Saturday, June 9, 2012
I got to go to BEA for a day
A few weeks ago, my agent Rachael had posted a contest on Twitter through another site to win a free pass to BEA for a day. I entered and forgot about it.
On Wednesday I got an email that everyone who entered won a free pass to the event. As it turned out, I had plans to take the day off already to go into the city to meet Rachael for lunch (more on that in a little bit), so yay - I got a full day out of it!
I woke up with Caitie to catch her usual bus to work (not something I was thrilled about doing on my day off, but hey, I get to sleep late every day in two weeks, so no complaining, right?). When we got to the city, I walked to the Javits center and spent twenty minutes trying to figure out where to go to register. It turned out I was on the wrong floor, but eventually figured it out. When I registered, I received a tote bag with a couple of books in it - one The Passage which I really wanted to read anyway, and The Age of Miracles, one Caitie tells me is supposed to be fantastic.
I spent the next couple of hours wandering around the expo floor, looking at books, talking to a couple of authors, and being generally amazed at how VASTLY huge the place was. At eleven I had to make a choice: a panel on writing strong females in middle grade books or a panel of actors talking about taking words from the stage to the page (based on a new book about Actor's Equity coming out). Both are right up my alley, so it was not an easy choice to make! I chose the latter on instinct, and was glad I did. The speakers were Estelle Parsons, Andre deShields, Nick Wyman, David Henry Hwang, and Robert Simonson. I was so very impressed with all of them who spoke from such experience and clear love of their jobs. deShields especially impressed me - the man is just a fountain of wisdom!
There were a couple of highlights from the panel. First, deShields when asked how he takes a character from the page to the stage said, "you need to find the character's music." He went on to explain that even if it's not a musical, every character has a song, and you need to listen to him to find it. Once you have, you'll be able to know who the character is better. Hwang talked about how he usually will get an idea for the beginning of a play and an idea for the end, but the middle is different. He said he'll often need to force characters to do what he wants at first, but then they start talking to him and he just transcribes what they say. It's a fascinating way of writing - one that I have to confess to not being entirely unfamiliar with as well. Parsons talked a but about being serious about acting - when she's in a play she's completely focused on her role, no matter how large or small. She feels it's disrespectful when younger actors have their computers back stage or whatever - they should be focused on giving their best performance during the time the play is running.
After the panel ended, I went to meet Caitie and Rachael for lunch. I don't have a ton to share about this, other than that I am so glad she is my agent. Rachael is excited, enthusiastic, and clearly working hard for me and her other clients. She also likes many of the same things we do (we even got the same meal!), so lunch was easy and comfortable. I left feeling very comfortable with her as my agent, so it was a very successful meeting.
We walked back to the convention center and parted ways. I went back to wander around a little bit more, and then left the center to wait for Caitie to get out of work.
It was a wonderful day - one I would love to experience again next year!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
It's been a while since I've posted, I suppose. I'm still waiting to hear from editors -- they've had my book for quite a while though apparently, well, it takes a while :) I'm hoping for some news soon!
On the plus side, I will get to meet Rachael, my wonderful agent, in a couple of weeks for lunch! I'm very excited about that!
School is winding down for the year. Just a couple more weeks and it'll be summer break! The year actually went surprisingly quickly, though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't REALLY looking forward to the break.
On the reading front, I've recently finished the fourth Song of Fire and Ice book. I can't say I was particularly PLEASED with it - it REALLY dragged - but I understand book five is supposed to be better. That'll have to wait till after I finish Stephen King's latest Dark Tower quick-read. I don't really know what people think of King, but I find him to be a master of language. It amazes me when I read passages in his books that are nearly in a different language, yet they make complete sense in context. He's not a bad story teller either -- he knows how to give thrills and he knows how to keep you reading. His endings don't always match up with the rest of the book in terms of quality (see Under the Dome for a great example of this), but considering how strong his stories generally are, that's easily forgivable.
And, well, I guess that's about it for now. Here's hoping I'll be back with good news soon....
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Reading Day -- apparently
Today is a "read-a-thon" day for Caitie - she's spending ALL DAY reading. I don't know how she does it - my eyes would start to hurt after an hour, and by two I'd never want to see another book again.
That doesn't mean I don't love reading. I absolutely do. I read all the time. I just find that I tend to read in chunks. A half hour here, forty minutes there. Marathon readings for me - more than an hour or so is a marathon to me - are extremely rare. If any time, they happen when we're in Ohio - I call that my "reading space."
So I don't know how Caitie is planning on reading all day. She has a stack of ten books (TEN!) to get through. I know she's going to do it - it just astounds me. Maybe I'll give a little reading a try. I have a book I've been trying to get through that I have 100 pages or so left in - I could bang that out, right?
Eh - most likely the day will be spent watching bad movies and playing poker.
