Recommended Reading - March

For some people this March meant spring temperatures and basketball, but for me, it meant a fantastic month of reading! I've got three Standouts listed below, but I also read a number of really good ones. (If you'd like to know more about those, go ahead and visit me on Goodreads.)

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Books Read in March: 8

Total Books Read in 2013:  20

Standouts:

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - I love a book that has me rooting for pretty much everyone and everything in it! It uses quick, sharp lines spoken by flawed complex characters to ask questions, such as what it means to live a full, bold life, and to show us the persistence and the power of different kinds of love. I literally laughed out loud reading one page, then teared up as I read the next. Warning: have tissues handy.

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult - I've been a fan of Picoult's books for a long time, and while I enjoyed her recent ones, it's this one that reminded me of how good Picoult really is at taking complex issues and presenting them in ways that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. One of my favorite things about her novels is how they ask more questions than they answer, leaving readers to decide for themselves. A quote from this book sums up Picoult's work in general - "It's easy to say you will do what's right and shun what's wrong, but when you get close enough to any given situation, you realize there IS no black or white. There are gradations of gray." A great example of this: Minka's story will live on in my memory for a long time, and so will Josef's, but for very different reasons. That is the power of a Picoult novel.

A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy - Reading a Maeve Binchy novel is the equivalent of eating comfort food, and this, her last one, is no exception. I felt as if I was sitting around the table at the Stone House myself! When I finished reading, I wanted to turn back to the first page and begin again, not only because I knew how good it was, but also because I knew there would be no more books after this one. That these characters would not make an appearance in the next one or the one after. There is nothing like a Maeve Binchy novel and there never will be.

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Have you all read any of these Standouts? Do you want to? What are you reading right now? What's up next on you To-Read list?

Top Story of the Month!

I was thrilled to learn that Mrs. Drake's Monsters was Every Day Fiction's Top Story of the Month for February 2013. Thank you to everyone who read the story and took the time to comment and vote. It is greatly appreciated.

Every month, Flash Fiction Chronicles runs an interview with the author of that month's Top Story. This time, it's me! So, head on over if you'd like to learn a little more about Mrs. Drake and Lizzie, about how the creative process works for me, and my thoughts on blogging - I even gave a shout out to the Blogging A-Z Challenge. 

I hope you enjoy the interview!

Motivational Monday

THE THING THAT IS REALLY HARD, AND REALLY AMAZING,

IS GIVING UP ON BEING PERFECT 

AND BEGINNING THE WORK OF BECOMING YOURSELF.

(Anna Quindlen)

I always thought that being myself should be the easiest thing I ever do, and that there's something incredibly wrong with me that I struggle with it so much. I mean, come on! There's only one of me, there will only be one of me, ever. Doesn't that mean I pretty much make the rules for who I am?

Apparently, I did not get that memo. Or, if I did, I threw it away with lots of other important memos, including how to make a roast chicken and how to fold a fitted sheet. I always wanted something different. It wasn't a commentary or a judgement on anyone or anything else. I just wanted to be me, to feel good in my own skin.

But it's one thing to chafe against other people and their opinions. It's a whole other thing to chafe against yourself, to question and worry who you are as if your soul is nothing but a dog's chew toy.  Why did I want to live somewhere else? Why didn't I want to do what most people did? Why did my thoughts and feelings seem at odds with so many of the people I knew? What was wrong with me? 

Turns out, nothing. Nothing was - or is - wrong with me. Different does not equal wrong or bad or stupid. The problem is that a lot of people don't understand that. You can disagree with someone yet still respect and even support their choices. 

But it really comes down to respecting ourselves and supporting our own choices. I don't know why it's not easy sometimes. I wish I had the answers (if you do, please share in the comments!) but I'm at least comforted to know I'm not alone in my struggles. It's not just me.

Writing News and High Wire Walking

Here are a few writing notes and two fun videos I thought you all might enjoy... 

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Author and former literary agent, Nathan Bransford, is planning to self publish a guide to writing a novel. He's going to blog about the self publishing process along the way. I can't wait to read both the guide and the posts!

