Kate Scott's Blog, page 15

Giando's Story

I love to read, and write, because I love stories. Everyone has a story to tell. That's what makes this crazy world we live in so interesting. Every Monday, I interview a different person here and share their stories. At first glance, my guests may appear ordinary, but I promise they're not. They're people. And all people are fascinating. We all have a story to tell.
This week, I'm talking to Giando Sigurani. Giando's debut novel Mister Mercury is being released later this week. Giando's in my writing critique group, and I can attest this is a wonderful story you wont want to miss. In modern day, the Greek gods are all but forgotten, so Hermes decides to recapture the mortal's affection by re-branding himself as a super hero. I'm honored that Giando took some time out of his busy schedule to join us today.

I normally post a picture of my What's Your Story participant, but in order of his book launch, I'm including Giando's cover art today as well.





Let's get started, Giando, describe yourself in 50 words or less.

GS: Quiet, shy, I like to read and I love to write. My cynicism knows no limits, but I’m trying to fix that. Self-amusing, covetous of my private time. I find humor to be one of the most valuable tools in a writer’s arsenal.
Me: What do you love most in the world?


GS: Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The single greatest piece of fiction ever made, in my opinion. It was because of the Hitchhiker’s Guide that I learned to love reading, and realized that I like writing, too. His insights are so brilliant, multi-faceted and original that I’m still discovering more even after reading it so many times.
Me: I love how much Adams has inspired you. Hopefully, your writing will inspire some future writer in the same way. What do you fear most?

GS: That I won’t be able to tell all the stories I wish to tell. That I won’t be able to learn all the skills I want to learn in order to become the artist I wish to become. Also, scorpions. It’s like someone made the perfect math equation for producing the world’s most terrifying creatures, plugged in a very, very high number, and scorpions came out.
Me: I've never found scorpions all that scary, but I think that is only because I've had very little interaction with them. Thankfully, we live in a rainy climate not the desert. Now I want to know your largest unfulfilled dream, and what are you doing to reach it?


GS: I wish only to become a sustainable artist, I.E., a professional one. Not necessarily a rich one, mind. I just want to be able to keep doing it.  I’d love to have an extra 50 hours a week just to work on my craft. I’ve been working since I was 15. That’s thousands of hours I could have used to write more. Mister Mercury is only one novel… what else could I have done? I already feel like I’ve wasted so much time.
Me: I think quitting the day job is a dream most artists hold. I hope you get there, because I'm really looking forward to reading whatever story you're poised to write next. Getting there won't be easy though. What is the hardest thing you've ever done?

GS: I’d say that could either be the writing of Mister Mercury, or moving up here to Oregon. Both were pretty big risks. Moving to Oregon was the best decision I’ve ever made besides going back to school, but writing Mister Mercury… well, it might be a silly Greek god/ comic book/ urban fantasy/ religious satire concoction of ridiculousness, but it was one I worked on for eight whole years. It needed a lot of polish and a LOT of rewrites. It was a pretty ambitious project for a first novel, and I’m proud of it, as silly as it is.
Me: Publishing a novel is a huge accomplishment, and you wrote a very funny one. You should feel proud. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?

GS: I learned long ago that I should not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle. I was borrowing my brother’s car and visiting him after going for some groceries. Flagstaff is a pretty small town, only about 15 miles across, and I had ridden down Route 66 hundreds of times on my bike. But on a car, the whole world is different.


I missed a turn that I had never missed on my bike, and found that I was on an interstate out to Sedona. And I panicked. I’m the sort of person who makes a lot more mistakes the moment he realizes he’s made one, and a thousand-pound steel cage was just not the best spot for a guy who can’t work well under pressure.
Eventually I found a spot to turn around and head back to Flagstaff, but it was a pretty strange road. It didn’t look like I was about to get to Flagstaff at all, like I was about to get to some other town I’d never heard of.
So I came to a fork in the road. There were no signs. I just thought that whatever road the new direction was, it was better than where I was going. But I should also mention that between the two roads, there was an eight-foot-tall concrete wall. So picture that in your head: Two roads, and a big concrete wall right in the middle. I tried to turn to the new road, but at the last minute I second-guessed myself like usual and thought that the one I was driving on was just fine. The two ideas wrestled with each other, and I ended up driving straight towards the wall and slamming the breaks instead of making a proper decision.
I didn’t crash the car, mind. But I did sit there, stunned, for a good ten minutes before doing anything.But that’s the sort of driver that I am: Given a choice between two roads and a wall, I will choose a wall.
Me: Given that history, please make sure you always where your bike helmet! Thank you again for sharing your story today, Giando, and good luck with your book release.

