Catherine Knutsson's Blog, page 2

A Wintery Walk

Today, the DH and I went out for a hike, the first real hike we’ve done since I got sick back in the beginning of December. I’m still coughing and hacking, but the worst is over (I think, I hope!) and it’s time to get back to regular exercise – something I haven’t really been able to do since the summer, what with the Achilles issue and then the October cold/plague, and then, this December bronchitis yuck.

All of which has been a huge reminder that I need to take better care of myself. I often don’t realize I’m run-down until it’s too late and then…it’s too late. This, I think, will be my 2013 theme: taking care of self, so that I’m healthy enough to take care of everything else. (And on that note, I am pathetically, entirely, and completely behind on everything – the cold plus two very sick cats who have required constant nursing has wreaked havoc on my ability to get anything done in the month of December. Apologies to any and all who have been affected by this…)

So, on that note, two photos I snapped while walking:

Blackberry on snow:

And Morrell Lake:

Happy almost 2013, everyone. Wishing you all a safe and prosperous New Year…

Filed under: Photography

Updatery: the Late Night/Early Morning Edition

So. It’s been a rough couple of weeks here at Chez Knutsson. Our lovely, beloved Alex kitty has been gravely ill, and last week, we were certain it was time to say goodbye. However, cats being the amazingly resilient creatures that they are, she’s rebounded, thanks to the equally amazing care from Alex’s veterinarian. But, it’s been a challenging time as we continue to learn to manage her diabetes (she was diagnosed back in October) as well how to juggle all the other medications that are allowing her to heal from the past week’s crisis.

Add to that a wicked chest cold, and, well, I’ve been down for the count. Today was the first time I’ve been out of bed in days, but due to a nap this afternoon, I’m wide awake when I should be sleeping. Not the best way to heal up, but…*shrug* As my husband is so fond of saying, It is what it is.

Maybe it’s the time of year, or maybe it’s because I’m getting ready to dive back into revisions on my middle grade project, but…I’ve been thinking. I’ve been thinking about what I write and how I write it, about why I tell the stories I tell, about what I hope to gain from those stories, about what I hope to share with those stories, and about the life a story lives once it’s left my hands. But, most of all, I’ve been thinking about why the stories I’m called to tell need to exist to begin with. I’m not sure I have any answers, but maybe answers aren’t what I need. Because thinking leads to questions, and questions, to my mind, are what open paths. Answers, I sometimes think, close paths. Though, that’s what I’m thinking tonight. Tomorrow, I might change my mind.

What I do know is that I’ve come up with a little mantra, once that I was first introduced to when I was doing some horse work with Jodine Carruthers. I’ve been horse-crazed all my life, but my relationship with the horses I’ve encountered hasn’t always been easy. That unease came to a head a few years back when I took a position at a stable and found myself way out of my element – not because I didn’t have the horse skills I needed, but because horses have a way of making us n look at our shadows, and I was hiding from mine. I knew I was in a bad place, and I needed help. So, I went to work with Jodine and her horses, and Jodine introduced me to the concept that story has no place with horses. They don’t care about your history, or why you are the way you are. They just see you as here, now. That’s a strange concept for a storyteller. I mean, I have a running narrative in my head all the time – either my own story, or the narrative of the stories I’m working on. (My brain is a busy place.) So, learning to stop, to be, and to be here now was really hard. And, it’s still a work in progress for me–a balancing act, perhaps, as I learn to allow story to be my work, and not be my all.

Horses aren’t part of my life these days. That’s a bit of a sore spot, but it is what it is. Someone once said that you can have everything you want in life – just not all of it at the same time. Now is the time without horses. I have other work to do. But, I still have the lessons I learned from the horses I’ve known.

Be here, now. That’s what they’ve taught me.

Those are the words I’ve been living lately, taking one day at a time, each moment as it comes, because really, there’s no other way to do this living business.

Be here, now. Tomorrow, I’m applying those words to my writing work.

Be here, now.

Be here.

Now.

Filed under: Writing Craft

Revising? Then check out “Fix-It Fridays”!

My good friend, Shari Green, has been running a Fix-It Friday feature on her blog, and today is my day to share a revision tip! Check it out here!

And, while you’re over there, I highly recommend checking out the other Fix-It Friday posts – lots of great stuff from great writers.

Filed under: Uncategorized

When serendipity strikes

(dunno why, but in my head, Julie Andrews was singing the title to this blog post…)

So. I am a believer in serendipity. I am not always serene with serendipity, but I do believe that things happen when they supposed to. Though sometimes, the things we need most drop into our laps at the oddest times.

I’ve had such a happening. Yesterday, I went down at our local Métis office as I’m starting to research a new project and I’m having a hard time finding the right research material. So, I thought they might be able to help me out. I got to talking with the woman at the office about some stuff that’s going on right now, and she said to me: You haven’t read HALF-BREED, have you?

