Natalie Lloyd's Blog, page 3
April 7, 2014
Pack up the Pickled Jalapeño! (AKA: Details for Ohio, Texas and North Carolina events!)
Did I tell you I almost bought a Willie Nelson makeup bag for when I travel? Besides being totally awesome in every way, it seems like the kind of thing that could become a good luck charm, doesn't it? Like, "Turn the car around! I forgot my Willie Nelson makeup bag!"
Alas, I don't have the bag. Yet. But I'm traveling to a few FUN events this week in Ohio, Texas and North Carolina to talk about A Snicker of Magic this week. Pack up the Pickled Jalapeño!
Here's the info:
O H I O - Tuesday, April 8th
Reading, Presentation & Book Signing hosted by Fundamentals Bookstore
Delaware County District Library
Delaware, OH
6:30 - 8:00
For more information:
http://www.delawarelibrary.org/event/...
(You can also check out www.funbooksandmore.com)
T E X A S - Wednesday & Thursday, April 9th - 10th TLA (Texas Library Association) Conference
San Antonio, TX
Wednesday, April 9th
4:00-6:00pm - Scholastic Literary Reception
Thursday, April 10th
9:00-10:00am - I'm signing A Snicker of Magic at the Scholastic Booth!
2:00-3:20pm - Graveyard Shift: Building Programming around Mysterious and Scary Books
A panel discussion with James Preller, Jonothan Stroud and Penny Warner moderated by Sally Miculek. I'll be the short girl in the skull-print cardigan.
N O R T H C A R O L I N A - Saturday, April 12thTween Panel Extravaganza hosted by The Fountainhead Bookstore
Skyland Theater
Hendersonville, NC
2:00 - 4:00pm
Ticket info: http://www.fountainheadbookstore.com/...
If you're at any of these events, I hope you'll say hi (and show me a picture of your dog)!
In addition to these, I'm doing classroom visits at two schools near Columbus, Ohio. I didn't list them above, since they're private events, but I can't wait to meet those readers! The fact that hanging out with students, and talking about books and storytelling, is technically part of my "job" never ceases to amaze me. That's the best part, for sure. I'm forever amazed at the way words connect us all.
I'll post a few updates on my Facebook page this week, if you'd like to follow along with the shenanigans.
Have a great week!
March 26, 2014
gone nerdy.
Hello there, daydream believers!
I got to guest post over on the Nerdy Book Club yesterday about the books that made me brave and the lion who makes me want to roar. Here's the link, if you'd like to take a gander:
http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/20...
One of my favorite conversations to have with other booklovers has to do with *the* book. The book that came along when you needed it. The book you swear was written just for you. Maybe Harry was ignored in the cupboard under the stairs at the same time you were ignored in the corner of the cafeteria. Maybe Mia Thermapolos figured out she was royalty around the same time you figured out how to use your voice. Maybe Speak gave you permission to scream. Maybe Where the Wild Things are brought out the wild animal in you. Taught you life was a wild rumpus and you shouldn't let it pass you by. Or perhaps you're a King or Queen of Narnia, too. Maybe you know what it feels like when the roar of a lion rattle your bones a little bit.
Is there a novel that helped you get through a tough situation? A book you read when you were younger that you have never, ever forgotten? Or is there a book that makes you feel in ways you can't describe? I would love to hear about some of your favorite books down in the comments!
I'm going to grab my coffee now and go back to work. Please send snacks. And pictures of cute animals. (Cute animals = puppies, kittens, otters, Hugh Jackman, etc.)
March 10, 2014
spring comes, sweetly.
What is this ... brightness?!
The sun has finally decided to visit my corner of Tennessee, which has me in a state of euphoria. Typically, I crave dark places. I love rain and dreary days and cloud cover. Weather that makes most people sad makes me want to skip, skip, skip to m'lou. But even I, in all my vampiric tendencies, was getting desperate for some light. Welcome, Spring!
Here are a few sweet updates for the merry month of March:
- Natalie Aguiree, from Literary Rambles, interviewed me last week. I wrote about what inspired A Snicker of Magic and how I got my agent, Suzie Townsend. Natalie is also giving away a copy of Snicker, and you have until March 15th to win it. You can read that interview here. Literary Rambles is a site that was super helpful to me back when I was researching agents. I can't believe they have so much updated information on there. Kudos to Casey and Natalie!
- Virginia Boecker, who is swiftly becoming one of my favorite people, interviewed me for the Freshman 15 site. This site is mostly for authors with a debut novel in 2015, but they invited me over anyway. They're sweet like that. You can read that interview here. Virginia's YA novel, The Witch Hunter, comes out from Little, Brown next year. Because I know she's such an incredible writer, and because of my nerdy infatuation with British history, I am counting down the days.
- I won't be on social media much for the next few weeks while I dive into *drumroll* Something New. But I've updated the events page and contact information on here. In April, I'll be in San Antonio (at TXLA!), Cincinnati (for school visits!) and Hendersonville, NC. The North Carolina event with The Fountainhead Bookstore is going to be so much fun, and several middle grade authors will be there. I hope you'll say hello if you're there too!
- Folks have been asking me for book recommendations lately. I might have mentioned some of these already, but here goes:
For older teens (and adults): I'm wild about John Corey Whaley's Noggin. (That's actually the title of his book. I don't mean it, like, I'm obsessed with his face. His face is adorable and he's charming, but I'm not taking about his noggin, but his Noggin. Savvy?) (...is this getting awkward?) Noggin is out in April and it's one of the most unique stories I've read in ages. Funny and intelligent and highly likely to make you cry in a good way. Also, for older readers: I've just experienced the vortex that is Megan Shepherd's The Mad Man's Daughter. I'm through book two now and ... have to wait a year for the third. Rats! It's a gorgeously written scary-Gothic love story. On that same note, I've been meandering through Shelly Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. This is a book my editor recommended, so I knew it would be lovely and smart. It's darkly enchanting; the kind of writing you want to sink into slowly. It's unsettling in a good way, savvy? And Castle has one of my new favorite character names: Merrikat. For older readers, I'd also recommend Karen Russel's Vampires in the Lemon Grove, a collection of short stories full of bright writing and magical realism. If you love to write, and like to be devastated by the sheer beauty of a sentence, this book will thrill you.
