What does it take to be a writer?

Honestly? I'll be darned if I know.

Like most everything in life, I think it's one of those listen to your gut things. A lot of people like the idea of being a writer -- starving artist and all that -- it has a certain romantic allure, but that's just for the movies. Writers have families and other assorted responsibilities just llike everyone else. For many, it is a dream pursued in stolen moments between other jobs, house cleaning, and chasing after kids on a soccer field. For others it means staying up late or getting up too early.

But it's not a sacrifice. Writers do it, because they can't not do it. Those who would be writers, if they just had the time, will probably never be writers. Otherwise, they would find the time. We always find time for our passions, and if there is one thing that can be said about writers, it is that they are passionate about writing.

Do we want to be published? Absolutely. Would we like fame? Sure. Would we like wealth? I certainly would. Are those the reasons we write? No. Without any of those things, writers still write.

Before I was published, I earned my living as a teacher (which pays a heck of a lot better), and I wrote when the spirit moved me. It wasn't a job. I wasn't looking for approval or validation -- I was just writing. And it was good.

Sending my work off into the world of readers who aren't related to me and who don't care about hurting my feelings -- WHOA! -- now that was an eye opener. Suddenly my work didn't belong to me anymore. It belonged to whoever was reading it. At first that bothered me a little, but the longer I am in the industry, the more okay it is. I understand and accept that the reader is as much a part of my writing as a I am. The stories are where writers and readers connect. Writers bring something and readers bring something, which means that the stories are different for each reader, but that's okay. In fact, it's good.

Now writing is my job. I work at it everyday whether I feel inspired or not. It's not as easy as it was when I just did it for my own enjoyment, but what I produce is definitely better and more rewarding. I work harder at honing my skills and I rely less on muses.

But writing is no less addictive than it ever was. I'm in this for life.

Many times throughout my life I have had people tell me they envy my confidence. This always takes me by surprise, because I'm as riddled with self-doubt as the next guy. I question everything I do -- wonder if I look a fool, worry that I've offended someone, even despair that my guests won't like my cooking.

But I cut my teeth on the 'whistle a happy tune' philosophy, so even while I'm tearing myself apart on the inside, I keep moving forward. I don't allow my fears to paralyze me. After all, what's the worst that can happen? People won't like me? I'm sure some don't. An editor will trash my writing? I have a pile of rejection letters to prove that's true. Guests won't eat the meal I've prepared? That has happened too. Will I die from any of those things? No.

In fact, after licking my wounds for a while, I pick myself up and try again. It's not that I'm confident so much as determined. I want to succeed, so I keep trying until I do. I learn from my mistakes. That is not to say I don't make more mistakes -- I do that on a regular basis too; afterall there are so many to choose from -- but eventually I find the right path and follow it to my goal.

Whether or not a person succeeds is up to the person. My parents always said, "Where there's a will, there's a way." I believed them. In fact, I grew up believing there wasn't anything I couldn't do if I was willing to work for it. Some might call that confidence -- over-confidence even -- but I think of it as a healthy willingness to work for my dreams.

At one point during my teaching career, the powers that be determined it was bad for a child's self-esteem to link his/her performance with attitude and effort. I think that was a big mistake. How a person perceives and confronts life is crucial to success and helping kids to realize they have control over that is providing them with a tool that can help them mold their entire lives.

Success doesn't happen just because you want it to, but it will happen if you are willing to work for it.

Believe that you can or believe that you can't -- either way you'll be right.

I have created a new genre. I didn't set out to. It was just a happy accident. (I love those.) It's called historical murder mystery fantasy. The story is titled The Sentinel of Mabry Moor.

Historical: It is set in Somerset, England in 1791.

Murder: A murder is crucial to the plot.

Mystery: No one knows who the murderer is.

Fantasy: The murder victim continues to have an active part in the story after death and is, in fact, the one to solve the mystery.

I'm really having a lot of fun with this, experimenting with technique, language, characterization, and format. The story itself is told in first-person present -- I thought this might make the historical aspect more immediate, but there is a short introduction/prologue before the actual story begins, and that is written in third-person past. It's intended to set the scene and the mood.

What do you think?

