Tanya Sousa's Blog, page 3
December 9, 2013
Movie-Style Book Trailers
Before I envisioned my book trailer, I looked at them. Many of them. MANY MANY of them. I took note of what made me interested and what didn't - then I looked up the top rated book trailers to see if my own instincts matched. They did! Hands down a dramatic trailer that moved along more like a movie trailer did the trick.
In a process not unlike writing a short story, I envisioned what my 2-3 minute trailer would look like. I have an active imagination, so that was no problem at all! However, my book happens to be told completely from the point of view of birds; there would be no filming of well placed actors for my project.
I searched the web for the right footage to make it look like birds were communicating - still images to punctuate the points being made that were strong enough to cause emotion - music that would pull it all together. I found them all, received permissions to use what I needed, and then had the great fortune to find a talented husband and wife with a studio (Dreamery Productions) to complete the character voice-overs. At the end of it all, Jacob Grant, another extraordinarily talented person (graphic artist) worked his magic to pull all of those pieces together so they'd seem coherent and tell the tease of the story I envisioned.
This is the result (also listed on my author page under "videos"). I was beyond pleased. What do you think? Does it make you want to buy the book?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CaukL...
In a process not unlike writing a short story, I envisioned what my 2-3 minute trailer would look like. I have an active imagination, so that was no problem at all! However, my book happens to be told completely from the point of view of birds; there would be no filming of well placed actors for my project.
I searched the web for the right footage to make it look like birds were communicating - still images to punctuate the points being made that were strong enough to cause emotion - music that would pull it all together. I found them all, received permissions to use what I needed, and then had the great fortune to find a talented husband and wife with a studio (Dreamery Productions) to complete the character voice-overs. At the end of it all, Jacob Grant, another extraordinarily talented person (graphic artist) worked his magic to pull all of those pieces together so they'd seem coherent and tell the tease of the story I envisioned.
This is the result (also listed on my author page under "videos"). I was beyond pleased. What do you think? Does it make you want to buy the book?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CaukL...
November 18, 2013
The Starling God Ready for Preorder!!!
Hello all!
My environmental novel, "The Starling God", is available now for preorder through Forestry Press. The book will be in print by late January.
Why preorder when you can wait for the book to be in print?
Publishers love preorders because they help assuage the hefty cost of production. Forestry Press is a brand new company with a noble purpose. Preorders will help them get off the ground.
Here's the link: Feel free to share!!!
http://www.forestrypressproducts.com/environmental-fiction-books/
My environmental novel, "The Starling God", is available now for preorder through Forestry Press. The book will be in print by late January.
Why preorder when you can wait for the book to be in print?
Publishers love preorders because they help assuage the hefty cost of production. Forestry Press is a brand new company with a noble purpose. Preorders will help them get off the ground.
Here's the link: Feel free to share!!!
http://www.forestrypressproducts.com/environmental-fiction-books/
October 6, 2013
Book Trailer is a "Go"!!!!
The funding from the Kickstarter campaign came through and work on the book trailer for my novel "The Starling God" has begun.
I always step off cliffs with faith that something will be there to step on even if it doesn't SEEM to show yet, so I already began work recording the bird (and whale) character voice-overs with John and Janet Heartson of Barnet, Vermont in John's recording studio before the funding was secured. Here's what I said about the recording experience on the Kickstarter update:
"Yesterday I worked with John and Janet Heartson of Barnet, Vermont, to create the character voice-overs for the book trailer. I can't describe how exciting this process was for me. I have lived intimately with these characters for more than five years now. I see them and hear them in my mind. I've written their thoughts and actions until they seemed to write themselves.
And then I wrote the script for the trailer.
Not every character could be represented there, but a number of key birds are -- and one very wise and joyful whale.
