The Hazel Eyes Tour

There's so much to say I could do two editions but I think I will focus on art today.

1. I've now gone to three sessions of what I am going to call art workshop though our fearless leader Lori Krein bills it as a collage class. It's exactly what I needed, a slightly structured, caring and nurturing artistic environment. The group is small, I think there are seven of us, just about right for introverted me. We come to class to work on a variety of collage, decoupage or assemblage projects. I am almost finished with my first landscape. (My art leader Lori has an assemblage in this art contest sponsored by Michael's. She's trying to win a trip to New York. Maybe you could help her out by voting? Thanks!)

2. At the retreat I went to last month I talked to my friend Deborah Nourse Lattimore (who is a brilliant artist by the way) about introducing art into my life. This was before I found the collage class. She stressed the importance of playing with art without trying to "make" art. Play is hard for me. I've never been very good at it. But I am trying. And I know the art play will help my writing play. I think I love collage because it reminds me of playing in mud. I don't want to wear gloves - I want to feel the matte medium sliding between my fingers. It makes me feel like a little kid again. And now, everywhere I go, I look at things as a potential canvas, or potential items to use for an assemblage. I used to collect odds and ends like this before, rocks and twigs and pieces of nature that intrigued me. I saved them and saved them and then suddenly, they were gone. I think I had been saving with the intent of having "enough" to do something "perfect" and when I realized that would never happen, I threw them all away. So I am collecting again but hopefully with a different attitude.

3. I've been reorganizing the old craft supplies I have and buying a few new ones, like my first set of watercolor pencils and watercolor crayons, a bottle of Gesso, some acrylic paint (yikes) and even a couple of big canvases (only because they were on sale). Most of that is for some ideas I have on creative art journals. Some people do a vision board, I am doing a vision journal, or perhaps a series of small vision boards for various aspects of my life. I got the big canvases so I can try my hand at some larger collage landscapes at home. I've been looking at the handmade paper on this site, trying to narrow the purchase down to a reasonable amount. Ha! I've also been going through my stash of magazines again. I do this a lot anyway, usually cutting out words to use when teaching poetry classes, but now I've added a stack of words just for me and pictures that speak to me that I might want to journal.

4. newport2newport has blogged a lot lately about the creative journaling that she is doing. She turned me on to a wonderful video that I think is worth a watch if you are a newbie considering such a project. (The woman in the video has an extensive website and series of YouTube videos.) And Shrinking Violets is talking about creating visions for your coming year too.

5. What does all this have to do with writing? So much more than I can put into a Friday Five. I have lived too much of my life bound by constraints of what I shouldn't do, what I was or wasn't good at, what was expected of me. A constrained life can lead to constrained writing. If playing with art can free me to play with words, it is worth it at just about any price.

The biggest lesson for me to learn is that art is not math. There is no right answer. If I can learn this in art I hope to apply it to my writing.

1. Well, it's official. I knew changes were coming, but I don't LIKE change, especially in the morning when I am not fully caffeinated. But, yes: George Stephanopoulos is replacing Diane, and JuJu Chang is replacing Chris, who, in my opinion, deserved his own last day and not a kind of "don't let the door hit you on the way out" in the midst of Diane's big celebratory farewell. Clearly, though, nobody is listening to me. I do LOVE me some Juju Chang, though. So clearly, even when the higher-ups shut a door (and ask you not to let it hit you as you exit) they open a window. So, welcome George and Juju. I will do my best to adjust. Starting Monday. Today, I reserve the right to just get all verklempt.

2. In other TV news, the Top Chef finale was Wednesday night. But, because I am super lame, I just couldn't manage to stay up and watch it live. So yesterday, I had to do the whole news media blackout thing, so I wouldn't see a spoiler of who won. It was HARD. I couldn't read Google News all day, and now I know I am kind of addicted to that, which I guess is helpful. But last night, we FINALLY got to sit down and watch. And I don't want to ruin it for any of you who haven't had a chance yet to watch it, so I will just say I was not really happy with the outcome. It was kind of like Project Runway: I understood why they picked the person they did, but it would not have been my personal choice. I will leave it at that.

