Erica O'Rourke's Blog, page 6

Resolved

Happy First Day Back To School, everyone!

Look. I love my children. I missed them horribly while I was gone, and we had a wonderful break, full of movies and adventures and toys and books and treats and togetherness.

SO MUCH TOGETHERNESS.

Now they are back in school, and I am back to work, and lo, it is good. Peace descends upon Casa O'Rourke and I can actually cross things off my list. You guys know how much I like crossing things off lists.

Speaking of lists, are you resolution-minded folk? I used to be, but after too many years of making dramatic vows of change and betterment, only to give up by Martin Luther King Day, I've shifted to attainable goals that make a measurable difference. If they sound familiar, it's because these are the same resolutions I make every year. Why mess with success?

Drink more water.

Cheap and easy. I've even unearthed my favorite water bottle from the back of the cabinet, so I'm all set. (See Resolution #3)

Do not engage the crazy.

There's no point. You're not going to win, and you're going to make everyone around you miserable. Instead, when faced with a situation where someone is bound and determined to push every. last. button. you have, remind yourself that discretion is the better part of valor, and rely on two key phrases:

"That's so interesting."
"Thanks for letting me know."

In both cases, you're letting the other person know you heard them -- which is all most people want, anyway -- without agreeing or disagreeing and without commiting yourself to any course of action. It's the quickest way to neutralize a conversation so you can excuse yourself to practice your primal scream therapy.

Have less stuff.

We are drowning in stuff. It's expensive, it's wasteful, and most importantly, it's a pain in the ass to keep clean. We're trying hard to make sure that we keep only the things that we love, need, or use frequently. Everything else is going to Goodwill.

Some people prefer to choose a word or a theme for the year, and if I had to choose one, it would be "hard work." I like hard work. It makes me feel proud, and strong, and accomplished. 2013 is shaping up to be a year that will force me to work harder than ever, but in ways that are exciting and challenging in the best possible sense.

How about you? Goals? Resolutions? Themes? What are you going to make of this year?

Off The Grid

Popping in for only a moment to say farewell! I'm heading out this afternoon to teach. On a cruise. Through the Panama Canal. With Sandra Day O'Connor and Julian Bond.

If I tell you I am already missing my family like crazy, you're not going to feel even the teensiest bit sorry for me, are you?

It turns out that boats don't have free wifi, so I'll be going radio silent soon. I'll be back the week before Christmas, full of pictures and stories and holiday cheer. And maybe even a little bit of a tan, for the first time in...ever.

In the meatime, have fun. I'll miss YOU like crazy, too. And if you see my husband, please remind him to water the Christmas tree.

DISSONANCE: My Next Big Thing

Chicago-area
people: Tomorrow is the Books + Beer Signing – I’ll be there with Jamie Freveletti, Linda Joffe Hull, and Keir Graff, buying beers for readers and giving a 10% discount on every title. There’s more info here, but as an added
bonus, if you buy the entire Torn Trilogy, you get a custom necklace or
t. It would make an excellent Christmas gift. (It would make an
excellent self-gift, too. I won’t tell.)

(I’m
quite smitten with them.)

And
now, onto the Q&A! Elizabeth Amisu tagged me to participate in the the “Next Big Thing”
meme. Next Wednesday, I’ll link to the authors I’ve tagged. For now, I hope you
enjoy reading a bit more about Del and DISSONANCE.

What
is the working title of your next book?

My next book is titled DISSONANCE. It’s coming out in Fall
of 2013, which feels both far away and very soon at the same time.

Where
did the idea come from for the book? 

DISSONANCE
falls more into the speculative/sci-fi realm, which is what I grew up reading,
so in an indirect way, it came from all the authors I loved as a kid, like Robert
Heinlein and Roger Zelazney.  This
particular book came from my fascination with two things: the theory of
alternate universes, and the idea that we’re defined by our choices.  If you have limitless choices, how do you
decide between them? What does that say about you?