The process of sitting at the table over tea with the script -- the three of us hashing out what kind of beings each is and how they might sound, and then hearing John and Janet try different voices and tones until it was just right -- was nothing short of magical. Then when we were ready, we moved to the studio and I watched the husband and wife breathe life into the characters who had until now only existed in my head and on a flat piece of paper. They had VOICES so true to what I imagined!
I had shivers listening to it and was almost brought to tears at the end when I heard the whale song blend into understandable language as that wondrous whale's voice rang out for the first time. I wish I could bottle what I felt and give a sample to each one of you!"
I always step off cliffs with faith that something will be there to step on even if it doesn't SEEM to show yet, so I already began work recording the bird (and whale) character voice-overs with John and Janet Heartson of Barnet, Vermont in John's recording studio before the funding was secured. Here's what I said about the recording experience on the Kickstarter update:
"Yesterday I worked with John and Janet Heartson of Barnet, Vermont, to create the character voice-overs for the book trailer. I can't describe how exciting this process was for me. I have lived intimately with these characters for more than five years now. I see them and hear them in my mind. I've written their thoughts and actions until they seemed to write themselves.
And then I wrote the script for the trailer.
Not every character could be represented there, but a number of key birds are -- and one very wise and joyful whale.
The process of sitting at the table over tea with the script -- the three of us hashing out what kind of beings each is and how they might sound, and then hearing John and Janet try different voices and tones until it was just right -- was nothing short of magical. Then when we were ready, we moved to the studio and I watched the husband and wife breathe life into the characters who had until now only existed in my head and on a flat piece of paper. They had VOICES so true to what I imagined!
I had shivers listening to it and was almost brought to tears at the end when I heard the whale song blend into understandable language as that wondrous whale's voice rang out for the first time. I wish I could bottle what I felt and give a sample to each one of you!"
September 21, 2013
KickStarter Project Request!
I've done it. I've launched a KickStarter project plea so I may create a movie-grade book trailer for my novel, "The Starling God". I was so nervous about pressing that "Launch your Project" button -- what if I neglected some detail that would spoil my chances? This book and the messages it sends are so important to me.
Found a Publisher. Working toward that "in print" deadline. Now I need a trailer that will make people take notice.
If you want to help, here's the link to visit: I still haven't figured out how to add things to this blog very well, so hopefully it works. LOL
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/9..."
Found a Publisher. Working toward that "in print" deadline. Now I need a trailer that will make people take notice.
If you want to help, here's the link to visit: I still haven't figured out how to add things to this blog very well, so hopefully it works. LOL
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/9..."
September 7, 2013
Serendipity and Publishers
I know we've all been brainwashed to seek publication in the "normal" ways -- seek out publishers who fit your subject, genre and style, carefully read the submission guidelines, then do your best to send what they want with hyper-vigilance to crossing your i's and dotting your t's. HA! Did I catch you there? Of course I meant dotting your i's and crossing your t's. However, the entire process is just so formal and nerve-wracking it can throw anyone off.
I've gone through this process of submitting many times over the almost thirty years I've published, and I am happy to report that I've had reasonable success with magazines and anthologies but the books -- oh the books! It's been a different process there, and that's what I want to tell people:
Writers, look outside the box.
I'm not speaking of usual self-publishing here. I'm talking about paying attention to serendipity. I'm talking about talking your literary project up to people who might be passionate about things you are. I'm talking about not being afraid to walk the walk a little differently.
I have never landed a publisher traditionally.
For instance, my first nonfiction title was called "Can Dogs Read? Starting and Implementing a Literacy Program". I wrote it because I had a passion for working with my dog as a reading dog in schools and I wanted to provide a comprehensive "how-to" that was cheaper than any materials I'd found. I also thought it would be lovely to donate this book to any library in Vermont that wanted it.
I knew a lovely woman who worked with therapy animals and called her to see if she knew about any grant funding that I might apply for to fund the project. She said, "I have money. What is it you want to do?" She had published something before under her business, and after reading my manuscript and observing my own reading dog program, she took it on under her Cairn Terrier Publishing label. We donated almost one thousand copies to libraries and now they are selling.
