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I've tucked away the porcelain creamer, little orange flowers and cascading drapery, replacing the objects with photo references for a project I'm really excited about doing.  The inspiration was a photograph of my oldest daughter taken about a year ago at El Capitan State Beach.  However, I'm changing the location from a rocky beach to a rocky riverbed with some trees in the background.

I'm looking forward to playing with some colors that have not been on the palette for other projects - mainly Phthalo blue and green.  I'm also excited about exploring colors and patterns of stones in water - I've always been drawn to that in nature.  But, most of all, I'm delighted to be working with a specific concept - trying to capture the moment of quiet contemplation or listening in prayer.

I have flashes of what I think the end product might look like, but I've learned not to get hung up in those fleeting visions.  They give me a direction, but the journey will likely take me down any number of possible paths.  But, this is merely a study for the sake of exploration.  Ultimately, I see this as a fairly large painting - large for my space, anyway, requiring more than a little tabletop.  By the time I'm ready to move on to canvas, the weather should be comfortable enough to work in the garage again.

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In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

Scholastic News  2011

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With the official release of The Empyrical Tales Book III: The Secret Queen about a week away, I wanted to revisit the original purpose for this blog. Originally, I had intended to give a "making of" commentary and work my way through the story. Like Book III, Book I: The Fourth Queen closely follows the plot of the Hero's Journey. Check out the archive to see older posts, but I left off with "The Ordeal".

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The Holiday season is approaching fast, the streets of New York City all decorated in lights. I love this time of the year. A walk down 5 ave or Madison ave or anywhere in New York, you can see, feel, hear, smell and taste the holiday season. There are all kinds of fun things to do. What is the wonder of it all? Christmas celebrates Jesus's Birthday while Hanukkah celebrates a wonderful story about how a small amount of oil good for one day ended up burning for eight. This was the miracle of God. Both of these holidays are very different from each other. Then there Kwanzaa I am not sure what that celebrates but it also involves lights. What are these holidays about. I believe all three are about family, communication and a love for your religious beliefs. 

 There is lots of wonder in these holidays. They have been celebrated for many centuries but do people truly know there meaning? Our children see them as a way to get gifts. Doing this time shopping is encouraged by all stores. I believe it is much more important to learn about these holidays instead of making them just another way to make an extra buck. Sit down with your children, tell them what the true meaning of the holidays are and do not buy the latest gadgets on the market. Here is a good idea for a gift give your children books about the holidays instead.

Reviews

Picture Books

One Candle - "One Candle" By Eve Bunting. Illustrated by K. Wendy Popp. Published by Joanna Cotler Books an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. 2002. Summary: "Every year a family celebrates Hanukkah by retelling the story of how Grandma and her sister managed to mark the day while in a German concentration camp." This book has wonderful illustrations and a very powerful story about one family's celebration of Hanukkah. This book is a great example of something that should be taught to your children on this wonderful holiday. The Jewish people believe in family and community and this wonderful books looks at both. I highly recommend it to your kids and to you as well. It has lots to teach everyone.

Talia and the Rude Vegetables- "Talia and the Rude Vegetables." By Linda Elovitz Marshall. Illustrated by Francesca Assirelli. Published by Kar-Ben publishing a division of Lerner Publishing Group Inc. 2011. Summary: "City-girl Talia misunderstands her grandmother's request that she go to the garden for "root vegetables" but manages to find some she thinks are rude, as well as a good use for the rest she harvests. Includes a recipe for Rude Vegetable Stew."  This picture book has lots of fun pictures and a wonderful Jewish story line. When I read this book it touched me. It is about the Jewish tradition of charity, family, community, and holidays. This is a must have for any young child in your family. The holidays are not about gifts, shopping but about family, charity and love. This books combines all three. The best part is it comes with a very tasty vegetable stew now that cannot be beat. Make it a must have for every child and adult. 

The Littlest Frog- "The Littlest Frog." By Sylvia Rouss. Illustrated by Holly Hannon. Published by Pitspopany Press. copyright 2001 Printed in Israel and sold in New York. This is a funny twist on the bible story of Exodus. A long time ago the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt. It is believed they build huge pyramids, cities and castles. It is written like a Jewish folk tale. This time is celebrated doing S

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The 70′s band Journey is kind of a big deal out here. Apparently they are from the Bay area, and there is a San Francisco civic statute requiring all radio stations to play Journey songs every three hours. Or, so I gather.

