Incredible Inspiration

Mothers are simply angels without their wings.


Unknown



Happy Mother's Day!

Storyteller's Journey

   No Schmooze...You Lose!

Last Saturday I had the wonderful privilege of meeting with some local members of the SCBWI - most of whom I had never met before! Our city is in a situation like a lot of towns where the regional meetings are usually quite a ways away, while another region is actually closer.

Photo by Susan Uhlig

It was wonderful to have a small meeting of the Western Washington chapter of the SCBWI in one of our local libraries for a Clark County SCBWI Schmooze!




The group represented  a great variety of those involved with Picture Books, MG stories, and of course Young Adult. It never ceases to amaze me how inspired and rejuvenated I am after spending time with a group of such creative writers and illustrators. We all agreed that we would like this to become a quarterly event. Many thanks to Susan Uhlig - long time SCBWI member, and past regional advisor, for organizing this special morning. Since she took this photo, and is therefore not pictured, I am attaching the link to her website so you can get acquainted with this lovely lady. http://susanuhlig.com/

Thanks to SCBWI for this Schmooze - we all had a blast!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Flummery -


meaningless chatter; also, deceptive language.

Bibliophile's Corner

If Only
by Carole Geithner

Flap Copy description:
If thirteen-year-old Corinna Burdette could have one wish, she knows exactly what it would be. When most girls her age are hoping for new cell phones or prettier hair, Corinna wishes her mother, Sophie, was alive again. She knows that dying is a normal part of life, but having her mother taken away from her the summer before the eighth grade wasn't part of the plan.

Now Corinna has to do the unthinkable: concentrate in school, play soccer, and hang out with friends, all as if nothing has happened. Corinna's dad tries to help, but he's dealing with his own grief. Her friends try, but they don't know what to say. Classmates whisper about her because she is "the girl whose mom died." While everyone else's life is moving along, Corinna feels hers has stopped - it's especially hard when, at any given moment, she feels like she might completely lose it. Even normal activities such as buying new clothes (her dad is clueless) or listening to music (which means sad songs) are laced with danger. But as Corinna's year progresses, surprising things begin to happen, including a discovery that leads to information she never knew about her mother.

My thoughts:
Carole Geithner's debut middle grage novel, If Only, deals with the journey of grief from the perspective of the young girl - Corinna. Ms. Geithner's many years of grief counseling as a clinical social worker have brought a truth and compassion to this heart-felt and hopeful novel. The author's characters seem to come alive with humor, honesty, and believability, as they grapple with typical adolescent issues. Corinna not only comes to terms with her mother's death, but also learns a lot about family, friends, and the importance of communication. I would highly recommend If Only to girls from the ages of 8 - 12; and to anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one.

(Note: Carole Sonnenfeld Geithner is married to Timothy Geithner - U.S. Treasury Secretary.)

To learn more about the author, Carole Geithner - click here:
http://carolegeithner.com/

Incredible Inspiration

All the things that truly matter - beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace arise from beyond the mind.


Eckhart Tolle

Storyteller's Journey

Manicuring My Manuscript

Last weekend I spent the first significant time this Spring in my garden. I was busy trimming the grass, pulling weeds, and planting geraniums, while my husband mowed the lawn.

I can remember many years ago, when I first began to take gardening seriously, that while I loved to plant pretty flowers, the thought of weeding did not appeal to me. (Ya think?) However, as the years have gone by, I have not only stopped hating to weed, I have actually grown to enjoy it. It is like a relaxing therapy for me.

It dawned on me that my writing experience is a bit like my gardening experience. When I began seriously writing I loved scribbling my stunning story with wonderful words. (At least I thought it was stunning! ^_^) However, the thought of revising and editing wasn't quite so exciting. Only now, after writing for nearly five years, am I beginning to enjoy manicuring my manuscript. Seeing my story begin to shine is exciting and rewarding - just like weeding my garden!

Do you enjoy revising your work, or merely endure it?



Whimsical Word of the Week

Pusillanimous -

timid, faint-hearted, or cowardly.