My latest project was a novel -- environmental fiction titled "The Starling God". It was a bit different, and I knew it would be hard to place, but as I was talking with an acquaintance, I learned he was branching his own business into environmental publishing. Forestry Press is brand new, and this businessman's original goal was to publish books about forestry. As we shared what we'd each been working on lately, I told him about my own book. He mused, "Why not have an environmental fiction section of Forestry Press?" Shortly after I landed a publishing deal.
Don't just seek the obvious sources, folks. Keep your eyes wide open for other connections that may work. Don't be afraid to suggest a connection between your manuscript and your goals and the goals of another person or company. You never know where it might be the perfect match.
I've gone through this process of submitting many times over the almost thirty years I've published, and I am happy to report that I've had reasonable success with magazines and anthologies but the books -- oh the books! It's been a different process there, and that's what I want to tell people:
Writers, look outside the box.
I'm not speaking of usual self-publishing here. I'm talking about paying attention to serendipity. I'm talking about talking your literary project up to people who might be passionate about things you are. I'm talking about not being afraid to walk the walk a little differently.
I have never landed a publisher traditionally.
For instance, my first nonfiction title was called "Can Dogs Read? Starting and Implementing a Literacy Program". I wrote it because I had a passion for working with my dog as a reading dog in schools and I wanted to provide a comprehensive "how-to" that was cheaper than any materials I'd found. I also thought it would be lovely to donate this book to any library in Vermont that wanted it.
I knew a lovely woman who worked with therapy animals and called her to see if she knew about any grant funding that I might apply for to fund the project. She said, "I have money. What is it you want to do?" She had published something before under her business, and after reading my manuscript and observing my own reading dog program, she took it on under her Cairn Terrier Publishing label. We donated almost one thousand copies to libraries and now they are selling.
My latest project was a novel -- environmental fiction titled "The Starling God". It was a bit different, and I knew it would be hard to place, but as I was talking with an acquaintance, I learned he was branching his own business into environmental publishing. Forestry Press is brand new, and this businessman's original goal was to publish books about forestry. As we shared what we'd each been working on lately, I told him about my own book. He mused, "Why not have an environmental fiction section of Forestry Press?" Shortly after I landed a publishing deal.
Don't just seek the obvious sources, folks. Keep your eyes wide open for other connections that may work. Don't be afraid to suggest a connection between your manuscript and your goals and the goals of another person or company. You never know where it might be the perfect match.
July 30, 2013
Picture Books in the Classroom
Education in Pictures
I write picture books, among other things, and I’ve been passionate about them before I ever thought of writing one. I poured over them as a child, and I use them in my role of guidance counselor both in the classroom setting and when I meet with individuals. I use them because they reach people in more than one way. They are picture books, and it’s true what they say – that a picture is worth a thousand words.
When we get into the realm of educating children, we focus so much on the written words and spoken words. These are important, of course, but there are so many levels of communicating ideas and knowledge. Images are arguably one of the strongest tools and yet are seriously under appreciated and underused. Some studies have shown that children’s behavior choices will often be more influenced by cartoon images, for instance, than by watching a real event of the same thing (For instance the Bobo Doll Experiment in the 1960’s by Albert Bandura). Our brains think in images. We dream in images. With this in mind, let’s not forget the powerful educational tool those illustrations in children’s books can be.
This is the reason I’ve always loved illustrations that are detailed rather than the simpler forms that seem so popular these days. Don’t get me wrong, there’s wonderful entertainment in bright, simple artwork! However, there’s an extra level of knowledge and wonder in the more complex images. In Jan Brett’s book about Berlioz the Bear, the text gives information, but her beautiful paintings show subtleties of the behaviors and relationships. There is also information there in the depictions of architecture and environment. I’ve used her book to stimulate not only the idea of not giving up and of helping each other, but also to stimulate discussion on other cultures. The words to the book never really offer those layers, but thanks to paying close attention to the artwork, much more learning is possible than what appears at first glance.