Mabry England

The fog stole into Mabry on Wednesday evening. It followed a fisherman from his boat to the Stone and Sparrow Pub and waited outside. By the time the fisherman finished his pint and started home for supper, the fog had swallowed every shop and lamp post on Darby Road and had even slithered into the cracks between the cobblestones.

By Thursday morning it had taken over the entire village. The sun never appeared, so the rooster on the post outside the smithy didn't crow. An arrogant cat wearing the fog as a cloak strolled unnoticed past a sleeping dog. The old hound opened its eyes, but seeing only a wall of gray, closed them again. The residents of Mabry—equally sightless—kept to the edges of the streets, using the buildings to feel their way. Was the apothecary shop the third door or the fourth?

But the fog wasn't content to conquer just the streets of Mabry; it wanted more, and when the housekeeper opened the shutters of the vicarage, it tried to push its way in there as well.

Living by the sea, the villagers were well-acquainted with fog and were never surprised when it arrived. And even though this particular fog was heavier than usual, they thought little of it—at first. By the third day, however, their patience had worn thin. The fog still showed no signs of leaving; in fact, it was thicker than ever, and the villagers began to wonder if they would ever see the hills of Somerset again.

By the fifth day, tempers were short and people dragged about stoop-shouldered as though the fog were a burden upon their backs. One woman confessed to feeling suffocated, and had to be revived with smelling salts more than once. An old gentleman who spent his days staring at the rolling fields became convinced his eyes had grown fur, and kept trying to rub them clear. Even the village children had tired of the fog, and games of tag and hide-and-go-seek gave way to bickering and whining. Employers snapped at workers, husbands barked at wives, and mothers scolded children.

On the sixth day the fog lifted. But by then, it was too late.

      One of the members of my writing group is currently in a funk. She is suffering from literary overload -- too much of a good thing, if you like. And you thought there was no such thing!

      The problem is she has been reading too many good books lately, and rather than be energized to greater heights in her own writing, she is overwhelmed by the wonderfulness (I love creating new words!) of what she has read and has fallen into a writing abyss. On the one hand, she aspires to elevate her own work to the level of that she so admires, but on the other, she feels so inadequate to proceed that she is paralyzed by what seems an impossible task. It's a bit like wanting to perform at Carnegie Hall right after you've learned to play chopsticks.

      But no amount of cheerleading or advice from the rest of the group will get her through this phase. Intellectually, she understands the situation, but that doesn't stop her from feeling down about it. She just has to fight through it.

      We've all been there -- read copious articles on writing as well as books the critics laud to the literary heavens. For a while it's uplifting, but at some point, we become overloaded with information, and our inability to sort, organize, store, and act upon it sends us into a tailspin. A little knowledge really can be a dangerous thing.

      So what's the answer? Wait out the doldrums? Read nothing? Read only between writing projects? Scrap what you're working on and start again? Try to mimic your idol? Or just have a good cry?

Actually, it's the same old me, but with a new website. So welcome! Have a look around and let me know what you think.

I know I'm not keeping up with this blog as I should -- so much missed news, book covers not unveiled, and new paintings left unflaunted, but I have an explanation. Actually a couple of explanations. First of all, I got a new computer in January, and as a result, my old FTP protocol doesn't work, thereby prohibiting me from uploading any images. My second excuse ... er, I mean reason ... is that I am trying to update my website. No, that's not true. I'm trying to build a new one. It should have been done a couple of months ago, but I am so technologically challenged that I can't figure out how to get it up and running. I shall be visiting my son, the computer whiz, in early May, at which time everything should be set right. However, the longer I think about it, the more I start to think that perhaps I might have a better chance of getting the website I want if I hire someone to build me one. No matter how I decide to go, it will likely take another couple of months before that is all sorted.

Now for the catch-up part of the blog.

I'm just about finished writing Caching In. Two chapters left and I am confident I can finish them this week. All I have to do is stay away from Ancestry.ca, where I have been tracing my family tree. The process is totally addictive, and each time I discover a new ancestor or a juicy tidbit about someone in the family, I get all excited. This is an unbelievable adrenaline rush. BUT I AM STAYING OFF THAT WEBSITE UNTIL THE BOOK IS FINISHED. Really, I am.