3. I've written here before about how I am kind of obsessed with lipstick and lipgloss. My favorite brand, for years, has been Stila, for all kinds of reasons, but especially because it was the ONLY brand that didn't have some kind of drying agent in it that, apparently, I am kind of allergic to. But I just got some new lipstick from Stila and now I'm having a reaction. What's up with that? Does this mean I have to abandon Sephora altogether and start buying my lip stuff at Whole Foods? Oh, please say no. I don't think I can quit that place, allergies or not.

4. It was announced yesterday that Kirkus Reviews, one of the big book reviewing magazines, is being shut down. It's right up there with Booklist, Horn Book and PW when you're waiting for reviews of a new book, and totally nervous about what people will think of it. I can't believe that Kirkus is being shuttered, especially since I FINALLY managed to get a good review out of them for Along for The Ride. They gave me a star! I should have known it was the beginning of the end for them. It's like the center could not hold, or something. Oh, well.

5. Speaking of writers and writing, this week Amazon announced their annual Breakthrough Novel Award contest, and this year, there's a prize for YA fiction as well. And guess who is listed as a judge on their "panel of experts" ? Stop laughing! I'm really excited to be part of this contest, and I'm looking forward to reading the finalists in the spring. If you have a novel--General Fiction or YA---and want to enter, go here for more info. And good luck!

Okay, I'm grabbing some tissues and my coffee and sitting down to catch the last half hour of GMA. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Today I'd like to highlight the blog by artist/writer Don Tate. Don's blog is about the process of creating art, both for the books he illustrates (his own and those written by others), the art he does for his day job at the newspaper, and his recent journey into the world of writing for children. When I read Don's blog I always get the sense that this is what it is really like to be a working creative person in the world of children's publishing today.

A couple of my favorite posts are This Isn't as Easy as it Looks where he talks about an art project that didn't go as well as he had hoped (complete with illustrations) and Wearing My Writer's Cap in which he shares about the long, long journey to publication his first picture book which will published next fall by Lee and Low. If you want to know how long, you'll have to read the post for yourself.

Tell Don I said hello when you stop by.

Before being a writer, I taught university--and guest taught high school as a "loaner" to underfunded high schools. I won't lie to you: I have met students who unnerved me, students who caused me to want to lecture them, and some who just plain frustrated me & broke my heart. They weren't the majority, however. Most of the students I've known leave me excited to see what they will do with the world. As a writer, I mostly encounter those in the latter group: the ones who impress the hell out of me. These are the people who will be responsible for our arts, our laws, and our future--and I'm glad.

I talk to as many of my readers as I can over at the Rath (wickedlovely.com). I meet them on tour. I've requested tour cities for events just to meet a few of them. I have an art site account specifically for the purpose of seeing the visual art they create. I've eaten truffles created for my characters, & I've listened to songs written for them. I've guest taught creative writing courses & done workshops where I've read stories from young writers. I think that's one of the coolest parts of this job . . . right there with the writing part. It doesn't ever sate the teaching longing, but it does great things for my outlook on the future.

One of those readers created a painting of Irial & Leslie that hangs in my office. Tonight, I saw a Radiant Shadows trailer she created as an entry in the win-one-of-the-12-ARCs contest. It's the first live action trailer; it was scripted, filmed/directed, & edited by a 17 year old high school student with friends willing to act in the trailer and no budget to make it happen.


If the universe allows it, I'll be here watching to see what these young artists & writers do. I have no doubt that I'll continue to be wowed.

And, Lorena? If you read this, thank you, & pls share my thanks with your actors. I was feeling blue tonight, but right now, I'm feeling quite the opposite.

Welcome to my blog.

I am a writer who believes that dreams can come true.

This journal is friend-locked.

Comment and introduce yourself to be added.

This blog is for writers (or anyone) who love to read about the writing process and how writers do what they do. At Moving Forward on the Writing Path Becky Levine talks about everything from strengthening your characters to adding more conflict to your plot and more. When I'm struggling with a WIP I like reading about other writings who are trying to figure things out at the same time.

A couple of my favorite posts are Triangles-More Angles and Sharp Edges (what an easy way to increase the tension in a scene) and
Making Connections, Deepening Story.

