Indie-rama, plus: what must go? YOU decide!

So, first off:  If you didn't know already, May is National Independent Booksellers Month.  Rock on, Independent Booksellers!  To celebrate in my own way, I wrote this spotlight on local Indie the King's English.   The spotlight appeared on the Shrinking Violets blog, which is devoted to helping introverted writers with publicity--both for themselves and for their favorite  bookstores.   Jenn Northington (Marketing and Events Director at the King's English) and I ate brownies in order to fully observe this terrif holiday. With my heart full of love for the King's English and its awesomeness, I decided to drop by on Thursday night to check out the reading/signing for YA fantasy author Aprilynne Pike.

If there's one thing TKE lacks, it's sufficient parking.  After all, the store is located in that little strip of Sugarhouse where local businesses and residences coexist in perfect harmony.  Parking lots are not conducive to said harmony.  Thus, I was resigned to street parking.  The only spot I could find was thisclose to someone's driveway.  Should I risk it?  Then I saw the Parking Enforcement officer coming down the hill on his little golf-cartmobile.  I turned off my car and stood next to it, thinking that if I was in violation,  this was certainly the man who'd tell me so.  When he putt-putted off without a second glance at me, I breathed a sigh of relief and got ready to PAR-TAY!  (There was cake.  Need I say more?)

After the shindig, including a bite to eat at the restaurant next door, my friends and I were heading  home in my car.  Imagine my surprise as I proceeded to make a semi-U-turn (never my strong suit) and saw two pedestrians rush out toward me, seemingly out of nowhere, as though they WANTED me to hit them.  One figure retreated, while the other came up to my window.  Upon closer inspection, this second figure proved to be a tweenage boy.  A very embarrassed-looking tweenage boy, who prompted me to roll down the window.  He then said, "My mom made this for you."  Before running away, he thrust the following note in my direction:

Yes, that is a picture of my car.  Which this lady took, printed out, and Scotch-taped onto a poorly written note.  As my friend Brodi pointed out, the picture actually proves my point more than hers:  technically, I'm NOT parked in her driveway.

In Brodi's blog she mentions her list of  Things That Must Go a la Radio From Hell on X96.   This scenario involves so many Things That Must Go that I simply can't decide on one.  This is where you come in.  What do YOU think must go?

a) East-side Divas with too much time on their hands.  (Sorry East-Benchers, but you know how we sistas from the street feel about your kind).

b) Grammatically incorrect, ill-composed and all-around bizarre notes.  (My favorite line:  "Are you just un-aware?  If so now you are."  Runner-up:  "I'm just hoping this will save someone else in the future." )

c) Parents who make their kids do their bidding.   How was this mom to know what a sweet, gentle person I was?  What if I was the burly, mean, criminal type who grabbed her kid and took off?  I'm not a parent, but really...do you have to be a parent to know this is a BAD IDEA?

d) Parking enforcers on funny-looking golf carts.

So?  What's the verdict?

Happy Mother's Day

Everything else on this blog is late, so I figured I had to follow suit with Mother's Day.  You know, to be consistent.  Consistently late.

The week leading up to Mother's Day always makes me yearn for my youth.  Or, not necessarily MY youth, but youth in general.  For those of a certain age, the week before Mother's Day offers a host of activities:  Paint a flowerpot for Mom.  Plant a pansy for Mom.  Decorate a cookie for Mom.  Bead a bracelet for Mom.  Make a picture frame for Mom.  Best of all, these activities are FREE!

Of course, while there's probably no official rule, stores don't want a twenty-eight-year-old to come make free things for her mom.  Unless they do.  In which case, they should make that known, because I would LOVE to make a free gift for Mom.

Not because I'm good at making things ( I'm not) or  because I'm cheap (I am) but because it makes Mother's Day so easy.  And that ease is completely wasted on little kids who have yet to realize how hard Mother's Day can be.  Those kids don't realize that the time will come when a plaster imprint of  their hand will no longer constitute a suitable gift.

Above is a picture of my mom.  I am a baby in this picture.  I don't look the same anymore, but she does.   Well, except for having a more current hairstyle.  Which reminds me, check this out:

Is this a fabulous portrait of the early 80's or what?  Thank goodness for Mother's Day, or I might forget about such quality photographs.