Good luck, Caitie - hope you get what you want from today!
That doesn't mean I don't love reading. I absolutely do. I read all the time. I just find that I tend to read in chunks. A half hour here, forty minutes there. Marathon readings for me - more than an hour or so is a marathon to me - are extremely rare. If any time, they happen when we're in Ohio - I call that my "reading space."
So I don't know how Caitie is planning on reading all day. She has a stack of ten books (TEN!) to get through. I know she's going to do it - it just astounds me. Maybe I'll give a little reading a try. I have a book I've been trying to get through that I have 100 pages or so left in - I could bang that out, right?
Eh - most likely the day will be spent watching bad movies and playing poker.
Good luck, Caitie - hope you get what you want from today!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
American Reunion Review
I've said that I intend to review more media on here - books, tv, movies - I've been pretty spotty about it, and I hope to try to rectify that some.
I saw American Reunion on Friday - the third sequel to 1999's American Pie. Now, I'm PRETTY sure I saw American Pie 2 and American Wedding, but I'll be honest, I don't remember them at all. To be honest, it hardly mattered. Aside from the fact that Jim and Michelle were now married, they almost might as well have not even had the subsequent movies as they had no real impact on the plot.
I hate to say this, but I sort of regret that this was the movie I decided to "re-up" my blog with. The movie, simply, wasn't that memorable. Sure, it was enjoyable and entertaining, I don't think I was bored at all during it, but now, two days later, I can't actually REMEMBER much of it. There didn't seem to be much of a purpose to it other than a chance to see where these characters were at the completely arbitrary thirteen year mark after their high school graduation. The movie was pleasant enough, but hardly memorable or laugh out loud funny.
The one true bright spot in the movie for me was Jim's father, played by Eugene Levy. Levy is a comedy veteran, and it shows here. Every scene with him hit, and they were amongst the few scenes I found genuinely funny enough to laugh at.
All said, the thing that made me miss 1999 the most wasn't the movie at all: it was the six dollar ticket I got because I went to see the movie before noon.
My rating: B-
I saw American Reunion on Friday - the third sequel to 1999's American Pie. Now, I'm PRETTY sure I saw American Pie 2 and American Wedding, but I'll be honest, I don't remember them at all. To be honest, it hardly mattered. Aside from the fact that Jim and Michelle were now married, they almost might as well have not even had the subsequent movies as they had no real impact on the plot.
I hate to say this, but I sort of regret that this was the movie I decided to "re-up" my blog with. The movie, simply, wasn't that memorable. Sure, it was enjoyable and entertaining, I don't think I was bored at all during it, but now, two days later, I can't actually REMEMBER much of it. There didn't seem to be much of a purpose to it other than a chance to see where these characters were at the completely arbitrary thirteen year mark after their high school graduation. The movie was pleasant enough, but hardly memorable or laugh out loud funny.
The one true bright spot in the movie for me was Jim's father, played by Eugene Levy. Levy is a comedy veteran, and it shows here. Every scene with him hit, and they were amongst the few scenes I found genuinely funny enough to laugh at.
All said, the thing that made me miss 1999 the most wasn't the movie at all: it was the six dollar ticket I got because I went to see the movie before noon.
My rating: B-
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Report
It's with a heavy heart that I make this announcement: I've decided to give up writing novels for the foreseeable future. I have spent more than five years now laboring at my computer, striving to create a novel to entertain and engage the minds of young readers the world over. I have completed slightly less than six books at this point, and just don't know that I have the drive to continue on. I've tried several genres - fantasy, realistic fiction, science fiction, mystery - I don't know that any of them have truly been right for me. I'm not sure I can sustain the level of intensity needed to continue trying to produce book after book.
There are other reasons, as well. I've come to realize that the publishing industry is slow as molasses (see, even my similes have grown weak and cliche!). Everything takes so long to get done, that I don't know that I have the time nor the patience to wait for responses from editors any longer.
Perhaps most importantly, I learned recently that I have developed carpal tunnel syndrome as from all the time I spend at my computer typing away at drafts. Similarly, I have a propensity for migraines. I've found that less time spent in front of the computer decreases my odds for developing one of those crippling attacks.
As it happens, I have become enamored of another hobby, one which I intend to pursue with vigor. I've decided that I want to become a professional bowler. Caitie and I have gone bowling the last three weekends in the row, and we fall asleep at night dreaming of how sweet a victory it must be to bowl a perfect 300, to win a league championship, or even, on the outskirts of our fantasies, a world title. The sound of crashing pins fills my dreams, and makes me shiver with excitement at the fantasy. I have decided to dedicate all my free time to pursuing this goal of being a professional bowler, and with my current average now hovering around a meager 100, I have a lot of work to do.
So, as I said at the opening of this post, it is with a heavy heart that I resign myself to a "writer-less life."
