OCTOBER’S RECOMMENDED READING

I’ve read so many fantastic books lately! It’s been an abundance of brilliance.

To wrap up the month, here’s my list of favorite novels read this month–in addition to the ones mentioned in earlier posts (JUMPED and WHEN YOU REACH ME).  I keep thinking I’ll get back to Goodreads some day, but it’s overwhelming to get caught up there.

• IF I STAY by Gayle Forman (Dutton Books-Penguin Group, 2009)
• THE CHOSEN ONE by Carol Lynch Williams (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2009)
• THE UNINVITED by Tim Wynne-Jones (Candlewick Press, 2009)
• WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson (Viking-Penguin Group, 2009)
• BECAUSE I AM FURNITURE by Thalia Chaltas (Viking-Penguin Group, 2009)
• JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta (Harper Teen-HarperCollins, 2008)
• JUMPING OFF SWINGS by Jo Knowles (Candlewick Press, 2009)

All are highly recommended!

I also enjoyed CATCHING FIRE, the sequel to the amazing HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins – but, IMHO, if you aren’t already hooked, wait for the final book to come out before reading this one. HUNGER GAMES is amazing all on its own. But CATCHING FIRE left me hanging in a most unpleasant state of limbo, like it wasn’t actually finished. I felt almost as annoyed as I did way back when after seeing Back to the Future II, knowing I had to wait for the last movie to find out how it all works out.  But that could just be impatient me.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Witty Halloween Wear?

Halloween is my favorite holiday!

Even though I love to dress up, I always seem to struggle with finding the right costume.

I’d love to hear some suggestions for word play costumes!

I have a few friends who always seem to come up with witty wear – I hope to be surprised tomorrow. I’m having trouble finding the photos to share, but some favorites have been:

• Sick and Tired: Hold a thermometer in your mouth and wrap yourself in a bicycle tire
• Serial (cereal) killer: Hold a dagger impaled on a box of cereal
• Black eyed Susan: nametag “Susan” and wearing eye black

No contest, one of the most surprising were the girls dressed in blue robes, complete with blue-dyed tampons all over–they were “Van Gogh’s blue period”    Hmmmmmm…

Here’s an adorable I-pod! (and date)

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Blog at the 2010 Olympics

I am not an athlete. I have never been an athlete.  It is a constant source of amazement and delight for me that all three of my children are athletic, coordinated. and willing to work at their favorite sports. And yet, it’s a bit mysterious to me also.

But! I have always loved the Olympics. And now there’s a contest for you more experienced bloggers–and if you win, you get to go to the 2010 OLYMPICS! In Vancouver! And blog about it! Go here!

I received this info from US Diving.  I am not a diver (see above). But I have watched a lot of dive practices and meets.

There are lots of ways diving is NOT like writing. In particular, with writing it is a rare occasion that other writers will cheer and clap if you SMACK. Also, I have never known anyone who had to write while throwing their body into freezing cold water from a ridiculous height while simultaneously flipping and/or twisting their body with great exactness.

But… at the risk of offending any divers and inciting large amounts of eye-rolling…

WAYS THAT WRITING IS LIKE DIVING

• You must put in the time/dives/pages to show improvement
• You must to take risks
• You must have confidence
• You must be a little bit crazy
• It can be scary, thrilling, frustrating, exhilarating, maddening and the best–or the worst–thing ever
• You often need someone else to tell you what isn’t working
• Precision matters
• Sometimes you cry

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Book Thoughts: WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead

I can’t remember where I  first heard about  When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, but I’m so glad I did.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this clever book for middle grade readers. When pushed to explain the kind of story it is, I’m afraid of revealing too much about the plot. As the jacket flap describes it, “This remarkable novel takes place in the real world but holds a fantastic puzzle at its heart. When You Reach Me is an original, and a brilliant and profound delight.” Ahhh, so true.

Librarian Elizabeth Bird gave it a thorough review on School Library Journal, so that’s a good place to find out more.

