Jo Knowles's Blog, page 62

NH and a Thoughtful Review :-)

The boy and I are headed to NH for a couple of days. When I get back, it'll be only FOUR DAYS til Jumping Off Swings comes out! I can't believe it. I'm still fighting the roller-coaster of review time, but doing much better than with my first book. My skin must be getting thicker after all! :-)

Last night someone I highly respect and admire for all she does for teachers, teens, YA scholars and YA lit in general gave Jumping Off Swings a beautiful review. Teri Lesesne., a.k.a. Professor Nana, a.k.

gifts in disguise

I'm having such a strange and wonderful summer. Being out of work is extremely stressful, but somehow, miraculously, we've been getting by. And while I'm so happy to go back to work in two weeks with a small editing job, I'll be forever grateful for this magical summer with my son, going to swim lessons, reading together on the deck and talking talking talking about what it all means, assembling Star Wars Legos with the instructions spread out between us, reading my new novel to him each time I

Where did July go?

I really wish summer would slow down.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Monday Morning Warm-Up:

Describe the best summer day you can remember from your childhood. Give as many details as possible. Share! :)

Poetry Friday and Contest Reminder

"When Swingsets Pumped"
by Paul W. Hankins

Summer always fell
between the years
that I wore Keds sneakers
and clothes with matching animal tags,
where a kid couldn't go wrong so long
as they trusted the tiger's stripes
would not betray his solid undercoating.

The hill across the road
would promise sledding later
and apologized for letting grass grow
in the paths beat down, father in the back,
by the family toboggan.

We taunted the armies
allowing them to pitch tents
in maple trees only to take a stick
and rip a

Ten

How did he go from this...


To this...


To this?


My boy, "The Boy"—"E"—is growing up. I feel like those of you who've been reading my blog from the beginning have watched it just like me. He was only 4 when I started! So many of you have given advice and encouragement and reassurance over the years. Thank you thank you, for helping me through the worries, the heartbreaks, the milestones, the laughter and pure joys of being a mom.

Now, could I just ask you all one more tiny favor?

Slow it all down now.

In which the lazy days of summer come to a close

Cats holding hands. :-)

If you read this blog, you know I've been struggling like mad with this work-in-progress I have going. And then last week I had this crazy dream that I should toss the whole thing and rewrite it in a different tense. And then I actually tried that and it seemed to be the answer.

It really is.

Last night when I finally had some time, I wrote 5 pages more. I didn't look at the original manuscript. Just wrote. And I have a very scary feeling that the rest of the book will be wr

Home

I hope to post a bit more about my incredible weekend at Simmons, but for now I wanted to celebrate new and renewed friends.

Me and Jimmy, my former student and one of the most brilliant new writers I've had the pleasure to know. Trust me, you are looking at a future superstar. (Jimmy, not me. heh)

Yeah, my eyes look totally wacky because I used the red eye remover and didn't quite hit my mark. :-)

Me and new friend Ellen Levine. From the moment we met, we clicked. She is a true kindred spirit.


Fel

Simmons, Crazed Turkeys, and a No-No THANK YOU! :-)

This afternoon I'm off to Boston for the Simmons Summer Institute! I didn't sleep at all last night, which is always the case before I speak somewhere. I am a nervous WRECK. I wonder if I will ever get used to this. I'm usually OK once I get going, but the anticipation leading up to my presentations nearly does me in. *packs paper bag to breathe in*

Money is a bit tight these days so this year, Peter and E are staying home and I am staying in a dorm. In fact, it's old Evans Hall which is the dorm

First blueberries of the season!

I just picked these off one of our bushes.



I'm not sure you can really see how HUGE they are, but they are big and sweet and YUMMY!

Sending you all some virtual blueberry crumble. :-)

Changing your world--and mine

My friend Sophie is leading what sounds like a fascinating week-long gathering for young people ages 16-35 who want to help make the world a better place through sustainable living. From their Web site:

The fundamental intention for this event is to explore the concept of sustainability, and its relevance in our lives. The gathering will provide a space where participants feel empowered to be conscious and visionary as they endeavor to create personal lives, projects, organizations, communities