love it. The one on the right is smaller and has a step up for kids.

A templed hill just like in the song.

I thought this was so modern looking. It was originally built with brick and during the owner's lifetime looked like this.

This home was much more modest but also very interesting and had one of my favorite pieces of furniture of everything we saw--a drop leaf dining room table.

So... Good luck figuring it out.

Where in the World was Lotus Girl? Part II

2010-07-07T10:01:00.007-04:00

So Monday's clues didn't take you there? Here are a few more.

This tree is so cool. One daughter said. "It's the best climbing tree ever."

If you've been there, you may recognize these things.

If not, you may be lost again.

Have no fear Friday's clues will be obvious.

Remember you have to be a follower to win.

Where in the World was Lotus Girl?

2010-07-05T09:33:00.005-04:00

We were gone on a nice trip last week. Yea for summer! So I thought I'd let you in on the fun.

Here are the rules for anyone new:

1. Figure out where we went.

2. Be specific. (You must give me either the city or a particular site we saw. e.g. Phoenix, AZ or the Desert Botanical Gardens--those who've been here a while will recognize that as the answer for the last time we played.)

3. Send in your answers quickly in the comments section. The first one with the right answer wins.

4. If you knew where I was going ahead of time, you may not play. Sorry.

Prize: This time I'm offering a $30 gift card from Barnes and Noble or voucher from Amazon--your choice. A little more money because I'm making you be more precise.

Remember the first day picture clues are very vague. They get more obvious with each post.

Good Luck!

Daddy

2010-06-21T11:04:00.003-04:00

Yeah, I still call my father "Daddy." What's it to you. It's his name and has been as long as I can remember. I don't plan to call him anything else. I couldn't believe when my oldest brother went away to college and came back home calling him "Dad." What a betrayal. How shallow could he be? I'm just crazy that way.

Daddy dedicated his life to us, his family, and he's still busily engaged in making life better for everyone around him--even at 81. I love him forever and always. Happy Father's Day, Daddy.

Summertime Freedom

2010-06-14T10:35:00.004-04:00

Sorry about the hiatus for the last few weeks. I've been out of commission. I'm glad to be better again. I worship the miracle that is anti-biotics. Anyway! With the craziness of summer, I'm putting structure on hold and clutching onto freedom. I still plan to blog, but it will not follow my regular M-W-F schedule. I will post whenever I want about whatever strikes my fancy. Ah! Summertime freedom.

For today I thought an update on my progress would be in order. From the queries I sent out back in Feb. (15 total) on my first book, I had some partial requests and a full out, but no further interest. I realized the book still needed work from a critique I got in the spring, so I sent no more queries and let them peter out. I've gone back to editing, and the book is back at WIP I status. There have been some significant changes, and I think they've made the story flow much better. I'll send it back out when the edits are done. As for WIP II, I'm rough drafting and working out the "worldbuilding." It's earth (that's why the quotes), but since it's a dystopic, I still think of it as creating a new world/environment. I'm really excited about this one. It is super early in the process, but it has so much potential. Sometimes I want to set the first one aside and work exclusively on WIP II, but for now I'm seeing if I can handle the 2 projects at one time thing. It's actually going okay.

Friday's Photolife--Food

2010-05-21T11:30:00.005-04:00

How often do we remember our taste buds (or tasty bugs as my daughter used to call them) when we're taking pictures?

When we're at a wedding we will generally remember to take pictures of the cake.

What about the rest of the food?

How about the people enjoying the food? (Or being goofy with it.)

Most people don't like you taking pictures of them eating, but as much time as we spend eating, I think it's important to document that in our picture taking, too.

Drinking.

Being messy.

Licking our chops.

It's all part of life. It's part of who we are. Document it.

Application to writing? Include food in your stories. Describe it. Let it help set the mood. Those who have read The Hunger Games, think about that burnt loaf of bread. What does that add to the story?