Say hello to Becky for me when you stop by.

This is one of those random news-y posts.

ADDRESS (for letters or books):

A number of folks have asked how to reach me. I'm happy to receive letters that arrive either in print or digital format. I READ everything, & I reply as much as I can (which does NOT mean I reply to everyone. I can't). I read much much faster than I do most everything in life though :)

POSTAL: Melissa Marr, 44 Mine Road, Suite 2 #208, Stafford VA 22554

EMAIL: donnaATmelissa-marr.com

This goes for people asking me to read books too. If it's published via a traditional house (ie NOT via pay-to-play spots like PublishAmerica ot Harlequin Horizons), you are perfectly welcome to send me ARCs, bound galleys, or finished books. I do NOT open attachments OR read unsold, self-published, or erotica books. I don't blurb middle-grade books (although I do read them & recommend them).

I get more & more requests for blurbs (those endorsement quotes). Honestly, I read every day, but that doesn't ever mean that I will finish a book just bc I start it. Telling me you met me, like me, like my book, wish I would die a fiery death . . . none of that impacts whether I read a book. I rec books by authors I don't know (& sometimes those I met & didn't like). I also rec books by ppl I'm pretty sure DISLIKED my book. I'm not a bribe or flattering incline chick. The book and the author are two different entities.

As a footnote, my not blurbing a book doesn't mean I disliked it. I read lots of books I like, but don't LOVE. I try to keep a limit on howe many books I rec . . . but I read 3-5 books most weeks. It's hard to limit myself. So I rec them in the blog, on the fansite, & I blurb some. NONE Of it is personal.

Harper Holiday Sale

There is one ;) My INK (WL series Bk 2) & UNBOUND (adult, UF antho) are in it.

Goodreads

Just a reminder that RADIANT SHADOWS is still up for giveaway

. . . and, well, even though it goes against my own interests (I want the ARC & entered in the giveaway), I feel compelled to remind you that John Green's upcoming book is on there too.

I've read & loved his books (to the point of following my spouse around reading quotes from ALASKA when I first read it, in my pre-author days). No, I don't watch his vlog, but I've sat on panel with him & find him brilliant . . . aside from his erroneous idea that Faulkner is not the Best Writer EVER (Seriously? Faulkner is SO obviously the best.) Go enter. If you haven't read, Green's first 3 books, add them to your list for the bookstore or library. Don't any of you tell him I said this, but I think he's brilliant & possibiliy the most literary author in YA.

Japanese Cover of WL

I requested info on the artist for my fav WL cover, & here's what I know now:

"The illustrator, Miyako Hasumi has been illustrating for many titles including domestic & translated titles, and also for magazines. Among her illustrations for translated titles, there are: HERE LIES ARTHUR by Philip Keeve, OLD MAGIC by Marianne Curley, Terry Goodkin's SF titles."

I feel utterly spoiled by this cover. I have had great luck w my covers in general, but this one is my absolutely favourite.

Goodreads Part 2

The Goodreads folks emailed to tell me that

"Fragile Eternity has been nominated for a 2009 Goodreads Choice Award in the Young Adult Series category. Blog, tweet, spread the word. Encourage all your fans on Goodreads to vote! http://www.goodreads.com/award/goodreader/2009"

So, umm, you don't have to vote for my book, but do feel encouraged to vote for something :)

Urban Fantasy Cover Contest

FE is also in a cover contest. The website folks there emailed me that:

"Fragile Eternity was nominated for Best Partial Body Cover & Best YA Cover & Best Floating Head Cover Voting [is open] December 1st - December 30th . . . . Click HERE to vote and enter to win in the 1st Annual Urban Fantasy Cover Art Awards"

I think that's everything . . . at least that's all I can remember ;)

Oh, I just don't even know what to say about the latest GMA developments. It's, like, a bad news-good news situation. The latest is that Chris Cuomo will leave for 20/20 or (sob!) another network and George Stephanopoulos will replace Diane. That's the BAD news. The good? Supposedly, Juju Chang will then become the news reader. And you KNOW how much I love Juju:

She's the whole reason I got to visit the set last year! She introduced me to Diane and Robin and Sam AND Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens. I mean, come on. I kind of owe her my life for that. Plus, she's a totally sweet person and a GREAT reporter. So I'm happy, happy, happy for her. But in a perfect world---and I know this isn't one, none is, but we can dream---they would have moved Chris up to co-anchor, brought Juju in as news reader and TA-DA: dream team. Sigh. Oh, well. I'll shut up now.