For middle grade readers (and readers, like me, who are middle grade at heart): I've been raving about When Audrey Met Alice, by Rebecca Beherens, Nightingale's Nest, by Nikki Loftin, and Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick. I think they're all destined to become classics, and more than deserving of all the high praise they've received. I've also been recommending Eliot Schrefer's Endangered and Kristin Kitchner's The Wig and the Window. Those aren't new releases, but I think they're classics too. I read them both last year and I've been shaking them in people's faces ever since. Cynthia Lord's new book, Half a Chance, is on my nightstand. It's my reward for myself for actually finishing *drumroll* Something New. For even younger readers, I'm a big fan of Timmy Failure (and his distinctive red scarf!) and I've heard the most marvelous praise for Erin Soderberg's The Quirks (this book is on my TBR but I already feel confident saying it's fabulous). Jon Muth's Hi, Koo! is out on my coffee table right now. Sometimes I read it before I start writing, because I love the way it helps me see the world. If you're looking for a book that wakes up your senses, and crushes down your inner-cynic long enough to turn loose your inner-poet, Jon Muth's books are the way to go.
And finally, for absolutely any person who loves stories : I'm beyond excited for is Dan Santat's The Adventures of Beekle . Go here and watch the trailer and then talk to me about it after you've wiped away your hot mess of tears. I've pre-ordered it for myself, and I already know several people I'll be gifting a copy to this year.
What are you reading?
- I'm signing off today with a pic taken just after a recent Skype visit. After I met with a swanky group of readers, Biscuit jumped in my lap and tried to lick the screen. I wish I could figure out a way for Biscuit to say hi during Skype visits. She gets a little too excited and pounces on the computer, so we can't do it yet. But we're working on it.
Have a happy week!
The sun has finally decided to visit my corner of Tennessee, which has me in a state of euphoria. Typically, I crave dark places. I love rain and dreary days and cloud cover. Weather that makes most people sad makes me want to skip, skip, skip to m'lou. But even I, in all my vampiric tendencies, was getting desperate for some light. Welcome, Spring!
Here are a few sweet updates for the merry month of March:
- Natalie Aguiree, from Literary Rambles, interviewed me last week. I wrote about what inspired A Snicker of Magic and how I got my agent, Suzie Townsend. Natalie is also giving away a copy of Snicker, and you have until March 15th to win it. You can read that interview here. Literary Rambles is a site that was super helpful to me back when I was researching agents. I can't believe they have so much updated information on there. Kudos to Casey and Natalie!
- Virginia Boecker, who is swiftly becoming one of my favorite people, interviewed me for the Freshman 15 site. This site is mostly for authors with a debut novel in 2015, but they invited me over anyway. They're sweet like that. You can read that interview here. Virginia's YA novel, The Witch Hunter, comes out from Little, Brown next year. Because I know she's such an incredible writer, and because of my nerdy infatuation with British history, I am counting down the days.
- I won't be on social media much for the next few weeks while I dive into *drumroll* Something New. But I've updated the events page and contact information on here. In April, I'll be in San Antonio (at TXLA!), Cincinnati (for school visits!) and Hendersonville, NC. The North Carolina event with The Fountainhead Bookstore is going to be so much fun, and several middle grade authors will be there. I hope you'll say hello if you're there too!
- Folks have been asking me for book recommendations lately. I might have mentioned some of these already, but here goes:
For older teens (and adults): I'm wild about John Corey Whaley's Noggin. (That's actually the title of his book. I don't mean it, like, I'm obsessed with his face. His face is adorable and he's charming, but I'm not taking about his noggin, but his Noggin. Savvy?) (...is this getting awkward?) Noggin is out in April and it's one of the most unique stories I've read in ages. Funny and intelligent and highly likely to make you cry in a good way. Also, for older readers: I've just experienced the vortex that is Megan Shepherd's The Mad Man's Daughter. I'm through book two now and ... have to wait a year for the third. Rats! It's a gorgeously written scary-Gothic love story. On that same note, I've been meandering through Shelly Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. This is a book my editor recommended, so I knew it would be lovely and smart. It's darkly enchanting; the kind of writing you want to sink into slowly. It's unsettling in a good way, savvy? And Castle has one of my new favorite character names: Merrikat. For older readers, I'd also recommend Karen Russel's Vampires in the Lemon Grove, a collection of short stories full of bright writing and magical realism. If you love to write, and like to be devastated by the sheer beauty of a sentence, this book will thrill you.
For middle grade readers (and readers, like me, who are middle grade at heart): I've been raving about When Audrey Met Alice, by Rebecca Beherens, Nightingale's Nest, by Nikki Loftin, and Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick. I think they're all destined to become classics, and more than deserving of all the high praise they've received. I've also been recommending Eliot Schrefer's Endangered and Kristin Kitchner's The Wig and the Window. Those aren't new releases, but I think they're classics too. I read them both last year and I've been shaking them in people's faces ever since. Cynthia Lord's new book, Half a Chance, is on my nightstand. It's my reward for myself for actually finishing *drumroll* Something New. For even younger readers, I'm a big fan of Timmy Failure (and his distinctive red scarf!) and I've heard the most marvelous praise for Erin Soderberg's The Quirks (this book is on my TBR but I already feel confident saying it's fabulous). Jon Muth's Hi, Koo! is out on my coffee table right now. Sometimes I read it before I start writing, because I love the way it helps me see the world. If you're looking for a book that wakes up your senses, and crushes down your inner-cynic long enough to turn loose your inner-poet, Jon Muth's books are the way to go.
And finally, for absolutely any person who loves stories : I'm beyond excited for is Dan Santat's The Adventures of Beekle . Go here and watch the trailer and then talk to me about it after you've wiped away your hot mess of tears. I've pre-ordered it for myself, and I already know several people I'll be gifting a copy to this year.
What are you reading?
- I'm signing off today with a pic taken just after a recent Skype visit. After I met with a swanky group of readers, Biscuit jumped in my lap and tried to lick the screen. I wish I could figure out a way for Biscuit to say hi during Skype visits. She gets a little too excited and pounces on the computer, so we can't do it yet. But we're working on it.
Have a happy week!
February 27, 2014
signed copies (and a magical echo).
Felicity Juniper Pickle has officially laced up her wordy sneakers and taken on the world. A Snicker of Magic is here!
I have a post coming soon that's a bit sappy, because that's how I roll. This experience has been such an adventure, so much that I don't even know how to process it into blog-form. I need to ponder it just a bit longer before I write it out. For now, I just wanted to let you know the book is HERE. And it should be available now anywhere you can buy a book.
I've also had some emails asking about signed copies of the book. Thanks to some modern magic, I can make that happen!
If you want a signed copy of A Snicker of Magic:
* I signed stock for a few stores in California, including:
- Once Upon a Time in Montrose, California. You can pop in that adorable store and pick up a copy or order it online: http://shoponceuponatime.com (If you live in Montrose, you already know this, but there's a magic spot in front of the store where you can hear your voice echo. It's so creepy-cool!)
