Kirby Larson's Blog, page 73

Are you Busy Next Week?

If not, please join me at Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, on Thursday, May 26, 7 pm. I'll be introducing my latest book, The Friendship Doll (come see the photo that inspired the whole thing!). Best of all: there will be cookies. Homemade. From my Ohio friend Amy's recipe. Cookies worth breaking any diet for.

Bring your friends. Bring your family. Bring your wallet -- 10% of the evening's book sales go to the Alzheimer Association.

Quote for the Day

"There is absolutely everything in great fiction but a clear answer." 
— Eudora Welty

Winston Wonders

I spend a lot of my day sniffing out good story ideas, offering helpful critique and generally encouraging my live-in writer.  Not sure this manuscript passes the sniff test
She especially appreciates it when I sit on her lap and lick her hands. It loosens them up to make typing even easier. I try to let her bumble her own way through her projects, but, occasionally, I have jump in and take control of the keyboard. It's the least I can do to repay her for filling my food bowl twice a day (though she could fill it fuller).
I overheard her talking about a presentation she's doing for the Arizona SCBWI conference this coming weekend. She was puzzling about how she would help the writers there answer the question, "Is this the story for me to write?"  Dogs don't worry much about this kind of thing. We're kind of go-for-it kinds of creatures, especially when it comes to eating pinecones, chasing crows or taking sips from the lovely large porcelain bowl in the bathroom. But I thought I could help Kirby out by asking all of you how you answer that question for yourself. 
If you have chased up an answer, share it here!

Tea Party

L to R: Rene Holderman, Gail DiRe, Christy MacDanold, Deanna Meyerhoff, Rene Kirkpatrick, Mary Harris, me, Stesha Brandon, Lauren Meyer, Suzanne Perry, Mary Jo Huelsemann, Jane Morck, Patti Johnson
On the one nice day out of the past 180, over a dozen area booksellers joined me at my home for a tea party to celebrate the launch of The Friendship Doll. I brazenly stole the idea from my good friend, Karen Cushman, who had done a similar event to launch her wonderful Alchemy and Meggy Swann (by the way, Karen, when I was walking the cobblestones at the Tower of London, I could certainly identify with Meggy's "wabbling" over those uneven pathways!)

Tea sandwiches and fruit and veggie trays were courtesy of Alexa's Cafe Catering 

and the most beautiful and delicious teapot and tea cup cookies were lovingly baked and decorated by Alison Carchedi of Alison's Sweet Themes (I won't even tell you how many I ate). 
This lovely group of women chatted books, life, music and the Royal Wedding -- not necessarily in that order. I told them a bit about how The Friendship Doll came to be and then we took advantage of the sunshine for a photo opp.  Imitating the flower girl at the Royal Wedding
It was a fun afternoon and a great way for me to thank these positive and loyal indie booksellers for their support of me and my books. Special thanks to Mr. Random House for sponsoring the afternoon's refreshments!

Walk Softly and Carry a Big Royalty Check

T.R. upon reading his spring royalty statement
Neil is reading Colonel Roosevelt, by Edmund Morris. The other night he shared with me that T.R. had his share of writer's woes, too. Though initially robust, sales of his African Game Trails totaled fewer than 40,000 copies, a disappointment to his publisher Charles Scribner. In August of 1912, royalties for four of his books added up to $895. And this in the day when writers were being offered royalties of 50%! (that's what the Colonel got offered for his memoir, from Macmillan).

I don't have the exact figures anymore, but I once got a royalty check for some $8, minus my then agent's 15%. As James Michener once said, "In America, you can make a fortune as a writer, but you can't make a living."

Ah, but ain't it a grand career?!

Diana's Debut!

The pensive Ms. Greenwood
One of the things I love about the Whidbey Island Writer's Conference (you're too late to sign up this year -- plan on attending next!) is meeting writers from all over the country. It was at this conference that I met the warm and fun-loving Diana Greenwood. We've e-corresponded for years and she has been a wonderful supporter of my work so I am delighted to be able to return the favor!

