You can add it here.

I'm not sure who put it up on the site, but hey, someone is just as excited as I am! :-)

Also: SQUEEE! I totally love this Icon made by the talented anywherebeyond

My washer has gone on the fritz. Just got off the phone with the repair man. The soonest they can get out here is tomorrow afternoon. Sometime between noon and 4. *sigh* What else can go south?

The SCBWI-MO Confluence was wonderful on Saturday. The college moved us into a new building with much bigger rooms which was nice. We had plenty of space to spread out. The only complaint I could make was that we had to eat our lunch in the lounge area instead of sitting comfortably at dining tables. However, the food was spectacular.

I got confused on the schedule and the one class I really, really wanted to attend, I missed. It was on marketing to schools and libraries, which is something I would very much like to get better at. The other sessions I attended were well taught and informative, but I get very little new out of either of the breakout sessions I attended.

The day was not a total loss, I connected with the visiting illustrator, Floyd Cooper, and he has graciously agreed to be the January interviewee. He is so funny. He kept repeating how he can’t really draw. Several of the more experienced illustrators in the room gave him grief for that. People aspire to not be able to draw as well as he can’t. LOL.

His technique is one of subtraction. He covers illustration board with a thin layer of 0il paint and lets it dry to the touch, then he takes a kneaded eraser and puts in the highlights in forms of shapes. He created a Native American face in front of us as he gave his keynote address. Truly amazing.

There was an agent and an editor there as well. The house the editor is from isn’t interested in the kind of projects I currently have on my plate, but the agent sounds perfect. I approached her after her address and asked her about author/illustrator submissions. She is interested in completed manuscripts with one or two pieces of finished art to show style. I will definitely whip my current PB into shape to submit to her.

It was nice seeing old friends again and everybody was very pleased to see how well I was doing. The last time anyone form this group saw me, I had only just gotten out of the hospital a few weeks before.

I topped the 10,000 word count mark in NaNoWriMo last night. I am only a few thousand words behind but if I have another few days like the one I had yesterday, I should be caught up by the end of the week. 15,000 is the word count suggested for today. I am just too busy with other projects to type out a total of 5,000 words in one day.

PiBoIdMo is moving along as well. My ideas are becoming more strange, but the practice of thinking about new book plots everyday is good for me.

I still have a bunch of phone calls to make and then I can settle in for a good afternoon’s drawing session. With luck, I’ll catch up on the back log of work I have there as well. I think the issue is I have so many projects with similar deadlines, I am having trouble prioritizing. Probably have to do as the Nike slogan says and just do it. Stop spinning my wheels moving from fire to fire, so to speak.

Ta!

Originally published at Daily Art Food. You can comment here or there.

Hey! I'm a Wapsi Girl!

For those of you who don't know Paul Taylor's amazing online comic, Wapsi Square, imagine a spunky little Latina pixie named Monica who has a noggin' full of brilliance, a wry sense of humor, a destiny embroiled with the 2012 calendar & an impressive 8-ball T-shirt! Add to this a bunch of good friends, a mythical guide, Tepoztecal, ala Aztec Jimminy Cricket, a pack of personal demons, a totally hot guy, and a plot that ranges from the everyday to the epic and you're getting close to Wapsi Square.

Aw, heck, don't imagine – I can't do it justice – go read some right now beginning here and I'll see you in a few!.

[Approximately 3 days later...]

Hi, there! Isn't it *fantastic*?!

I was lured to the comic by a friend (looking at YOU divinebird!) who knew my fascination with all things Mexicana and myth due to SKIN & BONES taking over my life, and she knew my passion for body image and self-esteem. Believe it or not, it's ALL in there! I became enamored not just with the comic itself, as well as the amazing and generous talent of its creator, Paul Taylor, but also something that had grown out of the many body types Paul had used for his characterizations – women from all over the world had come to identify with the "larger than Double-D" Monica or the buff Shelly, the willowy Katherine or any of the frightening-but-humanly otherworldy women, Sphinx, Jin, Tina, Brandi & Bud. Every one of these characters is unique and every one of them have their own perceived problems and advantages living in their own skin. Each lady is treated differently, with their own sets of fears and defense mechanisms and issues around intimacy and acceptance of her own body; hence, it wasn't a big leap to see how the discussions on the chat threads birthed something as awesome as the Wapsi Girl Project.

