Rita Arens's Blog, page 8

Back in the Lab Again

Last week I met with my trusted reader, my former thesis advisor, or the guy who I can hear say, "I liked parts of it" without wanting to kill him, about PARKER CLEAVES.

The nice thing about having a good reader is you have someone to draw out of you what you were trying to say (and failing to say) in the first place.

Sometimes I feel like it's pointless to try to write novels with a full-time job and a family, but really, it's the same task whether there are other things in your life or no...

Please Everyone Have as Great a Day as This Woman

I LOVE HER.

I'm Going to Be Part of Spine Out!

What an amazing thing! If you're in New York and want to come, here's an evite for you. Feel free to forward, invite, spread the news. I'd love to see you.

It's the Little Things

So, this happened last week:

And then I died and went to heaven. The end.

I Love It, I Hate It, I Am Ambivalent About It

I spent the winter full of Library Tuesdays working on revising my second novel, THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES, after realizing I hated it and it wasn't ready for query AT ALL. I ended up doing the usual cutting of 10,000 words and rearranged whole sections and considered dumping the entire thing because ohmygodIsuckatnovels.

It's a little short right now, but I'm at that point where I don't know what it needs to edge it into recommended length. And then there's that part of me that wonder...

Mama, Do I Have to Get a Tattoo When I Grow Up?

Today I'm over on SheKnows.com talking about tattoos and parenting. Please come on over!

YA Scavenger Hunt Red Team: THE OBVIOUS GAME

Are you here for theYoung Adult Scavenger Hunt? If so, welcome!

This tri-annual event was first organized by authorColleen Houckas a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors ... and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize -- one lucky winner will receiveone signed book from each...

On Mother's Bodies from The Shape of a Mother

(Editor's Note: I met Bonnie years ago via the blogosphere and love her work. I hope you'll enjoy her post on body image and motherhood, and please check out hercollaborative video project on The Shape of a Mother. - Rita)

When my daughter was born almost fourteen years ago, I was utterly unprepared for the extent of physical changes that would come along with the pregnancy. Afterwards, I felt torn between the awe and pride I should have been feeling for what my body did, and the shame I act...

Fit to Raw Chicken Thigh to at Least Walking

October 17, 2015 - complete third half-marathon

December 18, 2015 - 5:56 pm - complete hour-long cross-training workout at the gym

December 18, 2015 - 11 pm - fall hard on ceramic tile in my kitchen

December 19, 2015 - diagnosed with broken fibula

January 6, 2016 - surgery to put plate and five screws

February 11, 2016 - surgeon clears me to start transitioning to weight-bearing on injured leg

February 12, 2016 - start physical therapy

March 7, 2016 - cleared to use nonimpact cardio machines...

Overheard

"That's what I miss ..."

Once the pleasantries were over, that's what they kept returning to.

My girl and I were sitting in the booth behind them at Panera for two hours. My daughter had her headphones in, her attention buried in homework. All I had to do was busywork, so I did what I suspect every novelist does: I eavesdropped.

I couldn't see her and only the back of his head, his white hair carefully oiled and combed.

They talked about what they liked to do (movies, yes, bars, no), their...