God is a Yankee Fan has a cover! It's really dramatic and eye-catching. You can see it on Dundurn Press's website.  Though the book won't be released until March of 2013, it can be pre-ordered from Amazon.ca and McNalley Robinson Books. Reserve your copies now, people!

In less than three weeks I'm off to Moncton to take part in the Frye Festival. Basically I shall spend the week visiting local classrooms and talking to students about writing and my books. I shall also be attending the Hackmatack Gala, because my book, Zach & Zoe Bully and the Beagle is one of the nominees. I'm heading to Moncton a couple of days early. I'm going to rent a car and explore some of the province. I especially want to see the Hopewell Rocks.

On the way home, I shall stop in Ontario and Manitoba to visit my kids and grandkids. What a wonderful way to wind up my trip, don't you think?

And then it's home and back to work. In mid-May I'll be Skyping with a class in Lauderdale, Florida about my book, Chat Room. After that, I shall be immersed in revisions for God is a Yankee Fan, and then I shall start outlining its sequel. Yes, that's right ... Dundurn Press has expressed an interest in publishing a sequel. I have an idea for a Rapid Reads book too, and there's always The Sentinel of Mabry Moor to finish. I haven't even started work on The Third Portal, not to mention the information book on ...

Oh, dear. I do seem to be quite busy. Do forgive me if I don't get back to you for a while.

Golly, how can it be another new year already? My life is zipping by before my eyes. I'd slam on the brakes, but apparently I don't have any. I don't have a reverse gear either.

So ... since I can't go backwards and I can't stop, I might as well keep going forward to 2012.

Christmas was quite wonderful, but I have to admit I am happy it's over and life is back to normal. Strange as it might sound, I quite like routine. I find it comfortable and calming. It's the special events I have to psyche myself up for. Even so, the new year has arrived with a bang. I contracted two new books in December, and that means I have lots of work on my plate, especially since one of the books isn't even written yet. No problem. It's totally outlined, and that makes the writing a piece of cake. The other is written, but it's just hit the desks of the editorial department, and in a few weeks I'm sure I'll be up to my eyes in revisions. Both books are scheduled for spring 2013 publication. One is called Caching In (Orca Book Publishers) and is about two fifteen-year-old boys caught up in the treasure hunt of their lives. No angst in this one -- just pure adventure, mystery, a little danger, and a lot of fun. The second book is titled God is a Yankee Fan (Dundurn Press). This one is also for teens (maybe a tad older), but the storyline couldn't be more different. It is about Dani, a seventeen-year-old girl who spends the summer with an uncle she didn't know she had. Everything is wonderful -- better than wonderful -- until it turns to disaster.

I am also reading -- a second-round juror for a writing competition, and I have to tell you, the stuff I'm looking at is terrific. There are some fabulous new writers coming up.

I need to get my picture taken too -- professionally. I always thought authors were invisible; people might know their names but not their faces. So how come I'm always having to send off a photo to some writerly thing or another? The last time I had my photo done was 14 years ago. It's time for an update, even though I run the risk of frightening my readers -- and myself. (Once again I wish I had that back-up gear.)

At the end of April I'm off to Moncton, New Brunswick for the Frye Festival. It is the biggest literary event in Atlantic Canada, and I am very honoured to have been invited. I shall be visiting a bunch of schools while I'm there, as well as attending the big Hackmatack Gala. (Zach & Zoe: Bully and the Beagle is one of this year's nominated books for the Hackmatack Award.) So I've got some preparing to do for this adventure.

All of these activities should carry me through to June at least. After that ... well, we'll see where the year takes me.

I can't believe it's been over four months since the last entry in my blog. I am ashamed. Why would anyone follow my blog if I don't write in it? All I can say in my defense is that I guess I didn't have anything to say.

Well, today I do. 

Writing is a good example of feast or famine. From 2006 to 2008, nothing much was happening for me. Oh, I was writing, but publishers weren't answering my knock on their doors. And then suddenly all the doors opened, and I even had publishers knocking on my door! From the spring of 2008 to the spring of 2011, I published 7 books.

And then suddenly there was nothing waiting in the wings. No cushion. Nothing coming down the pipe. Yikes! Time to panic.

But calmly.(If you know me, you know that makes perfect sense.) 