So what's your story? If you're interested in participating in a future installment of What's Your Story, please leave your contact information in the comments of this post or email me directly at katherine.elliott.scott(at)gmail.

What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk.  Head over to Jaime's page for links to find out what's up with everyone else. Here's What's Up with me.
What I'm Reading

I'm currently reading Moonless  by Crystal Collier. I met Crystal here, at What's Up Wednesday, and am enjoying reading her fiction. It's a complicated historic urban fantasy that I haven't completely figured out yet. But I like it. And I like Crystal. So I recommend you read both her book and her blog.

What I'm Writing

I'm did manage to make a little bit of progress on my WIP over the holidays. Not nearly as much as I would have liked though. A big reason for my lack of progress is that I've been writing blog posts, for other peoples blogs. My debut novel, Counting to D , is coming out on February 11th, which is now less than 5 weeks away.

In celebration of my release, I'm doing a virtual tour. During a fit of insanity, I decided a three week blog tour would be a fabulous idea. This means I have to write 15 guest blog posts for 15 different blogs. They all have to be different. And they all have to be captivating.

I've been blogging here for several years now. I've written a few good posts, and a lot of mediocre posts. These 15 posts appearing all over the inter-web this February, they all have to be good. They have to be so good that random strangers who have never heard of me will read them and think, gee-whiz, I want to read that girls book. Oy vey. The pressure. There is a reason I've accomplished so little on my WIP. One of the guest posts I wrote yesterday was utter brilliance. There is a limit to my brilliance capacity.

What Inspires Me Right Now

My debut novel,  Counting to D , is coming out on February 11th, which is now less than 5 weeks away.

I totally just cut that sentence from above and pasted it again here. But I think it says it all. Someday's writing is a serious challenge and inspiration is hard to find. This is what it all leads to though. A month and three days from now, I'll be a published author. I'm inspired.

What Else I've Been Up To

The holiday's just happened. I attended a few family gatherings, but mainly just stayed home and played author. Part of this game called soon to be published author involves giving away lots of books. I'm sending ARC's out to reviewers, and bookstores, and other various literary people. Soon, I'll be sending them to regular everyday readers too. That's the exciting part.

If you want to be one of those regular everyday readers, there are currently two different contests going on where you can win a free copy of Counting to D. Enter today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Goodreads Book Giveaway Counting to D by Kate Scott Giveaway ends February 10, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win
So what's up with you?

K's Story

I love to read, and write, because I love stories. Everyone has a story to tell. That's what makes this crazy world we live in so interesting. Every Monday, I interview a different person here and share their stories. At first glance, my guests may appear ordinary, but I promise they're not. They're people. And all people are fascinating. We all have a story to tell.


This week, I'm talking with one of the kids I mentor. When I first met this weeks guest, she was a sweet little nine-year-old. Last week, she celebrated her 13th birthday. My how time flies. Since my guest this week is a minor, I'm going to call her K. And in the photo attached she zipped her hoodie all the way up to hide her face. You can't see her left eye in this picture either, because her hair is in the way. K has very long bangs, 'cause she's hip like that.


Let's get started, K, describe yourself. What do you want people to know about you?

K: I'm weird, emo, and...creepy.
Me: If that is how you want to label yourself, I'm okay with that. What do you love most in the world?


K: Music!
Me: Yes, you have forced me to listen to your music a lot over the years. I remember when you were young and impressionable and in love with One Direction. Ah the good old days. Now it's all Black Veil Brides, and Sleeping with Sirens. It's scary what happens when you turn into a teenager. What do you fear most?