- The whimsically-wonderful Hicklebee's in San Jose, California. Hicklebee's is a dream. I can't imagine discovering that bookstore as a kid. If you go by to pick one up, see if you can find where I signed the wall! :) http://hicklebees.com
- And at Book Passage in Corte Madera! http://www.bookpassage.com
After speaking at Book Passage, the lovely booksellers there took me out on the floor to show me the display for A Snicker of Magic. If you think I burst into tears, you are correct:
* Check the events page, because I have a few more events happening this spring including events in Ohio, Texas and North Carolina. I'm also having a Book Party in my hometown in east Tennessee on April 26th. If you're nearby (or if you know how to teleport!), come say hi! A miniature pig named Oreo will be in attendance, and you will freak out when you see him. He's adorable! (So adorable that he *might* get a cameo in a future book ...)
* The lovely Alyson Kate made these bookplates for me. They're sticky on the back, so you can attach them to the inside cover or one of the first pages. Or your forehead, if you prefer. And Scholastic sent me the most adorable bookmarks. I would be happy to sign either one of those (or both of them!) and mail them your way. Just email me at nat.lloyd at yahoo with your mailing address and how you'd like them personalized. (They're normal-size bookplates, but for the sake of showing off their cuteness, they'll look a bit smaller here.)
Thank you so much for sticking with me through this adventure. When I first followed the Pickled Jalapeno into my daydreams, I never could have imagined where it would lead. I can't believe I get to spend so much time doing what I love. I'm floored, and a little bit shocked, that people want to read it.
I hope the Pickles find a home in your heart. They'll forever hold a special place in mine.
Here's to a most spindiddly dream come true.
I have a post coming soon that's a bit sappy, because that's how I roll. This experience has been such an adventure, so much that I don't even know how to process it into blog-form. I need to ponder it just a bit longer before I write it out. For now, I just wanted to let you know the book is HERE. And it should be available now anywhere you can buy a book.
I've also had some emails asking about signed copies of the book. Thanks to some modern magic, I can make that happen!
If you want a signed copy of A Snicker of Magic:
* I signed stock for a few stores in California, including:
- Once Upon a Time in Montrose, California. You can pop in that adorable store and pick up a copy or order it online: http://shoponceuponatime.com (If you live in Montrose, you already know this, but there's a magic spot in front of the store where you can hear your voice echo. It's so creepy-cool!)
- The whimsically-wonderful Hicklebee's in San Jose, California. Hicklebee's is a dream. I can't imagine discovering that bookstore as a kid. If you go by to pick one up, see if you can find where I signed the wall! :) http://hicklebees.com
- And at Book Passage in Corte Madera! http://www.bookpassage.com
After speaking at Book Passage, the lovely booksellers there took me out on the floor to show me the display for A Snicker of Magic. If you think I burst into tears, you are correct:
* Check the events page, because I have a few more events happening this spring including events in Ohio, Texas and North Carolina. I'm also having a Book Party in my hometown in east Tennessee on April 26th. If you're nearby (or if you know how to teleport!), come say hi! A miniature pig named Oreo will be in attendance, and you will freak out when you see him. He's adorable! (So adorable that he *might* get a cameo in a future book ...)
* The lovely Alyson Kate made these bookplates for me. They're sticky on the back, so you can attach them to the inside cover or one of the first pages. Or your forehead, if you prefer. And Scholastic sent me the most adorable bookmarks. I would be happy to sign either one of those (or both of them!) and mail them your way. Just email me at nat.lloyd at yahoo with your mailing address and how you'd like them personalized. (They're normal-size bookplates, but for the sake of showing off their cuteness, they'll look a bit smaller here.)
Thank you so much for sticking with me through this adventure. When I first followed the Pickled Jalapeno into my daydreams, I never could have imagined where it would lead. I can't believe I get to spend so much time doing what I love. I'm floored, and a little bit shocked, that people want to read it.
I hope the Pickles find a home in your heart. They'll forever hold a special place in mine.
Here's to a most spindiddly dream come true.
February 12, 2014
giveaways and gilbert.
Hey friends! Fluffy, goose feather snowflakes are fluttering past my window. Biscuit is curled up beside me, waiting for me to finish this so we can go watch Anne of Green Gables. I love going to Green Gables when it snows. Or rains. Or when the sun is sparkling.
... maybe weather doesn't have much to do with my Green Gables obsession. Anyway!
While I'm sad we can't squeal over Gilbert together, I do have some fun links to share:
First, if you'd like to win an ARC of A SNICKER OF MAGIC, Scholastic is giving away FIVE of them via the sweet folks at The Nerdy Book Club. Beth Shaum wrote such an incredible review over there. I hesitate to link it because I don't want your expectations to be too high (ha :). But I can't believe the story resonated with someone this way. I'm so grateful for her kind words. Click here for the review and the entry form if you'd like to have some ARC-love in your life.
Scholastic is also sending magnetic poetry with each ARC. The magnet sheets are darn adorable:
Second, Beth was also kind enough to interview me on her blog today, and I had a wonderful time answering her questions. Eventually I had to cut myself off because I realized I was basically writing a whole other book on there. :) During the interview, I shared one of the specific places that inspired my fictional town of Midnight Gulch, if you'd like to take a look. Click here for that.
In the way of updates, Biscuit and I cheered for the Broncos during the Superbowl.
That ... did not turn out like we hoped. But we still love you, Peyton!
I've been working through more fun interviews. The questions are so thoughtful, and I've had fun filling them out. More links to come soon!
And I've been preparing for my trip to California! While I'm in that gorgeous, glorious state (which, from what I hear is still above freezing - huzzah!), I'll be doing a few classroom visits. I'll also be speaking at the SCIBA Children's Literacy Dinner. I can't wait to meet the booklovers attending. If you're there, I hope you'll say hi! (Warning: my SoTwang does not come with subtitles.)
And of course February 25th is when the book releases, and I've been getting ready for that too. I can't believe that day is almost here. It's really happening. I'll be flying home from California that day, so I'm not sure how easy it will be to find celebration ice cream in the airport. But I will try! Please go eat ice cream in celebration, savvy?
... maybe weather doesn't have much to do with my Green Gables obsession. Anyway!
While I'm sad we can't squeal over Gilbert together, I do have some fun links to share:
First, if you'd like to win an ARC of A SNICKER OF MAGIC, Scholastic is giving away FIVE of them via the sweet folks at The Nerdy Book Club. Beth Shaum wrote such an incredible review over there. I hesitate to link it because I don't want your expectations to be too high (ha :). But I can't believe the story resonated with someone this way. I'm so grateful for her kind words. Click here for the review and the entry form if you'd like to have some ARC-love in your life.