What
genre does your book fall under?

Sci-fi. Del’s ability to navigate alternate
worlds is grounded in science, not magic.

What
actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie
rendition? 

Ooooh. I am terrible at this. I tend not to think of specific
real-life people during the writing process, because I worry the characters
would become less themselves, and take on more characteristics of the actor.
Let’s say this: I would love for Joss Whedon to cast it, because the
Whedonverse is full of incredibly talented, versatile actors.

What
is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A
sixteen-year-old girl navigates between alternate universes and falls for
different versions of the same boy in each one – but in her home world, he
barely knows she exists.

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

I’m represented by the brilliant Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary; DISSONANCE
will be published by Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers.

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

Hmn…five
months, maybe? I tend to write a really messy, awful first draft. Revising it
into something coherent is my reward for reaching the end.

What
else about the book might pique the reader's interest?

The working title of the book was "The Roadside Marker Book," because I am really, really bad at coming up with titles. Also, there are eleventy billion Doctor Who references, because I’m a little
obsessed with the show. You'll also find plenty of kissy bits, which are always fun to
write, and sisterly squabbling, the accidental end of the world, a slightly deranged grandfather, minor larceny,
and Del’s collection of boots, which I am QUITE envious of.

Thanks for the invite, Elizabeth! I'll be back next week with links to the next round of authors!

 

Thanksgiving: Put Your Game Face On

When you're coordinating a Thanksgiving meal with many chefs, it's important to plan ahead. And nothing helps me plan like a little yellow legal pad and my favorite pen.

I'm primarily on side dish duty, with a dessert thrown in for good measure, and because we're traveling, I've chosen food I can make ahead or requires minimal on-site preparation. (We're descending on the home of this lovely lady.)

Rumor has it one of the guests is bringing a baby for me to hold. There will be wine and coffee and really good cheese, and this menu, which was the result of many, many "reply-all" emails and years of tradition along with some new dishes. Old standbyes are great, but so are fresh ideas.

Thanksgiving 2012:

Fancy cheese plate
Apple-bourbon turkey and gravy
Kate's stuffing
Dad's stuffing

Cranberry-orange relish 
Cranberry sauce 
Molly's cranberry-horseradish thing 
Butternut squash souffle

Potato-fennel gratin
Roasted cauliflower w/breadcrumbs
Spicy broccoli
Sweet potatoes w/bourbon and maple
Mashed potatoes
Mixed greens salad
Molly's root vegetable dish
Rolls

Apple, pumpkin, and coconut pie
Pecan-shortbread bars
Bourbon-y cocktails

What are your favorite, can't-live-without Thanksgiving dishes? What are you trying that's new and exciting? What will you be discreetly hiding under a napkin, so as not to hurt Great-Aunt Margie's feelings?

teamTEENauthor: How to survive your first draft

Two announcements:

Don't forget about Books + Beer on November 29th! Four authors, free beer, and general merriment. I'll also be giving away custom necklaces for people who buy all three books of the Torn Trilogy. And maybe spilling details on the new series...


The winners of the teamTeenauthor giveaway have been chosen, and the organizers will be getting in touch with you soon.

And on the topic of teamTeenAuthor, this month's topic is, "So You Want To Be A Writer," which we figured was fitting, considering that November is National Novel Writing Month.

Those of you who are NaNoing are probably hitting your midpoint mark right about now. If you're anything like me, midway through the novel is about the time you start saying things like, "I have used up all the words. There aren't any more words." Or, "This book is irretriveably broken." Or maybe you aren't saying anything at all. Maybe you're curled up in the corner, rocking back and forth and eating your body weight in guacamole. (Don't judge me.)

Frankly, and I have said this before, I hate first drafts. The entire process is miserable and soul-sucking and like so many horror movies, you're lucky if you get out alive. And if you want to use the comments to complain about first drafts, go right ahead. I will listen and pat your hand and give you a cookie and some tea. First drafts can be the roughest of rough patches, and no one will lend you a more sympathetic ear than I.

