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"If you have two friends in your lifetime, you're lucky. If you have one good friend, you're more than lucky." - S.E. Hinton


Many of you reading this post are unfamiliar with the women standing next to me in the photo above. These fabulous people have been my friends since Jr. High School; they are my precious YaYas! Dana Massey is on the left and Tarah Olewski is on the right. During the past fifteen years, we've been through good times and bad: boyfriend disasters, weddings, childrens' births, scary health issues, and unfortunately, lots of funerals. Both live in Mobile, Alabama (nearly 75 miles south of my home in Millry), and YES!, I get off beat if a few days pass without speaking to one or both on the phone.


Now, you may be wondering why I inserted this photo in my post. This is a snapshot of the foyer area in our home. Please note the beautiful plants beneath the window seal. These seven-year-old peace lilies are very special to Trae and I because they were given to us by Dana and Tarah after the funeral of our baby daughter, Sarah Margaret. Sadly, due to complications during my third pregnancy, "Maggie" was born 17 weeks prematurely. My life changed forever that day, but with support and encouragement from my family and friends, I found peace and moved on. Now, three miracles later, I find myself still begging for Dana and Tarah's support and encouragement! Our friendship is unique in many ways. We understand that life is full of disappointments and defeats, so we make every effort to be there for one another...through good times and bad. The older we get, and with more responsibilities on our shoulders, our time is limited for one another. But we do it! Somehow, we manage to work each other into our busy schedules, even if it's just a quick text message to vent about a bad haircut!


There's no doubt our lives are different! I'm an aspiring writer/stay at home Mom to four, Dana somehow manages a career and family (she's due w/ her second child in August, and Tarah is the one Dana and I live through vicariously with her free-spirit attitude and time-share in Spain. But I fully believe these differences are what make us mesh. You see, regardless the direction we go in life, we always find a way back to one other. Perhaps a result from what we've been through together over the years? Hmmm...I don't know! I'm just abundantly grateful for having these women in my life. Love you gals! Tory

I rebuilt kurtisscaletta.com, using — let me brag about this, okay? — using a wordpress theme I built myself, from scratch, all by myself, with nothing but a few chunks of core functionality from a ’87 Buick Skylark and the body of an LG LTM9000. That will be my mostly static carefully groomed “author presence” and this here will be my blog, which I restored largely for archival reasons, since I don’t expect to have much time to blog from now on… although that may also be an empty threat, since I keep thinking of things I ought to blog about when I get the chance.

I've no idea if anyone will be interested since I've badly neglected this blog for so long (writing fiction took precedence over reviewing it), but I'm actually not writing fanfiction any more. Since February I've been writing and researching (more the latter than the former at the moment) a genre-crossing novel (Science Fiction and Crime/Detection fiction) - ie. original fiction, with characters I've - well, I was going to say created, but that'd be an exaggeration because I don't feel like I've created them, it feels more like they've sprung, fully-formed, from my head, like Athena.

I'm world-building in a serious way - working out details about religion, politics, and society, as well as the geography of the main planet (so far there are four planets in my universe). There'll be elements of various genres in there besides SF and crime - the two main characters are police detectives, and the story's set in the 25th century.

The first third of the story must be completed by mid-July as I'm writing it for the scifibigbang over on Live Journal.

If anyone would be interested in reading it, let me know and I'll post a link once the story goes 'live'.

There have been a couple of horrifying news stories lately about bullying, and author Carrie Jones created a Facebook page for authors against bullying, encouraging us to write our own true stories about the topic… here’s mine.

I was the new kid seven times between first and twelfth grade. In every year but one, I was the smallest boy in my class. Not only was I smart, I was a smartass. I made fun of other kids when they used words wrong or got their facts mixed up. Heck, I made fun of the teacher when she used words wrong or got her facts mixed up.

I read from big, thick books. They were nothing especially difficult, but they looked show-offy to other kids. They’d say I was faking and make me read passages from them to prove I could. Then they would say I was making it up, anyway. In fourth grade, I read The Shining. It was pretty accessible, and had a child hero I could identify with. Some other boys made me read a page out loud, and there was a bad word on it. They ran to the teacher and told her I’d said a swear word. She took the book away from me.