Wednesday's Wonders--Mentors

2010-05-19T10:21:00.006-04:00

The last few weeks have been especially fun for me watching my children find things that they are very passionate about and providing ways for them to hone those talents. I've learned that letting them choose makes it mean so much more to them. All I have to do is provide opportunities and exposure and then nurture their preferences. Maybe it's Japanese or archery or art or music or karate.

Once they find those preferences, mentors help make a huge difference. It's a wonder to me how much my kids get out of working with mentors. Some of them are teachers. Some of them are fellow students. Some of them are people who just have the same skill. Some are in person and some are online. They all care deeply and want to see my children's talents grow. What more could a mom ask for? To me, they are a wonder.

In this writing venture I've found the same kind of mentors for myself. I'm grateful for them just like I'm thankful for my kids' mentors.

Friday's Photolife--Swapping background and foreground

2010-05-14T08:12:00.004-04:00

Last weekend I took pictures at the wedding of one of my nieces. Here's one of my favorite shots. It swaps up what we think should be front and center in a wedding picture, but it works. We all get the message of what is going on.

Application to writing? Sometimes I think we can focus on something other than the main subject and communicate the whole just as well if not better than when we put the main subject front and center.

Monday's Montage: Outliers

2010-05-10T10:22:00.004-04:00

My Purge-a-palooza is still continuing on (apparently, it's a slow purge), but I've decided my blog break has been long enough. I hope everyone is well.

I thought today it might be fun to give you a book recommendation. In my book club we just read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.

It was a very interesting study about what makes people successes--discussing the reasons they stand out from the crowd--why they are "outliers." If you've heard about the 10,000 hours to professional status, this is where it comes from--a very interesting concept and Gladwell makes a great case for it. The example of The Beatles and their success made so much sense. (For writers, I've heard this as the 1 million words concept.)

There are so many compelling arguments for the premises Gladwell puts forth that it is an intriguing read. Before I started the book, I was afraid that it would drag, but I found that I was so interested in what he had to say that I had a hard time putting it down.

I was fascinated with Gladwell's account of hockey players in Canada and soccer players in Europe, etc., and baseball players in the US, and how certain kids are much more likely to succeed.

I didn't necessarily agree with him on everything, and sometimes there were parts that dragged. The discussion on airlines and problems with communication got a bit longwinded and lost focus somewhat, but his points there were well made in the end and pretty scary.

All in all, it was a great read.

Monday's Montage: Purge-a-palooza

2010-05-03T10:26:00.003-04:00

Ah! Spring! It's a regular purge-a-palooza around here. From kids rooms, to closets and garages, to WIPs. All the rubbish has got to go. I'm caught up in it, and so the blogging world is on the back burner. I'm hoping another week will take care of it. Be back soon.

Friday's Photolife--A line

2010-04-16T08:20:00.004-04:00

When you first look at the picture below, think about what your eyes do. Mine follow the line of rocks from left to right every time. They make a pathway through the picture, and our eyes are drawn to it. We circle back around and look at the whole, but the first reaction is to follow the line.

The lines can curve

or be straight.

They can go from bottom to top

or top to bottom.

It doesn't matter. Our eyes will follow them,

even if they lead no where in particular.

Think about it when taking pictures. Add in an element that will lead the eye where you want it to go. Handrails and fences are great for that, but any line can do the job. Notice the railing on the bus in the picture below. It leads the eye up the street, so do the lines on the pavement, so does the line of cars (even their direction), so do the walls of the buildings (especially the horizontal lines like on the Home Depot). Don't your eyes want to go right up the street?

Application to writing? Learn the tricks of writing that can help you lead the reader's attention where you want him to focus. Personally, I'm still learning those. What are some of the tricks you use? Do you like to use them for misdirection?

Wednesday's Wonders--Pine Nuts

2010-04-14T07:50:00.003-04:00

They're pretty trendy these days: tossed in a salad or ground into pesto, but I remember a time when I didn't even know they existed.

