What “Being On Book Tour” Means
Well. Hi there. It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? Sorry about that. Things have been a little cockadoodle, as they say in the dark hinterlands of my brain. I have had an amazing few months. But that also means I have…
How I landed my publisher
…Or, I obsess over my spreadsheets. I’m sure every writer writes a post like this. But every writer’s experience is different, and every writer’s publishing experience might be different, so I wanted to add my voice to the mix. Plus,…
Cheez-Its, Springtime, and Book Publishing
Or, Stray Memories. I think my predilection for orange food (see Cheez-Its; Cheetos [the caveman-club-shaped kind, not the poufy kind]; Annie’s Extra-Cheddary Bunnies; Goldfish; Clementines; carrots with their skin on) may have been encouraged by one Pat Crow, the first…
In Which Larry and Joe, Some Dolphin Elders, Educate a Young’Un
“Oh, look! Here comes the new kid.” “Hey, Flipper!” “Joe, don’t call him that. It’s not like he’ll even know who Flipper is. That show was made, like, three generations ago.” “Oh, whatever. If his parents are anything decent, they’ll…
The Name Game
Mr. Gooddirt is incredibly good at nicknames. He comes up with them on the fly, and they’re always accurate and evocative and appropriate to the situation. There’s no profession for this, I don’t think, otherwise we’d be living large. He…
Hunkering down
And now, for something completely different: What is that? It’s my office wall, and it’s also something I’ve never tried before. It’s outlining. [Please ignore the fugly wood paneling. It is not my fault and soon I will be painting…
Immediate thoughts upon receiving a rejection letter
“Dear Yi Shun, Thank you for sending your work to XXXXXXX. We are always grateful for the opportunity to review new material, and we have given “Inadvertently, Miss Manners Doesn’t Live Here” close reading and careful consideration. We found many strengths…
Le Flâneur
When I go out these days, it’s more likely than not that I am going with a purpose in mind: Meeting a friend, seeing a specific art exhibit, going to a reading. But it’s hard not to see things while…
Fugue State
I took half of Friday to recharge my batteries and see The Met’s annual collaboration with The Costume Institute, called “Impossible Conversations: Schiaparelli and Prada.” A little background: Elsa Schiaparelli was a designer whose heyday was during the 1930s-60s. She…
7×7=one grateful blogger
Awhile ago, my Whidbey colleague Charlotte Morganti nominated me for a 7×7 link award! I wish I knew what the origins of this award was, but more important, I’m just happy that I’m getting an award! It’s my first! Also,…
