Awesome/Fearsome

Love. Twue love.

2012-02-14T15:33:00.000-08:00

Though I'm not a huge Valentine's Day fan*, I'm a big fan of lists and love. So here's a list of my favorite couples from stage, screen and page in no particular order.

1. Anya and Dimitri, ANASTASIA

Anastasia:Do you really think I'm royalty?
Dimitri:You know I do!
Anastasia:Then stop bossing me around!

Obviously I'm going to start with an animated film (nerd!) and this is one of my all time favorites. I love me some love/hate relationships (see 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7) - they always have the best banter. Add John Cusack's voice to one of the most appealingly drawn animated male characters and well...excuse me, I need to go swoon somewhere.

2. Kat and Patrick, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU

Patrick:Well maybe you're not afraid of me but I'm sure you've thought about me naked, huh?
Kat: Am I that transparent? I want you, I need you, oh baby, oh baby.

Just watched this movie the other weekend and it completely reaffirmed my love for it. If you readers ever wondered what Ms Awesome/Fearsome was like during her college years, well, just watch this movie a few times and you'll get a general idea.

3. Miss Elinor Dashwood and Mr Robert Ferrars, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

Elinor Dashwood:What do you know of my heart? What do you know of anything but your own suffering. For weeks, Marianne, I've had this pressing on me without being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature. It was forced on me by the very person whose prior claims ruined all my hope. I have endured her exultations again and again whilst knowing myself to be divided from Edward forever. Believe me, Marianne, had I not been bound to silence I could have provided proof enough of a broken heart, even for you.

Don't get me wrong, I love me some Mr. Darcy, but there is something about Elinor and Robert's love affair, so quiet and pragmatic, that makes this twosome my favorite Austen romance. Plus, Emma Thompson sobbing through Hugh Grant's confession of love is so wonderfully perfect.

4. Ron and Hermione, HARRY POTTER

"There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione's arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet." - The Deathly Hallows

Who doesn't love Ron and Hermione? I mean, really. Seven books of growing romantic tension and even Voldemort was begging for these two to get together. Though I'm a fan of movies, I will say that I prefer how they got together in the books. Girls, who doesn't love a boy who takes interest in your interests, whether they be knitting hats or saving house elves?

5. Tracy Lords and CK Dexter Haven, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

Tracy Lord:Oh Dexter you're not doing it just to soften the blow?
C. K. Dexter Haven:No.
Tracy Lord:Nor to save my face?
C. K. Dexter Haven:Oh, it's a nice little face.
Tracy Lord:Oh Dexter, I'll be yar now, I promise to be yar.
C. K. Dexter Haven:Be whatever you like, you're my redhead.

Talk about banter - these two have it in spades. Plus a little Jimmy Stewart thrown in for some incredibly adorable hiccups? Who can resist?

6. Calmity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, CALAMITY JANE

Calamity: You're a knothead!
Bill: You're a faker!
Calamity: You're a bonehead!
Bill: Troublemaker!

Historical inaccuracies be damned, I am a big fan of this musical and its leading man. I think it jump-started my obsession with cowboys, but I dare you (be you woman or man) to look at Howard Keel in all his baritone glory and not get heart palpitations.

7. Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, BATMAN RETURNS

Batman:Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it.
Catwoman:But a kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it.

Hands down my favorite Batman movie. In my humble opinion, Michael Keaton is the only person who really mastered the humor and inherent weirdness that I associate with a character like Bruce Wayne. His relationship with Catwoman is the only one that ever really made sense to me and I love how they play off each other in this movie, alternating between wanting kill and kiss each other.

8. Fran and Scott, STRICTLY BALLROOM

Barry Fife:There are no new steps!

Dancing. Sexy, sexy dancing. I don't really think I need to say anything more.

9. Princess Cimorene and King Mendanbar, SEARCHING FOR DRAGONS (Book Two)

"Just to be sure I have this right,” Cimorene went on with a blinding smile, “did you just ask me to marry you?”
“Yes,” Mendanbar said. “At least, that’s what I meant.”
“Good. I will.”
Mendanbar tried to find something to say, but he was too happy to think. He leaned forward two inches and kissed Cimorene, and discovered that he didn’t need to say anything at all.

If you've never read The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C Wrede, read it. Read it now! It is funny and clever and fun, not to mention there's a completely awesome romance between Cimorene, a princess who ran off to be the Head Chef and Librarian to the King of Dragons (I know, right?) and Mendanbar, a king with very messy hair who doesn't much care for all the royal protocol he's expected to follow. Naturally they fall in love and it is adorable.

10. Julia and Paul Child, JULIE AND JULIA (and real life)

Paul Child: You are the butter to my bread, you are the breath to my life. I love you, my darling girl.

I've made no secret of my love for Stanley Tucci. To me, he is the tops. That gif above? That's me whenever he shows up in this movie. Since most romantic films are about people FALLING in love, we don't have nearly enough of stories about couples who have been together as long as they were and were STILL madly in love.

So that's my list, what about you? Who are some of your favorite lovebirds?

*This mostly comes from being a big old history buff and knowing way too much about the social and political history of this holiday. Once you see what goes into your Valentine's Day sausage, you just can't unsee it!

Inspring Images: Lock and Key

2012-02-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

There's just something so endlessly fascinating and mysterious about these two objects. Keys exist to open locks, locks need keys to be opened, so when we see one without the other, there's instant curiosity. What is behind that lock? Where does that key belong? Great fodder for any storyteller, don't you think?

Words of Wisdom

2012-02-08T14:09:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks. Sometimes at the end of a long day, after my 1.5 hour commute, a full day of juggling spreadsheets, schedules and artists before setting some time aside to slog through my latest set of edits, I have to chose between sleep and blogging. And as you can tell, lately, I've been choosing sleep.

I know there's got to be a better way, but I haven't quite figured it out yet. But I will. I will!

Until then, here are some Words of Wisdom I've been finding especially helpful as I work through my own mistakes.

Inspiring Images: The Stars and the Moon

2012-01-27T11:07:00.000-08:00

Inspired by a particular song today from the somewhat unknown musical Songs For A New World by Jason Roberts Brown. You can watch the gorgeously talented Audra McDonald sing the whole song below or you can just enjoy "The Stars and the Moon".

And he kissed me right here, and he said,
"I'll give you stars and the moon and a soul to guide you
And a promise I'll never go
I'll give you hope to bring out all the life inside you
And the strength that will help you grow."

Not So Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T08:51:00.000-08:00

Oh wow. A Not So Wordless Wednesday WITHOUT a Neighbor Cat picture. This is a rare occurrence indeed.

Ok, ok, I know you're thinking: "A picture of your dinner? Seriously? First of all that is a boring picture and secondly you are making me very hungry and that is rather mean."

But here's the thing. I made that pasta. I made it with my hands (and a pasta roller) and I put the delicious butternut squash filling and folded it neatly and made the brown butter sauce and oh man, I am making myself hungry here.

Anyways. As I mentioned yesterday, I have a 30 before 30 list. Learning how to make pasta was on that list.

And let me tell you guys - it is shockingly easy. I was shocked. It is so basic and easy but makes you feel so amazingly accomplished. Taking a pasta-making class in Culver City? $85. Telling people you can make pasta from scratch? Priceless. And delicious.

Words of Wisdom (and an award!)

2012-01-24T14:15:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest with you guys - last week was a tough one. There are those moments - and I'm sure everyone has them - where you feel that if only I had A then I could accomplish BC or D. So I like this quote because it reminds me that we always have exactly what we need.

In more exciting (and less introspective) news, David has kindly given me my first ever blogger award! Thanks, David. Along with the great honor of this award, comes great responsibility. Mainly to pass it along to six other great bloggers and tell you all ten things about myself.

1. I write with my left hand, throw with my right and apply mascara with both (though, alas, not at the same time. It would such a time saver.)

2. My favorite movie of all time is Blazing Saddles. I find it to be hilarious, brilliant and endlessly quotable.

3. Even though I am an excellent swimmer and love the water, I do not go in the ocean. There are sharks in there.

4. I went to a super awesome liberal arts college that doesn't have grades or majors. I learned a lot about theatre production, women's history and creative writing.

5. In the past five years, I have worked at four different animation studios. It's like I'm the Harold Hill of animation production (except for that whole being run out of town for selling imaginary instruments thing)

6. I have a list of 30 things I want to accomplish before I'm 30. I have completed five things and I have a year and a half to go.

7. I don't like tomatoes or mushrooms.

8. But I love potatoes. They are my favorite food group. Mmmmm. Potatoes.

9. I've never been to a concert before, but I've been to a bunch of musicals. Because I'm a proud theatre nerd.

10. I just learned how to add gifs to this blog so I will now be doing it all the time. I apologize in advance.

Now I shall bestow this honor on the six following bloggers. Do with it what you will, lovelies:

Shephard's Alley: dear friend and lover of theater
He Who Laughs: my former roommate and favorite gay playwright (occasionally, but rarely NSFW)
The Cuisinerd: beautiful photos, delicious food, fabulous lady

The Zoe-Trope: Brilliant blogger and author of The Swan Kingdom (definitely recommended)
Anna Staniszewski: A fellow SLC alum who writes clever fairy tale books and equally clever posts
Maybe Genius: Smart lady writer with smart ideas.

And in a totally unrelated note - is anyone watching Downton Abbey this season? I am obsessed and just don't know what to think about the whole Lady Sybil/Branson romance that is happening. Anyone else watching?

Inspring Images: Underwater

2012-01-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

Today I think I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. Happy Friday all!

About SOPA and PIPA

2012-01-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

If you're a Wikipedia addict like me, you might have noticed this on their home page today.

A whole bunch of websites have joined in and gone black in protest of SOPA and PIPA. So what are these bills and why is everyone talking about them? I'll let smart people explain:

What is SOPA?
End Piracy, Not Liberty
Why SOPA and PIPA matter to writers
What's at stake with PIPA, SOPA
What sites are going black in protest

Plus, a visual guide:

Or two:

Give the gift of reading

2012-01-14T18:07:00.000-08:00

Both my mother and my sister are teachers. My mom has taught deaf and hard of hearing infants in Los Angeles for over thirty five years. My sister has been teaching middle school in Downtown Los Angeles for going on three years now. They are both amazing teachers and tough ladies. The world needs more teachers like them, in my humble opinion.

