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YES! My mc from Dogsled Dreams did something I was surprised with. Isn't that cool? I try to explain that to non writing friends and they just look at me like I'm nuts. Great post, and love the photo too!

I haven't had that happen to me yet, but I look forward to it!

I love Meg Cabot, but that bracelet is awesome! ;-)

Yes, I love when characters surprise me. It adds depth, multiple layers to who they are, what place they are coming from. And, it's true, that sometimes when you go back to the beginning you have to adjust for what you've discovered about them.
Very cool gifts! You are pretty awesome.

Yep. My characters love to surprise me. Avalon High was a fun read.

It's magic when this happens. And there's some way we could get there more often, I think, if we could loosen the reins more frequently. Another thing to work on! :)

I love it when that happens. I ended up changing half my manuscript when my mc surprised me with something.

TerryLynn: That's why it's great to have writing friends who understand :)

Shannon: You'll get chills when it does happen!

Tricia: It does add a lot of depth to the character, that's true. Maybe that's why I got excited, because she seemed even more real at that point.

Lois: Avalon High was a fun read :)

Becky: It is magical. But loosening the reins is hard, isn't it?

Susan: That's the hard part, going back to make the changes.

I know exactly what you mean! Even in novels you work on for a while, when someone asks you something or you get a suggestion, you're like, "Why yes, my character has this in his past." It's thrilling!

Oh gosh, it's the best feeling in the world when everything just clicks isn't it? I get so excited! Guess that makes me a nerd too. No big surprise there...

Love that bracelet and love all your giveaways! What a festive month!

P.S.
That picture is just priceless. Could your kids be any cuter?

I don't know if I've ever had a surprise as big as what you're describing. But, definitely, I don't always know the characters as well as I think!

you are like arc girl!

BTW i have the same pic with my 2 year old :)

The moment with the lil ones with Santa is sometimes stressful if they are crying, but you do laugh at it later! I have a pic of my son pulling Santa's beard!

Adorable picture.

I just discovered that one of my characters secretly likes another of my characters....I'm kind of mad, actually. I mean, he could have told me sooner....

Shelley

Same thing happened on a second draft of my WIP and I am still thrilled about it.

Elana: Why yes, I know what you mean!

LiLa: Thanks, I think they're pretty cute too :)

Barrie: It's almost like they're real people that you get to know better each day...

Shelli: Just spreading the ARC love around :)

Kelli: Those Santa moments are stressful, aren't they?

Shelley: That boy was holding out on you!

PJ: Very cool! Love those moments!

OMG! This just happened to me. My current WIP is just coming at me from every angle. It started as a sort of dream (I was in and out of sleep) and then as I started writing it, I began to think that these people aren't alive, well, aren't human and they don't even know it. When I brought it up to a non-writer friend that I think my characters might not be human, she was like..."um, you're in control of this story, they can be what you want."

But sometimes they can't and even though my characters were living breathing beings when I started...they had to become what they are now.

And you're kids are just cute to the second power!

Cute photo!

I HAVE had characters surprise me, and I love it when they do! What a great contest, BTW.

It's amazing how characters can surprise you!

Love this pic--thx for sharing!

I love it when those surprises happen when I'm writing. But I love surprises (good ones) in general.

Comments are now closed for the drawing. I'll announce the winner in the morning.

Karen: Don't worry, your writing friends get it! And yeah, I think my kiddos are pretty cute, too :)

Dawn: Surprises can be fun, yes? Good luck in the drawing!

Lori: I think that's part of the fun of writing :)

Rebecca: I love a good surprise :D

I wanted that book so much! Thank you!!! I'm so excited!

Thanks to Tricia for all her hard work posting the reviews and contests!

You're not mistaken. Yay for me and MJ!

Thanks again!!<br /><br />Mary Jane

Trapeze artist!

zookeeper

rodeo clown

Astronaut!

Quilter!

Children's book writer.

I love this book! Um...ice cream taster. That&#39;s the job I want, anyway:&gt;)

Photojournalist!

man, I was going to put astronaut <br /><br />um..a shoe maker<br /><br />there are still shoe makers around btw :D

Car Salesman. Especially now.

