R.A. White's Blog, page 23
September 1, 2014
Alonca's Quest Progress Report
Good news and bad news. The good news is that there's progress to report! Yeah! I'm on page 109 of what I think is going to be a 275 page book. The bad news is that the more I write, the more the characters require. They don't let me stick to my outline. They insist that their stories are more interesting than I originally gave them credit for, and they demand better representation. The book mostly follows Rima and Ronka from 'Kings of the Red Shell', but there are a few other characters who get a little spotlight time: Jail's father, Driston, King Arisu Mihn, King Pitr of Kergulen, and a new one that I think you'll like, but I don't want to go into in case he ends up getting cut. I hope not, cause he's a really cool man, but the beta readers will help me figure that out. I've been more diligent than ever about working on the book, largely due to those of you who occasionally remind me that you're still waiting. I appreciate your gentle and not so gentle prodding. It motivates me to get to work, and gives me confidence that it's worth the effort. Thanks.
If you want to be kept in the loop, make sure you subscribe.
If you want to be kept in the loop, make sure you subscribe.
August 26, 2014
Just Five Days
Hm... How can I put this delicately? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE write reviews of 'Kergulen' and 'Kings of the Red Shell' because I'm a struggling new author and reviews can make all the difference in the world! This is me being shameless and begging for just ten minutes of your day. Six minutes, even. Please? I really want things to be set up for the release of 'Alonca's Quest' next year (fingers crossed), and this would help more than you know. Once you've written a couple of lines on Amazon, Kergulen here, and Kings of the Red Shell here, you can take a quick look at the contest rules here and enter to win that $25 gift card I've been talking about all summer. I love that you tell me how much you enjoy my books, and I love that you check out this blog (like a hundred hits a day, so it can't be horrible, right?), and I love that you tell your friends. I love it all. I just need you to take that one, crazy step and tell the whole freaking world what you think, whether you like the books or not. OK? You can do it. You really can. And I'll give you a big, virtual kiss. Heck, I'll mail one to you on paper if you want something you can keep forever :).
Love to all you fans,
R.A.
PS, if you like to be hounded like this regularly, feel free to subscribe.
Love to all you fans,
R.A.
PS, if you like to be hounded like this regularly, feel free to subscribe.
August 24, 2014
Cultural Interview #4
The following is my interview with Savannah, who is in an interesting relationship not only because it's interracial, but also because it involves quadruplets. Wow. This interview was a lot of fun for me, and I think you'll enjoy it, too.
RA: First, can you tell our readers a little about you and your husband's ethnic and cultural backgrounds?
SAVANNAH: Backgrounds are pretty basic. I'm African American, both sides can be traced back to slavery pretty directly. All from the south, Mississippi and Tennessee. My husband is Irish and Italian on his maternal side. I believe German on at least the paternal grandparents.
RA: What about the town where you live? Are interracial relationships generally accepted there?
SAVANNAH: We live in central Illinois- the state capital in fact though no one seems to know it's not Chicago:) Population is about 130k. Interracial relationships are somewhere in the mid range. Not unique by any stretch though like most places you generally see more African American men with Caucasian women than vice versa. We rarely get even an odd look. Not that it hasn't happened lol. I also have to factor in how desensitized I must be to it after all this time.
RA: How have your families handled your relationship?
SAVANNAH: Our families have ALWAYS been open and accepting. I have my suspicions that maybe some of his more extended relatives might not approve, but never openly and never anyone in his immediate family. If they don't like it they keep it to themselves. Same with mine. I suspect a few might rather have seen me settle with a black man but considering we are an extremely southern based line, that's not surprising and again- they have embraced my husband and treated him with respect and kindness. I have 8 siblings and of those 3 of us have married outside our race.
RA: It's great how accepting and supportive your families have been, and I admit I'm a little surprised that you didn't have more conflict with you coming from a family from Mississippi. Shows what I know J. I'm also surprised to hear that nearly half of your large family has married outside of your race. Did you grow up in an area where interracial relationships were somewhat accepted?
SAVANNAH: I grew up in Jacksonville, IL which is about 30 miles from where we are now. I can't say that interracial relationships were common but I can say that the environment always seemed very racially accepting. There was never a huge difference made in terms of color. In fact, I felt more ostracized by certain segments of the African American youth population than I did the white. My parents moved north for better opportunities for themselves and their kids and they were always very conscious of making sure we took advantage of that. We were raised to be respectful and speak properly. My mom still says "I could take my kids to the White House and be proud." It was not uncommon for some of the black kids to accuse us of "thinking you're white". Also, being a darker skinned girl I got picked on early on. But that's a whole other thing, though I WILL admit I'm sure it has something to do with why I felt more drawn to white men. They were more drawn to ME. Seemed to appreciate my type of beauty more than my black contemporaries. But no, I don't think Jacksonville was more accepting of IR relationships. Maybe just more accepting of racial equity, if that makes sense.
RA: You're not the first dark-skinned person to tell me they had more conflict with other people of African descent than with white people. I've been given several reasons for it, including the 'you think you're white' line. Do you think speaking properly is a 'white person' thing? Do you think your dialect has anything to do with the fact that you tend to feel more connection to white men?
SAVANNAH: No, I think people who make that accusation have been brainwashed into believing black American culture is reflected by embracing bad English on a regular basis. LOL. Just another version of ignorance. Of this I have no doubt.
Speech comes before any true life experience. I have never forced or trained myself to consciously speak a certain way. It's a product of environment and upbringing just like many things. I speak like all the other people I spent my formative years being around- peers at school and siblings. I thank God for it as it is a far better benefit in life than walking around sounding like I'm hanging out on a corner in Uneducated, USA. LOL I think it's sad when children of any race are not taught to embrace the learning opportunities that are afforded them. Never more so than when I see people taught in the same classrooms as I was who have decided that its anti-black somehow to speak the best version of the language of this country. I know how to play around with slang and feel a strong sense of community with my AA peers. But there is a time and place for everything and my parents encouraged us to understand that.
And I never claimed to feel more of a connection to white men. Only that THEY seemed to find me more attractive than AA men. They were also the ones to approach me with more respect, ask me out on real dates instead of simply trying to establish a physical relationship and the like. Essentially, I've had more white men "come correct" than black. And mama didn't raise no fool lol.