My sister's students love to read. They devoured The Hunger Games, sped through The Adventures of Hugo Cabret and continuously ask for more. And she wants to give them more, so she started a Donor's Choose project to fund her quest to get them some great historical literature.

Donor's Choose is an awesome way to support the teachers in your community. If you want to help my sister, go here. Or check out the site for other teachers near you requesting funds to help their students. Even if you can't give, please spread the word to others who might be able to or keep it in your mind for another time. There will always be teachers wanting to give more to their students.

Happy weekend all!

Inspiring Images: Fairy Tales

2012-01-13T11:02:00.000-08:00

It is probably obvious to you all, but I love fairy tales. In fact, I probably spend at least 46% of my time thinking about fairy tales. Since I already geeked out about it on Wednesday, I figured I'm just going to continue the trend today. Happy Friday!

P.S. I'm also tumblr'ing these days. Mostly animation and art, with a dash of silliness and the occasional lefty feminist musings (all in good fun). Come check it out!

Not So Wordless Wednesday: "Into the Woods" Mega Post!

2012-01-11T15:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday it was announced that Rob Marshall will be bringing Into The Woods onto the big screen for Disney. Since it is my favorite musical of all time, I have cast the show for him. You have several options, Mr. Marshall. There is the Hollywood choice, the Broadway choice and the "can they sing?" choice, plus a few other suggestions. You are welcome.

Note: I was going to do a long detailed explanation of why I picked the folks I picked, but since this post will probably only be of interested to me, Shephard and the few other theater nerds I know, I will instead quote favorite lyrics from the show beneath each character choices.

NARRATOR: John Lithgow, David Hyde Pierce, Stanley Tucci

"And it came to pass, all that seemed wrong
was now right, and those who deserved to
were certain to live a long and happy life."

CINDERELLA: Rosario Dawson, Sutton Foster, Hayley Atwell

"Although how can you know
Who you are till you know
What you want, which you don't?"

JACK*: Andrew Rannells, Rupert Grint

"There are Giants in the sky
There are big tall terrible awesome scary wonderful
Giants in the sky"

THE BAKER: John C. Reilly, Roger Bart, Paul Rudd

"No more riddles.
No more jests.
No more curses you can't undo,
Left by fathers you never knew.
No more quests."

BAKER'S WIFE: Maya Rudolph, Katie Finneran, Christina Hendricks

"If the thing you do
Is pure in intent,
If it's meant,
And it's just a little bent,
Does it matter?"

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD*: Kristin Bell, Chloe Moertz

"And take extra care with strangers,
Even flowers have their dangers.
And though scary is exciting,
Nice is different than good."

CINDERELLA'S PRINCE: Ewan McGregor, Dominic Cooper, Nathan Fillion

"Right and wrong don't matter in the woods,
Only feelings.
Let us meet the moment unblushed.
Life is often so unpleasant-
You must know that, as a peasant-"

RAPUNZEL: Cary Mulligan, Amy Spanger, Rosamund Pike

"I am no longer a child. I wish to see the world."

RAPUNZEL'S PRINCE: John Stamos, Alan Tudyk, Lee Pace

"Agony!
Far more painful than yours,
When you know she would go with you
If there only were doors."

THE WITCH: Michelle Pfeiffer, Donna Murphy, Susan Sarandon

"You're so nice.
You're not good,
You're not bad,
You're just nice.
I'm not good,
I'm not nice,
I'm just right.
I'm the Witch.
You're the world."

For the smaller parts, I'm only offering you one option, Mr. Marshall. Enjoy!

FLORINDA/LUCINDA: Casey Wilson and Michaela Watkins

"Never wear mauve at a ball...
Or pink."

CINDERELLA'S STEPMOTHER: Allison Janney

"Or open your mouth."

JACK'S MOTHER: Megan Mullally

"I wish my son were not a fool.
I wish my house was not a mess.
I wish the cow was full of milk.
I wish the house was full of gold-
I wish a lot of things..."

CINDERELLA'S MOTHER (voice only): Dolly Parton

"Do you know what you wish?
Are you certain what you wish
Is what you want?
if you know what you want,
Then make a wish."

CINDERELLA'S FATHER: Christopher Guest

"The closer to the family, the closer to the wine..."

RED'S GRANDMOTHER: Judi Dench

"The mouth of a wolf's not the end of the world..."

STEWARD: Tom Hollander

"A servant is not just a dog to a prince."

GIANT (voice only): Kristen Johnston

*These actors are all probably too old to play these parts and should probably be new, unknown actors, but they're pretty to look at so I included them anyways.

Inspiring Images: Faceless

2012-01-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

It's the first Inspiring Images of the new year. Huzzah!

You may have noticed that I've been doing things a little differently, namely having a theme for each week instead of a random mish-mosh of images. As much as I love a good mish-mosh, I'm also enjoying the structure of a theme. So I'm going to keep running with that and see how it goes.

I've also added the "Followers" gadget to my sidebar because David told me too. He is my blogging mentor and I follow his instructions. So join the party that is Awesome/Fearsome! We are happy to have you and by we, I mean me.

Not So Wordless Wednesdays: Favorites of 2011

2012-01-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

I saw and read some really great things last year. Some great small films (and a few fun big ones), fantastic YA fiction of all genres, clever TV shows and a bunch of wonderful blogs and articles found all across the internets made my year especially enjoyable. So I made a list for you all (because I love lists). Enjoy!
What about you, lovelies? Anything out in the world make your year a little more cheerful?

Movies:

Buck
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2
Beginners
Hanna
Bridesmaids
Captain America

Books:

Shine by Lauren Myracle
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Entwined by Heather Dixon
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
Matched by Ally Condie
Wither by Lauren DeStefano

TV

Community
Sherlock
Downton Abbey
Once Upon a Time
Game of Thrones

Blogs

The Mary Sue
The Zoe Trope
Maybe Genius
David Powers Kings
Sarah Rees Brennan
Hannah's Theatre Collage

Favorite Blog Posts About Writing or Publishing

The Love Diagrams of Jane Austen
Fantasy World-Building: Magical Rules
25 Things Writers Should Know About Rejection
How Editing Works, Part One (and Part Two)
First Do No Harm
What Would Mary Sue Do?
Insta!Love and the Unconvinced Reader
Gays in YA and the Circle of Suck

Favorite Random Blog Articles

Daria Cosplay Makes the World a Better Place
Of Dogs and Lizards: A Parable of Privilege
Why Being Wrong Makes Us Angry
400-year-old Pendle witch cottage discovered
Adventures in Depression
Men Posed As Female Pin-Ups

Happy New Year!!

Gone to Montana

2011-12-24T09:22:00.000-08:00

Where the skies are big and the internet is limited. I won't be updating until the New Year but until then I hope your days are filled with food, fun and family.

Inspiring Images: Snow!

2011-12-23T11:28:00.001-08:00

It doesn't snow in Los Angeles. Sure we'll get the rare eight of an inch that melts before it touches the ground, but that does not count. Montana on the other hand, they get snow. I can only hope it will be waiting for me when I arrive tomorrow. But whether you're surrounded by the white stuff or live in a snow-less land, I offer these wintery images and wish you a very happy Friday!

Hanukkah 101

2011-12-19T14:26:00.000-08:00

**resources used: 27 years of living Jewish-ishly and Wikipedia**

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah (also known as Chanukah, Chanukkah, or Chanuka), so in celebration, I've decided to give you a handy-dandy Hanukkah Primer on a few holiday basics. Let's get started, shall we?

The Story of Hanukkah

In 167 BCE, King Antiochus of Syria outlawed the practice of Judaism, ordering a statue of Zeus be placed in one of their most holy temples. Obviously the Jews were none too pleased with this series of events and staged a revolt. A Jewish priest* Mattathias ben Johanan and his five sons led the rebellion and when Mattathias died, his son Judah took over. Known as "the Hammer", Judah and his fellow Makabis managed to overthrow Antiochus and take back the temple.

To summarize: Judaism outlawed. Jews mad. Jews rebel under the leadership of someone named "the Hammer". Jews win back their temple. Why hasn't there been a big budget Hollywood movie about this? And no, The Hebrew Hammer doesn't count.

Then what's the deal with that big candelabra thing?

Well, after the Jews reclaimed the temple, they found that it had been ransacked and the alter destroyed. When a new one was created, complete with a menorah, (that big candelabra thing) it was discovered that there was only enough olive oil to keep it lit for one night. However, it ended up lasting eight whole nights, giving the Jews enough time to prepare a new supply of oil.

So we celebrate for eight nights, lighting one candle each evening to commemorate the miracle that occurred.

*Also known as Kohen, Jewish priests are still present in Conservative and Orthodox Judiasm and are required to be direct male descendents of Aaron (the one from the Bible). Historically they were involved in the sacrificial elements of old world Judaism but since Jews don't really do the sacrificing thing any more, their role has become more of a title than a responsibility.

HOLIDAY TRAPPINGS

The Menorah:
I mentioned the menorah above, but you might have noticed in Friday's Inspiring Images, that they all have nine candles. That is because in addition to the eight candles that are being lit, there is an additional candle, called the shamash. Meaning "attendant" it has the vital role of lighting the candles every night.

Jewish families are also expected to place their menorah in the window so those passing by can be reminded of the Hanukkah miracle. Though women are not often included in religious rites (according to most Conservative and Orthodox traditions), the Talmud requires that they be allowed to participate in the lighting of candles during this holiday, for they were a part of the miracle.
In my family the kids were the ones in charge of lighting candles unless you were me and terrified of fire and hot wax. I've only now begun to outgrow this fear.