The first way I loved this novel was as a reader. Plain and simple lost in the story kind of way. And then, as a writer, I immediately wanted to know: how did she do that? Because every detail, every event, every everything matters to the story as a whole. Threads so small you might not even notice that they are threads are woven in by the end.

One of my greatest struggles with my WIP is holding all the threads in my head. I get lost in one part of the story and completely forget about something else. I write off on wild tangents. It’s why my cut file is nearing a comparable length to my manuscript file. And yet I know I have huge holes too.

And so, I am curious about Rebecca Stead’s brain. She must be able to hold so much more story in her head than I can. She obviously loves A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. (Me too!) I am wondering if she figured out a way to tap into the brain power of IT. But in a good way. And while keeping Meg’s heart beating strong and true.

Sorry I can’t tell you more about the actual story, but  go read it!

Sarah Wones Tomp

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Marketing for a Shrinking Violet

The other day I received an email from my editor Dawn Jeffers at Raven Tree Press titled “Marketing Phase I”.

Phase I, I quickly learned consisted of three things:

• Finding activities that coordinate with the book that will be put on the website.
• Drafting a list of contacts; friends, family, media, school, and libraries for a newsletter that the publisher will be sending out.
• Gathering testimonials for my book.

Of all of the things requested by far the most difficult for me was the third item. I had to send a copy of my book to several people (the more notable the better) and ask for their comments, just thinking about it still makes me feel a little squinchy inside. Self promotion is not something that comes naturally to me, I have been a freelance artist for 13 years and I don’t even carry business cards. The idea of Twitter and Facebook was beyond anything I could envision me doing but at our October Meeting at the San Diego SCBWI, “Social Media” was the topic of the day.

Fortunately for me I found a site that shares my concerns. Shrinking Violets Promotions, the brain child of authors Mary Hershey and R.L. LaFevers, it is the perfect site for people like me, the introvert. I am the type of person who would rather bake 24 dozen cupcakes to support the school than stand up on the stage and draw attention to myself. Shrinking Violets understands this and has great tips and ideas for promotion such as this item from their Twitter page:

“Power Point is an introvert’s best friend. Puts the emphasis on the screen, not the presenter.”

They also have great book reviews and interviews.

I really appreciate that I have a publishing house that puts this much effort into a book, I know that many houses don’t do this. I feel like I have won a prize. I have just about completed all of the things for Phase I and will continue to get reassurance and ideas from the Shrinking Violets as I wait for “Marketing Phase II”. I will keep you posted.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

Looking for a great book for a reluctant reader? Well help is on the way. Not quite comic book, definitely not classic material, Jeff Kinney‘s  Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is just pure fun. The newest adventure, Dog Days,  was just released last week.

Here is the synopsis:

It’s summer vacation, the weather’s great, and all the kids are having fun outside. So where’s Greg Heffley? Inside his house, playing video games with the shades drawn.

Greg, a self-confessed “indoor person,” is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg’s mom has a different vision for an ideal summer…one packed with outdoor activities and “family togetherness.”

Whose vision will win out? Or will a new addition to the Heffley family change everything?

The story is fast paced and the illustrations are witty.  Kids will identify with Greg’s quest to spend time indoors while his mom tries to get him outside. The raw humor and semi-comic book format make it a great option for those older reluctant readers.

So sit back and join Greg Heffley and his family for a summer of togetherness.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Easy as Pie?

I was listening to the radio the other day when they began discussing children’s books. The host was amazed at the success of the book “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak and went on to read the book over the air making comments along the way. His opinion was that anyone can write a children’s book with twenty minutes and a Blackberry. While I agree with the host that anyone can write a children’s story, getting a story published is a completely different matter.

Publishing is a business, and editors are under pressure to look for stories that will sell. Thousands of people each year send their manuscripts to publishing houses in hopes of being selected, only to receive a rejection letter. Believe me I know, I have a pile of them at home that remind just how fortunate I am to have finally been published.

The host went on to state that children’s books were written by people that don’t know how to write real books, ones without pictures. While I can understand that this is an opinion that many share, but I have to disagree. There is a challenge in writing a story with less that 500 words that has a beginning, middle, and end. The story must also have an original plot and be interesting enough to hold a four year olds attention. Anyone who has tried to sit on a long plane flight trying to keep their squirming child busy can appreciate the talent this takes.