K: I'm not afraid of ghosts, I love ghosts. And horror movies, and all of that stuff. Paranormal Activity is the best movie ever! I'm afraid of bad drivers. Riding on the highway during rush hour when my mom is driving is scary.
Me: I've seen you behind the wheel of a go-kart. In a few years, when you start driving for real, that is going to be terrifying! Now I want to know your largest unfulfilled dream, and what are you doing to reach it?


K: I want to be a singer in a scremo band. That would be epic! Right now, I'm practicing screaming a lot. I can roar like a bear too, do you want to here? Grrr! (Note: This interview was conducted orally and I must confess, K's growl is something fierce.)
Me: Great, but maybe you should do your homework too, just so you have a backup plan. What is the hardest thing you've ever done?

K: I asked out a boy once, in person. It was so scary!
Me: When did boys stop having cooties? Wait, no, don't answer that. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short, funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?

K: One time I had ten dollars, and I went to Hot Topic to buy a bracelet. There is a ton of cool stuff at Hot Topic, so it was really hard to decide what to get. I ended up getting a BVB bracelet. I love BVB. It was epic. The End. 
Me: Thank you, K.Can we change the radio station now? All this screaming is giving me a headache.

So what's your story? If you're interested in participating in a future installment of What's Your Story, please leave your contact information in the comments of this post or email me directly at katherine.elliott.scott(at)gmail.

Also don't forget to enter the contest I'm having to win an advanced copy of Counting to D.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win an Advanced Copy of Counting to D

Counting to D is coming out on February 11th, but you can read it early! Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win an ARC. This contest closes at midnight on January 18th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also enter to win a copy through a goodreads giveaway.
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Goodreads Book Giveaway Counting to D by Kate Scott Giveaway ends February 10, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win

2014 Is Already Looking Good

It’s the start of a new year, which means it’s resolution time. 2012 was a very bad year for me. I literally almost died. By the dawn of 2013, I was out of the hospital and feeling a lot better. But I still wasn’t ready for things like future planning. So I only set two goals for 2013. 1 - Live to see 2014. And 2 - Live each day and embrace whatever that life may bring.
Thanks to my relatively low bar, I totally rocked those goals. Not only am I still alive and kicking, I’ve accomplished a ton in the past year and have very big plans for 2014!So here are my 2014 goals.
1.  Release my debut novel Counting to D . This is already in the bag and will happen on February 11th. You can even pre-order a copy for Barns and Nobel today if reading my book is one of your 2014 goals. You can also enter to win a free copy through a goodreads giveaway.  .goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important; text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; border: 1px solid #6A6454; border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596; outline: 0; white-space: nowrap; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(https://www.goodreads.com/images/layo... color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway Counting to D by Kate Scott Giveaway ends February 10, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win
2.  Open Elliott Books up for submissions from new authors. Counting to D is being published by Elliott Books. I am the author of Counting to D and I am the executive editor of Elliott Books, but I’m really not self-publishing. I am small press publishing, I just happened to create a small press in 2013 while I was busy not dying. I mentioned it was a great year right? While I want to start with my own writing, so I can learn what I’m doing and make all my mistakes on myself, my goal is to begin acquiring new titles this summer.
3.  Finish The Evolution of Emily. This is, and has been, my WIP for quite a while now. It’s a super cute story, that for a while I was hoping to have finished in time to publish in the fall of 2014. Getting Countingto D ready for publication and founding a publishing company took more of my time and attention than I’d expected, so my progress on The Evolution of Emily as been slower than I would have liked. So my goal is not to have it come out in the winter of 2015, which means I NEED to finish it in 2014. Hopefully early in 2014.
4.  Become a mom. I don’t normally post stuff about my personal life, and this is very personal. But it’s another big goal that I’m willing to own up too. As a part of my whole being super sick thing back in 2012, I lost the ability to have biological children. I started the adoption process early in 2013. This process takes FOREVER and I may not have kids yet by the end of 2014, but I sincerely hope that I do. Becoming a goal has been one of my unnamed goals for many years now, and I feel like it deserves official recognition on my 2014 to-do list.

What about you? What are your goals for 2014?

Crystal's Story

I love to read, and write, because I love stories. Everyone has a story to tell. That's what makes this crazy world we live in so interesting. Every Monday, I interview a different person here and share their stories. At first glance, my guests may appear ordinary, but I promise they're not. They're people. And all people are fascinating. We all have a story to tell.


