Irene Latham's Blog, page 190

TUESDAY A.M. PROJECT

So I joined Birmingham Quilters Guild last month, and one of the first projects for new members is to create a quilted nametag.

You should see some of the amazing nametags these quilters wear... yes, it's a wee bit intimidating. But I'm not afraid to make mistakes, and I really like getting things done, so.... I attended part of a workshop (led by the gracious and delightful Elsie) in which I proceeded to make MANY mistakes and yes, did get my own quilted nametag almost done.

Then my mom cam...

WHY TODAY IS A VERY GOOD DAY

Any time ANYONE is celebrating poetry, I am totally on board. So, yay for poetry! Yay for National Poetry Day in Britain! And it's perfect timing too. Because this weekend will be chock-full of poetry and poets and all things wonderful and delicious.

First up: Birmingham Arts Journal reading/release party tonight. It is always so much fun to meet the contributors after I have fallen in love with their words. I always come away thinking, wow, the world is an amazing place.

Friday: Th...

TWO ARC ALERT!

In the past week, it has been my good fortune to read two more books written by Tenners:



FORGET-HER-NOTS by Amy Brecount White is all about the magic of flowers with a healthy dose of love and poetry thrown in for good measure. I loved learning the language of flowers and wanted to BE Laurel at the very end of the book.



THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY is just what you'd expect from the ever-amazing Kay Cassidy. It's all about girl power and the secret lives of cheerleaders. Readers will love Jess i...

Q IS FOR QUESTIONS

Wow, raining here. A lot. Makes me wish I was under a tin roof somewhere tucked away in the woods. More on that later.

Continuing with the Author ABCs...

When you're writing, every story starts with a question: "WHAT IF?" What if I lived in 1932 Gee's Bend? What if I was blind in one eye? What if my mother got sick and there wasn't a doctor? What if I was only ten years old and was barefooted and had never been out of Gee's Bend?

Then it's just a matter of asking "WHAT NEXT?" over and ov...

WELCOME HOME!

After five long years, the quilts of Gee's Bend will be back in Alabama, at Berman World Museum, starting TOMORROW!! Check 'em out!

Also, as part of Banned Books week, Andrea Cremer, author of forthcoming NIGHTSHADE, posted something by yours truly on her blog today. Scroll back, because I love smart, thoughtful, history-loving Andrea's posts. Can't wait for the start of The Witches' War Saga!

FINALLY FALL

Today is a great day. Why, you ask? Because finally FINALLY it is not raining, and when I went out to collect the morning paper, I actually shivered. Love it!

I had all sorts of wonderful adventures over the weekend, starting with a visit to the Carter House in Franklin, Tennessee, with wonderful writing compatriots Pat Weaver, Sheila Renfro and Jana Hutcheson. I found out there are lots of Civil War stories that still need to be told, and when I spied the above trail of mushrooms, I just ...

P IS FOR PATIENCE

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful, thoughtful comments about my book banning experience. Our world is a fascinating place.

Now. Continuing with the Author ABC's...

I should admit right up front that patience is not one of my virtues. I don't like to wait, I like to get things done NOW. And while that means I can easily handle deadlines and am a genius at multitasking, it also means I have regrets. For all those times when I wasn't patient.

Like when I dashed off a manuscript before it w...

IS "AFTERBIRTH" MY "SCROTUM"?

So I've just had my first experience with book banning. Turns out, some members of the "committee" at a local elementary school who were considering my book for an event were offended by the inclusion of "afterbirth" in LEAVING GEE'S BEND. The committee decided not to invite me for the event.

Last time I checked, we ALL come into this world the same way. Afterbirth is part of the deal. And it's one line of dialogue, ONE LINE, included as a way to tell the reader something about the charact...

A HIGHER CALLING

I have a new favorite writing quote. I found it in the latest issue of Writer's Digest magazine, thanks to my sister who has given me a gift subscription for oh, about ten years now. Every writer needs a sister like that.

The quote is near the end of an article about creating characters, which is my current challenge as I work to better develop the relationships in ESCAPE FROM FIRE MOUNTAIN (with the help of Amazing Agent).

Okay, I can't put it off any longer.

"Your highest calling is not...

A POEM BY LUDELPHIA

Ever written a poem in the voice of your main character?

I'm working on one, using the "I am from" exercise (which I adore and have used many times with students) set forth in ON WRITING ALONE AND WITH OTHERS by Pat Schneider.

For George Ella Lyon's "Where I'm From," click here. Everyone should give this kind of poem a shot -- there is absolutely no wrong way to do it!

So here's my off-the-top of my head start. It's just a list really. I'll set about organizing next.

I Am From

by Ludelphia Benn...