As they say in France......
April Fools.
There are other reasons, as well. I've come to realize that the publishing industry is slow as molasses (see, even my similes have grown weak and cliche!). Everything takes so long to get done, that I don't know that I have the time nor the patience to wait for responses from editors any longer.
Perhaps most importantly, I learned recently that I have developed carpal tunnel syndrome as from all the time I spend at my computer typing away at drafts. Similarly, I have a propensity for migraines. I've found that less time spent in front of the computer decreases my odds for developing one of those crippling attacks.
As it happens, I have become enamored of another hobby, one which I intend to pursue with vigor. I've decided that I want to become a professional bowler. Caitie and I have gone bowling the last three weekends in the row, and we fall asleep at night dreaming of how sweet a victory it must be to bowl a perfect 300, to win a league championship, or even, on the outskirts of our fantasies, a world title. The sound of crashing pins fills my dreams, and makes me shiver with excitement at the fantasy. I have decided to dedicate all my free time to pursuing this goal of being a professional bowler, and with my current average now hovering around a meager 100, I have a lot of work to do.
So, as I said at the opening of this post, it is with a heavy heart that I resign myself to a "writer-less life."
As they say in France......
April Fools.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
whew
Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? I was doing really well with this blog for a while there -- and then it kind of slipped off.
Sorry about that!
Truth be told, I don't have much in the way of news. We sent out our second round to editors and are waiting to hear. It's pretty nerve-wracking!
Otherwise, not a whole lot has changed in the last month or so.
Sorry about that -- when there's news, I'll certainly let you all know!
Sorry about that!
Truth be told, I don't have much in the way of news. We sent out our second round to editors and are waiting to hear. It's pretty nerve-wracking!
Otherwise, not a whole lot has changed in the last month or so.
Sorry about that -- when there's news, I'll certainly let you all know!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Update
No, I'm not gone, and I haven't forgotten about the blog either.
Honestly, there just hasn't been much to talk about.
We're still waiting on editors. We should be sending out to a second round within the next week or so. Stats: no response from five of the ten; three rejections (though I suspect the reason for these was simply we aimed too young -- the book is geared more towards young teen and we queried in the 3-6 grade range due to a misunderstanding by both me and my agent of the terms "middle grade" and "young adult." I think we got ourselves straightened out more for round two. We still have two editors who have the book who we haven't heard responses from. When we get more of an update, I'll certainly post it.
Caitie and I have been trying to see the Oscar nominated movies. So far:
The Help - Caitie saw it, I haven't. She loved it.
Descendents - Neither of us have seen it yet.
War Horse - Neither of us.
Moneyball - both watched it, thought it was pretty good. Not a winner, but good.
Hugo - both saw it - both loved it.
Artist - Fantastic movie - both of our picks for best of the year.
Tree of Life - we watched a half hour of it and had no idea what we were watching.
Midnight in Paris - have next on our Netflix queue
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Caitie wants to see it because she read the book, I'm not particularly interested.
I'll probably do a more complete Oscar prediction post when we get a little closer to the show.
On a last note, my great uncle died earlier this week. I didn't really know him - only met him a handful of times. We decided not to go to the funeral because it is in Florida and we can't really afford the expense of the trip. It would have been nice to see our family, but I think using a funeral for that purpose is somewhat tacky. Still, my thoughts are with my dad and family there today.
Honestly, there just hasn't been much to talk about.
We're still waiting on editors. We should be sending out to a second round within the next week or so. Stats: no response from five of the ten; three rejections (though I suspect the reason for these was simply we aimed too young -- the book is geared more towards young teen and we queried in the 3-6 grade range due to a misunderstanding by both me and my agent of the terms "middle grade" and "young adult." I think we got ourselves straightened out more for round two. We still have two editors who have the book who we haven't heard responses from. When we get more of an update, I'll certainly post it.
Caitie and I have been trying to see the Oscar nominated movies. So far:
The Help - Caitie saw it, I haven't. She loved it.
Descendents - Neither of us have seen it yet.
War Horse - Neither of us.
Moneyball - both watched it, thought it was pretty good. Not a winner, but good.
Hugo - both saw it - both loved it.
Artist - Fantastic movie - both of our picks for best of the year.
Tree of Life - we watched a half hour of it and had no idea what we were watching.
Midnight in Paris - have next on our Netflix queue
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Caitie wants to see it because she read the book, I'm not particularly interested.
I'll probably do a more complete Oscar prediction post when we get a little closer to the show.
On a last note, my great uncle died earlier this week. I didn't really know him - only met him a handful of times. We decided not to go to the funeral because it is in Florida and we can't really afford the expense of the trip. It would have been nice to see our family, but I think using a funeral for that purpose is somewhat tacky. Still, my thoughts are with my dad and family there today.
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