If you want to meet my mom (and who wouldn't? ) she'll be at the Provo Children's Book Festival at the Provo City Library this Saturday.  Of course, she'll be there to see me... but I'm sure she'd be glad to see you, too!  And so would I!  I'll be speaking at 2:30 with the lovely and talented Ann Dee Ellis, but there will be speakers all day long.  And food!  And prizes!  And fun!  Check it out!

Happy Mother's Day, to my mom and all the moms out there!  Also, if anyone has good ideas for what I can give my mom on upcoming M-Days, please leave a comment.  I need all the help I can get.

What I Did in April Instead of Blog

Why is it so hard for me to blog? It's a rhetorical question, of course.  Those of you who read this blog regularly (probably more regularly than I post) know the myriad reasons it's hard for me to post.  Still, I did such cool things in April I want to post about now, even though it is admittedly lame to post about things weeks after they happened.  Like, don't you have anything going on NOW that you'd rather post about?  Yes, I do.  But not at this moment.  So I'm doing the lame thing and blogging ex-POST facto.  Get it?  Post?  Seriously, I kill myself with these.

So:

Educator Night at the Orem and West Jordan B&N Stores:

Yes, I was actually at both stores that night.  Both stores invited me.  As I've mentioned before (to some of you many times) I need all the publicity I can get!  When I'm invited to go somewhere, I go.  Unless that place is overly dangerous.  I mean, basically, when you're me, any place is dangerous.  Opportunities to walk into stuff occur everywhere.  So for me to refuse an invitation somewhere it has to be out-of-control dangerous.  Even then I would probably still go, because who doesn't love a little danger?  Especially when most of your dangerous activities consist of walking into stuff?  So anyway, I go where I'm invited.

I planned to have a late lunch in Provo with my awesome brother and BYU student, Ethan.  Then I'd go to the Orem B&N from 5-6 and be at the West Jordan B&N by 7.  And things went swimmingly!  I had a delicious lunch with my brother, who is doing well, of course.  Ethan is like a cat--he always lands on his feet.  Actually, I guess that's the only way in which he's like a cat.  He might like naps.  I'm not sure.  Anyway, life is good for him, as per usual.

Brandi runs events at the Orem B&N.  This was my first time meeting her, and she's super nice, well-organized and has exquisite taste in nail art.  And I don't usually notice nail art.  Thank you, Brandi!

I got to my next stop just in time, where I was on a panel with young adult authors Ann Cannon, Jessica Day George, Shannon Hale, Mette Harrison, Randall Wright and Sara Zarr.  I was the only debut novelist there, so I mostly listened to those wiser and more experienced, but I did interject occasionally.  We had a huge turnout, and everybody signed tons of books.  Oh, and the food?  At both B&Ns it was awesome! Orem had REALLY good cookies and tropical punch, and at West Jordan we got cheesecake (mine was Neapolitan)(not that it matters).

Here I am with my homie, Sara.

Please don't be alarmed by the gang sign and pseudo-gang-sign flashed in this pic.  Sara and I are from the mean streets, is all, and we wanted to pay our respects, yo.  Anyway, thanks to Angie, Robin, Pam and all involved.  It was tight.  Yo.

AND I was invited to speak at Granite School District's branch of the International Reading Association.  As an alum of Granite School District (NOT when I lived on the mean streets), it was an honor to talk  to teachers, librarians, and others who labor on my home turf!  I even got to see my former junior high French teacher!  Do I have a picture with her?  No.  I have a picture with my foam-core blow-up, of course!

Ah, blow-up.  My constant companion at  each and every book event.  How do I love thee?

Anyway, this picture was taken by my former sixth-grade teacher, who invited me to speak!  Thanks, Janet, and everybody at GCIRA!

Speaking of foam-core blow-up, which really, only I was, query this:  For those of you who are published, what has been your most helpful/biggest hit as a promotional item?  Were you lucky enough to score a foam-core blow-up?  And for those of you who are book buyers (hopefully everyone!) what do you think is the best promotional tool.  Bree and I think car window stickers would be cool.  Does anyone agree with us?

