Angela Sage Larsen's Blog, page 2

How many Petalwinkers does it take…?

I’m a proud mama. The cast for our upcoming Petalwink: The Musical Song and Dance Showcase (Memorial Day, if you’re wondering and want to get tickets …and believe me, you do) has been working night and day to show you something really special. They are being stretched out of their comfort zones by about 100 miles. Singing, dancing, character development…and that’s onstage. Offstage, they are stagehands, lighting techies, costume assistants, gophers, and…set painters. They never complain, grumble, or argue about being asked to work even harder than they already are. They’ll tell you it’s because they love Petalwink and her message…but I’ll tell you the truth. It’s’cause they’re awesome.

Please come see the fruit of their hard work!

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

Sometimes I really miss you, but mostly I’m just really grateful for you. I’m sure you know about, in general–and are confident in–the good in my life, but I wanted to write you and let you in on a few details. I wish you’d met my husband, I know you’d love him. I can see you two scurrying off to talk without me (kind of like what happens with Cynthia, who I know you would be very happy married Dad).

For so many reasons, you’ve been on my mind a lot…one main overarching reason is that it’s Mother’s Day this weekend and I’m doing a show called “Listen to Your Mother.” Those of us who got cast (13 out of 100, so that’s flattering), wrote and will perform essays we wrote on motherhood. Of course, I wrote about you. I would like to apologize in advance that I talk about your underwear. (See, you are a really good speaker…I have to go for the cheap laugh.)

We are also moving right along with Petalwink. You would be so excited about our upcoming Song and Dance Showcase!! Probably even more excited than me. It has been challenging to say the least and there are more reasons for that than I care to go into unless you want to come hang out with me on the couch for about eight hours. But it’s also glorious and just plain fun. I remember when we were all at Knots Berry Farm and Ryan wasn’t sure he wanted to go on the roller coaster and so you stepped up and went with him. You didn’t do it because you like roller coasters, but so he’d go. I don’t remember much else except that afterwards, your hair was windswept and you were giddy and open-mouthed smiling. That’s how I feel.

I want you to know that all those times you thought I wasn’t listening, I was. And now of course, I wish I’d listened better. But that’s par for the course in growing up, huh? I also watched you. I watched how you took on every project with roller coaster windswept giddiness (and I mean every project). I watched how you let the whole world into your heart and just loved…everyone and everything. Whether they were lovable was not the issue. In fact, there were more times than not that you loved when any other person would have said it wiser not to…but the result was that you changed someone’s life with Love. I’m learning that love doesn’t go anywhere, but it’s right here as it’s always been; maybe I’m not sleeping against your chest and hearing your voice and the (big) rise and fall of your laughter as we drive home from a long day waterskiing at the lake with friends, but I feel as close to you and comforted as ever. I’m confident that no child is ever without Mother Love because it isn’t found in a person; you taught me that. So thanks.

Happy Mother’s Day; I know that you are embraced in that same Mother Love as me. Do me a favor and tell Cookie and Jo and Aunt Gail and Mary Jane and Grace that they are loved, too? I’m sure you do all the time.

Love, love, love,

me

 

Interview by Heather Vogel Frederick

When someone who is your inspiration and mentor offers to interview you, you do not pass go or collect $200, stop to think about it, or take a nap first; you say, “Heck, yeah, thanks!!” I’m so glad that’s what I said to Heather Vogel Frederick, author of the fabulous Mother-Daughter Book Club series. Her post is super helpful for anyone who wonders what the heyball I’ve been up to (instead of blogging). Check out the post here, wherein we talk NaNoWriMo, Fifties Chix Lit Guides and Petalwink: The Musical (and check out the adorable pics she included of my writing partner, Daisy. I have a hunch Daisy is the real reason she wanted the interview; and really, who could blame her??).

Thank you, Heather! And Happy Thanksgivukkah, everybody!

No More Excuses: Breaking through “Writer’s Block” part 1

I was honored when my publisher asked me to do a blog series for aspiring writers. There were so many topics to choose from, but I decided on one of my favorites: so-called “writer’s block.” Yes, so-called. Writer’s block is a fancy term for excuse (see my whole blog post here). Goes along nicely with the old adage “Inspiration is for amateurs.”

From: http://fiftytwochanges.com/

 

Advice to a Budding Author

I’m happy that a new school year has started which means I’m teaching adult and continuing ed classes again. Last night was our first class of the semester. I love my students and love reviewing the creative process through their eyes and remembering the path I took to publication. It’s true that a book is like a baby, each unique, extraordinary and challenging in her own way. I love my “babies,” despite the restless nights, the labor pains, the expense, the necessity to dig down deep when I felt trapped in the shallow end, the demand to walk the talk.