This week, I'm talking to Crystal Collier. Crystal is the author of Moonless, a historical paranormal that has been described as Jane Eyre meets Supernatural. I'm excited to have her here today.


Let's get started, Crystal, describe yourself in 50 words or less.

CC: Author of MOONLESS, I’m a former composer/writer for Black Diamond Productions. I practice brother-induced ninja skills while teaching children, or madly typing about fantastic and impossible creatures. I call Florida home with my creative husband and three littles, and dream of world domination and a bottomless supply of cheese.
Me: It sounds like you have a lot going on. Thank you for taking the time to join us here today. What do you love most in the world?


CC: My family.
Me: Family is so important, and it seems like you have a great one. What do you fear most?

CC: Playing the piano in public.
Me: As a former composer/writer I'm guessing you were forced to face this fear multiple times. Now I want to know your largest unfulfilled dream, and what are you doing to reach it?


CC: Many years ago, we lived in NYC where we held workshops and worked with a team and producer to get my musical, IMMORTAL, on Broadway. For the time being, we’re letting it rest to fulfill my first great love and dream: publication. My debut novel is now out and we anticipate releasing 9 others over the next 5 years, along with a serial series and the audio books for all of the above. (When God made me he forgot to install the brakes, or sanity—one of the two.)
Me: Wow! My debut comes out in a few months so I know how much work publication involves. I can't even imaging having that many plates in the air at the same time. It can't be easy. What is the hardest thing you've ever done?

CC: I started dating my husband shortly before I turned 17. I knew he was IT on the second date. Five months later he left on a service mission for our church, and for two years our only communications were physical letter, printed pictures, and a 20 minute phone call every six months. Hardest 2 years EVER.
Me: It's great that you had the patience and maturity at that time to wait for his return. Your wait definitely paid off as you now have a great family, which you love more than anything else in the world. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?

CC: One thing I absolutely loved growing up was my blankey—a sunshine yellow blanket that wrapped me in happiness. Shortly after we got home from a trip using our camping trailer (before we’d unpacked it), dad thought he saw smoke coming out of the trailer window. Being the cautious guy that he was, he checked it out. Sure enough, it was on fire. Mom got the fire extinguisher, Dad got the hose. They put it out, and when the firemen arrived, they informed my parents that had the fire been burning about thirty seconds longer, it would have hit the propane tank and blown up our house, not to mention the neighbors.

My special need brother had decided to go make himself a snack. He snuck into the trailer and used the propane stove. Once the fire started, he didn’t know what to do, so he just left.
Blankey was in the trailer. Half of it came out black and cindered. Mom cut off the dead part, and sewed up the other side. Throughout the years, my half-sized blankey has served as a reminder of a few things:
1. How blessed we were that Dad was guided to see and prevent a disaster.2. How incredible a mother I have, who saved something that meant so much to me.3. How silly anger is. I could have been very irritated with my special needs brother, and I was for a while, until I realized that blanket was a symbol. I can’t see it without thinking of him and his outgoing, optimistic take on life. He passed away several years ago, and every memory is as warm and bright as that blanket.
Me: What a wonderful story, thank you for sharing.

So what's your story? If you're interested in participating in a future installment of What's Your Story, please leave your contact information in the comments of this post or email me directly at katherine.elliott.scott(at)gmail.

Jackie's Story

I love to read, and write, because I love stories. Everyone has a story to tell. That's what makes this crazy world we live in so interesting. Every Monday, I interview a different person here and share their stories. At first glance, my guests may appear ordinary, but I promise they're not. They're people. And all people are fascinating. We all have a story to tell.


This week, I'm talking to Jackie Culver. Jackie is in my critique group. Each week I look forward to hearing what writing gem she has to share. I'm excited to share her story here today.
Let's get started, Jackie, describe yourself in 50 words or less.
JC: I didn't get to be this old by acting, being, or pretending to be... stupid. My mentor, teacher, and the man I call my father (who passed 9 years ago and feels like last week, said it best. "Msss. Culva, (he never pronounced the R in 34 years and only called me Jackie 3 times) you simply will not wear shoes even if they fit." Apt metaphor.
Me: You're quite the shoeless rebel. What do you love most in the world?