Everything Is Fine

This is a super-clever title for today's post (if I do say so myself) because: 1)  Even though an evil facebook-version-of-swine-flu sent my friends a phony and non-functioning link at 2:39 this morning, I changed my password so it should never happen again.  AND I got a bunch of email messages from some of the coolest people I know this morning.  Who cares if they all wondered the same thing, which was, in essence, WTF?  I still got messages from them.  So everything is fine!

2) Even though I haven't posted in nigh unto three weeks, it isn't because I'm immobilized by sunburn, like I was last year at this time.  It's just because I'm technologically inept!  So everything is fine!

3) Even though I don't have a picture proving it, I actually DO know Ann Dee Ellis, author of two YA novels including the recent release EVERYTHING IS FINE.  And, on Tuesday night, I was lucky enough to attend Ann Dee's reading/signing at the King's English.  Ann Dee looked great, as usual, sporting a new super-swank do that attracted many an "ooh" and several "ahhs."

Also, I got to hang out with my writer friends, and that's always a good time.  Here is a picture of my Writer Peeps (see sidebar for links to their sites), getting a bite to eat after the shindig:

4) Even though getting that picture from my camera to this page took me way longer than it should have, I actually did it!  And even though this picture isn't exactly great, I have it on good authority that considering it was taken in low light, it's not half bad!  So I am capable of operating electronics, contrary to popular belief.  And that means everything is fine!

5) Even though the life of a writer is challenging (or perhaps just a writer who has trouble with all facets of technology, ranging from maintaining a flu-free facebook account to using a keyboard) I remain hopeful.  And book blogger/reviewer extraordinaire Little Willow posted my feelings on the subject.

So everything is fine!  In fact, some might say (and I'd agree) that everything is very fine indeed.

Remakes

Last week was crazy for me with all things NOT writing related!  In fact, I only worked one day, when I met my Posse for our weekly Writing Day (can't miss that).  The rest of the week I performed Bridesmaid Duties, as one of my BFFs from high school was getting married.  In high school we were known as "The Crew," and in some circles, we still are.  True, these are usually circles we form ourselves...but anyway, back to my beautiful friend The Bride. Friday was The Wedding and at the reception, I got to act as official videographer.  I love this job!  Hmm...is it still a job if nobody asks you to do it?  Or even WANTS you to do it?  I don't offer much cinematic genius, between bad hand constantly shaking the camera and my general technological un-savviness.   However,  Daniel bought me a  camcorder for our own wedding six years ago (apparently at the time he thought my bad hand and tech-ineptness were simply passing fancies).  When I found the receipt I about passed out after seeing the cost!  Now I use the video camera every chance I get, despite my lack of skills.  I'm not getting better, but the videos ARE getting more hilarious!

Someday I will post one of my videos, but because I'm feeling generous right now, I will merely post one of those boring "still-pictures" Daniel took during the Bride and Groom's First Dance:

The song?  "Make You Feel My Love," performed by Garth Brooks.  Personally, I prefer Billy Joel's version, but I have to give G.B his props.  He does a nice job with this song.  I know most  people call it a "cover" when an artist performs someone else's song (this one's a Bob Dylan) but I call it a remake.  Probably there's a technical difference of some sort, but I don't really care.  I love how truly talented musicians can make a song their own, no matter who came up with it first.  FYI, a LOT of musicians have remade this song, including soul-diva Adele whose rendition is stunning.  The  Google search I performed to get this info also showed me a new phenomenon of which I was previously unaware:  people (often teens) singing songs along with a karaoke machine, taping themselves, then posting it on YouTube.  I think I would call these songs "covers."

But I digress.  When I heard "Make You Feel My Love" at the wedding, I thought two things:

1--How happy I was for my Crewmate and her new husband and

2--How we as writers perform remakes.

I mean, there's the basic idea of retellings (how many versions of Cinderella are out there?) but I think it's more than that.  I once heard there are only seven different plots, which is probably an exaggeration, but still.  Truly, we are all just bringing our own twist to a story that's been made a long, long time ago in many, many different ways.

I was reading those crazy comments on YouTube (dangerous, because 99.9% of those comments are such complete trash).  But one comment following a remake-video made me smile: "The Master [Bob Dylan] would be proud."

I love that.  Because what more can we ask for, as artists of any kind, than to make The Master proud?