In just a few weeks, her debut novel, Insight (Zondervan) will hit the shelves. Watch the trailer below for a taste of what you have in store:


Diana shared a few thoughts about her new book with me:
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p { margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }span.body { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Kirby: What was the trigger for this book?
Diana: Insight began as a spark of an idea when I heard the first few lines in Elvira's voice. Writers say this all the time but it's actually true. I knew right away that she was in a rural setting, a baby was about to be born, and that the bulk of the story would be post WWII. 
To show how ideas combine, my mother's brother, Clifford Rasmussen, was killed in WWII, Royal Canadian Navy, Seaman First Class. His ship was torpedoed and all crew lost at sea. There is a family story I heard growing up that always gave me shivers. One night my grandmother sat up in bed in the middle of the night, awakened by a flash of light and a loud noise. She felt as though she were swaying, woozy. She glanced at her bedside clock and the green illuminated hands showed 2:00 a.m. 
This, according to the family story, was the exact day and time her son's boat was torpedoed. Weeks after my grandmother's sleepless night, the uncle I never met was declared missing in action. I still have the telegram. 
My grandmother's faith got her through that loss but I always wondered how it felt to lose someone so young and vital, someone missing in action forever. So those first few lines in Elvira's voice led to the seed of the idea, mixed with that family detail, although much altered, and Insight was born. From there, the characters led the story and I let them do what they needed to do.
Kirby: You are an experienced and successful freelance writer: what's one thing about the writing process that surprised you as you worked on this novel?
Diana: In freelancing for private clients and magazines, I'm very used to writing on deadline where facts count most and edits are about accuracy, not dialogue or plot or story structure. In writing this novel I'd have to say that the thing that surprised me the most was how much a story can improve with revision. A first draft seems finished. So does a fifth draft. But each time I started again on page one there was a scene to alter, details to add, a character's motivation to examine, historical facts to check, or a subplot that needed attention. It's amazing to me that even now I could find something to change. A book is never really finished; at some point you just stop.
Kirby: What's your writing day like? Are you a page or word counter or neither?
Diana: I typically start my day with a cup of coffee and a fat cat on my lap while I check e-mail, blogs, social media, and current client projects or assignments. 
I actually have two jobs—freelancing and I'm also the Director of Rebuild Southern Africa Association, a U.S.-based non-profit supporting orphans and street kids in South Africa. Both jobs require lots of communication so my work days are typically factual writing, interviews, e-mails, phone calls, and drafting articles, newsletters, or blog posts. 
Afternoons and early evenings are my most creative hours so I try to devote time each day to a work in progress. I don't like self-imposed word or page counts because I spend so much time on deadline in my "real" jobs that I'm always afraid writing a novel will begin to feel too much like work if I put myself under that kind of pressure. I find this especially true in a first draft, which to me, is the most delicious part of the process; when the story unfolds word by word and the characters come alive. Consequently, I'm a slow writer and I'm productive in spurts. Plus I novel-bounce, which means that I might work on a scene in one book and outline a chapter in another on the same day.
Kirby: What are you doing to celebrate your first book?
Diana: Paying a few bills. (giggle) Actually, I'm having a launch party at Copperfield's Books in Napa on May 22 and then an after-party with a few friends and my lovely daughter.
Kirby: Favorite inspirational quote?
Diana: I have so many but I love this one from one of my favorite authors: "The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true." ~John Steinbeck

Kirby: Would you rather be on Dancing with the Stars or American Idol?
Diana: Actually, I'd rather explore with Dora. 
Kirby: Diana, I wish you the very best with Insight -- now get busy and write the next book! ;-)

 

Fill These Shelves

Colleen Mondor, Bookslut YA columnist, needs your books. Well, actually, she needs them for a project she's supporting to fill the shelves of the library of Ballou High School in Washington, D.C. 
From Colleen: Guys Lit Wire has partnered with the Ballou librarian for this year's GLW Book Fair. Our goal is to provide more than 900 books to the high school which currently has only just over 1,000 books on its shelves (for more than 1,200 students). 
We are hoping to do a massive information blast on twitter, facebook and the blogs on Wednesday and we hope you will help. All we ask is that you link to the GLW post about the book fair (where you can see a video showing just how empty those library shelves are) at whatever social media platform you prefer. If you are using twitter, please also include the "booksforballou" hashtag so we can get a trend going.
(Here's the link to the bookfair info.)
 Colleen goes on to say: Any assistance you can provide in spreading the word would be much appreciated. When I spoke with Melissa Jackson at Ballou she was cautiously optimistic about the book fair's success. She has tried for so long to get books that the kids want and need that I suppose the idea that a bunch of strangers would fill her wish list is a bit hard to believe. We are determined to show her just how amazing the lit blogosphere can be however and look forward to posting her delight when all the books start arriving. (Already more than 300 are on the way.)
 