Essentially, what happens when you ask strong women how they got that way? What did they have to surmount and how? What is it inside us that makes us win our own game called "life"? Paul asked a few. So here are a bunch of women who are all shapes, sizes, colors, ages, etc. who get to define an unidentifiable "something" that each recognizes as indicative of a "Wapsi Girl". The essays are honest and personal and uplifting and real. I was so honored to be asked, I think I worked on several drafts deep into the night before I'd let my husband even see it. I can say that I'm proud to be considered and humbled to be in such esteemed company.

So go check out me and other Wapsi Girls! Thanks to Paul Taylor who helped give Consuela Bones a special something (on the website, www.dawnmetcalf.com, TBA!) and me the chance to think long and hard about stuff I hadn't considered in a long, long while.

Ever thought of what that "certain something" is that makes folks shine? You probably have it, as well as a lot of cool people you know! Care to share what makes you great? ;-)

The good: I know for sure some kind librarians nominated FAR FROM YOU for the YALSA 2010 book lists (Best Books for Young Readers and Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers) because they told me so. THANK YOU kind librarians!!!

The not-so-good: It didn't make either nomination list, which means it didn't get the necessary second from a committee member. I'm sad, but oh well. I'm thrilled so many awesome books are on the lists and many of our LJ friends, including lkmadigan and jbknowles , have books there.

The good: The book I've been working on for the last 8 months, HOPE FOR NIMBUS, is done. For now. And I'm going to send it to my agent today!

The not-so-good: I wanted to be a lot further along on my new novel-in-verse than I am, and I'm so busy at work this month, I don't know that I'm going to have much energy to work on it during my off-hours. But, I guess I can only do what I can do.

The good: I was browsing the new S&S Children's Catalog for Spring 2010 and on the CHASING BROOKLYN page, it says, "12-copy mixed floor display (Includes 8 copies of CHASING BROOKLYN and 4 copies of I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME) for $159.88." A floor display will be available for my books!!

The not-so-good: Will any bookseller really buy one? I often see news like this and think the worst. What is up with that?

The good: Day off today!

The not-so-good: I have a to-do list the size of a foot-long sandwich. I better get to it.

Happy Monday all! And in case I don't get a chance to say it tomorrow, Happy Anniversary Sesame Street!!

1) The mast crop for black walnuts, acorns and hickory nuts is awesome here! That's a double-edged sword, because local lore insists that a heavy mast crop means a harsh winter ahead. So every day now, I go out and stuff the pockets of my old brown sweater with acorns to take along and toss to the squirrels who hang around our city library whenever we're out and about. Two weeks ago, after a trip there, we came out to find more than half a dozen scrawny juvies rustling desperately through the ivy. My pockets were empty then, and it wrung my heart that I had nothing for them with hard times possibly approaching.  

Watching them, it reminded me that every year, we receive at least one litter of badly malnourished babies with poorly developed fur from that area. It's basically an oasis of large trees in a tiny courtyard surrounded by traffic. Not a good environment for squirrels, located in the heart of town, and yet they persist, existing in large part on a diet of junk food and whatever else they can glean from the trash. City pickings can be slim at any time, but it's especially bad in a down-turned economy when folks are less willing to share. Anyway, since we have such a bumper crop here, we decided we can easily spare a handful. 






2) Speaking of acorns, does anyone know the game, "Annie Annie Over?" It was one of my favorite while growing up in Oklahoma. We would stand on one side of our garage and throw a ball over the roof to kids waiting on the other side. The object was for the person catching the ball to run around and tag someone before anyone on the other side knew they were coming.