In October of 2010 my cousin -- a very creative mind in his own right -- came for a visit. I told him a cute anecdote. We both laughed, which was the objective of the anecdote, and I told him that one day I was going to write a book that embodied that anecdote, and I was going to call it God is a Yankee. I confessed I had no idea what the book would be about, but that very night, as I drifted off to sleep, the entire plot of the story came to me, and suddenly I knew what I needed to write. And boy, was I excited! It took me seven months to write the story, but I finished it at the end of June and promptly sent it off to one of my favourite publishers. The editor assigned the reading of the manuscript got back to me quickly. She didn't like it. (But you already know that. That was the last blog entry.)

If there's one thing I've learned about this industry, it's that the faster you get back on the bike, the less sorry you will feel for yourself and the more quickly you'll have success. So, that same day, I sent the manuscript off to another publisher.

The acquisitions editor at that house is a very odd bird in as much as she keeps writers informed. So, though I didn't get the final feedback on the fate of my story until yesterday afternoon, she kept me posted the whole way on what was happening. That is a writer's dream. Bottom line: the house is going to publish my book. Woo-hoo! Colour me thrilled. And ... I can't tell you this part yet, because it's not a for sure. But I'll get back to you.

Meantime, back at the ranch ... well, the computer, actually ... I had another idea for a book. It wasn't a new idea ... I've had it for a while, but I am finally ready to act on it. So, I write an outline and the first chapter and send it off to the appropriate publisher. They get back to me in about six weeks. The answer: YES!! Write the book. So, Caching In, will be in bookstores in the spring of 2013.

So once again things are happening for me, and I gots to get busy. 

Of course, I have other ideas too. And I'll get to them ... at some point.

And there's a bonus to all this as well. The Frye Festival, which is the biggest annual literary event in Atlantic Canada has invited me to take part in next April's festivities. How cool is that? Even better, it will allow me to attend the Hackmatack Award Gala in Moncton, for which my book, Zach & Zoe: Bully and the Beagle, is nominated.

Have I mentioned before how lucky I am to be living this dream I live? Well, I am. I couldn't be more thrilled or grateful.

Okay ... I'm officially in the groove. I just received the first rejection for my latest manuscript. Pfffffft! It never gets easier. But I tell myself that many of my stories that have gone on to be published elsewhere AND that have achieved much success were also rejected a time or two before they found homes. One such novel was rejected by this very same editor and went on to become a series, so in a way, that first rejection was a blessing in disguise. The thought doesn't completely eradicate the uncomfortable lump in my stomach, but it does inspire me to move on to lucky publisher #2.

The thing that riles most about this rejection is the editor's observation that the central character doesn't feel like a teenager. My characters have received this criticism before, and it always irks me. My characters are thinking, rational beings even though they are adolescents. I don't see this as being unteen-like. That's the kind of kid I was, and if I was like that then there are other kids like that out there too. In fact, I'm willing to bet that there are more kids like that than people realize. I taught teens for a long time and I was a parent, and in my dealings with young people I discovered that, given the opportunity, young people will think and respond to most situations in responsible, appropriate ways. It just has to be their idea. Teens don't have to be shortsighted and self-absorbed. I think we do them a disservice when we stereotype them like that.

And that's my rant for the day. Now where is the email address for the next publisher?

During my career in education, I taught everything from grade 1 science and social studies to grade 11 gifted English, so it's not really surprising that my books target audiences from 7 to 18. So far I've written early reader chapter books, primary biographies, middle grade fiction, YA novels, a fiction/science mix, and an illustrated (Martha Newbigging did the illustrations) information book. Just about the only genre I haven't managed to crack is picture books, and I'm not holding my breath. That's 18 books in 14 years as a published author -- I'm happy.

One of the arenas I threw my hat into is Hi-Lo books. As a teacher, I know how tough it is to connect reluctant readers to books, so when Orca Book Publishers initiated the Soundings imprint in 2001 -- Hi-Lo books for teens, I wanted in. My first Soundings book was The Hemingway Tradition (2002). After that came The Trouble with Liberty (2003) and Zee's Way (2004). Then Orca expanded the concept and started another Hi-Lo imprint for slightly younger readers -- Orca Currents, and I have had two books published there as well -- Chat Room (2006) and Cheat (2010).