The Dreidel:
Simply put the dreidel is a four sided spinning top. On each side is a Hebrew letter (Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin) that together represent the acronym for the phrase Nes Gadol Haya Sham, which means "A Great Miracle Happened There" and refers to the oil lasting eight nights instead of one.

It's believed that dreidels were used to disguise the study of Torah during the period of time when Judaism was outlawed, as it could be mistaken for gambling.

You can play dreidel with money, but most of the times chocolate gelt or other candies are used. Interested in playing? Rules are here.

Gelt:
In Yiddish gelt means money. For Hanukkah, however, its quite common to give out chocolate gelt to young children (or easily pleased adults) as a gift for one of the nights of Hanukkah, though actual gelt is acceptable as well.

EIGHT DAYS OF GIFTS

Most of my non-Jewish friends look at me with envy every time I confirm that yes, Hanukkah means that we get eight days of gifts. I never really understood their jealousy until last year.

Last year I experienced my first Christmas and realized that there is a HUGE difference between Hanukkah presents and Christmas presents (at least in my family).

Every year since I was a child I was asked to pick one item I wanted for the holidays. One year it was a guitar, another year it was an America Girl doll (Molly was my favorite) and when I got older I got a 5-disc DVD player (sweet!)

Apparently, it's commonly believed that Jewish kids get eight of these grand gifts. Eight guitars or America Girl dolls or stereos or whatever. Not true guys, not true! Its usually one big gift from your parents one night, something from your grandparents (usually clothes) another night and a whole bunch of socks to fill in the other nights.

I was literally flabbergasted by the sheer amount of presents given and received during my first Christmas. For the first time I understood the look I had seen in my friends' faces growing up - who wouldn't be jealous if they thought we did Christmas EIGHT night in a row?

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD

What you really should be jealous about, however, is the food. I personally think that the best thing about most Jewish holidays is the delicious treats you get to indulge in. Hanukkah is one of my favorite food days mainly because of latkas, shredded potatoes fried in oil in honor of the oil used to lit the candles all those year ago. Super easy to make, incredibly delicious to eat, latkes (also know as potato pancakes) are a delicious dish made of potatoes, onions and occasionally zucchini with a little flour and egg thrown in there. There's some serious debate about what one should put on latkes, families divided between sour cream and applesauce. My preference is for sour cream, but try this recipe and decide for yourself!

There's also the tradition of sufganiyot, or fried donuts (made for the same reason as latkes). You'll usually find them filled with jelly, but there are tons of different alternatives, each as delicious as the next. I made these apple cider ones with salted caramel filling this year and they were fantastic.

FAQs

Why is it on a different night every year?

Jewish holidays follow another calendar, with different months and a difference length than the solar calendar. Though Hanukkah always starts on the 25th of Kislev, this means it always falls on a different day each year for those who don't follow the Jewish calendar.

What's up with the variety of spellings?

Different translations result in different spellings. The lovely "CH" sound (like the one heard in words like "chutzpah") doesn't really exist in the English language and the letter "chet" has two different pronunciations. In Hebrew, this is how Hanukkah is spelled (though you would be reading it right to left):

What is a Hanukkah bush or tree?

A relatively new trend, some families have added a Hanukkah bush to their holiday traditions. I imagine it came after years and years of watching their Christian friends covering their trees in sparkly lights and pretty ornaments. There isn't any religious or historical reason for them, but I bet they're fun to decorate.

Why are so many Christmas songs written by Jews?

This I cannot tell you. You'd think that after taking the time to pen such beautiful songs such as White Christmas, Silver Bells, Frosty the Snowman and my favorite Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, they would have taken time to write a menorah song or two. Luckily, we'll always have The Hanukkah Song.

And that's my post on Hanukkah. Hopefully it was helpful and informative, but let me know if I've left anything else or if you have any unanswered questions. Oh, and...

Inspiring Images: Hannukah Edition

2011-12-16T14:49:00.000-08:00

It's Friday and that means I'm one day closer to Hannukah/Hanukkah/Chanukah. Woo-hoo! Even though the holiday doesn't officially start until Tuesday, I'll be celebrating with my family this weekend, opening presents and eating a pile of latkas. Yum! I'm planning a little "Hannukah 101" post for next week for any gentile (non-Jewish) readers, but until then, I hope you will be satisfied with today's extra illuminated Inspiring Images. Happy Friday!

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-12-14T12:04:00.000-08:00

Even though Thanksgiving is SO last month, giggling at work is always in season.

And you guys? It's so true! So thanks :-)

Some Perspective

2011-12-13T16:09:00.000-08:00

Because sometimes you really need to read stuff like this:

25 Things Writers Should Know About Rejection

And some Buster, because sometimes you really need a laugh:

Swap Meet Sunday - Take Two

2011-12-11T22:12:00.001-08:00

Spent another Sunday perusing the Flea Market yesterday. Though I didn't find a deal quite like my last trip, I still managed to find some very reasonably priced copper pots, a great vintage measuring cup and a tea pot (none shown, unfortunately), all while capturing some typical Swap Meet snaps. Happy Monday, all!

Inspiring Images: Black and White Edition

2011-12-09T09:39:00.001-08:00

I'm celebrating the end of the week with a slew of beautiful black and white photographs. I just love the expression on the woman's face in the first photograph - I think I make a similar one at my computer towards the end of the day.

I've also added a tab at the top of the blog that links to my pinterest page where you can find the links to these images.

Happy Friday everyone!

Not So Wordless Wednesdays/Words of Wisdom

2011-12-07T09:56:00.001-08:00

I didn't have any good personal pictures to share this week, so I decided to do a mash-up of Not So Wordless Wednesdays and Words of Wisdom. BAM! Two birds, one super awesome letter from Harper Lee.

(transcription)

06/07/06

Dear Jeremy

I don't have a picture of myself, so please accept these few lines:

As you grow up, always tell the truth, do no harm to others, and don't think you are the most important being on earth. Rich or poor, you then can look anyone in the eye and say, "I'm probably no better than you, but I'm certainly your equal."

To Kill A Mocking Bird is one of my favorite books and I must say that I'm fascinated by the author, from her current reclusive nature to her childhood friendship with Truman Capote (the real life inspiration for Dill). This letter was posted on a favorite blog of mine: Letters of Note and I thought this one was particularly share-worthy. Kind of makes you want to write to her, doesn't it?

Words of Wisdom

2011-12-05T09:51:00.001-08:00

Last week was kind of a mopey one. I found myself getting bogged down in the tiny little frustrations of life and of writing, unable to see the forest for the trees.

So John - knowing my love of quotations - sent me this:

Wise words from him to me and now to you. Happy Monday!

Inspiring Images

2011-12-01T17:46:00.001-08:00

It's Friday! You might have noticed (unless you're viewing this through GoogleReader) that I've made some changes to ye olde blog. I've cleaned up the header a bit and added links to my facebook and twitter pages. Come! Be my friend, I'm ever so friendly and entertaining.

There are also some nifty tabs along the side that list some of my favorite blogs. Though it only shows a few at once (there are hundreds of blogs I follow) it will display the most recent posts for your enjoyment. You should check them out for they are informative and fun!

Last night I went to see My Week with Marilyn and it was fantastic. Michelle Williams is incredible as Miss Monroe and the rest of the cast is superb. Definitely a film I would recommend.

And of course, it wouldn't be Friday without Inspiring Images. I especially love the sketch of the girl in the sweater. Reminds of a little of Hermione, don't you think?

Read This Book!

2011-12-01T09:11:00.001-08:00

I've been reading a lot lately. I've found that when I'm writing, I don't end up reading as much and if I find any free time, I usually will pick up non-fiction over fiction. But now that I'm in the editing process, I've been plowing through my massive to-read pile and I found a particular gem that I wanted to share with you guys.

I heard about Shine by Lauren Myracle because of the hoopla that happened with the National Book Awards back in October (you can read about it here). There were a lot of well-respected agents and authors blogging and tweeting about their outrage and frustration at the situation that Myracle had been put in, but how she had acted with grace and aplomb.

What really caught my eye, however, was the book itself.

When it comes to YA fiction, I don't often find myself drawn to the Contemporary genre, which is silly because every time I've read something in this category I've ended up loving it. For example, Shine. I loved Shine. Couldn't put it down and ended up reading the whole thing in less then 24 hours.

Not only is the story completely riveting, but it is also beautifully written. The author does an excellent job of setting up the town and its residents, most especially our protagonist, Cat. One of my pet peeves in YA characters, especially young women, is how they are presented as defiant from the get-go never giving the reader a chance to discover how or why they are that way. Shine shows us how Cat got to her place of isolation, by examining the context and reason for her rebellion.

Though the story revolves around the mystery of who attacked her friend, Patrick, the book also deals with issues of faith, drug abuse, homophobia and sexual assault. The world that Cat lives in is often raw and painful, but there's a sense of hope to her story which is what makes it so very special.

I was reminded a lot of the film Winter's Bone for similar themes and stubbornly focused female protagonists. There's a lot to love in this book and as soon as I get it back from the people I've lent it to, I'm going to read it again.

What about you guys? Have you read anything good lately?

Buy Shine here and check out Lauren Myracle's blog here.

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-11-30T09:40:00.001-08:00

You guys sick of cat pictures yet?

Neighbor Cat catching an evening breeze on the windowsill last night. It's not quite cold here in SoCal, but it definitely feels a lot more like the season then it did last week with our mini-heat wave.

NaNoWriMo update: 0 words.
Yep, that's right. Totally failed this year. Got caught up in the new job and editing and well, some things had to be sacrificed to the lords of time. Sorry NaNoWriMo ambitions, you were brave and stubborn until the very end.

A shout out to the folks at InkPageant (~~I still haven't figured out how to add the "I heart/contribute to InkPageant" widget on my blog because I am technologically dim~~ Yay - I figured it out) but they are a great resource for bloggers and writers alike!

I've also got some fun posts brewing in the old brain pot, some book reviews (read an amazing YA Contemporary over Thanksgiving and can't wait to gush about it), some new regular features and a follow up to Exposition Sing-A-Long.