Kids would say my name in a mean way as they rode by me on their bikes. “Scaletta!” they would say, like it was a bad word. They’d take things from me and hold them out of reach. They’d ask me if I was going to cry, and sometimes I did.

I was almost always the last one picked for sports teams, but I understood — I was small and ineffective. Once the kid who passed on me apologized later. It was a sign of real respect, and of slowly realized social acceptance. When I got glasses, some kids tossed them back and forth over my head. When someone finally threw them back to me and I dropped them, and they broke, he was genuinely sorry.

Over time, those kids would become at least casual friends. It turned out I was fast for a short distance, and other kids would want to race me. I knew a lot of jokes. Most importantly, I was a red-blooded, straight, white, Christian, able-bodied and able-minded male. While I was different, I was still “one of them.” I occupied a space of marginal acceptability, like a small wolf from a different pack, but eventually I made my way into the hierarchy. There were lesser wolves than me, and there was prey.

Only one kid did have an especially intense hatred for me. That came in middle school. He put mean notes in my coat, calling me a racist name. I wasn’t black, but I had curly hair, and that was all he needed. I expect he rather would have had a real minority to harass, but our class didn’t have any that year. He challenged me to fights after school. He finally forced me to, and I won, thanks to guile and a patch of ice. I got him backed helplessly against the ledge of a window well, scooped up his legs and threatened to let go. He cried and begged other kids to help. None of them did. I helped him back to safety, supposing my mercy would give way to a robust new friendship. It didn’t, and no wonder. I’d humiliated him, not just because he lost, but because not one kid would team up against a weakling to help him. Now he’s the sort of guy who goes to political rallies with misspelled signs.

I’m not ashamed of having been bullied. I understand that I was spared the intense, murderous, bullying that other kids experience. A few hardships made me, and didn’t break me. I’m more liberal minded because of them, and more inclined to side with the underdog.

My shame is having ever joined in the abuse. I realized once there was a kid who, though taller than me, could be rabbit punched and tweaked without fighting back. Another time I made a racist joke in the locker room, and during the same spell, told an anti-Semitic joke on the bus, loud enough for the sole Jewish kid to hear. There was the time I joined in a round o

Jim left a comment on my last post referring to the classic picture book William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow, about a boy who wants a doll. The ending to that book suggests that maybe he’s not a sissy (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but merely aspires to be a father. Which is funny because I remember once when I was three or four years old saying, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up: “a daddy.” Everybody laughed and I learned next time to say, “a fireman,” which led to a terrifying visit to a fire station. I may never be a fireman, but in August I’ll be a father. I’ve been practicing with puppets and pets for decades and should be ready. The baby will be a boy, and can have as many dolls and puppets as he wants.

Oh goodness. It has been over a month, a month? since I've posted and I'm so sorry. That means I've done NO book review Wednesdays for a month. Ack. (And I thought those would keep me blogging.) March has been a month of deadlines and to excuse my absence I quickly fill you in on some of the deadlines that I've been meeting and working towards. If you follow me on Facebook, you've probably see a lot of this already so my apologies.

March 1: Final illustrations for the book Fufu and Fresh Strawberries You can see some of those illustrations here.
Forum assignment for my Picture Book Certification Semester at Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA)

March 15: Final egg paintings for the Great Goose Egg Auction. You can see the eggs here.

March 17: My 2nd packet was due for VCFA

March 22: Forum assignment for my Picture Book Certification Semester at VCFA

March 23: I did my first multisport event. An indoor triathlon at the Naval Air Station Brunswick. The event was a 1000 meter row on an ergometer, a 5 mile bike on a stationary lifefitness cycle, and a 1.5 mile treadmill run. You can see pictures of me and Mike (the gentleman paired with me)  in the event and read more about it in the captions here. I used this indoor triathlon to train for an event that I am doing in May, The Tri for the Casco Bay Y. If you'd like to donate a small bit to the scholarship funds and to my team the MIghty Mamas, please take a look at our fund raising page where you can donate online. I'll be swimming and cycling and my friend Rachel will tag off to do the 5K run.