While doing a deep textual analysis of the song Don’t Stop Believin’ (sic) this morning, I noticed the phrase “Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit.”

As a Michigan native and Flint Expat (good blog, btw) my librarian senses began tingling. South…Detroit?
South Detroit.
Huh.

Let’s just check the map.

Detroit…
Yep, there it is. Suspicion confirmed! South Detroit is Windsor. Also known to Geographers as Canada.

I guess that Midnight Train going Anywhere was the Via Rail, huh?

(cue guitar solo)

Related posts:

1. Labor Day I’m going to Flint tomorrow. I’ll be in town through...
2. Flintstyle Friends, we need to have a little talk. Judging from...
3. Never move again These chair-bookcases make my librarian spidey senses tingle. I’ll take...

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I am delighted to announce today that the third story of One is available now from Trestle Press!

You can get Dr. Candy by Sudè Khanian for ONLY 99 Cents by clicking HERE.

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Sat down to the computer this afternoon after a great book signing at Heroes' Landing comic book shop and had a couple nice surprises.

First, check out a new interview with me and a....werewolf? That's right, Harriet Von Lupin (one of John Rose's Monster Grrls) had the hard hitting questions.

You can read the entertaining Q&A over at the Tales from the Monster Shop blog.

Then to follow that, Valentina (reviewer for You Gotta Read and Midwest Book Review, among others) posted her review of The Fourth Queen on her blog, Carabosse's Library.

She says, "It's one of those stories that is hard to put down..."

Read her full review at Carabosse's Library.

Get your copy of The Fourth Queen on MillerWords.com, ComfortPublishing.com, Amazon.com or your favorite bookseller.

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For a split second I thought of doing something related to the band Journey, but since it wouldn't be very positive, I resisted the urge. I guess you could call this the ultimate journey, depending on your behavior... Enjoy. Process was hand drawn sketch, scanned into Illustrator, redrawn with brush tool. Copied and pasted into Photoshop and then colored in assorted layers.

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It will be nice to sleep in my own bed again, Mitzi thought, as she slowly but steadily trudged the last leg of her long journey.

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Filed under: journeys, summer

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This is a new illustration created specifically for IF.  I enjoyed creating this one as much as I would enjoy the same kind of ride *:)

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Recently a 17-yr. old boy, Zac Sunderland, completed a 13-month, 28,000 mile, round-the-world voyage in a 36 ft. sailboat. Zac bought his well-used boat for $6000, and set sail in June 2008 when he was only 16, arriving back home earlier this month, 13 months later, at Marina Del Rey in southern California. Previously home-schooled, he studied to complete a high school education while at sea. His parents--dad is a professional sailor--stayed in touch with him during the voyage, using special software and satellite updates to help track storms in Zac's path.

I was reminded of this daring kid's voyage while at the nearby Point Arena wharf, inspecting a small monument (see my sketch) on the rock-armored beach, commemorating a landing of 15 men from the town of Yawatahama, Japan, on Aug. 13, 1913. A free-hand etching done on a metal plate set in the top of the monument depicts their 15-meter, 3-masted junk, and though the boat was a bit larger than Zac's, it may not have been any more seaworthy, and certainly did not have the satellite updates of weather to help plan the safest route along the 11,000 km voyage. It did have 15 crewmen , though, which I'm not certain was an asset or a problem. Disappointingly, the hopeful immigrants were returned to Japan; nevertheless, a sister city relationship sprang up between Yawatahama and Point Arena in later years.

All of which leads into my latest evening reading, "On to Oregon," by Honore Morrow. First published in 1926, it had been mentioned by a number of YA literature folks as one of their favorite books while growing up, and was compared to a couple of American classics. I'd never heard of Morrow's novel, but as noted, I'm intrigued by stories of epic journeys. John Sager, a 14-yr. old boy, with four younger siblings, and his parents, are on a wagon train leaving Missouri in 1844, and headed for the Oregon Territory. He is a difficult, rebellious boy, and the journey up through Wyoming has already faced desolate wasteland, hunger, sickness, and marauding Indians. When both of John's parents die of disease, it falls to this undisciplined, but tenacious boy to keep his remaining family together, and try to bring their wagon through to Oregon. John has elements of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer in his makeup, but he faces much more dangerous trials in his story. I'm only one-third through, so I've yet to decide how well the book succeeds.

A collection of my YA book reviews is at Jacketflap.

