Bits & Pieces

Well, I totally screwed up again. Posted something accidentally that wasn't supposed to post until Thursday. So, if you saw something about a Hacky Sack Club in your Google Reader, but you couldn't click through to it -- now you know why. This is #2 time I have done something like this. *facepalm*

If you wanted to know, I walked around all day with two different earrings in my ears. Yes, it's been that kind of day.

But, the good news is, the wonderful Heather Day Gilbert invited me to guest post on her blog, Book in a Month Mom. Thank you, Heather! The post is >>here<< if you're interested.

AND, there's still time to enter the giveaway for AND THEN YOU WERE GONE by Becky Avella. I know this book will touch your heart if you've ever experienced a pregnancy loss or if you've known someone who has. Click >>here<< to enter. It's super easy--just leave a comment.

Please, please, please don't let my idiocy stop you from coming back and joining the Hacky Sack Club when I really post on Thursday. It's going to be da bomb. Promise. Just ask Janet Johnson.

In the meantime, any embarrassing moments to share so I won't feel so alone?

Book Giveaway: And Then You Were Gone

My dear friend Becky Avella's non-fiction book AND THEN YOU WERE GONE was just released in Nook and Kindle format. To celebrate, we're giving away a free copy (your choice: print, Nook or Kindle). 

Becky's heartbreaking journey through numerous pregnancy losses is one to which many women can unfortunately relate. Even if you haven't experienced a pregnancy loss yourself, you've no doubt been close to someone who has. This book is not only for those who have lost a baby, but for those comforting others after a loss.

I bawled my eyes out reading the opening chapter. Becky's writing brought me into the hospital room with her. I could feel her anguish and disappointment. But the best thing about this book is that Becky offers hope. She's lived through this, so she understands what losing a baby feels like. Her words are golden.

Here's the Barnes & Noble description:

And Then You Were Gone is a spiritual and practical guide to healing after pregnancy loss. It points grieving hearts to real hope, and equips family, friends, churches, counselors, and others with understanding and tools for ministering to hurting families after loss. 

You can read reviews >>here<<. (They're all really good.)

Entering this giveaway is easy. Just leave a comment below and you'll be entered. If you spread the word in any way (Twitter, Facebook, or your blog) I'll give you an extra entry. Just let me know in the comments.


I'll announce the winner next Monday, Feb 6. The contest will stay open until Sunday, Feb 6, 11:59 PST.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Open with a Bang

Have you ever noticed that the best storytellers always open their novels with a bang? And I'm not talking about the usual -- car accidents, gun shots, fist fights or breakups. I'm talking about an opening where such a provocative decision is made that you can't help but want to read on.

One of the best examples I've read is in Janice Y. K. Lee's THE PIANO TEACHER. I wish I could just type the entire first paragraph into this post, but ... I won't. I'll just tell you that the main character fascinated me from the very beginning because of one intriguing decision.

Basically:

She's working as a piano teacher for a very rich Hong Kong family. A figurine falls into her purse accidentally while she's teaching the lesson and she leaves the house with it. When she later discovers what she's done, instead of taking it back to the owner, she ... buries the figurine in her drawer.

Why?

I was so curious. Not only about the main character and her rather surprising decision to hide the figurine, but about the other characters, too. What is it about them that the main character couldn't (or wouldn't or shouldn't) give the figurine back? What was she afraid of? There were so many possibilities.....

And, let me tell you, the reason she did this was not one I expected. Which is another mark of a great storyteller, I think.

Can you name some book openings that fascinated you?
If you're a writer, do you examine your characters' early decisions and find ways of making them more provocative?

THE PIANO TEACHER from Barnes & Noble.
THE PIANO TEACHER from Amazon.
THE PIANO TEACHER from The Book Depository.
Click >>here<< for the Goodreads description.

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

I wish you all a very happy and prosperous

Year of the Dragon!

I have an affinity for Chinese kites and I may tell you why someday ... how's that for cryptic? 

Photo credit: sideshowmom from morguefile.com

This photo was taken in the Forbidden City in Beijing. Gorgeous stonework.

Photo credit: samhakes from morguefile.com

I remember when we lived in China how loud Chinese New Year was. Firecrackers exploded outside our windows day and night for a week. 

I feel a little nostalgic that we're missing all the excitement--my crazy friends launching stuffed animals on rockets into the sky, for instance.

I remember lying in bed and watching a firework display directly outside my bedroom window. People spent hundreds, thousands of kuai on firepower. The more they purchased and fired off, the more good luck they were supposed to have in the coming year. 