RA: Ha! You had me laughing with that answer. It's so cool that you know what you want, and that you seem to have no trouble expressing it. So speaking of children being taught to embrace the learning opportunities that are afforded to them, you have four of your own (quadruplets, for those who missed it in the intro). Will you share some ways that you've worked to make sure they value themselves and their potential?
SAVANNAH: I recall reading a quote many years ago that basically said that it never occurs to a child that they CANNOT do something until someone goes overboard telling them they can. It's something that has stuck with me and that I think about more and more now that my kids are of an age where academics are more and more challenging. They are also at the beginning stages in terms of competitive sports and the like. So for me, I think one of the best tools I can utilize to empower them is to show them that I EXPECT greatness from them. We absolutely praise them for their accomplishments. But we make sure to let them know from the beginning (whether it’s a school project, test or sporting event) that we expect them to do their best. And no matter the outcome, we find things they can be proud of in terms of how it turned out. If it's obvious they COULD have done better, we point that out. Not in a way that belittles, but in a way that showcases the reasons for our belief in them. We don’t bat an eye if one of them declares they want to be both a zoologist and a ballerina (which has happenedJ). We simply speak to them about the type of schooling and training each role will require and leave them to marinate on it LOL!
I also think that both their father and I make a point to find ways of circumventing some of the self esteem pitfalls that befell the both of us. It's easy to tell a kid how wonderful they are, how pretty, how smart, etc. But children aren’t stupid. They know that parents love them and want them to feel good about themselves lol. So my effort so far focuses more on trying to be sure they understand that EVERY person looks around themselves with the same insecurities to an extent. Every young girl wonders if she’s pretty. Every boy wants to be tougher. If they have straight hair they wish for curly. Blue eyes, they wish for brown. If they are taller/shorter/faster/smarter..whatever the case may be, the grass is always greener. I mention that to them a lot as a way to let them know that a degree of insecurity is normal and completely unfounded.
We also do our best to foster a sense of solidarity between the siblings. We have told them (already) for years that they are very lucky in that they should ALWAYS have at least 3 other people on their side throughout their lives. Even if mama is gone, daddy is gone…they have each other and they are uniquely blessed in that they can say from the moment they were conceived, they have “known” each other. There is strength to be found in that.
RA: Wow, what wisdom, and what a great example to all of us parents. For that matter, maybe if we treated everyone the way you treat your children, everyone would be a lot better off. I'm going to stick that quote on my refrigerator. Now, I know many people who question where biracial children will 'fit in'. In this ever-melding world, do you personally think that being biracial will make some things harder for your children, or do you believe that parenting is what really makes the difference?
SAVANNAH: Hmm...ya know, I think that in a lot of ways a big deal was/is made about kids "not knowing where they belong" for no real good reason. I mean, don't ALL adolescents feel like that? I mean it's always going to be something either way. Kids are still getting picked on for being too dark among their own black peers. That has been going on for as long as I can remember and I am sure it was happening long before me. By that same token there those picked on for being too light/ too white- whatever. Add to that the kids being picked on because they "think they are white" no matter their background or skin tone. It's always something. That is the nature of childhood no matter if you have one foot straddle the color line. Heck don't let me forget the white kids being picked on because they "think they are black". It's all nonsense and it's all kids. Do I think they will suffer more for being biracial? No more than the average child growing up in America. If anything I think there is a level of... appreciation for that particular type of look and beauty if nothing else. Both in the white community and in the black community. I could try to entertain the argument maybe 10 years ago. Ok not 10- maybe 20. But in this day in age with the prevalence of biracial unions and offspring in the U.S., it's just hard for me to think that way.
RA: Those are some really good things to think about. My refrigerator is going to be full of your quotes J. So, considering your answer to the last question, would you ever move to a place with little to no diversity? Why or why not?
SAVANNAH: Glad I'm not boring you! lol. We LIVE in a small suburb of the state capital. Population is under 5k and I'm pretty sure I am one of maybe 3 black female adults. The school has quite a few black, Latino and biracial children though (a mystery that has plagued my husband and I since moving here lol). I did some research before we started seriously considering the move. It was important to me that my children not be "the only". The community is pretty warm, we like MOST of our neighbors on the block and haven't had any issues at all. At least none that can be blamed on race lol. Would I prefer more brown faces? Of course! There is a level of comfort and ease that comes from knowing you share something so basic with others. Do I think about it on a daily basis? No. I work and do most of my shopping in the city so its honestly not something that occurs to me to think about most days. I come from an extremely large family and we do get together quite often. I don't feel like my kids are missing any influences from either side, so so far so good.
RA: I ask because that's something my husband and I think a lot about. We want our son to grow up around a lot of good influences, including people of a similar skin color.
Well, I really appreciate your time and insight, and also your ability to be entertaining. You've given us plenty of good things to think about.
SAVANNAH: I was glad to do it! Thanks for including me and good luck with everything!
Dear Readers, if you'd like to be informed of more interviews like this one, as well as stories about Trooper and book news, subscribe.
RA: First, can you tell our readers a little about you and your husband's ethnic and cultural backgrounds?
SAVANNAH: Backgrounds are pretty basic. I'm African American, both sides can be traced back to slavery pretty directly. All from the south, Mississippi and Tennessee. My husband is Irish and Italian on his maternal side. I believe German on at least the paternal grandparents.
RA: What about the town where you live? Are interracial relationships generally accepted there?
SAVANNAH: We live in central Illinois- the state capital in fact though no one seems to know it's not Chicago:) Population is about 130k. Interracial relationships are somewhere in the mid range. Not unique by any stretch though like most places you generally see more African American men with Caucasian women than vice versa. We rarely get even an odd look. Not that it hasn't happened lol. I also have to factor in how desensitized I must be to it after all this time.
RA: How have your families handled your relationship?
SAVANNAH: Our families have ALWAYS been open and accepting. I have my suspicions that maybe some of his more extended relatives might not approve, but never openly and never anyone in his immediate family. If they don't like it they keep it to themselves. Same with mine. I suspect a few might rather have seen me settle with a black man but considering we are an extremely southern based line, that's not surprising and again- they have embraced my husband and treated him with respect and kindness. I have 8 siblings and of those 3 of us have married outside our race.
RA: It's great how accepting and supportive your families have been, and I admit I'm a little surprised that you didn't have more conflict with you coming from a family from Mississippi. Shows what I know J. I'm also surprised to hear that nearly half of your large family has married outside of your race. Did you grow up in an area where interracial relationships were somewhat accepted?