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So this is a weird time for me. Being done with a project that I know editors will see is very scary.

Last week, I had a minor panic attack about the whole publishing business.

As I head towards putting my baby out into the world, the reality hits me.

This is it! This is where the rubber meets the road (I sound like my dad!). This is where everything I've done the last few years, the sacrifices I have made, that my family has made comes down to this moment in time.

The prospect of this suddenly freaked me out!

For the past 5 years, I have dreamed of going out on submission with my book. Dreamed of editors fighting over my book. Dreamed of going to auction b.c everyone thinks I'm brilliant. Dreamed of making a huge sum of money. Dreamed of becoming a published author.

It was all hope to get me where I am today.

Now, that time is here, There is no going back. No do-over's. No more room for dreaming.

My dream either "will or will not" become my true reality. How that happens remains to be seen.

It dawned on me that this may NOT be my moment. This may not be where my dream comes true. It might and I imagine every day that it will, but the reality is it might not.

Sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it does. You just never know.

This business is finicky and no matter how great your writing is or your idea, sometimes your dream flies and sometimes it dies. That is just the reality.

My problem is that reality is not an option for me. Never has been. I dream big. And I dont' give up those dreams for a dumb thing called "reality".

I've resorted to doing Bikram Yoga the last several days to get the weight off my chest. The heavy one that makes me feel as if I cannot breathe.

And I realize I got this same way when I was looking for an agent. I got to a point where I could not sleep, could not stop checking my statcounter or email, could not write. And I could not breath.

I got so attached to the outcome. I eventually said out loud one day, "It doesn't matter what happens. I will write no matter what anyway. I have to let go of my attachment to the result and enjoy the journey."

Because you know what? The journey is fun if you let go of the end result.

Well let me tell you that feeling does not go away after you get an agent. That feeling is a shapeshifter. That feeling comes back in a different form. It comes back in disguise. And it took me a while to realize it.

My friend asked me the other day - "so if this all makes you so anxious, why do it?"

I said, "It doesn't make me anxious until I think about the money side of it."

She simply said, "Then don't think about that."

And it dawned on me. She's right. Why am I hanging on so tightly to that. Enough to where it is making me miserable. I have to let it go. I have to have faith in the process and try to enjoy the process. Because let me tell you - the process itself has been fun. Hard. But fun. As long as I release my focus on the end result I am happy.

Yesterday, after I talked to my friend, I decided to pull a Tarot card from my Angel deck someone gave me when I got an agent (for my angel book).

(yes I am admitting to being a total freak. I dont live by these things, but I believe in all that stuff - dreams, tarot cards, numerology, astrology readings, signs from the universe ect. You name it, I believe it. Anything that can possibly give me any additional insight to my future or path, I believe in. please don't unfollow me for this!!! :)

Anyway, I closed my eyes and swept my hand over the deck of cards.

And guess what card I pull (out of like 100 cards).

Release and Surrender.

Here is what it said:

"We shower you with blessings. Open your arms and release the challenges that you've held so tightly within your hands. Open your hands, arms, mind and heart to love and assistance. You have pulled this card b/ you have been trying to control a situation in your life. You must emotionally let go and have faith that a higher power can do a better job. Surrendering does not mean you are giving up, it just assures you of happiness and a better outcome. Don't worry about how your prayer will be answered. Release the need for control and trust all will work out."

I cried when I read it.

It's so true. We hold on so tightly to outcomes that we freak ourselves out along the way.

I let go during the agent process and focused on enjoying the writing and submission process. Not soon after, I got an amazing agent.

This summer during my heavy revision process, I did the same thing. I let go of when I was going out on sub or possibly missing an opportunity and focused back on my writing process. Enjoyed learning from my agent and made sure I was grateful for the journey.

Now, I am going to do it again.

I am letting go of expectations, fame, fortune, and my tight attachment to outcomes and results. I am going back to enjoying the process.

Because the truth is - when I just focus on the writing and how I feel when I am doing it. My heart is full and I am elated. The minute I take myself out of the journey to try and see, predict or guess what the future holds or where I will be, I feel as if a weight drops from the sky and lands on my chest.

So today, I release and surrender.

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I was going back over my posts from last year and realized how far I have come in my writing journey in just a year.

