Monday, Verity and I had a read-in.  Mostly I did the reading and she watched TV, but she did some bookish things, too.  :-D

I managed to get a load of reading and work in this week, since I wasn't online much.  That's good -- very good.  Revision is -that- much closer to be done, so...much rejoicing?

Last night, we went down to Grove City College to visit the Worldview team.  One of boy's best buds (and his best man at the wedding) was teaching, and we got to sit in on the Seven Sweet Lies lecture -- it was awesome and hard-hitting.  Afterwards, we went out to the staff meeting, and I got to talk books and publishing with Mark Bertrand, whose first novel is coming out next year.  He's a very cool guy, and I'm grateful to have met him.  Mark, if you stumble across this, hi, and thank you!

Tonight we're going to take Verity to fireworks...and I'm hoping it goes better than last year.  *cough*  Then she's off to Mena & Papa's, and hopefully I'll have another 10k added to the Revision of Doom tomorrow!  OY!

All right.  Off to make dinner.  See y'all later!

I am media fasting this week.  If you need to get in touch with me before next Sunday, please call or text 330-727-2221.

1. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
2. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
3. Pinocchio by C. Collodi
4. Andersen's Fairy Tales (great early 20th century version; illustrated, some of the front pages missing)
5. The Giver by Lois Lowry
6. Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
7. Charlotte's Web by EB White
8. Christmas Dreams: Four Stories in the Portraits of Little Women series by Louisa May Alcott and Susan Beth Pfeffer
9. Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi
10. Box Car Children #3: The Yellow House Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
11. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
12. Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs
13. Emma Watson by Joan Aiken and Jane Austen
14. Rat City by Curt Colbert
15. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
16. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
17. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
18. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
19. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
20. They Shall See God by Athol Dickson
21. The Beloved Invader by Eugenia Price
22. These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon
23. The Great Pierpont Morgan by Frederick Lewis Allen
24. Andrew Carnegie by David Nasaw

Plus three Pooh movies, twelve woodworking books and five woodworking magazines for K and Boy.

Grand Total:    $23.25

Thank you, Salem Library!  And please, Ohioans, please check this link out.

I have to say, I love that this summer has been busy.  Even though not all is right with the world, I feel alive.  I think I post more in the winter because less happens.  :-D  Now that we're active and outside and running all over the countryside, I don't have time for lengthy posts.

When I lived in South Carolina, I never understood seasons.  The grass grew in spring, died out in summer (droughts and sandy ground and all), the leaves turned colors for autumn, and in winter we got some frost, but it rarely dipped below fifty degrees.  

Here?  It's mostly snow, and then some rain, and then sunshine (like today), and the leaves turn for about a week, and then snow snow snow snow snow, oh hey it's ice. 

The rain, sunshine, and gorgeous autumn leaves?  That I really do like about Ohio.  I also like that once the snow goes away, the ground is SERIOUSLY verdant.  Green EVERYWHERE, and don't you think you can stop it.  I first came up here in summer and was utterly amazed at how green stuff was.  Also, no Palmetto trees. 

????? Y NO PALMETTOS ?????

Well, that's not entirely true.  I see a handful of Palmetto trees / SC state flags stuck to the rear windows of cars.  Turns out it's not a bunch of transplanted Carolinians so much as it is people who vacation in SC.  But still, I get a thrill whenever I see a Palmetto and Crescent Moon logo.

Palmettos are EVERYWHERE in Columbia.  I didn't realize this until my last trip down.  I'd just grown up with them being everywhere.  

I mean EVERYWHERE.  They're a constant theme in decor.  They're in wall hangings, towels, rugs, desk art.... Srsly, next time you head to SC, you look around.  Restaurants have them.  Doctor's offices.  The Columbia-Metropolitan Airport had this horrendous blue-and-white (the state colors) Palmetto print carpeting that used to make me dizzy whenever I looked at it.  

I love the theme, though.  LOVE it.  Love that pride, love that sense of belonging.  Whenever I even see a regular palm tree, I feel comforted.

Buckeyes?  Well, let's just say Ohio doesn't much pull out the buckeye except for dessert trays.  Never had a buckeye (the sugary thing, not the nutty thing)?  manderley23  will make one for you.

I haven't been home in about two years, and I'm really missing it -- especially now that my sister moved back with her daughters.  I can't tell you how much I want to go there for the holidays this year.  Really trying to make it happen, too.  It'd be AWESOME if we could do that.  Get out of the freezing freezies here for a bit, too.  

Okay, other than the weather and home-state-sickness, here's what's been going on.

