Savannah Hendricks's Blog, page 23

Crystal Kite Book Awards – Round 1

It’s that time of year… bunnies, Easter candy, spring flowers… and the SCBWI Crystal Kite Book Awards Member Choice. This is an important part of being a member of the SCBWI. Books you can vote for are based out of region in which you live. While there are many books that members might know because of their popularity, remember that there are equally amazing books published outside of the BIG 5, by smaller publishers. Round 1 closes on April 14th – Round 2 opens April 18th Help send your favorite book to round two by voting for it in round one – SCBWI

Spring ~ Poem

�� 2015, Savannah Hendricks

Chiffon ���gray sweeps around mousse erupting white

Black feathers glide higher, pivoting left, then right

Sprinkles in the north

Sunshine to the west

Color arch to the east

Eyes capturing words�� on paper pause

To take in a glimpse of beauty from beyond the sentences

 

BLOODLINE – Why You Should Watch

(This post contains NO spoilers)

Netflix released Bloodline,�� March 20th, for the ever growing binge watching crowd. The story plays out over thirteen episodes. What I should say is it p l a y s o u t. That’s right, it drags at the start several more episodes than are needed, it could have started at episode 3 or 4 and viewers would be fine. Yet, even with this, one is drawn to keep watching. It is not the because of its average writing, and most certainly not the jumbled storyline that bounces between flashbacks, flash forwards and current time. It is actor Ben Mendelsohn���s character Danny. Danny is the main reason for the entire storyline. Mendelsohn���s ability to act out a multilayer character is the main reason to watch. Mendelsohn���s ability to draw the audience in, push us away and yet make us want to sneak around behind trees to see what he is hiding. (The acting of Norbert Leo Butz���s character Kevin is noteworthy too).

Writers: be aware of the issues caused by a drawn out plot and the positives of character development through multilayers.

Viewers: enjoy a story about family that is superbly underlined with emotion and pain.

When Your Writing Sucks

I saw a call for submission for a children’s magazine the other day. I read through their theme list and immediately thought of a story I could submit. I started to prepare the submission cover letter, excited, because young children’s magazine markets have been dwindling over the years.

I opened up my story to check it over before I submitted it.�� As I was reading through I changed this and that and about two pages in, I stopped.

WHAT CRAP IS THIS!?!?!?! I thought.

My story was horrible! It had good structure and a strong idea, but overall it needed a lot more work that a few edits would cover!

Thank goodness I know when my work sucks, and for knowing I can fix it and make it better.�� I have learned this through writing, reading and the other facets of a writer’s life. Taking time to absorb things outside of your story can help more than we might realize.

How GREAT is This!?

As a social worker by day (writing wizard of imagination by night) I’ve seen and heard stories of varying health problems. Medical diagnosis that break a family apart or bind them together. Nothing is ever a happy story, only bad. Yet when I heard about the local branch of The Cancer Treatment Centers of America and what they were doing I was warmed with happiness. TCTC of America in Goodyear, Arizona has a cafeteria that gets their vegetables from their backyard. That’s right! Directly behind the hospital is farmland where Hope Springs Organic Farm grows veggies (organic) year around, which are used in the hospital���s cafeteria. (The leftovers go to local farmers markets.) Not only that, but some patients participate in planting seeds in the field as part of their therapy. TCTC in Goodyear is not alone. Long Island���s Stony Brook University Hospital and Michigan���s St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Hospital also have farms on their properties.

And don’t laugh at planting therapy happening at the TCTC. I have heard first hand from people I meet with that their pills don’t work, or have horrible side effects, and that therapy was what was working. Yet many therapies are only covered for 10-15 sessions by personal insurance. I recently saw The MELT Method exercises to help those with chronic pain. It is nice to see the shift away from medication to other approaches to heal and help.

Moments ~ Poem

In the moment it always feels right.

Decisions fall, weakness folds.

Strings reach from the throat to the stomach, tighten with grand grip.

Knots unravel into tears.

Grip released, tears wiped.

Forget once again, forgive for now.

Ruth Clampett ~ Author Interview

I’m excited to introduce Ruth Clampett to my blog. I first discovered Ms. Clampett on Goodreads, and read Mr. 365. The book was such a delight! I soon scooped up Animate Me. Shortly afterwards she released Work of Art (Book 1). I am a forever fan of her books. I hope my readers not only enjoy the interview, but check out her books. The final book in the Work of Art series releases today!!

Your first two books (Mr. 365 and Animate Me) were stand alone novels, what made you decide to do a trilogy for Work of Art?