How about you guys - how did you do with NaNoWriMo?

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-11-23T11:02:00.001-08:00

I made this especially ugly apple pie last week for our Thanksgiving potluck at work. Don't worry, though. It was delicious.

I then made three new pies the following night for my family's (now) annual Pie-bration. Tonight I'll be baking some more for what I hope is a full day of eating tomorrow. Yum. I love Thanksgiving and I hope you all have a great one!!

Some Thoughts on Adaptations

2011-11-21T12:14:00.001-08:00

**This post contains opinions**

Adaptation:

1. modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment

2. something that is adapted; specifically : a composition rewritten into a new form

Have you all seen the trailer for The Hunger Games?

You should check it out. It's ok, I'll wait.

So? What do you think? Are you as excited as I am?

As evidenced by previous posts, I am a Hunger Games fan. I found Suzanne Collins' series delightfully tasty and devoured all three books in practically one sitting. Delish!

And I'm not the only one. Lots of people love these books, so the people in Hollywood decided that they would make a movie about it. I am thrilled. However, if you look around the internets, you'll notice a lot of discourse about this film. There are frustrations about casting, worries about how the violence will be handled and wondering which scenes they're going to cut or rewrite.

But this is what happens. Any time a beloved book is made into a movie, there's going to be a sense of communal hand-wringing. It happened with Harry Potter, with Twilight, even Lord of the Rings. Of course it will happen with The Hunger Games.

Movies based on books are exactly that. They're movies BASED on books. It is impossible for a movie to duplicate a novel and I don't think it should be expected to. Books and novels are entirely different beasts and they satisfy entirely different needs.

Reading is a more personal and private act, requiring you to depend heavily on your imagination to guide you through the text. Watching a movie, on the other hand, is a more public activity, where total immersion is encouraged. Movies seem to say "sit back and let us take you on a journey". Books, however, will give you a map and point you down a road that you must navigate on your own. And while books have the leisure to explore the internal workings of characters and their world, movies have a set time limit (excluding, of course, the mini-series format, a more involved and dedicated form of adaptation) which means the cutting or rewriting of scenes, characters and plot lines, in order to service the story as a whole.

We (lovers of books) often have a hard time with adaptations. We want the image we have in our imagination to leap onto the screen. We want to watch our favorite scenes and see beloved characters come to life. Unfortunately it's almost impossible recreate what exists in your imagination, let alone satisfy the imagination of thousands of diverse and varied readers. Expecting a film adaptation to be an exact duplicate of the book will only lead to disappointment.

It's often said that there are no new ideas, that if you look close enough, everything is adapted from something else. After all, The Muppet Movie is a retelling of The Wizard of Oz, which of course, came from a book. Good adaptations, in my opinion, are an opportunity to reach out to a new audience, unique and separate from the original text. An homage, rather then an exact copy.

Snow White is a good example because it's pretty popular right now, with three new adaptations in progress. On TV there's Once Upon a Time, plus two upcoming feature films, Snow White and the Huntsman and Mirror, Mirror. All are an attempt to put a new, unique spin on this well-known story with one similar thread: the heroine herself.

Historically, Snow White has been a fairly reactive character. In the original Grimms version, as well as Disney's classic retelling, Snow White doesn't do much on her own, remaining a passive character who is literally unconscious for a good portion of the story. But consider, for a moment, that when Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released in theaters, women had only been voting for less then twenty years and most were discouraged from attending college and pursuing a career outside of the home. Disney himself, refused to consider women as animators, only allowing them to work in the Ink and Paint department. Given this small snippet of history, those early Snow White adaptations are a perfect reflection of the cultural mindset of the time.

Fast forward to current day where all three of our new Snow Whites (while still maintaining their European appearance), have been given a girl-power update. Despite the vast difference in the styles of the adaptations, there is a common thread: each Snow White now has her own sword.

No more waiting for the Prince (or the Huntsman, in one of the versions) to show up. Nope, these women have become significantly more proactive in their own story. Fast forward to another fifty years and I bet we'll be seeing a slew of new adaptations representing more of our diverse population, with Snow Whites of difference races, romantic preferences and backgrounds. Just imagine the possibilities!

And that's what so great about adaptations - it's another opportunity to see a wonderful story through a new creative lens. Because, let's face it, no one's lens is exactly the same and that's just the way it should be.

What about you guys? Are you fans of adaptations or purists at heart? Any favorite adaptations to share?

[Harry Potter movie/book comparison image found here]

Inspiring Images

2011-11-18T16:14:00.001-08:00

Happy Friday all! Can you believe it's Thanksgiving next week? It's my most favorite of holidays so I am very excited to dedicate my entire day to eating. Until then, here are some pretty pictures to get you through the rest of this chilly November day. Enjoy!

Words of Wisdom

2011-11-15T10:05:00.001-08:00

I am the WORST.

Being busy isn't really an excuse. We're all busy. We all have lives that require the balance of the practical and the hopeful, reality and fantasy, day jobs and day dreams. My balancing skills are rusty, but I'm hoping to regain my footing soon. Very soon.

Until then, I offer these words of wisdom from Frank A. Clark:

My current obstacle is time and my passionate love of being asleep. What is standing in your way?

Inspirational Images

2011-11-11T22:28:00.001-08:00

Just a few pretties for you on this Friday evening. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Free Advice/Belated Not So Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-10T09:22:00.001-08:00

My advice is being featured on Navigating the Slush Pile today! If you haven't bookmarked Vickie Motter's blog, do it - do it now. It's a fantastic resource and one of my favorite agent blogs out there. She's currently in the process of collecting free advice, so if you have some please share!

In case you're curious, here's my advice:

There are three Ts to writing:

Talent
Tenacity
Thick-skin

The first will come from perfecting the other two.

And because I missed Not So Wordless Wednesdays yesterday, here's my belated contribution:

I got this in a fortune cookie last week and it gave me a big smile. Here's hoping everyone gets a fortune as uplifting as this one.

Repeat Offender: Exposition Sing-a-Long

2011-11-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

It is Monday and my brain is full. It's so full of new job information that I'm going to do a horrible thing and re-post an entry I did back in September because I'm sleepy and exposition is still hard!

As soon as my brain (and I) settle into the new work flow, I'll send some new posts your way.