As a kid I felt like I knew a lot about pine trees. Our house was surrounded by them and I could shinny up the bare trunk to the branches that started about 12 feet up. I was intimate with the pine cones. I decorated them, ripped them apart, used them for weapons. Life was cool with a pine tree. Who knew I was missing one of the best parts of the tree. Okay, so the pine nuts on the kind of trees we had around my house were too small to amount to much.

It was actually France that introduced me to these precious little nuggets of deliciousness. When I lived over there, a French friend cracked open one of the pine cones she'd gathered, and handed me a small creamy seed. "Eat it." I thought it was crazy, but I ate it anyway. Wow. Sold.

by fieelgh on deviantART

How many of you are fans of the pine nut? Have you ever searched for them in your own yard? Here's a great article about how to forage for them even in the US. Part of it is that you have to find the right kinds of pines.

Pine nuts were a revelation to me when I was a young college student, and I still eat them in wonder.

Friday's Photolife--Not using the whole

2010-04-09T10:55:00.003-04:00

I love taking pictures of portions of objects.

Sometimes, less says more.

Would this picture of a girl receiving a facial say more if I showed her whole head? You got that she was hungry, right?

I think we love to fill in what's not there.

That's part of why not using an entire subject is often pleasing in photography. The viewer's mind is not taken for granted.

Application to writing? We don't have to include every detail for the reader to get a scene. If we paint the portion we show well, the reader will see it all and be glad the writer didn't show more than the essential. (This is something I'm working on. I tend to think I have to say everything. I'm going back right now in WIP 1 and eliminating the things that don't need to be said. I can wear a reader out with minutiae. Hopefully, I'll be able to make the right choices.)

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday's Wonders--Honest Critiques

2010-04-07T10:46:00.003-04:00

Monday, I told y'all a little about the critique I just got back. It has opened my eyes to some serious flaws in my writing. Now I know, and, in knowing about them, I can fix them. I have my work cut out for me, but I can do it. *crosses fingers that I really can* It's just going to take time.

I love it when I learn new stuff, and I learned so much with this critique.

An honest critique is a precious gift to those that we read for. Right now I'm critiquing two friends' MSS, and I remind myself often not to pull punches just to be nice. If something strikes me as awkward, I need to tell them so. I can do it in a respectful way, but I still need to do it. Sparing their feelings will not help them at all, and I want to help them make their MSS better. That's the whole point of critiquing. By the same token, when they critique for me, I know they want to help me make mine better.

So, while I'd love to hear that I'm the most brilliant writer they've ever read, I so know, if they say that, they're totally lying. My mother is the only one who can get away with that (and only because she's prejudice).

To all you honest critters out there: KUDOS! You are a wonder. It's not always easy to tell a friend they are doing something wrong.

Disclaimer: This in no way reflects on the 2 books I'm currently reading. I'm thinking about it so much because of the crit I just received. =)

Monday's Montage: Home again, home again

2010-04-05T08:13:00.004-04:00

After my trip to Phoenix, AZ (Those who guessed Phoenix get a gold star, and if you said Scottsdale, you were practically right, because we were so close to it, we were almost in it.), I took the kids to my parents' for spring break. It was nice to visit with them and catch up. The kids had fun with their cousins who live nearby, and it was an all around nice week. I even recorded my parents telling stories about their life. There was some stuff in there I'd never heard before. So cool.

Now I'm home again and trying to get back into my normal groove. *sigh*

I just got a completely honest critique of my book back from someone who has some serious experience in the industry, and I, apparently, have a lot I need to do to fix things, if I ever want to publish. Soooo. Back to work. Ugh! I hate to step away from the new story I'm working on. It's so cool, but I need to give the first one another go around--plot work and cut/polish. I've still got a long way to go to be the writer I want to be. *sigh again* At least I have a map of the things I need to work on.

Day 3 of Where in the World is Lotus Girl?

2010-03-26T10:07:00.007-04:00

We have a winner.

I meant to have you guessing for the city, but, since I didn't specify, I'm going to have to take the state.

It's Arizona. Congrats to Mary Campbell.