SAVANNAH: I grew up in Jacksonville, IL which is about 30 miles from where we are now. I can't say that interracial relationships were common but I can say that the environment always seemed very racially accepting. There was never a huge difference made in terms of color. In fact, I felt more ostracized by certain segments of the African American youth population than I did the white. My parents moved north for better opportunities for themselves and their kids and they were always very conscious of making sure we took advantage of that. We were raised to be respectful and speak properly. My mom still says "I could take my kids to the White House and be proud." It was not uncommon for some of the black kids to accuse us of "thinking you're white". Also, being a darker skinned girl I got picked on early on. But that's a whole other thing, though I WILL admit I'm sure it has something to do with why I felt more drawn to white men. They were more drawn to ME. Seemed to appreciate my type of beauty more than my black contemporaries. But no, I don't think Jacksonville was more accepting of IR relationships. Maybe just more accepting of racial equity, if that makes sense.
RA: You're not the first dark-skinned person to tell me they had more conflict with other people of African descent than with white people. I've been given several reasons for it, including the 'you think you're white' line. Do you think speaking properly is a 'white person' thing? Do you think your dialect has anything to do with the fact that you tend to feel more connection to white men?
SAVANNAH: No, I think people who make that accusation have been brainwashed into believing black American culture is reflected by embracing bad English on a regular basis. LOL. Just another version of ignorance. Of this I have no doubt.
Speech comes before any true life experience. I have never forced or trained myself to consciously speak a certain way. It's a product of environment and upbringing just like many things. I speak like all the other people I spent my formative years being around- peers at school and siblings. I thank God for it as it is a far better benefit in life than walking around sounding like I'm hanging out on a corner in Uneducated, USA. LOL I think it's sad when children of any race are not taught to embrace the learning opportunities that are afforded them. Never more so than when I see people taught in the same classrooms as I was who have decided that its anti-black somehow to speak the best version of the language of this country. I know how to play around with slang and feel a strong sense of community with my AA peers. But there is a time and place for everything and my parents encouraged us to understand that.
And I never claimed to feel more of a connection to white men. Only that THEY seemed to find me more attractive than AA men. They were also the ones to approach me with more respect, ask me out on real dates instead of simply trying to establish a physical relationship and the like. Essentially, I've had more white men "come correct" than black. And mama didn't raise no fool lol.
RA: Ha! You had me laughing with that answer. It's so cool that you know what you want, and that you seem to have no trouble expressing it. So speaking of children being taught to embrace the learning opportunities that are afforded to them, you have four of your own (quadruplets, for those who missed it in the intro). Will you share some ways that you've worked to make sure they value themselves and their potential?
SAVANNAH: I recall reading a quote many years ago that basically said that it never occurs to a child that they CANNOT do something until someone goes overboard telling them they can. It's something that has stuck with me and that I think about more and more now that my kids are of an age where academics are more and more challenging. They are also at the beginning stages in terms of competitive sports and the like. So for me, I think one of the best tools I can utilize to empower them is to show them that I EXPECT greatness from them. We absolutely praise them for their accomplishments. But we make sure to let them know from the beginning (whether it’s a school project, test or sporting event) that we expect them to do their best. And no matter the outcome, we find things they can be proud of in terms of how it turned out. If it's obvious they COULD have done better, we point that out. Not in a way that belittles, but in a way that showcases the reasons for our belief in them. We don’t bat an eye if one of them declares they want to be both a zoologist and a ballerina (which has happenedJ). We simply speak to them about the type of schooling and training each role will require and leave them to marinate on it LOL!
I also think that both their father and I make a point to find ways of circumventing some of the self esteem pitfalls that befell the both of us. It's easy to tell a kid how wonderful they are, how pretty, how smart, etc. But children aren’t stupid. They know that parents love them and want them to feel good about themselves lol. So my effort so far focuses more on trying to be sure they understand that EVERY person looks around themselves with the same insecurities to an extent. Every young girl wonders if she’s pretty. Every boy wants to be tougher. If they have straight hair they wish for curly. Blue eyes, they wish for brown. If they are taller/shorter/faster/smarter..whatever the case may be, the grass is always greener. I mention that to them a lot as a way to let them know that a degree of insecurity is normal and completely unfounded.
We also do our best to foster a sense of solidarity between the siblings. We have told them (already) for years that they are very lucky in that they should ALWAYS have at least 3 other people on their side throughout their lives. Even if mama is gone, daddy is gone…they have each other and they are uniquely blessed in that they can say from the moment they were conceived, they have “known” each other. There is strength to be found in that.
RA: Wow, what wisdom, and what a great example to all of us parents. For that matter, maybe if we treated everyone the way you treat your children, everyone would be a lot better off. I'm going to stick that quote on my refrigerator. Now, I know many people who question where biracial children will 'fit in'. In this ever-melding world, do you personally think that being biracial will make some things harder for your children, or do you believe that parenting is what really makes the difference?
SAVANNAH: Hmm...ya know, I think that in a lot of ways a big deal was/is made about kids "not knowing where they belong" for no real good reason. I mean, don't ALL adolescents feel like that? I mean it's always going to be something either way. Kids are still getting picked on for being too dark among their own black peers. That has been going on for as long as I can remember and I am sure it was happening long before me. By that same token there those picked on for being too light/ too white- whatever. Add to that the kids being picked on because they "think they are white" no matter their background or skin tone. It's always something. That is the nature of childhood no matter if you have one foot straddle the color line. Heck don't let me forget the white kids being picked on because they "think they are black". It's all nonsense and it's all kids. Do I think they will suffer more for being biracial? No more than the average child growing up in America. If anything I think there is a level of... appreciation for that particular type of look and beauty if nothing else. Both in the white community and in the black community. I could try to entertain the argument maybe 10 years ago. Ok not 10- maybe 20. But in this day in age with the prevalence of biracial unions and offspring in the U.S., it's just hard for me to think that way.
RA: Those are some really good things to think about. My refrigerator is going to be full of your quotes J. So, considering your answer to the last question, would you ever move to a place with little to no diversity? Why or why not?
SAVANNAH: Glad I'm not boring you! lol. We LIVE in a small suburb of the state capital. Population is under 5k and I'm pretty sure I am one of maybe 3 black female adults. The school has quite a few black, Latino and biracial children though (a mystery that has plagued my husband and I since moving here lol). I did some research before we started seriously considering the move. It was important to me that my children not be "the only". The community is pretty warm, we like MOST of our neighbors on the block and haven't had any issues at all. At least none that can be blamed on race lol. Would I prefer more brown faces? Of course! There is a level of comfort and ease that comes from knowing you share something so basic with others. Do I think about it on a daily basis? No. I work and do most of my shopping in the city so its honestly not something that occurs to me to think about most days. I come from an extremely large family and we do get together quite often. I don't feel like my kids are missing any influences from either side, so so far so good.