My First Photo (with the LHA)

Yes, I know I've actually had lots of photos in my posts.  But this is the first time I added one 100% by myself!  Okay, actually that's not QUITE true...my friend Valynne actually took the picture, and then emailed it to me.  But I was the one to figure out how to post it.  That counts for something, right? Below, feast your eyes on young adult writing sensation Laurie Halse Anderson!  I first fell in love with her stunning  novel Speak in 1999.  Now not only is Speak a YA classic, its ten-year-anniversary is a phenomenon!  The message on my lovely lapel button?   Speak up about Speak.  I got to speak up about Speak to the LHA herself, when she came to a signing in my own city.  Not only did I get to mingle with other writers, other readers, and a bunch of cool people in general, I actually got to hear the LHA speak (not just about Speak--in fact, mainly about her breathtaking new book, Wintergirls).

Do I look as thrilled as I felt?   (FYI: I was pretty darn thrilled)

Finding Nebo

Sorry I didn't post last week.  I really try to do the whole once-a-week-blog tradition, but last week I was just too tired.  Don't worry, Dan still got to play game night with Julie and Reo.  I just put my head down on the kitchen table in a state of pseudo-sleep. Why was I so tired?  I had spent the day presenting at the Nebo Young Writers Conference at Springville High.  Although it was exhausting, it was one of the best events I've ever attended.

For one thing, the authors were treated like royalty.  We had our own lunch table with our own ten-foot sandwich.  People were always around to give us water (an important thing when you are presenting).  But the best part were the students (who came from all around the valley and were anywhere from elementary to high school aged) .  These were some of the brightest, most inquisitive students I've ever encountered, and speaking with each one of them was a joy.

From this picture you might not think the experience was a joy:

As in most pictures, in this one my eyebrows have a mind of their own and I look more than a little insane.  Luckily I am used to this look.   Lest I violate some sort of copyright law, I should mention that this photo appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune, photographer Scott Sommerdorf.  Thanks, Scott Sommerdorf!  I don't blame you for my maniacal look in this picture.

Thanks to all those who made this event a great time!

I Get Two Thumbs Up

On Thursday and Friday I attended the Utah Valley University Forum on Childrens' Literature. I gave a lecture on voice on Thursday afternoon and signed my book both days. I made new friends, saw old friends and ate lunch next to award-winning and best-selling author, Shannon Hale. Best of all, during one of Shannon's speeches, when asked what her favorite reads of the year were, she chose The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, and The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith! So, if you haven't read my book yet, pick it up for no reason other than it being recommended by Shannon Hale! Also, on Wednesday David at Largehearted Boy Book Notes posted this essay about what music inspired The Way He Lived.  Thanks David!

25 Belated Random Things About Me and an Amusing Anecdote

So, long ago when everyone was doing that "25 things about me" on Facebook, I was tagged a billion times. This week I got around to actually responding. Below is my note. 1) I have a "bad hand." It's my right hand, and it has always been just a little...non-functional. When I was twelve years old and my brain tumor was discovered, I learned the reason behind said bad hand. Alas, the tumor was removed and bad hand was still bad. BUT the bad part of my brain (which I hadn't even known was bad!) was gone, so you know, bad hand wasn't such a big deal after that.

2) As a result of bad hand, I type at a speed which I lovingly refer to as "slower than an untrained ape." I was first tagged for this note six weeks ago, and I have been typing ever since...no, just kidding. BUT...

3) I am a writer. I write young adult (teenage) novels. My first book, THE WAY HE LIVED, debuted in November, and if you haven't procured a copy yet, do so post-haste! I mean it! This note o'random things can wait!...Anyway, for the last two months I have been writing the first draft of my next young adult book, BACK WHEN YOU WERE EASIER TO LOVE. Good news: I already have a publisher for this book and it's at a very cool publishing house...Penguin! Bad news: This meant I had an actual deadline! I'm a pretty fast writer, but alas, only when it comes to writing by hand. Long story short, until now all my typing time has been spent on my book. Now that it's finished (at least until I get my revision letter) I am free to frivolously type as I please! Sorry I am a month too late, on-the-ball peeps.

4) Now that I have free time, I can indulge in my hobbies: organizing closets, finding stellar deals for trips I may or may not take, and photographing my favorite chocolate desserts. Yes, I am aware I need help in the hobby department, but...