The problem is that I have been to Arizona before--to the Grand Canyon.

I've just never been to this city. Any guesses for what the city is?

Yat-Yee had the Frank Lloyd Wright connections right. His influences are everywhere. (Good call. I was very impressed.)

The Botanical Gardens has a butterfly exhibit right now and

always the most incredible collection of succulents around and right now they're blooming.

Mary, send me your address to lacmoss (at) gmail (dot) com, so I can send you your prize.

Today we're heading out to the red hills of Sedona.

Day 2 of Where in the World is Lotus Girl?

2010-03-25T10:05:00.003-04:00

There were some good guesses so far,

but it's not Florida

or Hawaii

even though there are tons of palm trees.

There's art

and a lot of trees like this one that I don't ever remember seeing before. What is the deal with that bark?

Hint: Today I'm going to a unique botanical garden.

Where in the World is Lotus Girl?

2010-03-24T10:11:00.004-04:00

We interrupt our regularly scheduled post for a game of Where in the World is Lotusgirl? It's back by popular demand.

Remember that the first day the pictures are vague,

but they will get more and more specific with each post.

The first person to guess where I am wins a $2o gift card from Barnes and Noble.

You must be a follower to win.

Good luck. I'm sorry I won't be commenting much on your blogs this week, but, you know, I'm sort of occupied with my trip. If you've been told where I am (family and super close friends), please don't play.

Hint: I've never been here before.

Friday's Photolife--Rule of Thirds

2010-03-19T08:43:00.003-04:00

There are certain rules in taking pictures that instantly make for more visually appealing shots. One of those is the rule of thirds. Divide the image in thirds vertically and horizontally. If your main image is on one of the lines, it will be more pleasing to the eye.

It's even better if your main focal point is where the lines cross like my niece's face in the shot below

or the overflowing flowers in this urn in the gardens at Versailles.

Our eyes (for whatever crazy reason) are naturally drawn to that spot in any visual image and it feels good to have the subject there. I might even say it is comforting.

See what I mean? Our daughter's face is where the lines cross. Try putting your subject off center. You may be surprised at how good the pictures turn out. Just make sure you lock your focus on the subject.

Application to writing: There are certain rules in writing that make a story more satisfying. The three act structure is one of those (I picked this one since we're talking about threes). I didn't think it would make my book better if I used it, but, when I applied it to my story, it got much better. It felt right. I might even say that it was comforting. Go figure! What other rules have you found that made your novels better?

Wednesday's Wonders--Friends' successes

2010-03-17T07:53:00.003-04:00

On Monday, Beth Revis announced her book deal. A major, 3 book deal. Congrats Beth! You really deserve it! She's hosting a contest at her blog with lots of celebratory prizes. You should all check it out.

I love seeing my friends succeed. It's one of the best things in my life. I'm a cheerleader by nature, and I get a great deal of pleasure from the joy of those around me. In this writing world the successes are hard to come by, so, when they do come, it's extra important to take note.

I remember when Beth was working so hard on her former book and was frustrated with things and the process. Then she had this cool idea for a sci-fi book (not her usual genre but she went with it) and worked at it and worked at it. She continued building her web presence and networking. Then she found an agent. Then she got a book deal. I'm so excited for her success. On top of that, I'm really inspired by Beth's journey.

She is a consummate professional. She pushes herself hard and doesn't let the frustrations inherent in writing hold her back. When her former book didn't sell, she didn't give up. I'm sure she might have felt like it at times, but in the end she kept plugging away, and that is a lesson to all of us who have the same dream. It takes more than just talent and skill (which she has in abundance). It takes work and determination to make this dream happen.

So here's to my friends' successes. Here's to Beth and Tess and Kami and Stephanie and Kiersten and Jenni and their debut novels. Y'all are wonders.