Last year, around this time, I made a serious commitment to myself and the writing process. Prior to that I had dabbled, quit, returned, dabbled, and quit again. (oh yeah, I also quit a big time corporate job, had 2 kids, helped my hubby through a major back surgery, and had 6 months of vertigo)

But, last fall, I learned my writing buddy, Lindsey Leavitt, signed the final contract on her Princess for Hire deal (that went to auction!).

Her deal and journey made me realize something. "I can do this!"

You see Lindsey and I for a long time were in a similar space. In 2007, I had met her at her first SCBWI conference, which was the first conference I was also speaking at. We were reading the Twilight series at the time (along with a few BILLION other people.) So when her book sold to Hyperion, it was the first person I knew to get a real book deal.

I thought, "Wow! You mean this really happens? To people I know?" That was a HUGE eye opener for me.

Last October, I met her for coffee/chit chat after a SCBWI conference. She gave me some praise, some great advice, some pointers and most of all, hope, that it could happen for me. She really got me back on track.

So without Lindsey - and my critique group - I would not be here today. (Yes Lindsey, it's true. Stop shaking your head at me. Don't be so modest!)

After shelving one book along with many many rejections and working for 4 years to get published, last November, I finally queried my second novel "Grace Under Fire" to agents for the first time. I also rededicated myself to learning the ins and outs of the publishing business as well as jumpstart my blog again.

Here's everything I have done in just one year:

• Met my first Blogger Buddies: Carrie Harris, Casey McCormick, Chandler Craig, and Corey Schwartz, Sherrie Solvang, Suzanne Young, Plot This girls (BTW - Happy Bday Katie! :)
  
• Reignited blog - 0 followers
  
• queried "Grace Under Fire" for first time
  
• got full requests
• got vertigo
• got my first gray hair - ok third but whos counting
  
• First Marketing Blog interview with Chandler Craig -
  
• got rejections - including a personal one from Alyssa (my agent)
  
• started marketing series on my blog - about 50 followers, only about 2 comments a day
• got more rejections
• had hubby cit me off from having a 3rd baby. dolls will have to do.
  
• ran a Commenting contest - followers increased to 100
• started Facebook and Twitter
• pissed off my hair dresser and got banned from the salon
  
• Started "On the Bright Side - initially a YA
  
• joined Publishers weekly and Publishers Marketplace
• personal rejection with opportunity to resubmit
  
• revised Grace's entire plot
• another gray hair - obviously my old hairdresser's fault
  
• Resubmitted to agent who asked for book to be redone
  25 Comments on What a difference a Year makes, last added: 12/12/2009
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  Belle said, on 11/19/2009 1:37:00 PM
  

  Wow! I can't tell you how inspiring this post is for me. I've just recently started back on the writing track again - I loved reading your list of all you've accomplished this past year!

  Kelly H-Y said, on 11/19/2009 2:17:00 PM
  

  You go girl!!! :-)

  Crystal said, on 11/19/2009 2:42:00 PM
  

  WOW, Shelli! What a journey you've had! As I read to the end of this post, I thought you've already given back to many of us much more than you realize (which we may not often say in our comments). With this post (and so, so many others that you've written in the past), you give us HOPE because many of us are on this same path . . . Thank you so much for sharing your journey thus far. It is truly INSPIRING! :)

  melane said, on 11/19/2009 4:13:00 PM
  

  Wow, you have accomplished so much in a year. I've just started my writing journey, so this really gives me hope. Thank you for sharing:)

  Little Ms J said, on 11/19/2009 4:49:00 PM
  

  Two things:
  
  What did you do in the salon to have you 86'd and tell me about these commenting contests...?
  
  Congrats, lady! A magical year!

  Lisa Schroeder said, on 11/19/2009 5:26:00 PM
  

  Ahhh...I love how supportive the kidlit world is. We help each other as much as we can, and it makes all the difference.
  
  Fingers crossed for you Shelli!

  Cassandra Frear said, on 11/19/2009 5:47:00 PM
  

  What a year. Mine has been very difficult and not very inspiring.
  
  But occasionally, I look at earlier blogs posts and I can see that I am improving in my writing.

  Sharon Mayhew said, on 11/19/2009 6:57:00 PM
  

  Shelli,
  
  Thank you so much for sharing your journey. It put a smile on my face and hope in my heart for the next twelve months. Again, thank you.