All of my own picture books incorporate illustrations like this, and I worked collaboratively with the artists to make sure other shades of information would be passed along through those images. In Fairy Feast, for instance, the text talks about the importance of eating a rainbow of foods, but the images show the fairies treating each other and the other living things in the book kindly. Monique Bonneau’s paintings show things that are important to growing your own garden – rain, beneficial insects, and so forth. I didn’t have to mention all of those things in the text itself.
I encourage you to use picture books in your classroom at that deeper level if you don’t already. Have your students of all ages take time with the illustrations and discuss what they see going on there. They’ll relate to the words and concepts in a deeper, natural way.
I write picture books, among other things, and I’ve been passionate about them before I ever thought of writing one. I poured over them as a child, and I use them in my role of guidance counselor both in the classroom setting and when I meet with individuals. I use them because they reach people in more than one way. They are picture books, and it’s true what they say – that a picture is worth a thousand words.
When we get into the realm of educating children, we focus so much on the written words and spoken words. These are important, of course, but there are so many levels of communicating ideas and knowledge. Images are arguably one of the strongest tools and yet are seriously under appreciated and underused. Some studies have shown that children’s behavior choices will often be more influenced by cartoon images, for instance, than by watching a real event of the same thing (For instance the Bobo Doll Experiment in the 1960’s by Albert Bandura). Our brains think in images. We dream in images. With this in mind, let’s not forget the powerful educational tool those illustrations in children’s books can be.
This is the reason I’ve always loved illustrations that are detailed rather than the simpler forms that seem so popular these days. Don’t get me wrong, there’s wonderful entertainment in bright, simple artwork! However, there’s an extra level of knowledge and wonder in the more complex images. In Jan Brett’s book about Berlioz the Bear, the text gives information, but her beautiful paintings show subtleties of the behaviors and relationships. There is also information there in the depictions of architecture and environment. I’ve used her book to stimulate not only the idea of not giving up and of helping each other, but also to stimulate discussion on other cultures. The words to the book never really offer those layers, but thanks to paying close attention to the artwork, much more learning is possible than what appears at first glance.
All of my own picture books incorporate illustrations like this, and I worked collaboratively with the artists to make sure other shades of information would be passed along through those images. In Fairy Feast, for instance, the text talks about the importance of eating a rainbow of foods, but the images show the fairies treating each other and the other living things in the book kindly. Monique Bonneau’s paintings show things that are important to growing your own garden – rain, beneficial insects, and so forth. I didn’t have to mention all of those things in the text itself.
I encourage you to use picture books in your classroom at that deeper level if you don’t already. Have your students of all ages take time with the illustrations and discuss what they see going on there. They’ll relate to the words and concepts in a deeper, natural way.
July 11, 2013
Pre-reviews: The Starling God
I always have a number of people read through my manuscripts before I deem them "finished" (which is a laugh, because any author knows it feels like a book is never EVER truly finished even when it goes to print!).
I respectfully ask different people to do this for a wide variety of reasons. When I had a fairly solid draft of my upcoming novel, "The Starling God", I had a bird expert read through for accuracy of bird information, and a woman who is a shaman to offer insight on the rather Universal idea of connectedness the book describes. I also wanted someone to read the book who was a more science-oriented type -- one who wasn't already a fantasy reader. Would such a person be able to find the story compelling?
To my surprise, that person wrote a review (preview?) of the book that expressed what I was trying to get across in the story so well, I knew I wanted to post it in the blog. So without further adieu, here it is. Thank you Darryl Duffe for the time you took with this -- and thank you to the other wonderful readers who gave me such excellent feedback.
T.