Scholastic is also sending magnetic poetry with each ARC. The magnet sheets are darn adorable:
Second, Beth was also kind enough to interview me on her blog today, and I had a wonderful time answering her questions. Eventually I had to cut myself off because I realized I was basically writing a whole other book on there. :) During the interview, I shared one of the specific places that inspired my fictional town of Midnight Gulch, if you'd like to take a look. Click here for that.
In the way of updates, Biscuit and I cheered for the Broncos during the Superbowl.
That ... did not turn out like we hoped. But we still love you, Peyton!I've been working through more fun interviews. The questions are so thoughtful, and I've had fun filling them out. More links to come soon!
And I've been preparing for my trip to California! While I'm in that gorgeous, glorious state (which, from what I hear is still above freezing - huzzah!), I'll be doing a few classroom visits. I'll also be speaking at the SCIBA Children's Literacy Dinner. I can't wait to meet the booklovers attending. If you're there, I hope you'll say hi! (Warning: my SoTwang does not come with subtitles.)
And of course February 25th is when the book releases, and I've been getting ready for that too. I can't believe that day is almost here. It's really happening. I'll be flying home from California that day, so I'm not sure how easy it will be to find celebration ice cream in the airport. But I will try! Please go eat ice cream in celebration, savvy?
February 6, 2014
once upon a trip to seattle.
"There's no falling back to sleep once you waken from the dream. Now I'm restless, and I'm ready to begin." - The Avett Brothers
A few weeks ago, I got to visit Seattle with my Scholastic friends to hang out with the swanky booksellers attending Winter Institute.
Let me tell you a few things I know to be true of booksellers:
1.) They're a party.* As I've said before, I'm convinced nobody knows how to party like a bookseller knows how to party. (Though I've been told by librarians that they can throw down too, just wait and see.) But I have also come to realize that this is because, wherever book-people are, the party is there. Drinks and ice cream are not required to have a good time with these fine folks. They're fun and kind and charming regardless of where you get to meet them. I think story-people - whether they're readers, librarians, teachers, booksellers, bloggers, or writers & publishing peeps - have a wonderful, whimsical outlook on the world anyway. When you get to spend time around other people who love books the way you do ... it's a party situation.
*I almost typed that they are "the" party, but I didn't want you to confuse them with the great and iconic band, The Party, who rose to fame via the Mickey Mouse Club when I was in middle school. Please tell me somebody else remembers The Party?! ... Hark! I found them. Thank goodness for YouTube. CLICK HERE and be dazzled.
2.) They're an inspirational bunch. I mean, my word, these are people who have made it their job to connect readers with stories they love. No surprise here, but I get a bit emotional when I get to chat with booksellers, librarians and teachers who work with young readers. I will always ardently adore books, but I've never connected with stories the way I did when I was younger. I hid my heart in books back then. And I'm so grateful the adults in my life gave me those books, stories that helped me find enough courage to bloom a little bit - both as a reader and as a person.
3.) They are courageous. Indie bookstores are often regarded as little engines that could/can/maybe/might. But there is no fog of gloom & doom surrounding booksellers, even though it's darn hard in this economy for people to buy books locally. There's a pioneering-spirit that unites booksellers, which makes for a wonderfully charged (in a good way) atmosphere.
4.) They're readers. This is a given, I know. But it's still worth celebrating. Booksellers don't see algorithms, they see readers. It's exciting to connect with a person who wants to matchmake you with a book you'll love. While I was at the party, I got so many great book recommendations from booksellers, and I never felt like it was because they were in sales mode. It's just because they love books.
So all that to say, I loved hanging out with the book-people I met. I'm so grateful I got to be there, and grateful for the time they took to chat with me about my book. It's not like they had to talk to me. They had so many important, professional things to do that weekend, but I felt like I was with a bunch of fun friends the whole time I was there. Here are a few pictures from my Seattle adventure:
I'm the dork that always takes a picture from the airplane window. I love the window seat, and this is how Chattanooga waved goodbye to me ...
... with a silver river-banner weaving through the city. And a sunrise, somewhere above the clouds.
Everything is possible.
Everything is new.
That's how sunrise makes me feel.
When I made it to Seattle, I found this in the hotel:
And had a mini-meltdown on the elevator. I can't believe it says AUTHOR. GAH!! I'm so grateful!!! It's absurd how long I stared at that name tag.
That night, I got to tag along to a reading by Lucy Christopher and Sara B. Larson at University Bookstore. I'd met Sara and Lucy before. They are both so kind and fun. And they're incredible writers. (They're also absurdly pretty.) Please excuse my giddy grin. I can't seem to calibrate my excitement at these things.
We had dinner at a funky little Southern-inspired place downtown. My favorite thing we ate, I kid you not, was Brussels Sprouts. I don't know if this is because my body was tired of 24/7 coffee at that point, or if it was because Brussels Sprouts are just delightful and I've been missing out. Thoughts?
The next day, I got to meet Kathleen Ortiz. I know I've blogged about our brunch adventure already, but she's amazing so I'm posting our picture again:
She's a little bit too awesome.
After that, I got MORE COFFEE and hid out in my hotel room for a bit, working on my chat for that night's party.
It was such a beautiful view! Sparkly cities are so inspiring. Seattle, I adore you.
That afternoon, I tagged along with Lucy, Sara and some Scholastic friends while they signed stock at area bookstores. While adventuring, we visited a troll under a bridge. As one does.
We made a hero's approach, racing at The Freemont Troll head on....
... only to discover that our bravado was unnecessary. The troll is a misunderstood monster. His garbaldy-grunts and thunderous bellows might terrify the villagers on the bridge. But if you visit him in his lair, you'll find blackbirds resting on his shoulders, and love written on his hand:
While hanging out with the troll, I snagged a photo with Sheila Marie, another one of the Scholastic wizards I've come to know in the past few months. She's so fun and funny and cool, and she has this magical ability to make everybody around her feel like they're cool, too. I'm lucky because I get to chat with her pretty often. I'm so grateful for all she does. (Would have been awesome if the Troll'd made bunny ears over one of our heads, yes?)
After we visited the Troll, we went to a few more bookstores and then headed back to the hotel. Seattle was as stunning as ever.