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Here's another wonderful Robin LaFevers post, The Play's the Thing, from over at Writer UnBoxed. It's all about the need for play in our writing. She includes some excellent examples of what she does, like making collages and writing travel journals in a character's voice.

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About a month ago, Nik Wallenda did a high wire walk over downtown Sarasota. He was about 200 feet up, walking on a wire the width of a nickel , with wind gusts of about 25-30 MPH. No net. No tether. My husband went to watch - along with about 10,000 other people! 

But, for all of us who weren't there, check out the following two videos.The first one shows what the walk looked like from the audience. The second one shows what it looked like from Nik's point of view! He had cameras on the pole he carried. Plus, you can hear the conversation between Nik and his father and team as Nik walks.

Motivational Monday/Movie Blogfest

I HOPE YOU'RE PLEASED WITH YOURSELVES.

WE COULD ALL HAVE BEEN KILLED - OR WORSE, EXPELLED.

(Hermione Granger from

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling)

This might be one of my all time favorite book/movie lines, spoken by one of my all time favorite female characters (played perfectly by Emma Watson.) It makes me laugh every single time, partly because it's a great line and sums up the character perfectly, but also because, looking back on it, I felt the same way when I was kid. Doing well in school was a huge priority and the idea of messing up or failing wound me up so tight, I sometimes thought I'd break. If only there'd been a Harry and a Ron and a giant troll lurking in the bathroom...

But this quote is a wonderful reminder - even for me now - to put and to keep things in perspective. Plus, it's a great lead in to Alex Cavanaugh's Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest...

My Top Ten Movies are in no particular order. I had enough trouble picking them let alone ranking them. I'm also pretty sure I've forgotten a number of good ones. I imagine this is what it feels like to be an award winner and knowing you're leaving people out of your speech...

GONE WITH THE WIND
TITANIC
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
THE HELP
MILLION DOLLAR BABY

MISERY

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION

STAND BY ME

JAWS

I'm on a bit of a blogging break, but I hope to check in off and on, and hopefully catch up with you all later in the week...  

Book Notes and Writing News From Around the Web

Some writing news and and book updates I thought you all might be interested in...

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In honor of Women's History Month, The Book Case had a great post about 11 female authors to watch for this spring and summer. I've already added two books to my TBR list!

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Stephen King's new novel, Dr. Sleep, won't be out until September 2013, but the cover has been revealed and I am not ashamed to tell you, it is already giving me nightmares!

Plus, here's a great interview on EW.com with King about this sequel to The Shining. And, if you can't wait until September, check out King's Joyland this June!

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The NaNoWriMo blog posted an interview with R.L. Stine: On Writing Addiction, Challenging Himself and Thrillerfest.

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I bookmarked this post from Writer Unboxed back in January and it's one for the "keeper file." In Embrace the Naked, Robin Lafevers reminds us how - "The act of writing is not only about claiming our truths, our selves, but having the courage to not apologize when we do. Our writing is where we need to be our bravest and most fearless selves. You can’t write your best work if you’re not all in—and once you’re all in, you’re vulnerable. We don’t serve our audience—our true audience—by holding back."

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Will you check out any of the books by those female authors to watch? Are you planning on reading either/both of Kings books? Are you a fan of R.L Stine? Planning on attending Thrillerfest? As a writer, do you "bare all" on the page? 

Motivational Monday

WHAT'S THE GOOD OF LIVING

IF YOU DON'T TRY A FEW THINGS?

(Charles M. Schulz)

I like my routine. It's called a comfort zone for a reason. Pillows line the walls of my zone. (Not padded walls, thank you very much. Not yet, anyway.) Pajamas or t-shirts and yoga clothes are the attire. Books abound. Chocolate and cheese are on the menu. It's peaceful, quiet.  

Why would anyone want to leave the safety and security of that comfy place to go somewhere that might be hard and sharp and tricky? 

Ah, that's the magic word, isn't it? Might. 

If you try a new route to work, you might get stuck in traffic or you might find the best coffee place you've ever tried. 