Writing
Hit 50k on my revisions yesterday.  Have gone over reader's report again to make sure I know what to look out for this half of the manuscript.  I still can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, but knowing I'm on the right track as far as voice goes helps tons.

Made airline reservations for sboman 's writing retreat in No. Cal, in August. I can't believe this is happening, and I am SO stoked.  I was lucky enough to snatch up super-cheap airline tickets -- otherwise I wouldn't be able to make it.  

My current goal is wrap up this draft by the first of August.  I have a few more things to hammer down on the first half of the book before I can rework the ending, so we'll see how that all goes.  

Got some other side jobs on the horizon, too, including a comedy sketch I'm working on for a sermon illustration.  Should be fun...just wondering who will be the willing recipient of a spit-take.  *cough*


Verity
She's having an awesome summer.  Tons of swimming opportunities, thanks to cynthiamary  and some other folks.  We've had a lot of family visits, too, which rocks her world.  She adores her cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.  She can't get enough of people.  She also has a weekly play date set up while her boyfriend's mom and I work in the library.  She continues to amuse me.  The other day she told me I could join her fan club.  Mmmhmm.  'S my kid.


Life-In-General
The weather's brought on a spark in my mood, so I've been feeling mad social lately.  Between getting out to write and hanging out with friends, my only complaint is that I'm behind on my reading.  Recent reads include The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley and Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow.  All great, all very different!  Reading The Book Thief now!  :-D  Still hoping to get the roof done this summer, and having lots of automotive issues -- those are our biggest concerns right now, so we're really stinkin' blessed.

That's about it.  Gonna see if Miss V wants to head out to the lake today.  Whaddya wanna bet she says yesssss?

Boy and I felt like such slackers today!  He has an intern for the summer, and his best bud (also a very good sound guy) was in off the tour he's working on, so the two of them covered sound for church today.  Which means we didn't have to get there until 9 am.  We usually have to be out the door by 7 on Sundays, so yeah.  AND we left after worship during the second sermon, which got us at his parents' house at noon, rather than one thirty. 

We could get used to this!

Got at his parents' before they were home from church, and pretty much lounged around outside, chatting.  Then it was time to prep food and eat.  Steaks, perfectly grilled, sweet potato casserole (the amazing stuff we first had at Thanksgiving this past year, OMG I want that for my last meal...just that!), green bean casserole (best I've had since my mom's!), and this froofy orange Jell-O dish my in-laws make that is AMAZING. 

Poor cynthiamary  had to leave dinner early to get to work.  WE DID SAVE YOU STUFF, TIA!

Called my dad, who's on his way to DC to help my sister finish moving to SC.  The better part of my family's in the Carolinas now...I'm itching to move back, man.  Wished him a happy Father's Day, chatted, and hung up laughing.   

Verity, Boy, and I played soccer for a bit.  Okay, so between the two anti-athletics and the three-year-old, it was more just kicking the ball around.

Then brain layer for dessert.  If you are not a northeastern Ohioan and have never heard of brain layer, well, that's normal.  I'd never heard of it (or a dozen other dishes that are mainstays in my in-laws' world) until I moved here.  Think chocolate pudding parfait, and then some. 

I went upstairs to read, then fell asleep.  When I woke up, everyone else was snoozing, too. 

Came out to the porch, and a few minutes later V and Mena (Grandma) came out, too.  V and Boy's cousin Kristin, who lives next door, are now playing in the big field. 

Gorgeous weather, even though there's more rain in the forecast.

I am so hugely blessed.  Family I not only love, but LIKE being around, amazing food, freedom to worship the way I please, and now I'm chillin' on a beautiful spread of verdant, well-maintained land.  My kid and boy are healthy.  I have a great book to finish today.  I own a Mac.  I added about 10k to my revision yesterday, between editing and new scenes. 

So, so blessed.  Even if this goes away, I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Off to read on the porch swing, windchimes and playing kids keeping me company.

This is not okay.


Spread the word about what is happening in Iran.

These people are being silenced.  We are not. 

Feel this. 

These are our brothers and sisters. 

This is everyone's revolution.

Love them by sharing their lives.  Show their hearts.

Via Molly O'Neill from Twitter:
RT @TEDchris:
One woman, alone in the dark on a rooftop in Tehran, touches the world http://bit.ly/hEsEG
#iranelection

Today, Josh & Megan are getting married!  I AM SO EXCITED.  Not only do I get to see all the fam (and I rather love my in-laws, because I am a freakazoid), I get to be a part--even a tiny part-of this awesome day.