Enjoy!

~~~

My biggest struggle in writing has always been exposition. It's a slippery slope. You want your world, your characters, their motivations and the story's impetus to be clear from the get-go but you don't want to bog down the most essential pages of your book with heavy, boring exposition.

Then when I was baking the other day and listening to the Broadway mix I made for myself on Spotify*, the opening number from Fiddler on the Roof came on. While I rolled out cookie dough, I found myself marveling at the perfect way in which the song set up the rules and expectations of the show, all in a few beautifully sung moments.

Obviously musicals and novels are different beasts, but I think there's a lot that can be learned by examining how some Broadway shows (and animated films) handle their necessary exposition.** Most musicals have an opening number, like an opening chapter, that does a lot of the heavy lifting but does so in a fun, exciting way. Just like the first few pages of a book, it has a lot to introduce and only a few minutes to do so.

Here are just a few favorite openings of mine. There are film versions of all the Broadway shows, except Urinetown the Musical, which is a darn shame because it is especially brilliant, though you can listen to the whole soundtrack on Spotify or youtube.

THE MUSIC MAN - "Rock Island"

3rd Salesman: What's the fellow's line?1st Salesman: Never worries bout his line?!?
2nd Salesman: Or a doggone thing. He's just a bang beat, bell ringing, big haul, great go, neck or nothin', rip roarin', every time a bull's eye salesman. That's Professor Harold Hill, Harold Hill
3rd Salesman: What's the fellows line?
5th Salesman: What's his line?
Charlie: He's a fake, and he doesn't know the territory!
(video of the entire song)

This is a great, fast-paced set up for our main character: traveling salesman Harold Hill. The other salesmen can't stand him because he sells something that seems impossible to sell: instruments for boy's bands and not only that but he does it well. Right away we know that he's a charmer that can't be trusted. We also get an idea of the time period (even if we weren't looking at their costumes) - the language the salesmen use and the fact that they are traveling salesman (one sells anvils), yet they aren't doing very well indicates that we're just at the beginning of the 1900s. Hill himself is on the train with the salesmen but hasn't revealed his true identity so we know that it is his reputation that is known, not his face. The best part of this show and this opening is that our main character is not presented in the most flattering light, yet we're still intrigued by his acclaimed charm and brashness. Not only that but your curiosity is peaked, wondering what this character is going to do next and how he's going to do it.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - "Belle"

Belle: There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Ev'ry morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town(...)Townsfolk: Look there she goes that girl is strange, no question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
Never part of any crowd
'Cause her head's up on some cloud
No denying she's a funny girl that Belle
(video of the entire song)

Beauty and the Beast has a very typical Broadway-style opening, not surprising as Howard Ashman and Alan Menken who created the music started out in theater together (Little Shop of Horrors). That's also why it translated very neatly when it was made in to a Broadway show years later. "Belle" is the perfect set up for our main character and the world she lives in. It also sets up her main conflict: that she wants a more exciting life then the one she has in her boring, closed-minded town. We also learn that despite being considered beautiful by the townspeople, they still think of her as incredibly weird because she likes to read. Tie this together with the fairy tale opening describing the Beast's fate and you have your protagonists, their desires and the world they live in completely covered in the first ten minutes of the movie.

INTO THE WOODS - "Prologue"

Narrator: Once upon a time--Cinderella: I wish...Narrator: --in a far-off kingdom--Cinderella: More than anything...Narrator: --lived a young maiden--Cinderella: More than life...Narrator: --a sad young lad--Cinderella: More than jewels...Jack: I wish...Narrator: --and a childless baker--Jack: More than life...
Cinderella, Baker: I wish...Narrator: --with his wife.
(audio of the entire song)

Into the Woods is probably my favorite musical and it takes a very straightforward, simple approach to introducing its characters, which is very much in step with the fairy tale world we are entering. You have a omni-present narrator who actually stands on the stage with the characters and on occasion communicates with them. He knows all their stories and it is his job to weave them all together, not an easy task when you're combining the stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and so on and so forth. Because the stories are fairly well-known, the audience can make a lot of assumptions, but the motivations for the characters are very clearly laid out from the get-go. Cinderella wants to go to the ball. The Baker and his Wife want a child. Jack and his mother want money. You have everything you need to know about these characters immediately which allows you to sit back and enjoy the twists and turns these fairy tales take as they intersect each other.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - "Tradition"

Tevye: Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years.
Here in Anatevka, we have traditions for everything.
How to sleep.
How to eat.
How to work.
How to wear clothes.
For instance, we always keep our heads covered, and always wear a little prayer shawl.
This shows our constant devotion to God.
You may ask, how did this tradition get started?
I'll tell you.
I don't know.
(video of the entire song)

The song that inspired this post! Fiddler on the Roof is a great musical, it really is and I'm not just saying that because I'm Jewish (though my grandmother would be so proud) but also because it's the type of musical that really defies the stereotype of what musicals are (not that there is anything wrong with flamboyant, spontaneous choreographed dance numbers every ten minutes because let me assure you, I love those as well). Having said all that, let's talk about how fantastic the opening of the film is. Unlike the previous musicals I mentioned, this exposition focuses primarily on the world these characters live in, focusing on the rules that governed Hasidic Jews in Russia at the turn of the century. Because so much of the story focuses on the difference between the occupants of Anatevka and the world beyond it, it's important that the audience is aware exactly how Tevye and his family live. Since it's a story about change, opening with an emphasis on tradition gives more weight to the events that later occur, as well as inform our opinions about Tevye as a character.

URINETOWN THE MUSICAL - "Too Much Exposition"

Little Sally: Oh, I guess you don't want to overload them with too much exposition, huh.
Lockstock: Everything in its time, Little Sally. You're too young to understand it now, but nothing can kill a show like too much exposition.
Little Sally: How about bad subject matter?
Lockstock: Well -
Little Sally: Or a bad title, even? That could kill a show pretty good.
Lockstock: Well, Little Sally, suffice it to say that in Urinetown (the musical) everyone has to use public bathrooms in order to take care of their private business. That's the central conceit of the show!
(audio of the entire song)

This is an example of not only confronting the problem of exposition but beating it with a big stick in front of your audience for several minutes. If you are very clever and very smart about it, this method can work. It did in Urinetown the Musical, because it not only sets up the plot, but it also presents the tone for the rest of the show. I imagine this would be a very difficult feat to accomplish in a novel, but probably not impossible. A successful opening is not just about establishing story and characters, it's also about showing exactly how the story will be told. A consistent tone is just as important as likable characters and an exciting plot and just as difficult to pull off.

Look for another post of my struggles with exposition where I'll talk about my favorite books and how brilliantly they dealt with such problems.

*I never said I was cool
**Even though every story has to tackle exposition, I wanted to compare Broadway shows that managed to conquer it in one song, making it a more accurate comparison to those who need to conquer a lot of exposition in their opening chapter.

Inspiring Images

2011-11-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

It's my last day off before my new job and I'm going to spend the day baking and NaNoMoWri-ing. But before I do, here are some fun images for you to enjoy on this lovely Friday!

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-11-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

My work station today. Three sets of notes to incorporate into the main manuscript.

A lot of editing to do but I have my fearless tea ducky and superhero mug to keep me going.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Internet Randoms

2011-10-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

I promise I'll have some writing posts this week, but today I'm editing like a mad-woman with the hopes of getting the main manuscript all nice and polished before I start on the not-quite-a-zombie NaNo project tomorrow. So until then, I've got a few treats (but no tricks) for you.

1. Check out this contest on one of my new favorite blogs: Maybe Genius. The blogger, S.E. Sinkhorn (which might be the best name I've ever heard) just got herself an agent!

2. If you aren't following Query Tracker's blog, you should change that now. Every week they do a publishing round-up post which is where I found out about Ms Sinkhorn, plus numerous other awesome bloggers who have just been agented.

3. Some literary matchmaking, courtesy of Scholastic. My favorite? Harold and Fancy Nancy.

4. Another of my favorite bloggers finally updated her website after a long absence. And it was totally worth the wait. Hyberole and a Half is the place to go for hilarious and thoughtful stories in the form of MS Paint drawings. Here is a tiny, tiny taste of her work.

5. An awesome, awesome post by Zoe Marriott about Mary Sues. A great read to anyone who writes female characters, reads female characters or is a female character.

6. I have also been updating The Internet's Guide to Writing and Publishing with some new articles on conferences, among other things.

7. And now, a pep talk from Batman.

Happy Monday!

Inspiring Images

2011-10-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Can you believe October is almost over? November isn't just a new month for me; this year it also means a new job! I'll be starting at a new animation studio in a week and I can't wait. Though I won't really be talking about my new position (studios like to keep their productions hush-hush) I'll continue to blog about reading and writing, especially as NaNo kicks into high gear. Zombies FTW!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend - any plans for Halloween?

Happy Friday!

Hunger Games posters!

2011-10-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

Oh. My. God.

I am so excited about The Hunger Games film and these posters just kicked that excitement into high gear. All the main characters are sprinkled across the internets, but the following three are my favorites.

(1, 2, 3)

What do you guys think? Are you ready for it to be March yet?

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-10-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my favorite season. Though California seasons are more subtle than most places, it's now getting chilly enough to wear socks to bed and sweaters to dinner.

I also get to indulge in one of my favorite cold weather activities: tea drinking. Curling up on the couch with a cat and a mug of vanilla bourbon rooibos with a dash of milk and sugar? Nothing better.

What about you guys? Are you tea or coffee lovers? What do you like to do when the temperature drops?

In other exciting news, I've signed up for this year's NaNoWriMo (what a mouthful). Even though my main manuscript is nearly done and ready for submission, I've decided to start a new project during November to keep my momentum going. It might involve zombies. I blame John.

Anyone else getting involved?

Two years

2011-10-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Greatness of GoodReads

2011-10-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

It should be fairly obvious that I love reading. And I read a lot. And quickly. Maybe a little too quickly, in fact. When I was in elementary school I got in trouble for speed-reading and my teacher would quiz me each time I finished a book to make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped important sections in my race to get to the end.

Our tiny apartment is filled with books. Though I've been using the library more frequently during my period of unemployment, I still prefer to buy books. I re-read my favorites all the time. Sometimes just a chapter or two, but I like knowing they're close by. This of course, calls for the occasional book purge, getting rid of novels I said I would read years ago but haven't or books I bought and didn't really like once I read them. Those get donated to Goodwill or library book sales. But one of the best things about buying books is being able to recommend and lend them to friends.

GoodReads is kind of like that. Though you can't swap books through them anymore, it's an awesome way to share what you're reading and what you like. It's the social networking site for book nerds like me and I love it. Check out my sidebar and you'll notice my new GoodReads widget updating you on the books I'm currently reading. Click on it or here and you can see what I've already read and what's on my To-Read list. Join up and we can become pals. I'd love to know what everyone is reading and I always welcome recommendations.