Both series have been amazingly successful, and most importantly, they have achieved what Orca set out to do. They have captured reluctant readers. The books are short -- generally around 15,000 words, but they are not dumbed down. Though the sentence structure and vocabulary are kept simple, the storylines are gritty, making the books ideal for the target audiences. The thing is that avid readers like the books too.

Here's the pet peeve part. Often when the books are critiqued, reviewers will say things like, "The writing is good, but the book is very short," "Interesting but not very challenging," "Wish it had been longer," and "Pretty easy read."

Hello?!!? Does the term Hi-Lo mean anything to you? If the books are interesting but easy to read, then we authors have done our job, haven't we?

June 30th was the self-imposed deadline for finishing my latest WIP, God is a Yankee. And I did it. (Never mind that the previous May 31st deadline and the April 30th deadline before that went by the board.) I got the book done. Moreover, I've sent it off to a publisher. (Can't get this rejection ball rolling too soon.)

Since then, I've done diddly-squat in the writing department. I've read and reviewed a book, and read one and a half other books for my own enjoyment. I've played numerous computer games. I've coloured my hair, had it cut, and have had a manicure. I entertained guests. I've gone out for lunch a few times, and in a couple of days I'm going for a short holiday with my mother and sister. But I haven't really done any writing.

Well, not anything that amounts to anything ... yet. I got down the three opening pages for what I'm hoping will be another hi-lo teen book, and I've invested some time researching it. I've also come up with what I think is a cool concept for an information book, but aside from throwing ideas around in my head, I haven't done anything with that either.

That's over two weeks of slacking off. And to be perfectly honest, it's felt great. But then ...

My latest chapter book for early readers, Zach & Zoe and the River Rescue, got a good review in CM Magazine and a highly recommended rating. It also earned an Excellent rating in Resource Links Magazine. The Last Superhero made the CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens publication, and Cheat was named Editor's Choice by Library Media Connection and was named to the PSLA Top Forty list.

All while I've been sitting on my duff not writing.

So, of course, I feel fabulous for about four seconds, and then I start to panic. Those are the last of my published books! I have nothing else contracted! I have to get some more stuff out there before publishers forget who I am! I have to get writing!

Okay, slack time is over. Consider the fire lit.

ME!!! Yes, it's true! Zach & Zoe Bully and the Beagle has won the 2011 Chocolate Lily Children's Choice Award in the chapter book category. Isn't it gorgeous! The award is made of crystal sculpted into the shape of British Columbia -- very unique and very beautiful.

I was happy just to be nominated for the award, so when I actually won, I was pretty much speechless. (That doesn't happen often.) The awards gala was held at Kidsbooks on Broadway in Vancouver, and it was in direct competition with the first playoff game of the Stanley Cup finals. So thank you so much to everyone who chose to attend the gala instead of the game. Thank you also to Kidsbooks for hosting a lovely evening and to everyone involved with making the Chocolate Lily Awards happen. A special thank you goes to my sister who chauffeured me to the gala and attended as my guest. (I know she would really have liked to be watching hockey.)

I would also like to congratulate all the other nominees, especially the other winners -- Cynthia Nugent in the picture book category and Iain Lawrence in the novel category.

Though I'm about 3/4 of the way through my latest WIP, it doesn't feel like I've been doing much writing lately. Other parts of my life have been eating up my time -- which is okay, because a person needs balance and variety, and I'm not generally very good at accomplishing that. I tend to work with blinders on much of the time. Don't see the dust. Don't see the empty fridge. Leave my painting supplies untouched for months. Don't even notice it's been raining since November.

But this spring has taken my into schools and libraries quite a bit, and a new grandchild (#6!) recently took me to flood country for a week of cuddling the new baby and learning to be a two-year-old again. It was a much-needed holiday. I didn't even take my computer, and what's more -- I DIDN"T MISS IT!!

Sigh. But that was last week, and now it's time to get back to some serious writing. I had originally wanted to get this latest book finished by the end of April. Here it is the end of May, and it's still a ways from completion. New deadline: June 30th. Nose to the grindstone, here I come.