In other news, all the power stuff went well on Monday, and my office now has LIGHT! Check it out:

Cabinets come later this week, then carpet next. It's actually starting to seem REAL, finally. On the downside, the power outage apparently caused a fatal error (don't you hate that term? It's so scary!) on the DVR in our playroom. The other one, that has all my Friday Night Lights and Hoarders and everything else, was fine. Which is great. But the one that died had ALL of Sasha's shows: a ton of Olivias, Gabba Gabbas, and Sesame Streets. POOF! They're all gone, leaving me to try to explain why we can't watch Slimy get a pet bug or Olivia in the old west anymore. Yikes. A new receiver is on the way but we're basically relying only on DVDs until it gets here and we can start taping again. I don't let Sasha watch much TV---and I know some of you are shocked to hear that, but it's true---but we do let her have a little while she eats breakfast, and I'm not sure how long we can keep watching these same DVDs over and over before there's some kind of toddler riot. I am trying to stay calm, at any rate.

So I've written here before about how much I love Rosie O'Donnell. I used to watch her talk show RELIGIOUSLY. I even timed my trips to the gym so I could be on the treadmill when it was on. Then I watched her on the View, until that kind of imploded, and she disappeared. But then, flipping around my Sirius XM radio the other day in traffic, who do I hear but Ro? She's got her own morning show, every weekday morning. Hooray! If you've got Sirius XM, find out more here. I am such a nerd that I am just waiting for the chance to try and call in. I would DIE to talk to her, even for just a second. No joke.

Finally---God, sorry this entry turned out to be so long---I got a request from someone on the comments asking for book recommendations for holiday gifts. Personally, I loved the new Jennifer Weiner, Best Friends Forever, and I'm eagerly awaiting Anne Tyler's latest, which is coming out in the new year. Also I LOVED Olive Kitteridge, which is not the newest book but was new to me and reminded me what great writing is all about. What a book. If you have other recommendations for this reader (and for me!) feel free to leave them. Especially if they are picture books. We have all the Olivias and all the Corduroys, and have read them a million times, so I'm ready for a change, Big time!

Have a great day, everyone!

Last week Cassie had some more biopsies done. We think the problems that have popped up are related to her disease but just in case, we need to make sure. We had hoped to cut back her medication to every other day but suddenly the bumps came back. And then there's the issue of her coat that never came in. At two years of age she still looks trapped in puppyhood with a stripe of adult fur down her back and her sides covered in not quite puppy fur but not the long guard hair that you would expect on a dog this age. So it was back to the vet who shaved her in about five spots and sent her home to wait out the results. She has stitches in various spots on her body, all easily accessible for licking and scratching and chewing.

I kept expecting her to chew at the stitches and dreaded the idea of having to put one of those collars on her but the only one who seemed to be worried about them was me. Cassie ignored the stitches as though they didn't even exist. She's been just fine all week, doing what she does best, without a wasting a single moment of fun time by worrying at those stitches.

How many times in our writing lives do we make mountains out of the proverbial molehill?

I don't know about you but for me, I do it way to often. I think too much. I think too much before I write and after I write and while I write. I worry those words back and forth until I'm no longer sure what is fresh and original and what is just old and tired from me worrying on it so much.

One of the hard things that happens for some people (or at least for me) is that after we sell a piece of writing our minds are focused on the selling and not on being a writer, living the writer's life, and well, just writing. Wouldn't it be nice to not think so much?

Old habits are hard to break so I can't say that I am going to let go of all that worrying all at once. But I am going to call myself on it more often.

Less time worrying will give me more time to write, and more time to play with Cassie.

Today's entry in 31 Blogs (you might not know) is great for teachers, writers, librarians and kids! It's Reading, Writing & Elizabeth, the blog home of author Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff. Liz searches the web for writing contests for kids (and adults.) She also posts interesting writing prompts that are terrific for writers of all ages (and great for the classroom) so check them out in the sidebar.

