Merry Christmas!

I hope all my readers (of which, I believe there is one--my loyal son) have the merriest of Christmas and a jolly beginning to the new year!

Ten Trashy Truths - Just Published

My article, The History of Garbage, Ten Trashy Truths (great title, don't you think?) was accepted for publication in Boys' Life, the Boy Scouts magazine. I don't know what month yet, but I can't wait. I'll have to buy up all the copies of Boys' Life, but I don't think they are sold at magazine stands.

The article will also be available online in the Boy Scouts database. Imagine, a boy could be writing a paper and use my article for information. I feel like a real author!

Joining a Critique Group

I just joined a critiquing group! Finally! It is so helpful to have someone look at your work before you get too far into it that you can't work yourself out of it. That's what happened with my novel. There are so many words and so many scenes that I find it difficult to edit it.

Be sure that you join a critiquing group.

First Nonfiction Article Sold

Only months after I had my first nonfiction article rejection, I now have my first sale. It is the same article on Junior Jazzercise. I sold it to an online magazine called KidzWonder. It will be published in December.

I have a nonfiction article and fiction piece out for publication. Will this ever be easy? Not sure.

August Under the Stars

Turner Classic Movies Summer Under the Stars starts today with Michael Caine. Some highlights include:

- Doris Day on August 10

- Katherine Hepburn on August 30

- Spencer Tracey on August 31

The only good part of summer coming to an end is TCM's Summer Under the Stars!

Enjoy!

Main characters feeling sorry for themselves

I heard a line in the movie, The Bad and the Beautiful, with Kirk Douglas, that said something to the effect:

"Never let your character feel sorry for themselves for too long."

I was also read the blog, Greetings from Nowhere, and the blogger, Barbara O'Conner, asked the question:

Does she (your main character) MAKE the story happen?

OR........

Is the story simply happening to her or around her?

Eureka! That's it! My main character is feeling sorry for herself AND not doing anything about it.

Time to give my character a pep pill.

First nonfiction article rejection

Yesterday, I received my first rejection for a nonfiction article. However, (yes, you have to have a however), it was handwritten! That means they took the time to tell me what was wrong with it and the only thing wrong was that it didn't fit their themes.

If only they'd publish their themes!?

Anyway, here's a toast to my first rejection and to many more attempts at publication.

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth.

Last night I watched fireworks with a German, Russians, and Americans. The Russians were older people who had been taught to assemble automatic weapons in school in case of an American invasion. We all felt the beauty and majesty of a country where we could all come together.

May next year bring more troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Go America!

Go--be published

I just sent my first nonfiction piece to a magazine publisher for possible publication. I also asked the local newspaper if they wanted to do a similar piece in their health supplement.

As my good friend says, keep your fingers crossed--in prayer!

Language - Lorraine Feather

Do you love lyrics almost more than the music? Then, you might enjoy the new CD Language by Lorraine Feather, with songs such as 'I Can't Find My Keys" and "Traffic and Weather." Here is the first stanza from "Traffic and Weather:"


TRAFFIC AND WEATHER
Music, Shelly Berg/Lyrics, Lorraine Feather

So, there's a bit of a situation
On the Golden Gate.
Steer clear of the number 2 lane
If it's not too late.
Got carpet unspoolin’
For a mile, no foolin’.

Language on Amazon.

Institute of Children's Literature Hosting Chat with Harold Underdown

On Thursday, May 22, The Institute of Children's Literature will host a chat with Harold Underdown, the creator of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, who will discuss the ins and outs of publishing.

• Harold's Web site is: http://www.underdown.org/
  


• The Institute of Children's Literature Web site is: http://www.institutechildrenslit.com/

Learn more about Harold's book.

Characters Home from Niagara Falls

My characters navigated their way through the Falls and are now safely home. That means I've finished my upper middle grade novel, which came out to be approximately 13,000 words. I'm going to send it out to a couple of children, a teacher, and friends. I don't have a critiquing group right now so this will have to do.

I have to turn off that horrible fear of criticism and let others look at my work. It is the only way to improve. Tough lesson.

Sinatra the star of the month on TCM

Frank is the star of the month on Turner Classic Movies. It an incredible line up of 44 films and specials. Here are my highlights:

• Higher and Higher - A great duet, "I Saw You First." (Sunday, May 4, at 9:00 p.m.)
  
• It Happened in Brooklyn - Stars with Peter Lawford and Jimmy Durate. (Sunday, May 11, at 9:00 p.m.)
  
• A Hole in the Head - Directed and produced by Frank Capra; Sinatra is executive producer. Contains the song, "High Hopes," which won the Academy Award for best song. (Wednesday, May 14, at 4:30 a.m.)
  
  According to Capra's autobiography:
  
• With a handshake, Sinatra and Capra formed SinCap Productions; he held one-third interest and Sinatra two-thirds.
  
• Problems occurred because he (Capra) found that Sinatra's acting suffered from repeated rehearsals, while Edward G. Robinson needed them. Robinson soon accepted the situation and gave a performance, which Daily Variety called "the comedy stand-out of the film."

Free at Last

My characters have made it safely out of the Food Lion. Whew. That was difficult but worth it. They are now wandering the streets of Niagara Falls. I've got to get them home... now.

I'm so glad I kept going. This writing thing is so worth the dry spots.

Back to Niagara Falls.

Kathy

I'm Stuck

My characters have been stuck in the Big Lion grocery store for the last several weeks. I know what is supposed to happen, but I can't get it to happen. Poor characters. They are so hungry. You see they were buying food for a picnic in their room and they may never get to eat it.

What do you do if you get stuck? You're supposed to look at art, listen to music, get inspired. I've tried it all. The other thing is to work on something else, but I'm afraid if I quit they will stay in the Big Lion forever.

Help! How can I get unstuck?

Kathy

Happy Easter!

On Good Friday, I went to see Bach's St. Matthew's Passion. I don't know much about classical or choral music, but I feel as though wave of goodness and grace flowed over me during the concert. Imagine having your work last for 300 years and it is still profound. Beautiful.

Blessings and peace,

Kathy

This was yet another lame post by mom. See you all next time!

Distractions

Conferences, networking days, and critiquing groups are all very good, but we often use them as excuses to not write. Oh, um, perhaps blogging is to. Never mind, I better go write that novel.

K bye
this was another lame post by mom. see you all next time!

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Opens

The movie of the book Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day opens with the charming Amy Adams, as Delysia, the actress/singer. Sounds like they have changed the plot significantly, adding a fashion show instead of the cocktail party, but according to the New York Times, it keeps the spirit of the book:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/movies/07pett.html?8mu&emc=mua1

Hope you all go to see it to promote well done, light sophisticated comedy (no Will Ferrell please).

Kathy

Winter of My Discontent

"Now is the winter of my discontent made glorious summer by this move to Ann Arbor."

The winter of my discontent is over because I no longer have to drive to Southfield. I'm free!

Now, the battle will be to spend that extra time writing, although sleeping is tempting me greatly.

Michael Wonder!Ink.com 2

Hi, I am Michael and love to play video games!

Juno should have won!

A movie like Juno should have won instead of yet another negative movie like last year's Departed--No Country for Old Men. Instead, it should have been Little Miss Sunshine and then Juno.

Here's to quirky films with optimism and hope.

New Blog from the Old

I had to make a new blog because Danny stole my identity. He created his own blog using my account and Kathy changed to Danny. We couldn't figure out how to fix it without one of us making a new account and starting over. He'd added lists and polls to his, so I created the Blueberry Buckle Blog again.