And then I will pass along Bit of Advice #1: Suck it up, buttercup.

I know this sounds harsh. The thing is, if you want to be a writer, you're going to have to write a first draft. You're going to have to revise it, too, but that's advice for another time. Now, if you don't want to be a writer? Then go ahead and abandon the book. If you want to be a writer? You have to write a first draft. *

Now, people NaNo for all sorts of reasons. You might be thinking, "But I'm not looking to be published! I just want to see if I can write a novel!" That's awesome, and a perfectly valid reason for doing NaNo, or writing a book in general. However: If you run 26 miles, you ran a long way. You didn't run a marathon. It's the extra .2 miles that make a marathon. Writing all the way to the end makes a novel, regardless of page or word count or your reasons for writing.

You might also be thinking, "But this book is terrible! It is unfixable and irretrievably broken! And I have another, shinier, prettier idea for a book that would be awesome!"

To which I say, "So?"

It's entirely possible that your draft IS terrible. Maybe it's unfixable (though I don't believe any book is.)  And of COURSE you have another better, shinier, prettier story idea -- that story is untested and unwritten. It doesn't have the battle scars this one does. But you're learning something from those battle scars. You're learning how to deal with inconsistent characters or rambling plots or insufficient conflict. Every book teaches you something -- and one of the things it will teach you is how to end a story, which involves more than just typing "The End" and ordering some celebratory sushi. Abandoning ship halfway through means you're not going to learn those lessons. Moreover, you're setting a dangerous precedent of quitting when things get hard. And writing, while not as hard as mining coal or fighting fires, is nevertheless hard work. So have some tea. Have a cookie. And then suck it up, buttercup, and get back to work. Which leads us to...

Bit of Advice #2: The Only Way Out Is Through

"Fine," You say. "I have sucked it up. I will Do This Thing. But...how?"

However you can, chickadee. When you're writing a first draft, you have one goal: to get to the end. I don't care how you get there. I don't care if it's good. All that matters is that you reach the end. You can write out of order, or backwards, or chronologically, longhand or on a computer or by texting yourself one sentence at a time. Whatever works.

You have a story to tell. You're the only one who can tell it. So push on, even if it's only a bit at a time, even though it's not perfect. Every page you write is one page closer to the end, and the only way to get to "The End" is to keep moving forward.

The only way out is through. I tell myself this every day.

Bit of Advice #3: "You can't fix a blank page."

You know who said this? Nora Roberts, who has written more than 200 novels and has more than a passing acquaintance with the NYT Bestseller List. She knows a little something about writing, so listen to La Nora.

Some people revise as they write their first draft. If that's how you work best, go for it! Just make sure that you're not spending so much time perfecting the first three chapters you never move on to chapter four.

Some people (and I am one of them) write an entire first draft and then revise the whole book. Usually at the midway point of a first draft, I realize something -- a character, an event, a major piece of worldbuilding -- is missing. Rather than stop, I make a note in the margin that says "Add in ____." Then I keep moving forward, writing as if the missing piece has been inserted. For me, momentum is key.

Regardless of which style (or combination of styles) works best for you, the physics of writing dictates that you can't revise something if it doesn't exist. NaNo gives you permission to write badly for the month of November. I will give you permission to write badly anytime you're writing a first draft. Even if you're a revise-as-you-go person, it's okay for things to be less than perfect in that first draft. It's expected, even.

Later, after you've had a glass of wine and a pan of brownies, there will be time to fix your manuscript. I've never read a story that was impossible to fix -- just stories that needed varying amounts of work. But that's for later. For now, get the words on the page, in whatever manner suits you. Remember: your goal is to get to the end. Worry about prettying things up once you've had a chance to recover.