I decided to really celebrate, and Verity is all about it, too.  I've pulled out my Clinique samples, my good lotion, my good hair products -- the works.  Alex Perry would be proud: I even smell expensive.  I'm gonna rip out Chanel samples from Harper's Bazaar, too, and make sure I keep the expensive scent thing going!

Yesterday, Verity and I did home manicures (and she got a pedicure, too, since she'll be wearing open-toed shoes, probably).  She's about to take a bath, and is MAD EXCITED because she gets to wear her prettiest dress, get her hair and nails done, and "be a princess" for Josh & Megan today.

Here's hoping her good mood carries her throughout the day.

I don't know Josh and Megan excessively well -- Josh is quite a bit younger, and Boy's little brother's best friend.  But something about this wedding feels SO GOOD, you know?  It's one of those relationships that whenever you see those people, they make you happy.  And whenever you hear things about them, they're good things.  Not just as a couple--even well before they were dating.  We know their families (Josh is Boy's cousin, so yeah), but I've also known Megan's family since I moved up here 8--almost 9!--years ago. 

I'm not saying everything's gonna be peace, love, and hair grease.  That it's destined to be easy or always fun.  But dadgum, the vibes that I've had about this since I first heard they were even dating were good. 

So yes.  Today we celebrate.  We really stinking celebrate.  I'm totally happy for this wedding to happen.  And so is Miss V! 

Time for her to get her hair did!

I'm working out some of the story arc kinks in the revision right now.  It's a slow process, because there are several arcs that aren't strong enough but natural at the same time.  I can't see certain flaws and I know it, so I've been changing perspective--for my personal use only.

Last week I wrote a scene completely in Colm's POV, and I think I'll be doing it again.  This week, I've given myself another assignment: write the synopsis from Colm's POV.  From the moment he first steps onstage until the end of his story.  I need to get more fully into his head, and since I'm one of those people who likes writing synopses, well, this should work.

I'll let you know if it does!

Over on last week's WIP Wednesday post, annpendragon talked about and posted a photo of her writing space.  She asks, "Where is your 'Under the Steps'? Where do you pound away at your WIP, drink your coffee and dream?"

I'm lucky enough to have three designated spots in our home alone, plus the various cafes where I find some time with my muse.  We have a rather big house (two stories, furnished attic, plus coal room & Boy's wood shop in basement) and only one kid, so we have a lot of leg room.  We have a basic rule about not being more than a floor away from where V is playing for more than ten minutes, so it was important for me to have some place to work on both of the main floors.  So on the first floor, in the sun room, we have the exercise equipment and the bulk of her toys, including her massive, coffin-like toybox of awesome doom  (if it had a lid on it, it would KILL EVERYONE EVER; I am grateful for no top!).

Last year, Boy refinished an old drafting table he'd kept around for years.  It's gorgeous and inspirational all by itself.  The only place large enough to put it was in the sun room.  We paired it with an organ bench (we have two organs and a piano; my husband is a musician, that's why!).  About four seconds of the table being in its new home, I claimed it good and hard. 

I wrote most of DARKNESSES at this table (I'm sitting here now).  I love this table.  Love it love it love it love it.

Took this photo last summer, when the desk faced the road.  But Verity got a swingset this week, and is old enough to play in the backyard by herself, as long as the gate is closed.  So yesterday we turned the sunroom on end, and now the desk faces the backyard, where I have a clear view of the swingset and the sandbox.  With the windows open, we can holler to one another if we need anything.  Like if she needs to go potty. 

What's pictured?  MacBook, reference materials (like the NFT NYC book, which has amazing maps of awe), the Moleskine NYC Citybook, which makes it easy to customize maps for fictional purposes.  There is a notebook for non-writing things -- any thoughts about life-things that pop into my head, so I can just jot them down without getting distracted.  My glasses, because, um, totally necessary as my eyesight is terrible.  My phone, so I can glance at the screen if I get a text or a call; usually I don't answer things during my writing time.  Manuscript.  I've gotten into the habit of making a new file every 10k into a manuscript, and then printing the new part out as it's finished.  Keeping it handy helps so that I don't have to open six files to find something I need for reference's sake.  My day planner.  I use 30boxes.com religiously, but I also keep everything on paper, too, and sync them every few days.  If I don't, I'm screwed because I'm so scatterbrained.  My Moleskine Ruled Journal is a staple.  I can't write without it arm's reach.  And fiction.  Pictured was James Dashner's The Thirteenth Reality, which sboman  sent me (autographed to me by Mr. Dashner! I heart her so much!)  I always keep a book close.  Helps so much when I'm blocked -- nothing's better than reading a good book to remind you what yours is supposed to resemble, if only slightly!  Right now I'm reading The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe.  YUM.  And the ARC is all sorts of gorgeous.