  Roni @ FictionGroupie said, on 11/19/2009 7:28:00 PM
  

  That's an awesome journey! i hope mine looks similar to yours by the end of a year. :)

  holly cupala said, on 11/19/2009 7:57:00 PM
  

  Lovely post, Shelli! I toast your one year and all you have accomplished, both personally and professionally - and I can't wait to hear more, which will surely come soon! xoxo

  PJ Hoover said, on 11/19/2009 8:04:00 PM
  

  Great post! I love the idea of looking back at the last year and listing your accomplishments. Sometimes it seems like we're stagnant, but it's all in our minds.
  
  Go you!

  Deb Markanton said, on 11/19/2009 8:21:00 PM
  

  Shelli, thanks for making me feel like I just might make it!

  Christina Farley said, on 11/19/2009 8:42:00 PM
  

  Wow. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is. I'm off to write some more- thank you very much. You totally rock! And I can't wait to buy your book. Tell those editors to get on with it.

  Gail said, on 11/19/2009 9:23:00 PM
  

  Geez, are you reading my mind???? I was just thinking today of how far I've come since last winter when I first got serious (okay semi- serious) about putting my effoorts into writing. You are always inspiring me and i'm sure many others as well. I can so relate to life's challenges creating speed bumps to writing careers! And I can't believe you got fired by your hairdresser too! Hmmm... I wonder if it's the same one??

  creativewritingintheblackberrypatch said, on 11/20/2009 2:15:00 PM
  

  What an inspiring post. I started my writing blog Jan 9th of this year. I need to really get on the ball to achieve just a fraction of what you have. But I have progressed and I will see where I am at this time next year. I joined Facebook, became a columnist for children in a regional magazine and had a short story published. But I am still yearning to get one of my books published.

  jessjordan said, on 11/20/2009 4:05:00 PM
  

  Excuuuuse me, but ... where is MY name on this list? Okay, okay, I'm over it. Awesome year, lady! :)

  Dawn Simon said, on 11/21/2009 12:46:00 AM
  

  Yay, Shelli! Thanks for such an inspirational post! :)

  Casey McCormick said, on 11/21/2009 8:13:00 AM
  

  Huzzah! So inspiring, Shelli. You've accomplished so much. Amazing how fast things can fall into place. Congrats on everything (except, you know, the gray hairs and salon incident)! Can 2010 be my year?

  vadahodges1211 said, on 11/21/2009 4:29:00 PM
  

  Daisy Whitney said, on 11/21/2009 9:05:00 PM
  

  Hi Shelli! I'm very interested in book marketing as well, so we must keep in touch!

  adrienne said, on 11/22/2009 6:39:00 PM
  

  Thanks for sharing your journey - very inspiring! And just what do you have to do to get banned from a salon?

  Kimberly Derting said, on 11/23/2009 7:40:00 AM
  

  This is a *great* journey post (and I'm not just sayin' that cuz my name's in it!). I can't wait till it's the other post...the I've Done It! post!!! You're so close!!!!!!

  Sally said, on 11/26/2009 2:01:00 PM
  

  I'm so glad I stumbled onto this blog! It inspires me- and I have a blast reading it.... thanks

  Meghan Ward said, on 11/26/2009 11:27:00 PM
  

  Thank you so much for sharing this, Shelli. It really is encouraging to read the details of your journey. And what a year it has been! May the next one be even better!

  Vivian said, on 11/29/2009 5:26:00 AM
  

  I love how you share all you are grateful for this year. Congratulations on keep a positive attitude and following your dream. Can you imagine all the good stuff in store for you in 2010?

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The snail gets us to our destination leaving her glittery trail along the way. No slime in my journal! We open the doors that are clearly marked 'home' and find an envelope inside.

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Elana Johnson has organized some interviews of writers who've traveled down this long and winding road toward publication. Some have agents. Some of them have book deals.

They've "made" it.

I will be featured on Beth Revis blog this Friday!

Here are some other blogs participating:

Click here for more inspiration: Lisa and Laura Roecker, Leah Clifford, Victoria Schwab, Kirsten Hubbard, Susan Adrian, Dawn Metcalf, Kim Harrington, Carrie Harris, Amy Holder, Kathy McCullough, Suzette Saxton and Bethany Wiggins, Gretchen McNeil and Tiffany Schmidt.

As Elana says, "Everyone involved is hoping this series will inspire you, provide a beam of hope along your way, and really prove that you CAN succeed in this crazy business. You CAN go from slush-pile-nothing to agented writer to published author."

Yes YOU!

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Filed under: autumn, map, stars, summer, winter

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