Yesterday, while I was out scavenging nuts, the memory of those chill fall days drifted back. Acorns were pattering down as I scuffed through the oak leaves, but I had tuned out their little thumps until one thunked on the garage roof with such a crack that it made me jump. My first thought was of deer hunting season fast approaching and that I was foraging near the tree line. Once I realized what had happened, I tried to ignore them. The second time it happened, the acorn skittered down the shingles of the garage, bounced off the eaves and landed right at my feet. I got it then. I burst out laughing and positioned myself under the eaves, waiting with hands outstretched. The thrill when it landed in my palms was exactly the same.

I don't have to tell anyone how much this isn't good for their writing.  I also don't have to tell anyone how hard it is to gain that confidence back.  Now, what made me lose mine?  I wish I could blame it on someone, but the truth is I've never lost confidence in my writing because of what someone has said.  I guess I'm just not that type.  Before I started my first book I'd spent a lot of time in book discussions, book groups and online.  I knew very well what the fans had to say about storytelling.  True, I didn't understand the process behind a book, but when I first started I knew I'd never please everyone.  Knowing this will never make me think I can't write.  Seems kinda silly to let such a thing happen in the first place, doesn't it?

I love Supernatural.  Der.  Y'all know that.  I'm falling head over heels in love with Vampire Diaries.  And no, I certainly don't expect everyone I come in contact with to love these shows like I do.  I don't even expect them to like the shows.  Certainly, I won't dislike a person because they don't like what I like.

So no.  Regarding my writing, differing opinions don't shake me.

I also know that some people can't dislike something without being nasty about it.  That is just how they're made.

I am what makes me lose confidence in me. I lose interest in my story and its mission and I lose that drive that I once had.  For me, writing a book is like a marriage.  At first, I'm all googly-eyed and it's all I can think about.  After a time though the honeymoon's over.  I have to decide if I want to work at really loving my book, give it up in some flight of fancy since the grass is always greener, or stick with it because I'm stubborn and in the end wind up hating it.

This emotional battle is what makes me lose confidence in my writing.   If I can't commit then I'm worthless.  If I can't work at making it the best it can be then I'm a lazy slob.  If I make myself do something I don't want to do then I'm only hurting myself in the end.  And the circle goes round and round.

Until, eventually, thank the fiction gods, it evens back out. 
 

I see it all the time... on blogs, on Twitter, on forums... agents say they get more queries than ever before. And I see a few folks reply that its probably the economy that has kick started so many people to finally write a book.

WRONG! (In My Opinion, of course)

Agents get more queries for one reason and one reason alone (In My Opinion, of course)...

Because its Easier to Write a Book. (Notice I didn't say 'good' book or 'okay' book... that part is as difficult as EVER. Believe me/you!)

Don't believe me. Talk to someone who's been writing for more than ten years (like myself).

Now hear out my reasoning.... I could, of course, be wrong.

1. Research.

I remember when I started to write back in 1994, a fantasy book. I wanted to research castles and such. I had to go to the library. Many libraries. Go through the card catalog. Dig through shelves. Or go to the bookstore and PURCHASE a book on castles.

Today it's a click away. You can research ANYTHING if you have the Interent. Easy, peezy, Mac and Chezzy. It's actually fun to research. And go in depth. It's fast. And convenient.

2. Setting.

The first book I ever finished (BALLOON SMUGGLERS... I still think it's good), takes place in Los Angeles, CA. Hardly any libraries had anything other than tour books about the City. I didn't know anyone who lived out there. It wasn't easy trying to make my setting a part of the  book. Turned out, for me, that my brother-in-law was going to a week long conference out there and had an extra bed in his hotel room. My wife gave me the green light and I spent a week drving around the city.

Physcially going to the setting of your book is still the BEST way to learn about it, but its not necessary anymore. With the Internet, Digital Photos, Blogging... most of us can dig up all kinds of information about our setting without leaving the house. Amazing.

3. Software.

When I started to write BALLOON SMUGGLERS, I bought a few pens and a few spiral bound notebooks... and proceeded to write by hand. Then I would type it into a Brother P-touch typewriter and it would print out the manuscript. Took! For! Ever!

Now we have Word and Wordperfect and Notepad... so much easier. Spell and Grammar Check and, jeez, it's amazing how much easier it is to create a manuscript. And printing is so FAST!!! Some authors still write by hand... God Bless them... Everyone.