Friday's Photolife--a little petting

2010-03-12T11:45:00.010-05:00

Health update: Girls=thumbs up, Boys=thumbs down. My husband is still not over what we had last week and earlier this week, and my son, who is over that, broke out in hives for the first time last night. Talk about freaking a mother out! We went to the doctor this morning. He's on benadryl and once that wears off zyrtec. Hopefully we can figure out what caused it.

Anyway, back to the regularly scheduled program.

Look at that sweet face. She's the best dog ever. Some might even say an angel dog except she's very stealthy (My daughter calls her a ninja dog. She'll just appear next to you without warning.) and I tend to trip over her.

My daughter actually took this picture. Very nice, eh? She has a good eye, but then again she's an artist. The white in the bottom left corner is her sketch book. She was trying to draw a picture of aforementioned angel dog who wanted to see what she was up to and wouldn't stay posed. Photographs are a much easier way to capture our four-legged friends. Here are a few tips. (Shown above: Get close.)

Take shots of them enjoying a warm spot in the sunshine. It's best if the light is coming from the left or the right with the animal facing the sun. I love this shot because of how the sun makes angel dog's white fur glow and how the puddle of leaves next to her matches her darker fur not to mention her expression of contentment.

Profiles rule. I love them. Try them sometime. They're great for people too.

Get down on the animal's level or even below them. Wild dog was standing atop a retaining wall, and I was on the ground below. He looks very angelic, doesn't he? Let's just say it's a good thing he's cute.

Catch them showing off. (Okay, so not technically a pet, but when I was little I played with them like they were. There were a lot around our house. This was taken at my parents.)

Be patient. I waited a long time for that crazy crab to come out of the hole. Animals are not going to cooperate a lot of the time even an angel dog. (This was my daughter's "pet" at the beach.)

Get them in action and don't be afraid to take a lot of pictures to get one that works. That's how action photography is.

Get shots of people with the pets. (I wanted to include this one of my mother when she was 8 with her dog. When I was younger, it helped me identify with her. That dog was special. He could climb trees.)

People as pets works too.

Application to writing? Don't forget that animals can highlight personality characteristics. How does X treat his pet or some random animal on the street. What is his reaction to a dangerous animal attacking? Is he scared of shellfish or creaped out by cats? It's just a thought. Plus, depending on your genre, animals could be the characters.

Wednesday's Wonders--Health

2010-03-10T07:53:00.003-05:00

We've been battling the galloping crud around here this week. It felled one daughter, then the son, then me and another daughter, and finally the hubby. It's been a real germapalooza. We're finally coming out of it, and it makes me thankful for many things: indoor plumbing, a microwave, extra soft tissues, takeout, an insanely comfortable bed with fresh sheets--to name just a few. But most of all, I'm thankful for my health that is returning.

There is nothing like sickness to remind us how much we appreciate health. So, on this day of returning to the ranks of the hale and hearty, I celebrate health. It is a wonder.

Friday's Photolife--Obsessing on Streetlights

2010-03-05T08:41:00.006-05:00

Sometimes I wonder what it is that draws us to certain elements of landscapes, cityscapes, home decor, stories, poems, music, etc. The things that capture our imaginations are as varied as we are. Mantel clocks have this appeal for me that I'm sure not everyone shares. A beautiful turn of phrase can send my heart into palpitations. I've already shared how cello music can make me cry. I'm sure it doesn't do that for everyone.

As a photographer, streetlights fascinate me. They rise up illuminating the world. There are so many shapes and sizes. Some loom over a gray city alone.

Some pull together in threes

or fours.

Some hold their own in the blurs of the night.

Some are patriotic. What else would you expect in Washington, DC?

Some look like sentinels. See the helmet held on by the straps?

Some are imposing and geometric.

I just can't resist them.

--Thanks to Lady Glamis for this picture she took of me while I was obsessing over one particular streetlight at the Smithsonian.

Application to writing? Go with what you love. It may not be for everyone, but, if it moves you, it will find an audience. (Most likely people like you.)

Someday I may have to do a book on the streetlights of the world.