Not pictured: my iPod!  Srsly, I've never been able to listen to music and write at the same time until last year when I was working on DARKNESSES.  Now I'm a total addict.  We'll do a playlist post one of these days, how 'bout that?  Currently, my BACKGROUND playlist consists of both Angels & Airwaves CDs and Jars of Clay's THE LONG FALL BACK TO EARTH -- "Lesson One" has become the theme song for UPSTAIRS.  Maybe this revision was waiting for that CD to happen.

Right now, this table has my devotional stuff on it, my revision (in a cute, already beat-up porfolio I found at the dollar store), my non-writing notebook, my iPod, and a really sweet box Boy gave me.  I stick all my extra stuff in there -- my FireWire, Kleenexes, scrap paper -- anything that would clutter up the desk. 

I do try to keep the things in my immediate and peripheral vision neat, organized, and with a little touch of inspiration.  Now, Verity's desk is right next to my sun room desk -- so she and I working together to keep that space clean so it doesn't distract me.  It's always worth three or four minutes of picking up and putting away things before I get to work.  If I don't, my Procrastinator button is as good as pushed.  The only things of hers that are on the desk right now: her neatly-organized markers and Disney Princesses box of crayons. 

The rest of my stuff is in my AWESOME BAG OF AWE that manderley23 gave me before last year's NYC trip, because I took it out with me last night.  The bag deserves a post all its own. 

I ALWAYS ALWAYS have Pilot G2 pens near me.  SOMEBODY TOOK MY AWESOME PURPLE G2 PEN AT THE RETREAT LAST WEEKEND AND IF I FIND OUT WHO I WILL BE DETACHING THEIR FINGERNAILS VERRRRRY SLOWLY.  

aside: We were making bracelets last weekend, and one of the girls (likely Laura!) threatened to do something sillyweird.  So I said, "If you do that, I'll threaten you with something...awkward!"  And I think it was Carly who was like, "DID YOU JUST THREATEN TO THREATEN SOMEONE?!?"   And I was like, "Um.  Yeah?"  And everyone laughed at me.  Even me.

Back. 

This year I added a cooking timer to my desk, by the way. 

Why?  Because I was working on an article entitled "Taming Pesky Interruptions" for the parenting mag I worked for, and had to come up with ways to get kids to let parents do their grown-up work at home.  I can't go into details right now because the rights date hasn't passed on it (30 days after publication), but I WROTE SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY HELPED ME OMG.  Yep.  That's a third post I should write.

The problem with the sunroom is that it gets c-c-cold in the winter.  I mean, it's June 3 and it's still flippin' cold.  #ohiosucks.  And in the winter mornings, before we get the fire going, the whole downstairs is pretty freezy.  So we spend a lot of time up on the second floor, which is where the library is. 

Since the table Boy made for me last year isn't supersized (it fits my Moleskine and MacBook just fine, though), I have a shelf that holds all my extra notes, journals, and things.  The couch is THE MOST COMFORTABLE THING EVER OMG.  I spend a little time up there every day, just reading and drinking Culligan and snacking on Frosted Mini Wheats.  I heart Frosted Mini Wheats.  And the brass lamp that's on was given to us by our pastor, and it's got a steampunk vibe that just flows with the wood and leather.  Big love.  

Um...the chair was given to us by our pastor, too.  The caning on the seat was busted, so Boy put a leather cusion on it.  Yep.  Also, Boy built those library shelves.  Yeahhuh.  He is a good boy to have.  ALL.  MINE.

My very personal, nobody-comes-in-here-without-my-say-so spot is up in the attic.  I know, I know.  The whole "madwoman in the attic" thing.  When I'm not on Mommy Duty, I LOVE hiding away in my office. All my research books are there (crime, history, crime, NYC, crime, Teddy Roosevelt, crime...), two more bookshelves full.  It's easily the place that gets cluttered the most -- but with a flip of the lamp switch I can tune all the clutter out and focus on my screen.

It's where I keep all my personal inspiration - trinkets, artifacts (for real: old locks, a steroscope with cards, NYPD Sergeant's badge replica, ca. 1900), articles--anything that has that feel to it.  It's old-NYC themed.  I even have a menu from a mid-1910s dairy lunchroom taped to my wall.  And NYC pictures one of my grade school students drew for me (complete with titling like "Liderty" for her Statue of Liberty picture).  She was a Bronx native.  And the Starbucks mug ornament and Brooklyn shot glass in the photo -- stuff like that.