4. Agent Research

The only way I could research agents way back when was to go to the bookstore and purchase a copy of Writers Digest Guide to Literary Agents. About 20 bucks. And then to send out material... I had to label everything by hand, purchase postage... it was a real pain in the patoot.

The Internet has made finding information about agents very, very easy. But you have to go to the right sources... I'm sure there is also a LOT of bogus information out there.

*****
I know I'm missing a bunch of stuff... If you can think of anything else, please feel free to comment and I'll add it to my list.

I think the inundation of queries is due more to these reasons than to the economy. At least a lot of it.

The authors of The 2009 Debutantes are pleased to announce Holidaze With the Debs, a series of author events in the U.S. and Canada this holiday season. At bookstores, libraries and schools in the New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto areas, members of the 2009 Debutantes will talk about their own books and other 2009 favorites. A full list of events is available below.

“Publishers are working with shrinking promotional budgets in this economy,” notes Rhonda Stapleton, author of STUPID CUPID (Simon Pulse). “As first-time authors, we know that much of our promotion is going to have to come from us, and over the last year we’ve also learned how much fun it is to do events together. So we’re especially excited to be able to talk to readers directly this holiday season.”

2009 DEBUTANTES’ HOLIDAZE TOUR

NEW YORK

Dec. 6, 1-3 p.m.
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th St.
New York, NY
Including: Megan Crewe, Sarah Cross, Deva Fagan, Neesha Meminger, Kate Messner, Shani Petroff, Jon Skovron, Michelle Zink

CHICAGO

Dec. 5, 1-3 p.m.
Borders
161 N. Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.
The Book Cellar, Inc.
4736-38 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Dec. 5, 3-4 p.m
Borders
588 Francisco Blvd. West
San Rafael, CA
Including: Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley

Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
Menlo Park Public Library
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang

Dec. 9, 12 p.m.
Petaluma High School*
201 Fair St.
Petaluma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
* Open to the public, but visitors should check in at the school office when arriving

Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
119 Colma Blvd.
Colma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang

TORONTO

Jan. 9, 2 p.m.
Indigo
Eaton Centre
220 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
Including: R.J. Anderson, Megan Crewe, Sarah Ockler, Rhonda Stapleton, Lara Zielin

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

This weekend my husband had a conference to go to in Boston, so E and I decided to tag along for the free hotel and the promise of fun in the city. Our good friends Sue and Pete invited us to spend a night with them in Cambridge, too, so there was a lot to look forward to.

On Friday, E and I dropped Peter at his conference and headed to the Museum of Science, which is one of E's favorite spots. What he didn't know, was that there was a special exhibit there. An exhibit he didn't even know existed.

When we got to the parking garage, there was a flat-screen tv outside that was advertising exhibits and the Harry Potter image flashed by. E said, "That's weird. They just showed a picture from Harry Potter." And I said, "Yeah, weird." ;-)

Then we parked the car and figured out how to get into the museum. As we were walking down the long corridor from the garage to the museum entrance, a little girl dressed in Hogwarts robes skipped by us. E looked at me and said, "Um, that was random."

"Totally," I said.

Then we got to the ticket lines and he saw the big Harry Potter screen again. And he read out loud "Harry Potter Exhibit" and he caught his breath because just then, he turned and saw this:



And he pretty much didn't stop grinning for the rest of the day. The exhibit was so cool. I think you've got to be a true lover of the books and movies to really, really love it. And since E and I both are, we did. When he sat in Hagrid's chair, he rubbed the armrests over and over saying, "I just can't believe I'm sitting in HAGRID's CHAIR!"

It was a very quiet day at the museum and we were able to spend as much time as we wanted at the exhibit. Tons of people passed us, rushing through. But I think were were in there for almost three hours. It was fantastic.

The next day, we headed to our friends' house. The last time we stayed with them, I got a call from my agent to let me know I'd sold my third book. This time, I got great news again!

1. Jumping Off Swings was nominated for BBYA! This was the last month to get on the list and I was pretty sure all hope was lost. So that was a BIG and wonderful surprise!