For now, let's check in: how are you doing with those first drafts? Do you need to vent? Need some encouragement? Have a tricky plot problem? Have advice for others about how to survive the first draft? Hit the comments, and I will do what I can to help.

Here's a list of the other teamTEENauthors with their own suggestions:

Julie Cross

Pip Harry

Janci Patterson

Mindee Arnett

Suzanne Lazear

Elizabeth Amisu

E.C. Meyers

* And a second. And possibly a third. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

WIP Friday: Snuffly Edition

First of all, my heart goes out to everyone affected by Sandy -- it's a terrible, terrible tragedy, and the road back is going to be a long one. If you're looking to help, here are some ways:

The Red Cross: You can click here to donate online, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate to Disaster Relief for an instant $10 donation. Click here to get more information about donating blood.

This auction, spearheaded by children's author Kate Messner, is offering some amazing prizes, with the proceeds to benefit the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Hang in there, East Coast.

In less-urgent news, I am knee-deep in revisions on DISSONANCE, which means I will not be doing National Novel Writing Month. I am also knee-deep in germy children, and so I am going to dispense to you My Advice For Winter Months With Petri Dishes Masquerading As Short People.

Ginger tea. Lots of it. With honey. Lots of it. If you have a lemon lying around, throwing a few slices in wouldn't be a bad idea, but it's not essential. We happen to be fond of this brand, because it's easy to find, but if you're feeling particularly granola, just slice a bunch of ginger and throw it in some boiling water. I don't know why it works so much better than regular tea, but it does. Ginger tea cures all manner of cold-weather ick, especially those things that are viral and hence won't respond to antibiotics.

Which is why my kids are getting industrial quantities of it today. Mama has work to do.

 

 

Books + Beer = Win

I had planned to tell you all about my new chainsaw (so dainty! for my ladyhands!) today and its effect on the Jungle Formerly Known As My Backyard, and then I was going to show you my new outdoor fireplance, and yes, those things are related.

I was going to do all of this right after I got back from observing Big Marshmallow get her Montessori on, but thirty seconds after I walked into the classroom, it became clear that the only thing I'd be observing was my child falling prey to whatever illness is sweeping the school this week.

So. No yardwork for me. Tea and toast for Big Marshmallow.

But for you, my dears, something excellent: a chance to do some holiday shopping (or self-shopping. I don't judge.), support an indie bookstore, and let an author buy you a beer. What is this nirvana, you ask? Why...it's Books and Beer! Read on for the details:

WHO: You! (Along with a variety of authors -- Jamie Freveletti, Linda Joffe Hull, Keir Graff, and me.)

WHAT: Multi-author signing! There's something for everyone -- a thriller to put in Dad's
stocking, a signed first edition that Mom will always treasure, a
witchy YA for your teen cousin and a middle grade adventure for the
younger ones.

Get 10% off all purchases
A free beer when you buy at least one title from each author.
I'll be giving away limited-edition Torn jewelry to anyone who buys the whole trilogy!

WHERE: The Hidden Shamrock,
2723 N. Halsted, Chicago, Illinois 60614
WHEN: Thursday, November 29, 2012, 6-9 pm.

I'd love to see you there! For more information, click here.

Bacon jam makes everything better.

Nobody quite believes me the first time they hear I'm making bacon jam. They're intrigued, or bemused ("Bacon...jam?") or squicked out, or covetous, because they understand bacon's magical properties.

Then I explain: bacon jam is a savory-sweet condiment -- a little thicker than a chutney, or a marmalade, sweeter, more spreadable, and more attractively named than "potted meat", less oily than a confit. (If you are starting to suspect that I have a bit of an addiction to fancy condiments, you would be correct.)

Bacon jam, as it turns out, makes everything better. Unless you're a vegetarian, in which case you should just move along.