JC: What I love most in the world? Equal justice.
Me: You are the first person to say justice, but equal justice is a very lovable thing. What do you fear most?

JC: I have faced every fear and demoralized them.
Me: You are quite the monster hunter. Now I want to know your largest unfulfilled dream, and what are you doing to reach it?

JC: I fulfilled all my dreams. Now I'm editing.
Me: As a fellow writer, I know how hard editing can be. What is the hardest thing you've ever done?

JC: Ach....telling a mother that both of her sons were killed in a car crash. Sometimes being a therapist sucks...especially when you stand next to her when she sees them. I wore shoes that day.
Me: Wow, that does sound hard, but knowing you, I'm sure that mother appreciated having you by her side. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?

JC: My first ballet recital when I was 3. I was the sleep fairy in Snow White...but I fell asleep on stage and Snowsy had to wake me up. Stole the show and proved the doctors wrong. I lived past my first birthday. Now I'm on my 32nd year at the University of Portland as Professor of Dance. (2 of my degrees are from there)...I'd rather tap dance than eat chocolate...I'd rather draw than eat ice cream. I no longer do make up for dead people. I've changed my career 3 times.
Me: Because I'm in your critique group, I know that story is a lot longer. Thank you for sharing a glimps of your story today. I hope MY LIFE WITHOUT SHOES finds a home soon so other people can read the longer version of the adventure you call life.

So what's your story? If you're interested in participating in a future installment of What's Your Story, please leave your contact information in the comments of this post or email me directly at katherine.elliott.scott(at)gmail.

What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk.  Head over to Jaime's page for links to find out what's up with everyone else. Here's What's Up with me.
What I'm Reading

Sadly, I didn't do any reading this week. Sometimes real life is to distracting/entertaining and I don't have feel compelled to read fiction. In addition to all the hecticness of the season, I've also been afflicted with a case of Shinny New Idea Syndrome lately. I don't have any intention of writing down this SNI until I finish my current WIP, but I'm been spending a lot of my reading time secretly daydreaming about it.

What I'm Writing

I'm still working on my rewrite of The Evolution of Emily. It's taking me a lot longer than I want it to, but I'm slowly making progress. I managed to write one knew scene this week. Far less than I should be doing, but given the season, I'm trying to feel to guilty about my baby steps.

What Inspires Me Right Now

My first official review of Counting to D was posted yesterday at Sporadic Reads. I can not tell you how inspiring it is to see five stars next to a glowing review written by a total stranger! I completely love this reviewer now. She clearly has excellent taste!

If somehow you've missed the memo, my debut novel Counting to D is coming out on February 11th. You can add it to your goodreads to-read list now. And according to at least one unbiased reviewer, it's fabulous.

*Updated: A second review was posted by The Not-So-Literary Heiresses this morning. This review was only 3.5 stars, but in some ways that's even more inspiring than a 5 star review. This reviewer was critical and willing to bash it if she hated it, but she didn't hate it. She liked it a lot. So yay! I know lots of authors say don't read reviews, but I have a feeling I'm going to read every single review ever posted on goodreads or amazon or anywhere about my writing and I'm going to be "inspired" by them all.

What Else I've Been Up To

It's December, so I've been busy doing holiday type stuff. I think I'm done with all my shopping now, so maybe I'll be able to find some more time to read and write next week. I also hosted a holiday party on Sunday. It was fun seeing all my friends. Sadly there are a few people I call friends who I hadn't seen since last years holiday party. Maybe that needs to be my New Years resolution. I should through more parties. Or just spend more time with my friends in small venues. Being social is a resolution I think I can probably handle.

So what's up with you?

Amelia's Story

I love to read, and write, because I love stories. Everyone has a story to tell. That's what makes this crazy world we live in so interesting. Every Monday, I interview a different person here and share their stories. At first glance, my guests may appear ordinary, but I promise they're not. They're people. And all people are fascinating. We all have a story to tell.


This week, I'm talking to Amelia Cook. Amelia was one of my closest friends in college and I'm excited to have her here today.