I texted my mom the following selfie to show her the dress I wore. I followed it immediately with a text that read, "WOW. I AM SHORT." I suppose this should not come as a shock anymore. I don't mind being short, by the way. Not at all. But sometimes I become keenly aware of my miniature-ness. Figure shown actual size:
I met up with Lucy and Sara again, and we joined our Scholastic peeps for a delicious dinner. We went to an Italian restaurant with painted ceilings and sparkly wine and gnocchi that tasted like delicious little clouds.
And then it was time to party!
Just walking through the doors was such a thrill. I felt like I was dreaming.
That night is the first time I met author and illustrator Jon Muth. He is so kind, interesting, and talented. Jon has written and illustrated many incredible books. My favorite souvenir from Seattle is a copy of his soon-to-be-released new book, Hi, Koo!
I've been reading it in the mornings before I start writing. It's the kind of book that works magic inside you while you read it. Suddenly you come to the last page, and look up, and every sense is awake. You're keenly aware of the wondrous details all around you, all the time. It's a treasure.
Party people were treated to an ice cream buffet! (Pic from Scholastic's Twitter feed.)
We also had gourmet popcorn. I formed a mild to moderate addiction to the S'Mores flavor. Tiny paper scoops, which looked like tiny paper boats, were positioned elegantly beside the popcorn jars. Once the party was over, I basically used my paper boat like a shovel for the S'Mores-Corn. Elegance, be darned.
I tried to sneak out with this giant poster board of my book, but I was unsuccessful.
Beside the book, you'll notice a magnetic poetry board. Scholastic made the coolest sheets of magnetic poetry to send out with some of the ARCs. We had many brave word-collectors in our midst that night, who left their poetry behind on the board.
My favorite: "Fierce hope is magical."
I feel like some wily poet was about to do some serious word-smithing with"sausage" and "smear" ... alas. We will never know.
These are just a few of the wonderful Scholastic people I got to spend time with on this trip:
I still can't believe I got to go. I still can't believe I even belong in a picture like that, but I'm grateful to be there. My Winter Institute experience is a magical memory I'll never forget.
Early the next morning, I began my adventure to Philadelphia. It's the first time I've ever seen the sun rise and set from an airplane. (I'll write more about that later.) As you might imagine, Seattle said good-bye in grand fashion:
Everything is possible.
Everything is new.
Here's to dreams-come-true, wide awake. :) Thanks for adventuring with me! :)
A few weeks ago, I got to visit Seattle with my Scholastic friends to hang out with the swanky booksellers attending Winter Institute.
Let me tell you a few things I know to be true of booksellers:
1.) They're a party.* As I've said before, I'm convinced nobody knows how to party like a bookseller knows how to party. (Though I've been told by librarians that they can throw down too, just wait and see.) But I have also come to realize that this is because, wherever book-people are, the party is there. Drinks and ice cream are not required to have a good time with these fine folks. They're fun and kind and charming regardless of where you get to meet them. I think story-people - whether they're readers, librarians, teachers, booksellers, bloggers, or writers & publishing peeps - have a wonderful, whimsical outlook on the world anyway. When you get to spend time around other people who love books the way you do ... it's a party situation.
*I almost typed that they are "the" party, but I didn't want you to confuse them with the great and iconic band, The Party, who rose to fame via the Mickey Mouse Club when I was in middle school. Please tell me somebody else remembers The Party?! ... Hark! I found them. Thank goodness for YouTube. CLICK HERE and be dazzled.
2.) They're an inspirational bunch. I mean, my word, these are people who have made it their job to connect readers with stories they love. No surprise here, but I get a bit emotional when I get to chat with booksellers, librarians and teachers who work with young readers. I will always ardently adore books, but I've never connected with stories the way I did when I was younger. I hid my heart in books back then. And I'm so grateful the adults in my life gave me those books, stories that helped me find enough courage to bloom a little bit - both as a reader and as a person.
3.) They are courageous. Indie bookstores are often regarded as little engines that could/can/maybe/might. But there is no fog of gloom & doom surrounding booksellers, even though it's darn hard in this economy for people to buy books locally. There's a pioneering-spirit that unites booksellers, which makes for a wonderfully charged (in a good way) atmosphere.
4.) They're readers. This is a given, I know. But it's still worth celebrating. Booksellers don't see algorithms, they see readers. It's exciting to connect with a person who wants to matchmake you with a book you'll love. While I was at the party, I got so many great book recommendations from booksellers, and I never felt like it was because they were in sales mode. It's just because they love books.
So all that to say, I loved hanging out with the book-people I met. I'm so grateful I got to be there, and grateful for the time they took to chat with me about my book. It's not like they had to talk to me. They had so many important, professional things to do that weekend, but I felt like I was with a bunch of fun friends the whole time I was there. Here are a few pictures from my Seattle adventure:
I'm the dork that always takes a picture from the airplane window. I love the window seat, and this is how Chattanooga waved goodbye to me ...
... with a silver river-banner weaving through the city. And a sunrise, somewhere above the clouds.
Everything is possible.
Everything is new.
That's how sunrise makes me feel.
When I made it to Seattle, I found this in the hotel:
And had a mini-meltdown on the elevator. I can't believe it says AUTHOR. GAH!! I'm so grateful!!! It's absurd how long I stared at that name tag.
That night, I got to tag along to a reading by Lucy Christopher and Sara B. Larson at University Bookstore. I'd met Sara and Lucy before. They are both so kind and fun. And they're incredible writers. (They're also absurdly pretty.) Please excuse my giddy grin. I can't seem to calibrate my excitement at these things.
We had dinner at a funky little Southern-inspired place downtown. My favorite thing we ate, I kid you not, was Brussels Sprouts. I don't know if this is because my body was tired of 24/7 coffee at that point, or if it was because Brussels Sprouts are just delightful and I've been missing out. Thoughts?
The next day, I got to meet Kathleen Ortiz. I know I've blogged about our brunch adventure already, but she's amazing so I'm posting our picture again:
She's a little bit too awesome.
After that, I got MORE COFFEE and hid out in my hotel room for a bit, working on my chat for that night's party.
It was such a beautiful view! Sparkly cities are so inspiring. Seattle, I adore you.
That afternoon, I tagged along with Lucy, Sara and some Scholastic friends while they signed stock at area bookstores. While adventuring, we visited a troll under a bridge. As one does.
We made a hero's approach, racing at The Freemont Troll head on....
... only to discover that our bravado was unnecessary. The troll is a misunderstood monster. His garbaldy-grunts and thunderous bellows might terrify the villagers on the bridge. But if you visit him in his lair, you'll find blackbirds resting on his shoulders, and love written on his hand:
While hanging out with the troll, I snagged a photo with Sheila Marie, another one of the Scholastic wizards I've come to know in the past few months. She's so fun and funny and cool, and she has this magical ability to make everybody around her feel like they're cool, too. I'm lucky because I get to chat with her pretty often. I'm so grateful for all she does. (Would have been awesome if the Troll'd made bunny ears over one of our heads, yes?)