House painter.

This is neat. SO many kids have trouble figuring out what they want to do or be -- way up into junior high and high school -- that this is the type of book that eases the fears and kind of outlines job descriptions and makes them all sound equally cool. Like that.

A kindergarten teacher ;)<br /><br />[email protected]

Fortune cookie maker. I saw a fortune cookie "factory" in Chinatown in San Francisco. It's not a job I'd want, but I think it could make an interesting subject for a poem.

Thank you!! I am thrilled.

I'm excited! <br />Thanks!!!

I love their presence and companionship. Right now mine is sitting next to me resting.

Their unconditional love is what I most admire about dogs.

What I love most about our dog, Eli, is that he gets so excited about everything. He reminds me that there is a great amount of joy in the world. He's a cocker spaniel so he has a nub of a tail and when he gets excited his tail shakes which makes his whole body shake - we call him the rumpshaker. He reminds me to take life a bit less seriously than I am apt to do.<br /><br />Leslie

I love their varied personalities and looks. Just like their human owners in that respect.

Dogs are faithful...no matter what!!!<br />My class would love this book. I promise!!!!<br /><br />mj.coward[at]gmail.com

I like that dogs can be either lazy or energetic. If you're lucky, your mood will match the dog's! :-)

I love dogs' unbridled optimism, their deep loyalty, and their grins. I also love the fact that even an old dog can sometimes forget he's old and begin to act like a puppy again!

I love my dog's ability to tell me exactly what she needs just by the expression in her eyes... it shows that words aren't necessary for communicating 100% of the time. Between that and having a constant companion with my little Jack Russell, I can't imagine ever <I>not</I> having a dog!

I love their playfulness and when you are sad they give you love

This sounds like a winner for those who are afraid poetry is just a bit wimpy -- how CUTE is it that he pesters and then hides to write poetry!?

And, happy end of semester! I think I know how you feel. :)

I write poetry most anywhere as long as I have a notebook and a pen. I've not quite embraced the habit of carrying a notebook everywhere I go, so I guess you could say my favorite place to write poetry is in my head. Stanza is a great name for a dog. I'll soon be getting a puppy and Jill Esbaum's book has inspired me to consider a poetic name for my new puppy.

My 4 year old son loves poetry. We are currently reading a few poems out of Bill Martin Jr.'s collection. Its the most focused he is all day. I don't write much poetry, but if I do it is outside with the kids.

I love to write poetry on a warm spring day under the Hackberry tree with my yellow labs, Annie and Maggie lounging nearby. Do I get the chance often? Not so much.

I can't wait to read Stanza. My library doesn't have it yet, but I've asked them to order it. I hope they do.<br /><br />My favorite place to write poetry is sitting beside water--pond, lake, ocean. Preferably with not TOO much wind. Some activity going on around me is fine, as long as it's not incredibly noisy. A little sunshine...ahhhh.

I teach kindergarten. I love my students' poems. They are sooo funny!!! I'd love to have this for my classroom!<br /><br />Thanks!<br />mj.coward[at]gmail.com

In my bed at night alone without tv or distractions is the perfect time.<br />quelleheure4[at]gmail{dot}com

I usually write poetry down when I'm at my desk, but I compose most of it while I'm out walking with my dog. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy, as I'm often speaking lines or phrases, listening to how the rhythm and meter are working. Thank you for these fabulous posts, Tricia. I've learned so much from you and all the great poets you've interviewed.<br /><br />Catherine

My favorite place to write poetry (which was only available to me for a year) was the Japanese garden in Hikone, Japan, where I taught English for a year. It was peaceful, serene and absolutely gorgeous in every season!

Flea-bitten thug? I like to sit outside on our deck and write my letter, poetry, journal. Basically the only place I can get away without getting away.

I like to go into the bed room and shut the door and write my poetry :)

Love William's veggie garden!!

What a wonderful garden. Are there flowers in his veggie garden, too? My daughter drew a picture also featuring a person in a red hat surrounded by flowers. Since she is only in preschool hers is pretty simple. Will have to post it sometime.

