The current of a brilliant book

Ok, so I allowed the current to take me without resisting. Then again, it's unwise to fight a strong current-you can become worn out and possibly drown before getting to shore. The current was The Apothecary, by Maile Meloy. It was brillant! I loved the characters and the premise. Janie, at age fourteen has to move to London from Los Angeles because her parents were placed on Hollywood's infamous Blacklist in 1952. This grabbed me right away. When she befriends the Apothecary's son, Benjamin, the mystery and adventure begins and rewrites of my YA, drifted away. At least I didn't drown! Her sequel came out this month, but I need to revive those rewrites first, before I plunge into The Apprentices.

YA Author Tour

A couple of weeks ago, I voyaged out to Mission Viejo Library for the "Summer Lovin' Tour". A group of women YA Authors: Jessi Kirby, Suzanne Young, Sarah Ockler, Shannon Messenger, Kimberly Derting and Morgan Matson. I had read/purchased books from a couple of the authors that were there. The ladies each talked about their latest book and then had a Q&A. It was nice to discover that Shannon had written a MG first, like myself. These author's books have elements that are similar to the YA I'm writing so it was nice to experience how they presented themselves. They did a great job in creating a fun atmosphere for all.

Research then Real-Time

 Three days after finishing my first draft of chapter one in my YA, the town of Moore, Oklahoma was hit by a category four tornado. It gave me the chills as I watched the Giant in action, the devastation left behind, and the interviews of the victims. The first paragraph of my YA, my main character seeks refuge from a huge twister that is about to strike. I did a lot of online research on tornadoes and shelters, but it was nothing like viewing real-time and listening to those affected. My heart goes out to all of them!

Chapter One Surfaces

Chapter One of my YA has finally surfaced. My editor has gained strength and experience from the turbulent seas of critiques and rewrites that I plundered through with my middle grade novel. A treasure and a curse. I sail back to the beginning of a sentence, fishing for stronger words whilst casting away others. Time escapes like a sea lion darting from a shark. Nevertheless, I stay the course.

Prologue Prolapse

After diving into the 3rd or 4th re-write on my YA prologue, I dove into Chapter One and the water had receded. Something didn't feel right-hitting the sandy bottom never does. I'm new to writing prologues, though I liked what I did, I had doubts. I cruised through several blogs on the subject and soon, my prologue went into prolapse, and sank to the bottom of the Cea. Bits and pieces are floating up, and will be resurfacing into Chapter One. Praise Google for making this painless!

Writing What I Imagine-Instead of What I Know

Last night's news made my heart sink as I watched a bomb go off during Boston's Marathon. As horrifying as this was, it's worse on the other side of the world. According to the United Nations, the two year civil war (only 2 years!) in Syria has now a death toll of 70,000 people-adults and children. My heart plunges deeper into these forsaken waters of mankind. There is only so much the heart can take. As a child-age ten to be exact, I was exposed to the atrocities being committed to my best friend...sexual and verbal abuse by her father. Sworn to secrecy, I told no one. There was no Oprah Winfrey Show back then. In the midst of this, I lined up to see Star Wars and loved reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I suppose this is why I choose imaginary over reality, when it comes to writing for children. Escaping to a magical world in a book can inspire hope and ignite imagination in the mind and heart of a child, and sometimes,even as an adult. Wasn't it Star Trek that inspired the invention of the cell phone?

Reading and Rolling

I just completed Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer and I liked the challenges Anna was faced with when her best friend's brother dies. Two years prior, I bought Jessi Kirby's book, Moonglass where the the main character, Anna, sorts out her painful memories of the death of her mother. Funny, how I stumbled on two great books that take place on the beach and weave seaglass into the story. Another coincidence or not, both authors will be touring together this summer! I'm reading my second YA book as ideas for my young adult story rolls around in my head. My father's old leather camera case inspired it. (see pic in earlier blog). My main character also deals with loss but it's in tornado alley, far from the beach. I've got the prologue, but the water has to be warmer before diving into chapter one.