RA: I ask because that's something my husband and I think a lot about. We want our son to grow up around a lot of good influences, including people of a similar skin color.
Well, I really appreciate your time and insight, and also your ability to be entertaining. You've given us plenty of good things to think about.
SAVANNAH: I was glad to do it! Thanks for including me and good luck with everything!
Dear Readers, if you'd like to be informed of more interviews like this one, as well as stories about Trooper and book news, subscribe.
August 24th, 2014
The following is my interview with Savannah, who is in an interesting relationship not only because it's interracial, but also because it involves quadruplets. Wow. This interview was a lot of fun for me, and I think you'll enjoy it, too.
RA: First, can you tell our readers a little about you and your husband's ethnic and cultural backgrounds?
SAVANNAH: Backgrounds are pretty basic. I'm African American, both sides can be traced back to slavery pretty directly. All from the south, Mississippi and Tennessee. My husband is Irish and Italian on his maternal side. I believe German on at least the paternal grandparents.
RA: What about the town where you live? Are interracial relationships generally accepted there?
SAVANNAH: We live in central Illinois- the state capital in fact though no one seems to know it's not Chicago:) Population is about 130k. Interracial relationships are somewhere in the mid range. Not unique by any stretch though like most places you generally see more African American men with Caucasian women than vice versa. We rarely get even an odd look. Not that it hasn't happened lol. I also have to factor in how desensitized I must be to it after all this time.
RA: How have your families handled your relationship?
SAVANNAH: Our families have ALWAYS been open and accepting. I have my suspicions that maybe some of his more extended relatives might not approve, but never openly and never anyone in his immediate family. If they don't like it they keep it to themselves. Same with mine. I suspect a few might rather have seen me settle with a black man but considering we are an extremely southern based line, that's not surprising and again- they have embraced my husband and treated him with respect and kindness. I have 8 siblings and of those 3 of us have married outside our race.
RA: It's great how accepting and supportive your families have been, and I admit I'm a little surprised that you didn't have more conflict with you coming from a family from Mississippi. Shows what I know J. I'm also surprised to hear that nearly half of your large family has married outside of your race. Did you grow up in an area where interracial relationships were somewhat accepted?
SAVANNAH: I grew up in Jacksonville, IL which is about 30 miles from where we are now. I can't say that interracial relationships were common but I can say that the environment always seemed very racially accepting. There was never a huge difference made in terms of color. In fact, I felt more ostracized by certain segments of the African American youth population than I did the white. My parents moved north for better opportunities for themselves and their kids and they were always very conscious of making sure we took advantage of that. We were raised to be respectful and speak properly. My mom still says "I could take my kids to the White House and be proud." It was not uncommon for some of the black kids to accuse us of "thinking you're white". Also, being a darker skinned girl I got picked on early on. But that's a whole other thing, though I WILL admit I'm sure it has something to do with why I felt more drawn to white men. They were more drawn to ME. Seemed to appreciate my type of beauty more than my black contemporaries. But no, I don't think Jacksonville was more accepting of IR relationships. Maybe just more accepting of racial equity, if that makes sense.
RA: You're not the first dark-skinned person to tell me they had more conflict with other people of African descent than with white people. I've been given several reasons for it, including the 'you think you're white' line. Do you think speaking properly is a 'white person' thing? Do you think your dialect has anything to do with the fact that you tend to feel more connection to white men?
SAVANNAH: No, I think people who make that accusation have been brainwashed into believing black American culture is reflected by embracing bad English on a regular basis. LOL. Just another version of ignorance. Of this I have no doubt.
Speech comes before any true life experience. I have never forced or trained myself to consciously speak a certain way. It's a product of environment and upbringing just like many things. I speak like all the other people I spent my formative years being around- peers at school and siblings. I thank God for it as it is a far better benefit in life than walking around sounding like I'm hanging out on a corner in Uneducated, USA. LOL I think it's sad when children of any race are not taught to embrace the learning opportunities that are afforded them. Never more so than when I see people taught in the same classrooms as I was who have decided that its anti-black somehow to speak the best version of the language of this country. I know how to play around with slang and feel a strong sense of community with my AA peers. But there is a time and place for everything and my parents encouraged us to understand that.
And I never claimed to feel more of a connection to white men. Only that THEY seemed to find me more attractive than AA men. They were also the ones to approach me with more respect, ask me out on real dates instead of simply trying to establish a physical relationship and the like. Essentially, I've had more white men "come correct" than black. And mama didn't raise no fool lol.
RA: Ha! You had me laughing with that answer. It's so cool that you know what you want, and that you seem to have no trouble expressing it. So speaking of children being taught to embrace the learning opportunities that are afforded to them, you have four of your own (quadruplets, for those who missed it in the intro). Will you share some ways that you've worked to make sure they value themselves and their potential?
SAVANNAH: I recall reading a quote many years ago that basically said that it never occurs to a child that they CANNOT do something until someone goes overboard telling them they can. It's something that has stuck with me and that I think about more and more now that my kids are of an age where academics are more and more challenging. They are also at the beginning stages in terms of competitive sports and the like. So for me, I think one of the best tools I can utilize to empower them is to show them that I EXPECT greatness from them. We absolutely praise them for their accomplishments. But we make sure to let them know from the beginning (whether it’s a school project, test or sporting event) that we expect them to do their best. And no matter the outcome, we find things they can be proud of in terms of how it turned out. If it's obvious they COULD have done better, we point that out. Not in a way that belittles, but in a way that showcases the reasons for our belief in them. We don’t bat an eye if one of them declares they want to be both a zoologist and a ballerina (which has happenedJ). We simply speak to them about the type of schooling and training each role will require and leave them to marinate on it LOL!
I also think that both their father and I make a point to find ways of circumventing some of the self esteem pitfalls that befell the both of us. It's easy to tell a kid how wonderful they are, how pretty, how smart, etc. But children aren’t stupid. They know that parents love them and want them to feel good about themselves lol. So my effort so far focuses more on trying to be sure they understand that EVERY person looks around themselves with the same insecurities to an extent. Every young girl wonders if she’s pretty. Every boy wants to be tougher. If they have straight hair they wish for curly. Blue eyes, they wish for brown. If they are taller/shorter/faster/smarter..whatever the case may be, the grass is always greener. I mention that to them a lot as a way to let them know that a degree of insecurity is normal and completely unfounded.