It takes talent to write a truly good children’s book, and the ones that do it best make it look easy.  Congratulation Mr. Sendak, you made it look easy.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Empty your characters’ pockets

The main character in my current WIP has a group of friends. They’re his community and support; sometimes his conscience. Not quite a Greek chorus, but a definite group. So far they’ve sort of been one character in group form. But now I’m realizing I need to know them better as individuals.

But… not too well. I don’t want to be led astray and distracted by secondary, tertiary, etc etc stories.

So, in an attempt to know this group of guys better, I emptied their pockets to see what sort of things they carry around. I made a simple list of their names along with a brief physical description and then did a freewrite to figure out who has what with them.

I know them so much better now! I found out who is optimistic enough to carry contraceptives, who still has a picture of his seventh grade crush in his wallet, and who keeps a rosary blessed by the Pope close to his heart at all times. I know now which of these boys does the best in school and who would love to join the theater club. Ticket stubs… receipts… fan club membership cards… And more. But not too much more.

I don’t even need to explore their backpacks. At least not yet.

I’m jealous of guys who get by with only bringing whatever fits in their pockets. No heavy purse or tote. No trying to juggle different pieces and sizes of luggage.  Early in our marriage my husband packed for a long weekend – in a paper grocery sack. And had everything he needed.

What would your character pack for a weekend?

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Book Thoughts: JUMPED by Rita Williams-Garcia

Want a book that makes you think?

Want a book that makes you laugh?

How about one that just might make you squirm?

Do you want to read a book that makes you want to race through to the end- with your heart thumping and stomach a little bit clenched – in order to find out what is going to happen…  but at the same time you also want to savor every word and phrase simply because it’s that masterfully written?

Then you better check out JUMPED by Rita Williams-Garcia.

Told from the alternating viewpoints of three high school students over the course of one school day, JUMPED is tough and gritty and important; but most of all, it’s a good story with authentic characters. The high school in this book is not, by any stretch, my world.  Not even close. And yet, it was familiar. And I know each of these girls. And I have more in common with them than I’d like to think.

I guess I’m not the only one to think this book is a stand-out. It was just nominated for the National Book Award!

Rita is on the faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts. I was lucky enough to have Rita as my advisor one semester. If you don’t know her books, you should. But be ready to think, laugh, cry and squirm. Her stories are real. And wow.

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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MOTIVATION: Opportunity awaits

Feeling motivated today!

One reason is thanks to the (totally rocking, incredibly over-achieving) San Diego chapter of SCBWI.

Next month’s meeting focus is on POLISHING YOUR MANUSCRIPT.  As in working on something that is DONE. Attendees will have the opportunity to work in small groups on their preferred genre.

Check out the wealth of talent, knowledge, and absolute fabulousness that will be available to lead the groups!

ILLUSTRATORS: Joy Chu, who seems to be a bundle of knowledge and expertise, has some hands-on activities planned for you. I wish I was an illustrator!

PICTURE BOOKS: If you have a picture book that is ready to toddle out into the world, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to work with the amazing Edith Hope Fine. Edith is gracious and passionate about children’s books and I’m certain she will make you work. Really work. And you’ll love her for it. Guaranteed.

MIDDLE GRADE: Opportunity here is named Carolyn Marsden. I’ve been lucky enough to work with Carolyn up close and personal for years. She is smart and tenacious and creative in all the best ways. Her middle grade novels are beautiful and open your eyes and heart to the wide world around you – whether you are a middle grade reader or an adult. Or anyone else. Middle grade authors, you are lucky.

YA: Mary E. Pearson. Wow. Have you read her books? That’s about all that needs to be said. Except that I was lucky enough to hear her speak (to the same SD SCBWI mentioned above) and she was amazing in person as well. You can’t go wrong with any of these authors but Mary is my personal motivation. I will be there, ready. With my FINISHED, as in DONE, manuscript.

Gotta go write!

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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