This past week I've been revising and polishing the first 10 pages of my novel, working on the synopsis and query letter for the deadlines associated with the New England SCBWI spring conference critiques and quick queries. While the Friday and Saturday registration is full, there are still spots for Sunday so check it out.

I also just got back from the post office, where I was sending a picture book to for the April 1st scholarship deadline at VCFA and a trip to the library where I was stocking up with a new load of 25 picture books for VCFA Packet 3!

All of this with my husband out of state for the first three weeks of March and two kids who need me.

So you see, I've been an extremely busy Writer/Mom/Triathlete but we'll see if April, with its extended sunshine hours, allows me to find more time to blog. Happy Passover to all who celebrate. Look for my Wednesday review of the book: The Matzoh That Papa Brought Home.



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...is too busy to think of a Facebook status....is tired of being busy....is glad she owns a Prius, since she spends half her time driving....can't believe her carpool just fell apart and she now has to drive her kids to/from school 5 mornings and 5 afternoons a week!...is afraid that all the have-to's are crowding out the important....misses Facebook....misses blogging....hasn't read anybody

So I had a pretty bad medical scare here lately.The day before my 45th birthday, I got the results of an echocardiogram that had been done to check out a heart murmur. I'd been told that the murmur was probably not significant, but still, if I'd never had an echo, I should, they said.So I had the echo, or ultrasound of the heart, and sure enough, the murmur is insignificant. However (they said)

Sometimes there is the pressure to have something to say when one starts to write a blog entry. I always start thinking I've got nothing. Lists help, so here we go...
1. Kids went back to school today. I got almost all my sketches for Fufu printed out on good Arches paper. Two are already painted. Must keep on, keeping on.
2. Lucy puppy is growing fast. With the kids and hubby gone she was visibly confused and decided to sleep for most of the day. I took her out skiing, went for a walk, and practiced frisbee fetch. She gives it back to me if I keep a few bits of hot dog handy. I'm so happy that she is part of our family.

Is she beautiful or what?
3. My VCFA residency starts on Sunday! This is pack week. That means that this is also laundry week. And go to Target for last minute "I needs", I need twin size flannel sheets, a new set of long johns, an electric water kettle, and a back support chair insert if I can find one. After the New Year's storm I'm expecting deep snow. I got these slope sliders as a gift to bring with me to the residency.

I'm also trying to catch up with my reading, both pre-lecture and pre-workshop readings. I should have done this during the last two weeks but used the reading time to treat myself to grown-up books The Help and Eat Cake.
4. Cross your fingers for me as I have a job interview on Wednesday as the Media Liaison of a private school. I think I'm a great match for the job, we'll see how the meeting goes.
5. My kiddo got a Sansa mp3 player which I was assured would take files from itunes. (not purchased but the ones that were originally my cd's) Turns out that all my music was imported in nonmp3 format so I have to convert them all. Ick. Now I know there is a box to check in preferences to fix this problem for future imports.

On the eighth night of Chanukah we had some friends over for a potluck. Because it was both the last night of the holiday and Shabbat, there was much ceremony, singing, and lighting of candles. It was so nice to share the night with good friends and so nice to be reminded of just why we reloaded all those boxes and came traipsing back to Maine. I am Jewish and Hubby is not so as soon as the menorahs were put away for next year... We headed to the tree farm to pick out our Christmas tree. Now with many interfaith families there are some compromises. Our compromise is I say yes to the tree but Hubby has to say no to the Christmas lights outside. He hems and haws and teases me about how he'd really love a huge blow up Santa in our yard but actually, I think it lets him off the hook. Nothing to put up. Nothing to take down. Anyway... we had to try out a new tree farm because our usual one was closed for a "growing year." We marched up and down the aisles and nothing caught my eye. Really, I didn't like the way they were trimmed. Too skinny and rounded in at the bottom. (Here's a piece of Anna trivia: One summer I trimmed Christmas trees at a farm in New York state as a summer job. I was the only female on the crew. Let me tell you, that is not an easy job.) So we ended up getting the tree in the picture at an already cut place in Freeport. Now it looks like this. Notice the piano and ottoman barricade. It took about 10 minutes to realize that I don't have enough skill as a dog trainer to get our mouthy puppy, Lucy to "leave it." Hubby reminded me, Anna, we just brought a tree into our house and hung a bunch of toys on it. What do you expect? Hope you all have a great week. Happy Holidays.