Thanks!

Ooh! Thanks!

cute! I have all of my old blue jeans (and some from friends and family) cut up into squares and rectangles to make a denim picnic quilt someday...

Old tee shirts are used in the garden to tie things up.

I use lint from the dryer to stuff dolls with, that I make out of old T-shirts and other garments.

My husband and I use old boots to make planters.<br /><br />shelcows AT gmail DOT com

socks are easy--we have a zoo of sock puppets!

I've made bags out of t-shirts before. Kids love them for scavenger hunts, dramatic play, or party favor bags at a birthday party.

It isn't clothing, but I use all those baby washcloths to dust. They are so soft and work very well. As far as clothing most of my old t-shirts (and there are a lot) end up as smocks.

There's a women's group in our church who take old church t-shirts and make patchwork bags with them. We use them as worship bags for children in worship and also as reusable shopping bags that church members can take home. The uses are endless. It's been a great project for our women and is helping the environment!

We make cylindrical neck pillows out of old blue jeans... and infant bathrobes out of old towels that are just a bit faded and/or have a stain, but still thickness. A small girl's smock can be made of a pillowcase, too -- some really CUTE ones, if you have stained one, and just have one left. Also a straight skirt for a first grader can be made from one...<br /><br />I'm not in the running for

I'm not very creative but my mom sewed up the bottom of a dress I grew out of when I was a kid. We then hung it on the closet door adn I used it as a clothes hamper. I loved it and it encouraged me to keep my dirty clothes off the floor. <br /><br />I loved the t-shirt poem, too.<br /><br />sally at paraklesis dot com

Most of ours end up as rags or sent to Goodwill before they reach that point. Other have ended up as scarecrow clothes. My grandmother used to make rag rugs out of hers, but I have no idea how she did it.

It's not exactly innovative, but old socks or t-shirt squares make great erasers for my student's individual whiteboards.

Tricia - this is a very funny poem! thank you for sharing! My students will definitely giggle with it.<br /><br />My daughters love turning their clothes that are too small into clothes for their over-sized stuffed animals. So we have giant unicorns parading in all sorts of outfits.<br /><br />Thanks for brightening my evening!

Great ideas here!<br /><br />I've cut up squares from old tee shirts to make eye-glass cleaning squares. Also made covers for gel ice/heating pads (the kind you heat in the microwave) from tee shirts.

Tricia, thank you for your generosity! I was so excited this morning when I saw my name as a winner! You've made my day!

Yay!!!! Thank you! For the give away and also the wonderful series of posts. <BR/>Lynn at Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile<BR/>http://infantbibliophile.blogspot.com

My favorite parts of the series so far are the poets describing their writing process and sharing their favorite writing/poetry quotes. The reason I like these 2 questions/sections best is because I'm a poet myself when I have the time. I like to know how others write. The quotes they share often in spire me to take a second look at poems I've written. Thanks again for doing the Poetry Makers

There are several things. First, I love getting to know some new authors -- I was unfamiliar with all but Jane Yolen (she taught at my college while I was there eons ago, although I could never get into her class) -- we have many of her books. I love hearing the diverse ways the profiled authors came to poetry and how they go about the process. But mostly, I've loved the poems themselves. I

My favorite part of the series so far is the consistency of the interview questions and the dazzling variety of the answers! It's intriguing to see how many different ways people get inspired and keep working.A close second: being introduced to some great new poets I wasn't familiar with!

I just love the exposure to the variety of different poets/poetry. Honestly poetry is something I have paid very little attention to in the past 10+ years (since finishing school), and would like to start reading again, for myself and eventually with my son.

Let me count the ways: I love the quotes I'm collecting that inspire me; I love the process tidbits that will inspire my students; I love meeting authors I've known as writers,but now meet as poets; I love discovering new poets and poems I know I'll share for years to come; I love the generosity of the poets. And I love the generosity of YOU for providing the space, the format, and the joy.

My favorite part of the series is the poets telling about their writing process. It's always interesting to learn how successful writers go about getting their poems on the page/computer. Thanks!

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