After we visited the Troll, we went to a few more bookstores and then headed back to the hotel. Seattle was as stunning as ever.
I texted my mom the following selfie to show her the dress I wore. I followed it immediately with a text that read, "WOW. I AM SHORT." I suppose this should not come as a shock anymore. I don't mind being short, by the way. Not at all. But sometimes I become keenly aware of my miniature-ness. Figure shown actual size:
I met up with Lucy and Sara again, and we joined our Scholastic peeps for a delicious dinner. We went to an Italian restaurant with painted ceilings and sparkly wine and gnocchi that tasted like delicious little clouds.
And then it was time to party!
Just walking through the doors was such a thrill. I felt like I was dreaming.
That night is the first time I met author and illustrator Jon Muth. He is so kind, interesting, and talented. Jon has written and illustrated many incredible books. My favorite souvenir from Seattle is a copy of his soon-to-be-released new book, Hi, Koo!
I've been reading it in the mornings before I start writing. It's the kind of book that works magic inside you while you read it. Suddenly you come to the last page, and look up, and every sense is awake. You're keenly aware of the wondrous details all around you, all the time. It's a treasure.
Party people were treated to an ice cream buffet! (Pic from Scholastic's Twitter feed.)
We also had gourmet popcorn. I formed a mild to moderate addiction to the S'Mores flavor. Tiny paper scoops, which looked like tiny paper boats, were positioned elegantly beside the popcorn jars. Once the party was over, I basically used my paper boat like a shovel for the S'Mores-Corn. Elegance, be darned.
I tried to sneak out with this giant poster board of my book, but I was unsuccessful.
Beside the book, you'll notice a magnetic poetry board. Scholastic made the coolest sheets of magnetic poetry to send out with some of the ARCs. We had many brave word-collectors in our midst that night, who left their poetry behind on the board.
My favorite: "Fierce hope is magical."
I feel like some wily poet was about to do some serious word-smithing with"sausage" and "smear" ... alas. We will never know.
These are just a few of the wonderful Scholastic people I got to spend time with on this trip:
I still can't believe I got to go. I still can't believe I even belong in a picture like that, but I'm grateful to be there. My Winter Institute experience is a magical memory I'll never forget.
Early the next morning, I began my adventure to Philadelphia. It's the first time I've ever seen the sun rise and set from an airplane. (I'll write more about that later.) As you might imagine, Seattle said good-bye in grand fashion:
Everything is possible.
Everything is new.
Here's to dreams-come-true, wide awake. :) Thanks for adventuring with me! :)
January 28, 2014
ciao!
Hey friends! I hope you're warm and happy and eating lots of cookies on this snowy day. Speaking of the sparkly stuff, it finally snowed a bit in my neck of the woods. I finally feel LEGIT as far as 2014's beastly weather is concerned. (Even though, ahem, it's not quite as deep as what many of you are experiencing.)
I'm about to hide myself away in the Cave of Solicitude for a few weeks to write my brains out (...does that sound gross?). I'm definitely going to blog more about some of the booksellers and librarians I met last week, because they were so fun and inspiring.
(I'm here to tell you, folks, ain't nobody knows how to party like book people do.)
But just in case I'm MIA for a bit, I wanted to share this lovely cover with you.
While I was in Seattle, Kathleen Ortiz was kind enough to push her busy agent-ly duties aside and meet me for brunch. She's lovely and fun and made me laugh heaps.
My smile is darn near goofy in this picture, but I'd just eaten a hazelnut waffle that was heavenly. And I got to meet Kathleen. And I was about to visit swank bookstores and see THE Freemont Troll. I couldn't control my happy.
(I would like to point out that the lady at the front desk who took our picture said, "Turn this way so I can get the word 'concierge' in the photo." Mmmkay.)
Kathleen and I decided, over breakfast, that my next novel should be about magical bacon. Or waffles, maybe. I think Suzie's down with that.
Suzie Townsend, the avenger in high heels, is my agent, btw. Kathleen is an agent at New Leaf as well, and she handles all the foreign rights there. She's the reason A Snicker of Magic will be available in Italy, Germany and France soon. She showed me the Italian cover while I was in Seattle, and gave me the green light to share it. Behold the adorableness:
I'm so blessed to work with such wonderful people, and grateful to Kathleen, her co-agent, and the publishing team at Sperling & Kupfer for giving Felicity and Jonah an adventure in Italy. As I've said before, I think the Pickles will dig it there. (Magical gelato, perhaps? ... ;)
Let me know what you're reading during these dark and snowy winter days! Once I'm through this draft, I plan to joyously devour my lovely, leaning tower of TBR ...
January 27, 2014
welcome to the world, felicity juniper.
On The Twitter this weekend, I wrote that the rooftops in Philadelphia looked sugar-dusted.
That was true. But the streets looked more like clumps of icing. Sugar-slush.
Philadelphia is a beautiful, sparkly city and it was darn cold when I visited. Nevertheless! I pulled on my jacket (not my cool wool jacket ... because I couldn't fit that in my 400 pound suitcase) and met up with my editor, Mallory.
Allow me a moment to gush:
I read a quote by Richard Peck that I reference all the time when people ask me what the editing process is like. He said the best editors hold a flashlight while you dig for buried treasure in your manuscript. Or something like that. I might have mauled his quote. Nevertheless, that was the gist of it. ;) And it's how I felt when I was working with Mallory.
Until I worked with her, I didn't realize editing was such an art. I think many people hear "editing" and assume it's all grammatical stuff, but that's actually the very last aspect that gets worked. (This is a post for another time, but I've never been enthralled by grammar rules. My approach to grammar is very Captain Barbosa-like: "They're more, what ye' call, guidelines than actual rules.")
Even when something wasn't working in the book, Mallory had a way of helping me look at it differently. Revising a book is H A R D. Even in the best situation, it's so stinking hard. Taking a story apart and reworking it morphs me into a melodramatic, ice cream guzzling maniac. Maybe it's not hard for the best, most talented authors out there. Maybe it gets easier as you go. But it's very hard for me. That said, because I had such a great editor, I didn't feel defeated, even through the hard parts. There were lots of times I felt like we holding up scenes together, looking at them as if they were sparkly little things in a curiosity shop.
How can we position this better?
How can we polish this up?
Could we smooth this rough edge?
What's the best way to display this so it catches the light ...
I learned so much about writing and storytelling from working with her.