Let's get started, Amelia, describe yourself in 50 words or less.

AC: I'm an over-scheduled entrepreneur mom and wife who enjoys reading, cooking, baking, running, dancing, music, and too many other things I don't have time for. Recently, I'm trying to be more humble about needing help. I'm surrounded by boys (two sons, a husband, and a dog) and my brother is my best friend. 53! I almost made it.
Me: You lead a busy live, so I guess I'll forgive you three extra words. What do you love most in the world?


AC: My life. I have not always made good decisions or ended up where I'd hoped, but as I look back on everything my life has been, I know that I am so blessed. I have two of the craziest, most agonizingly obnoxious and wonderful children in the world - they drive me bonkers, but I've never felt such joy as I have being a mother for the past five years. I have a good-looking husband whom I love and who works hard to be the best he can in his profession and his personal life. I get to work part-time in a business (www.goodwinds.com) with my brother and actually put my graduate degree (MBA) to good use. I'm not wealthy, but I have enough to get by. I have good friends and loving family, and every day I find beauty in the world.
Me: Loving life is such a positive quality. What do you fear most?

AC: I most fear losing my children. Probably a pretty common fear for parents. My second-biggest fear is dying young and not getting to raise my children. My third biggest fear is losing Tony (my husband) and having to raise the kids on my own.
Me: I expect most parents worry about all three of those things. Having children definitely changes how people experience fear. I think it's easier for people to admit fear for their children then for themselves. Now I want to know your largest unfulfilled dream, and what are you doing to reach it?


AC: Learning to speak Spanish. I am fluent in French, but my children are learning Spanish in their immersion, dual-language preschool program, and beyond not wanting my kids to know a language I don't (opportunities for mischief in that situation would be bountiful), I would really like to add that to my skillset. I'm not doing anything to work toward it right now, but there are classes I plan to take when I get beyond the young-kids-at-home stage.
Me: Maybe your boys can be your Spanish tutor in a few years. That could be both fun and challenging. What is the hardest thing you've ever done?

AC: The hardest thing I ever had to do was to decide to abandon my dream of going to medical school. I was rejected or B-listed from every medical school I applied to for two years after college. I graduated at the top of my class in a tough school (you would know!), but as much as I wanted it, being a doctor was not in the cards for me. I either wasn't smart enough or just couldn't make myself sacrifice enough to achieve it. I felt really lost after the second year of rejections, but I took a year off to work, found some other passions, got engaged, and applied to business school. I had grown up in a small business environment and I knew that I could get my MBA and do really well with it. I also learned that I had a lot of drive, but I was unwilling to compromise family and home life for a career (like being a doctor and the zillion years of school that go with it), which made finding a job out of business school a lot more fulfilling than if I had shot for the stars and some high-paid, high-powered (long hours) corporate job. Sometimes, letting go of your dreams and using the experience to really examine your life can pay off.
Me: Considering how much you love your life right now, it sounds like you made the right choice. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?

AC: Sometimes I don't think before I open my mouth, and that applies double when I've had anything at all to drink. I worked for a small group of business consultants in grad school and we had a white-elephant gift exchange for our Christmas party one year. It was all fun and games, of course, and plenty of wine to go around. One of the gifts that was opened was a blue, glass rooster dish, like a candy dish, about 10 inches high. I, ridiculously, latched onto it as the white elephant gift I absolutely HAD to have. As the game went on and we all got louder and sillier, my chance came. I could trade or open. I wanted that dish, but instead of saying, "I want the rooster candy dish," I shouted, "I want the cock! I want the blue cock!" as loud as can be. The whole party went silent for about two beats before things started up again. Tony laughed at me so hard that night and I was so embarrassed at work the next day. Of all the things to say at Christmas...
Me: As I recall, you were good at making a fool of yourself in college too. At least you can laugh about it later. And seeing as how Christmas is only a week and a half away, thanks for the holiday tie in to your story.

So what's your story? If you're interested in participating in a future installment of What's Your Story, please leave your contact information in the comments of this post or email me directly at katherine.elliott.scott(at)gmail.