I wanted to share an email query I got recently from a stranger, along with my reply to her. I know from frequent conversations that “M” is not alone in her frustration. I hope it’s helpful to anyone else:

Dear Angela,

I’m ready to give up. How do first time authors make it? I wrote a children’s book because my husband is out of work and we need the money. I’m scared of the future and of losing my house. I tried kickstarter and nobody funded me. I’m not a illustrator, is that the problem?

Sincerely,

M

My reply:

Dear M,

I totally understand your frustration. It is very difficult to get published for the first time. And unfortunately, it is typically not a money-maker upfront, so if you are counting on it for that, you may want to have a back up plan. In 2006, my husband and I self-published the first Petalwink book; it wasn’t until a couple of years later the series was picked up by a publisher. Even then, the advances for each book weren’t huge (although they definitely helped!), and an advance means “advance against royalties,” so we didn’t get paid royalties for the books until enough were sold to cover the advance. It is disheartening to hear that you most likely can’t depend on making money right away by publishing a book. There are two things that are needed: a lot of time or a lot of money. They are proportionate to each other. If you don’t have a lot of money to invest, you can do a lot yourself (in terms of marketing, trading for needed services, getting pr and making connections), but that will take your time.

I’m not trying to discourage you at all, but trying to be realistic. It doesn’t mean you should give up by any means, but go forward with your eyes open and be willing to be creative and work hard. Be open to learn everything you can. The worst mistake you can make is think you know everything you need to know already and not take advice or not ask a LOT of questions.

I recommend this book if you don’t already have it: 2014 Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market (if you live near a library, you can check it out there and don’t have to buy it). This book is a wealth of information where you can research publishers (and not just the “Big 5″ Random House, Simon & Schuster, etc.), find out what kinds of books they publish and which fit the style and theme your story would be and how to query them. The reason I mention this book, too, is that publishers usually do not want illustrations along with a manuscript pitch and this helpful reference book will say what publishers require. Go to book stores and libraries and find the books that appeal to you, research and dissect why they work, and who published them. Before you query any publishers, due diligence is key. You want to know for yourself that they would be a fit for the book you have in mind to publish.

There is also the option of self-publishing. Check out FastPencil.com And…they have illustration services.

I hope this was helpful at all; I know what it’s like to be in a dark place and on the verge of losing everything. No one would know it from looking, but we’ve been there and it wasn’t that long ago. All I can say is, keep the faith. There is a plan for you already in place and sometimes the fear just obscures our vision of what steps we need to take to fulfill it. So stay in the present as best you can (instead of the “what if” of fear of the future) and put one foot in front of the other.

Happy to answer more questions if that would be helpful.

All the best,

Help Petalwink Fly!

The Next Time You See Me

Between a special Fifties Chix project (that I will be unveiling soon!), the release of the 5th Fifties Chix book: Till the End of Time, planning Petalwink the Musical, traveling to see my family in California and fawning over the flowers in my garden, it’s been a busy summer so far. I’ve managed to squeeze in a few books that are outside of the genre I’ve been writing for. I’m currently reading Flight Behavior by one of my three favorite authors, Barbara Kingsolver. Love it and can’t wait to review it! In the mean time, here’s the last book I read as I reviewed it on Goodreads. Happy reading! Hope you’re getting a lot of it into your summer.

The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*Goodreads Giveaway*

“The Next Time you See me,” by Holly Goddard Jones is premised upon the disappearance of a small town troublemaker. We get an intimate peek into the thoughts and dreams of: two middle schoolers (one, a bullied, shy girl; one the popular pretty boy she’s crushing on); a couple of nearly middle-agers (one, a white married teacher; one the black detective cop she’s crushing on), and a couple of close-to-retirement characters. I was so excited that I won this book from Goodreads, but was apprehensive that it was blurbed by Gillian Flynn (I loved “Gone Girl,” written by Flynn, but wasn’t as pleased with the super dark “The Dinner,” which Flynn blurbed. I was worried “The Next Time you See me” would be too dark for my taste).

This was an enormously fascinating, absorbing, and satisfying read and I recommend it to adult readers who enjoy complex story lines that grow out of rich character development. The note from the author that came with the book indicates that when she was a girl, “the body of a woman was discovered in an abandoned shack about half a mile away from [her] home [and] was the first memory of a violent crime.” The violent crime in this book, however, was secondary; it seemed like just an excuse to delve into humanity and all its intricate complexities, shades of moral gray–our universal wants and needs, those things that we publicly shy away from, or deny we have because they are not always pretty. Jones was masterful at creating empathy for each character, each of whom I might have initially dismissed in the book and in real life for being fundamentally unlikable. But I saw something of myself in every character…and saw people I knew, too.

I don’t want to say too much more about the plot because it is fun to read not knowing too much (though Jones doesn’t seem to intend for this to be a twist-and-turn mystery). So I’ll just say that it was an enthralling read that is ideal for book clubs.