Book nerds unite!

Inspiring Images

2011-10-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

This morning I've got Paris on the brain. Paris, Autumn and sweaters. Oh la la.

As always, click on the image for the link. Happy Friday all!

Words of Wisdom

2011-10-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-10-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Neighbor cat does his best Hunchback of Notre Dame impression on the arm of our sofa.

In other Awesome/Fearsome news, I have taken my blog post full of writing and publishing links and created a new tab that I have already begun to update. Every day Google Reader brings me new and useful information so I whenever I find something I find helpful, I'll be adding it to the list. Check it out!

Separating the Art from the Artist

2011-10-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Last week I read a great blog post by Sarah Rees Brennan called The Internet's a Stage and it's been simmering atop my brain-stove ever since. She writes about some of the unpleasantness that can come with being a writer and while it's a wonderful guide on how to contextualize that kind of attention as an artist, it made me think about our responsibility as readers and consumers.

We are often taught that if you are someone who places your work in the public eye, that you also become subject to criticism. You, as well as your art, are now fair game. And while I suppose that's true, I also believe that just because we can doesn't mean that we should.

If we love a book, we want to love the author as well. After all, they created this piece of work that meant so much to us that our connection to the art is personal and we want our connection to the artist to be the same. But it's not. The art is not the artist.

Being unable to separate the two leads to frustration and disappointment. We want our artists to be as perfect as their art and the moment we discover that they are not, we feel betrayed. There's a sense that the artist belongs to us, that they owe us something, whether it be loyalty or consistency or even recognition.

Alternately, if we don't like their art, we feel free to attack them personally. It's not enough to dislike what they've created, we have to loathe and criticize them as well. There's a general mentality that the consumer is king and if we've paid for something, if we've given money to an artist that their feelings are somehow void. That we can say whatever we want to them and they should just take it.

I am certainly guilty of all the above actions. And that's something I'd like to change.

There's a great quote from one of my favorite movies, The Philadelphia Story, in which Katherine Hepburn's character asks her current fiance what he thinks of her:

George: You're like some marvelous, distant, well, queen, I guess. You're so cool and fine and always so much your own. There's a kind of beautiful purity about you, Tracy, like, like a statue.
Tracy: George...
George: Oh, it's grand, Tracy. It's what everybody feels about you. It's what I first worshiped you for from afar.
Tracy:I don't want to be worshiped. I want to be loved.

If you worship someone you see them as pure and perfect. The higher on the pedestal you place them, the further they have to fall and the more destroyed they will be when they reached the bottom. Worshiping someone denies them the natural imperfection of life. Love on the other hand is messy and flawed, able to grow and adapt. We accept faults and embrace mistakes because we are capable of the same.

This is not to say that we shouldn't be discerning in our consumption of art. We should hone our critical eye, finding and appreciating that which satisfies our unique creative appetite. We should be grateful when we find work that touches us and praise those who imagined it. But we should always remember that there is a difference between the creation and the creator, honoring the beauty of one and respecting the flaws of the other.

Worship the art. Love the artist.

Conquering the Canyon

2011-10-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

For the past year I've been dealing with the canyon. Unfortunately this is not a metaphor. It was a literal canyon created by resting a full mattress on top of a queen mattress that despite being filled with blankets and pillows, I still had a tendency to fall into.

But this weekend, we bought a new mattress. A proper queen with a box spring and everything. And let me tell you, if this is what it feels like to be an adult, I am all for it.

I guess if I was a really good blogger, I'd figure out how to make this story a representation of my life or my writing as a whole. So here's an attempt.

Sometimes you have a really squishy bed that doesn't quite fit. Just as you will sometimes have stories that don't quite work. The intention is there, the concept is there but something just isn't working. But you ignore the back aches and the awkward sleeping positions because it is a really big pain to have to find a mattress, just as major revisions also really suck.

Then one day you wake up and you realize: this is just not going to work for me any more. There are too many problems with this mattress. It has to go and I have to get another mattress because I don't want to sleep on the floor. So you do some research and you find some sales and you discover that sometimes you can find a pretty good deal on a pretty nice mattress and they will deliver it and take away your old one for free.

So basically, a manuscript can be like a mattress. It takes work to get the right one and you might even be able to settle for an ok one, but after a while you'll start to realize that you can do better. Because you can. Just don't let anyone take away your old story for free. You'll find a way to use it. Not so much with a mattress.

In other, more well written blog posts, here are a few I recommend:

This Week in Clusterfuck, brought to you by the National Book Foundation by Libba Bray - A wonderfully written rant on the craziness that just happened with this year's National Book Awards. You can buy the book in question here

Show Your Confidence by Jessica Faust - A great article on being confident in your writing and your submitting.

The Query Isn't Working, Maybe It's the Book by Jessica Faust - Another great piece by Jessica. Definitely inspired some of the above ramblings.

Inspiring Images

2011-10-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

Even though it's been 90+ degrees for the past few days, I refer to let it deter my fall mindset. We've got some cute animals, a few LOLs and a delicious looking treat or two. Click the images for links. Happy Friday!

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-10-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

A leftover shot from Sunday's Flea Market outing.

Reminded me of Flynn's satchel from Tangled. Unfortunately, I did not check inside for a crown.

The Internet's Guide to Writing and Publishing

2011-10-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

Swap Meet Sunday

2011-10-09T23:40:00.000-07:00

I grew up going to flea markets and swap meets. Both my parents are collectors so I learned all the tricks from them: where to go, when to go, how to haggle and what constitutes a good deal. The Pasadena Rose Bowl is the best. Go early in the morning. Always ask "can you do better?" and if you find three Le Crueset pots for under $100 buy them, buy them immediately, because you're never going to find a better deal.

Needless to say, I had a very good Sunday. We spent the morning in Pasadena and then had an amazing brunch in Burbank at Another Broken Egg before checking out the beautiful fountain outside of City Hall. Took a few snaps to share with you. Enjoy!

And here it is: my great deal. Tah-dah!

Words of Wisdom

2011-10-08T23:01:00.000-07:00

Inspiring Images

2011-10-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

My imagination is making the transition from summer to fall with some random goodies thrown in. Click the images for links. Happy Friday!

New Recipe Over At The Ugly Pie

2011-10-06T10:05:00.001-07:00

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Click the image for the recipe!

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-10-05T09:41:00.001-07:00

Portrait of an indoor kid:

John took this several months ago with a 35mm that belonged to his father. We were spending the weekend at a friend's cabin and I had woken up early to write (can you see the outline of my messy hair?) It seemed like the perfect picture to share on this rainy day, especially since I intend to spend most of the day in exactly this pose.

Words of Wisdom: Sagan Edition

2011-10-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

It's John's birthday! So here's some wisdom from one of his favorites: Carl Sagan

Attack of the 1960s Pilots

2011-10-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

**This post contains opinions**

Warning: Spoilers for the pilots of Mad Men, Pan Am and The Playboy Club

I don't watch a lot of TV. Let's just start with that. We don't have cable and never hooked up our flatscreen to watch broadcast TV, so if it's not streaming somewhere, I'm probably not watching it. Unless it's Mad Men.

It's pretty obvious that I'm not alone in the belief that Mad Men is awesome, a fact that network executives just seemed to realize as is evidenced by the not one, but TWO 1960's inspired new shows.

Unfortunately neither of them seemed to understand that Mad Men isn't great just because of its time period. It's great because of how it utilizes the era with fantastic characters and interesting storylines. Pan Am and The Playboy Club still could be great shows, but let's take a look at how the Mad Men pilot accomplished what theirs didn't and how they could have done it better.

Why the Mad Man Pilot Works

The Mad Men pilot is incredibly simple: one day in the life of Don Draper. We learn something during every moment of the first episode and yet we are seeing all of it, instead of being told. New York in the 1960s is presented, as gritty and imperfect as our protagonist. We’re introduced to the offices of Sterling and Cooper, as well as to Don’s new secretary Peggy. There’s immediate conflict: Don’s inability to create a pitch for a meeting that afternoon as well as his tenacious relationship with co-worker Pete. We don’t know everything about every character we encountered, but we know enough to see how they fit into this world. Don’s final presentation is triumphant not just for him, but for us because we’ve seen exactly how he got to that moment. Then, just as we think we know what this show is about and who Don is, we follow him to a strange house to watch him kiss his wife and children goodnight. And suddenly ever assumption we had about this character is shaken.

The Problem with Pan Am

Pan Am’s biggest issue is trying to do too much in their first episode. There’s a lot of backstory for a lot of characters with all of it explained through abrupt flashbacks. There’s no flow to the pilot and the whole things feels shaky and unsteady, like a plane caught in turbulence (see what I did there?). The uniforms don’t help when you’re trying to distinguish between similar looking characters that haven’t had their individual personalities established.

It also doesn’t help that there is no major conflict propelling the plot forward. There’s a lot of emphasis put on the particular flight that we are following, yet nothing happens to jeopardize it. Either have something happen or stop talking about how important that flight is

And unlike Mad Men - whose characters are products of their era - Pan Am seems to use the events of the 1960s more like a prop, using the evacuation of Cuban exiles as the setting for a romantic proposal rather then noting the effect it had on the world, the country or even the people involved. Historical elements are treated like something of the past, removing the weight or power of our character’s actions. Instead of accurately portraying how closely Pan Am girls were monitored on their uniform, appearance and weight, Christina Ricci’s character seems as blasé about it as we would be now. But then, she could have lost her job – one of the few jobs that allowed (single) women that kind of freedom and income. Even a beatnik girl would have cared a little more.

What Pan Am Could Have Done

Instead of trying to shove so many difference story lines into one hour, they should have focused on Bridgette. Using her, instead of flashbacks, to introduce the rest of the characters, as well as the Pan Am lifestyle, we would have gotten a clearer idea of how everything fits together. It would have also made her disappearance much more powerful. Taking away what appears to be the central character at the end of the first episode raises the stakes for everything.

The Problem with The Playboy Club

While Pan Am had issues with character, the biggest problem with The Playboy Club was how inaccurately they painted the world of the 1960s. Mad Men works (and works well) because it reveals the messiness of an era we seem to revere for being a “simpler time”. The Playboy Club puts those rose-colored glasses back on our nose all the while whispering sweet nothings about how Hugh Hefner is actually responsible for women’s rights, gay rights and civil rights. Just as Hefner redefines the actions of women posing for Playboy as a form of “empowerment”, The Playboy Club applauds itself for creating a safe haven from the injustices of its time.

The pilot opens with a voice over from Hef himself: “It was the early ’60s, and the Bunnies were some of the only women in the world who could be anyone they wanted to be.” Of course, Bunnies could be “anyone” if that anyone was a waitress, a cigarette girl or possibly a performer. And they could only be that if they fit the very specific physical requirements that entered our lexicon as the ideal of beauty: thin and busty. But if you didn’t fit the look of a Bunny, you couldn’t work there and working there was hardly every girl’s dream, as glamorous as it was presented in the pilot.