In addition to being such an incredible and talented editor, Mallory's a wonderful person to be around. So I'd been looking forward to hanging out with her for weeks.
Sadly, I'm a major party pooper in winter, because I'm so paranoid about ice and snow. I think anybody who has broken has many bones as I have would probably understand this fear, right? I'm so careful, but ice makes me nervous. Team Scholastic knows that, and they're wonderful about offering an arm or whatever. Plus, I don't mind being a princess and taking a cab when I need to. (For this country girl, taking a cab is always a thrill anyway ;). So I told Mallory I'd be shuffling the whole time and she told me we wouldn't even venture out, if I didn't want too. But Philly does a great job keeping their sidewalks clear (Thank you, Philly!!!). And the city was so beautiful that I at least wanted to see a tiny corner of it.
... and then we got outside and I realized it was like six degrees. So we only ventured a few streets over to a cute little bistro.
We ordered drinks and truffle fries and then Mallory said, "I have a surprise for you. It's the best surprise ever."
I could hear my heart hammering in my ears then, because I thought surely, surely it can't be THAT SURPRISE. The book's not out for another month. I didn't know when authors actually received copies but I'd assumed it was around the same time it was released.
I asked, "... is it going to make me cry?"
She nodded. "Oh yeah."
And whoa, did it ever.
Mallory gave me a hardback copy of my book.
A Snicker of Magic is a book!!! A REAL BOOK.
It's so, so beautiful, whimsical, and FUN. Scholastic went above and beyond with this story, packaging it in such a lovely way.
Nina Goffi designed the book, and I'm quite certain she sprinkled fairy dust all over it:
The cover is embossed! The front pages look like a chalkboard!
Mallory gently pulled the cover away so I could see the endpapers. The beautiful Emily Heddleson came up with this idea, and I'm WILD over it. Felicity's words!!!!!
The actual hard cover is purple and yellow: so bright and whimsical and fun.
... and there's a sweet little secret under the jacket too, in the lower corner of the cover ....
But I won't spoil it for you ; )
I can't imagine a sweeter way to see my book for the first time. I'm thrilled Mallory gave it to me, that we celebrated over sunset-colored drinks on a snowy day. Sounds of laughter and happy-chatter and clinking glasses bubbled up all around us. We toasted to magic. And dreams come true.
"To Felicity Pickle," Mallory said.
To Felicity Pickle - a quirky girl brave enough to see the world a bit differently.
This is Mallory. AND THAT'S OUR BOOK:
If you'll allow me another geekout moment: Tracy, the lovely PR Czar at Scholastic, retweeted that picture of me and Mallory. RL Stine (!!!!!) responded with this:
R.L. Stine tweeted me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you think I'm going to print that out, you are most certainly correct.
It's a scary thing to have a book in the world. It's a dream-come-true, 100%. But it's surreal to hold something that started in your imagination. I'm overwhelmed by the love Scholastic has given this book. And for the ways booksellers and librarians and readers are already embracing it. I think a story belongs to everybody. That's how book-magic works. One of the sweetest compliments I got at Winter Institute was when somebody said, "I feel at home in this book. I feel like it's mine." I love that. And it brings me to this:
For as long as you decide to hold it in your heart, I hope Felicity's story brings you heaps of joy. If you have fun during the 200+ pages you visit Midnight Gulch, I'll be so happy.
But deep down, I guess I'm also hoping one reader might find their own magic inside the pages.
That she's reminded that her words matter and mean something.
That he realizes there might just be a major victory on the other side of that thing he's so afraid of.
That she remembers, even on the darkest days, hope is always fluttering somewhere so close.
That he, or she, reads the book and remembers the person who made them feel unconditionally loved and spindiddly and capable of magic. Because you absolutely are capable of magic, is the thing. You don't even need a carton of Blackberry Sunrise (though either would be awesome). You only ever need to be your geeky-awesome self.
Last thing, and then I'll hush: somebody asked me what I was most anticipating when the book was published. Seeing the cover? Seeing the book on a shelf? Seeing a young reader holding the book? Getting a note from someone who liked it?
Don't get me wrong, all of those things would be THRILLING. I pity the people within squealing distance of me when, and if, those things happen.
But the first answer that popped into my mind was this: I can't wait to give my parents a finished copy of the book. Because even though they've been over the moon about all of this, they never - not once - doubted it would happen someday.
Last night, I gave my finished novel to my parents.
And it was just as sweet an experience as I thought it would be.
I'm so blessed to have people in my life who make living so magical.
Welcome to the dreamy-blue world, Felicity Juniper Pickle. I hope you find a home in someone's heart. Cheers to you. And cheers to Mallory and my agent, Suzie, and Scholastic. And to my parents and friends and dog. Here's to magic. And wonder. And hope.
And a most spindiddly dream come true.
January 21, 2014
seattle to philly and back again.
So if I tell you where I am this week, you'll think my life is exciting. And my life is exciting, but it's rarely exciting because I get to visit cool places.
For example. There's a dormer on my parents' roof that I affectionately call The Gnome Home. Last week, I checked their mail and thought - wouldn't it be wonderful if a gnome really did live in The Gnome Home, and he got tiny letters in the mail?!
Thoughts like those, which usually happen on walks with my dog, delight me to no end. They make my days pretty darn fun and exciting. Also, they probably explain why I don't have tons of friends.
But next week, I get to meet some wonderful people and visit cool cities. I could not be more excited. (I'll try not to talk about gnomes.)
(But I'm not exactly the queen of small talk, so I make no promises.)
For the first half of the week, I'll be in Seattle, hanging out with my Scholastic friends at Winter Institute.
I have a few fun things planned (including drinking at least a zillion pints of Tully's Coffee), but Wednesday night is when I get to party with booksellers. I can't wait. I've been looking forward to this for months now. Since shy is my neutral-place, I sometimes get a little trembly when I'm around more than, say, three people at a time. ;) But parties full of booklovers are different, I've learned. It's a thrill to meet other people who love stories, and who are so passionate about connecting readers with books. And I love to hear about how people found their way into working with books - whether they're booksellers or librarians or editors or writers or teachers. I never, ever get tired of those conversations. I'm honored I get to attend.
After we party like it's 1999, I'm flying to Philly to attend ALA!
I get to spend time with my editor, Mallory, whom I adore. We'll probably go to the flagship Anthropologie and get coffee take in a few important, historical sights. And then, on Saturday, we'll both be at the Scholastic Brunch. This brunch celebrates librarians and readers and all the magic they bring into the world.