We also do our best to foster a sense of solidarity between the siblings. We have told them (already) for years that they are very lucky in that they should ALWAYS have at least 3 other people on their side throughout their lives. Even if mama is gone, daddy is gone…they have each other and they are uniquely blessed in that they can say from the moment they were conceived, they have “known” each other. There is strength to be found in that.
RA: Wow, what wisdom, and what a great example to all of us parents. For that matter, maybe if we treated everyone the way you treat your children, everyone would be a lot better off. I'm going to stick that quote on my refrigerator. Now, I know many people who question where biracial children will 'fit in'. In this ever-melding world, do you personally think that being biracial will make some things harder for your children, or do you believe that parenting is what really makes the difference?
SAVANNAH: Hmm...ya know, I think that in a lot of ways a big deal was/is made about kids "not knowing where they belong" for no real good reason. I mean, don't ALL adolescents feel like that? I mean it's always going to be something either way. Kids are still getting picked on for being too dark among their own black peers. That has been going on for as long as I can remember and I am sure it was happening long before me. By that same token there those picked on for being too light/ too white- whatever. Add to that the kids being picked on because they "think they are white" no matter their background or skin tone. It's always something. That is the nature of childhood no matter if you have one foot straddle the color line. Heck don't let me forget the white kids being picked on because they "think they are black". It's all nonsense and it's all kids. Do I think they will suffer more for being biracial? No more than the average child growing up in America. If anything I think there is a level of... appreciation for that particular type of look and beauty if nothing else. Both in the white community and in the black community. I could try to entertain the argument maybe 10 years ago. Ok not 10- maybe 20. But in this day in age with the prevalence of biracial unions and offspring in the U.S., it's just hard for me to think that way.
RA: Those are some really good things to think about. My refrigerator is going to be full of your quotes J. So, considering your answer to the last question, would you ever move to a place with little to no diversity? Why or why not?
SAVANNAH: Glad I'm not boring you! lol. We LIVE in a small suburb of the state capital. Population is under 5k and I'm pretty sure I am one of maybe 3 black female adults. The school has quite a few black, Latino and biracial children though (a mystery that has plagued my husband and I since moving here lol). I did some research before we started seriously considering the move. It was important to me that my children not be "the only". The community is pretty warm, we like MOST of our neighbors on the block and haven't had any issues at all. At least none that can be blamed on race lol. Would I prefer more brown faces? Of course! There is a level of comfort and ease that comes from knowing you share something so basic with others. Do I think about it on a daily basis? No. I work and do most of my shopping in the city so its honestly not something that occurs to me to think about most days. I come from an extremely large family and we do get together quite often. I don't feel like my kids are missing any influences from either side, so so far so good.
RA: I ask because that's something my husband and I think a lot about. We want our son to grow up around a lot of good influences, including people of a similar skin color.
Well, I really appreciate your time and insight, and also your ability to be entertaining. You've given us plenty of good things to think about.
SAVANNAH: I was glad to do it! Thanks for including me and good luck with everything!
Dear Readers, if you'd like to be informed of more interviews like this one, as well as stories about Trooper and book news, subscribe.
RA: First, can you tell our readers a little about you and your husband's ethnic and cultural backgrounds?
SAVANNAH: Backgrounds are pretty basic. I'm African American, both sides can be traced back to slavery pretty directly. All from the south, Mississippi and Tennessee. My husband is Irish and Italian on his maternal side. I believe German on at least the paternal grandparents.
RA: What about the town where you live? Are interracial relationships generally accepted there?
SAVANNAH: We live in central Illinois- the state capital in fact though no one seems to know it's not Chicago:) Population is about 130k. Interracial relationships are somewhere in the mid range. Not unique by any stretch though like most places you generally see more African American men with Caucasian women than vice versa. We rarely get even an odd look. Not that it hasn't happened lol. I also have to factor in how desensitized I must be to it after all this time.
RA: How have your families handled your relationship?
SAVANNAH: Our families have ALWAYS been open and accepting. I have my suspicions that maybe some of his more extended relatives might not approve, but never openly and never anyone in his immediate family. If they don't like it they keep it to themselves. Same with mine. I suspect a few might rather have seen me settle with a black man but considering we are an extremely southern based line, that's not surprising and again- they have embraced my husband and treated him with respect and kindness. I have 8 siblings and of those 3 of us have married outside our race.
RA: It's great how accepting and supportive your families have been, and I admit I'm a little surprised that you didn't have more conflict with you coming from a family from Mississippi. Shows what I know J. I'm also surprised to hear that nearly half of your large family has married outside of your race. Did you grow up in an area where interracial relationships were somewhat accepted?
SAVANNAH: I grew up in Jacksonville, IL which is about 30 miles from where we are now. I can't say that interracial relationships were common but I can say that the environment always seemed very racially accepting. There was never a huge difference made in terms of color. In fact, I felt more ostracized by certain segments of the African American youth population than I did the white. My parents moved north for better opportunities for themselves and their kids and they were always very conscious of making sure we took advantage of that. We were raised to be respectful and speak properly. My mom still says "I could take my kids to the White House and be proud." It was not uncommon for some of the black kids to accuse us of "thinking you're white". Also, being a darker skinned girl I got picked on early on. But that's a whole other thing, though I WILL admit I'm sure it has something to do with why I felt more drawn to white men. They were more drawn to ME. Seemed to appreciate my type of beauty more than my black contemporaries. But no, I don't think Jacksonville was more accepting of IR relationships. Maybe just more accepting of racial equity, if that makes sense.
RA: You're not the first dark-skinned person to tell me they had more conflict with other people of African descent than with white people. I've been given several reasons for it, including the 'you think you're white' line. Do you think speaking properly is a 'white person' thing? Do you think your dialect has anything to do with the fact that you tend to feel more connection to white men?
SAVANNAH: No, I think people who make that accusation have been brainwashed into believing black American culture is reflected by embracing bad English on a regular basis. LOL. Just another version of ignorance. Of this I have no doubt.