5) I am too uncoordinated to find better, more "kick-A" hobbies. Bad hand comes with myriad other bad body parts. I have a bad (right) foot that I broke my senior year and it's never been the same. Bad (right) leg drags, causing me to occasionally fall off treadmills. Bad (right) ear has limited hearing...notice any patterns? Sometimes I refer to the right side of my body as my "bad half."

6) I also have a fake tooth on the right side of my mouth. That has nothing to do to my lack of coordination, though--I simply never had a real one. My fake tooth is noticeably smaller than my other teeth (to no one but me, apparently). Its nickname is...wait for it...bad tooth.

7) Other parts of me that are bad: My head (I'm prone to dizziness and headaches, thanks both to the brain tumor and the car accident I was in which led to the tumor's discovery). My nose (I can't smell very well, after a post-car-accident surgery removed my lower sinuses and various smell-receptor things. My sense of smell is getting better, though). I think that's it, although some might argue there's WAY more messed up with my head than just dizziness and general achiness.

8 ) In fact, some might argue I'm neurotic. I'd be one of them. I'm a writer, after all. In fact, is a neurotic writer even random? I'll have to give this some thought. Although, I think at least part of my neuroses stems from the fact that...

9) I have bad luck. I never considered myself unlucky until a few months ago, when a friend, in passing mentioned that since I was unlucky, blah-blah- blah-unlucky-thing would inevitably happen. And she was right! If there's a chance of something going wrong or something going right in my life, it will generally go wrong! For my first twenty-seven years, I simply thought this was Murphy's Law...now I realize it is simply MY Murphy's Law.

10) The lucky part of my life that counteracts all the unlucky parts and then some is my husband, Daniel. Once I heard someone say that he was never truly happy until he met his wife. I thought that was so beautiful, but that it could never happen to me (at the time, my personal Murphy's Law seemed to dictate I would forever be unhappy).

11) I don't remember the first time I met Daniel. My excuse was that I was sick at the time--not like I had the flu, but that I had a long-term, ongoing illness (see My Murphy's Law, above). Needless to say, I was not on the lookout to meet people, for friendship or otherwise. We first met at a party, an excursion I viewed not unlike a field trip a nursing-home resident might take--something designed to get you fresh air and "out into the land of the living." Thank goodness I somehow made an impression on Daniel.

12) I asked him later what it was he noticed about me, and he said he thought I was cute. This is interesting, as generally speaking I am not cute. I'm not great at remembering to put in the effort required, each day, to groom oneself--necessary to being cute. Also, he said he liked my shoes. Don't worry, they were not nursing-home shoes.

13) Daniel and I met again after a few weeks. This time, he asked me out and I thought he was arranging some sort of group event (I was still in the nursing-home state of mind and saw him as Activities Director). I don't know how he got me to realize he was asking me on a date, but I do know I accepted. We were engaged six weeks later, and got married three months after that. We've been married for six years.

14) I graduated from BYU six months after I got married. Next to being engaged, it was the busiest time of my life. In that time, I made my first home with Daniel ( my grandmother's house in Provo while she spent the winter in Phoenix), finished school, wrote a still-unpublished-but-nonetheless-great novel, sent out a bazillion thank-you notes, and bought a house. I get tired thinking about it.

15) Our first house was in Layton, Utah were we lived for three-and-a-half blissful years. It was there I discovered my spiritual gift (thank you, Holly Cupala, for mentioning gifts of the Spirit!).

16) True, my gift isn't one the Bible specifically mentions. In fact, some might question whether or not it is actually a gift. But I think it's important. Kids think they know me. Not the kids who actually do know me, because obviously, that's not much of a gift at all. I mean that kids I've never met will come up to me and talk like we're in the middle of a conversation, like we've been BFFs forever. Let me reiterate that I DO NOT KNOW THEM. I don't do school assemblies, I'm not on the Disney Channel. Not all kids recognize me. But enough do that I'm convinced someday it will be of significance.

17) Despite being BFFs with kids near and far, I have no children of my own.

18) Also, I have no pets. I'm plagued by allergies (this could have gone in the Parts of Me That Are Bad section).

19) I am allergic to grass. Kentucky bluegrass, which is such a misleading name because it's everywhere. Like Kentucky Fried Chicken.