At the brunch, I'll be doing readers theater with a bunch of crazy-talented authors, trying not to squeal in their faces:
When I first saw this picture, I thought of the Sesame Street song, "Which one of these is not like the other one..." That would be the girl in the top right corner, for sure.
Just hearing these authors read would be a dream. I can't believe I get to do readers theater with them. I'm excited and grateful and very nervous. And, as always, I'm wondering what the hayseed I'm even doing there. I'm confident now that this feeling will never go away. I'm grateful it won't.
Fact: A few of my closest friends are teachers, and they flipped when they found out I'd meet Rodman Philbrick at NCTE. He's written tons of incredible books, of course. My friend Hannah reads Freak the Mighty with her students every year. Homer P. Figg is a timeless hero. Zane and the Hurricane is his new one. I snagged a galley of that one and it's beautiful. My teacher-friends told me that, when I met him, I had to tell him how much their students loved his books.
The only problem with that scenario is, as I've said a time or ten, that I'm a bit shy. And I wasn't so sure I'd say much of anything to anybody. Not because I don't want to, but because I over think everything, and I tend to wear insecurity like a scratchy old sweater. Fear is a weird comfort zone, isn't it?
As it turns out, I didn't have to muster up the courage to talk to Rodman Philbrick. He introduced himself to me. As if I didn't know who he was. He came over to where I was sitting at a dinner, leaned down to shake my hand, and told me that he'd heard wonderful things about my novel (!!!). And then, in a moment that I will never, ever forget, he said, "Welcome to the family."
Guh.
My heart was all twisted up inside me at that point. I tried to tell him that his books are beautiful. And that my friend reads Freak the Mighty with her students every year, and they adore it. But I think what actually came out of my mouth was something like, "I love books. My friends are freaks." But he rolled with it.
I'll never forget that he went out of his way to be so kind to me.
Speaking of books and freaks: I love both of those things so much. I love to talk about stories, and reading, and readers. I love meeting people brave enough to be their nerdy, wonderful, geektastical selves. I'm pretty sure I get to hang out with lots of people like that next week. And I'm pretty sure - positive, in fact - that they don't mind that I'm that way, too.
Here's to a week of big adventures, coast to coast.
January 19, 2014
"one's in the grave. and the other should be."
I love it when Southern Living does a many-page feature on new artists. It's as if one of their swank journalists scrolls my iPhone, ignoring (and rolling their eyes) the occasional Ace of Base and N'SYNC, and focusing instead on my favorite music. The singer-songwriter, alt-country, rockabilly bluegrass gorgeousness that makes me want to write beautiful stories and fall harder in love and wear red lipstick. Everybody has a kind of music that makes them feel most alive, I think. It's all magic to somebody. Mine is in the bluegrassy-banjos-&-pretty-lyrics camp. (But it's darn fun to workout to N'SYNC. And Florida Georgia Line. Don't judge me.)
So when Southern Living, and Garden & Gun, recommend music, I gobble it up pretty fast. Typically, the music they recommend is something my brother told me about months ago that I just never got around to downloading.
Exhibit A: A Brooklyn based band called The Lone Bellow. There is no need to write about the magic they make. Just listen. And listen with your headphones on, so you can hear the snow crunching beneath their boots:
I've got the shivers, you savvy?
Certain songs make my skin prickle. I don't often listen to music with lyrics while I write. (Fun fact: I do often listen to an app that simulates a rain sound). But when I lose my way in a story, or when I need to stir some wonder back up again, I listen to music like this. Lyrics so gorgeous, they beg to be screamed. Music so beautiful, you swear it matches the rhythm of your heartbeat. The stuff that makes a person feel prickly. I like to think the pricklies are proof that there are good things - good stories - aching to get out.
There's a character in A Snicker of Magic named Florentine. She's a drifter, and a poet. She's restless. She carries around lots of baggage (literally and figuratively). In one scene, she says to Felicity:
It's not always that easy for me, to tell a story. I feel like there are days I have to wrestle The Muse to the ground and demand one sentence - just one stupid sentence - that I can actually use. But there are other days I'm my own worst enemy, when it comes to writing. Some days, I just have to stop over- thinking it. I have to stop worrying about what a mess it is - I can fix the mess later. (And my editor, bless her, can help me fix the mess.) I don't have to worry about continuity, not yet.
Sometimes I can, as Kathi Appelt says, type like my fingers are on fire. I can write until a story spins me out and makes me tired in the best way. That's when I'm having the most fun. That's when I never want to stop.
Some days, the best days, all you have to do is turn it loose. On days like that, there's nothing in the world I'd rather be doing. (In case you're curious, The Lone Bellow's self-titled first album is out now, and it's worth every cent.)
What have you been listening to lately?
So when Southern Living, and Garden & Gun, recommend music, I gobble it up pretty fast. Typically, the music they recommend is something my brother told me about months ago that I just never got around to downloading.
Exhibit A: A Brooklyn based band called The Lone Bellow. There is no need to write about the magic they make. Just listen. And listen with your headphones on, so you can hear the snow crunching beneath their boots:
I've got the shivers, you savvy?
Certain songs make my skin prickle. I don't often listen to music with lyrics while I write. (Fun fact: I do often listen to an app that simulates a rain sound). But when I lose my way in a story, or when I need to stir some wonder back up again, I listen to music like this. Lyrics so gorgeous, they beg to be screamed. Music so beautiful, you swear it matches the rhythm of your heartbeat. The stuff that makes a person feel prickly. I like to think the pricklies are proof that there are good things - good stories - aching to get out.
There's a character in A Snicker of Magic named Florentine. She's a drifter, and a poet. She's restless. She carries around lots of baggage (literally and figuratively). In one scene, she says to Felicity:
“Stories aren't peaceful things. Stories don't care how shy you are. They don't care how insecure you are, either. Stories find their way out eventually. All you gotta do is turn 'em loose.”
It's not always that easy for me, to tell a story. I feel like there are days I have to wrestle The Muse to the ground and demand one sentence - just one stupid sentence - that I can actually use. But there are other days I'm my own worst enemy, when it comes to writing. Some days, I just have to stop over- thinking it. I have to stop worrying about what a mess it is - I can fix the mess later. (And my editor, bless her, can help me fix the mess.) I don't have to worry about continuity, not yet.
Sometimes I can, as Kathi Appelt says, type like my fingers are on fire. I can write until a story spins me out and makes me tired in the best way. That's when I'm having the most fun. That's when I never want to stop.
Some days, the best days, all you have to do is turn it loose. On days like that, there's nothing in the world I'd rather be doing. (In case you're curious, The Lone Bellow's self-titled first album is out now, and it's worth every cent.)
What have you been listening to lately?
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