The desk isn't nearly as awesome as the others, just one of those old Office Depot type practically-cardboard things , and but Boy got me a good chair for it two years ago, and now I can sit there without pain for HOURS.  The hardest part about having a desk with drawers is keeping it neat -- I barely use the drawers at all.  Just Kleenexes, scrap paper, notebooks, index cards and pens are allowed in the thing. 

More office photos can be found at this post.

I do have to get out of the house at least once a week.  I'll usually go to Barnes & Noble because they have a good amount of table space, no WiFi, and I know what to expect there.  I love the local cafes, too, though, and when I'm doing something that's research intensive (esp. freelance work), I'll hang out at one of those places since the WiFi is stable and I prefer to give my moneys to indie stores these days.  I crave a good indie bookstore-cafe-writing space (with a hearty YA section!), but there are none local (if there's one within 20 miles of Youngstown, OH, somebody has to tell me!). 

I guess my writing spaces are sacred to me.  They're priorities, because when they're in good condition, I feel good.  Having a toddler running around in the middle of operations was frustrating for a while, but she's learning to be considerate -- and that helps a lot.  

Speaking of The V Thing, I'm off to tuck the suddenly-unhappy one into bed for naptime.  And then head up to the office bc it's warmer!  #ohiosucks!

Writing this last major revision scene addition is...

um...

not happening.

It is impossible.

Impossible, I tell you.


Like, srsly, it's the last I can do before editing and sending it to People With Powah and I can't bring myself to crack open Word.
 

I
Can't
Do
It.

*cowers under the desk*

I'll post when I can.  NY trip starts tomorrow.  HUZZAH! 

Yes, I'll have a knish for you.  OM NOM NOM.

On the agenda for today:

Laundry folded
Laundry put away
Attic hallway cleared out
Guest room readied for Dad's visit
Dishes
Verity's table work
Take a walk with V
Bathe V
Quiet time
Crit pages sent
Critique for awesome book that I'm mad excited about.  Author, you know who you are.
Answer email

This is shaping up to be a nice day.

The thought of my revision is making me sick to my stomach.  I think the book is getting worse instead of better.  Hate that.  HATE IT SO MUCH.

Time to step away.  Going to do other stuff.  May report later on what that stuff is.  Hoping for massive thunderstorm today.

 

authorwithin  personally invited me to join the team!  I am never invited to join teams, so, in hopes of doing everything right, I'm TOTALLY COPYING HER POST (b/c I don't follow directions well at ALL, see:  ELIZA'S COOKING FIASCOS).

Team Raving Pen needs your help! So all my friends out there in blogging land, if you haven't already joined a team, please join Team Raving Pen. We are up to about 20 team members and we need about 30 more team members since we are shooting for at least 50 to double the ARC love.

 

Team Goading The Pen and

ravelda  have formed an alliance.  Here is what you get if you join our team Raving Pen!
Everybody on the new team is entered for a giveaway for an ARC of EYES LIKE STARS.

 

Everybody on the new team shares the ARC of SHIVER, determined by random number. (Starting with #1 the first person reads and then mails to the next person on the list and so on. Last person on the list will get to keep the ARC)

Everybody on the new team is entered to decide who gets one of 4 signed copies of Lament. (We are giving away all four.)

Come on, join the team!

Here are the details of Maggie's contest:

Maggie Stiefvater is having a contest here: A Better Way To Get a Shiver ARC

Winner gets:
- a signed ARC of SHIVER
- 4 signed copies of LAMENT
- and for each of the friends that you got to comment, a critique of the first 5 pages of any of their manuscripts.

And if any single person manages to get over 50 friends to comment, I'll make it 3 ARCs of SHIVER and 8 copies of LAMENT. (With your help we can do this! Just copy and paste this entire post into your blog and then go comment on Maggie's blog that you did it for Team Raving Pen!)
In Short the person who gets the most people to join there team by posting:
1. A picture of the Shiver Book Cover
2. A description of Shiver
3. A link to the pre-order page
4. Letting her know that they have posted and who they are posting for: HERE

Copy and Paste this post and post on your blog. Then go here:
http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/105279.html
And let Maggie know you posted for Team Raving Pen!

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human…until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace forever.

Pre-Order Shiver Here:

http://www.amazon.com/Shiver-Maggie-Stiefvater/dp/0545123267/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241744679&sr=1-2