Waves in Motion

So, I did dive in, but not into my YA. Instead, I found myself revising my picture book about a sea lion pup. PB is so different from MG and YA that it felt like a wave out of nowhere-the perfect ride. This was a big reminder for me when I get blocked, to go to another manuscript and don't hesitate!
Note: the sea lion above was a patient at PMMC, and she was released. To identify her at the facility, animal care volunteers shaved her fur in the shape of letters.
Write On!

Dead in the Water

Dead in the water, in other words, Writers Block.  I haven't been motivated and I'm sure many of you can relate. So, I'm creating some movement by blogging. And I'm sorry to say, I've had to block all comments from being posted due to advertising. Comments made are merely to advertise their site and most have nothing to do with writing! I would never advertise my business on someone's blog unless asked to do so. There are so many ways to advertise, why infiltrate someone's blog?? Beyond annoying! Time to dive into my YA and may the luck of the leprechauns be with me.

Emerging into the New Year

I was lost at Cea for the past couple of months. So much was going on as the sun began to set on 2015. Training new volunteers for the gift shop I manage at Pacific Marine Mammal Center. I had a lot of ordering and merchandising to do along with marketing the gift shop for holiday shopping. Who can resist helping this little guy through a purchase?

I also was busy with my own business, Laguna Beach Massage, not to mention the writing. Highlights: Michelle Knudsen critiquing my middle grade novel, and going to La Jolla to see Brian Selznick's presentation and book signing of The Marvels. Michelle gave me a lot to work with, and Brian inspired me.

I emerge into the new year with an incredible week behind me that has set the course. Yoga, meditation, writing/revising, dancing, working and enjoying the people I love. Here's to sailing across uncharted waters in 2016!

A Magical Summer Read

Whilst attending the SCBWI Summer conference, I picked up a copy of Michelle Knudsen's middle grade novel, The Dragon of Trelian. Meg is a young princess who often acts before thinking, like befriending a young dragon. (She reminded me of myself; befriending stray animals without thinking of the consequences.) Calen is a young mage apprentice who lives within the Trelian Castle with his Master, Serek, adviser to the king.
The fun begins a couple pages in when these unlikely two, meet. The push and pull dynamic of Meg and Calen's friendship, along with the engaging events they're faced with, kept me turning the pages. Calen's gift, to see colors when a spell is cast, and the ability to identify the type of spell from the colors, was brilliant. I loved Meg's psychic link to her dragon, Jakl, which was both a gift and a challenge. Both of these young protagonists struggle to be accepted by their elders, but find it in each other. Together, they take on the evil that's threatening their Kingdom.
Pick up a copy, along with the sequal The Princess of Trelian and discover how this beautifully woven story unfolds.

Awesome Summer Read

"The Start of Me and You" is a YA that I picked up at the LA Book Fair. I was fortunate to hear the author, Emery Lord, speak about writing, life and her book. It was her enthusiasm that had me reading the inside flap and purchasing my signed copy. Emery brilliantly executed a story line that I would have never thought of, and I'm someone who has been going to funerals since I was six. I've been to more funerals than weddings, but not to my first Love's. This is what Paige, in "The Start of You and Me" had to contend with after her first boyfriend died in a swimming accident. The roller coaster ride begins after Paige decides to rejoin the real world. We feel her ups and downs with her flirtation with an old crush, her parents getting back together, and facing her fears from swimming, to falling in love, to joining the Quizbowl. And then there's Max, the wild card,or rather, the nerd card. I admired him the most and loved Paige's relationship with him. This kept me turning the page. A touching and fun read.

Swimming through SCBWI LA Conference Ocean

As a first timer, do I dive in, catch a ride on a dolphin or wait to see what swims my way? With a sea of almost 1200 people, workshops, panelists and speakers, I did all three for three days. I had an awesome roomy, Daphne, swim my way-an illustrator(and writer, though she's not claiming that,yet) from Tahoe. I dove into the waves of workshops. Highlights: Learning about small presses from Alison Weiss, Sky Pony Press and Rana Dioro, Little Pickle Press. The Agent panel where I soaked in how each of these agents work. Break-out session with Michelle Knudsen, PB, MG & YA New York Times best-selling author, her agent, Jodi Reamer from Writers House and her editor, Julie Strauss-Gabel, VP of Dutton Books an imprint of Penguin Young readers Group. Listening and observing this team was inspiring. Keynote speaker, Mem Fox, a PB author, was a delight. Her rhythmic read of her "Hattie and the Fox" continued to resonate in my head into the wee hours of the night. YA authors, Stacy Lee and Anna Shinoda's workshop on amping up tension left me on the edge of a...

The Gala was the dolphin ride with a little wine, dancing, connecting with old friends and meeting new ones, in this sea of sparkles. Then there was buying books and getting them signed. And a few moments that felt okay to approach and speak one on one with a couple of agents and editors.The schedule was so packed, there was barely time to come up for air. Amazing as it was, at the end, I was feeling like a fish-out- of -water and couldn't wait to swim back to Laguna Beach. Maybe I'll pitch to Lin Oliver & Stephen Mooser The Surf and Sand, beach-front hotel for next year's conference.

LA Critiquenic

SCBWI LA's chapter held a "Critiquenic" at the Skirball Center. There, we were placed  in groups of four according to the age-range our stories fell under (YA), and led to a patio area partially surrounded by these beautiful lotus flowers. As always, I love discovering the creative minds of others. We all had different genres: historical fiction, contemporary,  sci-fi and mine, magical realism. This made it interesting. We read out-loud the first five pages, then we read it to ourselves while writing notes for the author. Next, we verbalized our critique. Once again, I realized that I don't receive well when I'm in the midst of my first draft. It's too raw. Regardless, I did take in most of the notes given, and spent the next day rewriting those first five pages. Like the Lotus flower, I'm working my way up through the mud and murky water to eventually, bloom.