Gloria Steinem, who not only worked as a Playboy Bunny, but also wrote an extremely famous article about it, can express the misrepresentation of these women better then I can: “It normalizes a passive dominant idea of gender. So it normalizes prostitution and male dominance.” It simplifies a complicated time and encourages our misrepresentation of our own history.

Because of Hefner’s involvement with the show, there’s no way to get an honest portrayal of life as a Bunny, but it doesn’t help that the main characters are as watered down as the lifestyle they inhabit. Besides that accidental murder in the first episode, Nick Dalton and Bunny Maureen maintain an air of perfection, not a flaw in sight. Bunny Alice and her husband are the only interesting characters, as the threat of being exposed as gay has very real and dangerous consequences.

What The Playboy Club Could Have Done

Mad Men works because it shows a world and characters that are flawed. To reveal the unpolished, un-airbrushed world of Playboy would be far more interesting then the fanciful retelling that’s currently on the air. As with Pan Am, focusing on one character through the length of the pilot would have allowed the audience to be shown the lifestyle, instead of told about it. Following Bunny Maureen through her first day, showing her getting shoved into her uncomfortable costume and painful shoes, then the constant groping and harassment she would have received would have revealed a more truthful representation of a Bunny’s day. It also would have added some actual empowerment when she stabbed the mobster in the neck with her stiletto.

Words of Wisdom

2011-10-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

Banned Books

2011-09-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

I'm a tad bit late, but Happy Banned Books Week!

Some of my favorite books are banned books. True story. Let's see why they were banned.

To Catch a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Reasons: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and violence

In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit

Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
Reasons: occult/satanism

Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene
Reasons: offensive language, racism, sexually explicit

I'm not going to go on a rant about how ridiculous it is to ban a book because it deals with racism or sexuality or violence, things that undeniably exist in the world we live in. I'm not going to make the outrageous comment that allowing children to read beautiful written literature about such things may help them contextualize and understand it. I'm not even going to say that they'll be confronted with similar themes every time they turn on a TV or go online. I'm just going to say that I read most of these books when I was a child and I turned out perfectly fine. Prone to ranting, but other then that, totally fine.

Inspiring Images

2011-09-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

This week I seemed to be drawn to romantic, fun photography with a few delicious and crafty projects thrown in. As usual, click the image for the link. Happy Friday!

Shana Tova!

2011-09-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

In honor of the Jewish New Year, there have been the addition of several bells and whistles to ye old blog. If you take a gander at the sidebar, you'll notice there is now a place for you to become a member (please do!) as well as a list of the books I am currently reading. If you look up, you'll see some brand spanking new pages with suggestions of great books to read and great blogs to check out - mostly related to writing or publishing. Both will be updated regularly.

On a totally unrelated note, last night while John and I were having dinner, I glanced over into our kitchen where we had left the side door open for Neighbor Cat. He likes to come and go as he pleases and usually this is not problem. Except for last night when I looked over John's shoulder to find a POSSUM ambling into our kitchen. It appears that we have to rethink our open door policy.

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-09-28T10:47:00.001-07:00

Up to my elbows in edits.

Usually my penmanship is quite lovely, but it all turns to chicken scratch when I'm reviewing pages. Can you tell I'm my own worst critic?

Beautiful Book Covers: YA

2011-09-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

Just some gorgeous cover art to inspire your Monday and mine.

Exposition Sing-a-Long!

2011-09-21T10:52:00.001-07:00

My biggest struggle in writing has always been exposition. It's a slippery slope. You want your world, your characters, their motivations and the story's impetus to be clear from the get-go but you don't want to bog down the most essential pages of your book with heavy, boring exposition.

Then when I was baking the other day and listening to the Broadway mix I made for myself on Spotify*, the opening number from Fiddler on the Roof came on. While I rolled out cookie dough, I found myself marveling at the perfect way in which the song set up the rules and expectations of the show, all in a few beautifully sung moments.

Obviously musicals and novels are different beasts, but I think there's a lot that can be learned by examining how some Broadway shows (and animated films) handle their necessary exposition.** Most musicals have an opening number, like an opening chapter, that does a lot of the heavy lifting but does so in a fun, exciting way. Just like the first few pages of a book, it has a lot to introduce and only a few minutes to do so.

Here are just a few favorite openings of mine. There are film versions of all the Broadway shows, except Urinetown the Musical, which is a darn shame because it is especially brilliant, though you can listen to the whole soundtrack on Spotify or youtube.

THE MUSIC MAN - "Rock Island"

3rd Salesman: What's the fellow's line?
1st Salesman: Never worries bout his line?!?
2nd Salesman: Or a doggone thing. He's just a bang beat, bell ringing, big haul, great go, neck or nothin', rip roarin', every time a bull's eye salesman. That's Professor Harold Hill, Harold Hill
3rd Salesman: What's the fellows line?
5th Salesman: What's his line?
Charlie: He's a fake, and he doesn't know the territory!
(video of the entire song)

This is a great, fast-paced set up for our main character: traveling salesman Harold Hill. The other salesmen can't stand him because he sells something that seems impossible to sell: instruments for boy's bands and not only that but he does it well. Right away we know that he's a charmer that can't be trusted. We also get an idea of the time period (even if we weren't looking at their costumes) - the language the salesmen use and the fact that they are traveling salesman (one sells anvils), yet they aren't doing very well indicates that we're just at the beginning of the 1900s. Hill himself is on the train with the salesmen but hasn't revealed his true identity so we know that it is his reputation that is known, not his face. The best part of this show and this opening is that our main character is not presented in the most flattering light, yet we're still intrigued by his acclaimed charm and brashness. Not only that but your curiosity is peaked, wondering what this character is going to do next and how he's going to do it.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - "Belle"

Belle: There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Ev'ry morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town
(...)
Townsfolk: Look there she goes that girl is strange, no question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
Never part of any crowd
'Cause her head's up on some cloud
No denying she's a funny girl that Belle
(video of the entire song)

Beauty and the Beast has a very typical Broadway-style opening, not surprising as Howard Ashman and Alan Menken who created the music started out in theater together (Little Shop of Horrors). That's also why it translated very neatly when it was made in to a Broadway show years later. "Belle" is the perfect set up for our main character and the world she lives in. It also sets up her main conflict: that she wants a more exciting life then the one she has in her boring, closed-minded town. We also learn that despite being considered beautiful by the townspeople, they still think of her as incredibly weird because she likes to read. Tie this together with the fairy tale opening describing the Beast's fate and you have your protagonists, their desires and the world they live in completely covered in the first ten minutes of the movie.

INTO THE WOODS - "Prologue"

Narrator: Once upon a time--
Cinderella: I wish...
Narrator: --in a far-off kingdom--
Cinderella: More than anything...
Narrator: --lived a young maiden--
Cinderella: More than life...
Narrator: --a sad young lad--
Cinderella: More than jewels...
Jack: I wish...
Narrator: --and a childless baker--
Jack: More than life...
Cinderella, Baker: I wish...
Narrator: --with his wife.
(audio of the entire song)

Into the Woods is probably my favorite musical and it takes a very straightforward, simple approach to introducing its characters, which is very much in step with the fairy tale world we are entering. You have a omni-present narrator who actually stands on the stage with the characters and on occasion communicates with them. He knows all their stories and it is his job to weave them all together, not an easy task when you're combining the stories of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and so on and so forth. Because the stories are fairly well-known, the audience can make a lot of assumptions, but the motivations for the characters are very clearly laid out from the get-go. Cinderella wants to go to the ball. The Baker and his Wife want a child. Jack and his mother want money. You have everything you need to know about these characters immediately which allows you to sit back and enjoy the twists and turns these fairy tales take as they intersect each other.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - "Tradition"

Tevye: Because of our traditions, we've kept our balance for many, many years.
Here in Anatevka, we have traditions for everything.
How to sleep.
How to eat.
How to work.
How to wear clothes.
For instance, we always keep our heads covered, and always wear a little prayer shawl.
This shows our constant devotion to God.
You may ask, how did this tradition get started?
I'll tell you.
I don't know.
(video of the entire song)

The song that inspired this post! Fiddler on the Roof is a great musical, it really is and I'm not just saying that because I'm Jewish (though my grandmother would be so proud) but also because it's the type of musical that really defies the stereotype of what musicals are (not that there is anything wrong with flamboyant, spontaneous choreographed dance numbers every ten minutes because let me assure you, I love those as well). Having said all that, let's talk about how fantastic the opening of the film is. Unlike the previous musicals I mentioned, this exposition focuses primarily on the world these characters live in, focusing on the rules that governed Hasidic Jews in Russia at the turn of the century. Because so much of the story focuses on the difference between the occupants of Anatevka and the world beyond it, it's important that the audience is aware exactly how Tevye and his family live. Since it's a story about change, opening with an emphasis on tradition gives more weight to the events that later occur, as well as inform our opinions about Tevye as a character.

URINETOWN THE MUSICAL - "Too Much Exposition"

Little Sally: Oh, I guess you don't want to overload them with too much exposition, huh.
Lockstock: Everything in its time, Little Sally. You're too young to understand it now, but nothing can kill a show like too much exposition.
Little Sally: How about bad subject matter?
Lockstock: Well -
Little Sally: Or a bad title, even? That could kill a show pretty good.
Lockstock: Well, Little Sally, suffice it to say that in Urinetown (the musical) everyone has to use public bathrooms in order to take care of their private business. That's the central conceit of the show!
(audio of the entire song)

This is an example of not only confronting the problem of exposition but beating it with a big stick in front of your audience for several minutes. If you are very clever and very smart about it, this method can work. It did in Urinetown the Musical, because it not only sets up the plot, but it also presents the tone for the rest of the show. I imagine this would be a very difficult feat to accomplish in a novel, but probably not impossible. A successful opening is not just about establishing story and characters, it's also about showing exactly how the story will be told. A consistent tone is just as important as likable characters and an exciting plot and just as difficult to pull off.

Look for another post of my struggles with exposition where I'll talk about my favorite books and how brilliantly they dealt with such problems.

*I never said I was cool
**Even though every story has to tackle exposition, I wanted to compare Broadway shows that managed to conquer it in one song, making it a more accurate comparison to those who need to conquer a lot of exposition in their opening chapter.

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-09-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is Neighbor Cat sleeping on my pile of screen printing looms and equipment.

He always finds the best/worst places to sleep and does so in the most unusual of positions. X marks the spot betwixt his little bunny paws.

New Recipe Over At The Ugly Pie

2011-09-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

Banging Banana Bread!

Click on the image for the recipe!

Inspiring Images

2011-09-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

I love a cold and dreary morning. It's the type of weather that asks for hot cups of tea and a warm, sweet-smelling kitchen. Here are a few images inspiring me on this lovely gray day.

Click on the picture for the link!

Words of Wisdom

2011-09-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

Writing...

New (Old) Recipe Over At The Ugly Pie

2011-09-19T10:54:00.001-07:00

Butter Brownies

