Art for a Cause: A Turtle Tie and a Special Needs Skater

Want to know a great way to sponsor a special needs skater? The tie, pictured above, will go up for auction and proceeds will go towards sponsoring a skater from the Triangle Special Hockey Association. Click here to find out more about the tie and its designer, Ian Sands. I hear turtle ties are all the rage this year!

I'm excited! I just got word tonight that I'm going to the Chapel Hill Novel Retreat in April! I'm excited! And better yet, I see that a couple of my critique group buddies, Janelle and Jennifer, will be in attendance as well. I'm looking forward to it! :0)

Illustration Friday: Garden

A garden in a garden

Book Review: The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous

"The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous" has so many notable lines!

What this book is about: A 13 year old girl with Aspergers Syndrome who thrives on keeping a strict schedule. However some changes come into her life that make "order" a difficult thing to maintain.

What I like about this book:

1) Though there is a very strong "reality" of how cruel people can be, especially when someone is "different", the humorous style of writing, as well as the title give me a strong sense that something good is going to happen. There is a "hopeful" quality about the writing style.

2) A very strong voice and distinct characters.
This book does a great job of keeping descriptions true to the main characters voice. I think this is what I like most about it. Here are some examples that I've fallen in love with so far:

"Veraleen had one of Grandma Birdys white eyelet aprons on and it looked like a postage stamp suck over her tummy. She wore a white chefs cap that had flopped over from exhaustion. And those big ole nurses shoes, she was wearing those too. At that exact moment I saw Grandma Birdy peeking in through the screen door, her face all pinched up and her nose twitching, taking in the good smells. Then, like a silent specter, she was gone."

And this next one I think is hysterical, because I know people who do this and it bugs the tar out of me! I love how Suzanne Crowley captures it. FYI: "Jumbo" is the name of the town where the main Character lives:

"Jack," my father repeated. "So you've moved into the Porter house.
"That I have," he replied with his Irish lilt that even I had to admit had a nice sonorous ring to it.
There was a long silence. I wondered lots of things about the Poet, and I'm sure everyone else did too. But in Jumbo you don't ask direct questions. You wait till later when you can speculate with others and build your own embellished truth."

And I'll just do one more.

This last one I find very sweet and very true description of how wonderful it is to have someone, especially a father, take interest in your feelings:

"Grandma says men have a way of disappearing when anything is afoot, and it's true about Daddy. But sometimes he tries to talk to me and when he does, it's like soft raindrops making hopeful marks on a desert plateau."

To retreat or not to retreat? That is the question. (I'll know the answer by March 10th)

I signed up for my very first weekend retreat in Chapel Hill, NC. There are only 24 participants, so if more than that sign up they will choose via lottery. So, I won't know if I'm "in" until March 10th.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope I get in! There will be 3 editors in attendance and participants will receive a one on one critique with one of the editors. Since I've been on this writing journey I've come to appreciate any feedback I can get from editors. It's GOLDEN! I hate wondering what an editor thinks. I want to KNOW! How can I make my manuscripts better unless I really know what an editor is thinking? This is the #1 reason I'm excited to go.

#2 reason for wanting to attend: it seems like contacts in this business are about as important as good writing skills. I need to make more contacts.

#3 reason: I'm also excited about the prospect of having a full weekend to concentrate on writing and not have to worry about cooking or cleaning or worrying about anything else except developing my craft.

While I wait to find out if I'm "in" or not, I'm starting to do my homework. I want to become familiar with the editor's works so I picked up some books that were edited by those who will attend the conference:

Martha Mihalick - Greenwillow/HarperCollins:
Chase, by Jessee Haas
and
The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous, by Suzanne Crowley

Sarah Shumway - Dutton/Penguin
The Beasts of Clawstone Castle by Eva Ibbotson

Krista Marino - Delacorte/Random House
The Alchemyst, The Secrets of the Imortal Nicholas Flamel, by Michael Scott

I like to read, so even if I don't get in, there's no time lost. Plus, Martha Mihalik will also be at the Annual Carolina's SCBWI Conference in September, so I can prepare for that as well.

I better stop typing. I've got some reading to do!

Illustration Friday: Leap

Book Review: Goose Girl, By Shannon Hale

Goose Girl
By Shannon Hale

Two of my critique group buddies recommended this book. They said that the YA novel I'm working on has a similar "feel" and "tone" as "Goose Girl." Now that I've read the book, I've got to say that I'm giddy beyond words to be compared to the likes of this book! I loved it! And if my current WIP is even half as good as this one, I may actually be published one day.

Goose Girl is a clever tale about a young princess, Ani, who has the ability to talk to birds. This gift is not looked upon favorably in her Kingdom which leaves her feeling out of place and inadequate.

When Ani's lady in waiting leads an elaborate scheme to steal Ani's identity, Ani begins a journey where she develops her self-worth and learns the value of her abilities.

One of my favorite passages in this book is from the evening of a Royal Ball and Ani feels out of place. When I read this passage in the context of the chapter, I was able to visualize the scene as well as emotionally relate to Ani. It's a simple passage, but it captured so much for me.

"She reached the pond and looked back to where the pink marble ballroom gazed brilliantly out at the night, the glass and walls trapping the music in. The people inside looked beautiful, graceful, and completely at ease in their place. It helped her to resolve to realize that she was nothing like them."