1. I know it's been a while since I just blogged for the pleasure of blogging. I miss it. I really do. Life has been quite hectic recently. I'm sure a few of you are going through the experience of having a spouse who works far away so that they can have a job. This is our situation. We have gotten use to the good-byes, the hello's are getting a little easier too. Hubby has been a total trooper doing the "bag drag." He really has two jobs. One with a private defense contractor company and the other in the Navy Reserves. I was very proud to attend his Change of Command ceremony last weekend. It's rare that we get to see our spouses in action (at work). It was lovely to see him in uniform, carrying himself with such grace and exuding leadership. His speeches were eloquent, funny, and well delivered. What a treat! Here we are with his Chief Petty Officer.

The week leading up to this was crazy. The brakes in the trucks failed while I was driving (we are all fine) and I had to do the mechanic thing. The next day, I locked my sweet puppy and my keys in the car. Huge thank you to the lady who used her AAA to save me and the Dad of I's classmate who drove my son to basketball practice. The next day, to travel to the Change of Command, my Hubby rented us a car from Enterprise. I showed up at 12:10 not knowing that they closed at noon. Needless to say, there were tears. But all was well.

2. I've completed a full draft of my novel. I missed the JONOWRIMO check in, but happy to have reached this milestone. Of course, now I turn around and start to revise: put in, take out, look for emotional distance, inconsistencies, character arc, adult word choice. Someday. Someday.

3. I turn in Packet Five today. This is my last packet for the first semester of my Vermont College experience. It's been-- I don't really know-- arduous? time consuming? enlightening? I can certainly say that I am able to look at my work with a more critical eye than before this semester. I write and read all the time. I read more critically than I did before. My critical writing has improved markedly. In my creative work, there is no time for excuses. (Although here I am at 6:30 am blogging, without my last critical essay complete and the packet due today.) I'm really looking forward to being at the residency again. Seeing my cohort group and getting the workshop pages from others to critique. I'll be doing the Picture Book certificate and I'm really looking forward to working with Sarah Ellis and Kathi Appelt. (Time to look for a back support cushion.)

4. My puppy is growing quickly and needs LOTS of love and attention. When Hubby came home Monday (after a week away), I grabbed my computer and books and said, "You are in charge here at home. I'm going to the library." Yesterday he asked me, did I notice that it's really hard to get anything done with the puppy wanting to play all the time? Um....yes.

5. I'm afraid that I failed to post Book Review Wednesday this week. I'm sorry. It's just been too crazy here. I have three authors out there waiting for their reviews and I promise I'll do them over the next few weeks. The new year is coming quickly, if you have a 2010 release and would like to send me a review copy, leave a comment with your email (spell it out so the spambots don't get you.)

1. We are hanging the Maine Illustrators' Collective Classics Reimagined show on Monday, November 2nd. If you'd like to come and/or attend the opening, here is the information:


2. If you won't be able to make it and would like to see my piece here it is:

From Aesop's, The Fox and The Crow.