HALF-BREED is a book by Maria Campbell, a renowned Canadian scholar of Métis history and culture. I’ve known about HALF-BREED for years, as it’s one of the most widely taught books in Canadian literature, but for some reason, I hadn’t read it. Time to fix that. I sat down with it last night, and drank it in, laughing sometimes, and crying sometimes, and sometimes, both. Every reason I had for writing SHADOWS CAST BY STARS is in this book. Much of my own story is in this book. Much of Cass’s is, too.

After I finished reading HALF-BREED, I spent a bit of time reading about it. Here’s one of the things I came across, published by the First Nations Drum newspaper:

Campbell says that throughout this suffering she was sustained in spirit by her Cree great-grandmother Cheechum who gave her confidence in herself and in her people, confidence she needed to survive and to thrive. As a child she dealt with discrimination from both whites and full-blooded Indian neighbors because of her Metís, or “half-breed” heritage. Halfbreed recounts the first thirty-three years of her life and depicts the discrimination and racism she and her people endured. In the introduction to that book, Campbell says, “I write this for all of you, to tell you what it is like to be a Halfbreed woman in this country. I want to tell you about the joys and sorrows, the oppressing poverty, the frustrations and the dreams.”

And, from the very last page of HALF-BREED:

For these past couple of years, I’ve stopped being the idealistically shiny-eyed young woman I once was. I realize that an armed revolution of Native people will never come about; even if such a thing were possible what would we achieve? We would only end up oppressing someone else. I believe that one day, very soon, people will set aside their differences and come together as one. Maybe not because we love one another, but because we will need each other to survive. Change will come because this time we won’t give up. There is growing evidence of that today.”

I’ve been meaning to write about being Métis for a while now, and will, one of these days, when I feel I’ve got the right words to express what I really want to say (that old adage of two ears/one mouth has really struck home lately). Until then, if you’re interested about Métis culture, history, and what it means to be Métis (and what it means to be human!) in all its facets, then this book, in my opinion, is a very good place to start.

My heart feels very open this morning, even thought it’s raining there. This is what I know. Sometimes, this is all I know.

I wanted to include a photo with this post, and when I went looking through the ones I have, this is the one that seemed right, so here it is.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Next Big Thing Memery

Eee, it’s been a good long while since anyone’s tagged me in a meme, but now is PERFECT timing. So, thank you, Cat Hellisen, and also, for those reading along, if you haven’t read Cat’s WHEN THE SEA IS RISING RED, please do? Because, it’s great – one of my fav books this year.

So, meme!

What is your working title of your book?

LOOSENED FROM THE SKY, which will change once I think of something better. I also call it “the bug book”. Because, ya know, there are bugs.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Aha! Something I can answer, with a two-pronged response!

1. Years ago, I was walking down the street of my hometown and the fire alarm went off. Because I lived in a community with a volunteer fire department, that siren, back in the day, was designed to call in firefighters from all the outlying areas. As such, it happened to be an old air raid siren.

So, I was walking along, the siren went off, and I noticed an elderly lady in front of me in a state of distress. I went to help, because I could see she was panic-stricken. Turns out she was visiting from Britain and had lived through the Blitz, and the sound of our town’s fire siren sent her into a state of complete shock. I’ve never forgotten that moment, when I realized that something so commonplace for me could trigger such powerful memories for someone else.

2. A few years ago, I was at a Remembrance Day ceremony with my sister. We were standing in the crowd, waiting for the ceremony to begin, when two guys in front of us began to discuss whether there was one world war or two. I’m not even kidding. In the end, they decided there was one, but it was a really big one.

Even now, I’m boggled. I have no words. And thus, the story-stork delivered this story.

What genre does your book fall under?

Middle grade alternate-history. With bugs.

Did I mention the bugs?

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Well, the two main characters are thirteen year old twins, so I don’t know about them, as I don’t really know of many child actors. But, I am all about casting Tom Hiddleston in everything. I also think Helen Mirren should be in all the movies. So, them. And that’s all I know.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Kids, bugs, war? Oh wait, that’s a list, not a sentence, isn’t it?

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

It is in my agent’s capable hands as we speak…

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Erm, well, I tend to write a bunch, and then let it sit, and write a bunch more, and then let it sit. So, I guess, a couple of years? I think?

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Erm, I’m not sure! Um, bug books, cuz, ya know, there are bugs…

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

A point comes in all memes when I realize, yet again, I have no answers. I’m much better at questions. Alors, who or what do you think inspired me to write this book? Huh? Huh? Riddle me that, oh clever meme…

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

GIANT BUGS! What else do you need to know, really?

I mean, look at this:

Now, imagine that beauty as very, very large and able to carry people around. Inside.

Who wouldn’t want to ride in that? I mean, I would, and I don’t even like flying! But if someone said “Wanna take a spin in my giant dragonfly?”, um, YES!

So, that’s it. Now, I’m supposed to tag others, so I shall! But, ya know, should you be tagged and not feel like playing along, no worries. It’s all good! (But I am curious, yes, I am!)