Thanks, Colleen and Guys Lit Wire! Let's hope those shelves get filled to overflowing!

Winston Wonders

Today I wonder if Neil will like the birthday present I got him. A pinecone. I picked it out just for him. I can't get through the day without chewing on one, so I figure he should have one of his own.
I better warn him, though: Kirby doesn't allow them in the house. He'll have to chew his out in the backyard, like I do.
Happy Birthday, Neil!

Happy Birthday, Donna Marie!

Three of four kids and still smiling
Today I want to celebrate the best mom in the whole world. When we were kids, she let us make forts out of the couch cushions, taught us all kinds of great expressions (like tick-a-lock and flour'em) and always found a place at the kitchen table for our friends. She is the kindest person alive but DO NOT do anything bad to anyone in her family or you will find yourself on the receiving end of a poison pen letter to end all poison pen letters (in perfect Palmer Penmanship, of course).
She also makes awesome cut-out cakes, is a whiz at Scrabble and up until a few years ago, was a master at standing on her head. Just don't play Yard Darts with her. (Long story).
I love you, Mom!

Vogelweh and Wetzel

I've had a heck of a time getting Internet access so while I do I want to tell you about the last two schools I visited in Germany. Thursday was spent at a very large school called Vogelweh, where I knew from the get-go I'd have a great time. Julia and her daughter Cora picked me up at the Burger king meeting place at oh-so-very-early and we set off for the base. It was another gorgeous day and I was made to feel right at home when a first grade young man walked right up to me and said , "welcome to Vogelweh." how's that for hospitality? The PTA (aka, Julia!) had put-up posters with fun facts about Kirby and set out boxes for kids to drop in questions for me. There were so many I couldn't answer them all while I was there so I have to email some answers when I get back! (I haven't forgotten, kids; I'll do it after May 10!) The lovely PTA ladies took me out for lunch -- yummy Italian. After school, Julia took me over to Ramstein base for a quick tour and coffee. In a blink of an eye, my Vogelweh visit was over -- really great kids! They asked very insightful questions. But I'm still trying to figure out why they laughed so hard at that photo of me from third grade!

All of you who were fretting over whether I'd get some traditional German food, you can rest easy. Thursday night, Cleo and her friend and fellow teacher treated me to schnitzel at a very charming restaurant in Landstuhl. I even got a few minutes to shop and found two adorable wooden carvings. Kathryn got us to laughing with her stories so between the good food and good company, it was a perfect evening.

I could scarcely believe it when Friday morning arrived and I had to pack up my suitcase and prepare to leave -- sniff! -- chateau Cleo. Where had the time gone? My last visit was to Cleo's school. I was so impressed -- before every school day starts, the kids gather in the "cafegymatorium" to read. It was the coolest thing ever to see snaking lines of kids on the gym floor absorbed in their books. Of course, I forgot to take a photo. As usual, I gave three presentations, but also got to enjoy lunch with the Principal's Club-- a group of kids being honored for being trustworthy. One of the dads came in for lunch and it was so touching to see this six foot plus man head to toe in camo scrunched into a kid sized chair next to his teeny tiny first grade daughter. Cleo and I took a quick break after lunch to run to the Post Office to mail off the extras I'd accumulated so far. After school, Cleo took me to one last castle where we poked around and then enjoyed a glass of wine and some "pommes" before heading for the train station. . .where we encountered thousands of soccer fans and hundreds of polizi! All cleo could do was get close enough for me to hop out of her car, grab my bag and push my way through the throngs to wait for the TGV train to Paris. Whew! I made it! Now I am in Paris with Neil and enjoying it thoroughly! I promise to post photos as soon as I can!