2. My new editor had e-mailed to tell me her edits for PEARL are coming my way!

I told Sue and Pete we really need to visit more often. ;-)

Sue and Pete live near Fresh Pond in Cambridge, which has a wonderful walking path around it. And apparently it is THE place to go if you have a dog. We love going for walks there with their two dogs, Allie and Katama. It's like doggie social hour:



It's so much fun to see all the shapes and sizes. And all the dogs are so friendly! :-)

We had such a lovely weekend. Full of happy surprises, laughter, and conversation with friends. It made me realize how precious these moments are. And how it would be great to fill our lives with more of them. I'm going to try really hard to do that.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Monday Morning Warm-Up:

Describe a dog you remember from your childhood. Either yours, a relative's or a friend's. What's your fondest or most powerful memory of that dog?

We are pleased to announce Holidaze With the Debs, a series of author events in the U.S. and Canada this holiday season. At bookstores, libraries and schools in the New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto areas, members of the 2009 Debutantes will talk about their own books and other 2009 favorites. A full list of events is available below.

"Publishers are working with shrinking promotional budgets in this economy," notes Rhonda Stapleton, author of STUPID CUPID (Simon Pulse). "As first-time authors, we know that much of our promotion is going to have to come from us, and over the last year we've also learned how much fun it is to do events together. So we're especially excited to be able to talk to readers directly this holiday season."


2009 DEBUTANTES' HOLIDAZE TOUR

NEW YORK

Dec. 6, 1-3 p.m.
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th St.
New York, NY
Including: Megan Crewe, Sarah Cross, Deva Fagan, Neesha Meminger, Kate Messner, Shani Petroff, Jon Skovron, Michelle Zink

CHICAGO

Dec. 5, 1-3 p.m.
Borders
161 N. Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.
The Book Cellar, Inc.
4736-38 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Dec. 5, 3-4 p.m
Borders
588 Francisco Blvd. West
San Rafael, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley

Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
Menlo Park Public Library
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang

Dec. 9, 12 p.m.
Petaluma High School*
201 Fair St.
Petaluma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
* Open to the public, but visitors should check in at the school office when arriving

Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
119 Colma Blvd.
Colma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang

TORONTO

Jan. 9, 2 p.m.
Indigo
Eaton Centre
220 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
Including: R.J. Anderson, Megan Crewe, Sarah Ockler, Rhonda Stapleton, Lara Zielin

            

Had a lovely time at Sara Lewis Holmes's booksigning yesterday at Hooray for Books in Alexandria, Virginia. It was a gorgeous day -- warm and sunny, in the 60's, and lots of folks strolled in to meet and congratulate Sara on the publication of her second middle grade novel, Operation Yes (Scholastic, 2009), which, BTW, was just named one of Booklist's Top Ten Art Books for Youth!


Sara signing books for my contest winners, Marjorie Light and Jeannine Atkins.

Of course Cornelius came along (he has a big crush on Sara). Happily, there were a lot of little green men about for him to play with.


Above is the awesome book Sara's agent (Tina Wexler) made from LGM photos.

Sara gave an interesting presentation about the genesis of the book, referring to a tack board full of newspaper clippings, drawings, and notes. These bits and pieces of inspiration, along with high school memories of memorizing Shakespeare, a real-life incident of little green men, and of course, first-hand experience with the kinds of challenges kids in military families face, all served as fodder for her imagination.

       

Audience members were given lines to read at Sara's cue.

She then read a chapter from the book, during which time something you don't normally see in a bookstore happened -- Sara dropped to the floor (in tight jeans and heels no less), effortlessly breezed through ten push-ups, then jumped back up and continued reading without missing a beat. She wasn't even out of breath. Aren't you impressed? Now there's one beautifully toned, fit writer -- a fine specimen of athletic prowess. Yes! I want her to be my bodyguard. ☺



Meanwhile, Cornelius was busy checking the bookshelves for more copies of Operation Yes.


Mmmmmm! Trish made brownies again!


And he got to meet Sara's husband, the ever famous Mike Holmes. Cornelius was thrilled and proud to pose with a real-live Air Force fighter pilot!