However, I have one more distraction -- albeit a very pleasant one. The Chocolate Lily Gala (Zach & Zoe Bully and the Beagle is a nominee) is being held in Vancouver on June 1st, and I shall be in attendance. I'll probably stay on and visit with my sister for a bit, so there go a couple more writing days out the window.

But I shall get this book done. I'm determined. Discovering Cheat will be released in French as La Triche in the Fall, and Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers is nominated for the 2012 Red Cedar Awards is exactly the motivation I need.

Back in late February/early March, I conducted a series of writing workshops with grade 12 students at Carihi Secondary School in Campbell River. The goal was to create picture books. Since I've never had a picture book published, I saw this undertaking as a bit of a challenge. In theory I knew the basic concepts and criteria, but could I impart that to a group of 17 and 18 year-olds who likely hadn't opened a picture book since grade one?

I needn't have worried. Teachers, Trevor McMonagle and Nick Pisterzi, with the help of librarian, Betsy Muir, and two wonderful educational assistants had prepared the students well and followed through afterwards, seeing the stories to completion.

Yesterday I was invited back to view the finished products. A casual reception including coffee, tea, cookies, and squares provided by the home economics students preceded a session of readings and discussions of some of the students' stories. I was impressed. The teachers were impressed. I think the students were impressed too. And so they should be. A good job was done by all.

Don't you just love a success story?

It's been a fun week. The money arriving in the mail has exceeded the bills. (That's always good.) I got my tax preparation done and delivered to my accountant. I completed a painting I am very happy with. I had a great time at the Courtenay Library talking to readers and would-be writers. My new book, Zach & Zoe and the River Rescue is making its way into bookstores and landed on my doorstep a couple of days ago. I completed another chapter of my WIP. God is a Yankee. I read half of a novel I have to review. And last, but not least, another of my books, Zach & Zoe: Bully and the Beagle has been nominated for The Hackmatack Book Prize, a Maritime children's choice award.

Now, if I can just climb from 4th place to 1st in my March Madness pool, everything will be perfect.

Okay. I admit it. Two weeks ago, when I headed off to one of the local high schools to give my first writing workshop to 50 grade 10, 11, & 12's, I was nervous and more than a little intimidated. I knew there would not be enough chairs at the back of the room. Elementary school kids sit right on my feet if they can, but senior high students can't get far enough away. I know it has nothing to do with me personally, but the cool teen persona still poses a challenge.

The fact that the workshops were supposed to focus on picture book writing didn't help. For one thing, I don't have a single published picture book, so I'm not exactly an expert in the field. Secondly, I was having a hard time imagining that teenagers would want to write a picture book. And finally, picture books are half illustrations, and this was supposed to be a WRITING workshop. How could we get a finished product?

The students dribbled into the library and immediately headed for the reading area, draping themselves over the stuffed couches and chairs as only teenagers can. Late comers had to settle for the more uncomfortable, stacking chairs. When everyone was settled, I found myself surrounded -- literally. There were kids on every side, and I had to twirl in circles in order to talk to them all. (I could really have used a lazy susan!)

Before I even began, I had to throw my plan out the window. I had expected to be working with students who had a special interest in writing, but for over half of these students, the opposite was true. They weren't readers or writers. So, right out of the blocks, I had to improvise. Thankfully, the teachers had done a lot of groundwork, and the students had a good idea about what constituted a picture book. The teachers, librarian, and EA's also helped implement my instruction, which was great.

Somehow I muddled through the first workshop and came more appropriately prepared for the next two. Once we got past the first few minutes and the kids got a chance to ask some questions about me and writing, the teen force field keeping me at a distance came down, and we all became just a bunch of people working towards a common goal.

These were nice kids -- not scary at all. Some were funny, some were sensitive, some were on their phones. It was like teaching again, but without the headaches. I enjoyed working with these young people and was a little sorry when it was all over. I hope they had a good time too.

At the moment my writing is on hold, because of my inability to multi-task. For the next month and a bit, I have several booktalk/writing workshops to give, and that is where my head is. I envy writers who can -- and do! -- write at stop lights, between dinner courses, and during commercials. Heck, I don't generally even take my computer with me when I travel.  I can't concentrate to write if I'm touring, and therefore the only need I really have is to check email, and I can usually borrow the computers of family and friends for the five minutes that takes.