David and Goliath

I recently read David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. I'm a big fan of all of Gladwell's books, but I especially enjoyed this one. It studies the success of the underdog by looking both at misconceptions about advantage and at the human tendency to succeed not despite but because of disparity. One of the chapters in this book focuses on a subject very close to me personally, dyslexia.

I am dyslexic. Because dyslexia is genetic, I have A LOT of dyslexic relatives. My debut novel coming out next February, has a dyslexic main character. I already knew everything said in Gladwell's chapter about dyslexia intimately. And I have to say, he got it right.

The largest reason why I wrote COUNTING TO D is because media coverage of dyslexia never gets it right. Every dyslexia story is exactly the same. Once upon a time a kid couldn't read. That kid was then diagnosed with dyslexia, and everyone lived happily ever after. The end. That is wrong. Disability doesn't go away at diagnosis. There is no cure for dyslexia. But sometimes, that's okay.

In COUNTING TO D, the character of Sam is very intelligent and severely dyslexic. She has found from years of experience living with dyslexia that it is far easier to use her intelligence to succeed without every reading than it would be to actually learn how to read. This concept has surprised many of the non-dyslexic people who have read this book, and it makes perfect sense to every dyslexic I've ever met.It is also the key point Gladwell focuses on in his non-fiction account of why dyslexics often have a clear advantage.

Being illiterate is hard. I was functionally illiterate for the first twenty years of my life, trust me, I know. It's hard. But there are lots of tricks one can use to get by, the simplest being active listening. Anyone who's ever spoken to a three-year-old knows little kids remember EVERYTHING. Once a person gains the ability to write themselves a note and read it back later, they stop listening. They stop actively trying to memorize everything they hear. Of course people who are slow to read have better memories, they have to.

Not all dyslexics achieve greatness. Dyslexics are three times more likely to end up in prison than the general population. But dyslexics are also three times more likely to end up CEO's of fortune 500 companies than the general population. I'm not in prison, and I'm not a CEO, but I am an author, which people often find surprising given my craptastic language skills. I'm far from the first dyslexic author though. I'm simply joining the ranks of F. Scott Fitzgareld, Agatha Christie, Hans Christian Anderson and many others.

The first dyslexic success story highlighted in DAVID AND GOLIATH is David Boies, a highly successful litigator. Because Boies can barely read, he is very good at listening and talking. He picks up subtleties in the speech of witnesses and excels in cross-examination. Gladwell claims that Boies' inability to read lots of briefs and get bogged down in written words helps him in the courtroom, because the jury doesn't see all the papers the other attorneys are wading through, they only sit and listen.

My brother, who happens to be dyslexic too (genetic condition and all), is also a litigator. My parents joke that he started winning arguments with them before he learned how to talk. My brother becoming a lawyer has never surprised anyone who knows him. But there is a reason he, like Boies, prefers to spend all his time in the courtroom. If he wrote legal briefs for a living, instead of verbally arguing, he'd be far less successful.

Gladwell sights a number of neurological reasons why he thinks dyslexics can have an advantage. While I don't dispute any of them, I think he missed the heart of the matter. Why are dyslexics chances of winding up in jail and the board room equally enhanced, and what can society do to make sure more dyslexics end up on Wall Street and not the State Penn. I think the answer to that question comes down to attitude.

I remember as a child being told many times, "You need to be the boss when you grow up, because you're going to need a secretary." This statement was normally said in jest when I horribly misspelled something simple, like my own name. But that's not the point. I would make a very bad copy editor! I know that. So I pay someone else to copy edit my writing. Nobody ever told me I couldn't amount to anything, they told me I needed to be the boss. Over and over again, I was encouraged to take advantage of my numerous dyslexia induced skills and not worry about the fact that I couldn't read. Reading is overrated. When reading is easy, reading is easy. But when reading is impossible, success without reading can have its advantages.

Even the non-dyslexia related chapters of DAVID AND GOLIATH were interesting to read. I highly recommend this book. And I'm very happy to report that finally somebody got it right. Anything that doesn't kill you makes you still alive. Nobody is surprised when blind people have a highly developed sense of touch. So why is it so surprising that non-readers often make great listeners, and talkers, and thinkers?