View all my reviews

 

Night Road review

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What happens when my hard drive crashes? I READ. Two books down this week, more to go (but I’m getting my laptop back today; back to writing, marketing, networking). Here’s one of the books I read that I read for fun; not for research or for work. My review follows

Kristin Hannah does it again (are we surprised?). A fabulous, unputdownable read with a great (heart-breaking) premise, likable (even when they aren’t) characters and lovely scenery (which totally matters; that’s why I saw the Twilight movies I tell myself). Jude Farraday is a helicopter mom to twins who befriend a troubled girl and then, let’s just say, tragedy strikes.

I love Hannah’s ability to write from different POV, including even a five year old’s, so deftly. I cried the first fifty pages, the middle fifty pages and the last fifty pages. Read this book, but drink lots of water. My only complaint was the bad editing job that left the adverb “dully” in the manuscript four times in three pages (and it was used even more than that, it was just concentrated in those three pages). Took me out of the story and had me dashing to my thesaurus.(If you’re wondering: uneventfully; colorlessly, lifelessly, insipidly, flatly, blandly, drily, tiredly, stodgily, drearily, wearily; adjectives: banal, lackluster, ho-hum, humdrum, mundane; mind-numbing, wearisome, unexciting, uninspiring…) Other than that (for which I don’t blame the author), loved this cathartic and satisfying read and will be sad when I catch up on all my Kristin Hannah books!

View all my reviews

Girl up!

Happy launch day to my new idiom: GIRL UP! It means: be awesome, stay smart, be strong, follow your heart. Coincidentally, it happens to appear in the fourth Fifties Chix book, Broken Record (LAUNCHED TODAY!). In this book, Bev is in the spotlight, much like Maxine was in the spotlight in book 3. As you know, Bev hasn’t had a lot of friends who are girls in the past, other than teammates. She gets along really well with guys (reminds me of my best friend in elementary school, Amy Douglass. I, on the other hand, thought boys were from another planet. I get now that they’re just earthlings who are male.). I thought it would be fun to tell some of the Fifties Chix story from the guys’ points of view, so I did that a little in this book [hint: find out what Conrad really thinks of Bev!--click and scroll down to the preview]. Bev has to make some pretty tough choices, and of course, I’m proud of how she handles it and what she chooses. I hope when I grow up I can be a little more like Bev.

I thought you might appreciate a sneak peek of the book and so I’m including the passage where “girl up” appears so that you may begin using this term immediately:

Bob Jenkins wanted to screech and whine, throw a tantrum as if he were a two year old. But he knew that wouldn’t get them out of this game unscathed—though it would certainly get him out of the game. He just wasn’t feeling it and there was nothing worse in the world than standing on that mound and having nothing to bring. He was tapped. But it was too soon for relief; he didn’t want that either.

    Coach eyeballed them; did Bob need to come in?

    “Girl up, man. Pitch like your sister.” Marsalis hit Bob on the shoulder, flashed him a wicked smile and ran back to his warn little spot behind home plate.

Happy reading!

Positive Press Party and pre-launch of Fifties Chix IV

It was a cool way to celebrate the pre-launch of  Fifties Chix book 4 Broken Record (and the availability of it as ebook for Kindle and Nook, etc TODAY, March 7) – I created an “event” on Facebook for “party-goers” to post links about girls and women portrayed in the media and getting press in a positive way. The first days, I admit, there was a dearth of good press about females. But the last fews days, I’ve been seeing inspiring stories everywhere! See a list of the links below.

I promised that whomever posted the most would win the print version of Broken Record (signed by me, natch). And the winner is: LeeAnn Williamson Henry!! I think it’s totally appropriate that LeeAnn won since we are friends from middle school, which is what age my readers are Congrats, LeeAnn, and thanks for the great links.

Go grab your own ebook version of Broken Record for just $1.99 (hurry! It’s only a 24-hour sale) and next week, 3/15, the printed version can be all yours, too!

Now for all the links posted on the Positive Press Party-Girls in the Media page:

Tavi Gevinson profile
Julia Bluhm (she convinced Seventeen Magazine to stop photoshopping their covers)
Nia Bakari, 9 year old BlogTalk Radio host of her own show
Jedediah Bila
Quvenzhané Wallis, 9 year old Oscar-nominated actor
Senator Elizabeth Warren
Karen Olson, advocate for homeless
Alice Herz-Sommer, 109 year old Holocaust survivor
Channah Zeitun, 4 year old Martial arts champ
Sheryl Sandberg’s organization, LeanIn.org
Brave Girls Club
Indira Johnson, artist
Sara Groves, performing her song”Obsolete”
Samantha Manns, 18 year old performing 89 random acts of kindness
Monica Lin Brown, 19 year old awarded silver star for acts of bravery in war
Maggie Doyne, 26 year old who started orphanage in Nepal at age 19 with her life savings

Inspired yet? Let’s keep it going.

Happy reading!