Pre-Review:
"The Starling God", by Tanya Sousa, begins with an urgent dramatic scene in which the main character, a lone surviving starling nestling is rescued from repairmen fixing a hole in the eaves of a building and cast the nestlings out of the nest considering the species a nuisance. The young bird is saved and nurtured by a kind human female who has gained the status of a benevolent ' god' among the local 'Bird kind' as a result of providing food and habitat around her house. This pastoral area she's provided is deemed as 'The Sacred Space' by several species of birds who regularly gather around this lovely garden landscaped with grass, flowers, trees, bushes and a feeder. Humans in the story are all generally considered 'gods' by birds because of our attempts to control the environment in nearly every way. The lone surviving starling nestling is labeled a Starling God of bird prophecy when he is released as a fledgling and refers to his human rescuer as ‘Mother’.
As the author progresses with the story, she delicately establishes an anthropomorphic world mainly for the purpose of storytelling, which allows the reader to experience the world from an avian perspective. This alternate yet somewhat familiar, universe, creates a framework for the story that's at once natural and human-modified to greater and lesser degrees. The birds who don't understand human technology have different more bird-centric terms for human features, human clothing and human artifacts.
The story takes place over several months most involving several species of birds and their relationships to other species, predators, the 4 seasons, forests, fields, geographic features and human activities and human degradation of the earth's natural environment. The events make the reader consider what starlings and humans have in common, both as non-native 'invasive' species.
Once you become immersed in the avian vantage point, Ms. Sousa creates an adventurous tale where there is travel, danger and encounters with multiple sub-cultures (developed in separate geographic populations) of birds based on their resource base and adaptations to their local environment. Crucial environmental and philosophical issues (including aspects of sustainability and biodiversity) are played out in the plot.
The challenges and plot twists take the reader through many experiences, from joyful to tragic, through the eyes of other species – feathered and sometimes even furred. The surprising tale is woven with deceit, treachery, some violence, a lot of curiosity, honest discussion and debate, romantic partnership, individual friendships, family relationships and social structures.The differing roles are sometimes assigned by species, like for instance, red wing blackbirds are "Watchers"(sentries providing early warning to birds in the "Sacred Space" for predators and any signs of danger) "Seekers" are like curious students. "Tellers" are usually older birds (sometimes doves) that pass down essential bird knowledge like the role of professors."Cleaners" are crows and vultures that remove dead carcasses. There are "Praisers" sometimes purple finches who kick off the mornings and close the evenings with songs of praise. and various other roles that have their own bird chosen names instead of using the terminology of everyday American English. There are power couples, female power groupies, The plot includes environmental degradation, human on human cruelty and sometimes even the milk of human kindness.
The purpose of the main character's quest is for meaning and understanding. The journey takes the young starling (and the reader) into a new, constantly changing mature realization that neither people nor any particular species are 'gods' but rather that all life on this planet, including human, has an inter-species connectedness. The story leads the ‘Starling God’ to the conclusion that each species is adapted with its own valid talents and abilities and there is folly and injustice in not realizing the interconnectedness and importance of all life forms sharing the world. He get's a lot of this new perspective from all of his observations and is corroborated by his telepathic communication with a large cetacean. Darryl Duffe
I respectfully ask different people to do this for a wide variety of reasons. When I had a fairly solid draft of my upcoming novel, "The Starling God", I had a bird expert read through for accuracy of bird information, and a woman who is a shaman to offer insight on the rather Universal idea of connectedness the book describes. I also wanted someone to read the book who was a more science-oriented type -- one who wasn't already a fantasy reader. Would such a person be able to find the story compelling?
To my surprise, that person wrote a review (preview?) of the book that expressed what I was trying to get across in the story so well, I knew I wanted to post it in the blog. So without further adieu, here it is. Thank you Darryl Duffe for the time you took with this -- and thank you to the other wonderful readers who gave me such excellent feedback.
T.