Wednesday's Wonders--GPS

2010-03-03T12:30:00.004-05:00

Where would I be without my GPS? Lost in the nether reaches of some back country holler no doubt.

I love being able to see alternate routes and feel confident that I can always find my way. Moving every 3-4 years keeps me on my toes, and the GPS has revolutionized getting to know a new city. I'm not constantly lost at the beginning. Very nice!

I'll grant you, they do have their downsides. Sometimes roads are labeled wrong and new roads aren't added (at least not to mine--I need to get the updated CD, but the price is zaa-zaa-zing and not guaranteed to cover my area.) causing confusion. Sometimes its routing is not the most efficient way of getting places. There are even "unverified" areas that don't seem to compute and other areas where I end up driving roadless across the screen.

Whatever. I'll take it. Warts and all. It has made my life so much easier. It is a wonder.

Monday's Montage: Me and my Danskos

2010-03-01T08:15:00.006-05:00

While some people love shoes like these, I just can't wear them any more. Ever since I had foot surgery a few years ago, I've had to seriously alter the way I wear shoes. Eventually I found out the original surgeon left a screw across a joint and had it removed, but meanwhile I was floundering around trying to find something cute to wear that didn't scream "Grandma" but also didn't bring tears to my eyes.

Enter my Dansko fairy. The owner of a local, independent shoe store. I was looking at the Børns, the Clarks, the Naturalizers. All very comfortable and often cute. He suggested I might want to try Danskos. I did and (cue the Hallelujah Chorus) heaven. I could walk mostly pain free. There were quite a few styles--most of them cute--in his store and even more in the Dansko catalog.

I'd always just thought of Dansko as clogs for horsey people. I saw folks wearing them at the barn. Those clogs are tough enough to protect your toes if a hoof lands on your foot. That's for sure.

The standard clog

I'll grant you that they ain't cheap, but they last so long they are worth it. The very first pair I bought about 7 years ago looks great and I still wear them. And seriously, I was in so much pain at the time I would have paid just about anything to have a comfortable shoe.

Some alternative styles.

Now (post the 2nd surgery) my feet are in much better shape, but I still LOVE my Danskos and wear them all the time.

How many of you are wild for Dansko? I couldn't believe I'd never thought of wearing them before the pain drove me to them. How many of you have never heard of them?

Friday's Photolife--Taking the taker

2010-02-26T08:47:00.004-05:00

One of the things I love doing is taking pictures of people taking pictures. Maybe it's because 99% of the time I'm behind the camera. There are fun things going on with the photographer and her/his assistants. I love my niece's face here.

It's especially fun when they're going at it with multiple cameras.

or viewing what they've taken

or in crazy positions to get just the right shot

or in the end smiling for a camera. (My niece swiped my camera and took a picture of me. It's one of the very few recent ones I have.)

Wednesday's Wonders--Followers

2010-02-24T07:55:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I hit a milestone. 100 Followers. Woohoo! *Throws confetti*

I feel the need to mark the occasion with a prize, sooooo... Susan R. Mills, you're the lucky follower. You win a $20.00 gift card from Barnes & Noble for being my 100th. Just send me your address to lacmoss (at) gmail (dot) com, and I'll whip that right out to you.

Blogging has been such a great thing for me. I started it to have that web presence agents say we need and found that it has given me so much more. I've met so many wonderful friends. I've learned so many important lessons about writing and publishing. I've found beta readers and a crit group. I've hopefully helped some of you along the way. I've discovered that the writing world is full of helpful, friendly, supportive people. It's a nice thing to know that even though the competition is stiff most writers are cheering each other on rather than cutting each other down.

So... Thanks to the followers out there. The supporters. You are a wonder.

Friday's Photolife--Doing it in the dark

2010-02-19T10:31:00.005-05:00

When it gets dark out, don't put those cameras away. You can get some seriously cool shots in the dark, and don't think you have to use the flash. Taking pictures of things that are lit up in the night generally doesn't need a flash. With these fireworks, it was almost like daytime.