3. If you are wondering why I'm up early it's because I have so much work to do on my VCFA packet. I always seem to get to this point. I read for too long then I'm crunched for writing time.  (I know, Mona. Six am isn't early but I've been up and working since four.) I needed an extension last time and I'm set on not asking for another one. Feeling a little anxious.
4. I just bought a wide format Epson printer with the money I'm earning from my illustration work for hire. Very exciting but it is an investment.
5. Even though I just dealt with a disappointing rejection on the job scene, I'm applying for yet another one. I guess that is just how it goes, but I start to wonder-- between writing rejections and job rejections, how much can I take before I want to curl up and hide from the world? Perhaps it is a little like child birth though. Nature allows us to forget the pain so that we will do it all again. At least at the end of child birth you have the beautiful child. I'm ready to see the fruits of my labor on the job market. And in the children's book industry for that matter.
6. Lucy the yellow lab puppy is coming home to our house on November 15th. She'll be 9 weeks old and is as cute as cute can be. I'll post pics when I get some. I only have them on my phone and don't have a plan that allows me email them to myself. (ACK!)

Many women start careers in their 20's and then choose to take a break and raise small children in their 30's. When the kiddos are older many of those women choose to return to the workplace. Get this... it's not that easy. Have you ever noticed how most applications have sections that say, please explain any gaps in employment. It is so negative. And, if you are like me, and trying to change fields (not even whole careers, just from one field to another within the same industry) it is even harder. Add to that a crappy economy and 10% unemployment... just let me say that it is difficult to keep your spirits up. I wasn't feeling so great when my last application ended with no interview. This news definitely started the week on a downer. Well I'm here to tell you that I'm on the brighter side of things today.

No. No day job. No contract. No agent. HOWEVER... I spent a lovely day with my husband on a road trip to the wonderful town of Belfast. We went to deliver my painting for the Maine Farmland Trust show and auction. (More about that in the next paragraph.) While driving, we feasted on fall foliage shining in sea and stream. We talked, we listened to The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock...


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... I absolutely love the Wisconsin accent that the audiobook actress uses

and we loved, loved, loved Belfast. I guess Belfast is one of those towns that is easy to skip. We've lived in Maine 15 years and manage to drive right by it on Route 1. As we go over the bridge we always look down and say, "We really should stop and look around that cute town." I'm so glad we did. In addition to the Maine Farmland Trust gallery there are 20 other amazing art galleries. We were lucky to get a recommendation to eat at Chase's Daily. Definitely get off Route One to go to Chase's.

If you are in Belfast between now and November 16th, stop at the Maine Farmland Trust gallery and look at the art. If you are a member, you get to attend the Tenth Anniversary Celebration Show and Auction. Don't miss it. Membership is reasonable. The student rate is only $20 and the Family membership is only $50. The trust protects farmland by matching farmers with lease and buy opportunities that keep America farming.

This has been a busy week so I guess we'll get right down to it:
1. I went to the Yarmouth Art Festival opening last night and was amazed by the showing. St. Bartholomew's church in Yarmouth was packed with art lovers. The show will be up through Saturday if you'd like to see it. Also, you can preview the works in the online catalog.
2. I had a great visit with my parents who came up to leaf peep this past week. They enjoyed the maples and the grandchildren and gave hubby and I chance to go out on the town for our...
3. Sixteenth Anniversary! Every year is better than the last. How long have you been married?
4. My son I. tried out for travel basketball and didn't make it. There were enough kiddos there for two teams but they could only have one. It got me thinking that the kids who DID make it, are automatically the Varsity team for highschool. That's it. Decided in 5th grade. The kids who made the team get better coaching, a team with more skillful  team members to learn from, and more experience with challenging games. Of course the 5th grade travel team becomes the 6th grade travel team, and the A-team in Jr. High and then high school. What a shame we don't give all kids the chance to succeed. (This sports situation is of course true for music and academics as well.)
5. I did not get an interview for the teaching job I applied for.
6. Had to ask for an extension on my MFA packet because things have been so busy. Must complete.
7. If you have a MG or Picture book fiction or nonfiction) coming out this year, I'd love to review it. Tell me in the comments or contact me at anna at annajboll.com
8. Must work on image for the Maine Illustrators' Collective Classics Reimagined show!
9.Brrr... I think winter is right around the corner. Windy and cold enough to turn on the heat.
10. Looking at puppies.