I posted this one a while back, but made them last night for a party and was reminded of how great they are. Seriously, show up somewhere with these babies and you'll get anything you ask for. I asked for water and GOT IT. True story.

As always, clicking the image will take you to the recipe!

What I'm Reading

2011-09-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

I love my local library and their enormous YA section. Thanks to them (and the free time I have in between drafts) I have been burning through piles of great YA fiction. Though my attention will now be focused on last edits of The Book and beginning the query process, I'll be sure to take the time to get through the rest of my library books before they're due*.

Just Read:

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
More MG than YA but a fun read. I really loved how the book was paced - I definitely did not want to put it down, though I don't know if I'll continue reading the series. There was little too much snark in Percy's personality to my taste and I wished for more references to the myths. More gods, I say, more mythology!

The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott
I very much enjoyed this book. I love stories inspired by the lesser known fairy tales, such as The Wild Swans, especially when they are done as well as this one. However, because I knew the story, there were several plot twists that I figured out before the great reveal and I only wish that there had been one or two that I wouldn't have been able to figure out even if I knew the story.

Ash by Malinda Lo
Another great novel! While I loved The Swan Kingdom for taking a more obscure fairy tale and reworking it, I also love it when an author can put a new spin on a story we all know like Cinderella. I wanted a little more insight into our main character and just a pinch more information about how gay characters fit into the world (is it only women that are gay? are all the Huntresses gay?) but I thought it was a very lovely and melancholy book. Also, what a gorgeous cover. Covet.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
This book accomplished something that I think is exceptionally difficult: created a situation where a satisfying solution seemed impossible. Each character and their motivations were so perfectly crafted that you were rooting for all of them even though their desires and needs were completely at odds. Compelling writing like that makes it very hard to put a book down. However, having said that, everything was so neatly tied up at the end, I don't know if I'm going to continue with the series. I loved the writing but wasn't compelled to put aside the rest of my nightstand books to read the rest of her books.**

Currently Reading:
ArchEnemy: The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
I read the first two books in this series what seems like ages ago and being a few chapters in to the third and final book, I have quickly realized that I need to re-read The Looking Glass Wars and Seeing Redd (both of which I really enjoyed) because I am very, very confused. Serves me right for not getting ArchEnemy as soon as it came out.

Waiting on the Nightstand:
The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

*Though I'm sure I've kept more than one library afloat with all my overdue fees.
**I've noticed my tendency for less-then-glowing reviews. It seems my critical nature never truly steps aside but for the most part if I'm mentioning a book at all it means that I liked it enough to recommend it.

Montana Treasures

2011-09-17T19:55:00.001-07:00

My finds from my favorite store in Helena, MT: the Pan Handler.

It wasn't easy choosing from the wall of cookie cutters, but somehow I managed to find exactly what I was looking for: dinosaurs and the Eiffel Tower. Obviously.

A perfect little ravioli press for when I finally start making my own pasta. Which I will do. Eventually. My dear friend Shephard has these totally awesome rectangular measuring spoons that I coveted upon first glance. Imagine my excitement to find them just waiting for me at the Pan Handler. It was truly meant to be. A beautiful new tea kettle from John. We have a silver one but not only does it get dingy very quickly, it is lacking the essential whistle. What a sweet beau I have who indulges my tea needs in such a manner.
I can't wait to see what I'll find on my next trip!

One week in Montana: an illustrated post

2011-09-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

Driving to Helena from Missoula

Our rental car had XM Radio and I made John listen to showtunes for 90% of the trip. He's a very good boyfriend. Wabbit has her eyes on you.

Neither the hat nor the supernova poster behind me are mine. But I wish they were.

My favorite store in Helena: the Pan Handler and its wall of cookie cutters. There will be a separate post of all the treasures I found here.
Best pizza you'll ever have. Order the pesto lodgepoles as well.
Uncle and nephew take a walk together.
Deer just hang out in front yards in Montana. Super awesome brewery. Really good beer.
You can get fresh mountain water as you cross the Continental Divide
Until next time, Big Sky.

Inspiring Images

2011-09-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

Just a few images that caught my fancy this week - nothing like fairy tales and Stanley Tucci to make one's day a little brighter, am I right?

Click on the picture for the link. Happy Friday!

Words of Wisdom

2011-09-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Originally found here

Right on, WriteOnCon!

2011-08-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

Writing can be very lonely.

It can mean months or even years of toiling away at a manuscript, with only yourself as your critic and editor. It can make some people go mad.

That's why you need critique partners. Not only do they keep you from going mad, but they also make you a better writer. They keep you on schedule. They connect you to a world outside your laptop. They help you.

Several of my favorite writing/publishing websites have been going nuts over WriteOnCon these past weeks and rightfully so. It's pretty darn awesome. Tons of information, advice and ways to connect with other writers. But their best feature, I think, has to be the Critique Partner match-up.

I'm really lucky and have a great CP and tons of supportive friends, but it's always nice to find others who are not only writing in your genre, as well as those who are about to begin the query process. So hats off to you, WriteOnCon!

And now, in What I'm Reading news:

Just Read:

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
Loved it! Great writing, great storytelling and a superb ending. I couldn't put it down. Her style is so hilarious and witty (as evidenced in her totally awesome blog) so I was really pleased to find that it translated perfectly to this book. I usually shy away from detached protagonists, but she really made Nick work. The pacing was perfect. From the very first chapter you are thrown into the characters' world and just like that you are racing after them, eager to see where they are going next. I was amazed by how quickly and efficiently she introduces the necessary facts regarding the story and characters. Never once does it feel expository - an ability I certainly envy. Now I just have to go and buy the next three books in the series.

Currently Reading:

Poison Study by Maria V. Synder
Love the cover, love the concept, but like I've said above and before, it's hard to do a protagonist who doesn't feel very connected to the world or events occurring around them. I'm only a few chapters in, but I've found myself rather confused several times already. I'm going to keep at it, but so far it hasn't captured my attention.

Waiting on the Nightstand:

The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt

I've been compiling suggestions of YA Fantasy on my amazon wishlist, but haven't yet decided which ones will be included in my next buying batch, but oh boy am I excited!

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-08-17T10:35:00.001-07:00

Screen printing is awesome. A few months ago I took a class at Hands on 3rd where I learned the how to make my own reusable frames.

I made the above loom to screenprint hoodies for my three best lady friends all of whom live in different cities. We don't see each other very often but next week we will all be in Chicago and we will be wearing these hoodies and it will be awesome.

New Recipe Over At The Ugly Pie

2011-08-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

The Laziest Apple Pie!

Click image for recipe!

New Recipe Over At The Ugly Pie

2011-08-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

Kumquat Marmalade!

Click the image to get the recipe!

Spotify and Me

2011-08-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

I am not what one would call "educated" in music. Chances are if it's a cool band or an amazing song or a great record, I haven't heard of it. I'm a theater kid at heart, so put on some Sondheim or Rogers/Hammerstein and we'll have something to chat about. Same goes for movie musicals (especially the animated kind). I know all the lyrics to "The Girl You Left Behind" from An American Tail 2: Fievel Goes West, but ask me about Kayne West's new single and you'll get a big shoulder shrug.

So when John asked me if I wanted one of his free Spotify invitations, I hemmed and hawed. I wasn't sure if I deserved such a gift, especially from someone who knows and loves music as much as he does. But he gave it to me anyways and I am darn glad he did. Not only can he (and friends) send me recommendations (I'm in love with Freelance Whale's "Generator^First Floor") but I can now build totally awesome era-based Baking Playlists. Here's a sampling (or just check it if you have Spotify):

Dancing in the Kitchen - 60s Edition
"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" The Shirelles
"Take Good Care of My Baby" Bobby Vee
"If You Wanna Be Happy" Jimmy Soul
"One Fine Day" The Chiffons
"Be My Baby" The Ronettes
"Another Saturday Night" Sam Cooke
"I Got You Babe" Sonny and Cher
"Sugar, Sugar" The Archies
"He's A Rebel" The Crystals
"Wouldn't It Be Nice" The Beach Boys
"Runaround Sue" Dion
"(You're the) Devil In Disguise" Elvis Presley

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-08-10T09:26:00.001-07:00

There's a friendly cat in the neighborhood. Technically he belongs to our landlord, but since we moved in he's gone from the occasional visits and lap naps to spending all night sleeping on our couch. He's that deadbeat friend that shows up looking for food and a place to stay, except he's really cute and fuzzy.

This weekend he found that he likes the breeze coming from our bedroom window, so he situated himself behind the curtain. I call this one: Hazy, Lazy Cat

New Recipe Over At The Ugly Pie

2011-08-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

Shrimp with Cilantro and Lime!

(click the image to be whisked* there magically)

*whisked - get it?

What I'm Reading

2011-08-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

There is no greater thrill than receiving a box full of books. Which is why I keep ordering them. Our little house is already bursting with literature and since both John and myself are avid readers the bookcases just keep getting more and more full. But it's easy to tell which books belong to which reader, as he gravitates towards sci-fi novels and scientific, informative non-fiction and I lean towards YA novels and social, biographical non-fiction.
Even though I already have a stack of not-read books, I'm already jonesing to order another stash from amazon. Must resist...must somehow resist...

Just Read:

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
This is apparently the first in a trilogy, but I don't know if I was invested enough in the characters to want to continue with the series. I liked the first book - found it interesting and a very fast read, but I felt as though it wrapped itself up quite neatly at the end, so much so that I don't really feel like seeking out the further adventures. However, I enjoyed the twist at the end, though felt that there could have been more hints and clarification leading up to that point. If you have to explain character details in a kind of post script, there might have been something missing in the story itself. Perhaps I should give the series a try and see what Ms Carter does with her interesting collection of characters. And check out that gorgeous cover. I just love it.

The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal
I loved the concept of this story: our heroine discovers that she's not actually the princess she thought she was all these years, but actually a stand-in for the actual princess who's been in hiding because of a curse. It's a great twist on the conventional fairy tale, especially with the ensuing conflicts and secrets that are revealed, which were a series of wonderfully laid out surprises. There were a few characters that showed up in the earlier half of the book that were never spoken about later and the romantic subplot tied itself up a little too neatly for me, but a great read nonetheless.

Currently Reading:

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
I'm struggling a little with this one. Though I really like the story, I have a hard time relating to characters who are so detached from their own feelings as this protagonist is. But then again she's a trained killing machine, so who wouldn't want to be a little detached from that?

Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer
I have at least three polygamist memoirs on my nightstand (actual research, I swear) and I am speeding through this one, riveted by the author's struggle to be both happy and pious. Spoiler alert: religious polygamy makes it really difficult.

Waiting on the Nightstand:

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Not So Wordless Wednesdays

2011-08-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

How great is this laptop bag from BoutiqueIQ? I've had my beloved MacBook for years, but only recently decided that it needs a case of its own. I think this might do quite nicely what with the strap and the felt and being a wolf laptop bag.