Go with the strengths of the darkness--glowing flames reflecting on a lake. If you're worried about blurring (which is always a concern in the dark without a flash), put the camera down on a solid surface. I used the fence around the lake to help me hold the camera steady for this shot. It works like a charm. A tripod is great, but it's not always convenient to carry around. Just work with what's there.

Sometimes I might use a flash when I'm far enough away that the light won't bounce back just so I don't get any blur when the subject is in motion like this ferris wheel.

Sometimes the blur is just what I'm going for. In the Tower of Terror--the blurs look almost like ghostly presences.

To get good blur pictures the point is to move the camera. Duh, eh? After years of working to keep the camera still, though, it was a revelation to me. Move the camera? On purpose? Yep. Totally. It can be really fun. Just play. Probably 1 shot out of 10 will be really cool.

Move the camera in wavy lines, in circles, squares, spell things out (if it's dark enough, you'll have time to do it).

Just go for it. Embrace the blur.

Application to writing? Don't think you can't do something a new way because you've always done it differently. Experiment. It might turn out great, just like taking blurry pictures in the dark.

Wednesday's Wonders--Good boy books

2010-02-17T09:28:00.004-05:00

My 13 year old son is all about action. He doesn't like to sit still even for a minute. He exercises while watching TV. He practices katas (for karate) and slings around swords and bo staffs. He plays basketball, baseball, ping pong and can't leave a ball sitting alone in a corner for even a minute. He is in constant motion on the wii, even when he doesn't have to be.

It probably comes as no surprise, then, that he's not a big fan of reading. It's a concept that I have a hard time fathoming.

It broke my heart when he was little and wasn't interested in me reading him bedtime stories. He didn't even want to sit still long enough for that. I'd come in with a stack of books, and he'd shake his head. It was such a shock since his older sister was a "just one more" pro. Five or more books a night was the norm.

I'm telling you about this just to say that I am so thankful for books that make him sit up and take notice. Friday he started The Percy Jackson Series and has been completely hooked. He started book 3 this morning. To me that's HUGE! Thanks to Rick Riordan and all the writers out there like him who are writing engrossing things for our boys to read. You are a wonder.

Now that I see it's possible for him to choose reading over everything else, I'm on a mission to find other books that will keep him engaged. Suggestions are always appreciated.

Monday's Montage: Who's right for me?

2010-02-15T09:42:00.005-05:00

I'm finding that trying to find the right agent to query is like trying to pick someone to date (but not just someone to date, someone you can love forever--work with an entire career) without knowing anything about them except that they like blondes (represent YA). I'm blonde, so does that mean they'll like me? Maybe I find out from some research that they also like blue eyes (paranormal). I have blue eyes. Does that mean they'll like me even better? Maybe it just means they are more open to what I have to offer, and that's my best shot. Research is helping me, but so many agents don't put much out there about what they like and don't like. (Some do, but a lot don't.)

I've been reading a lot of books lately that I wouldn't normally chose because agents I'm considering represent the authors, and, quite frankly, I haven't been that impressed with a couple of the books. Does that mean I don't want that agent? Does that mean I just don't like that author's style, and it doesn't mean much about the agent? Is this a waste of time?

I've been reading a book over the weekend that is very similar to my book in a lot of ways, and I really like it. Does that mean the agent that reps it would be perfect for me? Or would my book be too similar to what she already has on her list? For that one I suppose I'll just have to send a query and see. I'm hoping it will mean that she likes what I've got.

For quite some time I have been making lists of agents who represent books that I really like even though they are not exactly the same genre as what I write. Is this the right approach? Should I rethink this? What's y'all's take on it?

Friday's Photolife--Clouds

2010-02-12T08:49:00.002-05:00

Here's a revisit of a post I did last year. Since most of you weren't following me then, I thought it would be a nice thing to bring back up.

I love photography, as those of you who know me, are already well aware.