I don't remember where I first read about this magical substance. Chicago magazine, maybe? You can buy bacon jam online, and presumably in fancy food shops, but if you have children, this is foolish and expensive. Children -- even small children who are the pickiest of eaters and have been self-selecting vegetarians since the day solid food first crossed their little rosebud lips -- will devour astonishing quantities of the stuff. Now, bacon is not cheap, and neither is real maple syrup -- but it's still a fraction of the cost. Also, it makes your house smell amazing.

Online recipes abound. I've tried the slow cooker version, and it was delicious, but to be honest with you...I don't really like my slow cooker. (That's a post for another day.) Now I use this version with great success. Also, her pictures are nicer than mine. Bacon jam, while delicious, must be photographed with care and skill, because in the wrong light, it doesn't look super-appetizing, which is a shame. (Warning: it's a big recipe. You can halve it, if you're feeling unsure or don't have three pounds of bacon lying around.)

The nice thing about this recipe is that it's easy to adapt. Throw in some bourbon if you're inclined to make it more grownup. Want heat? Add cayenne, or some of the liquid from canned adobo chiles. Too sweet? Increase the vinegar. Too syrupy? Add coffee. Half the fun of homemade stuff is getting it exactly how you like it.

Around here, we like bacon jam on everything. Sandwiches, vegetables, pasta, straight from the jar, pizza, cheese and crackers, eggs, burgers...but the place it really shines are with leafy greens. We belong to a CSA farm, and every week we get a vast supply of leafy greens. Kale, bok choy, beet greens, chard. They are Very Healthful and Very Delicious, especially sauteed with lots of garlic. But sometimes my darling children tire of greens. The more bitter ones, in particular, can be met with resistance.

Enter bacon jam and fancy bread.

It's the world's simplest recipe:

Take a slice of good bread -- italian or sourdough or whatever you like -- and toast it.
Add a layer of bacon jam. (Personally, I like mine fairly thin -- you're going for a bit of sweetness to balance out the greens, not dessert. Or maybe you are. I don't judge, but I'd recommend not letting your children do this part unsupervised.)
Add a layer of sauteed greens, preferably hot. (I like a lot of greens. And I make sure my kids' have a decent amount, to their everlasting chagrin.)
Revel in the adoration of your family.

Boom: carbs, veg, a smidge of protein. Sweet, savory, a touch of bitter, a mingling of textures. As long as you're not glopping on the jam by the cupful, and you're generous with the greens, it's a relatively healthy dinner, and also insanely fast.

(Sans veg, since I ate them all last night. But a tart apple is a nice addition.)

I'm pretty sure bacon jam cures all ills: Rough days, sibling fights, busy schedules, homework blues, election fatigue, general ennui. Try it and see.

 

teamTEENauthor Dare Day -- and a contest!

As a recent addition to teamTEENauthor, I haven't had the chance to participate in one of their fabled Dare Days until now -- but for once, my timing is perfect! Not only is October a Dare Day, we're also running a ginormous contest -- a multi-author scavenger hunt with amazing prizes and the chance to see a variety of YA authors humiliate themselves. What could be better, I ask you?

(For more info about teamTeenauthor, click here)

And now, for the dares. This month's options were:

Cover your face with peanut butter and take a picture
Write about your most embarassing teen memory, Shakespeare-style
Post pictures of your middle school/high school celebrity crush.

We are running dangerously low on peanut butter, and I've never been good at iambic pentameter, so I'm going with celebrity crush.

It's no secret that, despite marrying one of the nicest guys on the planet, I have a soft spot for Boys Who Are Trouble. And for me, these two boys embodied trouble more than anyone.

River Phoenix. Even now, I swoon a little. He started out with roles in Stand By Me, The Mosquite Coast, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade -- and then moved on to My Own Private Idaho, Running On Empty, and my beloved hacker-geek classic: Sneakers. I was never a poster-in-your-locker kind of girl, but if I had been, River Phoenix would have been front and center.

