Kimber An's Blog, page 13

Setting the Writing Schedule

I'm supposed to be on the computer only to check email today and tomorrow, but I thought I'd tell you what I'm up to anyway.  I'm trying to set my writing schedule.  I have to write on a schedule, because I have four children and Tendontis.  But, setting a schedule is hard for me because I love all my stories and want to write all of them RIGHT NOW.  I'm looking at the 'start' date for the next novel, Blood, Dark and Sweet, and it's, uh, only a day away and I'm thinking, "Okay, but I'm still waiting on my editor assignement from Noble Young Adult for Sweet Bytes.  Maybe I can squeeze in at least a solid outline for Sweetness and the Rogue Knight (see post below) before that comes in?"  Oy.  I shall brainstorm because I need to get off the computer, rest my hands, and wrangle my offspring anyway.  Take care, Blog Buds.

Secret Story: Sweetness and the Rogue Knight

Good morning, Blog Buds.  Want to know a secret?  I'm thinking of posting a serial novel, mostly for my own amusement.  It would cover the events from Crushed Sugar all the way to the start of Sugar Rush, but from Tristan's point-of-view.  Here's the link to the blog- Sweetness and the Rogue Knight
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After the release of Crushed some readers felt like it didn't end in the right place and wondered what happened between.  Well, I wanted to tell that story too, but things just didn't work out like that.  You see, the fictional universe of Ophelia Dawson is massive and what actually makes it to you guys is quite tiny in comparison.  It's like one small star lost in a galaxy.  The details can overwhelm me sometimes.
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Anyway, this is what I'm thinking about.  If I do it, I'll probably start posting on Thursday.

Bessie & Amelia Part Faverolle?

Americauna chickens are a cross between Araucana chickens from South America and...something else.  I've been wondering what Bessie and Emelia's 'something else' was and I think it's Faverolle, a French breed.  Check it out.
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This is Bessie and Amelia and their brother (long tail.)
And this is a couple of Faverelles-

Notice the feathers on their feet?  Bessie and Amelia do not have that.  The rooster is very different from their brother (yes, I hated not being able to take him home too) but look at the hen's feathering!  Pretty, huh?  Now, if these girls would just start laying we'll see how much Araucana they have in them.  This is an Araucana-


When it arrived in North America, the breeders loved the eggs, but not the rumpless look.  And so the Americauna was bred.  The Americauna/Araucana egg is the greenish/bluish one.

My Babies' Most Favoritest Books Ever

My goal during my babies' first couple of years of life, education-wise, is to nurture the passion for learning they were born with.  So, I read books they love to them.  A good book for a baby will have vivid pictures.  Black and white is good, but strong, constrasting colors is good too.  Simple words or great rhymes are attention grabbing.  Hand Hand Fingers Thumb  is an excellent example and it is an all-time favorite for my children, as well as my charges back when I was a nanny.
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Here are some more All-Time Favorites:
My second daughter loved at least three copies of Is Your Mama a Llama?   to shreds, I swear.
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Mama, Do You Love Me?  by Barbara M. Joose
Papa, Please Get The Moon For Me   by Eric Carle
Dr. Seuss's ABC
Yertle the Turtle  by Dr. Seuss
Going On A Bear Hunt
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?   by Nancy White Carlstrom
G Is For Goat   by Patricia Pollaco
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Of course, like us big peoples, little peoples tend to love other books by the same authors.  It's really great when we find an author who writes across several genres and age groups, like Jane Yolen.
You'll note that Owl Moon  does not have the vivid illustrations you'd expect a toddler to love.  This was/is one of my second daughter (again) 's favorite books and I think it's because of the prose.  She's an auditory learner.  She's mesmerized by what she hears.

'Cause Writers Just Can't Help Themselves, That's Why!