Speech comes before any true life experience. I have never forced or trained myself to consciously speak a certain way. It's a product of environment and upbringing just like many things. I speak like all the other people I spent my formative years being around- peers at school and siblings. I thank God for it as it is a far better benefit in life than walking around sounding like I'm hanging out on a corner in Uneducated, USA. LOL I think it's sad when children of any race are not taught to embrace the learning opportunities that are afforded them. Never more so than when I see people taught in the same classrooms as I was who have decided that its anti-black somehow to speak the best version of the language of this country. I know how to play around with slang and feel a strong sense of community with my AA peers. But there is a time and place for everything and my parents encouraged us to understand that.
And I never claimed to feel more of a connection to white men. Only that THEY seemed to find me more attractive than AA men. They were also the ones to approach me with more respect, ask me out on real dates instead of simply trying to establish a physical relationship and the like. Essentially, I've had more white men "come correct" than black. And mama didn't raise no fool lol.
RA: Ha! You had me laughing with that answer. It's so cool that you know what you want, and that you seem to have no trouble expressing it. So speaking of children being taught to embrace the learning opportunities that are afforded to them, you have four of your own (quadruplets, for those who missed it in the intro). Will you share some ways that you've worked to make sure they value themselves and their potential?
SAVANNAH: I recall reading a quote many years ago that basically said that it never occurs to a child that they CANNOT do something until someone goes overboard telling them they can. It's something that has stuck with me and that I think about more and more now that my kids are of an age where academics are more and more challenging. They are also at the beginning stages in terms of competitive sports and the like. So for me, I think one of the best tools I can utilize to empower them is to show them that I EXPECT greatness from them. We absolutely praise them for their accomplishments. But we make sure to let them know from the beginning (whether it’s a school project, test or sporting event) that we expect them to do their best. And no matter the outcome, we find things they can be proud of in terms of how it turned out. If it's obvious they COULD have done better, we point that out. Not in a way that belittles, but in a way that showcases the reasons for our belief in them. We don’t bat an eye if one of them declares they want to be both a zoologist and a ballerina (which has happenedJ). We simply speak to them about the type of schooling and training each role will require and leave them to marinate on it LOL!
I also think that both their father and I make a point to find ways of circumventing some of the self esteem pitfalls that befell the both of us. It's easy to tell a kid how wonderful they are, how pretty, how smart, etc. But children aren’t stupid. They know that parents love them and want them to feel good about themselves lol. So my effort so far focuses more on trying to be sure they understand that EVERY person looks around themselves with the same insecurities to an extent. Every young girl wonders if she’s pretty. Every boy wants to be tougher. If they have straight hair they wish for curly. Blue eyes, they wish for brown. If they are taller/shorter/faster/smarter..whatever the case may be, the grass is always greener. I mention that to them a lot as a way to let them know that a degree of insecurity is normal and completely unfounded.
We also do our best to foster a sense of solidarity between the siblings. We have told them (already) for years that they are very lucky in that they should ALWAYS have at least 3 other people on their side throughout their lives. Even if mama is gone, daddy is gone…they have each other and they are uniquely blessed in that they can say from the moment they were conceived, they have “known” each other. There is strength to be found in that.
RA: Wow, what wisdom, and what a great example to all of us parents. For that matter, maybe if we treated everyone the way you treat your children, everyone would be a lot better off. I'm going to stick that quote on my refrigerator. Now, I know many people who question where biracial children will 'fit in'. In this ever-melding world, do you personally think that being biracial will make some things harder for your children, or do you believe that parenting is what really makes the difference?
SAVANNAH: Hmm...ya know, I think that in a lot of ways a big deal was/is made about kids "not knowing where they belong" for no real good reason. I mean, don't ALL adolescents feel like that? I mean it's always going to be something either way. Kids are still getting picked on for being too dark among their own black peers. That has been going on for as long as I can remember and I am sure it was happening long before me. By that same token there those picked on for being too light/ too white- whatever. Add to that the kids being picked on because they "think they are white" no matter their background or skin tone. It's always something. That is the nature of childhood no matter if you have one foot straddle the color line. Heck don't let me forget the white kids being picked on because they "think they are black". It's all nonsense and it's all kids. Do I think they will suffer more for being biracial? No more than the average child growing up in America. If anything I think there is a level of... appreciation for that particular type of look and beauty if nothing else. Both in the white community and in the black community. I could try to entertain the argument maybe 10 years ago. Ok not 10- maybe 20. But in this day in age with the prevalence of biracial unions and offspring in the U.S., it's just hard for me to think that way.
RA: Those are some really good things to think about. My refrigerator is going to be full of your quotes J. So, considering your answer to the last question, would you ever move to a place with little to no diversity? Why or why not?
SAVANNAH: Glad I'm not boring you! lol. We LIVE in a small suburb of the state capital. Population is under 5k and I'm pretty sure I am one of maybe 3 black female adults. The school has quite a few black, Latino and biracial children though (a mystery that has plagued my husband and I since moving here lol). I did some research before we started seriously considering the move. It was important to me that my children not be "the only". The community is pretty warm, we like MOST of our neighbors on the block and haven't had any issues at all. At least none that can be blamed on race lol. Would I prefer more brown faces? Of course! There is a level of comfort and ease that comes from knowing you share something so basic with others. Do I think about it on a daily basis? No. I work and do most of my shopping in the city so its honestly not something that occurs to me to think about most days. I come from an extremely large family and we do get together quite often. I don't feel like my kids are missing any influences from either side, so so far so good.
RA: I ask because that's something my husband and I think a lot about. We want our son to grow up around a lot of good influences, including people of a similar skin color.
Well, I really appreciate your time and insight, and also your ability to be entertaining. You've given us plenty of good things to think about.
SAVANNAH: I was glad to do it! Thanks for including me and good luck with everything!
Dear Readers, if you'd like to be informed of more interviews like this one, as well as stories about Trooper and book news, subscribe.
August 21, 2014
Trooper Videos
I'm finally catching up on videos from this summer, and when I was going through the files I found one I had missed over the winter, Trooper and the Hair Dryer. Then we have one of Trooper fishing, and one of his 'Garbage Truck Birthday'. We call it his fourth birthday, but I guess since it's his day he can decide what to name it. They're super cute, and sometimes funny. Certainly worth your time to give them a click! If you haven't subscribed to this blog, yet, please do, here.
Comic Con in Dover (With Pictures)
Last Saturday we had the opportunity to attend a Comic Convention in Dover, DE. What fun! I never would have thought I'd go to something like that, but it was local, free, and they had Star Wars characters there. I would have gone even if I didn't have a Trooper who is currently a Star Wars fanatic.