As always, a nice event at this wonderful indie bookstore. With all the friendly people, loads of great books to read, and an endless supply of brownies, one could just about live there. Congratulations again, Sara. I'm sure your book is inspiring lots of readers to think about their lives a little differently, and to definitely say YES! 


To Sara's right is the board containing some of the things that inspired Operation Yes.

If you haven't gotten your copy yet, order one from your nearest indie bookstore! ☺

Copyright © 2009 Jama Rattigan of jama rattigan's alphabet soup. All rights reserved.

No, not that kind. She's already done with that. Our "new" kitty, that we've had for six months, recently started marking. Or maybe she's been doing it all along and we just noticed. Anyway, she marks in one particular room. All the websites say take her to the vet to see if it's some kind of medical problem, but I just didn't think it was. She would go in the box, all the time, for weeks, and then pee on something in that one room. Mostly. Once she went on Hubby's jeans on the floor, and once she jumped onto the bed in the middle of the night and went ON Hubby. (yeah, you can laugh, it's funny.)

But I noticed a pattern. Sometimes Cedric Diggory would chase her. Once we had a week straight of daily thunderstorms. Once it was after my uncle had been over to fix the heater. So I figured she was getting scared and this was fear marking. I dug around on the Internet and found this stuff. Feline Facial Pheremone (yay alliteration!) Because who knew that when cats rub their face on something, they're marking it as something safe? Learn something new every day. So I got a can of this spray, Feliway, that I guess is simulated FFP, and started spraying (after I got rid of all the smelly spots - thank you, Nature's Miracle!) I also bought a diffuser that plugs into the wall that puts the stuff into the air and plugged it into that one room, but it covers a large area.

 Two weeks, so far, so good. I can't believe it, she's a totally different cat. She was always lovey, but she seems much more comfortable in our home. She rubs on EVERYTHING. She curls up with Hubby on the couch or bed and just rolls around, wanting love. We had one minor accident last night, but I think it was because there were all these people in the house. My sister and BIL were at my dad's, so BIL's daughter came down to play with Boy, and then teenage nephew showed up (Aunt Chrissy's house has video games, Pop-pop's does not). Kids were in and out and running around, then sister and BIL came by. Too much for poor kitty. But I cleaned it right up and used the spray, so I think we'll be okay. Just have to remember to lock her up in the quiet back of the house when new people come by.

AND it works for vertical scratching. Sprayed it on couch, bed, and wood trim where she was scratching - she completely stopped after two days. It's totally amazing. You do have to spray it daily for awhile, and the stuff is a bit pricey, but SO WORTH IT.

The point of all this was that there was a solution. I'd hate to think of all the cats returned to the shelter (which we were considering because it was really getting bad) because someone doesn't take the time to understand their issues and do a little work to fix it. It really was very simple and now we're a harmonious house again. I would have hated to give that little cat up, because she really is sweet. And she's a great mousecatcher.

It's been a difficult week. I've had a lot of fun, but there's one thing that underlies everything else, and that thing is hard to escape, because I see it everywhere. It's at home, at work, even at school a little, although it's easier to not think about at school. I'm completely divided between wanting to think about it all the time and wanting it to go away completely. So that's what I do--half the time, I avoid it, half the time I think about it or want to talk about it. And that is about as specific as I'm going to get. Sorry. :P I'm doing a lot of projects right now. I like projects. I like being busy. I've got enough to keep me going through November, I think, and maybe by then, I'll feel better.

• 20:43 I'm #reading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - bit.ly/29lo9J #
• 20:44 I'm #reading Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks - bit.ly/tWoCj #

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On the outside Bernadette was mostly monsterly.
She lurched.
She growled.
She caused mayhem of all kinds.
But underneath the fangs and fur,
Bernadette had a deep...dark...secret.

All will be revealed August 31, 2010!!!!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Mostly-Monsterly-Tammi-Sauer/dp/1416961100/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257735866&sr=1-11

 "Casey’s kinda taken over the mothering in her family."

Nowhere near my desired word count (7286/50K) - but at least I'm back in the game after being gone Fri/Sat. More writing tomorrow!