A couple of my favorite posts are a haiku contest for all ages and KQED Radio Show’s Commentary, Video or Photo Slideshow Contest for California Youth. The KQED contest has a quick deadline, December 15th, so don't delay taking a closer look. KQED is looking for young people to share their Perspectives on two themes: “Coming Out” and “Friday Night.” Perspectives may take the form of a short commentary, video, or photo slideshow.

Tell Liz I said hello when you stop by.

As promised over HERE, I'm posting one more Chapter of RADIANT SHADOWS.

WHY?

Call it an early Solstice present (bc gods know I tend to prefer giving presents early) or proof of my impatience OR use it as a way to enter to win an early copy of the book :) Details on the contest(s) follow the excerpt.

In March, Harper will do the Browse Inside thing, where you can read prob 4 more chapters. In April (prob the 20th in the US, Canada, UK, AUS/NZ, & anywhere Eng lang books are exported) you can read the whole thing. In Oct/Nov, it'll release in Italy. For now, here's the second chapter.

NOTE: Pls note, my lovelies, that this is pre-copyedit (ie what it looks like in the ARC, before a proofreader points out places I may've missed a word!)


Chapter 2
( Read more... )

TO ENTER THE CONTEST to WIN ADVANCED READER COPY:

1. Read (Prologue, Ch 1, Ch 2, & the flap copy).

2. Make RS teaser/trailer video--deadline for entering is Dec 18th (voting day).

3. Upload to YouTube with THIS text: "This video is part of a contest for http://www.rathandruins.com , to win an ARC of Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr. To see the other videos in the contest, check out the Rath and Ruins YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/RathandRuins#p/f If youve already seen the others and think mine is the best, vote for me! Comment vote to have your vote tallied but remember you can only vote for one video."

4. Email your URL to Rath Admin
contests@rathandruins.com

5. OPTIONAL: Lobby for votes

6. BONUS: IF you want to post them AFTER Dec 18, I will also send 6 winners signed finished copies of the book on May 1 when I get my author's copies

7. If you DO upload one, please tell me too so I can post it at my YouTube page too http://www.youtube.com/user/MelissaMarrAuthor

Well, I had a one-on-one with The Universe yesterday, and confirmed her answer to my dilemma. Yes, keep going with the WIP, she said, and "while you're at it, get your other books out there! Have a holiday giveaway."

So who am I to ignore my new bff? She even wrote the blurb for me, and here it is, straight from Universal Press:

BOOK GIVEAWAY!
Give A RECIPE 4 ROBBERY
to a budding young heirloom thief.
All you have to do
is go to marybethkelsey.com
and enter.


And that's it, folks. Hope to see you there. :)

This one is for the writers out there. Sarah works in New York as a publishing assistant. I love looking at things from her side of the desk. A couple of my favorite posts are Unlikable Villains (in which she reminds us of the importance of keeping our villians villainous and The Secret Lives of Titles because I love anything that talks about coming up with the right title. If you're a short story lover you're in for an extra treat because every so often she publishes short that readers have sent in on her blog.

Give her a wave from me when you peek in her window.

I was very confused to find one of my manilla return envelopes in the mail box the other day. That's because I haven't submitted anything for quite a while now. So you can imagine my surprise when I opened it and found one of my mss and a complimentary rejection letter inside.

The editor said she found my manuscript at the bottom of one of her many piles of mss while she was trying to clean up her office. She said my story was "humorous and well-executed" (which absolutely thrilled me), and said if I had anymore picture book mss at home, she would like to see them. Hooray!

Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that the ms had been submitted FIVE years ago! How exciting that after all those years she took time out of her busy schedule to address it.

I am tickled pink....

Maybe the rest of you already know about this blog, Three Men in a Tub, but it was news to me. It's the sketchblog of Wes Hargis and Ted Dawson and is filled with stories about comics and comic books, art and artists and, not surprisingly, sketches of original art.

A couple of my favorite posts How To Draw With Tom Gammill are Elephant in a Tree (which could also be called My Life as a Tattoo.)