First victim: Shari Green, because I will read anything she writes.

Second victim: Mara of The Writing Blues, because I am selfish and want to know what she’s been working on!

Third victim: Ryan Howse, because he has promised me a YA series about sparkling ninjas, brooding eyes, and love triangles, and I will not be denied.

Fourth victim: Jo Anderton, because I want to know what she’s up to! Also, she wrote DEBRIS and SUITED, which you should read. I will soon, as they’re sitting in my tbr pile over there, waiting…*side-eyes TBR pile!*

Finally, I’d also love to hear from Jennifer Schmidt Adam, but she has no website to link to. But, should anyone else want to play along, do! Because I want to know more about your Next Big Thing!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Give a little bit…

To the tune of “I’ve been working on the railroad”:

I’ve been working on my website (yes, I sang that out loud!), and I’ve been thinking ’bout things!

Things like the stuff in this video, which I can’t embed for some reason, so here’s the link. Trust me: it’s worth watching, especially if you’re feeling the need to find a little hope these days

Awesome video linky!

Yep. This. So much this!

(Also, what’s with the scuba gear, dudes?)

Hope everyone’s had a great weekend….peace out!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Interview, updatery, miscellanous and sundry….

So!

Item #1: Exciting thing! The stags are out and about! I passed two HUGE ones driving the DH to work this morning, and had to share, because they’re just so beautiful (if a bit stinky, as it’s rutting season). But no camera! So, guess who will be packing her camera around the next while?

Item #2: The middle grade project is finished (for now) and I’m back into my middle eastern-inspired project, which I am loving. However, that does mean updates are going to be a little scarce for a while, cuz a writer’s gotta make hay when the sun (words) are shining.

But, as a teaser, I found this image while cruising the webs this week, and it really fits with how I see Marazi, the main character in the middle-eastern project.

(The image comes from the Women Fighters in Reasonable Armor blog, which I love.)

Item #3: The interview I did with Imogen Howson of the The Lucky Thirteens (a group of authors with 2013 debut books) is up on the Lucky Thirteen blog today. Read it here! And, while there, might I suggest checking out all the fantastic books that are coming out next year? Because, wow, they sound great!

(Also, thanks, Lucky Thirteens, for having me on the blog today!)

Item #4: Despite the scarcity of updates mentioned in Item #2, I haven’t forgotten that I promised to write posts about Dzoonokwa, Sisiutl, and being Metis. The “being Metis” one is written and simmering, so that’ll be going up first (something I’ve meant to do for ages. Where does time go these days?). But, I’m super excited about the post about Dzoonokwa, because, look!

Item #5: The other thing I’ll be doing in the next while is getting this website updated. It’s been woefully neglected for a while now, but, Coming Soon to a Website Near You: a new resource section, info about class visits, and some other bibs and bobs that I’ve cooked up.

So, stay tuned, and happy Friday, everyone!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Teen Authors Tell All!

Well, look howdy, Lower Mainlanders! (Please read that sentence with a western drawl…) See that poster up there? Five awesome YA writers, all in one spot – how can that not be excellent? So, if you’re in the neighbourhood, come on by & chat with us! We’d love to see you!

Filed under: Shadows Cast by Stars, Writing Craft

In which I post an update about things that need updating

Reasons why I have not updated my blog recently:

1. I’ve been sick with a rotten, horrible, yucky cold. Still coughing, but the worst is over, I think. I hope.

2. Despite Le Cold/Plague, I’ve been working on finishing up my middle grade project. The latter half needed a complete rehaul, and, in my typical fashion, I had to wait and wait and wait for the solution to show up. Finally, it did, and I rewrote that latter half in four days. This is how I operate. I don’t suggest anyone tries it.

3. Fall has finally arrived. I love fall. I am happy. Later today, I’m going for a walk in the rain, and I might swish leaves.

4. I’ve got some SHADOWS CAST BY STARS related-news, but I can’t share….not yet. But, soon, I hope!

5. Next week, I’ll be visiting Timberline and Carihi high schools in Campbell River, and doing a signing at Coho Books, and also meeting up with a local librarian to discuss setting up some teen programming. Exciting! Nervous-making, but also, exciting!

6. Updates will continue to be scarce, because once I’ve handed the middle grade project off to my eyeballers and agent, I’ll be diving into rewrites for my Scheherezade-inspired project…which looks nothing like it once did, but that’s good.

And on that note, here’s a little Scheherzade of the Rimsky-Korsakov variety, just because! Enjoy!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Upcoming Evening At Cadboro Bay Books!

For people in the Victoria area, I’ll be at Cadboro Bay Books on October 4, along with authors Jeyn Roberts and Sarah Harvey. We’ll be reading from our books, talking about writing, and will be available to sign books, too.

For those who aren’t in the Victoria area, do check out my new and appearances page, as I’ll be out and about this fall, and really love meeting readers and writers. The Northwest BookFest is up next for me this weekend! And it’s free!

Filed under: Shadows Cast by Stars