How about you? Have you ever celebrated Chinese New Year? Any memories? What Chinese zodiac sign are you (and that's not considered a pick-up line in Asia, so don't feel weird answering)? In full disclosure, I'm a snake. 

As we say in Hong Kong (Cantonese):

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

And in Mainland China (Mandarin): 

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

("May you become prosperous!") 

Guest Post by Jen: The Journey

I used to think I’d have one of those J.K. Rowling experiences. You know, the girl who lived (since the boy had already lived) … add a little romance, call it YA, and ship it off to agent land where they’d weep at my wordage and offer me book and movie contracts simultaneously. Not to mention the words would continue to flow after I sold the books, showing the world Writer’s Block was merely a myth. 

Well, that was two years ago and I’ve had more than 13 rejections (take that J.K. Rowling), so the path I envisioned hasn’t exactly fallen into place. I guess you could say it was slightly different (and by that, I mean DRASTICALLY different). 

I wrote a book. I thought it rocked. It didn’t. I was told my character would be hated … turns out, they were right. I wrote three more books, improved slightly. Read Stephen King’s On Writing, became inspired. Wrote two additional books.

Queried one, received feedback that said it was way too unique for marketing. That was the first time they didn’t mention the suckage. I considered that a success. I found a publisher interested in my work despite its uniqueness. Thought I was on my way up, until the relationship didn’t end up the way I’d dreamed about.

I moved on … broken, defeated, and feeling worthless. It was then a light shined down and I found Still Moments Publishing. They were asking for anthologies and gave you certain requirements to follow. A spark lit in my heart and the words flew onto the blank page. I had the passion I’d missed for months, the chance to be something, and to share something special with others.

Guess what? Still Moments Publishing felt the same way about me. They took a chance on me. The publisher is a gem and the editors are kind (even when telling you something isn’t working). The team is full of rock stars and I’m overjoyed to be included. 

It is with confetti, sparkles, and theme music that my first published works is released, "Snowbanked." A part of the Snowbound Hearts Anthology! 

I’ve learned that success is measured by accomplishments, not by your ultimate goal. This ebook that’s releasing is just another fabulous milestone I, as a writer, get to enjoy along with others. I’m a success because I choose to be. I’d love for you to grab a copy of Snowbound Hearts and send me your thoughts! 

What’s your latest success?

**

I have "Snowbanked" at the top of my TBR pile. A big thank you to Jen Daiker for sharing the details of her journey. Jen, I wish you every success!

Baby Steps

This is what I've been up to lately: 

Today my sweet Naomi Rose is one year old!

Where did the time go? (That is not a rhetorical question. You can answer in the comments. *wink*)

In other happy news, I finished another draft of my China book and am making eyes at my critique partners to see who has time to read it. I'm a little nervous because I have sweat blood over this project and am hoping it doesn't turn out to be a piece of trash.  

Need to remind myself that just like any journey, it's all about baby steps.

On Thursday I have a very special guest post planned, so please come back and read. The amazing Jen Daiker will be visiting from her blog Unedited.  I always love reading about other writers' journeys and I know you'll enjoy Jen's perspective. She has a lot of good news on her blog lately, so if you don't already follow Jen, pop over there and say hi!

On Rejections and Toilet Cleaning

On this fabulous Thursday night, I thought I'd talk about rejections.

They don't feel good, but if you're a writer who has queried extensively, you know they're part of the biz. We writers develop thick skin. Our critique partners give us feedback, bloody their nails on our books, and we take it with a smile and a thank you.

Then we get rejections from agents, rejections from editors, rejections on paper, rejections by email.

Even at conferences our books are often flayed alive.

And we survive ... killing our darlings, making our characters' lives miserable, putting in long hours in front of a lighted screen.

It's a bloody game.

You'd better believe my skin is thick. I feel like I can take any critique from anybody at any time. I will not shed a tear. Go ahead and reject me. You may make me sad for a day, but you will not make me sad for a week. I'm a survivor. I'm not gonna give up....

HA!

Well, now I have to tell you an embarrassing story.

I entered a local talent show a while back. I was singing with a friend of mine. Another friend was accompanying us on guitar.

I knew my singing friend was coming straight from work to the audition, so I didn't dress up.  (He showed up in a Superman t-shirt, so it's a good thing I didn't wear my evening gown.) I put on my favorite shirt, yes, and my jean capris and thought I looked pretty artsy-fartsy, like many a hip song artist I've seen on MTV.

