While recently re-watching Walk the Line (the love story of Johnny Cash and June Carter), I couldn’t help compare the dream of making music to that of writing. Think about the speech given by Sam Phillips, the record producer who helps Johnny and his band get their start. I’m posting an edited version of the [...]
Archive for June, 2011
Write the Line
Posted in Writing information and tips, tagged inspiration, Johnny Cash, Walk the Line, Write the Line on June 29, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Too Big To Be One Thing
Posted in Writing information and tips, tagged answer to slate, what is YA literature?, YA discussion, young adult literature on June 27, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Some recent articles about YA - in the Wall Street Journal (all YA is too serious and dark) and Slate (YA is mass market fluff and the old people writing it are creepers) – have made something perfectly clear to me… YA literature is not a genre. It’s too big, too varied, too complex. There [...]
Go Read a Book!
Posted in Writing information and tips, tagged Alyson Beecher, Bridge to Books, Kelly Sonnack, Save Bookstores on June 24, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Just a few events I have just recently learned about to help encourage literacy and the love of books, thought I would pass them on. Save Bookstores Day is a the brain child of agent Kelly Sonnack I’ve posted Kelly’s letter below: Hi everyone, I’ve gotten sick of reading the bookstore obituaries in the publishing [...]
Writing Stumbling Blocks: A Stunning Chapter 4
Posted in Uncategorized, Writing information and tips, tagged writing stumbling blocks on June 22, 2011 | 1 Comment »
stum·bling block Noun: A circumstance that causes difficulty or hesitation. Stumbling blocks, we all have them, and for a writer it’s that moment or situation that makes it difficult to continue writing. With my own writing I recently experienced a stumbling block trying to write chapter 4. After working tirelessly on perfecting chapters 1-3, my writing came [...]
Reading in the Park Sidewalk Style
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Andrea Zimmerman, City of La Mesa, David Clemesha, Mara Price, Reading in the Park on June 20, 2011 | 2 Comments »
On Saturday I slathered on my SPF 85 sunscreen, grabbed my best sun hat and joined Andrea Zimmerman, David Clemesha, and Mara Price for a “Reading in the Park.” Sponsored by the City of La Mesa, this event invited children and their families to make book marks, exchange books and hear stories read while they [...]
Choices and Voices
Posted in Uncategorized on June 16, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
I had planned to write my blog post early this morning. But when I woke up, there were voices in my head. I had to write them down. Finally, a conversation I’ve been trying to capture. Limited time, gotta make choices. The story won. But here is an amazing read for you: The latest VOYA online. [...]
Hello?
Posted in Uncategorized on June 15, 2011 | 2 Comments »
I find cell phones to be a bit of a hassle in writing contemporary fiction. In my experience, it’s the rare teen who isn’t permanently attached to their phone. It’s harder to make your characters isolated. During my teen years, I spent a ridiculous amount of time on the phone. Because this was back in [...]
Congratulations!
Posted in Writing information and tips, tagged Grandma's Chocolate, Mara Price, San Diego Book Awards Association, SDBAA on June 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Congratulations to all the 2011 San Diego Book Awards Winners! I am especially delighted that Mara Price‘s bilingual picture book, Grandma’s Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita, won in the published picture book category. This story of a grandma’s visit from Mexico is deep and rich and sweet (sounds like chocolate, eh?). However, I would not [...]
Fiesta Friday- Let’s Make Chicken Tacos
Posted in Uncategorized on June 10, 2011 | 4 Comments »
My husbands youngest niece is in a baseball tournament this weekend in San Diego and that means that family could be visiting Casa de Santillan sometime during the trip. It’s always hard to prepare for these visits since I don’t know when or if I will be cooking, so I have developed a recipe to [...]