The thing with taking pictures is that when the sky is clear and the sun is bright is one of the worst times to take pictures. Shadows are harsh. There is a lot of glare. People are squinting. I'm not saying that you can't get good shots then, but generally it's not ideal.

Some of your best shots happen when the light is coming or going--early or late in the day and, if you're taking nature pictures, when the sky has texture--when there are clouds.

The picture above was taken during a thunderstorm before dawn at the beach last summer. The noise woke me up, and when I went out onto the balcony and saw those clouds, I ran back inside to get my camera. Cha-ching! Clouds rule!

Writing is very much like that. The clouds/trials give texture to our stories. They add drama and beauty. Without them there would be very little to tell. As writers our own trials and stormy times help us write them better for others. They may be awful to go through, but, at least, we can look at the positive side and say they help make us better writers.

Hurray for clouds, eh?

Wednesday's Wonders--Electricity

2010-02-10T15:26:00.002-05:00

The wind whipped through the enormous sycamore snapping branches into the power lines...

Or some such nonsense. Earlier today our electricity blinked on and off for about 10 minutes and then was gone. Nooooo! I had computer work to do. Plus, I hadn't posted, and there would be no more working online until the power came back. It effectively changed the nature of today's post. I began pondering the wonder that is electricity and what we're left to when it deserts us. My son even resorted to picking up a book. (Gasp! Maybe I should sabotage the fuse box sometime.)

So I've been cut short on my time for posting this lovely Wednesday afternoon, but, just so you know, I'm not taking my power for granted today.

Monday's Montage: Publishers Marketplace and some other great things online

2010-02-08T11:52:00.003-05:00

Hello again, everyone! I had a pretty productive week off from blogging. I got some serious editing in and did some good research on the agent front, and I think I'm ready to send things out. *Crosses fingers and hopes*

One of the resources that has been incredibly helpful in this process is Publishers Marketplace. I joined there about a year ago and have been enjoying reading the updates and deals news ever since. It's especially exciting when I see friends' books listed. I actually have been known to squeal out loud when I've seen their names--even if I already know about their deals.

The things that I have found most helpful lately? 1) The searches that show what agent reps what author or a particular book. It's been nice not to have to scour the house for the books I love (especially since some of them are lost in the black hole that is my daughter's room) and hope that the author gives a shout out to his/her agent. 2.) The individual agent pages that show what they are looking for with links to their own websites and what publishers they are working with mostly. 3.) The top dealmakers page has been really helpful too.

I could keep going. I've been up and down and around the PM site finding what I could. Not everyone updates their deals regularly, but that's a good thing to know too. It goes to personality.

Some of the other sites I've found particularly helpful are AgentQuery and QueryTracker, but there is no substitute for agent interviews in knowing what they are really looking for and what they are like. A special thanks to Cynthia Leitich Smith at Cynsations for all the marvelous interviews and Casey McCormick at Literary Rambles for all their fabulous agent info and links to interviews.

Final polish before...

2010-02-01T10:35:00.002-05:00

I'm taking this week to work on my final polish before I have a published writer friend reading my MS at the end of the week. I won't be blogging, so I can focus on what I've got to get done. Wish me luck.

I'm planning on starting the query process next week. *Crosses fingers that all will go well with that*

Friday's Photolife--Backlit

2010-01-22T10:54:00.005-05:00

When I was learning to take pictures, I learned to keep the light behind me or at least coming from the side. That would make my pictures better.

That's true for a lot of pictures (especially of people). This one shows the point although there is a bit of light coming from the side and with photoshop I could easily fix it. But it's best on these types of shots to get the light on the faces. However, there are situations that cry out for a backlit shot.

One taken from the darkness into the light.

Ones that illuminate streetlights

or highlight forms.

Ones that throw the attention at the sky and the silhouettes against it.

Ones that rejoice in the shadows and shapes

Ones that expose life beginning

or life frozen in a world of snowy lace.

Try taking some shots with the light in front of you. You might be surprised at what you get and what statements those pictures make.

Application to writing? Don't always show things in one light. Let the illumination come from all directions.