Pre-Review:
"The Starling God", by Tanya Sousa, begins with an urgent dramatic scene in which the main character, a lone surviving starling nestling is rescued from repairmen fixing a hole in the eaves of a building and cast the nestlings out of the nest considering the species a nuisance. The young bird is saved and nurtured by a kind human female who has gained the status of a benevolent ' god' among the local 'Bird kind' as a result of providing food and habitat around her house. This pastoral area she's provided is deemed as 'The Sacred Space' by several species of birds who regularly gather around this lovely garden landscaped with grass, flowers, trees, bushes and a feeder. Humans in the story are all generally considered 'gods' by birds because of our attempts to control the environment in nearly every way. The lone surviving starling nestling is labeled a Starling God of bird prophecy when he is released as a fledgling and refers to his human rescuer as ‘Mother’.
As the author progresses with the story, she delicately establishes an anthropomorphic world mainly for the purpose of storytelling, which allows the reader to experience the world from an avian perspective. This alternate yet somewhat familiar, universe, creates a framework for the story that's at once natural and human-modified to greater and lesser degrees. The birds who don't understand human technology have different more bird-centric terms for human features, human clothing and human artifacts.
The story takes place over several months most involving several species of birds and their relationships to other species, predators, the 4 seasons, forests, fields, geographic features and human activities and human degradation of the earth's natural environment. The events make the reader consider what starlings and humans have in common, both as non-native 'invasive' species.
Once you become immersed in the avian vantage point, Ms. Sousa creates an adventurous tale where there is travel, danger and encounters with multiple sub-cultures (developed in separate geographic populations) of birds based on their resource base and adaptations to their local environment. Crucial environmental and philosophical issues (including aspects of sustainability and biodiversity) are played out in the plot.
The challenges and plot twists take the reader through many experiences, from joyful to tragic, through the eyes of other species – feathered and sometimes even furred. The surprising tale is woven with deceit, treachery, some violence, a lot of curiosity, honest discussion and debate, romantic partnership, individual friendships, family relationships and social structures.The differing roles are sometimes assigned by species, like for instance, red wing blackbirds are "Watchers"(sentries providing early warning to birds in the "Sacred Space" for predators and any signs of danger) "Seekers" are like curious students. "Tellers" are usually older birds (sometimes doves) that pass down essential bird knowledge like the role of professors."Cleaners" are crows and vultures that remove dead carcasses. There are "Praisers" sometimes purple finches who kick off the mornings and close the evenings with songs of praise. and various other roles that have their own bird chosen names instead of using the terminology of everyday American English. There are power couples, female power groupies, The plot includes environmental degradation, human on human cruelty and sometimes even the milk of human kindness.
The purpose of the main character's quest is for meaning and understanding. The journey takes the young starling (and the reader) into a new, constantly changing mature realization that neither people nor any particular species are 'gods' but rather that all life on this planet, including human, has an inter-species connectedness. The story leads the ‘Starling God’ to the conclusion that each species is adapted with its own valid talents and abilities and there is folly and injustice in not realizing the interconnectedness and importance of all life forms sharing the world. He get's a lot of this new perspective from all of his observations and is corroborated by his telepathic communication with a large cetacean. Darryl Duffe
June 22, 2013
Children's Picture Book Art
I still remember the first time I looked at the Blue Book of Fairy Tales. The words didn't matter at first, but the illustrations snapped into my brain like the most delicious candy -- or the most mouth-watering smell -- you can imagine. I never knew who the illustrator was, but I poured over the images that seemed more real than reality. The fairy Godmother's wings seemed to glow. Dresses were infinitely lovely and all so different from each other, and rendered with exquisite detail.
There were five stories in my version -- Rapunzel, Toads and Diamonds, Cinderella, Snow White and Rose Red, and then my favorite: Beauty and the Beast. Those images matched the feel of the stories to perfection. They drew me into a love of reading like no other book had.
I know the match of illustrations to text in picture books is vital. The most wonderful images don't necessarily go with a story just because they're well done in general. The tone has to be the same. Magic stories need magic images. The illustrator, Gordon Laite, who sadly passed away long ago in 1978 at the young age of 52, changed my world. I so wish I could tell him!