Them them I said hello when you stop by.

I know it's actually Sunday night, and I normally don't post until Monday, but tomorrow, I will have no power. I don't mean in the figurative sense---although I often do feel powerless, in oh so many ways---but literally. We're at the point with our garage construction that the new power lines have been run, and tomorrow there are all these people coming over to inspect and connect and do a new transformer. Which means at some point---probably just as I am writing a blog entry---the power will go out, I'll have no internet, and that will be that. So here I am.

In other exciting news, this weekend I FINALLY got around to watching Twilight. We had some friends over and I had the DVD from Netflix, and the boys agreed to put it on with one codicil: they would be allowed to mock it as much as they wanted. I said sure. I have to say, again, that vampires are not my thing. I am not into sci fi or fantasy or really any stories that couldn't happen here in this world, right now. But I TOTALLY get the appeal of this movie. A lot of it, for me, had to do with Robert Pattinson, who I have been reading about in US Weekly for ages, but never seen on screen. He is not hard on the eyes, I will give you that. When I wrote this on my Twitter, though, I was surprised how many people got SO mad at me for liking him. Apparently, you are either Team Twilight or not, and there's no in between. Can I just say, though, in my defense, that I don't think it's really about vampires? It's the hair.

Exhibit one? Luke Perry, circa 1990 something:


And here's Robert Pattinson:


And don't even get me started on Johnny Depp in his 21 Jump Street Days:


Yeah, I know. It's kind of creepy. I never really THOUGHT of myself as a person who liked the long, moussed-up hair thing. Especially since I married someone who had a shaved head when I met him. But apparently, this is a trend with me. Although I have to say, Robert Pattinson's is kind of above and beyond. It looks like birds could be living in there. But still: cute.

The movie as a whole, well, it wasn't really my cup of tea. I didn't really expect it to be, though, for all the same reasons the book wasn't. I'm just way too literal and I like stories about real people. If they have big hair that looks like it could harbor wildlife, clearly, all the better.

Okay, I'm off to catch up on Top Chef and Hoarders. Got to get my TV on before I'm powerless. So to speak.

Have a great night, everyone!

I'm more than a little impressed by all the videos so far. It's like getting to tell everyone details about the book . . . but without breaking the PTB's rules on how much I can share in public yet. La La La. Yep, that was totally accidental ;)

Ahem.

Here are 3 more of the Radiant Shadows trailers--

Mina's video:




Adorabledoremouse (AKA Kimber Lee Ann)'s video:



And Aliceseesthefuture's video:

I can share ONE more chapter of RADIANT SHADOWS. So . . . do you want Chapter 2 or a later one (prob 6 or 7)?

You decide.

Reply to this post w your vote btw now & when I wake up at midday on Tuesday.

Austin author and educator Debbie Gonzales wears a lot of hats, and she wears them well. Her blog is a delightful mix of writing observations, tips, book discussions, and help for teachers. And then there's Simple Saturdays. Every Saturday she posts simple activities to be enjoyed by all family members. (On Fridays she posts the supplies you need for Saturday's simple activity.)

A few of my favorite posts are Sports Novels: The Voice of the Gamer and the Simple Saturday activity Autumn Leaf Potion

Tell Debbie I said hello when you stop by.

This blog had me at chocolate. I mean really, a blog that combines children's books with baking for kids? Yummy! This Florida teacher came up with a winning combination for blogging - she takes her favorite books from children's literature and then gives you recipes to go with the books. If the book doesn't have an obvious food connection, she makes up Recipes to Read by. The moral of her story is that food and books go together.

A couple of my favorite posts are Chocolate Obsession which is, as you can imagine, all about chocolate and You Don't Want to Steal My Dog where she has a delicious looking recipe for "pup cakes" that look like dogs.

Pair this delectable blog up with jamarattigan who rolls out amazing feasts of words and food (yes, I am giving you two for one today just because I can) and you will have food/book connections for just about any occasion. Jama's recent post on Thanksgiving with Arlo Guthrie at Alice's Restaurant made me hungry for words and music and her Friday Feast: A Taste of Tuscany will appeal to foodies as well as writers and poets.

Tell them both I said hello when you stop by.