Last week I had a couple of library presentations in North Vancouver. Though I didn't sleep well the night before, and I argued with myself about exactly how I was going to proceed right up to the moment the talks began, everything went smooth as silk. There were about 80 grade 4's and 5's in the first session and 50 or 60 in the second group. What terrific kids! They were avid listeners -- not just to me but to each other as well. They were courteous and curious and very articulate. They answered all my questions and had loads of their own. The question/answer period could easily have gone on for another half hour beyond our time.

Upcoming is a 3-session workshop (over a 3-week period) with grades 10, 11, and 12. The topic: picture book writing. This could be quite interesting, considering I've never had a picture book published -- unless you count Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers, which is actually an illustrated information book. I have written a few picture books that have almost been published, so I'm confident I can do this. Given more time, I would even be willing to work with students on the illustration aspect of picture books. Maybe another time.

Spring Break will find me doing a writing workshop with upper elementary students at the Courtenay Public Library. Then in April I'll be back on the mainland in Surrey and Richmond, speaking to Red Cedar readers about Zach & Zoe and the Bank Robber.

Hopefully I'll get some writing done while all this is going on, but it's so hard for me to switch my brain back and forth between presentations and writing. Perhaps I'll have to fill the gaps by drawing and painting. That form of creativity taps a totally different part of my brain. Yup. Maybe that's the interim answer.

Except for putting my back out on Sunday (I knew I shouldn't have made the bed!) and living on IBs ever since, it has been a good week. And it's only Thursday!

My current writing goal is to complete a chapter a week, but I'm loving my current WIP (work in progress) so much that the writing is coming very easy, and I finished this week's chapter in two days. So this morning I started on the next one.

I've also started reading a new book called The White Queen by Philippa Gregory, and so far so good. I enjoy novels with historical content. It makes me feel I'm learning something while I'm being entertained, so it's kind of like I'm multi-tasking.

Yesterday I also received a request to do a day of writing workshops at a local high school, so that's something to look forward to. Though I haven't had my own classroom since 1995, I still like to get back in there once in a while.

This morning I discovered that my newest novel, Cheat, has been included in the grade 9-12 book packages compiled and distributed by CanLit for Kids to schools across Canada.  Inclusion in these packages is always good for sales.

Finally, while surfing the Net last evening, I came across a photograph that I plan to use as the inspiration for my next painting.

So, although dancing is out for a while and I'm never making the bed again, I'm still a happy camper. 

Well, here it is January -- a new year -- and I'm back to work. The first week of 2011 found me writing madly once more -- in fact, I completed chapter 3 of God is a Yankee. The weird thing is that I still feel like I'm cheating when I write, and that's sort of a good thing, because writing then becomes a guilty pleasure, which makes it much more fun.

I haven't given up on the painting though. I'm going to be starting another water colour course in March. When I couldn't sleep a few nights ago, I got up and spent 4 hours of sleep time working on a painting. I shall have it up on the website very soon.

School and library visits are starting to fill my spring calendar, and that's always a good thing -- poor, starving artist and all that -- would that I were as wealthy as some people think. 

Of course, I also have some writing housekeeping chores to attend to -- PR forms to fill out, GST/HST to file, and income tax stuff to start organizing. Then there's that passport renewal I've been putting off.

My biggest thrill lately is my new printer/fax/copier/scanner. It's pretty cool, prints in black and white and colour, and the photos it turns out are positively professional-looking.

So I have nothing to keep me from writing that best-seller. Here I go. 

Well, my three non-writing months are coming to an end. I haven't accomplished all I had hope to, but I knew I was taking on a lot, and I'm not unhappy with what I did do. My biggest undertaking was my art. Sketching is a natural fit for me, but I've always wanted to learn to paint with water colour. I took a course this fall (3rd water colour course of my life) and the instructor was great. Her name is Sandra Lamb. On my links page, there's a link to her website. Anyway, I was inspired and have really tried to up my art game as a result.

And though I have to get back to my writing in the New Year, I still want to keep my hand in painting. To motivate myself I've set up a new page on my website, displaying some of my drawings and paintings. You might want to check it out. 