20) I was asked to be the church camp director for the teenage girls in my congregation. While I love these girls, I am oh-too-aware that grass grows at this camp. Yikes.

21) I am fiercely competitive. I always forget this fact about myself because, for obvious reasons, I don't play sports. Last night I was playing a game with "my girls" and again saw this ugly side of myself.

22) As far as other bad traits: I need 9 to 10 hours of sleep a night so I waste a lot of my life in bed. I don't exercise or eat breakfast. I get moody without a steady intake of chocolate. I used to have a violent streak, and hit people regularly. I still have the streak, I suppose, but I've learned to overcome it.

23) It was only a few years ago that I succeeded re: nonviolence. I was almost twenty by the time I realized I was giving my roommate (and best friend) bruises. Thanks for putting up with me, Cammen!

24) To be fair, I'm sure I have good traits, too.

25) I'm drawing a blank as to what they are.

So, I'm sure everybody has already done this, but if you haven't: BOOYAH. You are tagged. I don't even want to think about how long it has taken me to type this. If you've read this far, you deserve a prize of some sort. I'll work on it.

If you are reading this note and you are not on Facebook, but you do want to participate, leave me a comment so I can check out your twenty five things!

#16 is where the amusing anecdote comes in. My friend Bree Despain, who is also an author (watch for her debut young adult novel The Dark Divinesometime next year) reminded me of this story.  As a writer, I'm prone to occasionally going crazy and only another writer can truly understand.  That's why, a few weeks ago I came to Bree's house a few hours early for our critique group meeting.  While we commiserated we ran errands with her two sons.  One of her little boys kept interrupting our conversation by saying, "Guess what?  Guess what?"  Trying not to monopolize Bree's (aka "mom's") time, I asked him "What?"  He replied, "Why do you always answer me?"  It was then I realized that any attention was not good enough-or at least my attention was not good enough.  Why this came as a surprise I don't really know.  From then on, I let Bree do the talking. 

Imagine my surprise when we pulled  into the garage.  The little boy was again with the, "Guess what?"   His mom was saying, "What?"  The kid looked up at her.  "No, no Mom."  He looked at me.  "I was talkin' to THIS guy."  Maybe it says something about me that I was just honored he was talking to me again. 

More amusing kid anecdotes to come.  Although many people blog about funny things their own kids say,  I have more than enough stories of things other people's kids say to me. 

Meanwhile,  on a professional note,  I will be speaking this Thursday, March 12th, at Utah Valley State University as part of the Forum on Children's Literature.  My session is in the afternoon.  If you'll be there, come say hi!  I just mentioned to my scribe (aka sister) to end the previous sentence with an exclamation point because I really wanted people to come say hi to me.  She then asked if she should mention the part about me wanting people to say hi to me.  That hadn't occurred to me until now.  Isn't it handy to have a scribe?  I bet my sister doesn't think so. 

Have a great week!

Good News All Around (Except for When I Hear Tommy)

Thanks to everyone who gave ideas on how to better promote my book. Today I had a long talk with my awesome agent, Michael. Everyone has been super helpful. Now all I need to do is learn how to blog for myself. I'm almost there! Meanwhile, this week I finished the first draft of my forthcoming young adult novel Back When You Were Easier to Love. I forget if I have mentioned this on my blog before, but in case I haven't, this book will be coming out from Dutton in early 2011. Now I am one step closer by actually having the first draft done. YAY!

Dan and Reo just finished playing Pinball Wizard on Rock Band. That songs always depresses me, because it reminds me of when I was a sophomore in high school and saw the rock opera The Who's Tommy. I always felt so bad for Tommy, just like I do right now. Maybe I identify with him just a tad too much.

Tomorrow I'm having a Writers' Day with my writing posse. Of the six of us, three of us met in college, when we all enrolled in a course on writing for young adults. The others we picked up along the way (but we love them just as much). We were planning on having a retreat of some sort, which never worked out. Mainly because one of my peeps runs a successful shoe party business and, as a result, is busy practically always. But, we've all carved out some time tomorrow to meet at my house and write, revise, and of course eat. Have I mentioned in this blog how much I love food? Quite a bit. But, I love to write more, so I am very excited for tomorrow. If you read this entry anytime on Saturday and have any questions for six writers in various stages of their writing career, send me a comment. We'll consult and get back to you.

Until next week!