We got to meet some independent authors, see lots of cool artwork, and of course, meet Star Wars characters, all of whom were villains. Trooper was scared of them at first, but after a while he warmed up and gave them high fives. I just had to convince him that they were good guys wearing the bad guys' costumes. Near the end, he even got brave enough to stand alone with Batman. Wish you could have been there!
We got to meet some independent authors, see lots of cool artwork, and of course, meet Star Wars characters, all of whom were villains. Trooper was scared of them at first, but after a while he warmed up and gave them high fives. I just had to convince him that they were good guys wearing the bad guys' costumes. Near the end, he even got brave enough to stand alone with Batman. Wish you could have been there!
August 15, 2014
The Contest Ends Soon!
If you haven't submitted the link to your review of 'Kergulen' or 'Kings of the Red Shell' on Amazon or Goodreads, you have just over two weeks to get it in. The contest closes on August 31st, and then I'll post a video of the drawing. Several people have posted reviews since the beginning of the contest without submitting the link, but you might as well throw your name in the hat! Someone is going to win that $25 gift card. It might as well be you! Click here to read the full contest rules before you enter.
August 10, 2014
Trooper Stories
A couple are kind of…off color. But funny.
The other day I scrubbed the toilette bowl, and Trooper said, "Wow, Mom, it's beautiful!" He mentioned it several times, and I thanked him for his compliments, but I was wondering if maybe I don't scrub the bowl nearly often enough, if he got that excited about it being clean. The next afternoon, he had a big BM in there, and after commenting on how stinky it was, he flushed it while he was still sitting there (not an unusual thing for him). Trooper watched as the poop swirled down the hole, then looked up at me with a big smile, "Look, Mom, we got the beautiful back!"
When I came home for the evening I took off some layers to get a little more comfortable, and Trooper picked up my bra, saying, "Mom, why you take your breasts off?"
While visiting family in Ohio this summer, I went to Bible class with Trooper and his cousin, Annabella. We were waiting for some other kids to come before we started, so I suggested that they pick some songs to sing while we were waiting. Annabella started singing "You're a Grand Old Flag" and the adults in the room cracked up. When she was done (none of us knew the words to sing with her), I asked Trooper to pick one. He said, "Star Wars." We all laughed, but I couldn't help being a little embarrassed that our kids couldn't think of a single God-related song. Trooper has been obsessed with Star Wars for most of the summer, in fact, he's watching Episode V as I write this. He loves to ''Do do do" the Luke Skywalker theme, and "Dum dum dum" the Darth Vader theme.
Trooper's birthday is coming up, and he can't stop thinking about it. He'll say, "What about my birthday? Can I play my garbage truck?" And in case you didn't parse it out, he asked for a garbage truck for his birthday, and yes, he is getting one. But anyway, he talks about it all the time. So, last night he was up A LOT and consequently I didn't get much sleep. I couldn't get any answers out of him when I asked him why he kept waking up and yelling for me, but then this morning, I asked him again.
"Trooper, why did you wake up so much last night?" I asked. "Did you feel sick, did you have a bad dream?"
"No, Mom, I dream about garbage trucks."
I laughed, but I wonder if this is actually what happened. He has been known to refuse to answer questions in the moment, but then tell it all later. Like when something happened at the playground (while I was at camp) and he cried and cried, and then wanted to go home. Trooper NEVER wants to go home from the park, but when Jonathan asked him what had happened, he got no answer. A week later I had a good opportunity to talk a little about bullying, and I was telling Trooper some things that aren't nice, that he should tell me about, and he said, "Like they pull my hair?" I gave him a long look and asked if that was why he had been crying at the park, and he said yes. Why wouldn't he tell us before? I don't know. But I told him that he needed to always tell us about things like that in the future, so that I could take care of it. He still doesn't understand that not all kids are being taught how to be good, even though I tell him fairly often. I told him we have to help them learn or they could grow up to be bad guys like Darth Vader.
And speaking of Darth Vader, Trooper has taken to pretending to choke to death, like Vader does to some soldiers in the movie. He grabs his throat and makes gagging noises until he falls on the floor. Sometimes he's not sure we get it, so he'll say, "I'm dead."
To get weekly updates of posts both like this and less weird, just subscribe and it'll be in your inbox pretty much every Wednesday.
The other day I scrubbed the toilette bowl, and Trooper said, "Wow, Mom, it's beautiful!" He mentioned it several times, and I thanked him for his compliments, but I was wondering if maybe I don't scrub the bowl nearly often enough, if he got that excited about it being clean. The next afternoon, he had a big BM in there, and after commenting on how stinky it was, he flushed it while he was still sitting there (not an unusual thing for him). Trooper watched as the poop swirled down the hole, then looked up at me with a big smile, "Look, Mom, we got the beautiful back!"
When I came home for the evening I took off some layers to get a little more comfortable, and Trooper picked up my bra, saying, "Mom, why you take your breasts off?"
While visiting family in Ohio this summer, I went to Bible class with Trooper and his cousin, Annabella. We were waiting for some other kids to come before we started, so I suggested that they pick some songs to sing while we were waiting. Annabella started singing "You're a Grand Old Flag" and the adults in the room cracked up. When she was done (none of us knew the words to sing with her), I asked Trooper to pick one. He said, "Star Wars." We all laughed, but I couldn't help being a little embarrassed that our kids couldn't think of a single God-related song. Trooper has been obsessed with Star Wars for most of the summer, in fact, he's watching Episode V as I write this. He loves to ''Do do do" the Luke Skywalker theme, and "Dum dum dum" the Darth Vader theme.
Trooper's birthday is coming up, and he can't stop thinking about it. He'll say, "What about my birthday? Can I play my garbage truck?" And in case you didn't parse it out, he asked for a garbage truck for his birthday, and yes, he is getting one. But anyway, he talks about it all the time. So, last night he was up A LOT and consequently I didn't get much sleep. I couldn't get any answers out of him when I asked him why he kept waking up and yelling for me, but then this morning, I asked him again.
"Trooper, why did you wake up so much last night?" I asked. "Did you feel sick, did you have a bad dream?"
"No, Mom, I dream about garbage trucks."