We take another look at our stories and we just gotta tweak it.
Fans Complain About George Lucus

Countdown to BLOOD, DARK AND SWEET

You'll notice on the sidebar that I've scheduled myself to begin writing down the next book in the series on September 7th.  Would you believe I used to be a very organic, by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of writer?  Well, four children and the long, hard road to publication changed all that.  So did Tendonitis.  I actually have very little time on the computer and can only get that time at specific points in my daily Master Schedule, so I have to make the most of it.  I completely imagine out the entire story before I begin.  I then sort out the mess in an outline of my own design.  I only sit down to write after everything about the story is ready to roll.  And that roll begins on September 7th.  Where do I do my most storycreation?  In my sleep, the shower, while unloading the dishwasher, and while listening to cranked-up music on the school run.  My YA daughter and I like the same kind of music.  What's with that?  Anyway, time to kick myself off the computer and rally the troops.  During the summer, they come thundering down the hallway first thing every morning.  Now that school's started I practically have to pry them out of their rooms.  (((sigh))) Another great myster of life.
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Edited to Add:   Oh, crap!  We need to get to Anchorage to buy my Voice Activated Software!  Totally forgot I was getting that in time for the next book.  It's okay.  My husband loves going to the 'toy store.'

Ahsoka and Other Heroines

Maybe some of you are familiar with Ahsoka from Star Wars The Clone Wars   I know she's a little young for the Young Adult crowd, but you might've watched the show when you were younger too.  My son's totally into the Clone Wars right now and I'm fascinated with Ahsoka.  I often think about how our heroines as children inspire us as we grow up and effect our choices.  I grew up in an isolated town with a tiny library long before the Internet.  My only heroine for a while was Anne of Green Gables.  And I think the influence of this irrepressible redhead is obvious in my own stories.  For example, of the four stories I polished up for submission before achieving publication, two of the heroines have red hair, along with one of their sisters and a mother!  But, then I found Princess Leia and Star Wars too, although was only aware of the original movie back then, New Hope and then The Empire Strikes Back.  And we didn't have DVD players, so I had to rely on the movie I watched once long ago in the big city.  It's hard to get absorbed in a fictional universe that way, but when Princess Leia's the only Kick-Butt Heroine on the block, you do what you gotta do.  I loved Lucy in The Chronicles of Narnia.  To this day, I'm more into Science Fictiony stories and ones set in historical time periods with a dash of Fantasy thrown in.

The Original Inspiration for Ophelia

This is 'The Naiad' by J.W. Waterhouse.  This poor girl is an unhealthy waif with big, frightened eyes.  If you're familiar with Shakespeare, you know that Ophelia is the fragile female victum in Hamlet.  I wanted to turn that stereotype on its head.  My Ophelia goes from a young, naive diabetic to a true kick-butt heroine.  That journey is what fascinated me.  Babies are not born knowning how to walk and it's cruel to punish them for that.  Heroines are not born Perfect and Powerful either.  No one is.  So, where does it come from?  Answering that question is what it's all about for me.

Favorite Activity Books for Babies & Toddlers

Active Learning for Infants
Active Learning for Ones
Active Learning for Twos
and
Toddler Theme-A-Saurus

The great thing about the Active Learning series is it includes a detailed chart on exactly what each age group is capable of.  So, if you have little experience, but you know your child well you can easily figure out which activities would be best.
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It's important to remember that these books are designed for daycare teachers.  Some will not be appropriate for one-on-one in the home, but most are.  Before you start these, be sure to have a daily routine in place.  Your baby or toddler will come to count on storytime and activity time with you.  If you blow it off, she will know it, at least on an emotional level, and she will probably be upset.  Always roll out of bed the same time every morning!  That's the key.  Get your day started and it will generally roll along.  Babies and toddlers love routines.  It's vital communication which helps them to make sense of their world and to know you will always be there for them.
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If you think you might feel better with something designed especially for the first timer at home, one on one, check out Before Five In A Row
This is a Christian guide, although it only uses one or two distinctly Christian books.  The authors have created many curriculum guides for the younger grades, as well, and they have an excellent website with forums.

Signed Contract for Sweet Bytes Today

So much thanks to Noble Young Adult!