If you try a new restaurant, you might hate it or you might find a new favorite go-to place.

If you try to read in a different genre, you might want to throw the book across the room or you might find a favorite new author. 

That's the thing I'm learning. Might means possibility. I'm not about to abandon my comfort zone, but I am definitely willing to step outside it now and then. It might be the worst idea I've ever had...or it might be the best. We'll see.

How about you all? Have you stepped outside your comfort zone lately? What did you do? How did it feel?

Callout for Submissions

Here are a few upcoming submission deadlines I thought some of you might want to check out:  

From Every Day Fiction's March Table of Contents: "We’ve got Tax Day coming up in April (stories need to be in by March 27th, please!) and then Mother’s Day and Victoria Day in May (stories in by April 26th, and thank you!). We also welcome stories for and about holidays from other cultures and other parts of the world, so please know that you’re strongly encouraged to get inspired by any traditions you may have or festivals you may celebrate."

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The First Line's Summer deadline is May 1, 2013. Check out that "first line" and the Fall and Winter ones, too.

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The Lascaux Review is running their second annual Lascaux Flash Fiction Contest. The deadline is March 20, 2013. The maximum word count is 250 words and there's a photo prompt for inspiration. Check out the site for all the rules. 

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Good luck!

Motivational Monday

GOOD WRITING IS REMEMBERING DETAIL.

MOST PEOPLE WANT TO FORGET.

DON'T FORGET THINGS THAT WERE PAINFUL 

OR EMBARRASSING OR SILLY.

TURN THEM INTO A STORY THAT TELLS THE TRUTH.

(Paula Danziger)

When I was little, I broke my collar bone by falling out of bed. What I remember from that time is laying across my grandmother's lap in the backseat of the station wagon as my parents drove us to the hospital. I stared up and out of the window at all the hazy halos of the streetlights in the dark sky. I was scared, but I felt safe at the same time. Ensconced yet vulnerable.

A character of mine might never break a bone or ride in a station wagon or ever see city street lights. But will she feel afraid while still feeling protected? Will her skin ever stick to a car's vinyl seat? Will she grow up wanting to wear the same scent her grandmother wore, bringing the long gone woman to life in the present? Maybe.  

Your fear of heights can become a character's terror of dogs. Your painful divorce can become a character's determination to never feel loss or to feel lonely again. Your mortifying pants-wetting moment in front of an entire school assembly can become...well, actually, that might make a good story on its own... 

What emotions can you kidnap from your own past and release into your stories, your poems, your photographs, your art? 

Recommended Reading - February 2013

Even though I'm behind in my Goodreads Challenge, I'm happy with my progress (12 books read toward the goal of 100), and I am really enjoying the many different books I'm reading.

Unfortunately, though, I've started a handful of books only to stop reading and start feeling disappointed. I took a chance on buying a few hardcovers I'd heard good things about - yeh, gift cards! - only to regret my decision. One of novels became plodding and heavy-handed, while the other started out with a great narrative voice but once the characters started talking to each other, the dialogue came across as stilted and forced. But it's all just my opinion and, even though I was kind of annoyed at using my gift cards, I re-framed it as supporting a couple of debut authors. I didn't care for the books, but I'll pass them on to someone else, someone who might just love them.

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Books Read in February:  6

Books Read 2013:  12

Standouts -

Kings of Colorado by David E. Hilton - this coming-of-age novel reads like a cross between Stand By Me (The Body) and Lord of the Flies. It's raw and heartbreaking and bittersweet and if the first sentence doesn't pull you in, the voice will.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey - this novel is like a fairytale for adults. I curled up with it and a cup of tea, and I was lost in a different place (the Alaskan wildness) and a different time (the 1920s.) It's a love story about love in its many forms - between an older married couple, for a child, for friends, and for the wild, brutal, beautiful place where the story takes place. If you're looking to lose yourself in a book, this is the one.

*****

Have you read either of the Standouts? What were you thoughts? Think you'll pick up one of them? What have you read and loved lately?