Alas, when I say he was trouble, I mean Real Trouble. He died of a drug overdose in 1993, outside a nightclub owned by Johnny Depp. I think if he'd lived, he would have become one of those rare actors that improve as they age -- intelligent, talented, and choosing interesting movies instead of safe bets.

I still miss him.

Now, as I said: I was never a poster-loving girl. Instead, I obsessively rewatched movies, including this cheesetastic gem:

 

Oh, Christian Slater. Avenging his brother's death with only a skateboard, a spiky haircut, and a smirk. I cannot even tell you how many times I watched this movie, utterly smitten. He was in other movies, of course -- I watched Heathers so much that the tape nearly wore out, and I still have the soundtrack to Pump Up The Volume -- but these days, he seems to do little more than sneer, and I'm no longer quite so taken with him. But my 14-year-old self thought he was the epitome of rebellious cool.

Now, for the contest! All of the details -- and all of the links you'll need to complete the scavenger hunt -- are over at Julie Cross's blog. There are a TON of bookish prizes, including ARCs of some upcoming releases that I will probably beg you to share with me. The more entries we have, the more prizes are available, so feel free to tweet/FB/tumble/whatever about the contest.

Also, a hint: To answer my question, find the "Categories" menu on my sidebar, click "FAQ", and skim. Easy-peasy.

Good luck, and happy hunting!

Found Treasures

We went to visit my mother-in-law this weekend, which I think was a nice reward for hitting a deadline that has kept me off the internet and locked in my office for a couple of weeks. One of the best things about visiting her is that she is just as much of a coffee fiend as I am. There is always freshly-made coffee and very large mugs, and if the pot is running low, it's perfectly acceptable to make another. Even if it's the fourth time that day. This is a fine quality in a hostess.

Our big project this weekend was to get hergarage sorted. This is my favorite kind of project, because it involves organizing stuff, which I love - and even better, organizing someone else's stuff, so I don't get overly sentimental. Among our discoveries: a long-missig silk scarf (tucked inside the spare wellies) my sister-in-law's old Brownie uniform, huge pieces of burlap used to wrap bales of cotton, funky baskets and trays, an armoire made by her grandfather, and a collection of canning supplies that ensures my mother-in-law is well-equipped to handle the zombie apocalypse.

And then there was this:

Which belonged to Boyo's grandmother, apparently, and is now residing in my office, waiting to be cleaned up and displayed. Because my mother-in-law is the nicest. 

SOME PEOPLE were less enthusiastic about my find.

Him: "What is that?"

Me: "A typewriter! Isn't it cute?"

Him:  "It's old."

Me: "It's vintage."

B:  "It's old. What are you doing with it?"

Me: "Putting it in the van! It's coming to live with us."

Him: "You have a typewriter. And it doesn't work."

Me: "Now I have a collection."

Him: "grumblecluttergrumblezooeydeschanelgrumblegrumble"

Needless to say, he refused to let anything else come home with us. Which made me sad, because I found this table, which just needs a coat of paint and then would make a nice little desk downstairs.

Now, something you don't know about my husband -- and something that, should you meet him sometime, you will not actually believe, because he is so sweet and funny and generally delightful -- is that he is the most stubborn person on the planet. I am a snarky little curmudgeon, so no one ever believes this, but it is completely true.

Which is why I passed on the armoire. And the canning supplies. And the cool wooden tray that would have held my knitting so nicely. I didn't even ask about them. I'd gotten an adorable typewriter, after all, and there was no need to be greedy. Besides, there was one more treasure my heart was set on. If I asked, he'd say no and dig his heels in.

So I didn't ask. I informed, and popped it in my suitcase before he could work up a case of stubborn.

He's not thrilled, but I am, and so are the girls, who are already plotting to wear it when they're tall enough. Somewhere in OUR garage are the rest of his letters, which I plan to find and sew on. I said on twitter a while back that if I didn't love an item -- or if it wasn't necessary -- it wasn't coming into my house. Happily, this qualifies.

A very good weekend indeed.