Because my friend had to go back to work, we were the first to perform. We gave it our best. My friend has an amazing voice, I won't lie, and I was doing harmony. We finished a capella and I thought we did a pretty good job. Our guitarist gave us a thumbs up.

There were three judges sitting below us, scribbling extensive notes.

This is what the first one said to me:  "Excuse me, what are you wearing? It looks like you're about to go clean your toilet."

Guys, seriously, it has taken me this long to post about this experience because it has taken me this long to recover. And honestly, I don't know if I have recovered. That rejection made me feel horrible.* Even now I shudder.

And I wonder, what went wrong with my thick skin?

But you know, several days after this catastrophe, I actually stopped being offended long enough to analyze what this judge was saying ... and yes, make changes.

Over confidence is what killed me in this case. I obviously didn't take the competition (or my outfit) seriously enough.


Which goes to show (maybe) that even the weirdest criticism can actually be a gift. It goes for our writing, too. That person who irritates you when you put your query on the public forum -- maybe that person is the one you need to listen to. That critique partner who gets under your skin and can't seem to remember the sandwich rule -- that's a critique to treasure.

Always take a few days to think through the feedback you get, even when it hurts, because sometimes truth comes flying at us like rotten tomatoes. If you duck, you miss out.**

*NO WAY am I EVER going on American Idol after this. If I can't handle frizzy-haired, velour-jogging-suit judge #1 from Podunk USA, how would I ever face Simon?

**Don't know where that analogy came from, but let's just go with it.

KEEP OUT

If you can decipher this sign posted on my daughters' bedroom door, you might want to consider a career as a kindergarten teacher.

Aren't five-year-olds awesome?

Drawing Inspiration

Jemi Fraser wrote a terrific post >>here<< at  From the Write Angle about getting to know your characters. One of her suggestions was attempting to draw them.

For some reason that sounded fun to me. I was struggling with my WiP and feeling desperate for inspiration.

I pulled out one of my kids' sketch books, broke out a pencil that I think survived my days in art class in British school in Hong Kong (don't ask me why I still have such a thing lying around when I haven't used it in 15 years) ... and attempted a character portrait.

Disclaimer: I am not an artist. My purpose here is to encourage us all to put ourselves out and try new things, even if we're not very good at them!!

Here are the first attempts:

Which were not right. At all. None of these girls looked like my protagonist. A couple were close, but ... nah.

I almost gave up.

But then decided to try one last time:

And there she is! I know she's not perfect. Still, I felt like I was looking at her.

It gave me a rush to put a face with the name. Her name is Kara, by the way.

And, you know what? The week I drew these pictures, I pushed through and finished the second draft of this particular WiP. My little drawing break did the trick!

Have you ever tried drawing one of your characters? What other creative approaches do you use when you're getting to know them?

A Year in Review

This will be quick, I promise.

2011 was a big year. And no big year is complete without some sort of  highlights list attached, right?
So here's mine:

1. Naomi Rose was born.
2. Wrote a lot. >>Here<< is one example.
3. Queried a lot. An example of the insanity >>here<<.
4. Won a MSFV Secret Agent contest. (Huge confidence booster!)
5. Celebrated twelve years of marital bliss with my dashingly handsome sidekick.
6. Traveled to Hong Kong to visit my family. See pictures >>here<< and >>here<<.
7. All that querying was worth it when I signed with my wonderful agent, Emmanuelle Morgen.
8. Lots of editing. An example >>here<<.
9. Participated in NaNo for the first time ever. And won!
10. And that's not even going into all the wonderful books I read and all the wonderful people I met through this blogging community.

All in all, heck yeah, this was a fantastic year! I am more than thankful. Not only for the good times, but the tough times too, because if we didn't have tough times and challenges we would be characterless blobs without a story to tell. We writers know the value of hardship more than anyone.

I'm looking forward to 2012 and all it holds.

My goals (not resolutions, mind you, GOALS!):

1. Keep reading
2. Keep writing
3. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite
4. Edit, edit, edit
5. Get into some sort of exercise routine, probably some sort of morning video work out that doesn't involve leaving the house ... at least, not until spring
6. Snuggle my children as much as possible because they're all growing up too fast
7. Remind my dashingly handsome sidekick every single day how wonderful and amazing he is

And that's a wrap!

What about you? Did you have a good 2011? What are your goals for 2012? 

Happy New Year, everyone. I wish you all the best in 2012!