I laughed, but I wonder if this is actually what happened. He has been known to refuse to answer questions in the moment, but then tell it all later. Like when something happened at the playground (while I was at camp) and he cried and cried, and then wanted to go home. Trooper NEVER wants to go home from the park, but when Jonathan asked him what had happened, he got no answer. A week later I had a good opportunity to talk a little about bullying, and I was telling Trooper some things that aren't nice, that he should tell me about, and he said, "Like they pull my hair?" I gave him a long look and asked if that was why he had been crying at the park, and he said yes. Why wouldn't he tell us before? I don't know. But I told him that he needed to always tell us about things like that in the future, so that I could take care of it. He still doesn't understand that not all kids are being taught how to be good, even though I tell him fairly often. I told him we have to help them learn or they could grow up to be bad guys like Darth Vader.
And speaking of Darth Vader, Trooper has taken to pretending to choke to death, like Vader does to some soldiers in the movie. He grabs his throat and makes gagging noises until he falls on the floor. Sometimes he's not sure we get it, so he'll say, "I'm dead."
To get weekly updates of posts both like this and less weird, just subscribe and it'll be in your inbox pretty much every Wednesday.
August 7, 2014
Review of 'The Book of Unknown Americans'.
'The Book of Unknown Americans' by Cristina Henriquez. 5 Stars.
This book was so well written and emotionally engaging. Despite the way the book moved from character to character, I really felt like I was in their shoes, feeling what they felt and struggling along with them. At first I was a little confused about the characters because I don't remember much Spanish from school, and also I didn't always know from the names whether a character was male or female (yes, I'm confessing my ignorance). Even with these little hiccups, I was drawn into the world from the beginning, and soon I had most of the characters sorted out.
I really feel like everyone should read this book or one like it. I came away from it with a deeper respect for immigrants and (I think) a better understanding of what life in the U.S. is like for them. There were so many endearing moments, as well as a few when I wanted to smack people, especially the boy, Mayor. I could understand where he was coming from, but like many teen boys, he was thinking much more about what he wanted than what was best for him and others involved.
The thing is, I didn't exactly enjoy this book. The writing is fantastic, the stories intriguing, and the characters totally relatable, even to me, but it's sad. It's a story of struggle and only sometimes overcoming, not a fun tale for down time. Still, you should read it. Read it some time when you're not low on emotional energy.
Language: There's some profanity, not tons.
Sexual Content: There are a few scenes, short and not super detailed, and they're central to the story. I don't recommend this to young adults. A couple of the scenes creeped me out because of the people involved (minors and mentally disabled). I might have made it sound worse than it was, but I want to give fair warning. Still, I wouldn't pass this up because of the sexual content.
Overall Message/Plot: Fantastic. The plot was loose and woven around numerous characters, not so much leading toward a climax as it was exploring the journey, but the message was profound. I was taken in by the characters and their dilemmas, so enabled to see the world through their eyes, and thereby feel a sense of connection and sympathy with them that I wouldn't have imagined before reading it.
Note: 'The Book of Unknown Americans' is expensive whether it be hardback or ebook. I waited on a list to reserve it through my library, and recommend that you do the same. If you love it and want to read it over and over, then you can invest in your own copy.
For more reviews and other posts related to interracial relationships, subscribe to rawhitebooksandmore.weebly.com.
This book was so well written and emotionally engaging. Despite the way the book moved from character to character, I really felt like I was in their shoes, feeling what they felt and struggling along with them. At first I was a little confused about the characters because I don't remember much Spanish from school, and also I didn't always know from the names whether a character was male or female (yes, I'm confessing my ignorance). Even with these little hiccups, I was drawn into the world from the beginning, and soon I had most of the characters sorted out.
I really feel like everyone should read this book or one like it. I came away from it with a deeper respect for immigrants and (I think) a better understanding of what life in the U.S. is like for them. There were so many endearing moments, as well as a few when I wanted to smack people, especially the boy, Mayor. I could understand where he was coming from, but like many teen boys, he was thinking much more about what he wanted than what was best for him and others involved.
The thing is, I didn't exactly enjoy this book. The writing is fantastic, the stories intriguing, and the characters totally relatable, even to me, but it's sad. It's a story of struggle and only sometimes overcoming, not a fun tale for down time. Still, you should read it. Read it some time when you're not low on emotional energy.
Language: There's some profanity, not tons.
Sexual Content: There are a few scenes, short and not super detailed, and they're central to the story. I don't recommend this to young adults. A couple of the scenes creeped me out because of the people involved (minors and mentally disabled). I might have made it sound worse than it was, but I want to give fair warning. Still, I wouldn't pass this up because of the sexual content.
Overall Message/Plot: Fantastic. The plot was loose and woven around numerous characters, not so much leading toward a climax as it was exploring the journey, but the message was profound. I was taken in by the characters and their dilemmas, so enabled to see the world through their eyes, and thereby feel a sense of connection and sympathy with them that I wouldn't have imagined before reading it.
Note: 'The Book of Unknown Americans' is expensive whether it be hardback or ebook. I waited on a list to reserve it through my library, and recommend that you do the same. If you love it and want to read it over and over, then you can invest in your own copy.
For more reviews and other posts related to interracial relationships, subscribe to rawhitebooksandmore.weebly.com.
July 25, 2014
Camping
Well, I'm off tomorrow morning to work at camp for a week, so wish me luck. I'm trying something new this year--I'm leaving my computer at home. I feel withdraw symptoms coming on and I haven't even shut it down, yet. My chest is tightening... I don't have more than a few minutes to use a computer at camp, anyway, but just knowing I have it available is usually enough to keep me from getting the jitters. What if THIS addiction gets replaced by something worse? I could turn into a nail chewer or gum smacker!
What if I have an amazing idea for a plot twist, or a witty conversation in 'Alonca's Quest'? I'll be reduced to scribbling notes on recycled paper napkins. Oh, bother, it just shouldn't be this hard. I guess it means I really do need to take a break. Maybe I'll come home inspired and ready to pound out the rest of my first draft.
Anyway, you all enjoy your week, and I'll be back on here when I get back to Delaware.
So long,
R.A.
What if I have an amazing idea for a plot twist, or a witty conversation in 'Alonca's Quest'? I'll be reduced to scribbling notes on recycled paper napkins. Oh, bother, it just shouldn't be this hard. I guess it means I really do need to take a break. Maybe I'll come home inspired and ready to pound out the rest of my first draft.
Anyway, you all enjoy your week, and I'll be back on here when I get back to Delaware.
So long,
R.A.