But I can't directly, so I'll tell you.
I still have the book, and look at it from time-to-time to marvel at those images that never cease to take my breath away no matter how old I am. Thank you Gordon Laite!
Did you have any children's picture book images that you especially treasure?
There were five stories in my version -- Rapunzel, Toads and Diamonds, Cinderella, Snow White and Rose Red, and then my favorite: Beauty and the Beast. Those images matched the feel of the stories to perfection. They drew me into a love of reading like no other book had.
I know the match of illustrations to text in picture books is vital. The most wonderful images don't necessarily go with a story just because they're well done in general. The tone has to be the same. Magic stories need magic images. The illustrator, Gordon Laite, who sadly passed away long ago in 1978 at the young age of 52, changed my world. I so wish I could tell him!
But I can't directly, so I'll tell you.
I still have the book, and look at it from time-to-time to marvel at those images that never cease to take my breath away no matter how old I am. Thank you Gordon Laite!
Did you have any children's picture book images that you especially treasure?
June 16, 2013
Literary Loons
I'm not a person who loves clubs and groups, but a few months ago I was invited by a dear friend to be part of a literary sharing group. I felt a pull, and so said yes I'd go, and arrived with my friend at an stately older woman's home which overlooks a lake and mountains and is full of culture in every form.
The group was small -- only six of us met -- and after some wine and discussion labelled ourselves "The Literary Loons". All we need to do is show up once a month and bring a piece of writing to share. It could be a famous bit, something little known, or something we ourselves created. It's all good. Come and share and listen and be drenched in the literary. That's the only rule.
The hostess is a widow who dotes on all of us with sophistication touched with no small bit of humor. She spent many years living in Turkey before moving to the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont. The other members are equally interesting and funny -- the professional harpist, an author, a free-spirited near-fairy circle dance teacher, a retired first grade teacher who can't seem to ever truly retire, and me.
The months have gone on and each person brings such different material each time -- so unique but yet so true to who we all seem to be at the core.
I'm not a person who loves clubs or groups, but this one, with the rapt passion we all share for the written words and the richness of life itself, is just my cup of tea.
The group was small -- only six of us met -- and after some wine and discussion labelled ourselves "The Literary Loons". All we need to do is show up once a month and bring a piece of writing to share. It could be a famous bit, something little known, or something we ourselves created. It's all good. Come and share and listen and be drenched in the literary. That's the only rule.
The hostess is a widow who dotes on all of us with sophistication touched with no small bit of humor. She spent many years living in Turkey before moving to the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont. The other members are equally interesting and funny -- the professional harpist, an author, a free-spirited near-fairy circle dance teacher, a retired first grade teacher who can't seem to ever truly retire, and me.
The months have gone on and each person brings such different material each time -- so unique but yet so true to who we all seem to be at the core.
I'm not a person who loves clubs or groups, but this one, with the rapt passion we all share for the written words and the richness of life itself, is just my cup of tea.
June 5, 2013
Reviews and Giveaways
There's something about writing a story that is satisfying in and of itself, but there's a whole different, vibrant thrill about knowing people are actually reading your ideas. Still better is hearing that someone has really loved what you've taken so much time and energy to craft.
I'm not certain about the formatting of blogs, so I hope this link works; it's one of my favorite reviews of my picture book "Life is a Bowl of Cherry Pits":
http://yearlingbaby.blogspot.com/2012...
I'm doing a giveaway for this book for one month. There are 10 copies (they will be signed of course!) up for grabs if you're one of the winners.
Happy entries and good luck!
I'm not certain about the formatting of blogs, so I hope this link works; it's one of my favorite reviews of my picture book "Life is a Bowl of Cherry Pits":
http://yearlingbaby.blogspot.com/2012...
I'm doing a giveaway for this book for one month. There are 10 copies (they will be signed of course!) up for grabs if you're one of the winners.
Happy entries and good luck!