First of all Savannah, thanks so much for having me on your blog! Your first question makes me smile. Actually I wrote Work of Art before Mr. 365 and Animate Me but when I��decided to publish the thought of starting with a trilogy was just too overwhelming. Plus I was anxious to get my books out and I knew the Work of Art editing would take a year so, I decided to publish Animate Me. It was a fun decision because I figured it was a unique story for a new writer to put out.

Your books are erotically written. Was it a challenge to write this way when you first started? Were you worried about what family or friends would think of the steamy sex scenes?

When a story develops in my head, the characters become very real to me. So if two characters are in love or have steamy chemistry, it is a given that there will be sex and it���s always easy for me to imagine. What I find difficult is the mechanics of writing a sex scene. It can easily sound too technical. I��think a hot sex scene is really hard to do well but when you do people really appreciate it.

As for family and friends, at first I was horrified at what they would think of my steamy writing! I��don���t use a pen name so it���s common knowledge in my world that I write sexy romance. At some point I just decided to not worry about what other people think. This is what I like to read and write, and this is what I enjoy.

Your late father was a legendary animator (Bob Clampett), what has he inspired within your writing career?

Dad loved all creative expression and he always encouraged us to try anything we were interested in. We didn���t have to stick with one medium. I���ve always loved writing but I had made my career in photography and design. Once I started getting my books out I thought how much Dad would love that I���m doing this. Without taking creative risks you can���t find all your possibilities and writing has brought me great joy.

How has your career as fine art publisher for Warner Bros. helped with your writing?

My career taught me to be professional and to avoid social drama���to keep the focus on the work.��I��pride myself on having really good relationships and I��also know how to be a strong team player and it takes a team to bring a book to market.��I want everything I��do, from the writing to the promotion, to be the best of my ability.

Your fans, me included, want to know if you have another book in the works for release soon?

Thanks for asking! I���ve written almost a third of my next book, which is a stand alone, so it won���t come out soon but I hope to have it done by fall. It���s such a fun story to write because it���s the male���s point of view, and it���s sexy and funny, but heartfelt too. I���m hopeful that it���s something my readers will enjoy. Thanks again Savannah for welcoming me on your blog and asking such great questions!

Check out Ruth’s Amazon page and search her on Barnes and Noble.

Sweet Cakes ~ Homemade Dog Treats

Since my “kids” loved the Peanut Butter Rounds I made, I figured I would create another treat for them. This one is just as simple as the last one.

Sweet Cakes

1.5 cups oatmeal
1 cup water
1 cup peanut butter
1 sweet potato (shredded with carrot peeler)

Pre-heat oven to 325

Combine ingredients in pot over low heat, mixing until well mixed then stir over low heat for 5 mins

(I placed foil on my cookie sheet but you can use any non-stick pan you like)

Remove pot from heat and let sit for 10 mins to cool

Take 1 heaping tablespoon of the sweet cake and roll into a ball, then flatten in your hand. Place on cookie sheet.

Bake in oven for 25 mins, remove, flip sweet cakes over, and place back in oven for 10 mins.

Remove, let cool

I store mine in the freezer to keep fresh and thaw as needed.

GOODBYE ~ A Poem

Cottontails in the breeze���

Sun made shadows leave prints below

Whispers left and right through stems

���Invisible hand glides over��brown velvet

���Saying one last goodbye to the earth

Before joining as a soul beyond it all

One Thing I Never Expected After My Book Release

���I have had numerous magazine publications, and even books published (non-fiction). But having my picture book published caused something I never expected. Utter concern over the need to getting another book published. I can say without the support and well wishes from family and friends I actually may not feel this way. But that wasn’t the case (believe me I’m grateful). But….crap!

I have piles…literally piles of manuscripts from children to adult stories, but only ONE is completed. The rest are in rough draft stages.

NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS ANXIETY!!!

The pressure comes from the need to not seem like a onetime fluke���a phony writer.

The day my book Nonnie and I arrived, all shiny in paperback glory, I spreading the word with great boastfulness. Then the next day amidst all the joy it hit me.

Where is your next book?!?!?!?!

OMG! I don’t know! I screamed to my inner voice. I fumbled through folders of stories, grasped at half created stories trying to figure out the rest of the plot, and then took a deep breath.

I needed to calm the panic. I made two submissions, and had a long internal talk. I needed to remind myself that this would not be the one and only. It could be. But I wouldn’t let it! Besides I can’t write when I’m all worked up like this. Anything I worked on right now would be pure crap, I reminded myself.

I decided to let my creativity return when it was ready.

I read, I relaxed, I patted myself on the back and read some more. I told myself to have faith in me.

But���yeah I���m still panicking a bit.