Ta-da!! Just received the cover image for Zach & Zoe and the River Rescue. This is the third book in the Zach & Zoe series and is scheduled for release March 1, 2011. I might be a bit biased, but I think it's the best Zach & Zoe book so far. 

I can't believe it's the end of November already. Two of my three writing-free months are already gone, and I haven't accomplished anywhere near what I hoped to. So what have I done with the time?

I did finish reading An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. It took me a year! Perhaps my mind was too busy with other things to fully devote myself to the novel, but I struggled to read it. The last 200 pages were enjoyable, but otherwise, I wasn't impressed, and that is disappointing, since the other books in The Outlander series were very good. As much as I hate to say this, perhaps it's time to say good-bye to Claire and Jamie Fraser.

I introduced my new book, Cheat, at a group launch in Victoria. It was a fabulous evening -- about 200 guests. Great fun! I've sewn one panel of a new quilt for my bed. I fudged and wrote a chapter and a half of the new year project -- God is a Yankee. I took part in a writers' retreat. I went visiting. I entertained a visitor. I made and froze a ton of cabbage rolls and (for the first time in my life) made a Christmas pudding.

Still on my plate -- knit an Aran sweater for my mother, sew the quilt, can antipasto and salsa, decorate the house for Christmas, bake, write a Christmas letter, review a book, serve as a reader for a short prose competition, Christmas shop, and mail away the packages. Something tells me I'm not going to get everything done by the end of 2010.

HOWEVER, I have made steps forward with my painting. There are just two art classes left, and I'm hoping to learn lots more about working with water colour. I'm having so much fun and my skills are definitely improving. I've already decided to sign up for another art class in the spring.

All right -- I know I'm taking a three-month hiatus from writing. I'm painting, quilting, knitting, and reading -- but not writing. That doesn't mean I'm not thinking about writing. Not intentionally, but it's hard to switch off one's brain. Ideas have a way of sneaking into my head when I'm not looking, and those are generally the best ones, so I'd be a fool to ignore them when they come knocking. Which is exactly what happened last night just before I slid into bed. Needless to say, I didn't get a whole lot of sleep.

I have kidded around for years that one day I was going to write a book called God is a Yankee. I had no idea what the book would be about beyond the meaning behind the title, but it was such a catchy title, I knew an idea would come to me at some point. And last night was that point.

It was the most fabulous feeling! Suddenly I had the story. I knew who the three characters were -- because there are only three; all the other players have cameo roles. I knew the relationships, the flaws, and the secrets. I knew the basic plot. I could hear conversations, see action, feel emotions. And the more I thought about it, the more the story revealed itself. I didn't have to go looking for any of it. It was all right there. A wonderful gift.

The title will have to expand a little -- God is a Yankee -- and Other Truths I Learned From Sam. Though readers won't realize it until after they've read the book, the title says it all. I just know this is going to be the best novel I've ever written. I can feel it in my bones. All I have to do now is write it. But not yet. For now I'll let it simmer on the back burner of my mind.

After all, I'm on hiatus.

I don't write in my blog for a month, and now there are two entries in one day. Sorry, but that's the way my life is -- lumpy. That's okay though -- I wouldn't be good with continual action. I need to psych myself up for stuff.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday found me and four other friends/writers at a retreat at Tsa Kwa Luten Lodge on Quadra Island.  

Dayle Gaetz, Jocelyn Reeking, Heather Kellerhals-Stewart, Adrienne Mason, Sheryl McFarlane

It was fabulous! We rented a giant cottage, complete with two fireplaces, a barbecue, and a hot tub. Not only was it the most perfect, tranquil setting for unwinding, it was also conducive to working and exchanging ideas. 

We began with a visit to the local elementary school, where we talked to the students about books and writing. Since we all write for different ages and some of us dabble in fiction while others focus primarily on non-fiction, we split up and spoke to different groups. It was great. I had a super grade 5/6 split. I couldn't have asked for a more engaged and engaging class.

During our retreat we went hiking a few times, we critiqued each other's work, we picked each other's brains, and we explored topics of mutual interest. We also drank wine (evenings only), feasted (we had enough food for six more people), and laughed a lot.

Hopefully there is another retreat in our future. We're thinking maybe Tofino way next time.